Tertullian — Against Praxeas 9

How many, therefore, are the pleas of nature, how many the privileges of grace , how many the solemnities of discipline, the figures, the preparations, the prayers , which have ordained the sanctity of water? First, indeed, when the people, set unconditionally free, escaped the violence of the Egyptian king by crossing over through water , it was water that extinguished the king himself, with his entire forces. Exodus 14:27-30 What figure more manifestly fulfilled in the sacrament of baptism ? The nations are set free from the world by means of water , to wit: and the devil , their old tyrant, they leave quite behind, overwhelmed in the water . Again, water is restored from its defect of bitterness to its native grace of sweetness by the tree of Moses .

That tree was Christ, restoring, to wit, of Himself, the veins of sometime envenomed and bitter nature into the all-salutary waters of baptism . This is the water which flowed continuously down for the people from the accompanying rock; for if Christ is the Rock, without doubt we see baptism blessed by the water in Christ . How mighty is the grace of water , in the sight of God and His Christ, for the confirmation of baptism !

Never is Christ without water : if, that is, He is Himself baptized in water ; Matthew 3:13-17 inaugurates in water the first rudimentary displays of His power, when invited to the nuptials; John 2:1-11 invites the thirsty, when He makes a discourse, to His own sempiternal water ; John 7:37-38 approves, when teaching concerning love , among works of charity, the cup of water offered to a poor (child); Matthew 10:42 recruits His strength at a well ; John 4:6 walks over the water ; Matthew 14:25 willingly crosses the sea ; Mark 4:36 ministers water to His disciples . John 13:1-12 Onward even to the passion does the witness of baptism last: while He is being surrendered to the cross , water intervenes; witness Pilate's hands: when He is wounded, forth from His side bursts water ; witness the soldier's lance!