Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Again we see that this doctrine toucheth and concerneth us nowadays, because we have baptism which serveth to the same use that circumcision did, namely to lead us to repentance. Therefore must we apply it to our use. And forasmuch as God hath vouchsafed to give us a seal of the fatherly love which he beareth us, and that it pleased him to gather us into his Church, and to show that he hath taken us unto himself to be heirs of his kingdom: Let not us disappoint our selves of such a benefit through our own lewdness and unthankfulness; but let us endeavour to fare the better by it, by being washed in our souls, that is to say, by mortifying our own imaginations, reasons, and lusts, and by offering up of our selves in sacrifice unto god, to the end that he may renew us, and that nothing else but his spirit may reign in us, so as he may bear the whole sway. This exhortation is made unto the Jews, because it was their duty to apply their sacraments unto such end. Nevertheless let us mark, that it is not in our power to perform the thing that is required here. For although the Jews ought to have bin circumcised in their hearts; yet was it very necessary that God should work in that behalf. Likewise it standeth us in hand nowadays, to mortify our selves, & we be commanded so to do; but yet must we be fain to resort unto God, who reserveth to himself the office of renewing our souls. And that is the cause why it is said that our Lord Jesus Christ is only he which baptiseth with fire & the holy Ghost.¹ For if a man that ministereth baptism, had power to regenerate, then had he in himself the power, majesty, & glory, which is given to the son of God. But our baptising is only with water, that is to say, we have but the sign of baptism committed unto us, yet notwithstanding, our doing is not in vain: for we must needs be faithful witnesses of God. And forasmuch as we do it in his name; we must not think that the thing is void & unprofitable. But yet for all that, it behoveth us to resort to our Lord Jesus Christ, and to consider that our ministering of baptism in his Church, is by his authority, & therefore that it belongeth unto him to make it available & that it is only his spirit whereby we be regenerate. For if every man could wash his own soul:

Againe we see that this doctrin toucheth and concerneth vs nowadayes, because we haue baptisme which serueth to the same vse yt circumcision did, namely to lead vs to repentance. Therfore must we apply it to our vse. And forasmuch as God hath vouchsafed to giue vs a seale of the fatherly loue which hee beareth vs, and that it pleased him to gather vs into his Church, and to shew yt he hath taken vs vnto himself to be heirs of his kingdome: Let not vs disappoint our selues of such a benefite through our owne lewdenesse and vnthankefulnesse; but lette vs endeuour to fare the better by it, by beeing washed in our soules, that is to say, by mortifying our owne imaginations, reasons, and lustes, and by offering vp of our selues in sacrifice vnto god, to the ende that he may renewe vs, and that nothing else but his spirite may reigne in vs, so as hee may beare the whole swaye. This exhortation is made vnto the Iewes, because it was their dutie to apply their sacramentes vnto such ende. Neuerthelesse let vs marke, that it is not in our power to performe the thing yt is required here. For although the Iewes ought to haue bin circū cised in their heartes; yet was it verie necessary that God should worke in yt behalfe. Likewise it standeth vs in hande nowadayes, to mortifie our selues, & we be cōmanded so to do; but yet must wee be faine to resort vnto God, who reserueth to himselfe ye office of renewing our soules. And that is the cause why it is sayd yt our Lorde Iesus Christ is only he which baptiseth with fire & the holy Ghost.