Sermons upon Deuteronomy

If a man ask us what is meant by Baptism, and wherefore it was ordained: it is to the intent we should know, that even from our mothers womb we bring nothing but all manner of uncleanness with us, and that we be full of infection and filth before the Lord, so as we must be fain to be washed, or else he will not vouchsafe to avow us for his.¹ And wherewithal §10must we be washed? With the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.² That then is the way to make us clean. For as long as we live in Adam and in our own nature, we can do nothing but evil. We be so marred, as there is nothing in us but utter rebelliousness against GOD. Therefore we must enter as it were into death, and into the grave,³ to be renewed, and our Lord must be fain to give us a new understanding, and a new heart, and he must so shape us §20new again, as we may no more be the same we were before, but be (as ye would say) cast in a new mould,⁴ and be made new creatures, as the scripture useth to speak of it. Thus ye see how we may learn what Baptism is, what it betokeneth, and to what end it was ordained.

If a man aske vs what is meant by Baptisme, and wherefore it was ordeined: it is to the intent wee should know, that euen from our mothers wombe wee bring nothing but all maner of vncleanesse with vs, and that wee be ful of infection and filth before the Lord, so as wee must be faine to bee washed, or else hee will not vouchsafe to auowe vs for his.¹ And wherewithall §10must wee be washed? With the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ.² That then is the way to make vs cleane. For as long as wee liue in Adam and in our owne nature, wee can doe nothing but euill. We bee so marred, as there is nothing in vs but vtter rebelliousnesse against GOD. Therefore wee must enter as it were into death, and into the graue,