Seeing that there is reference in the text to Christian Baptism, the word “water” in the text, as the Council of Trent defined, is to be understood, not metaphorically, but literally. Moreover, since this new birth is attributed to the water as to the Holy Ghost “(ex aqua et Spiritu Sancto”), water is not merely an empty symbol in the sacrament, but an efficient cause of grace like the Holy Ghost; He being the principal, the water the instrumental, efficient cause. This new birth in Baptism implies—(1) that we die to the old man of sin, “for we are buried together with Him by Baptism into death” (Rom. vi. 4). It implies (2) that we are born through the divine gift of God’s grace to a new and spiritual life, in which we are His adopted children. “So do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but _alive_ unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. vi. 11). We may remark, before passing from this text—(1) against the Pelagians and Anabaptists, that Baptism is here declared necessary for all who have been born, and therefore for infants before the use of reason; (2) against the Calvinists and Socinians, who hold that children of Christian parents need not be baptized, that no exception is here made in favour of the children of Christians; (3) against Protestants, that water in Baptism is not a mere symbol of regeneration, but is as truly its efficient cause as the Holy Ghost Himself; with this difference, however, that whereas the water is the instrumental, the Holy Ghost is the principal, cause. 6. Quod natum est ex carne, 6. That which is born of the caro est: et quod natum est ex flesh, is flesh: and that spiritu, spiritus est. which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. 6. Christ explains why the agent of the regeneration of which He speaks must be the Holy Ghost. What is born of man (flesh here is taken for human nature without grace), is merely human; what is born of the Holy Ghost, is spiritual, and partakes of the Divine (2 Pet. i. 4). Since, then, the new life to which a man must be born again is spiritual, a spiritual and supernatural principle is required. 7. Non mireris quia dixi tibi: 7. Wonder not, that I said to Oportet vos nasci denuo. thee, you must be born again. 7. Wonder not, therefore, that I said to you: ye must be born again, for if that which is born of the flesh is flesh, certainly you need a new birth to be born to a life which is so far above the flesh. 8. Spiritus ubi vult spirat: 8. The Spirit breatheth where et vocen eius audis, sed he will: and thou hearest his nescis unde veniat, aut quo voice, but thou knowest not vadat: sic est omnis qui natus whence he cometh, and whither est ex spiritu. he goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.