6. Let no one then suppose that Baptism is
merely the grace of remission of sins, or further, that of adoption; as
John’s was a baptism Tertullian (De
Baptismo, c. 10) denies that John’s Baptism availed for the
remission of sins: “If repentance is a thing human, its
baptism must necessarily be of the same nature: else if it had
been celestial, it would have given both the Holy Spirit and the
remission of sins.” Cyril’s doctrine is more in
accordance with the language of the Fathers generally, and of St.
Mark i. 4; Luke iii.
3. conferring only
remission of sins: whereas we know full well, that as it purges
our sins, and ministers πρόξενον. to us the gift of
the Holy Ghost, so also it is the counterpart ἀντίτυπον.
The “Antitype” is here the sign or memorial of that which
is past, and no longer actually present: See note 6 on xxi.
1. Cf. Heb. ix.
24. of
the sufferings of Christ. For this cause Paul just now cried
aloud and said, Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized
into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? We were buried
therefore with Him by baptism into His death Rom. vi. 3. In the following sentence
several mss. have a different reading:
“These things perhaps he said to some who were disposed to think
that Baptism ministers remission of sins only, and not adoption, and
that further it has not the fellowship, &c.” Against
this reading, approve by Milles, the Benedictine Editor argues that
in Rom. vi. 3,
4, there is no reference to
adoption, but only to the fellowship of Christ’s Passion, and
that Cyril quotes the passage only to prove the latter, the gift of
adoption being generally admitted, and therefore not in question.. These words he spoke to some who were
disposed to think that Baptism ministers to us the remission of sins,
and adoption, but has not further the fellowship also, by
representation, of Christ’s true sufferings.