18. And the Spirit, indeed, continues to this day invisible to men, as the Lord says, “The Spirit breathes where He will; and thou knowest not whence He cometh, or whither He goeth.”58    John iii. 8. But in the beginning of the mystery of the faith and of spiritual baptism, the same Spirit was manifestly seen to have sat upon the disciples as it had been fire. Moreover, the heavens being opened, to have descended upon the Lord like a dove; because many things, yea, almost all things which were to be, are manifest—which, however, were only invisible nevertheless,—now also are shown to the eyes and to the incredulity of men, either partially, or at times, or in figure, for the strengthening and confirming of our faith. But neither should I omit that which the Gospel well announces. For our Lord says to the paralytic man, “Be of good cheer, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee,”59    Matt. ix. 2. that He might show that hearts were purified by faith for the forgiveness of sins that should follow.  And this remission of sins that woman also which was a sinner in the city obtained, to whom the Lord said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.”60    Luke vii. 48. And when they who were reclining around began to say among themselves, “Who is this that forgiveth sins?”61    Luke vii. 50.—because concerning the paralytic the scribes and Pharisees had murmured crossly—the Lord says to the woman, “Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”62    Luke vii. 50. From all which things it is shown that hearts are purified by faith, but that souls are washed by the Spirit; further, also, that bodies are washed by water, and moreover that by blood we may more readily attain at once to the rewards of salvation.

XVIII. Et hominibus quidem Spiritus perseverat hodie invisibilis, sicut Dominus dicit: Spiritus ubi vult spirat, et nescis unde veniat vel quo vadat (Joan. III, 8). Sed in principio mysterii fidei et spiritalis Baptismatis hic idem Spiritus manifeste visus est et super discipulos insedisse quasi ignis: item, coelis apertis, descendisse super Dominum columbae similem; quoniam pleraque, immo pene omnia quae essent futura manifesta sunt: quae tamen modo essent invisibilia nihilominus, nunc quoque oculis et incredulitati hominum vel ex parte, vel aliquando, vel in figura sunt monstrata ad corroborandam et confirmandam fidem nostram. Sed nec illud omiserim quod Evangelium 1203B merito praedicat. Ait enim paralytico Dominus noster: Bono animo esto, fili, dimittuntur tibi peccata (Matth. IX, 2): ut ostenderet fide mundari corda ad remissionem peccatorum consequendam. Quam remissionem peccatorum consecuta est etiam illa quae erat mulier peccatrix in civitate; cui Dominus ait: Dimittuntur tibi peccata (Luc. VII, 48, 50). Et cum coepissent qui simul discumbebant, apud semet ipsos dicere: Quis est hic qui peccata dimittit? quod et circa paralyticum acerbius Scribae et Pharisaei obmurmuraverant, 1204A ait ad mulierem Dominus: Fides tua te salvam fecit, vade in pace. Ex quibus universis ostenditur fide emundari corda, Spiritu autem ablui animas: porro autem per aquam lavari corpora, sanguine quoque festinantius perveniri per compendium ad salutis praemia.