The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

But if any man trusting to this testimony, do make Baptism a cold spectacle and void of all grace of the Spirit, he shall be also greatly deceived. For the holy Scripture useth to speak two manner of ways of the Sacraments. For because Christ is not unfaithful in his promises, he doth not suffer that to be vain which he doth institute. But when as the scripture doth attribute to baptism strength to wash & regenerate, it ascribeth all this to Christ, and doth only teach what he worketh by his spirit by the hand of man and the visible sign. Where Christ is thus joined with the minister and the efficacy of the spirit with the sign,¹ there is so much attributed to the sacraments as is needful. But that conjunction must not be so confused, but that mens minds being drawn from mortal and frail things, and things like to themselves, and from the elements of the world, they must learn to seek for salvation at Christs hand, & to look unto the power of his spirit alone: because he misseth the mark of faith, whosoever turneth aside even but a little from the spirit unto the signs: & he is a sacrilegious person, who taketh even but an inch of Christs praise, that he may deck, man therewith. And we must also remember, that Christ did comprehend under the word spirit, not only the gift of tongues and such like things, but all the whole grace of our renewing. But because these gifts were an excellent argument of Christ his power, this sentence may well be applied unto them: I will make this more plain: seeing that Christ did bestow upon the Apostles the visible graces of the Spirit, he did plainly declare that the Spirit was in his hand. So that by this means he did testify, that he is the alone author of cleanness, righteousness, & of the whole regeneration. And Peter applieth it unto his purpose thus, that for as much as Christ did go before, carrying with him the force of Baptism, it became him to follow with the addition, that is, the outward sign of water,

But if any man trusting to this testimonie, do make Baptisme a colde spectacle and voide of all grace of the Spirite, hee shall bee also greatlie deceiued. For the holy Scripture vseth to speake two manner of wayes of the Sacramentes. For because Christe is not vnfaithfull in his promises, he doth not suffer that to be vain which he doth institute. But when as the scripture doth attribute to baptisme strength to wash & regenerate, it ascribeth al this to Christ, and doth onlie teach what he woorketh by his spirit by the hand of man and the visible signe. Where Christ is thus ioined with the minister and the efficacy of the spirit with the sign,