Chapter XV.--Unity of Baptism. Remarks on Heretical And Jewish Baptism.

I know not whether any further point is mooted to bring baptism into controversy. Permit me to call to mind what I have omitted above, lest I seem to break off the train of impending thoughts in the middle. There is to us one, and but one, baptism; as well according to the Lord's gospel ¹ as according to the apostle's letters, ² inasmuch as he says, "One God, and one baptism, and one church in the heavens." ³ But it must be admitted that the question, "What rules are to be observed with regard to heretics?" is worthy of being treated. For it is to us ⁴ that that assertion ⁵ refers. Heretics, however, have no fellowship in our discipline, whom the mere fact of their excommunication ⁶ testifies to be outsiders. I am not bound to recognize in them a thing which is enjoined on me, because they and we have not the same God, nor one--that is, the same--Christ. And therefore their baptism is not one with ours either, because it is not the same; a baptism which, since they have it not duly, doubtless they have not at all; nor is that capable of being counted which is not had. ⁷ Thus they cannot receive it either, because they have it not. But this point has already received a fuller discussion from us in Greek. We enter, then, the font ⁸ once: once are sins washed away, because they ought never to be repeated. But the Jewish Israel bathes daily, ⁹ because he is daily being defiled: and, for fear that defilement should be practised among us also, therefore was the definition touching the one bathing ¹⁰ made. Happy water, which once washes away; which does not mock sinners (with vain hopes); which does not, by being infected with the repetition of impurities, again defile them whom it has washed!