Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/460

ANCIENT CHURCH	CHURCHES GENERALLY UPON THE ANCIENT MODEL.			REFORMED CHURCHES Topics enlarged and their Prefaces (see p. 245) abridged.
Ancient Gallic.	Hermann, Abp. of Cologne—Exhortation to God-parents.	Edward VI. First Book. 1649.	Mecklenburg, (abridged).	Zurich, (entire.)	Belgium.	Geneva—French Protestant. Polanus.	English at Geneva, and old Scotch.	Scotch—1644.	Scotch Directory.	Alsace.
No. 1.	No. 2.	No. 3. a.	No. 4.	No. 5.	No. 6.	No. 7.–9.	No. 10.	No. 11.	No. 12.	No. 13.
Very dear Brethren, let us, in the venerable office of the present mystery, humbly pray our Almighty Creator and Restorer, who deigned to repair, through grace, the glories of our nature, lost through sin, that He will transfuse efficacy into these waters, and by the presence of the Majesty of the Trinity, give power to effect the most holy regeneration; that he will break in pieces the head of the dragon upon these waters; and that the debtors being buried with Christ by Baptism, the likeness of death may so take place here, that the perishing may be saved, and death may only be felt in the destruction here on earth (i.e. the death of the body through Jesus Christ.	Beloved in Christ Jesus, we hear daily out of the word of God, and learn by our own experience, that all we from the fall of Adam are conceived and born in sins; that we are guilty of the wrath of God, and damned through the sin of Adam, except we be delivered by the death and merits of the Son of God, Christ Jesu our only Saviour. Seeing then that these present infants be born in the same estate and condition that we are, it is plain that they also be spotted with original sin and disease, and that they be subject to eternal death and damnation. But God the Father, according to His unspeakable gentleness and mercy towards mankind, sent His Son to save the world. Wherefore He will also, that these infants be saved. He bare the sins of all the world, and delivered and saved, as well the infants, as us which be of greater age, from sins, death, the devil, and everlasting damnation, who would have the infants to be offered unto Him, that He might give them His blessing (Matt. xix.) Wherefore, according to your Christian godliness, take this child, bring him unto Christ, and offer him with your godly prayers, that he may obtain of Him remission of his sins, and be removed into the kingdom of grace, being delivered from the tyranny of Satan; and that he may be made heir of eternal salvation.	Dear beloved—Forasmuch as all men be conceived and born in sin, and that* no man born in sin can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate, and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father,through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of His bounteous mercy He will grant to this child that thing which by nature he cannot have, that is to say, that he may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made a lively member of the same. Present English. No. 3. b. *Our Saviour Christ saith, None, &c.	Born in Adam's sin, and under God's wrath, unless we had been helped by the only-begotten Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. This present child polluted with the same sin; but God the Father promised mercy and pity to the whole world, and so to the child as well as the old, through His Son Christ (Hermann). Who also bore sins of the whole world, and redeemed the poor children no less, yea, just as much as the elder, from sin, death, and damnation, and hath made them blessed, and commanded that they should be brought to Him, that they may be blessed; whom also He most graciously receives, and promises them the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore do ye, out of Christian love, take compassion on this present poor infant; present it to the Lord Christ, and for forgiveness of sins, and help to pray that it may be received into the kingdom of grace and bliss; in undoubting confidence that our dear Lord Jesus Christ will of His great mercy accept of you this your work of love towards the poor infant, and will also assuredly hear your prayer, since he himself commanded them to bring the young children unto Him, and has promised to receive them into His kingdom.	Think that our Lord and Saviour wishes all men to come to the knowledge of the truth, through the only Mediator Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for many, for their redemption. He wills also that our prayers for each other may be united, that we may come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God our Redeemer. Let us pray then the Lord, that He would impart faith to this infant, and that outward Baptism may become inwardly, by the Holy Spirit, a healthful water. Pray then thus.	Doctrine of Baptism: 1. our natural impurity, taught us the dipping.—2. Washing away our sins by Jesus Christ.—3. Duty of our obedience. And although our infants do not receive these things, yet they are not to be repressed from Baptism since they are being unconsciously partakers of damnation in Adam, and on that cause are received in Christ into favour; as God Himself testifieth of Abraham, the father of all that believe and therefore also of us and of our children, Gen. xvii., and Peter, Acts ii. 39. For this cause God commanded the Jews to be circumcised which was the sign of the covenant and of the righteousness of faith; as Christ also embraced them and laid His hand on them, and blessed them, Mark x. Since, therefore Baptism has succeeded to circumcision, infants, as heirs of the kingdom of God and of His covenant, are to be initiated in Baptism and parents are bound to inform their children more fully of these things when they be grown up. Therefore, that we may celebrate this divine ordinance of His glory, our consolation, and the edification of the Church, let us call upon His holy in these words.	