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Objection 1: It seems that certain acts of the virtues are
unfittingly set down as effects of Baptism, to
wit---"incorporation in Christ, enlightenment, and
fruitfulness." For Baptism is not given to an adult, except he
believe; according to Mk. 16:16: "He that believeth and is
baptized, shall be saved." But it is by faith that man is
incorporated in Christ, according to Eph. 3:17: "That Christ
may dwell by faith in your hearts." Therefore no one is baptized
except he be already incorporated in Christ. Therefore incorporation
with Christ is not the effect of Baptism.
Objection 2: Further, enlightenment is caused by teaching,
according to Eph. 3:8,9: "To me the least of all the saints,
is given this grace . . . to enlighten all men," etc. But
teaching by the catechism precedes Baptism. Therefore it is not the
effect of Baptism.
Objection 3: Further, fruitfulness pertains to active generation.
But a man is regenerated spiritually by Baptism. Therefore
fruitfulness is not an effect of Baptism.
On the contrary, Augustine says in the book on Infant Baptism (De
Pecc. Merit. et Remiss. i) that "the effect of Baptism is that
the baptized are incorporated in Christ." And Dionysius (Eccl.
Hier. ii) ascribes enlightenment to Baptism. And on Ps.
22:2, "He hath brought me up on the water of refreshment," a
gloss says that "the sinner's soul, sterilized by drought, is made
fruitful by Baptism."
I answer that, By Baptism man is born again unto the spiritual
life, which is proper to the faithful of Christ, as the Apostle says
(Gal. 2:20): "And that I live now in the flesh; I live in
the faith of the Son of God." Now life is only in those members
that are united to the head, from which they derive sense and
movement. And therefore it follows of necessity that by Baptism man
is incorporated in Christ, as one of His members. Again, just as
the members derive sense and movement from the material head, so from
their spiritual Head, i.e. Christ, do His members derive
spiritual sense consisting in the knowledge Of truth, and spiritual
movement which results from the instinct of grace. Hence it is written
(Jn. 1:14,16): "We have seen Him . . . full of grace
and truth; and of His fulness we all have received." And it follows
from this that the baptized are enlightened by Christ as to the
knowledge of truth, and made fruitful by Him with the fruitfulness of
good works by the infusion of grace.
Reply to Objection 1: Adults who already believe in Christ are
incorporated in Him mentally. But afterwards, when they are
baptized, they are incorporated in Him, corporally, as it were,
i.e. by the visible sacrament; without the desire of which they could
not have been incorporated in Him even mentally.
Reply to Objection 2: The teacher enlightens outwardly and
ministerially by catechizing: but God enlightens the baptized
inwardly, by preparing their hearts for the reception of the doctrines
of truth, according to Jn. 6:45: "It is written in the
prophets . . . They shall all be taught of God."
Reply to Objection 3: The fruitfulness which i ascribed as an
effect of Baptism is that by which man brings forth good works; not
that by which he begets others in Christ, as the Apostle says (1
Cor. 4:15): "In Christ Jesus by the Gospel I have begotten
you."
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