our sinnes are spiritually regenerated and borne againe a newe creature also we who were before the children of wrath nowe are made the Children and heyres of God and in deed the Coheyres of Christ our Redeemer Which description shall be particularlie discussed and proued hereafter The Prerogatiues of Baptisme Now the effects and prerogatiues of this Sacrament are great and manie First it is the begining of Christianitie the first entrance into the Catholike Church and house of God here on earth the verie high-way to all other Sacraments insomuch that no other are auailable without this It is the first gate that openeth to the Kingdome of heauen by this we receyue such singular grace that thereby we are cleansed from all maner of sinne as Originall Actuall be it mortall or veniall The Infants not hauing actuall are cleansed from Originall and the elder sorte or at mans estate young or old haue by this Sacrament their soules cleansed and washed of all manner of sinnes as Originall actuall mortall or veniall and the paines due for sinne either eternall or temporall fullie satisfied Yea we are deliuered from the bondage and power of the deuill restored to innoceÌ„cie incorporate to Christ as members of his bodie reconciled to the grace and fauour of Almigtie God made his adopted sonnes and coheyres and inheritours with Christ of the Kingdome of heauen The soule is beautified made beloued of God splendent and shining in the sight of Angells Heare what S. Basill called â—he Greate for his sanctitie holinesse and â—earninge in his exhortation to Baptisme sayeth It is Mors peccati animae regeneratio amiâ—tus spendens Character indelebilis Coeli iter Regni coelestis conciliatio adoptionis gratia The death of sinne the Regeneration of the Soule the splendent amise or glorious apparell the indelible Character or the marke badge printe of a Christian man the way or iourney to heauen a winning of the Caelestiall kingdome the grace of adoption And to this holie Father subscribeth almost in the same words S. Cyrill Bishop of Ierusalem saying Protocathesi Baptismus est Captiuitatis liberatio Peccatorum remissio mors Peccati c. Baptisme is the deliuerie out of captiuitie the remissioÌ„ of sinnes the death of sinne the regeneration of the soule the white garment wherwith they are clothed who follow the lambe immacuâ—ate the holy and indelible seale the chariote into heauen the delight of Paradise the winning of the heauenlie kingdome the Chrisme or vnction of the children of adoption These priuiledges graces prerogatiues efects I haue the rather expressed that in these daungerous â—ymes of heresie pareÌ„ts may take greater care to haue this sacrament duely executed and trulie ministred to their children considering it so much concerneth the life and eternall saluation of their soules CAP. 3. Whether if by errour or other wayes this Sacrament of baptisme be not dulie administred one be capable of the other Sacraments To this question it may be answered that it is a chief priuiledge and prerogatiue of this Sacrament that it onelie and by it self without anie other Sacrament may be receyued to saluation and all other Sacraments suppose this at the gate and entrance so that without this they can take no effect For howe can the bodie be strengthned or take armes and weapons to fight against his enemies that hath no life in it So 〈◊〉 say of Confirmation the next Sacrament after Baptisme ConfirmatioÌ„ which strengthneth and armeth the soule by the inuocation of the holie Ghost to fight against the enemies of mankind that is the world the flesh and the deuill and to stand constantlie in confession of fayth in tyme of persecution of Pagan Turke or Heretike to weare the cognizance of a Christian to receaue the standard of Christ that is his Crosse that he be not ashamed to professe Christ crucified But how can this be if the soule be dead in sinne haue not the life of grace and neuer entred the gate of Christianitie Sacrament of the Alt. As for the SacrameÌ„t of the Altar S. Paule saieth Qui manducat c. He that vnworthily receaueth doth eate and drinke his owne damnation And how can he worthilie eat Christs Bodie 1. Cor. 11. whom Gods grace hath not yet made worthie and who in deed as yet is no Christian Confes And for the Sacrament of Confession if it be as S. Ierome sayeth Secunda tabula post naufragium A second table or planke after shipwracke it must needes suppose a first entrance before a recouerie of the shippe And how can he haue helpe by the table or planke who neuer entred the shippe Also in Extreme vnction Extreme vnction how can the Priest by holie vnction and prayer purge the remainder before the soule hath euer bene cleansed Or obtaine pardon of veniall sinnes who hath not as yet Originall sinne remitâ—ed Or offer the soule to the hands of Angells to be presented before the throne of God who hath not as yet the character signe or seale of a Christiane And for Matrimonie Matrimonie how can it be a Sacrament where Christianitie is not professed Dico magnum Sacramentum