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

WATER BAPTISM." But what our Church affirms of the blessings of
Baptism, she does not affirm of "water Baptism," that is, of the application
of water per se. The total efficacy of the Sacraments is defined in the
Augsburg Confession (Art. V. 2), thus, that through them and the word,
"as instruments, or means, God gives His Holy Spirit, who worketh faith."
It would at once remove much of the grossest prejudice against the
doctrine of our Church, if it were known and remembered that the Baptism
of whose blessings she makes her affirmation, embraces not merely the
external element, but yet more, and pre-eminently, the word and the Holy
Spirit. She regards it as just as absurd to refer any blessings to Baptism, as
her enemies define it, as it would be to attribute to swords and guns the
power of fighting battles without soldiers to wield them.
Her first lesson on the subject is: "Baptism is not mere water," (Cat.
Min., 361, 2). "Wherefore," says Luther (Cat. Maj., 487, 15), "it is pure
knavery and Satanic scoffing, that now-a-days these new spirits, in order to
revile Baptism, separate from it the Word and institution of God, and look
upon it as if it were mere water from the well, and then, with their childish
drivelling, ask, 'What good can a handful of water do the soul?' Yes, good
friend, who does not know that when you separate the parts of Baptism,
water is water?" “Baptism cannot be sole and simple water (do. 26), mere
water cannot have that power." "Not by virtue of the water" (do. 29). "Not
that the water (of Baptism) is in itself better than any other water," (do. 14.)
So in the Smalcald Articles: "We do not hold with Thomas and the
Dominican friars, who, forgetful of the word and the institution of God, say,
That God has conferred a spiritual power on water, which washes away sin
through the water" (320, 2).
"Baptism," says Gerhard, 349 "is the washing of water in the Word, by
which washing the whole adorable Trinity purifieth from sin him who is
baptized, not by the work wrought (ex opere operato) but by the effectual
working of the Holy Ghost coming upon him, and by his own faith."
Such is the tenor of all the
349 Loci (Cotta). ix. 318.