CHAPTER XII

 One of the customs held and upheld by Pedobaptist churches, which Baptists seriously condemn¹, is infant baptism. It is practiced by both Roman Catholics and Protestants as a religious institution; and though not held as sacredly, or practiced as widely as formerly², it still prevails to a wide extent throughout the Christian³ world. And yet it was not instituted by Christ, nor practiced by His Apostles, nor known in the primitive⁴ churches, and has neither sanction nor recognition in the Word of God. It is for this reason that Baptists utterly⁵ reject and condemn the custom, as not simply useless and without authority, but as a most pernicious and hurtful usage; that it is injurious both to the child that receives it, and to the church which allows it, can be easily shown. Baptism before faith, and without a profession it, contradicts and [p. 130] does violence to all New Testament⁷ teaching.

 

not of scriptural authority

 

Now, that infant baptism is not of Scriptural authority, and was not known in the first Christian ages, nearly all its advocates and defenders⁸ have with considerable candor⁹ admitted. Only a few of their historians and scholars can be cited here.

 

Dr. William Wall, a learned Divine of the English Church, who wrote the “History of Infant Baptism,” a work so able that the clergy¹⁰ in convocation assembled gave him a vote of thanks for his defense¹¹ of the custom, says: “Among all the persons that are recorded as baptized by the Apostles, there is no express mention of any infants.” Hist. Inf. Bap., Intro., pp. 1, 55.

 

Thomas Fuller, the historian, says: “We do freely confess there is neither express precept¹² nor precedent¹³ in the New Testament for the Baptism of Infants.” Infants’ Advoc., pp. 71, 150.

 

Luther says: “It cannot be proved by the sacred Scriptures¹⁴ that infant baptism was instituted by Christ, or begun by the [p. 131] first Christians¹⁶ after the Apostles.” Vanity of Inf. Bap., Part II., p. 8.

 

Neander says: “Baptism was administered at first only to adults, as men were accustomed to conceive of baptism and faith as strictly¹⁷ connected. We have all reason for not deriving¹⁸ infant baptism from Apostolic institution.” Ch. Hist., Vol. I., p. 311; Plant. and Train., Vol. I., p. 222.

 

Professor Lange says: “All attempts to make out infant baptism from the New Testament fail. It is totally opposed to the spirit of the Apostolic age, and to the fundamental principles of the New Testament.” Inf. Baptism, p. 101.

 

Professor Jacobi says: “Infant baptism was established neither by Christ, nor by the Apostles.” Art. Bap., Kitto’s Cycl. Bib. Lit.

 

Doctor Hanna says: “Scripture¹⁵ knows nothing of the baptism of infants.” North Brit. Review, Aug., 1852.

 

Professor Hagenbach says: “The passages from Scripture cited in favor of infant baptism as a usage of the primitive church are doubtful and prove nothing.” Hist. Dict., pp. 190, 193.

 

Bishop¹⁹ Burnett, Baxter, Goodwin, [p. 132] Limborch, Celarius, Field, and many others bear similar testimony²⁰.

 

when did it rise?

 

Since the New Testament knows nothing of infant baptism, and since it was neither instituted by Christ, nor practiced by His Apostles, what was its origin, and when did it come into use?

 

Tertullian is the first who mentions the custom, and he opposes it. This was at the close of the second century, or about a. d. 200. His opposition²¹ to it proves two things: First, that it was in occasional use, at least. Second, that it was of recent origin, since had it been long used some earlier record if it could be found. Neander, Ch. Hist., Vol. I., p. 311.

 

Bingham could find no earlier allusion²² to it than that of Tertullian, though he believed it arose earlier. It must, therefore, as is generally agreed, have had its origin about the beginning of the third century.

 

Curcell?us says: “The baptism of infants in the two first centuries after Christ was altogether unknown; but in the third and fourth was allowed by some few. In the fifth and following ages it was generally [p. 133] received.” Inst. Christ. Religion, B. I., Ch. 12.

 

Salmasius says: “In the first two centuries no one was baptized, except, being instructed in the faith and acquainted with the doctrines²³ of Christ, he was able to profess⁶ himself a believer.” Hist. Bapt. Suicer. Thesaur., Vol. II., p. 1136.

 

Such testimony is conclusive²⁵, and quite sufficient, though much more of a similar character might be added.

 

But observe: That when the baptism of children began, it was not that of unconscious infants at all, as is now practiced, but, as Bunsen declares, of “little growing children, from six to ten years old.” And he asserts that Tertullian “does not say one word of new-born infants.” Cyprian, an African bishop, at the close of the third century, urged the baptism of infants proper, because of the saving efficacy of the ordinance²⁶; and he is called the inventor, or father, of infant baptism. Bunsen’s Hippol. and His Age, Vol. III., pp. 192-5.

 

why did it rise?

 

There is even less difficulty in tracing the cause than in finding the origin of infant [p. 134] baptism. It originated in a perversion²⁷ of Christian doctrine²⁴, and was itself the perversion of a Christian ordinance.

