A TREATISE ON RE-BAPTISM. 425 of the name of Jesus Christ,as we have most abundantlyset forth; guarding,moreover,the custom and authoritywhich so much claim our venerationfor so long a time and for such greatmen. 16. But sincethe firstpartof thisargument seems to be unfolded,we ought totouch on itssubsequentpart,on account of the heretics; becauseitisvery necessarynot to passover that discussionwhich once fallsinto our hands, lestper chance some hereticshould dare of his subtletyto assail those of our brethren who are more simple. For because John saidthatwe must be baptizedin the Holy Ghost and in fire,from the factthat he went on to say and fire,some desperatemen have dared to such an extent to carrytheir depravity,and thereforevery craftymen seek how they can thus corruptand violate,and even neutralizethe baptismof holiness; who derive the originof theirnotionfrom Simon Magus, practisingitwith manifoldperversitythrough various errors;towhom Simon Peter,in theActs of theApostles,said, " Thy money perishwith thee,because thou hast thought thatthe graceof God could be possessedby money. Thou hast neitherpart nor lot in thiswork : forthy heartis not rightwith God." 1 And such men as thesedo allthesethings in the desireto deceivethosewho are more simple or more inquisitive; and some of them try to argue that they only administera sound and perfect,not as we, a mutilatedand curtailedbaptism,which they are in such wise saidto desig nate,that immediatelythey have descended into the water, fireat once appears upon the water; which if it can be effectedby any trick,as severaltricksof this kind are affirmedtobe— of Anaxilaus— whether itisanythingnatural, by means of which thismay happen, or whether they think that they behold this,or whether the work and magic poison of some malignant being can forcefirefrom the water; still they declaresuch a deceitand artificetobe a perfectbaptism, which iffaithfulmen have been forcedto receive,therewill assuredlybe no doubt but that they have lostthat which they had ; just as,if a soldieraftertaking an oath should 1Actsviii.20,21.