31. The “babes” then “in Christ” who have yet place in the Church, who are still natural
and carnal, and cannot “perceive,” that is, understand and know what they have, have this
Spirit. For how could they be babes in Christ except they were born anew of the Holy Spirit?
Nor ought it to seem any wonder that one may have something, and yet not know what he
hath. For to say nothing of the Divinity of the Almighty, and the Unity of the Unchangeable
Trinity, who can easily perceive by knowledge what the soul is; and yet who is there that
hath not a soul? Finally, that we may know most certainly that “babes in Christ,” who do
not “perceive the things of the Spirit of God,” have notwithstanding the Spirit of God; let
us look how the Apostle Paul, when a little while after he is rebuking them, saith, “Know ye
not that ye are the temples of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”2460 This surely
he would in no wise say to those who are separated from the Church, who are described as
“having not the Spirit.”
32. But neither can he be said to be in the Church, and to belong to that fellowship of
the Spirit, who is mixed up with Christ’s sheep by a bodily intercourse only in deceitfulness
of heart. For the “Holy Spirit of discipline will flee deceit.”2461 Wherefore whosoever are
baptized in the congregations or separations rather2462 of schismatics or heretics, although
they have not been born again of the Spirit, like as it were to Ishmael, who was Abraham’s
son after the flesh; not like Isaac, who was his son after the Spirit,2463 because by promise;
yet when they come to the Catholic Church, and are joined to the fellowship of the Spirit
which without the Church they beyond doubt had not, the washing of the flesh is not repeated
in their case. For “this form of godliness” was not wanting to them even when they were
without; but there is added to them “the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” which
cannot be given but within. Before they were Catholics indeed, they were as they of whom
the Apostle says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”2464 For the
visible form of the branch may exist even when separated from the vine; but the invisible
life of the root cannot be had, but in the vine. Wherefore the bodily sacraments, which even
they who are separated from the Unity of Christ’s Body bear and celebrate, may give “the
form of godliness;” but the invisible and spiritual power of godliness cannot in any wise be
in them, just as sensation does not accompany a man’s limb, when it is amputated from the
body.
33. And since this is so, remission of sins, seeing it is not given but by the Holy Spirit,
can only be given in that Church which hath the Holy Spirit. For this is the effect of the re-
2460 1 Cor. iii. 16.
2461 Wisd. i. 5.
2462 Congregationibus vel potius segregationibus.
2463 Gal. iv. 29.
2464 2 Tim. iii. 5.
694
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, ‘Whosoever shall speak a word…