A Christian instruction, conteyning the law and the Gospell. Also a summarie of the principall poyntes of the Christian fayth and religion, and of the abuses and errors contrary to the same. Done in certayne dialogues in french, by M. Peter Viret, sometime minister of the Word of God at Nymes in Prouince. Translated by I.S. Seene and allowed according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.

Of the proprietie of the water of Bap∣tisme to represent the graces of god whiche are communicated vn∣to vs by the same.

M.

FOr somuche as it is so, what pro∣prietie hath the water to represent vnto vs all that thou sayest?

P.

It hathe great proprietie.

M.

Whiche is the first?

P.

Forsomuch as y^e nature of it is to wash and to clense, it is verie proper to repre∣sente howe we are washed and clensed in the bloud of Iesus Chryste, and by the water of lyfe, which is the holy ghost wherewith wée are watered and wa∣shed by the vertue of the same: and ther∣fore the holy Ghost is often signified in the holy Scriptures by water.

M.

Are there yet any other proprieties?

P.

Wée can not vnderstād our regeneration into a new creature to be made new men, ex∣cept wée vnderstād also the mortificatiō of our old nature, which is our old Adam, and our old man: And therfore S. Paule sayth: That by baptisme we ar dead and buried, & risen agayn with Iesus Chryst.

M.

Is the water propre to signifie y^e deth & burial of the old mā, & y^e resurrectiō and

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renewing of the newe?

P.

The water a∣lone doth not represēt vnto vs only these things, but also the maner in the whiche it is administred in baptisme.

M.

Howe may that be?

P.

Thou séest that cōmonly it is poured vpon him that is baptised, in token that our old Adam is drowned and dead in Iesus Christ, as the olde Pharao and the Egyptians were drowned in the redde sea. And therfore Saint Paul com∣pareth baptisme to the passage thorowe the red sea.

M.

And what signifieth thys that they doe but poure this water vpon him that is baptized?

P.

The same signi∣fieth vnto vs, howe that of y^e death of the olde man the newe riseth: as if our olde Adam after that he were drowned were risen againe a newe man, and that all his olde filthines were drowned by the wa∣ter of grace in the which he was plunged: which is the bloode of Iesus Christe, the true washer of regeneration.

M.

I doe nowe vnderstand all this very well: but is there any other proprietie to consider touching the water?

P.

If we shuld make comparisō of all the other properties that it hath with the holy Ghost, which it doth

figure in Baptisme, I could giue thée ma∣nie others, from which I doe abstaine at this present, seing that that which I haue said, may suffice thée for the vnderstāding of the matter of Baptisme.

Notes

• 1. Cor. 5. b Heb. 9. d Apocal. 1. a Esay. 12. b Ezech. 34. c Zach. 13. a Iohn. 3. a. 7. f 1. Cor. 15. e Ephe. 4. c. Colloss. 3. b Rom. 6. a
• Exod. 14. f. g 1. Cor. 10. a