born of the Spirit, another to be nourished by the Spirit; just as it is one thing to be born of
the flesh, which happens when the mother is delivered of her child; another to be nourished
by the flesh, which happens when she gives suck to her infant, who turns himself that he
may drink with pleasure thither whence he was born, to have life; that he may receive the
support of life from thence, whence he received the beginning of his birth. We must believe
then that the first blessing of God’s goodness in the Holy Ghost is the remission of sins.
Whence the preaching of John the Baptist, who was sent as the forerunner of the Lord, also
begins with it. For thus it is written, “In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the
wilderness of Judæa, saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”2396 Hence
too the beginning of our Lord’s preaching, as we read, “From that time Jesus began to preach
and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”2397 Now John, amongst the
other things which he spake to those who came to be baptized by him, said, “I indeed baptize
you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to bear; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”2398
The Lord also said, “John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
Ghost not many days hence,”2399 even at Pentecost. Now as to John’s expression, “with
fire,” though tribulation also might be understood, which believers were to suffer for the
name of Christ; yet may we reasonably think that the same Holy Spirit is signified also under
the name of “fire.”2400 Wherefore when He came it is said, “And there appeared unto them
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”2401 Hence also the Lord Himself
said, “I am come to send fire on the earth.”2402 Hence also the Apostle saith, “Fervent in
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the spirit;”2403 for from Him comes the fervour of love. “For it is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”2404 And the contrary to this fervour is what the
Lord said, “The love of many shall wax cold.”2405 Now perfect love is the perfect gift of the
Holy Spirit. But the first “gift” is that which is concerned with the remission of sins; by which
blessing “we are delivered from the power of darkness;”2406 and the prince of this world,2407
2396 Matt. iii. 1, 2.
2397 Matt. iv. 17.
2398 Matt. iii. 11.
2399 Acts i. 5.
2400 See note g on Tert. De Bapt. c. 10, p. 268, Oxford translation.
2401 Acts ii. 3.
2402 Luke xii. 49.
2403 Rom. xii. 11.
2404 Rom. v. 5.
2405 Matt. xxiv. 12.
2406 Col. i. 13.
2407 John xii. 31.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, ‘Whosoever shall speak a word…