Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/541

Rh ancient usage, by which oil was used as an introduction into the priesthood.… Afterwards hands are laid on us, invoking and calling down the, by the form of benediction… And then that willingly descends from the  upon the body thus cleansed and blessed: settles upon the baptismal waters, as acknowledging its ancient dwelling-place, as once He lighted on the  in the figure of a dove, to show His nature by its simplicity and innocence. For as, after the waters of the flood, which washed away the old iniquity, after the baptism (as I may say) of the world, the dove, sent out of the ark, and returning with the olive branch, became the herald of anger appeased, and has made the olive a sign of peace among the nations, according to a like appointment, the spiritual influence, the dove of the, flies to the earth (that is, our flesh) when emerging from the waters after its old transgressions, bringing the reconciliation of , sent from heaven, where the Church is, the antitype of the ark. But the earth sins yet again … and so is destined to the fire; as man also, who renews his sins after baptism; so that here, too, we may take the history as a warning…

John's baptism afforded our the subject of a question proposed to the Pharisees, viz. whether it was from heaven or from earth? They could return no sound answer, as not understanding, because they did not believe.… John supplied no heavenly work, but ministered beforehand towards things heavenly, viz. as being the master of repentance, which is in man's power… If, then, repentance is a human work, the baptism of repentance is human; it had supplied the and remission of sins, if it had been heavenly. alone remits sins, and vouchsafes the … That was not heavenly which manifested nothing of a heavenly nature. Even the spirit of prophecy, which for a season had been a heavenly gift possessed by John, afterwards, when the fulness of the was transferred to the, so utterly failed him, that he sent to ask whether He were really the Christ, whom He had before foretold, and singled out on His coming.…

These miserable men say, "Baptism is not necessary, because faith is sufficient for the Christian; for Abraham pleased by faith, without any sacrament of water." But in all things,