Anonymous Treatise on Re-baptism.

 to

 A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer. That They Who Have Once Been Washed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ought Not to Be Re-Baptized

 1. I observe that it has been asked among the brethren what course ought specially to be adopted towards the persons of those who, although baptized i

 2. To such, then, as approach to a discussion of saving and modern, that is, of spiritual and evangelical baptism, there occurs first of all the annou

 3. And to these things thou perchance, who art bringing in some novelty, mayest immediately and impatiently reply, as thou art wont, that the Lord sai

 4. And this being found to be so, what thinkest thou, my brother? If a man be not baptized by a bishop, so as even at once to have the imposition of h

 5. And if this be so, and the occurrence of any of these things cannot deprive a man who believes, of salvation, thou thyself also affirmest that the

 6. And this also,—looking at it from the opposite side of this discussion,—those disciples of our Lord themselves attained, upon whom, being previousl

 7. Neither must you esteem what our Lord said as being contrary to this treatment: “Go ye, teach the nations baptize them in the name of the Father,

 8. But these things thou wilt, as thou art wont, contradict, by objecting to us, that when they baptized, the disciples were baptized perfectly, and r

 9. By which things, and by many deeds of this kind tending to His glory, it appeared to follow as a consequence, that in whatever manner the Jews thin

 10. Besides, what wilt thou say of those who are in many cases baptized by bishops of very bad character, who yet at length, when God so wills it, con

 11. And what wilt thou determine against the person of him who hears the word, and haply taken up in the name of Christ, has at once confessed, and ha

 12. Wherefore the whole of this discussion must be considered, that it may be made clearer. For the invocation of the name of Jesus can only be an adv

 13. For any one of us will hold it necessary, that whatever is the last thing to be found in a man in this respect, is that whereby he must be judged,

 14. And even to this point the whole of that heretical baptism may be amended, after the intervention of some space of time, if a man should survive a

 15. And since we seem to have divided all spiritual baptism in a threefold manner, let us come also to the proof of the statement proposed, that we ma

 16. But since the first part of this argument seems to be unfolded, we ought to touch on its subsequent part, on account of the heretics because it i

 17. Moreover, if a man of this sort should again return to thee, thou wilt assuredly hesitate whether he may have baptism or no and yet it will behov

 18. And the Spirit, indeed, continues to this day invisible to men, as the Lord says, “The Spirit breathes where He will and thou knowest not whence

 19. I think that we have fully followed out the announcement of John the Baptist, whence we began our discourse, when he said to the Jews, “I indeed b

18. And the Spirit, indeed, continues to this day invisible to men, as the Lord says, “The Spirit breathes where He will; and thou knowest not whence He cometh, or whither He goeth.”58    John iii. 8. But in the beginning of the mystery of the faith and of spiritual baptism, the same Spirit was manifestly seen to have sat upon the disciples as it had been fire. Moreover, the heavens being opened, to have descended upon the Lord like a dove; because many things, yea, almost all things which were to be, are manifest—which, however, were only invisible nevertheless,—now also are shown to the eyes and to the incredulity of men, either partially, or at times, or in figure, for the strengthening and confirming of our faith. But neither should I omit that which the Gospel well announces. For our Lord says to the paralytic man, “Be of good cheer, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee,”59    Matt. ix. 2. that He might show that hearts were purified by faith for the forgiveness of sins that should follow.  And this remission of sins that woman also which was a sinner in the city obtained, to whom the Lord said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.”60    Luke vii. 48. And when they who were reclining around began to say among themselves, “Who is this that forgiveth sins?”61    Luke vii. 50.—because concerning the paralytic the scribes and Pharisees had murmured crossly—the Lord says to the woman, “Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”62    Luke vii. 50. From all which things it is shown that hearts are purified by faith, but that souls are washed by the Spirit; further, also, that bodies are washed by water, and moreover that by blood we may more readily attain at once to the rewards of salvation.

XVIII. Et hominibus quidem Spiritus perseverat hodie invisibilis, sicut Dominus dicit: Spiritus ubi vult spirat, et nescis unde veniat vel quo vadat (Joan. III, 8). Sed in principio mysterii fidei et spiritalis Baptismatis hic idem Spiritus manifeste visus est et super discipulos insedisse quasi ignis: item, coelis apertis, descendisse super Dominum columbae similem; quoniam pleraque, immo pene omnia quae essent futura manifesta sunt: quae tamen modo essent invisibilia nihilominus, nunc quoque oculis et incredulitati hominum vel ex parte, vel aliquando, vel in figura sunt monstrata ad corroborandam et confirmandam fidem nostram. Sed nec illud omiserim quod Evangelium 1203B merito praedicat. Ait enim paralytico Dominus noster: Bono animo esto, fili, dimittuntur tibi peccata (Matth. IX, 2): ut ostenderet fide mundari corda ad remissionem peccatorum consequendam. Quam remissionem peccatorum consecuta est etiam illa quae erat mulier peccatrix in civitate; cui Dominus ait: Dimittuntur tibi peccata (Luc. VII, 48, 50). Et cum coepissent qui simul discumbebant, apud semet ipsos dicere: Quis est hic qui peccata dimittit? quod et circa paralyticum acerbius Scribae et Pharisaei obmurmuraverant, 1204A ait ad mulierem Dominus: Fides tua te salvam fecit, vade in pace. Ex quibus universis ostenditur fide emundari corda, Spiritu autem ablui animas: porro autem per aquam lavari corpora, sanguine quoque festinantius perveniri per compendium ad salutis praemia.