"And that the children of faithful parents are sanctified, and among such as do believe is apparent in the 1 Cor. vii. &c.1"

"The Lord sent his apostles, at the beginning of the setting up his true religion, unto all nations, unto such as were ignorant of God, and were out of the covenant of God; and truly such persons it behoveth not first to be baptised, and afterwards taught; but first to be taught, and after baptised. If at this day we should go to the Turks to convert them to the faith of Christ, verily first we ought to teach them, and afterwards baptise such as would yield to be the servants of Christ. Likewise the Lord himself in times past did, when first he renewed the covenant with Abraham, and ordained circumcision to be a seal of the covenant, after that Abraham was circumcised. But he, when he perceived the infants also to pertain to the covenant, and that circumcision was the sealing up of the covenant, did not only circumcise Ishmael, his son, that was thirteen years of age, but all other infants that were born in his house, among whom we reckon Isaac.

"Even so faithful people which were converted from heathen idolatry by the preaching of the Gospel, and confessing their faith, were baptised; when they understood their children to be counted among the people of God, and that

1 Fathers, &c. vol. iv, p. 543.

baptism was the token of the people of God, they procured also their children to be baptised. Therefore as it is written, "Abraham circumcised all the male children of his house." Semblably we read in the Acts and the writings of the apostles, that after the master of the house was turned to the faith, all the whole house was baptised. And as concerning those which of old time were compelled to confess their faith before they received baptism, which were called catechumens, they were such as with our forefathers came from the Gentiles to the church, who being yet rude of faith, they did instruct in the principles of their belief, and afterward they did baptise them; but the same ancient fathers notwithstanding did baptise the children of faithful men, as I have already partly declared."1

HOOPER, Bishop and Martyr.

Now to

"This new life cometh not, until such time as Christ be known and received. put on Christ, is to live a new life.

Such, as

be baptised, must remember that repentance and faith precede this external sign, and in Christ the purgation was inwardly obtained, before the external sign was given.. So that there are two kinds of baptism, and both necessary. The one interior, which is the cleansing of the heart, the drawing of the Father, the

1 Fathers, &c. vol. iv. pp. 545, 516.

operation of the Holy Ghost, and this baptism is in man, when he believeth and trusteth that Christ is the only actor of his salvation. Thus be the infants examined1 concerning repentance and faith, before they be baptised with water: at the contemplation of the which faith God purgeth the soul. Then is the exterior sign and deed not to purge the heart, but to confirm, manifest, and open unto the world, that this child is God's.

"And likewise baptism with the repetition of the words is a very sacrament and sign, that the baptised creature should die from sin all his life, as Paul writeth. (Rom. vi.) Likewise no man should condemn nor neglect this exterior sign, for the commandments' sake; though it have no power to purge from sin, yet it confirmeth the purgation of sin, and the act of itself pleaseth God, because the receivers thereof obey the will of his commandment."

-" Thus assured of God, and cleansed from sin in Christ, he hath the livery of God given unto him, baptism, the which no Christian should neglect; and yet not attribute his sanctification unto the external sign. As the king's majesty may not attribute his right unto the crown, but unto God and unto his Father, who hath not only given him grace to be born into the world, but also to govern as a king in the world;

1 Viz. through their Sponsors.

whose right and title the crown confirmeth and showeth the same unto all the world. Whereas this right by God and natural succession precedeth the coronation, the ceremony availeth nothing. A traitor may receive the crown, and yet be true king nothing the more. So an hypocrite and infidel may receive the external sign of baptism, and yet be no Christian man any the more, as Simon Magus and others."1

BRADFORD, Prebendary and Martyr.

"For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled unto thee by the death of thy Son, much more we, being reconciled shall be saved by his life. (Rom. v.) And that I should not doubt hereof, but certainly be persuaded all things to pertain to me, where I might have been born of Turks, lo! thou wouldest I should be born of Christian parents, brought into thy church by baptism, which is the sacrament of adoption, and requireth faith as well of remission of my sins as of sanctification and holiness, to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy Spirit. For in that thou hast given to me this benefit to be thy child, undeserved, undesired on my behalf, simply and only in respect of thine own goodness and grace in Christ, lest at any time I should doubt of it, how should I but hope certainly that nothing profitable to

1 Fathers, &c. vol. v. pp. 169–171.

me can be denied, in that thy power is infinite? For as thy good will is declared in adopting me, so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weal (for that should improve [disprove] thy power to be almighty) in that thy will is so bounteously already declared; whereas my belief requireth to believe in thee the Father Almighty; in consideration whereof I should in all things behave myself as a child, rejoice in thee, praise thee, trust in thee, fear thee, serve thee, love thee, call upon thee, &c. But alas! how heavy hearted am I! how unthankful am I! how full of unbelief and doubting of this thy rich mercy! how little do I love thee, fear thee, call upon thee, &c. Oh! be merciful unto me, forgive me, good Father, for thine own sake, and grant me the Spirit of thy children, to reveal thyself unto me, and Jesus Christ thy dear Son our Lord, by whom we are made thy children, that I may truly know thee, heartily love thee, faithfully hang upon thee in all my needs, with good hope call upon thee, render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my God and Father, and I thy dear child, through thy grace in Christ, and so always be endued with an assured hope of thy goodness, and a faithful, obedient heart in all things to thy holy will. At thy hands, and from thee, as I must look for all things, so come I unto thee, and pray thee to give me those things which thy dear children have, and thou requirest of me,