1. The matter of baptism is divided by divine8 into the ? and remo?e. The remote is t_hst which is employed in the admiuistra. tion of baptism, as water. The proximate is the application of water by way of ablution. The matter or element is any sort of water, whether sea water, river water, rain water, water from a pond, well, or fountain, turbid or pure; and baptism administered by natural water is valid as to the matter. But baptism is invalid when conferred by mud, wine, milk, oil, or any liquid which hath more of any mixture than of water. In this Roman- ists and Protestants are agreed. Some of them, however, contend that b/eased water is necessary, while others say its use is indifferent. 2. ]?ut though natural water is necessary to the validity of baptism, and its use is an article o fedhl according to the second canon of the �? . Council of Trent, which reqmres rea? aag aa?ur? maZer ?r ?e?s?ary ?o ?t,a?m, yet they have undertaken to add t?,nt or cArism. The Roman catechism says: "Although, in case of necessity, simple water, unmixed with any other ingredient, is sufficient for the matter of bap- tism; yet when administered in public, with solemn ceremonies, the Catholic Church, guided by apostolic tradition, the more fully to ex- press its efficacy, has uniformly observed the practice of adding holy chrisre.* And although it may be doubted whether this or that water be genuine, such as the sacrament requires, it can never be matter of doubt that the proper and the only matter of baptism is natural water."$ Here it appears from the catechism and council, both infallible, tim*. necessary to sa/vat/on, and that its use/s an article of faith; neverthe- less the same council and catechism teach that t? church t?as nniforndy added chr/sm or o/l, and that this addition to water is such that water must not ordinarily be used without it, except in cases ofnecess/ty, that is, in cases where a layman or woman baptizes, whether Christian or infidel, pagan or heretic. The authority, too, by which this addition is made to the matter of this sacrament is, not Scripture, but apostolic tra- d/t/on, or, in other words, superstitious cuztom. The ministers of their church are bound to use blessed water, or water mixed with oil, and blessed on the eve of pentecost; and he who does otherwise is said to sin grievously.? 3. Dens gives the following directions respecting the matter of bap- tism: "1. That every minister of baptism, under pain of mortal sin, ought to use certain matter. 2. If certain matter is wanting, and ne- cessity requires it, he can and ought to use doubtful matter, preferring, "IS. 8i quis clixerit, IXtrvuloe, e5 quScl acturn cre?.endi non habent, m?eeepto Imp. tieme inter 6delos computandos non e?e, ac propterea, c?tm ad annos di?cretiouis per- venltent, emro ?baptizamtos; aut prostate omitti eorum beptisma? quam ?os non sero proprio credentes baptisari in sola fide ecclesim; anathema sit. "14. Si quis dixerit, b.ujusmodi paryules baptizatoe, c?tm adoleverint, iu? ease, an tatum Irabore vehnt, cjuod patrini eemm heroine, dtlrn Imptizarentur, poiBciti mint; et ubi se hollo remponderint, sue e?se ?rbJtrio relinquendos, nee alia interim pmml sad C?hriotiarmn vitani coKendee, nlsi utab eucharistira aliorumque sacramentorum do--
- Arehr., lib i; 8aer., c. g; at Innoe., lib. i; Dmcr., tit. i, c. $. $ P. 15?.
$ Bailly, de Bap., tom. iii, p. A?O, ?l/r& 1
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