Therefore he would expound them unto us, and give us to understand, that those waters promised of God, did signify none other thing, than the abundance of the holy ghost, which ought to be shed forth upon all flesh, as a river and a flood of water, which watereth and overfloweth all the earth. The which Saint Peter witnesseth to have been 1accomplished both in him and in the other Disciples of Jesus Christ, the day of Pentecost, according to y• prophecy of Joel. And therefore Jesus Christ, would as well in 2that place, as in speaking unto the Samaritan, and bidding those which were in the temple to come drink of those living 3waters, use those manners of speakings: And for to declare unto us in like manner, to what end he hath instituted the sign of the water, in the baptism. And that it is true, I do take Saint John for a witness: who expounding the words of his Master, saith: that he understandeth by those waters, y• holy Ghost y• which the believers ought to receive. Thirdly, by that form of figured speaking, be teacheth us in like manner, what the Christian man ought to be, that is, regenerated by the holy Ghost, setting forth the water and the wind, which are bodies more subtle, thinner, clearer, & purer then the earth, which is an element more weightier, unpurer, thicker and material. These words then do signify as much as if he had said, that in stead of that weighty, earthly, carnal and corruptible man, we must be regenerated into a new man, heavenly, spiritual and perfect: as much differing from this here which is earthly and falling, as the water and the wind do differ from the earth: And it must be that the same is done by the holy Ghost which is the true water, which maketh that purification in us.
Therefore he would expound them vnto vs, and giue vs to vnderstand, that those waters promised of God, did signifie none other thing, thē the aboūdance of the holy ghost, which ought to be shed foorth vpon all flesh, as a riuer and a floud of water, whiche watereth and ouerfloweth all the earth. The which Sainct Peter witnesseth to haue bene 1accomplished both in him and in the other Disciples of Iesus Christ, the day of Pentecost, according to y• prophecie of Ioel. And therefore Iesus Christ, would as well in 2that place, as in speaking vnto the Samaritane, and bidding those which were in the temple to come drinke of those liuing 3waters, vse those manners of speakings: And for to declare vnto vs in like manner, to what ende he hath instituted the signe of the water, in the baptisme. And that it is true, I doe take Sainct Iohn for a witnesse: who expounding the words of his Master, saith: that he vnderstandeth by those waters, y• holy Ghost y• which the beléeuers ought to receiue. Thirdly, by that forme of figured speaking, be teacheth vs in like manner, what the Christian man ought to bée, that is, regenerated by the holy Ghost, setting foorth the water and the winde, which are bodyes more subtill, thinner, cléerer, & purer then the earth, which is an elemēt more weightier, vnpurer, thicker and materyall. These wordes then doe signifie as much as if hée had sayde, that in stéede of that weightie, earthlye, carnall and corruptible man, wée must be regenerated into a newe man, heauenlye, spirituall and perfect: as much differing from this héere whiche is earthly and fallinge, as the water and the winde doe differ from the earth: And it must be that the same is done by the holy Ghost which is the true water, which maketh that purification in vs.
- 1Act. 2. 2. 1
- 2Joel. 2. g. 29Ioel. 2. g. 29
- 3John. 4. b. 14 & 7. f. 38Iohn. 4. b. 14 & 7. f. 38
