to the Romans. [1] St. Denis calls it the beginning of the most holy commandments, for this obvious reason, that baptism is, as it were, the gate through which we enter into the fellowship of Christian life, and begin thenceforward, to obey the commandments. [2] This exposition of the different names of the Sacrament of baptism, the pastor will briefly communicate to the people. [3]
With regard to its definition, although sacred writers give many, to us that which may be collected from the words of our Lord, recorded in the Gospel of St. John, and of the Apostle, in his epistle to the Ephesians, appears the most appropriate: " Unless," says our Lord, a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God;" [4] and, speaking of the Church, the Apostle says: " cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life." [5] From these words, Baptism may be accurately and appropriately denned: " The Sacrament of regeneration by water in the word." By nature, we are born from Adam, children of wrath; but by baptism we are regenerated in Christ, children of mercy; for, " He gave power to men to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." [6]
But, define Baptism as we may, the faithful are to be informed that this Sacrament consists of ablution, accompanied, necessarily, according to the institution of our Lord, by certain solemn words. [7] This is the uniform doctrine of the Holy Fathers; a doctrine proved by the authority of St. Augustine: " The word," says he, " is joined to the element, and it becomes a Sacrament." That these are the constituents of Baptism, it be comes more necessary to impress on the minds of the faithful, that they may not fall into the vulgar error of thinking, that the baptismal water, preserved in the sacred font, constitutes the Sacrament. Then only is it to be called the Sacrament of Baptism, when it is really used in the way of ablution, accompanied with the words appointed by our Lord. [8]
But, as we first said, when treating of the Sacraments in general, that every Sacrament consists of matter and form; it is therefore, necessary to point out what constitutes each of these in the Sacrament of Baptism. The matter then, or element of this Sacrament, is any sort of natural water, which is, simply, and without addition of any kind, commonly called water; be it sea-water, river-water, water from a pond, well, or fountain: our Lord has declared that, " Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." [9] The Apostle also says, that the Church was cleansed
- ↑ Rom. vi. 3.
- ↑ s. Dion, de Eccl. Hier. c. 2.
- ↑ Do variis baptis. nom. vid. Gregor. Nazianz. orat. in sancta lumina. et Clem. Alex. lib. 1. Poedag. cap. 6.
- ↑ John iii. 5. &
- ↑ Eph. v. 26.
- ↑ John i. 12, 13.
- ↑ Matt, xxviii. 19.
- ↑ line, de revid. Chrysost. horn. 2-J. in Joan. Aug. lib. 6. contra. Donatist. c. 25 Cone. Florent. et Tr. d. item August, truct. SO in Joan.
- ↑ John ii 5.
