that water, being of the age of discretion, must examine himself duly, lest if he come unworthily, (none otherwise than he would come unto other common water) he be not renewed in Christ, but instead of salvation receive his damnation.' No doubt in Cranmer's writings, particularly those of his former years, there are many expressions, which shew, that he supposed the inward and spiritual grace generally attendant on the outward sign, in baptism; especially in the case of infants: but the quotations here adduced, manifestly prove, that he did not think that the outward baptism was regeneration; or in all cases inseparably connected with it. ༦ In such only as worthily receive the same,' (baptism and the Lord's supper,) they have a whole'some effect of operation; and yet not that of the work wrought, (opus operatum,) as some men speak; which word as it is strange and unknown 'to holy Scripture, so it engendereth no godly, but a very superstitious, sense: but they that receive ' the sacraments unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith." The will and imaginations of man's heart is only to evil, and always subject to sin and misery, and bond and captive to all manner of wickedness: so 'that it cannot once think a good thought, much 'less then do a good deed, as of his own work, 'pleasant and acceptable in the sight of God; until 1 Art. xxvi. Edw. VI. On the sacraments. Fathers, &c. vol. ii. p. 334, 335. 6 such time, as the same be regenerate by the Holy Ghost, and prevented by the grace of God. For, as St. James saith, "Every good, and every perfect "gift is from above, and cometh down from the "Father of lights." 'And Christ saith, "Without me ye can do nothing:" and Paul saith, that "it is God which worketh in us both the will and "the deed, even of good will." Therefore until 'the Spirit of regeneration be given us of God, we can neither will, do, speak, nor think any good thing, that is acceptable in his sight. Let us 'therefore always pray to God, that he will make in us a clean heart and renew in us an upright 'spirit."-Did this good man deem no regeneration needful, except that which is common to all baptized persons? Such as be baptized,' (adults are meant,) '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 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 examined concerning ' repentance and faith, before they be baptized with 'water; at the contemplation of which faith God 1 Clement, who was preserved from being burnt, by dying in prison. Strype's Memorials. Fathers of the English church, Vol. IV. p. 296. Q 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. 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." A man that is regenerate and born of God, (the which thing, that every one of us be, our baptism, the sacrai¿ ment of regeneration, doth require, under pain of damnation; and therefore, let every one of us, with the Virgin Mary, say, "Be it unto me, O "Lord, according to thy word," according to the sacrament of baptism, wherein thou hast declared our adoption;-) a man I say, that is regenerate, consisteth of two men, (as a man may say,) 36 namely of the old man and the new."Did this eminent divine consider baptism as the only regeneration; or as uniformly and inseparably connected with it? To require of us, on pain of damnation,' is far different from conferring it on us at the time.' Note, p. lxxxvii. lxxxviii. from Dr. Nichols. Some "writers of the last century run into this newfangled phrase, to denote conversion, or a returning from a lapsed state, after a notorious violation of the baptismal covenant.'-Whether the lan guage here referred to, concerning regeneration, Hooper, bishop and martyr. 170, 171. 2 Bradford, martyr. Fathers, &c. Vol. V. p. 169, were new fangled,' and invented by the writers of the seventeenth century; the reader, after duly con→ sidering the preceding quotations from much more ancient authors, must judge. The writers referred to, by no means considered the persons of whom they spake, as lapsed, except as fallen in Adam: for they regarded them as mere nominal christians, uns baptized in heart, unregenerate, and needing rege neration quite as much as Jews and Gentiles do. P. xc. 1. 5. "In the, &c. Qu.: What meanest thou by this word sacrament? Ans. I mean an ⚫ outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means, whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof.-The outward sacra→ ment then is a sign, a means, a pledge; and nothing more. In this both baptism and the Lord's supper are alike included. Qu. What is the outward * visible sign, or form in baptism? Ans. Water, ' wherein the person is baptized, "In the name of "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy "Ghost." Qu. What is the inward and spiritual grace? Ans. A death unto sin, and a new birth funto righteousness; for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.'-Here observe, that this benefit is annexed to the inward and spiritual grace;' and not to the cutward and visible sign. In the Catechism it is said, that the inward and spiritual grace of baptism is, a death unto sin, and a new birth unto * righteousness; for, being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.' He that had only the outward sign, without the inward grace, had only the exterior of the sacrament, and the shadow of the blessing: but he, who had the thing signified, had the substantial blessing itself, even if not partaker of the outward sign. And, however it might be assumed, that in most cases the outward sign and the inward grace went together; it is not here said, nor so much as clearly intimated. Qu. What is required of persons to be baptized? Ans. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that sacrament.'-But supposing an adult should receive baptism, rightly as to the external administration; yet without repentance and faith, would he have the blessing? Let the question and answer concerning the Lord's supper resolve this enquiry. Qu. What is the inward part, or thing signified? Ans. The body and blood ' of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and ' received by the faithful in the Lord's supper.'-But if the recipient be not a believer: then, verily, he eats and drinks his own condemnation. And what reason can be assigned, that there should be any difference in this respect, between adult-baptism, and receiving the Lord's supper? P. xc. l. 10. In the office, &c." If this refers 'In the office of confirmation, the bishop, after the renewal of the baptismal vow, but previous to the laying on of hands, prays thus, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast vouch'safed to regenerate these thy servants by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given them forgiveness of all their sins;' evidently referring to the rite of baptism... |