{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/003/0030731.htm","path":"chr/ecf/003/0030731.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/003/0030731.htm","text":"Chapter IX.\u2014Types of the Red Sea, and the Water from the Rock.\nHow many, therefore, are the pleas 8617 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 escaped the violence of the Egyptian king by crossing over through water, it was water that extinguished 8619 the king himself, with his entire forces. 8620 What figure more manifestly fulfilled in the sacrament of baptism? The nations are set free from the world 8621 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 \u201cbitterness\u201d to its native grace of \u201csweetness\u201d by the tree 8622 of Moses. That tree was Christ, 8623 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 \u201caccompanying rock;\u201d for if Christ is \u201cthe Rock,\u201d 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; 8624 inaugurates in water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials; 8625 invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own sempiternal water; 8626 approves, when teaching concerning love, 8627 among works of charity, 8628 the cup of water offered to a poor (child); 8629 recruits His strength at a well; 8630 walks over the water; 8631 willingly crosses the sea; 8632 ministers water to His disciples. 8633 Onward even to the passion does the witness of baptism last: while He is being surrendered to the cross, water intervenes; witness Pilate\u2019s hands: 8634 when He is wounded, forth from His side bursts water; witness the soldier\u2019s lance! 8635\nPatrocinia\u2014\u201cpleas in defence.\u201d\n673:8618\n\u201cLibere expeditus,\u201d set free, and that without any conditions, such as Pharaoh had from time to time tried to impose. See Exod. 8:25, 28, Exod. 10:10, 11, 24.\n673:8619 673:8620 673:8621 673:8622\nSee Exod. 15:24, 25.\n673:8623\n\u201cThe Tree of Life,\u201d \u201cthe True Vine,\u201d etc.\n673:8624 673:8625 673:8626 673:8627\nAgape. See de Orat. c. 28, ad fin.\n673:8628\nDilectionis. See de Patien. c. xii.\n673:8629 673:8630 673:8631 673:8632 673:8633 673:8634\nMatt. xxvii. 24. Comp. de Orat. c. xiii.\n673:8635\nJohn xix. 34. See c. xviii. sub fin.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol III: Tertullian: Part III: Types...","type":"page"}