in Christo Ecclesia Holy Orders I say sayeth S. Paule it is a great Sacrament in Christ and his Church And for holie Orders certainlie it is generally concluded that he can be no Priest or minister of Christ who is no member of his Church InnoceÌ„ de Presbit noâ— Bapti can ve niens Apost Read the decree of Innocentius the third written to the Bishops of Ferrara where he concludeth that he who is not Baptised can not be a Priest How can anie house be builded where no foundation is layd wherefore I conclude he that is not trulie Christened can not be capable of anie other Sament for that the effect of Baptisme is to giue life to open the gate and giue power to the receiuing of all the other Sacraments CAP. 4. VVhether all punishment due for Originall sinnâ— be remitted in baptisme THere is no doubt but he that shall die immediatlie after Baptisme shall be freed froâ— all manner of punishment temporall or eternalâ— due for sinne and his soule shall incontinentliâ— flie to heauen The difficultie of this question is for that we see and feele our selues after Baptisme to be subiect to hunger famine thirst cold and Concupicence to raigne in our flesh and we to tremble at death and other calamitieâ— which were inflicted vpon man as punishmenâ— of our first parent Adam How then are we free by Baptisme from all manner of punishment anâ— penalties of this life which were due for Originall sinne seing these infirmities were inflicteâ— for sinne and yet remaine in vs after Baptisme I answere First we must consider the state oâ— man as he is in this world and also as he shalâ— be in the next SecoÌ„dlie we must note that there is temporall paine and punishment and also eternall The eternall is by Baptisme
doe the Gentiles And therefore sayeth he Tu fide stas noli altum sapere sed time thou by faith doest Stand be not too highlie wise but feare Wherefore beware the vaine presumption and securitie of Heretikes for he who standeth by faith may fall Aug li. 20. de ciuita Dei ca. 25. and he who hath the Innocencie of Baptisme may loose it S. Augustine doth reprehend some Catholikes of his tyme of grosse errour who held that those who were Baptised should not be damned although they liued wickedlie so that they kepte themselues in the Catholike Church Against whom he wrote a whole booke intitleing it de fide operibus Of faith and good workes Also against this heresie spake S. Paule prouing that by the lawe of Christ by Baptisme we are freed from the state of damnation vnlesse we againe willfullie giue our selues ouer to the flesh Rom. 8. ver 13. And therefore he concludeth Si secundum Carnem vixeritis moriemini If ye liue according to the flesh ye shall die And he plainlie telleth the Corinthians and willeth them to know that the vniust the wicked although they are Christians and Baptised shall not possesse the kingdome of heauen And biddeth them not erre in their opinion 1. Cor. 5. Nolite errare for neither fornicatours nor seruers of idolles adulterous nor the effeminate nor theeues nor the couetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possesse the kingdome of God Caluin lib. 3. inst ca. 22. §. 11. Yet after all this comes M. Iohn Caluin with his Hereticall proposition vera fides semel habita non potest amitti True faith once had can not be lost Which is contrarie to the expresse words of the Apostle before cited and examples in Scripture 〈◊〉 the Acts of the Apostles it is written of Simon Magus Act. 8. that at the preaching of S. Phillippe the Deacon he beleeued was baptised an cleaued to Phillippe Yet it is also manifest that he became a reprobate For S. Peter sayed of him that his parte was not right before God and sawe in him the gall of bitternes 1. Timo. cap. 1. and obligation of sinne S. Paule exhorteth Thimothie to be stedfast in faith and haue a good consience Quia quidam naufragauerunt circa fidem For some repelling their good conscience haue made also shipwracke about the faith And he absolutlie affirmeth that there shall be Apostatates in the latter dayes 1. Timo. cap. 4. In nouissimis diebus discedent quidam a fide In the last dayes certaine shall departe from the faith Also Martin Luther hath this libertine proposition Non potest homo Baptizatus damnari Luther lib. de Capti Babil cap. 6. nisi nolit credere He that is Baptized can not be damned vnlesse he will not beleeue Against which idle position I will sette downe the decree of the generall councell of Trent Si quis dixerit Bapizatum non posse etiamsi velit gratiam amittere quantumcumque peccet nisi nolit credere anathema sit If any man shall say that he who is Baptised can not loose grace if he would let him sinne neuer so much vnlesse he will not beleeue let him be accursed Werefore I may well conclude that he who hath bene once Baptized may sinne may be damned may be a reprobate It is too frequent to heare of renegate Christians who becomes Turkes and Apostatates and Chatholikes also who fall from their Church and faith CAP. 8. VVhether Baptisme hath force to remitte sinne committed