 

All students of ecclesiastical history know that at an early period corruptions²⁸ perverted²⁹ Christian faith and practice. Among these, one of the earliest was that of an undue³⁰ efficacy attributed to baptism. Its sanctity was so exalted³¹ that it was believed to have power to wash away sins, and cleanse³² the soul for heaven. By it the sick were supposed to be prepared for death, and salvation³³ made more certain by its efficacy. Anxious parents therefore desired their dying children to be thus prepared—“washed in the laver of regeneration,” as it was termed—that they might be sure of salvation. And here came in that pernicious error of “baptismal regeneration,” which gave rise to infant baptism, and which has through all these ages clung with more or less pertinacity³⁴ to the clergy and laity³⁵ of all churches which have practiced it.

 

Salmasius says: “An opinion prevailed that no one could be saved without being baptized; and for that reason the custom arose of baptizing infants.” Epist. Jus. Pac. See Booth’s Pedo. Exam., Ch. III., Sec. 3.

 

[p. 135]Venema declares that “the ancients connected a regenerating³⁶ power with baptism.” He cites Justin Martyr³⁷, Iren?us, Clemens, Tertullian, and Cyprian as holding that opinion. Eccl. Hist., Vol. 4, p. 3., Secs. 2, 3, 4.

 

Chrysostom, writing about a. d. 398, as cited by Suicerus, says, “It is impossible without baptism to obtain the kingdom,” and as cited by Wall he says: “If sudden death seize us before we are baptized, though we have a thousand good qualities, there is nothing to be expected but hell.” Suicer., Thesaur. Eccl., Vol. I., p. 3.

 

Waddington, in his Church History, says, in reference to the third century: “A belief was gaining ground among the converts and was inculcated among the heathen, that the act of baptism gave remission of all sins committed previously³⁸.” Hist. of Church, Ch. II., p. 53.

 

Professor Fisher says: “Very early baptism was so far identified with regeneration as to be designated by that term. This rite³⁹ was considered essential to salvation. A virtue⁴⁰ was believed to reside in the baptismal water itself.” Hist. Christ. Ch., p. 83.

 

[p. 136] Do its advocates and supporters hold the same view now? Do parents and ministers still believe that the baptism of unconscious infants secures, or makes more sure, their salvation? If not, why do they practice it?

 

Professor Lange’s words are weighty, and should be carefully pondered by Protestant defenders of this Papal emanation. He says: “Would the Protestant Church fulfill⁴¹ and attain⁴² to its final destiny, the baptism of new-born children must of necessity be abolished. It has sunk down to a mere⁴³ formality, without any meaning for the child.” History of Protestantism, p. 34.

 

Many good people, familiar with infant baptism and surrounded by its influences, have naturally learned to reverence⁴⁴ it as of Divine appointment, and some of them really believe it is taught or sanctioned by the New Testament. But Baptists are right in rejecting it as something utterly without foundation in the Word of God.

 

household baptisms

 

Much stress is laid by some of the advocates of infant baptism on that fact that in [p. 137] the Acts of the Apostles several cases of household baptism are mentioned. And it is asked with an air of assurance: “If entire households were baptized, must there not have been children among them? And were they not baptized also?” To this it is sufficient to reply, that nothing is said of children, and we have no right to put into the Scriptures what we do not find in them. All inference that such households contained infants, and that such infants were baptized, is the purest fiction in the world. If Christian institutions could be built on so slight a foundation as that, we could bring in all the mummeries of the Greek or the Roman Church, and all the ceremonies of the Mosaic⁴⁵ ritual.

 

One thing is certain: If in those households any children were baptized, they were old enough to receive the Gospel and to believe on Christ, and were thus suitable subjects for the ordinance, and for church fellowship. For it is said, “They believed, and gladly received the Word.” There are thousands of Baptist churches into whose fellowship whole households have been baptized—parents and children and perhaps others connected with them. But all were old enough to believe and to make profession of [p. 138] their faith. So evidently it was in these households.

 

The more prominent of these households are that of Lydia, mentioned in Acts 16; that of the Philippian jailer, mentioned also in Acts 16; and that of Stephanas, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1. Now note what a few distinguished⁴⁶ Pedobaptist scholars say on these cases.

 

Doctor Neander says: “We cannot prove that the Apostles ordained⁴⁷ infant baptism; from those places where the baptism of a whole family is mentioned, we can draw no such conclusion.” Planting and Training, p. 162, N. Y. Ed., 1865.

 

Professor Jacobi says: “In none of these instances has it been proved that there were little children among them.” Kitto’s Bib. Cyc., Art. Bap.

 

Doctor Meyer says: “That the baptism of children was not in use at that time appears evident from 1 Cor. 7:14.” Comment. on Acts 16:15.

 

Doctor De Wette says: “This passage has been adduced in proof of the apostolical authority of infant baptism: but there is no proof here that any except adults were baptized.” Com. New Test., Acts 16:15.