1. Doctrine. The necessity of regeneration shows the extremity of our natural corruption, and our hatefulness in God's sight; our only hope in entire self-renunciation and condemnation. 2. Benefits of Baptism. Testifies remission of sin—God's readiness to purify our souls—that He will be a parent to us, and not impute to us our sins, and aid us with His Holy Spirit, that we may be able to resist the devil, sin, and the lusts of our flesh, until we obtain the victory, that we may live in the liberty of his kingdom, which is the kingdom of righteousness. 3. How imparted. We have no washing but in Christ's blood, nor renewal but in His death and resurrection; but as he imparts His wishes to us by the word, in the same manner by the Sacraments. 4. To whom. Not to us only, but to our children, as at the beginning of His Church by circumcision, which purified and showed the same things which are now shown by baptism. These benefits of circumcision not diminished by Christ's coming, but extended over the whole earth; therefore children are to be baptized. For St. Paul says they are holy, i.e. separate from the children of heathen and other infidels; and Christ received little children brought to Him, teaching us that they are not to be excluded from his Church.	Begins with topics No. 7–9. § 4. then "Baptism not absolutely necessary;" appointed for the instruction of our dull senses. Not that we think any such virtue or power to be included in the visible water or outward action, (for many have been baptized, and yet never inwardly purged); but that our Saviour Christ will effectually work in the hearts of his elect, in time convenient, all that is meant by the same. And this Scripture calleth our regeneration, stands chiefly in two points. Then topics, §§ 1 and 2,—comfort to parents (as Calvin above, p. 126), in bringing them up holily, provide instruction, &c.	The minister, declaring and setting forth God's love, desires them to take notice and consider the great charge that is laid upon them; telling them thus; Dearly beloved. It is your duty that the children be instructed in all doctrine necessary; but chiefly to rest upon the justice of Christ alone, and to abhor and flee all superstition, papistry, and idolatry. And to the intent that we may be assured that you, the father and the surety, consent to the performance thereof, declare here before God and the face of the congregation, the sum of that faith wherein ye believe, and will instruct this child. I believe in God, &c.	Baptism instituted by Christ, a seal of the covenant. The water representeth Christ's blood; baptizing signifieth the cleansing thereby. Promise made to believers and their seed; children have a right to the seal, not less under Gospel than law, the covenant being the same, the grace more abundant. Christ admitted children into His presence. Children, by Baptism, received into the visible Church; distinguished from the world; united with believers. The baptized renounce the devil, the world, and flesh,and pledged to fight against it. Infants are Christians, federally holy before Baptism, and therefore baptized. Inward grace not tied to the very moment of administration; fruit and power of it through the whole course of life. Outward Baptism not absolutely necessary to salvation, if not despised. Admonitions to those present, and to parents, &c.	Baptism to be observed, according to Christ's institution, and not profaned. Two things ordained by Christ: water, and that in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, i.e. that we should testify and declare that the whole Church of Christ, with all its members, belongs, without doubt, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, being wholly cleansed by the blood of Christ the Lord; so that in it, with all its members, no spot or wrinkle can be seen before God's sight. To show, then, that we do baptize all members of our Church by this our ministry, in the name of Christ, we attest this before you, as to Baptism: 1. That Baptism belongs not only to these children, but to the whole Catholic Church (1 Cor. Eph.); so that it attests that the whole of it, with all its members every where, is accounted, by God the Father, altogether clean for Christ's sake; whence it belongs to us, as much as to the infants; and we ought to think of the greatness of God's mercy therein (Rom., Eph. ii., 1 Cor. xv.), and show it forth by true repentance—not to be idle spectators of Baptism; for such profane it, and despise Christ. 2. This cleansing, which Baptism designates, not our own (Tit. iii.), we are impure (Eph. ii. Ps. li.) 3. This cleansing, the free gift of Christ (Tit. iii.), by the communion of righteousness, merits and glory gained by Him in our flesh: this, the highest mystery of Baptism, designated by that outward washing of water; hence Baptism called washing of regeneration and of remission of sins. The baptized are attested to have put on Christ, and are baptized into the death of Christ (Tit. iii., Acts ix., Gal. iii., Rom. vi.) 4. Corresponding gratitude required from us; and if we fall, not to despond, but to look at our cleansing through Christ's blood, which Baptism attests. Then the topics 7–9. § 4. Gen. xvii. children not to be excluded from Baptism on account of the infirmity born with them; for if they were to be excluded, because they cannot believe, and repent of this infirmity, much more adults, since it is not every one of these who can really and truly believe and repent. The rest as in § 4.

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