Types of the Red Sea, and the Water from the Rock.

How many, therefore, are the pleas⁸⁶¹⁷Patrocinia—“pleas in defence.” of nature, how many the privileges of grace, how many the solemnities of discipline, the figures, the preparations, the prayers, which have ordained the sanctity of water? First, indeed, when the people, set unconditionally free,⁸⁶¹⁸“Libere expeditus,” set free, and that without any conditions, such as Pharaoh had from time to time tried to impose. See Ex. viii. 25, 28; x. 10, 11, 24. escaped the violence of the Egyptian king by crossing over through water, it was water that extinguished⁸⁶¹⁹“Extinxit,” as it does fire. the king himself, with his entire forces.⁸⁶²⁰Ex. xiv. 27–30. What figure more manifestly fulfilled in the sacrament of baptism? The nations are set free from the world⁸⁶²¹Sæculo. by means of water, to wit: and the devil, their old tyrant, they leave quite behind, overwhelmed in the water. Again, water is restored from its defect of “bitterness” to its native grace of “sweetness” by the tree⁸⁶²²See Ex. xv. 24, 25. of Moses. That tree was Christ,⁸⁶²³“The Tree of Life,” “the True Vine,” etc. restoring, to wit, of Himself, the veins of sometime envenomed and bitter nature into the all-salutary waters of baptism. This is the water which flowed continuously down for the people from the “accompanying rock;” for if Christ is “the Rock,” without doubt we see baptism blest by the water in Christ. How mighty is the grace of water, in the sight of God and His Christ, for the confirmation of baptism! Never is Christ without water: if, that is, He is Himself baptized in water;⁸⁶²⁴Matt. iii. 13–17. inaugurates in water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials;⁸⁶²⁵John ii. 1–11. invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own sempiternal water;⁸⁶²⁶John vii. 37, 38. approves, when teaching concerning love,⁸⁶²⁷Agape. See de Orat. c. 28, ad fin. among works of charity,⁸⁶²⁸Dilectionis. See de Patien. c. xii. the cup of water offered to a poor (child);⁸⁶²⁹Matt. x. 42. recruits His strength at a well;⁸⁶³⁰John iv. 6. walks over the water;⁸⁶³¹Matt. xiv. 25. willingly crosses the sea;⁸⁶³²Mark iv. 36. ministers water to His disciples.⁸⁶³³John xiii. 1–12. Onward even to the passion does the witness of baptism last: while He is being surrendered to the cross, water intervenes; witness Pilate’s hands:⁸⁶³⁴Matt. xxvii. 24. Comp. de Orat. c. xiii. when He is wounded, forth from His side bursts water; witness the soldier’s lance!⁸⁶³⁵John xix. 34. See c. xviii. sub fin.