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be it never so frail, doth notwithstanding truly witness or confirm unto us the inward washing of our souls in the blood of Jesus Christ, by the virtue and efficacy of the Holy Ghost."

The Confession of Belgia.

"Neither doth this baptism profit us only at that moment when the water resteth upon us, and when we are sprinkled with it, but it is available throughout the whole time of our life. Therefore here we do detest the errour of the Anabaptists, who are not only content with one only baptism, and that once received, but do also condemn the baptism of infants, yea of those that be born of faithful Parents: but we by the same reason do believe that they ought to be baptized and sealed with the sign of the covenant, for the which in time past the infants amongst the Israelites were circumcised, that is, by reason of the same promises made unto our infants, that were made unto others. And verily Christ hath no less shed his blood to wash the infants of the faithful, than he did for the washing of those that are of riper years. Therefore it is meet that they should receive the sign or sacrament of the thing which Christ hath wrought for their sakes, as in the law the Lord commandeth, that the sacrament of the death and passion of Christ should be communicated to children new born, by offering up the lamb for them which was a sacrament of Christ to

come. (Levit. xii. 6.) Furthermore that which circumcision did perform to the people of the Jews, the same did baptism perform to the children of the faithful. For the which cause Paul calleth Baptism, "the circumcision of Christ."

The Confession of Augsburgh.

"Concerning baptism they teach that it is necessary to salvation, as a ceremony ordained of Christ. Also that by baptism the grace of God is offered. And that young infants are to be baptized, and that they being by baptism commended unto God, are received into God's fayour, and are made the sons of God as Christ witnesseth, speaking of little children in the Church, (Matt. xviii.) "It is not the will of your heavenly Father, that any of these little ones should perish." They condemn the Anabaptists, which allow not the baptism of infants, and hold that infants are saved, though they die without baptism, and be not within the Church of God."

The Confession of Saxony.

"We do also baptise infants, because it is most certain that the promise of grace doth pertain also of (to) infants, and to those only which are ingrafted into the Church, because that of these it is said, "Suffer little ones to come unto me, because that to such appertaineth the kingdom of heaven." And Origen

writeth upon the sixth to the Romans, "That the Church received the custom of baptising infants from the apostles." Neither do we think that this custom is only an idle ceremony, but that the infants are then indeed received and sanctified of God, because that then they are grafted into the Church, and the promise pertaineth to such. And of this matter there be many things written and published in our Churches, whereby the anabaptists are refuted."

The Confession of Wirtemberg.

"We acknowledge that Baptism is to be ministered as well to infants as to those that are grown to full age, and that it is to be used in the Church, even to the end of this world, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, according to Christ his institution," &c.

"Moreover we teach, that he which is baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is sprinkled with a spiritual anointing, that is, is made a member of Christ through faith; and endued with the Holy Ghost, that the ears of his mind may be opened, and the eyes of his heart lightened, to receive and understand heavenly things," &c.

The Confession of Sueveland.

"And seeing that Baptism is a sacrament of

that covenant, which God hath made with those that be his, promising that he will be their God, and the God of their seed, and that he will be a revenger of wrongs and take them for his people; to conclude, seeing it is a token of the renewing of the Spirit, which is wrought by Christ: therefore our Preachers do teach, that it is to be given to Infants also, as well as that in times past under Moses they were circumcised: for we are indeed the children of Abraham, and therefore that promise, "I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed," doth no less pertain unto us, than it did to that ancient people."

To the above I add the following extracts from the Articles of Religion of the United Church of England and Ireland.

Of the Sacraments.

"Sacraments ordained of Christ, be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession; but rather, they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.”

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Of Baptism.

Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened; but it is also a sign of Regeneration, or New

234 SENTIMENTS OF THE REFORMERS.

Birth, whereby as an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly, are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed ; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ."

From the above extracts it appears

First, that the child is introduced to the Church for Baptism, as the child of believing Parents, in virtue of the promise made to them.

Secondly, That Baptism is the sign and seal of the faith which the child possesses in virtue of the election of grace.

Thirdly, That Christian Baptism is but Jewish Circumcision expressed under another outward and visible sign, "For the which cause Paul calleth Baptism the Circumcision of Christ." 1

Lastly, That no doubt should be entertained as to the child's condition: he is an adopted child of God, and should be esteemed and educated as such.

Compare these particulars with the letter and spirit of our Baptism and its kindred formularies, and how exactly do they agree!

1 Confession of Belgia.

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