 

[p. 139]Doctor Olshausen says: “There is altogether wanting any conclusive proof-text for the baptism of infants in the age of the apostles.” Com. on Acts 16:15.

 

Bishop Bloomfield says of the jailer: “It is taken for granted that his family became Christians as well as himself.” Com. on Acts 16:15.

 

Calvin, Doddridge, Henry, and other commentators⁴⁸ declare that in this case the household all believed, and therefore were baptized and did rejoice. MacKnight considers the case of the household of Stephanas as giving no countenance⁴⁹ to the baptism of infants. And with him agree Guise⁵⁰, Hammond, Doddridge, and others.

 

As to the argument used by some, that baptism came in the place of circumcision, it is too weak and puerile⁵¹, too far-fetched and destitute⁵² of reason, to claim the serious regard of intelligent and candid⁵³ minds.

1 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

5 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

6 profess   

v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰

参考例句：

• I profess that I was surprised at the news.我承认这消息使我惊讶。
• What religion does he profess?他信仰哪种宗教？

7 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

8 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

10 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

11 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

12 precept   

n.戒律；格言

参考例句：

• It occurs to me that example is always more efficacious than precept.我想到身教重于言教。
• The son had well profited by the precept and example of the father.老太爷的言传身教早已使他儿子获益无穷。

13 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

14 scriptures   

经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典

参考例句：

• Here the apostle Peter affirms his belief that the Scriptures are 'inspired'. 使徒彼得在此表达了他相信《圣经》是通过默感写成的。
• You won't find this moral precept in the scriptures. 你在《圣经》中找不到这种道德规范。

15 scripture   

n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段

参考例句：

• The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
• They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。

16 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

17 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

18 deriving   

v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• I anticipate deriving much instruction from the lecture. 我期望从这演讲中获得很多教益。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He anticipated his deriving much instruction from the lecture. 他期望从这次演讲中得到很多教益。 来自辞典例句

19 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

20 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

21 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

22 allusion   

n.暗示，间接提示

参考例句：

• He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
• She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。

23 doctrines   

n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明

参考例句：

• To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看，这样的教义显得苛刻，甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

24 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

25 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

26 ordinance   

n.法令；条令；条例

参考例句：

• The Ordinance of 1785 provided the first land grants for educational purposes.1785年法案为教育目的提供了第一批土地。
• The city passed an ordinance compelling all outdoor lighting to be switched off at 9.00 PM.该市通过一条法令强令晚上九点关闭一切室外照明。

27 perversion   

n.曲解；堕落；反常

参考例句：

• In its most general sense,corruption means the perversion or abandonment.就其最一般的意义上说，舞弊就是堕落，就是背离准则。
• Her account was a perversion of the truth.她所讲的歪曲了事实。

28 corruptions   

n.堕落( corruption的名词复数 )；腐化；腐败；贿赂

参考例句：

• He stressed the corruptions of sin. 他强调了罪恶的腐朽。 来自互联网

29 perverted   

adj.不正当的v.滥用( pervert的过去式和过去分词 )；腐蚀；败坏；使堕落

参考例句：

• Some scientific discoveries have been perverted to create weapons of destruction. 某些科学发明被滥用来生产毁灭性武器。
• sexual acts, normal and perverted 正常的和变态的性行为

30 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

31 exalted   

adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的

参考例句：

• Their loveliness and holiness in accordance with their exalted station.他们的美丽和圣洁也与他们的崇高地位相称。
• He received respect because he was a person of exalted rank.他因为是个地位崇高的人而受到尊敬。

32 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

33 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

34 pertinacity   

n.执拗，顽固

参考例句：

35 laity   

n.俗人；门外汉

参考例句：

• The Church and the laity were increasingly active in charity work.教会与俗众越来越积极参与慈善工作。
• Clergy and laity alike are divided in their views.神职人员和信众同样都观点各异。

36 regenerating   

v.新生，再生( regenerate的现在分词 )；正反馈

参考例句：

• It is not proposed to deal with the detailed histology of regenerating tissues here. 这里未提出详细的再生组织的组织学。 来自辞典例句
• This is accomplished by using a thermocompressor to recycle regenerating steam through the absorber. 它用热压机使再生蒸汽经吸附器循环完成解吸过程。 来自辞典例句

37 martyr   

n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲

参考例句：

• The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
• The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。

38 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

39 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。

40 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

41 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

42 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

43 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

44 reverence   

n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。

45 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

46 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

47 ordained   

v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定

参考例句：

• He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句

48 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

49 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

50 guise   

n.外表，伪装的姿态

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors.他们假装成视察员进了学校。
• The thief came into the house under the guise of a repairman.那小偷扮成个修理匠进了屋子。

51 puerile   

adj.幼稚的，儿童的

参考例句：

• The story is simple,even puerile.故事很简单，甚至有些幼稚。
• Concert organisers branded the group's actions as puerile.音乐会的组织者指称该乐队的行为愚蠢幼稚。

52 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

53 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。