“He replied, 'Because the spiritual power of God doesn't consist of corporeal, inanimate matter, baptism doesn't accomplish anything at all as water existing by itself. But as an action (which would be in its use) baptism has power, so that if anybody sprinkles of an infant with water together with a recitation of those words of Christ by which he instituted baptism and promised the forgiveness of sins, that action, and not the water, has divine powers. Thus the sacraments are nothing apart from the action and use. Philip Melanchthon [treats] these things.” ML, Tabletalk, Lauterbach #4634, 6/3/1539 LW, AE, 54:358
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