The B. of Sarisburie.
Il wil is euer plenetiful of ili wordes. M. Hardinge here maketh him selfe mutche mater without cause. He teacheth our Newe Cleregie, that Baptisme is not onely a Signe, or a Token of Remission of sinnes: He telleth vs of the Faithe of the Geeuer: of the Faithe of the Receiuer: Of the Povver of the Sacra∣mente: Of Concupiscence, that it is no sinne. And more, I trowe, he would haue saide, if more had presently comme to minde. Verily the poore Newe Cleregie speaketh not one woorde in al this whole place, neither of Signe, nor of Token, nor of the Receiuer, nor of the Geeuer, nor of the Povver of the Sacrament, nor of Concupiscence, whether it be Sinne, or not Sinne, nor of any other like thinge. Yet in y• ende he taketh S. Augustines vvoordes, vvithout his meaninge, and crieth againste vs, They lie, they studie to deceiue, they seke shiftes. And why so? Certainely bicause wée saie, Baptisme is a Sacrament of Remission of Sinnes: And that the Children of the Faitheful, for that they be borne in Sinne, and perteine to the people of God, ought therefore to be Baptized. Other causes then these in any Our Woordes he can finde none.
True it is, that the Sacramente dependeth not, neither of the Minister, nor of the Receiuer,* 1.1 nor of any other. For though they be al the Children of sinne, yet is Baptisme the Sacramente of Remission of Sinne. S. Augustine saithe, Securum me fecit Magister meus, de quo spiritus eius dicit, Hic est, qui Baptizat: Christe my Maister hath assured me, of whom his owne Sprite saithe, this is he, that Baptizeth.
Neuerthelesse concerninge the Faithe of the Parentes,* 1.2 and others, the Ho∣ly Doctours haue sommetimes written otherwise. S. Augustine saithe, Satis piè, recte{que} creditur, Prodesse paruulo eorum Fidem, à quibus Consecrandus offertur: It is good and Godly to beleue, that the Child is holpen by the Faithe of them, by whom he is offered, or brought vnto Baptisme. Againe he saithe, Accommodat illis Mater Ecclesia aliorum pedes, vt veniant: aliorum Cor, vt credant: Our Mother the Churche lendeth them other mennes fecte, that they maie comme▪ and other mennes