after Baptisme THere is no question as hath bene declared before but that Baptisme hath force te remitte all manner of sinnes either contracted in our first parents or committed in acte by our selues that is either originall or actuall be they mortall or veniall The difficultie nowe is in that there are sinnes besides Originall precedent that is sinnes past and going before Baptisme in those of perfect age and there are sinnes subsequent that is committed after Baptisme Nowe the question is whether Baptisme extend it self to sinnes committed after or onlie contained it self within the bounde of those committed before Ins the generall doctrine of the Catholike Church that if we committe any sinne after Baptisme we must seeke to releeue our selues not by Baptisme but by other meanes that is by the sacrament of Penance Aug. ep 23. ad Bonif And S. Augustine expresseth saying Semel acccptam paruulus gratiam Christi non amittit nisi propria impietate si aetatis accessu c. The Infant Baptised looseth not the grace of Christ vnlesse it be by his owne proper impietie and wickednesse For if he become euill when he cometh to vnderstanding and vse of reason then properlie shall he begin to haue sinnes which sinnes may not be taken away by regeneration and Baptisme but are to be cured by some other medicine This S. Augustine So that it is plaine by this auntient Doctour and learned Fathers opinion that sinnes committed after Baptisme are not releeued by Baptisme but by other meanes S. Paule exhorteth men to be perfecte and warneth them to be carefull that they fall not from their faith and grace they receiued once in Baptisme Heb. 6. Impossibile est eos qui sunt illuminati iterum renouari ad Poenitentiam It is imposible saieth the Apostle for them whom are illuminated and Baptised to be Baptised againe to be renewed again by Baptismall Penance that is by that easie remedie that Baptisme affordeth But if thou sinne after Baptisme then must thou goe to the Sacrament of Penance which is open to all sinners called the second table after shipwracke a remedie a medicine more painfull then Baptisme requiring much fasting praying corporall affliction confession contrition Ambr. li. 2. de PaeniteÌ„ cap. 3. satisfaction c. So taught S. Ambrose entreating of Penance so preached S. Iohn Chrysostome in his ninth Homilie vpon the sixth chapter to the Hebrewes And there is no doubt to be made but Christ after his resurrection gaue commission and commaundement to his Apostles to Baptise all nations and people in remission of their sinnes and those who beleeued Mat. 28. and were Baptised should be saued So it is also as plaine as may be in S. Iohns Gospell Mar. 16. that the same day of Christs Resurrection he instituted the Sacrament of Penaâ—ce knowing the infirmitie and weaknesse of man that after Baptisme he might loose his first grace and former estate and fall into mortall sinne therefore he prouided a second remedie to reuiue him againe And as he gaue commission to remitte sinnes in Baptisme so also after Baptisme he gaue power authoritie and commission to forgiue sinnes The words of Christ in the Gospell are these As my Father sent me I also send you When he had sayed thus he breathed vpon them and he sayed to them Receaue ye the Holy Ghost VVhose sinnes you shall forgâ—ue they are forgiuen them and whose you shall retaine they
vtterlie abolished in this life and in the next but part of the temporall punishment which was inflicted for Originall sinne onlie doth remaine in this life As for example death was a punishment imposed for sinne yet notwithstanding all must die Also hunger cold nakednesse sicknesse and other such like molestations and penalties of this life we sustaine after Baptisme and are not thereby taken away but remaine in this life as the miseries of mortalitie But in the next life they shall be vtterlie extinguished according to that of S. Iohn Absterget Deus c. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and death shall be no more nor mourning nor crying neither shall there be sorrowe anie more Also the reason whie Concupiscence raigneth in our flesh not vterlie extinguished by Baptisme may be that man may by striuing to suppresse cōquere it merit the more But if by Baptisme our bodies should be made impassible in this life that is not subiect to death hunger nakednes and other calamities we should flie vnto Baptisme rather for this present life then hope for the life to come which were a great inconuenience in Christian profession Thom. 3. p. q. 69. ar 3. Therefore I say with S. Thomas the great Diuine that the Sacrament of Baptisme hath power vertue to take away all the penalties and punishments due for sinne yet notwithstanding it doth not De facto take them away in this present life but by the vertue thereof in the death and Passton of Christ they shall be extinguished and vtterlie taken away in the generall resurrection when these our mortall bodies shal be endued with immortalitie as it is sayed 1. Cor. 15. And this not without reason by God