{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030728.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030728.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030728.htm","text":"Chapter VI.\u2014The Angel the Forerunner of the Holy Spirit. Meaning Contained in the Baptismal Formula.\nNot that in 8584 the waters we obtain the Holy Spirit; but in the water, under (the witness of) the angel, we are cleansed, and prepared for the Holy Spirit. In this case also a type has preceded; for thus was John beforehand the Lord\u2019s forerunner, \u201cpreparing His ways.\u201d 8585 Thus, too, does the angel, the witness 8586 of baptism, \u201cmake the paths straight\u201d 8587 for the Holy Spirit, who is about to come upon us, by the washing away of sins, which faith, sealed in (the name of) the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, obtains. For if \u201cin the mouth of three witnesses every word shall stand:\u201d 8588 \u2014while, through the benediction, we have the same (three) as witnesses of our faith whom we have as sureties 8589 of our salvation too\u2014how much more does the number of the divine names suffice for the assurance of our hope likewise! Moreover, after the pledging both of the attestation of faith and the promise 8590 of salvation under \u201cthree witnesses,\u201d there is added, of necessity, mention of the Church; 8591 inasmuch as, wherever there are three, (that is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, ) there is the Church, which is a body of three. 8592\nCompare c. viii., where Tertullian appears to regard the Holy Spirit as given after the baptized had come out of the waters and received the \u201cunction.\u201d\n672:8585 672:8586\nArbiter. [Eccl. 5:6, Acts 12:15.]\n672:8587 672:8588\nDeut. 19:15, Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1.\n672:8589 672:8590 672:8591\nCompare de Orat. c. ii. sub fin.\n672:8592\nCompare the de Orat. quoted above, and de Patien. xxi.; and see Matt. xviii. 20.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part III: The A...","type":"page"}