Chapter XI.—Baptism and the cross prefigured in the Old Testament. Let us further inquire whether the Lord took any care to foreshadow the water [of bap- tism] and the cross. Concerning the water, indeed, it is written, in reference to the Israelites, that they should not receive that baptism which leads to the remission of sins, but should procure154 another for themselves. The prophet therefore declares, “Be astonished, O heaven, and let the earth tremble155 at this, because this people hath committed two great evils: they have forsaken Me, a living fountain, and have hewn out for themselves broken cisterns.156 Is my holy hill Zion a desolate rock? For ye shall be as the fledglings of a bird, which fly away when the nest is removed.”157 And again saith the prophet, “I will go before thee and make level the mountains, and will break the brazen gates, and bruise in pieces the iron bars; and I will give thee the secret,158 hidden, invisible treasures, that they may know that I am the Lord God.”159 And “He shall dwell in a lofty cave of the strong rock.”160 Fur- thermore, what saith He in reference to the Son? “His water is sure;161 ye shall see the King in His glory, and your soul shall meditate on the fear of the Lord.”162 And again He saith in another prophet, “The man who doeth these things shall be like a tree planted by the courses of waters, which shall yield its fruit in due season; and his leaf shall not fade, and all that he doeth shall prosper. Not so are the ungodly, not so, but even as chaff, which the wind sweeps away from the face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the just; for the Lord knoweth the way of the right- eous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”163 Mark how He has described at once both the water and the cross. For these words imply, Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the cross, have gone down into the water; for, says He, they shall receive their reward in due time: then He declares, I will recompense them. But now He saith,164 “Their leaves shall not fade.” This meaneth, that every word which proceedeth out of your mouth in faith and love shall tend to bring conversion and hope to many. Again, another prophet saith, “And the land of Jacob shall be extolled above every land.”165 This meaneth the vessel of His 154 Literally, “should build.” 155 Cod. Sin. has, “confine still more,” corrected to “tremble still more.” 156 Cod. Sin. has, “have dug a pit of death.” See Jer. ii. 12, 13. 157 Comp. Isa. xvi. 1, 2. 158 Literally, “dark.” Cod. Sin. has, “of darkness.” 159 Isa. xlv. 2, 3. 160 Isa. xxxiii. 16. Cod. Sin. has, “thou shalt dwell.” 161 Cod. Sin. entirely omits the question given above, and joins “the water is sure” to the former sentence. 162 Isa. xxxiii. 16–18. 163 Ps. i. 3–6. 164 Cod. Sin. has, “what meaneth?” 165 Zeph. iii. 19. Chapter XI.—Baptism and the cross prefigured in the Old Testament. 387 Chapter XI.—Baptism and the cross prefigured in the Old Testament.