ordained First because by Baptisme man is incorporate to Christ and made his member And therefore it is conuenient that the same should be performed in the member incorporate which was acted in the head But Chrict from the begining of his Conception being full of grace and veritie notwithstanding had a passible bodie which after his death and Passion was raised to a glorious life Wherefore although euerie Christian in Baptisme doth obtaine grace for the beautifying of his soule yet not withstāding because he hath a passible bodie to suffer for Christ and with Christ he must for the tyme present sustaine the penalties thereof yet shall he be raysed at the generall resurection to an impassible life Rom. 8. which S. Paul declareth Qui suscitauit Iesum c. He that raysed vp Iesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortall bodies because of his spirite dwelling in you Wherefore although Baptisme hath power and vertue to take awaye all the penalties of this life and punishment due for sinne yet it is conuenient they remaine temporallie and for a tyme in this life and be accomplished and fulfilled in the generall resurrection in the next life when we all shall receaue our bodies againe CAP. 5. VVhether Baptisme doth remit sinne and giue grace Ex opere operato that is By force of the word and worke done and sayed in the Sacrament It is a generall cōclusion amongst all Catholike Diuines that the Sacraments are causes of our Iustification and that God doth applie the merits of Christs Passion vnto our soules Wherefore we conclude that in Baptisme by force and vertue of the word and worke done and sayed sinne is remitted grace giuen and Iustification wrought Therefore we do not attribute the obtaining of grace and Iustification to the merits of the minister ministering it nor to the partie receyuinge but as Christ hath taught vs to the water and the holy Ghost working it And for better vnderstanding of Iustification and grace wrought in Baptisme let vs consider how manie things concurre thereunto First doth concurre Almightie God who is the principall and chiefe agent worker and first cause of Iustification Then Christs death and Passion by which we are redeemed and he hath meritted this grace for vs. Then the sacramentall action that is the concurring and applieing togeather the water and the word in due forme according to the Institution and ordinance of God This externall action is this Sacrament which God doth vse as his instrument for the iustification washing and cleansing of the soule of man Then is the Priest ordained the ordinarie minister of God to execute this sacrament or externall action in whome there is required that he haue power authoritie and cōmission to doe it and intention to effect it Finalie in the receyuer that is in him who is to be Baptised if he be of age and vnderstanding there is required a will and desire to receaue it also faith and beleefe in Christ with a penitent harte These are not causes of Iustification but dispositions in the soule onelie to make the soule apte to receaue the Sacrament and to remoue obstacles and letts that the Sacrament may worke his effect And this S. Peter after his first sermon in the day of Pentecost insinuated told the people when they asked him after the preaching was donne what they shoud doe Act. 2. Dispose your selues sayeth he doe Penance and be euerie one of you Baptised But for Infants what is required in them we will entreate afterwards Wherefore we will conclude Baptisme to be the instrument of God and by Diuine ordinance to haue as an instrumentall cause efficacie and efficiencie to remit sinne and worke saluation and iustification in the soule of man CAP. 6. VVhether Baptisme be reallie and in deed an instrumentall cause of iustification or onlie a meanes to excite stirre vp or moue to faith IT is an absurd and vnconscionable dealing yea a great slaunder and calumnie of Caluin and his complices to say that Catholikes in their Doctrine doe resigne and tye the vertue and power of God to externall simboles and signes As though they taught that in Baptisme the water the word without God did remitte sinne It were a vaine thinge to thinke that when the carpenter doeth vse his sawe as an instrumentall cause to breake cut or deuide timber to say that the sawe doth cut worke or breake timber of it self without the carpenter So Almightie God although he vse the externall signes that is the word and water in Baptisme to cleanse the soule and remit sinne as secondarie and instrumentall causes yet not so that they should worke of themselues without God but God by them doth effect iustification and remission of sinne Neither doth he resigne his power so to these externall signes that they worke these effects in them selues and not he in them and with them but as in the precedent chapter I sayed God doth vse in Baptisme water and the word as his instrument and by force of the word and worke done grace is giuen and sinne remitted Therfore they are not vsed as some heretikes of this tyme auerre as bare signes and simboles or onlie meanes to excite stirre vp or moue to
