BAptime hath also his worde and promise, which the Priest ought to to teach the people, and Christen them in the Englishe tounge, and not to play y• popengay with Credo say ye, ••olo say ye, and Baptismum say ye, for there ought to be no mumming in such a matter. The Priest before he baptiseth, asketh saying: beleuest thou in God the father almighty, and in his sonne Ie∣sus Christ, and in the holy ghost, and that the congregation of Christ is ho∣ly? And they say, yea. Then the Priest vppon thys fayth baptiseth the childe in y• name of the father, and of yt sonne, and of the holy ghost, for the forgeue∣nes of sinnes, as Peter saith. Act. ij.
The washing without the worde helpeth not: but through the worde it purifieth and clenseth vs. As thou readest Ephe. v. How Christ clenseth the congregation in the fountayne of water through the worde. The word is the promise that God hath made. Now as a preacher, in preaching the * 1.1 worde of God saueth the hearers that beleue, so doth the washing, in that it preacheth and representeth vnto vs the promise that God hath made vnto vs in Christ. The washing preacheth vnto vs, that we are clēsed with Chri∣stes bloudshedding, which was an of∣fering and a satisfaction for the sinne of all that repent and beleue, consenting and submitting themselues vnto the will of God. The plunging into the water signifieth that we die, and are buried with Christ, as concerning the olde life of sinne which is Adam. And the pulling out againe, signifieth that we rise againe with Christ in a newe life full of the holy ghost, which shall teach vs & guide vs, & worke the will of God in vs, as thou seest. Rom. vj.