A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Now to this, outward Baptism is necessary, necessitate conditionata, with a conditional necessity: inward, necessitate absoluta; with an absolute necessity. Baptism purgeth not,¹ Ut pharmacum, aut opus expiatorium, sed ut Sacramentum, foederis obsignatorium; It healeth not as a medicine, by it own inherent virtue; but as a seal of his mercy, by whose grace we are saved. Not necessitate medii, sed mandati; the necessariness of it is derived from the Commandment of GOD. A man may have it, and yet be lost: as Magus had Sacramentum virtutis, but not virtutem Sacramenti; the Sacrament of grace, but not the grace of the Sacrament. Another may want it, and yet be saved: as that penitent malefactor was never washed in Jordan, yet received into Paradise. Sacraments then save not, Efficienter, sed efficaciter; not necessarily, but ordinarily. Unde tanta vis aquae, ut dum corpus lavet, cor abluat? non quod dicitur, sed quod creditur, August. Whence hath the water such virtue, that washing the body, it should purge the soul? Not because it is so said, or, so sprinkled; but because it is so believed. It is not therefore enough to have Sacramentum fidei, but Fidem Sacramenti; Not to have the Sacrament of faith, but the faith of the Sacrament. He that believes, and is baptised, shall be saved. He that is thus baptised, is truly purged: and as upon CHRIST being baptised, the HOLY GHOST descended: so the Spirit, which once moved on the face of the waters, shall work with the water upon his soul. And as there came a voice to CHRIST from heaven; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: So doth GOD the Father secretly spake to the baptized Infant; Thou art my beloved child; with whom (though before I was angry) I am now well pleased. Before thou wast a child of wrath, an heir of perdition: but now^f thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.

Now to this, outward Baptisme is necessary, necessitate conditionata, with a conditionall necessitie: inward, necessitate absoluta; with an absolute necessitie. Baptisme purgeth not,¹ Vt pharmacum, aut opus expiatorium, sed ut Sacramentum, foederis obsignatorium; It healeth not as a medicine, by it owne inherent vertue; but as a seale of his mercy, by whose grace we are saved. Not necessitate medii, sed mandati; the necessarinesse of it is derived from the Commandement of GOD. A man may have it, and yet bee lost: as Magus had Sacramentum virtutis, but not virtutem Sacramenti; the Sacrament of grace, but not the grace of the Sacrament. Another may want it, and yet bee saved: as that penitent malefactour was never washed in Iordan, yet received into Paradise. Sacraments then save not, Efficienter, sed efficaciter; not necessarily, but ordinarily. Vnde tanta vis aquae, ut dum corpus lavet, cor abluat? non quod dicitur, sed quod creditur, August. Whence hath the water such vertue, that washing the bodie, it should purge the soule? Not because it is so said, or, so sprinkled; but because it is so beleeved. It is not therefore enough to have Sacramentum fidei, but Fidem Sacramenti; Not to have the Sacrament of faith, but the faith of the Sacrament. Hee that beleeves, and is baptised, shall bee saved. Hee that is thus baptised, is truely purged: and as upon CHRIST being baptised, the HOLY GHOST descended: so the Spirit, which once moved on the face of the waters, shall worke with the water upon his soule. And as there came a voice to CHRIST from heaven; This is my beloved Sonne, in whom I am well pleased: So doth GOD the Father secretly spake to the baptized Infant; Thou art my beloved childe; with whom (though before I was angry) I am now well pleased. Before thou wast a childe of wrath, an heire of perdition: but now