A replie to Iesuit Fishers answere to certain questions propou[n]ded by his most gratious Matie: King Iames By Francis White D: of Div· deane of Carlile, chaplaine to his Matie. Hereunto is annexed, a conference of the right: R:B: of St Dauids wth the same Iesuit*

ANSWER. [ D]

ALthough some persons haue been Christians before their Baptisme, as S. Augustine a saith of Cornelius. Euen as in Abraham the justice of Faith was precedent, and the seale of Circumcision followed after: so likewise in Cornelius, spirituall Sanctification, by the gift of the holy Ghost, went before, and the Sa∣crament of regeneration in the lauer of Baptisme succeeded, yet not∣withstanding, the ordinarie gate and entrance into Christian life, is Baptisme. S. Ambrose (siue Prosper) d. vocat Gentium, lib. 1. cap. 5 c. The beginning of true life and righteousnesse, is laid in the Sacrament of Regeneration, that looke where man is new borne, there [ E] also the veritie of Vertues themselues may spring.

Neither do Protestants deny the vertue and efficacie of Bap∣tisme, [ A] to sanctifie men, but according to the holy Scriptures, Eph. 5.26. Tit. 3.5. Gal. 3.27.1. Pet. 3.21. Acts 22.16. Rom. 6.3. and the antient Church a, they teach and maintaine, That this Sacrament is an instrument of Sanctification, and remission of sinnes. The Liturgie of the Church of England, in the forme of administration of Baptisme, hath these words: Seeing now D. B. that these children be regenerate, &c. Wee yeeld thee heartie thankes most mercifull Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant, with thy holy Spirit, to receiue him for thine owne child by adoption, &c. And master Hooker b saith, Baptisme is a Sacrament [ B] which God hath instituted in his Church, to the end, that they which re∣ceiue the same, might therby be incorporated into Christ, and so through his most pretious merit, obtaine as wel that sauing Grace of Imputation, which taketh away all former guiltinesse, and also that infused diuine vertue of the holy Ghost, which giueth to the powers of the soule their first disposition towards future newnesse of life. Zanchius c hath these words: When the Minister baptiseth, I beleeue that Christ with his hand reached as it were from heauen, besprinkleth the child baptised with water, with his bloud, to remission of sinnes. And in another place d, The holy Ghost mooueth vpon the water of Baptisme, and san∣ctifieth [ C] the same, making it to be a lauer of Regeneration. Caluin e saith, Per Baptismum Christus nos mortis suae fecit participes, vt in eam inseramur, By Baptisme, Christ hath made vs partakers of his death, that we may be ingraffed into it. And in another place f, If any man demand, How can infants which want vnderstanding be regenerate? I answer, Although we are not able to fadome or vnfold the manner of this Worke of God, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it followeth not from thence, that the same is not done.

And the same author, with others of his part, maintaine the former Doctrine concerning the efficacie of the Sacrament of Baptisme, and they differ only from Lutherans and Pontifici∣ans. [ E] First, In that they restraine the grace of Sanctification only to the elect g. Secondly, In that they deny externall Baptisme to be alwaies effectuall, at the very instant time when it is admi∣nistred h. But our Aduersaries must be ouer rigid, if they shall

censure questions of this nature, which are touching circum∣stance, [ A] so hardly, as to make euery such difference a fundamen∣tall errour, especially because some among themselues (as the Master of the schole reporteth a) affirme the same.

Thirdly, whereas the Obiector addeth, that Protestants de∣nie the necessitie of Baptisme for Infants, granting them Salua∣tion without Baptisme; he must vnderstand, that necessitie is ei∣ther [ B] absolute, or else of precept and supposition. We verily maintaine the latter necessitie of Baptisme, for the saluation of Infants, against the Pelagians and Anabaptists: and the contempt and wilfull neglect of this holy Sacrament is damnable to such as are guiltie of this contempt: and our Church b prouideth di∣ligently, that all Infants (if it be possible) may receiue Baptisme before they depart this life. But if it fall out ineuitable c, that new borne babes, descending of Christian parents, cannot re∣ceiue this Sacrament, not onely Protestants, but the antient Church it selfe, and discreeter Papists, haue thought it more [ C] pious to hope of Gods indulgence towards such infants, than to aggrauate his vengeance with such rigour and extremitie, as the Trent Fathers d, and their disciples e do.

