{22b} “Except a man be born of _water_ and of the HOLY GHOST, he cannot enter the kingdom of GOD.” Of the HOLY GHOST comes the spiritual birth, and thereby the entrance into the spiritual kingdom or church of GOD: if the water of baptism be meant, then also figurative birth, and concurrently the visible kingdom or church to which baptism is the only door: a proper parallelism of idea being sustained. But probably, as the expression “baptize with the HOLY GHOST and with fire,” means, _baptize with the_ HOLY GHOST _as a spirit of burning_, so “born of water and of the HOLY GHOST” means, “_born of the_ HOLY GHOST _as a Spirit of washing_,” the real “washing of regeneration.” This last expression is most frequently understood, and by Archbishop Whitgift and Bishop Hopkins amongst others, to refer to the sacramental washing, not the spiritual. But why the force of the term _regeneration_ should _not_ preponderate over that of _washing_, I cannot see. So “the washing of water by the Word,” wherewith CHRIST sanctifies and cleanses His church, is the ablution, like as of water, that is by the Word, when the HOLY GHOST uses that Word in the hearts of men. {23a} Matt. iii. 11. {23b} 1 Cor. xii. 13. {23c} Rom. vi. 3, 4, 6, 13. {24a} 1 Pet. iii. 21. {24b} Col. ii. 11, 12, 13. {24c} James i. 18 {25a} 1 Pet. i. 23, 25. {25b} 1 John iii. 9, 10. {25c} See Scott’s Remarks on Bishop Tomline’s Refutation of Calvinism, vol. ii. p. 197. “There may be in divers cases,” says Hooker, “life by virtue of inward baptism, where outward is not found.” B. v. 60. The same may be argued concerning the real “forgiveness of sins,” and the mystical forgiveness. There is one spiritual baptism for the actual, and one sacramental baptism, significant of the same thing, for the significant remission. Equally distinct and separate, and even more so, if possible, is justification; of the possession of which by means of baptism the Scriptures say not a word, neither the Church of England, nor any other church, but the Church of Rome. {26} Sermons for the Times, p. 29, 30. {27a} The revival of “stations” for confession, of “the rod of discipline,” and “the robe of shame,” with other matters of penance, is wishfully inquired after, and may possibly ere long be brought about. See Wordsworth’s Sermon on Evangelical repentance. {27b} Tract 79, p. 5. {27c} Wordsworth’s Sermon, p. 42. {28a} Tracts, vol. i. Advt. {28b} Tract 4, p. 5. Theirs is stated to be “the only church in this realm, which has a right to be quite sure that it has the LORD’S body to give to His people.” {30} A pledge has respect to a _thing future_. The _proper_ order of regeneration is to _precede_ baptism, which cannot correctly therefore be a pledge of it? Where does Scripture so represent it? Circumcision was not a pledge to Abraham of the righteousness he _had_: a “seal” it was.