Aphorisms of Christian Religion, Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. The Baptiſme of infants.
I. APHORISME.
BEcauſe the Anabaptiſtes do oppugne the Baptiſme of infants, as a point diſagreeing with Chriſtes inſtitution: it is needfull to know the reaſons, whereby the Baptiſme of infants is proued by the ſcriptures: and next to ſhewe the vanitie and weakeneſſe of the Anabaptiſtes argumēts which they bring to the contrarie.
II.
Now then that the children of the faithfull ought to be baptiſed may be ſhewed out of Gods word by foure ſpeciall arguments. The firſt is from the example of Circūciſion, which aſſuredly had the like aCol. 2.11.12.reaſon & the ſame ſignification that baptiſme hath. For like as by Circumciſion God teſtified to the people of Iſraell the bRom. 4.11.remiſſion of ſinnes and cDeut. 30.6. Rom. 2.29. Coloſſ. 2.11.regeneration: ſo by Baptiſme doth he promiſe the very ſame things vntounto the Chriſtians. If therefore their infants then, at Gods dGen. 17.12. Leuit. 12.3.cōmandement were Circumciſed: it is a good conſequent that the children of the faithfull vnderunder the Goſpell be baptiſed.
III.
For albeit we hauehave no ſuch charge for the baptiſing of infants: yet we know right well the Lordes good pleaſure herein by the very nature and end of Baptiſme: eſpecially ſeeing Baptiſme is ordained to ſucceede in the aCol. 2.11.12.place of Circumciſion. Now the charge giuē to them of old which profeſſed the Iewiſh Religion, was, that they ſhould not onelyonly be Circumciſed them ſelues, but alſo all bExo. 12.48.the males that did belong vntounto them. Wherefore in like manner ſuch as profeſſe Chriſtian Religion, they are bounde to bring their infants to be baptized.
IIII.
Againe, the children of the faithfull are partakers of that, which is ſignified by Baptiſme, that is, the remiſſion of ſinnes, & regeneration, for they belong to Gods aGene. 17.7 Act. 2.39. 1. Cor. 7.14.couenant wherein theſe benefits are promiſed: with what colour then of reaſon ſhall we denie them the ſeale of the couenant?
V.
And if our infants may not be baptized, then the grace of God by Chriſts cōming doth leſſe appeare vntounto vsus then vntounto the Iewes in times paſt: for that the faithfull Iewes were confirmed by the ſeale of Circumciſion cōcerning the ſaluatiō of their children: wherefore it is againſt all reaſon that Chriſtiās ſhould not in like maner by the teſtimonie of Baptiſme be aſſured of the ſaluation of their infants.
VI.
Laſtly the children of the faithfull ought to be offred aMat. 19.14aCol. … 12.vntounto Chriſt, as they that hauehave communion with him in the kingdome of heauen: therfore we muſt giuegive them their Baptiſme, as the ſeale of that communiō, and heritage, they hauehave with Chriſt in heauen.
VII.
For whereas the Anabaptiſtes denie that the baptizing of infantes was vſed in the Apoſtles time: we muſt know that the old writers ſay contrarie: and the ſame may alſo appeare by the Acts of the Apoſtles (which Luke a companion of the Aſtles, as eye-witneſſe of all the things, for the moſt part, hath left written for the Church of Chriſt) where it aAct. 2.38.39.is ſayd in the wordes of Peter to the Iewes conuerted by his Sermon, that they be baptized for the remiſſion of ſins, and that they ſhould receiue the gift of the holy Ghoſt, for that this promiſe was made not onelyonly vntounto them, but vntounto their childrē. Where in the word (children) it can not be denied, but that infants muſt be vnderſtood. Againe, this Euangeliſt recordeth that Paule & Silas (in whoſe companie he him ſelf alſo was) baptizedbAct. 16.15. Lydia & her houſe, and the Iayler cIbid v. 33.with all his houſhold.
VIII.
Next, whereas they ſay that infants may not be baptized, becauſe they cannot cō ceiue the doctrine of faith & repentance: The like reaſon might be made againſt the Circumciſion of infants. Wherefore it ſufficeth that they are baptized vntounto the repentance and faith to come, euen as the infants among the Iewes were Circumciſed.
IX.
Thirdly, whereas they obiect that Baptiſme was giuen for the remiſſion of ſins: and that infants hauehave not ſinned: the aſſumption is falſe: for albeit infants hauehave not ſinned, after the like manner of the tranſgreſſion of aRom. 5.14.Adam, that is actually in their own perſon: yet they ſinned in bIbid. v. 12.him or in his loynes: for that they are c1. Cor. 15.22.dead in him, and dRom. 5.14. and 6.21.dye dayly no leſſe then ſuch as be of yeares.
X.
Fourthly, whereas they ſay that Chriſt hath cleanſed aEphe. 5.26.his Church by the washing of water, and that infantes hauehave no neede of this cleanſing, becauſe they be not vncleane: againe, the aſſumption is falſe: for bPſal. 51.7.Dauid confeſſeth that he was conceiued in ſinne: and for that the infants of the faithfull are members c1. Cor. 7.14of the Church: i… followeth that they alſo are purged by the bloud of Chriſt: and therefore we muſt graunt them the ſeale thereof which is Baptiſme.
XI.
Laſtly, where they ſay, that none in the Apoſtles time was baptized, but he that made profeſſion of his faith before: that is true onelyonly of ſuch as were aAct. 2.41. Act. 8.12. Ibid. v. 37.38.of yeares: but that the infants of ſuch as profeſſed the faith, and were baptized, were alſo baptized in like manner, we hauehave before plainly proued in the 7. Aphoriſme.