EXPOSITION OF SCRIPTURE ON BAPTISM.
289
| Tit. iii. 5—(continued). | |
| Zuingli-Calvinists. | Socinians. |
| "is a petitio principii, in that those effects are referred to the outward water of Baptism, which, in the passages cited, (Eph. v. Tit. iii. &c.) are directly adapted to Christ Himself and His blood and Spirit by the intervention of faith, conceived from the Gospel," &c. Ib. Contr. 2. thes. 6, 7. p. 376; and again p. 367. "They speak of the things signified by the Sacrament, not of the Sacra** ment;" and p. 357. "There is in the allegation of these passages a fallacy arising from an ambiguous term, and a figure of speech: since Baptism is often not the sacramental sign, especially taken apart, but the internal purifying or ablution of the mind, either alone, or again regarded together with its sign." P. Martyr ad 1. Reg 8. f. 73. v. "The soul, which is a spirit, and incorporeal, is not cleansed with these palpable and bodily things." So Willett, Synops. Papismi Contr. 11. Q. 2. and Fulke, Rhem. Test. "God hath saved us by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which is testified by the Sacrament of Baptism," &c. | "the man, that, as to mind and will, you suddenly appear a new, yea, a different man: as to the mind, by knowledge of the Divine will, as to the will, by executing it." Slichtingius, ad loc. Opp. t. 2. p. 287. "We are saved, says the Apostle, by a washing, which is regeneration, whereby we are made other men, and renovation, whereby we are made new men. He shows that he is not speaking of the washing of the body, which does not reach the mind, but of the spiritual washing, whereby the defilements of the mind, not of the body, are done away. The defilements of the mind are vices and sins. That the Holy Spirit is spoken of as water, the word 'washing' shows; and that it is said to be poured upon us most abun dantly. He does not then here treat of material water, or water properly so called, which is employed in Baptism, but of the washing of water, which is the Holy Spirit. For Christ alone has the power and efficacy of regenerating and renewing us. The washing of water, which is contained in Baptism, only so far belongs here, as it is a sign and Sacrament instituted by God of the washing of the Holy Spirit, or of the regeneration and renovation which take place through the Holy Spirit." |
| Heb. x. 22. (1 Pet. iii. 21.) | |
| Calvi ad loc. "What follows | Crellius ad Heb. Opp. Exeget. |