are retained Lo the institution of the Sacrament of Penance Wherefore Baptisme is not the remedie for sinnes committed after that Sacrament receaued but we must recurre to the Sacrament of Confession by Christs owne institution Let therefore no Heretike lull you a sleepe in this plausible doctrine and Epicurian practise that if you fall out of the shippe you entred into by Baptisme and make shipwracke and loose by sinne your first grace receaued in Baptisme that you shall not need to take hold and handfast of the second table that is the Sacrament of Penance but that the memorie onlie of Baptisme shall be sufficient to recouer you without contrition confession or satisfaction either to God or man or anie other punishement due for sinne It was also decreed in the great and generall councell of Lateran vnder Pope Innocentius the Third at which councell were our English Embassadours and oratours amongst the rest of the Princes of Christendome the words of the Councell are Concil Later cap. 1. Si post susceptionem Baptismi contingat prolabi in peccatum per veram Penitentiam potest semper recuperari If it happen that any man after he hath receaued the Sacrament of Baptisme fall downe into sinne he may alwaies continuallie from tyme to tyme recouer himself by true repentance Wherefore I conclude with the venerable councell of Trent Si quis dixerit peccata omnia Con. Trid. sess 7. canon 9. quae post Baptismum fiunt sola recordatione fide suscepti Baptismi vel dimitti vel venialia fieri anathema sit If anie man shall say that all sinnes which are committed and done after Baptisme are by the onlie recordation remembrance and faith of Baptisme before receaued either remitted or become veniall let him be accursed It can not therefore be that those sinnes we shall committe after Baptisme by Baptisme should be relieued but the Sacrament of Penance must be our refuge and thither must we flie with an humble and contrite harte This is Christs ordinance and institution for the helpe and succour of man CAP. 9. VVhether Baptisme be necessarie to saluation THere is no doubt in Catholike Doctrine but ordinarlie it is of necessitie to saluation and the onlie meanes by Christs institution to enter into the kingdome of heauen according to that saying of Christ Ioan. 3. Nisi quis renatus c. vnlesse a man be borne againe by water the Holy Ghost he can not enter into the kingdome of heauen As no man can enter into this world nor haue life and being vnlesse he be borne of his carnall parents no more can any man enter into life and state of saluation vnlesse he be borne of water and the Holy Ghost He must be denuo natus Borne againe who will see the kingdome of God Therefore they can no way be saued sayeth S. Thomas who receaue not this Sacrament S. Tho. 3. p. q. 68. articu 4. In re or in voto that is In deed or In desire vowe and will For they that receaue it not are neither in deed nor in vowe neither Sacramentallie nor mentallie incorporated to Christ nor made his members by whom onlie saluation is obtained He therefore that shal be preuented by death before he actually obtayne this Sacrament in acte and deed realie if he haue an ardent desire to be Baptised may be saued for and by the desire of Baptisme which did proceed of faith working by loue by which God inwardly sanctifieth him The reason is because God hath not so bound himselfe or his power to these externall Sacraments although he haue made them his ordinarie instruments but that he may and doth in some cases of necessitie accept them as Baptised who either are martired before they could be Baptised or els departe this life with vowe and desire to haue the Sacrament when by some extreame necessitie it could not be obtained Con. Trid. sess 7. ca. non cap. 5. Therefore I conclud that he who shall neglect or contemne the Sacrament of Baptisme as necessarie to saluation and so commaunded by Christ can not be saued For this cause the generall councell of Trent doth Anathematize those who affime Baptisme to be free at libertie and not necessarie to saluation CAP. 10. VVhether in the third of S. Iohn Christ did treate of Baptisme I moue this question in respect of Caluin because he willing to maintaine Baptisme not to be necessarie as the ordinarie meanes by Christ instituted to saluation doth absolutlie denie That Christ here in this Chapter recorded by the Euangelist doth intreate of the Sacrament of Baptisme Caluin lib. 4. inst ca. 16. §. 