ƲƲhat Analogie and agreement is there of the Signe, with the thing signified in Baptisme?
Verie great: for euen as the water doth wash the body, and the filth thereof: so the bloud of Christ by his merit doth wash away our sins, and spirituall spots: for his spirit doth sanctifie vsd 1.1. And like as euery generation cōsisteth of moyst & watery matter (Wherevpon some Philosophers, as Thales, haue said, that water, was the beginning of all things) so our regeneration is by the holy Ghost in Baptisme, who is often signified by the name of water: for euen as water prepareth the earth to bring forth fruit, and quencheth thirst: So the holy Ghost, that same which sate v∣pon the watersa 1.2, maketh vs fit for good workes, and quencheth in vs the thirsting after terrene things, and hereof good workes are called the fruites of the spiritb 1.3, and Christ saith; who so thirsteth, let him come to mee and drinke, for hee that drinketh shall neuer thirst; but this hee spake of the spirit which they that beleeue should receiuec 1.4. Secondly, the sprinkling with water doth plainly note the sprink∣ling of the bloud of Christ for the remission of sinnes,* 1.5 and impu∣tation of righteousnesse: but the staying vnder the water, though but a while, setteth as it were before our eyes, the death, buriall, and mortification of our natural corruption, the old Adam (by the vertue of the death and buriall of Christ) which is the first part of our regenerationd 1.6. And the being taken out, the reuiuing of the newe man, and newnesse of life, yea, and proportionally, our re∣surrection to comee 1.7.