Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/420

210 fulfilment of the Baptist's words (Catech. iii. 9. xvii. 8.), but also to the invisible miracle of Baptismal regeneration, (, who now also baptizeth with the .) So also St. Augustine, Serm. 71. De Verbis Evan. Mat. 12. § 19. Add St. Chrysostome, (ad loc. Homil. XI. t. 7. p. 154. ed. Bened.) "When the Baptist sends men to, he speaks not of the wrath to come, but of forgiveness of sins, removal of punishment, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, and adoption, and brotherhood, and participation of the heritage and abundant ministration of the , for all these things he implied when he said 'He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire;' by the very metaphor showing the abundance of the gift, for he does not say 'He shall give you the ,' but 'He shall baptize you with the '; and by the addition of 'fire' he points out the vehemence and efficacy of the grace."

Our version, "by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ," admits of two constructions, according as one supplies "of the renewing" or "by the renewing;" since, however, the article is omitted before "renewing," it is probable that our translators considered the "renewing" also, as well as the "regeneration," as an effect of Baptism, (as paraphrased in the Tract); and such is the most natural construction of the words. It is recognized by St. Gregory of Nyssa, who says, de Bapt. Christi init. "Baptism, then, is the purification of sins, remission of offences, the cause of regeneration and renewal;" and by St. Chrysostom, Hom IX. in Hebr. (quoted by Suicer, see above, p. 50, 51.) It is implied also in the use of the words, used of Baptism, which are taken from this passage. The union of renovation with regeneration, in Baptism, is implied also in the following passage of St. Basil, de Spiritu S. c. 12, in which the original words are preserved: "The Apostle appears sometimes to make mention of the alone in Baptism (1 Cor. xii. 13.); yet one would not, therefore, call that a perfect Baptism wherein the name of the  alone were pronounced. For the tradition which was delivered at the time of the life-giving grace, must be constantly preserved unbroken; for, who redeemed our life from corruption, gave us a power of renewal, whose cause was ineffable and contained in a mystery, but bringing great salvation to the soul." And in St. Ambrose, de Spiritu S. 1. 6. "They do not observe, that we are buried in that element of the water and rise renewed through the, for in the water is the image of death, in the is the pledge of life; so that through water the body of sin may die, the water enclosing the body as in a tomb, and by the