25. and so abuse the expresse words of Christ with idle glosses and false interpretations contrarie to the vnderstanding of generall Councells auncient Fathers and meaning of vniuersall Church And therefore by these words vnlesse a man be borne againe by water and the Holie Ghost he can not enter into the kingdome of heauen Antido con Triden ses 6. Christ intendeth sayeth he onlie internall renouation no externall Sacrament therefore by this word water we must vnderstand onlie the Holie Ghost to make cleane and purge as wather doth But this glosse is absurd the interpretation fained For if Christ did not intend an externall Sacrament consisting of water but onlie an internall renouation what need had he to vse this word Water at all but he might haue sayed absolutlie vnlesse a man be borne of the Holie Ghost onlie he can not enter into the kingdome of heauen But he plainlie sayed vnlesse a man be borne of water the Holie Gost to signifie the Sacrament of Baptisme externallie to be water and the Holie Ghost internallie to worke and therefore he put them ioyntlie together that by water and the holie Ghost our entrance to heauen should be effected I call it a fained interpretation because it proceedeth from Caluins owne fancie For he can bring no generall councell no cōsent of Fathers no practise of the primitiue Church for his interpretation because they all stand firme in this place of Scripture and the words of Christ here related are manifest for the Sacramēt of Baptisme as the ordinarie meanes for mans saluation that by Christs institution as shall may appeare by the processe of this treatise Ob. But Caluin may say If I haue no councells nor Fathers Yet I haue Scripture for my purpose It is sayed Matth. 3.11 Luc. 3. ver 16. that Christ shall Baptise in the Holy Ghost and fire but fire maketh no Sacrament nor is necessarie to saluation but onlie expresseth the effects of the Holie Ghost so why should the word water doe anie more I answere Sol. these words recited that Christ should Baptise in the holie Ghost and fire were not spoken by Christ himself but by his Prophet S. Iohn Baptist whereby he might foretell prophecie of the the power of Christ in sending the Holie Ghost vpon the Apostles in
Children beleeue by others as by others they contracted sinne which is remitted in Baptisme And considering that Baptisme is a spirituall generation and hath some similitude with carnall generation therfore we say euen as children when they are in their mothers wombe doe not receaue nourishment from or by themselues but are maintained by foode from their mothers euen so we say as yet not hauing vse of reason being as it were placed in the wombe of their mother the Church doe not receaue saluation and Baptisme by and from themselues but by the faith and acte of the Church Therfore S. Augustine sayeth Our Mother the Church doth offer and lend her mouth to ChildreÌ„ Infants Aug. li. de Pect meritis remeff c. 33. that they may be indued with holy Misteries for as yet they can not beleeue with their owne hartes nor make confession to saluation with their owne mouthes Wherfore we conclude that children and Infants haue intention to be Baptized answere the Priest are Baptized by the intention by the mouth by the faith of their mother the Church Wherupon the Churche hath instituted that when the child is brougt to the fonte to be Baptized the Priest asketh him Quid Petis what intend what seeke you what aske you The child answereth by the mouth of the God-fater and God-mother or by the standers by Petâ— Baptismum I intend and aske Baptisme Then the Priest sayeth Vis Baptizari wilt thou be Baptized The child answereth as before or the Church for him Volo I will Then the Priest goeth forward Credis in Deum Patrem omnipotentem c. Doest thou beleeue in God the Father Almightie and in Iesus Christ his onlie Sonne c. The child answereth as before Credo I doe beleeue Then the child is Baptized receaueth the signe and Character of a Christian Origiginall sinne is remitted and in the soule is infused the habite of faith hope and Charitie and so the Child is made Vere fidelis A true faithfull soule This is the doctrine practise of the Catholike Church Anathema then and fie vpon these Heretikes and heresie who would leaue the poore Infants remedilesse of saluation because they are not capable of actuall faith And Isidorus sayeth Paruuli alio profitente Baptizati sunt quia adhuc loqui vel credere nesciunt c. Children are Baptized an other making profession of faith for them because the know not as yet to speake or beleeue In like manner also it is with them who are sicke dumbe or deafe in whose steed and place an other doth make profession that he may make answere for them while they are Baptized I thinke M. Luther hath much to answere for before God who gaue occasion of this heresie for that he would needes maintaine that Infants had actuall faith which is impossible and against reason and not to be content with the generall doctrine of the Church that habituall faith the faith of an other was sufficieÌ„t for Baptisme in the Infant And being dealt for reasoned with coÌ„cerninge this difficultie notwithstanding did stifflie defend against Cocleus That ChildreÌ„ haue vse of reason doe actually heare and beleeue whilest they are Baptized And also the Lutherans maintained the same in their Synode held at witenberg in the yeare of our Lord. 1556. CAP. 6. VVhether Children if they die before Baptisme can be saued by their fathers faith I Haue proposed this question not that there is anie