Chapter V.

Christ is Himself present in Baptism, so that we need not consider the person of His ministers. A brief explanation of the confession of the Trinity as usually uttered by those about to be baptized.

26. Is there, then, here any room left for doubt, when the Father clearly calls from heaven in the Gospel narrative, and says: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased”?29    S. Matt. iii. 17. When the Son also speaks, upon Whom the Holy Spirit showed Himself in the likeness of a dove? When the Holy Spirit also speaks, Who came down in the likeness of a dove? When David, too, speaks: “The voice of the Lord is above the waters, the God of glory thundered, the Lord above many waters”?30    Ps. xxix. [xxviii.] 3. When Scripture testifies that at the prayer of Jerubbaal, fire came down from heaven,31    Judg. vi. 21. and again, when Elijah prayed, fire was sent forth and consecrated the sacrifice.32    1 [3] Kings xviii. 38.

27. Do not consider the merits of individuals, but the office of the priests. Or, if you look at the merits, consider the priest as Elijah. Look upon the merits of Peter also, or of Paul, who handed down to us this mystery which they had received of the Lord Jesus. To those [of old] a visible fire was sent that they might believe; for us who believe, the Lord works invisibly; for them that happened for a figure, for us for warning. Believe, then, that the Lord Jesus is present at the invocation of the priest, Who said: “Where two or three are, there am I also.”33    S. Matt. xviii. 20.How much where the Church is, and where His Mysteries are, does He vouchsafe to impart His presence!

28. You went down, then (into the water), remember what you replied to the questions, that you believe in the Father, that you believe in the Son, that you believe in the Holy Spirit. The statement there is not: I believe in a greater and in a less and in a lowest person, but you are bound by the same guarantee of your own voice, to believe in the Son in like manner as you believe in the Father; and to believe in the Holy Spirit in like manner as you believe in the Son, with this one exception, that you confess that you must believe in the cross of the Lord Jesus alone.

CAPUT V.

Confirmatur adesse Christum in baptismate, atque adeo non considerandos ejus ministros. Demum confessio Trinitatis a baptizatis edi solita paucis expenditur.

26. Estne adhuc quod dubitare debeas, cum evidenter tibi clamet in Evangelio Pater, qui ait: Hic est Filius meus in quo complacui (Matth. III, 17); clamet Filius, super quem sicut columba se demonstravit Spiritus sanctus; clamet et Spiritus sanctus, qui sicut columba descendit; clamet David: Vox Domini super aquas, Deus majestatis intonuit: Dominus super 0397B 332 aquas multas (Psal. XXVIII, 3); Cum tibi Scriptura (1, q. 1, c. Cum Script.) testetur quod ad Hierobaal preces ignis descenderit de coelo (Judic. VI, 21), et rursus precante Elia, ignis sit missus qui sacrificium consecravit (III Reg. XVIII, 38)?

27. Non merita personarum consideres, sed officia sacerdotum. Et si merita spectes; sicut Eliam consideres, Petri quoque merita spectato, vel Pauli, qui acceptum a Domino Jesu hoc nobis mysterium tradiderunt. Ignis illis visibilis mittebatur (l, q. 1, c. Cum Script., § Ignis), ut crederent: nobis invisibilis operatur, qui credimus: illis ad figuram, nobis ad commonitionem. Crede ergo adesse Dominum Jesum invocatum precibus sacerdotum, qui ait: Ubi fuerint duo vel tres, ibi et ego sum (Matt. 0397C XVIII, 20); quanto magis ubi est Ecclesia, ubi mysteria sua sunt, ibi dignatur suam impertire praesentiam!

28. Descendisti igitur; recordare quid responderis, quod credas in Patrem, credas in Filium, credas in Spiritum sanctum. Non habes illic: Credo in majorem et minorem et ultimum: sed eadem vocis tuae cautione constringeris, ut similiter credas in Filium, sicut in Patrem credis: similiter in Spiritum sanctum credas, sicut credis in Filium; hoc solo excepto, quod in crucem solius Domini Jesu fateris tibi esse credendum.