Tertullian

“ But if repentance is a thing human, its baptism must necessarily be of the same nature: else, if it had been celestial, it would have given both the Holy Spirit and remission of sins. But none either pardons sins or freely grants the Spirit save God only. [8] Even the Lord Himself said that the Spirit would not descend on any other condition, but that He should first ascend to the Father. ”

“ But he who “prepares” does not himself “perfect,” but procures for another to perfect. John himself professes that the celestial things are not his, but Christ’s, by saying, “He who is from the earth speaketh concerning the earth; He who comes from the realms above is above all;” [17] and again, by saying that he “baptized in repentance only, but that One would shortly come who would baptize in the Spirit and fire;” [18] —of course because true and stable faith is baptized with water, unto salvation; pretended and weak faith is baptized with fire, unto judgment. ”

“ We have spoken, so far as our moderate ability permitted, of the generals which form the groundwork of the sanctity [1] of baptism. I will now, equally to the best of my power, proceed to the rest of its character, touching certain minor questions. ”