The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

not allowable in the Catechism, nor in Luther's use of it anywhere, with
reference to Baptism.
Now for "giessen" and "begiessen," in their reference to Baptism by
Luther, in the Catechism and elsewhere, can they include not exclude
immersion.? Let us try this.
1. Larger Catechism: Dass du lässest das Wasser über dich giessen
(quod te aqua perfundi sinis). We affirm that these words have, to any one
who knows anything of German, but one possible meaning, and that, like
the verbal English translation of the words "that thou lettest the water pour
over thee," the German cannot mean "thou lettest thyself be dipped into
the water."
2. What mode of Baptism Luther had in his mind is clear,
furthermore, from the words in immediate connection with those we have
quoted, for he says: "This (the work of the heart) the bent hand (Faust 330 )
cannot do, nor the body," the connection showing the thought to be this:
neither the bent hand of the administrator of Baptism,--bent to gather up
and pour the water,--nor the body of the recipient, can take the place of
faith, in securing the blessings of Baptism.
3. This is rendered clear again, from the words, "Was sollt ein hand
voll Wassers der Seelen helfen?" What can a handful of water help the
soul? This shows that the "handful of water" was connected with a
received mode at that time in the Lutheran Churches.
If the sense of begiessen, as applied to Baptism, were obscure, (as it
is not--no word more clearly excludes immersion) this passage would
settle it.
4. But there is abundance more of evidence on this point. In Luther's
own Ritual for Baptism, the officiating minister "pours the water," (geusst
Wasser auf) and says: "Ich taufe dich."
5. In the Article of Torgau, the fanatics, who in the Catechism are
characterized as asking, "What can the handful of water do," are
represented as calling Baptism "miserable water, or pouring" (begiessen).
330 As in Isaiah xl. 12, "Wer misset die Wasser mit der Faust." Eng. Ver.: "Who hath measured the water in the
hollow of his hand"