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| Use of Baptism.
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Chapter IX.—Use of
Baptism.
“But you will perhaps say, What does the
baptism of water contribute towards the worship of God? In the
first place, because that which hath pleased God is fulfilled. In
the second place, because, when you are regenerated and born again of
water and of God, the frailty of your former birth, which you have
through men, is cut off, and so at length you shall be able to attain
salvation; but otherwise it is impossible. For thus hath the true
prophet testified to us with an oath: ‘Verily I say to you,
That unless a man is born again of water, he shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven.’784
| 784 John iii. 5. [This passage is cited, with
additions, in Homily XI. 26.—R.] | Therefore
make haste; for there is in these waters a certain power of mercy which
was borne upon them at the beginning, and acknowledges those who are
baptized under the name of the threefold sacrament, and rescues them
from future punishments, presenting as a gift to God the souls that are
consecrated by baptism. Betake yourselves therefore to these
waters, for they alone can quench the violence of the future fire; and
he who delays to approach to them, it is evident that the idol of
unbelief remains in him, and by it he is prevented from hastening to
the waters which confer salvation. For whether you be righteous
or unrighteous, baptism is necessary for you in every respect:
for the righteous, that perfection may be accomplished in him, and he
may be born again to God; for the unrighteous, that pardon may be
vouchsafed him of the sins which he has committed in ignorance.
Therefore all should hasten to be born again to God without delay,
because the end of every one’s life is
uncertain.
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