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THE SWEDENBORG LIBRARY.

tism; but baptism is significative of regeneration, which the man of the church ought to remember. (A. C. 5342.)

Washings, and baptisms also, unless the internal of man be purified from evils and falsities, effect nothing more than the washing of cups and platters by the Jews, or than the whitening of sepulchres which appear beautiful without, but within are full of the bones of the dead and of all uncleanness; which is still more manifest from this, that the hells are full of satans from men baptized as well as unbaptized. — Therefore, without its uses and fruits, baptism conduces no more to salvation than the triple cap on the Pope's head, and the sign of the cross on his shoes, to his pontifical supereminence; nor more than the purple robe about a cardinal to his dignity, or the cloak about a bishop to the discharge of his ministry; nor more than the throne, crown, sceptre and robe of a king, to his regal power; nor more than the cap of silk upon the head of a laurelled doctor to his intelligence; nor more than the standards before troops of horsemen to their bravery in war. Yea, it may further be said that it does not purify man any more than the washing of a sheep and a lamb before shearing. (T. C. R. 673.)

It is a fallacy that faith is communicated to children by baptism; when yet faith must be procured by the knowledges of truth and good, and a life according to them. (A. E. 781.)

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