Looking Beyond the Horizon

"But we, little fishes, after the example of our Ichthys Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than by permanently abiding in water; so that most monstrous creature, who had no right to teach even sound doctrine, knew full well how to kill the little fishes, by taking them away from the water!" In the same treatise, he wrote of water's symbolism:  

"In the first beginning," saith Scripture, "God made the heaven and the earth. But the earth was invisible, and unorganized, and darkness was over the abyss; and the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the waters." The first thing, O man, which you have to venerate, is the age of the, waters in that their substance is ancient; the second, their dignity, in that they were the seat of the Divine Spirit, more pleasing to Him, no doubt, than all the other then existing elements. For the darkness was total thus far, shapeless, without the ornament of stars; and the abyss gloomy; and the earth unfurnished; and the heaven unwrought: water alone -- always a perfect, gladsome, simple material substance, pure in itself -- supplied a worthy vehicle to God.

See how many then are the advocacies of nature, the special provisions of grace, the customary observances of conduct, the types, the preparations in act or word, which have laid down the rule for the sacred use of water. The first, that when the people of Israel are set free from bondage in Egypt and by passing through the water are escaping the violence of the Egyptian king, the king himself with all his forces is destroyed by water. This is a type made abundantly clear in the sacred act of baptism: I mean that the Gentiles are set free from this present world by means of water, and leave behind, drowned in the water, their ancient tyrant the devil.

Secondly, water is healed of the blemish of bitterness, hand restored to its own sweet usefulness, by the tree Moses throws in: and that tree was Christ, who from within Himself heals the springs of that nature which was previously poisoned and embittered, converting them into exceedingly healthful water, that of baptism. This is the water which flowed forth for the people of Israel from the rock that followed them: and as that rock was Christ, without doubt this shows us that baptism is made blessed in Christ by water. See how great is the grace that water has in the presence of God and His Christ for the corroboration of baptism.

Wherever Christ is, there is water: He himself is baptized in water: when called to a marriage He inaugurates with water the first rudiments of His power: when engaged in conversation He invites those who are athirst to come to His everlasting water: when teaching of charity He approves of a cup of water offered to a little one as one of the works of affection: at a well-side He recruits His strength: He walks upon the water, by His own choice He crosses over the water, with water He makes Himself a servant to His disciples. He continues His witness to Baptism right on to His Passion: when He is given up to the Cross water is in evidence, as Pilate's hands are aware: when He receives a wound water bursts forth from His side, as the soldier's spear can tell.

Good, yea, very good, are all the works of our God and Saviour -- all of them that eye seeth and mind perceiveth, all that reason interprets and hand handles, all that intellect comprehends and human nature understands. For what richer beauty can there be than that of the circle of heaven? And what form of more blooming fairness than that of earth's surface? And what is there swifter in the course than the chariot of the sun? And what more graceful car than the lunar orb? And what work more wonderful than the compact mosaic of the stars? And what more productive of supplies than the seasonable winds? And what more spotless mirror than the light of day? And what creature more excellent than man?

Very good, then, are all the works of our God and Saviour. And what more requisite gift, again, is there than the element of water? For with water all things are washed and nourished, and cleansed and bedewed. Water bears the earth, water produces the dew, water exhilarates the vine; water matures the corn in the ear, water ripens the grapecluster, water softens the olive, water sweetens the palm-date, water reddens the rose and decks the violet, water makes the lily bloom with its brilliant cups. And why should I speak at length? Without the element of water, none of the present order of things can subsist. So necessary is the element of water; for the other elements took their places beneath the highest vault of the heavens, but the nature of water obtained a seat also above the heavens. And to this the prophet himself is a witness, when he exclaims, "Praise the Lord, ye heavens of heavens, and the water that is above the heavens."

1 Peter 3:18-21: Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit, In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison: Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Nor is this the only thing that proves the dignity of the water. But there is also that which is more honourable than all -- the fact that Christ, the Maker of all, came down as the rain, and was known as a spring, and diffused Himself as a river, and was baptized in the Jordan. For you have just heard how Jesus came to John, and was baptized by him in the Jordan. Oh things strange beyond compare! How should the boundless Rivers that makes glad the city of God have been dipped in a little water! The illimitable Spring that bears life to all men, and has no end, was covered by poor and temporary waters! He Who is present everywhere, and absent nowhere -- Who is incomprehensible to angels and invisible to men -- comes to the baptism according to His own good pleasure.