The eight Chapter. Of Baptisme, Baptising of Infantes, and holinesse of Infants.
1 BAptisme is a signe of regeneratio~ into Christ, into his death, (I meane) and resurrection: which succéeded in the place of Circumcision, consisting of the fountaine of water, in the worde: wherein in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holie Ghost, remission of sinnes and shedding out of the holie Ghost is offered, and by a visible Sacrament, we are grafted into Christ & into the Church: and the right vnto the kingdome of heauen is sealed vnto vs, and wee on the otherside professe that wee will die vnto sinne, and from thence forwarde liue vnto Christ That the members or parts of this definition may the better be vnderstood, we will plainelie set them foorth. 2 First it is called a signe which worde that it is common vnto Baptisme and vnto all the Sacraments it is prooued hereby, because Paul in the Epistle to the Romanes taught that Abraham after he was iustified did receiue Circumcision, 3 being a seale of the righteousnesse alreadie obtained. And what thing Baptisme sealeth, is sufficientlie expressed, seeing it is called the signe of regeneration. For Christ manifestlie enough taught Nicodemus in the thirde Chapter of Iohn, 4 that they which will be saued must bee borne againe. That Baptisme is a signe of this regeneration, Paul teacheth vnto Titus, saying: 5 According to his mercie he hath saued vs by the fountaine of regeneration. 6 And séeing that regeneration is a certaine changing: that we maie the better vnderstande what it is, first must bee declared the ende wherevnto it tendeth. And therefore we added: Into Christ, because the faith, the indeuors, and life of those that be regenerate, haue respect vnto no thing else, but wholie to passe into Christ. And séeing that all things which Christ did for our saluation, are comprehended in his death and resurrection: therefore in this definition we put, That we must be baptised into his death and resurrection. Which also Paul teacheth: For thus he writeth: 7 Knowe ye that all wee that are baptised into Christ, are baptised into his death. 8 And straightwaie hee maketh mention of the resurrection. But that baptisme succéeded in the place of Circumcision, the Epistle vnto the Colossians teacheth. 9 Since then Circumcision was onelie once giuen vnto each one, and that euerie one hath but one onelie natiuitie, thereof it commeth that baptisme must not bee renewed. Which is also doone to that end: 10 that the holie Ghost will haue vs fullie perswaded, that after baptisme we ought no more to returne to our olde life, as though an other regeneraon might bee graunted vnto vs. For if anie should so thinke (as we read in the Epistle to the Hebrewes) he shoulde tread vnder foote the bloud of the sonne of GOD. 11 Paul therefore vnto the Ephesians saith, One spirite, one faith, one Baptisme. And that it consisteth of the fountaine of water and of the worde, we are taught out of the Epistle to the Ephesians in these words: 12 Euen as Christ also loued the Church, and gaue him selfe for it, that he might sanctifie it, beeing made cleane by y e fountaine of water through the word. This is the nature of sacraments, that they consist of a signe, an outward element, and of the worde of God. Manie ecclesiasticall writers, treating of Baptisme, set foorth the praises and commendations of Water. 13 But here I rather praise the simplicitie of Christian religion, which hath Sacraments annexed as in number fewe, so most easie to be celebrated. And as touching the signes: we haue nothing but bread, Wine and Water, which are euerie where vsuall, and easie to be had. 14 Doubtles the mysteries of Idols were celebrated with great cost, and were verie sumptuous: but Christ in outward things alwaies followed great simplicitie. Albeit the Deuill also as he imitateth God, would sometimes also haue water to be ioyned with his seruices: As in the mysteries of Mitra and Isis. 15 And the Romans in the playes of Apollo and Pelusius besprinkled the Citie with water: For by that meanes they thought it to be perfectlie cleansed from periuries, murthers, iniustice and publike crimes. And such as had committed murther, did with great diligence séeke after purging waters. But omitting these thinges, this we ought to consider, that the signe in Sacramentes should haue an affinitie and similitude with the thing that is signified. 16 Wherefore séeing that water washeth awaie the filthinesse of the body, maketh the earth fruitefull, and quencheth thirst, it aptlie signifieth remission of sinnes, the holie Ghost whereby good workes are made plentifull, and also grace which refresheth the anguishes of the minde. Neither did the Prophetes in the old Testament otherwise prophesie of the giuing of the holie Ghost in regeneration. 17 Ioel saith, that God would powre cleane water vppon the sonnes and daughters of the Iewes. And Esaie saith: All ye that thirst come vnto the waters. And the olde Hebrewes are saide by Paul to haue béene baptized in the red sea, 18 and in the cloude.