' Now they are so silly, that they separate faith and the thing to which faith cleaves and is connected, although it be external ; yea, it shall and must be external, that one may apprehend it with the senses, thereby to conduct it into the heart–for also the whole gospel is an external sermon. In short, what God does and effects in us, he performs through an external order. Where he speaks, yea, whither and whereby he speaks, there faith shall direct its view, and cleave to it. But now we have the words : ' He that believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved.' Whereupon are they spoken but upon baptism, that is, the water connected with the order of God ? Hence it follows, that whoever vilifies baptism, vilifies the word of God–the faith in Christ, which directs us there, and binds to baptism.

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