probabilitie in the affirmatiue parte Because according to S. Paule Not only the children of the vnbeleeuing Eph. 2. but also of the faithfull all are borne the children of wrath and all conceaued in originall sinne Therfore I absolutlie answere that they can not be saued by the parents faith For as I haue sufficientlie proued before that the ordinarie meanes for the saluation of Children and remission of Originall sinne is Baptisme and therfore not the parents faith Let this then be a Caueat and warning to all Catholikes and well-minded Christians to beware of the dangerous doctrine that many of our Countreymen following M. Caluin are not ashamed publiklie to preach that Baptisme is not necessarie to Saluation in Infants so that they be borne of Christian Parents As though the Patents faith could make safe the child which is against Scripture Councells Fathers and all antiquitie For that the ordinarie meanes as I haue sayed before for the saluation of children is Baptisme It was decreed by S. Innocencius the first Pope of that name who florished in the tyme of S. Ierome and S. Augustine That children althought borne of Christian Parents ought to be borne againe by Baptisme that in them that which they contracted by birth and genration should be cleansed by regeneration and Baptisme True it is as we haue proued in the precedent chapâ—er that Infants are Baptized in their paâ—ents faith if the Parents be Christians or â—n the faith of the Church if they be Infidells but it is the Sacrament that maketh them safe and not the Parents faith for that is but an introduction to the Sacrament This priuiâ—edge and speciall helpe children haue being borne of Christian Parents that they themâ—elues being Christians will and ought to haue a speciall care that they be brougt to Baptisme and in this respect the faith of the Parents may profitte the Infant and be a secondarie cause of his sanctification Therfore no doubt it is a deadlie and mortall sinne in the Parents if by their negligence the child die vnder their hands without Baptisme Surely then I may conclude that this doctrine of Caluins is but a tricke of Satan to make Parents carelesse of this Sacrament that he may bring their Children to vtter danger of saluation and to make themselues not free from sinne I haue heard of some greate personages who for pompe at Christening and to haue some honorable person for Godfather haue delayed and neglected Baptisme and so the Infant dying without it by the Parents pride and negligence haue beene sent vnto hell What griefe this ought to be in Parents iudge you and what sinne it was in them I haue censured before Because this opinion of Caluin is too pregnant in our Countrey of England Cal. li. 4. Inst. ca. 16. Obiect and some of the best seeme to incline vnto it I will solue all his arguments The first obiection is out of the old Testament where God made pacte and promise to Abraham Gen. 17. that he would be a God vnto him and this promise was not onlie made vnto him for his owne person but to his seed and posteritie after him but all the Children of the faithfull are of the seed of Abraham Therfore they are not so properlie iustified by the acte of Baptisme as by the promise God made to the seed of Abraham Sol. Kelli â— lib. 4. Suruay But this argument hath Doctour Kellison most learnedly answered First although God made this promise to Abrahams seed yet
Christeninge CAP. XIX Wether one or trinall immersions are to be vsed in baptisme THe church of god ordinarely doth vse and cōmaund three immersions or dippings of the child Wherfor although one myght suffice yet it were a great synne to infringe and break the rite and ordinarie custome of the church By three immersions is signified the trinitie of persons in God that is the Father the sonne and the hollie ghost and as the forme doth geue so the immersions followe Rom. 6. Also because S. Paule sayeth that by baptisme we are sayed to be buried with Christ therfor the three immersions are done to signifie the three dayes Christ was in the sepulcher serm 3. 4. ad Neophitas wherfor S. Augustine in a sermon he made to the new baptised hath these wordes recte tertio mersi estis c. You who haue receaued baptisme in the name of the trinitie rightfully you are three tymes dipped and with reason also bee thrice dipped who haue bine baptised in the name of Iesus Christ who the thyrd daye rose from death for that thyrd immersion doth expresse the type and figure of our lordes buriall by which you are consepulted and buried together with Christ in baptisme thus much S. Augustine And to the same effect speaketh S. Hierome ter mergimur c. We are three tymes diped that the mysterie of the trinitie may be shewed and appeare And we are not baptized in the names in the plurall number but in the name in the singular number wherby is signified on God wherfor although we are thrice dipped to declare the misterie of the trinitie yet it is but one god on baptisme lib. Epist. 