[206] This is adduced, from Thuanus and Cesar Heisterb., by D. B. Lydius, speaking of the Waldensian martyr Arnold, whom we have noticed for the year 1163, and some of his fellow-martyrs. He says: “This Arnold was burnt, together with nine of his disciples, among whom were two women, on the fifth of August, at the Jewish cemetery, at Cologne. Before his death (or before he was dead), he laid his hand upon the heads of his then half-burnt fellow-brethren, saying: ‘Adhere steadfastly to your faith; this day you shall be with the holy martyr, Laurence.’ ”
One of the women, he writes, who, from mercy, had been drawn out of the fire, with the promise that she should be married, or, if she were inclined this way, placed in a convent, asked where Arnold lay, who had been burnt, with his fellow-believers, as a heretic. And when his body, which by this time was mostly burnt, was pointed out to her, she escaped the hands of those who led her, and threw herself upon Arnold’s body, in order thus also to obtain the crown of martyrdom. D. Bal. Lyd. Tract. Where the Church was, etc., page 59, col. 1, from Thuan., lib. 6, Hist. Also, Cesar Heisterb. dist. 5, cap. 19.
[207] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Acts 8:37.
[208] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal. 3:27.
[209] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col. 3:3.
[210] From this our opponents, nevertheless, form an argument, which they, though without foundation, bring against us.
[211] Nicodemus, though ignorant in the matter itself, understood well enough, that this did not have reference to children; hence he asked: How can a man be born, when he is old?
[212] From the words: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh,” Thomas concludes that this relates only to the adult; since no newborn infants, but only the adult can live after the flesh, and, consequently, must be born again.
[213] The descent of every one is known by his peculiar nature; for like produces like. Hence, if infants are truly regenerated of the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the latter must be evident in them from the workings of their nature. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. Gal. 5:22.
[214] Understand, those which were the most important in his time; for afterwards many others were, to the detriment of truth, imagined in addition to them.