“For into one Spirit,”
Sic. it says, “we were all baptized
in
Sic. one body.” 1 Cor. xii. 13, loosely quoted.
And in harmony with this are the passages: “You shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost,” Acts i. 5. and “He
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” Luke iii. 16. But no one on this account would be
justified in calling that baptism a perfect baptism wherein only the
name of the Spirit was invoked. For the tradition that has
been given us by the quickening grace must remain for ever
inviolate. He who redeemed our life from destruction cf.
Ps. ciii. 4. gave us power of renewal, whereof the
cause is ineffable and hidden in mystery, but bringing great
salvation to our souls, so that to add or to take away
anything cf.
Deut. iv. 2, and Rev. xxi. 18, 19. involves
manifestly a falling away from the life everlasting. If then
in baptism the separation of the Spirit from the Father and the Son
is perilous to the baptizer, and of no advantage to the baptized,
how can the rending asunder of the Spirit from Father and from Son
be safe for us? cf. note
on p. 17. Faith and
baptism are two kindred and inseparable ways of salvation:
faith is perfected through baptism, baptism is established through
faith, and both are completed by the same names. For as we
believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, so are we also
baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost; first comes the confession, introducing us to salvation, and
baptism follows, setting the seal upon our
assent.