41. vnus Deus vnum Baptisma one god on baptisme Also S. Gregorie wrytinge vnto Leander bisshope in Spayne doth approue three immersions and also not disallowe yf there be but one So that for this ceremonie of three immersions we haue three Doctors of the church S. Hierome S. Augustine and S. Gregorie besides these there is an Apostolicall constitution Can. 49. as recordeth S. Clement which doth depose that priest who shall baptize without trinall immersion by reason of some heretick in the verie begeninge and infancie of the church who baptized not in the name of the trinitie but only in the death of Christ and because Christ dyed but once he would vse but one immersion You maye obiect that in the forth Counsell of Toledo baptisme was commaunded to be effected with one immersion I aunswere it is trwe it was so commaunded and this was to avoyed the scandall of schisme and the vse of hereticall doctrine wherfor S. Gregorius sayeth baptisme may be effected with one immersion to signifie one deitie in three parsons And this was at that tyme done because some Arrians began to baptise with three immersions not to signifie as the Catholikes did the three parsons in one deitie but to signifie three naturs which was to make the sonne and the holly ghost not to be of one substance with the father wherfor one immersion was permitted in Spayne by S. Gregorius and also commaunded by the counsel of Toledo because these hereticks should not thinck that Catholicks did vse the trinall immersion to cōfirme their doctrine And therfor all Catholicks of that countrie at that tyme agreed to vse but one immersion but now that occasion of one immersion being taken awaye all Catholick coūtries ordinarely doe returne to the auncient costome of the primatiue church and doe practise and commaund three immersions an◠this power and right the Catholick church hath and euer had concerning ceremonies rites t◠alter as occasion by heretickes was geuen to edification But for any essentiall parte of any sacrament she newer hath nor can alter or permitt to be altered vppon any occasion whatsoeuer for the essentiall part Christ himselfe instituted and leafte the rites and ceremonies to his church CAP. 20. Wether the vnction with holie chrisme on the crowne of the head after baptisme be allowable NOw being come to our thyrd diuision of ceremonies which are to be done and acted after baptisme you shall vnderstand that they are three in number which the Catholick church doth specially practise The fyrst is vnction with holy chrisme vppon the topp or crowne of the head The second is the chrisome or white garment which is put vppon the baptised The third is the taper or waxe candle light and burning beinge geuen and putt in the right hand of the baptized All which three the Protestants neglect or contemne as vnprofitable not honorable nor significant and haue quiet blotted them out of theire bookes Concerninge the fyrst Soe soone as the child is taken out of the font the priest doth annoynt him not with holy oyle as before on the breast and shoulders but with holy Chrisme and that on the crowne of the head to signifie that now he is become a Christeā and so called of Christ which is as much as vnctus annoynted and therfor an annoynted Christean and then he vseth this orison or prayer God omnipotent father of our lord Iesus Christ who hath regenerated thee of water and the holy ghost and also who hath geuen thee remission of all thy synnes he doth annoynt the With the crisme of oyle of health into life everlastinge lib. 30. de Sacramentis c. 1. S. Ambrose after this ceremonie is perfected sayeth to euerie Christean man vnctus es quasi Athleta Christi Now thou art annoynted as the champion of Christ vnto life eternall And Rabanus wryteth to this effect after sayeth he the child is taken out of the font presently he is signed in cerebro in the crowne of the head with sacred Chrisme together with the prayer of the priest that he may be made partaker of the kingdome of Christ and of Christ be called a Christean S. Ambrose goeth farther and asketh the question Quare Caput lib. 3. de sacra c. 1. 2. Eccles 2. why hast thou receaued oyntment and holy Chrisme vppon thy head he maketh the answere and geueth the reason quia sensus sapientis in capite eius because the sense and vnderstandinge the eyes of the wise are in his head And thus much to shewe how significant this ceremonie is Now for the antiquitie therof that it was vsed in the primatiue church we haue amonge the decrees and rites of the church which were published and instituted by S. Syluester the fyrst pope of that name who baptised Constantine the great and fyrst christean Emperor vt praesbiter baptizati Chrismate summum liniret verticem That the priest should annoynt the crowne of the head of the baptized with chrisme Also S. Hierome reporteth that in his tyme in dialogo contra luciferanos it waz not lawfull for the priests to baptise without chrisme What reason then haue the protestants of this age not to allowe but to neglect and contemne so significant a ceremonie I knowe no reason but one because they