"_How can water effect such great things?_

"_Ans_.--Indeed it is not the water that has such effect, but the Word
of God that is with and in the water, and the faith trusting such Word
of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is mere
water, hence no baptism; but with the Word of God it constitutes a
baptism, that is, a gracious water of life, and a _washing of
regeneration_, in the Holy Ghost."--_Symb. B_., p. 421.

_Luther's Larger Catechism_.

"Every Christian, therefore, has enough to learn and practice in
baptism during his life; for he must ever exert himself to _maintain_ a
firm faith in _what it promises and brings_ him, namely, triumph over
the devil and death, the _remission of sins_, the grace of God, Christ
with all his works, and _the Holy Ghost with all his gifts_. In short,
the blessings of baptism are so great, that if feeble nature could but
comprehend them we might justly doubt their reality. For, imagine to
yourself a physician, who possessed an art preventing persons from
dying; or, even if they died, immediately restoring them to life so as
to live eternally afterwards, how the world would rush and flock around
him with money, while the poor, prevented by the rich, could not
approach him! And yet, here in _baptism_, every one has such a treasure,
and medicine gratuitously brought to his door-a medicine which abolishes
death, and preserves all men to eternal life_."--_P_. 525.

_Luther's Larger Catechism_.

"It (baptism) is, therefore, very appropriately called food for the
soul, which flourishes and strengthens the new man; _for through baptism