Chapter IX.—Types of the Red Sea, and the Water from the Rock.

How many, therefore, are the pleas76    Patrocinia—“pleas in defence.” of nature, how many the privileges of grace, how many the solemnities of discipline, the figures, the preparations, the prayers, which have ordained the sanctity of water? First, indeed, when the people, set unconditionally free,77    “Libere expeditus,” set free, and that without any conditions, such as Pharaoh had from time to time tried to impose. See Ex. viii. 25, 28; x. 10, 11, 24. escaped the violence of the Egyptian king by crossing over through water, it was water that extinguished78    “Extinxit,” as it does fire. the king himself, with his entire forces.79    Ex. xiv. 27–30. What figure more manifestly fulfilled in the sacrament of baptism? The nations are set free from the world80    Sæculo. by means of water, to wit: and the devil, their old tyrant, they leave quite behind, overwhelmed in the water. Again, water is restored from its defect of “bitterness” to its native grace of “sweetness” by the tree81    See Ex. xv. 24, 25. of Moses. That tree was Christ,82    “The Tree of Life,” “the True Vine,” etc. restoring, to wit, of Himself, the veins of sometime envenomed and bitter nature into the all-salutary waters of baptism. This is the water which flowed continuously down for the people from the “accompanying rock;” for if Christ is “the Rock,” without doubt we see baptism blest by the water in Christ. How mighty is the grace of water, in the sight of God and His Christ, for the confirmation of baptism!  Never is Christ without water: if, that is, He is Himself baptized in water;83    Matt. iii. 13–17. inaugurates in water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials;84    John ii. 1–11. invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own sempiternal water;85    John vii. 37, 38. approves, when teaching concerning love,86    Agape. See de Orat. c. 28, ad fin. among works of charity,87    Dilectionis. See de Patien. c. xii. the cup of water offered to a poor (child);88    Matt. x. 42. recruits His strength at a well;89    John iv. 6. walks over the water;90    Matt. xiv. 25. willingly crosses the sea;91    Mark iv. 36. ministers water to His disciples.92    John xiii. 1–12. Onward even to the passion does the witness of baptism last: while He is being surrendered to the cross, water intervenes; witness Pilate’s hands:93    Matt. xxvii. 24. Comp. de Orat. c. xiii. when He is wounded, forth from His side bursts water; witness the soldier’s lance!94    John xix. 34. See c. xviii. sub fin.

CAPUT 9. Quot igitur patrocinia naturae, quot privilegia gratiae, quot sollemnia disciplinae, figurae praestructiones praedicationes, religionem aquae ordinaverunt. primum quidem, cum populus de Aegypto [libere] expeditus vim regis Aegypti per aquam transgressus evadit, ipsum regem cum totis copiis aqua extinguit. quae figura manifestior in baptismi Sacramento? liberantur de saeculo nationes per aquam scilicet, et diabolum dominatorem pristinum in aqua oppressum derelinquunt. item aqua de amaritudinis vitio in suum commodum suavitatis Mosei ligno remediatur. lignum illud erat Christus venenatae et amarae retro naturae venas in saluberrimam aquam, baptismi scilicet, ex sese remedians. haec est aqua quae de comite petra populo profluebat: si enim petra Christus, sine dubio aqua in Christo baptismum videmus benedici. quanta aquae gratia penes deum et Christum eius ad baptismi confirmationem. nunquam sine aqua Christus : siquidem et ipse aqua tinguitur, prima rudimenta potestatis suae vocatus ad nuptias aqua auspicatur, cum sermonem facit sitientes ad aquam suam invitat sempiternam, cum de agape docet aquae calicem parvo oblatum inter opera dilectionis probat: ad puteum vires resumit, super aquam incedit, libenter transfretat, aquam discentibus ministrat. perseverat testimonium baptismi usque ad passionem: cum deditur in crucem aqua intervenit - sciunt Pilati manus : cum vulneratur aqua de latere prorumpit - scit lancea militis.