Page:The New Testament of Iesvs Christ faithfvlly translated into English, ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/227

202 God. And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men have loved the darkenesse rather then the light: for their workes were evil. For every one that doeth il, hateth the light, and commeth not to the light, that his workes may not be controuled. But he that doeth veritie, commeth to the light, that his workes may be made manifest, because they were done in God.✠

After these things came and his Disciples into the countrie of Jewrie: and there he abode with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ænon beside Salim; because there was much water there, and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. And there rose a question of Johns Disciples with the Jewes concerning purification. And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom * thou didst give testimonie, behold he baptizeth, and al come to him. John answered and said: A man can not receive any thing, unlesse it be given him from Heaven. Your selves doe beare me witnesse, * that I said, I am not ; but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride, is the bridegrome: but the freind of the bridegrome that standeth and heareth him, rejoyceth with joy for the voice of the bridegrome. This my joy therfore is filled. He must increase, and I diminish. ″ He that commeth from above, is above al. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that commeth from Heaven, is above al. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and his testimonie no men receiveth. He that hath received his testimonie, hath signed that God is true. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the wordes of God. For God doth not give the spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Sonne: and he hath given al things in his hand. He that beleeveth in the Sonne, hath life everlasting: but he that is incredulous to the Sonne, shal not see life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him.

ANNOTATIONS. III.

5. Borne againe of water.) As no man can enter into this world not have his life and being in the same, except he be borne of his carnal parents: no more can a man enter into the life and state of grace which is in Christ, or attaine to life everlasting, unles he be borne and baptized of water and the Holy Ghost. Whereby we see first, this Sacrament to be called our regeneration or second birth, in respect of our natural and carnal which was before. Secondly, that this Sacrament consisteth of an external element of water, and internal vertue of the Holy Spirit: wherein it excelleth Johns Baptisme, which had the external element, but not the spiritual grace. Thirdly, that no man can enter into the Kingdom of God, not into the fellowship of Holy Church, without it. Whereby the * Pelagians, and Calvinists be condemned, that promisse life everlasting to yong children that die without Baptisme, and al other that thinke only faith to serve, or the external element of water superfluous or not necessarie: our Saviours wordes being plaine and general. Though in this case, God which hath not bound his grace, in respect of his owne freedom, to any Sacrament, may and doth accept them as baptized, which either are martyred before they could be baptized, or els depart this life with vow and desire to have that Sacrament, but by some remedilesse necessitie could not obtaine it. Lastly, it is proved that this Sacrament giveth grace ex opere operato, that is, of the worke itself Rh