First, the antient Church allotted onely two seasons f in the yeare for Baptisme, which they could not in their charitie haue thus restrained to set times, if they had beene persuaded [ D] as moderne Papals are.

Secondly, Gerson g, Biel h, and Caietan i, with many other famous Pontificians k, affirme, That Infants departing this life without Baptisme, may be saued by the speciall Grace of God, and by the prayers and faith of their parents. And the words of Thomas Elysius l, a late Pontifician, are very remarkeable, saying, Opinio quam tenent Theologi plurimi, & Ecclesia secun∣dum communem legem, est satis dura & onerosa, & non conformis [ E]

preceptis Christi quae sunt suauia & leuia. The opinion of many [ A] Diuines, which is commonly holden by the Church (concer∣ning the damnation of Infants, deceasing without Baptisme) is ouer hard and rigid, and in no sort conformeable to the pre∣cepts of Christ, which are sweet and easie. And the same Au∣thour: Non est haeretica, cum non sit contra Fidem Catholicam, sea ei conformis, & maxime secundum fidei pietatem. This opinion (which propugneth the saluation of Infants vnbaptised) is not hereticall, for it is conformeable, and not repugnant to Catho∣like faith, and most conformeable to pietie.

To Elysius, I adde Cassander, a a moderate and peaceable Ro∣mane, [ B] in his Booke d. Baptismo Infantum, which with many authorities and weightie Arguments, defendeth the same do∣ctrine concerning Infants, against the common straine of rigo∣rous Pontificians.

And thus againe, our braine-sicke Aduersarie fighteth against pietie and humanitie, obiecting that against Protestants as a [ C] fundamentall errour, which moderate Romists themselues propugne, as the more safe and tollerable Doctrine.

Notes

• a

  August. d. Bapt. lib. 4. cap. 24. Sicut in Abraham prae∣cessit fidei iustitia, & accessit Circum∣cisio signaculum ru∣stitiae fidei: ita in Cornelio, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sanctificatio Spiri∣tualis in dono Spi∣ritus sancti, & ac∣cessit Sacrameutū regenerationis in lauacro Baptismi, &c. Ambr. li 5. epist. in orat. Funeb. Valentin. Imperat. Tilman. Segeberg. d. 7. Sacram. c. 1. P. Lombard. li. 4. Sent. Dist. 4. E.
• c

  Ambr. Origo verae vitae, veraequè iustitiae, in regenerationis est posita Sacramento, vt vbi homo 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ibi etiam 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 veritas oriatur.
• a

  Aug. ep. 157. Non est salsa etiàm in paruulorū Bap∣tismate, Remissio peccatorum, nec 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dicitur, Ted veraciter agi∣tur. Concil. Carthag. Ap. Aug. epist. 90. Quicunquè negat paruulos, per Bap∣tismum Christi, à perditione liberari, & salutem percipe∣re aeternam Ana∣thema sit. Aug. sup. Ioh. tr. 80. vnde tan∣ta 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aquae vt corpus tangat, & cor abluat, &c. Id. Encherid. c. 42. Con∣cil. Mileuitan. ca. 2. Proptèr hanc regu∣lam Fidei, etiā par∣uuli qui nihil pec∣catorum in semet∣ipsis adhuc cōmit∣tere potuerūt, ideò in peccatorum re∣missionem veraci∣tèr baptizantur, vt in eis regeneratio∣ne mundetur, quod generatione traxe∣runt. Chrys. sup. psal. 22. Leo, d. Natiuit. serm. 4. Greg. Nissen. in Bapt. Christi. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b

  Hooker. Eccles. pol. li. 5. sect. 59 pa. 132. & sect. 67. pa. 174.
• c

  Zanch Miscel. li. 3 pa. 134. Cum Minister bap∣tisat, [ D] oculis mentis in Coelum sublatis, cogito & credo, Christum quasi manu suaè Coelo demissa, filium meum sanguine suo in remissionem peccatorum aspergere, per manum illius heminis, quem video aqua caput Infantis aspergentem.
• d

