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Chaeremon responds that while a farmer may labor greatly to prepare the soil and to cultivate the ground for his crops, he cannot take credit for the crops. For if God does not send the rain, the sunshine and protection for the crops, no fruit will be forthcoming. Man must labor but God is the cause of the divine bounty. https://www.instagram.com/p/CocPapCr1R3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ at His baptism in order that let us recognize the type of the sacrament in the dove that Noah sent from ark after the flood. While the antitype is normally the reality of the type, the dove was a likeness assumed by the Holy Spirit for us. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoafKiyPHcS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Germanus wishes to question the teaching that we ascribe the greatness of a man’s virtue not to the man but to God’s gift. After all, don’t we give the credit for a wonderful harvest from a field to the man who labored and toiled in preparing and harvesting the field? https://www.instagram.com/p/CoaAalnLQKU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The fire Elijah calls down upon the water drenched sacrifice prefigures the work of the Holy Spirit in baptism. For the sacred fire which came down was a type of the future remission of sins. This fire is hidden prior to baptism, but in the time of liberty it is brought forth. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoX7ha1vFox/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The mystical nature of Song of Songs makes it difficult to discern for most of us. St. Ambrose shows how it can represent Christ beholding His Church and declaring that its eyes are beautiful like a dove because it was in the likeness of a dove that the Holy Spirit descended. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVkVRAPtG5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The wonderous sacrifice of Elijah clearly proclaimed for us the sacramental rite of baptism in a type. For the sacrifice was doused in water three times, which rather than dousing the fire of God seemingly kindled it, foreshadowing the fiery Spirit burning up ungodliness and sin. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoS8wSlyDoP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The sacrament of baptism He founded in His own person, because in all things having the pre-eminence, He taught that He Himself was the Beginning. And He ratified the power of re-birth on that occasion, when from His side flowed out the blood of ransom and the water of baptism. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNwCS5ykDT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Son of God, and our everlasting High Priest, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who raised Him from the dead. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoM84Xor-eV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

St. Ephraim the Syrian teaches typology in his hymns: “The cloud overshadowed and kept off the burning heat from the camp — it showed a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which overshadows you in baptism— tempering the flaming fire that it harm not your bodies.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CoLTFktvDDj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Polycarp teaches: So how shall we treat those who have strayed from the Faith? Pray the Lord grant them true repentance. Do not count them enemies but call them back as suffering and straying members of the body, desiring their salvation and so edify the whole body. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoKYaYYrbak/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

According to the view of the inspired Paul , the people itself, by passing through the Red Sea, proclaimed the good tidings of salvation by water. The people passed over, and the Egyptian king with his host was engulfed, and by these actions this Sacrament [baptism]was foretold. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoImQ3AybJS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I exhort you all, therefore, to yield obedience to the word of righteousness, and to exercise all patience, such as you have seen before your eyes from the Saints you have known. For they are now in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoH4gxsLYjk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

While we lack the details, we can see that foundational reason for Polycarp’s letter was the concern of the Philippians that their Priest, Valens, had to be removed for grave sin involving covetousness. St Polycarp reminds them that to govern others one must govern themselves. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoGDZ61yjIA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Be firm in the faith. When you can do good, defer it not, because alms delivers from death. Be all of you subject one to another having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles, that you may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoFgcYULbYj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tertullian witnesses to the understanding of the Church from its foundation that as God made man a material creation imbued with Spiritual life in our souls, so He has found fitting to use His material creations in the Sacraments to connect the terrestrial to the celestial. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDmkYUL16q/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

If one is baptized using the Trinitarian formula that Christ gave us, with the intention to baptize, then it is the action of God, whose sacrament it is, that makes the sacrament holy. This is irregardless of the holiness, or not, of the administrator of the sacrament. (Ex opere operato) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoA6WkYP3DM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The sacrament of baptism is one thing, the conversion of the heart another; but man’s salvation is made complete through the two together. It may be that one of these is in existence without the other, as in the case of the thief on the cross, or an infant at its baptism. But when either of these is wanting intentionally, then that man is responsible for it’s omission. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-D-dBvNFv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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