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

Chapter IX.—Types of the Red Sea, and the Water from the Rock.

How many, therefore, are the pleas⁸⁶¹⁷ 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 extinguished⁸⁶¹⁹ 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 world⁸⁶²¹ 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 tree⁸⁶²² 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 “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;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’s hands:⁸⁶³⁴ when He is wounded, forth from His side bursts water; witness the soldier’s lance!⁸⁶³⁵