  Idem. d. Trib. Eloh. lib 7. pa. 266. Spiritus sanctus cum incubaret aquis illis primis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mun∣di, easque 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & animaret, Symbolo quodam declarauit, quod facturus erat super aquas Baptismi à Christo instituendi, se nimirùm descensurum super Christum in specie Columbae, & mansurum super eum: & illum etiàm nunc incubare aquis nostri Baptismi easquè sanctificare, vt lauachrum sint regenerationis. Et qui baptizantur ele∣cti, illos per hunc Spiritum sanctificari, regenerari animari ad opera bona.
• e

  Caluin. Instit. lib. 4. ca. 15. §. 5.
• f

  Caluin. ibid. c. 16. §. 17 At quomodo in quiunt regenerantur In fantes, nec boni, nec mali cognitione praedicti? Nos autem respondemus, opus Dei, etiamsi captui nostro non subiaceat, non 〈◊〉〈◊〉 esse nullum.
• g

  Vide Beza in Act. Colloq. Mons∣belgard. Tit. d. Bap.
• h

  Beza, ibid.
• a

  P. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Sent. lib. 4. Dist. 4. Quamuis quidam diffiteantur, illis qui perituri sunt paruulis, in Baptismo dimitti peccata, innitentes illi verbo Aug. Sacramenta in solis electis efficiunt quod figurant? Jbid. G. Nec mireris rem aliquandò praecedere Sacra∣mentum, cum aliquandò 〈◊〉〈◊〉 longè post sequatur: vt in illis qui fictè accedunt, quibus cum postea paenituerint incipiet Baptismus prodesse.
• b

  Canon. Eccles. Synod. Anglic. ann. 1603. Can. 69. If any Minister, &c.
• c

  Tilman. d. 7. Sacram. ca. 1. Non allegauit Deus po∣tentiam suam (vt est communis The∣ologorum senten∣tia) ità visibilibus Sacramentis, vt si∣ne ipsis (modo absit coutemptus) saluare nequeat aut nolit, maximè quando impossibile est, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ea suscipere possit.
• d

  Concil, Trid. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. ca. 7.
• e

  Bellarm. d. Bapt. li. 1. ca. 4. Cabrer. sup. 3. p. Thom. quest. 68. ar. 2. n. 7. Henriq. sum. Theolog. li. 2. c. 22. Qui citat alios.
• f

  Tom. 1. Con∣cil Ap. Surium. pag. 731. Socrat. hist. Ec∣cles. li. 5. ca. 21. Tert. d. Bapt. cap. 19. & d. Cor. Mil. c. 3. Hieron in 14. ca. Zachar. & Epist. 61. ca. 16. Leo Epist. 4. Vid. Durant. d. rit. Eccles. Cath. lib. 1. ca. 19. n. 14
• g

  Gerson. p. 3. serm. in Natiuit. B. Mariae.
• h

  Biel. 4. Sent. Dist. 4. q. 2.
• i

  Caietan. in 3. Thom. q 68. ar. 1. & 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. venet. Anno 1547. In late editi∣ons the place is ca∣strated.
• k

  Tilman. Segeberg. d 7. Sacram. c. 1. p. 43. Thom. Elysius Clyp. Pior. Hom. Tit. 11. d. Bapt. ar. 3. Cassand. d. Bapt. Infant. p. 772. & 777. Eos quoquè infantes qui voto patentum, vel propinquorum Christo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sunt, ac iàm nunc voto & animi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christo ad Baptismum oblati, si ante expirent quàm externum signum ad∣hiberi possit, non priuari Baptismi gratia pie credi posse existimo.
• l

  Elys. ibid. so. 102. Col. 2.
• a

  Cass. d. Bapt. Infant. pa. 775. Vi∣dentur haec (quae dicta sunt de Bapt. Flaminis) ad Infan∣tes quoque non in∣commode trans∣ferri posse. Nihil enim eis ad salutem praeter aquae tinctionem, deesse videtur, ad quam tinetionem, parentum & Ecclesiae volun∣tate & fide iam destinati sunt, cur igitur non hic quoque dicamus, supplere omnipotentis benignitatem, quod Sa∣cramento desuerit, nisi Deum seueriorem se Infantibus, quam adultis exhibere putemus?