Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE THIRD PART, OF THE Character or badge, which (as they say) is imprinted in the soule by the sacraments.

The Papists.

FIrst, there is a certayne seale, and spirituall marke or badge, imprinted by the sacraments, in the soules of the receiuers, which can neuer bee blotted [error 94] out, neither by sinne, apostasie, or heresie: 2. but it perpetually remayneth for the cognisance of their christendome, and distinction from others, that were neuer of Christs folde, by which also they are consecrated and deputed to God. Thirdly, this indeleble Character, is giuen by three sacraments onely, Bap∣tisme, Confirmation, Orders; which is the cause they are not reiterable, nor e∣uer to be receiued but once. Rhemist. annotat. 2. Cor. 1. sect. 7. Trident. Concil. sess. 7. can. 9. Bellarm. lib. 2. de sacram. cap. 19.

Argum. 2. Corinth. 1.22. He hath sealed vs, and giuen the earnest of the spirite into our hearts. Likewise, Ephes. 4.30. Grieue not the spirite of God, by whom ye are sealed agaynst the day of redemption. This sealing is nothing els, as they say, but an imprinting in the soule of this indeleble marke or Character.

Answ. First, the Apostle speaketh manifestly of the spirituall and inward seale of the spirite of God, wherof Baptisme is an outward seale in our bodies. Secondly, it is an absurde thing to hold, that he that hath vtterly and maliciously renounced Christianitie, and blasphemed Christ himselfe, should still retayne this Character of Baptisme, as a cognisance of his christendome. Thirdly, Bap∣tisme is not reiterable, that is, to be iterated or repeated, not because it leaueth an indeleble character in the mind of the baptized; which is but a meere deuise and fansie: but because, as it sufficeth once to be borne in the flesh, so once to be borne agayne, and to be regenerate by the spirit (of the which regeneration, Baptisme is a seale and pledge) it is sufficient. As for confirmation, and orders, we acknowledge them to be no sacraments: and therefore to haue no such in∣deleble character.

The Protestants.

THat by Baptisme and some other sacraments, there is imprinted in the soule a marke or character, which can neuer be blotted out, no not by Apostasie: and that this is the cause why Baptisme cannot be iterated, we holde it to bee a meere deuice, and inuention of men.

Argum. 1. Where the end and fruites of Baptisme are vtterly extinguished, there can not remayne any character or badge, or signe of Baptisme: The fruits of Baptisme are repentance, and regeneration by the spirite: But it is possible for these, in some that are baptized, to be vtterly lost, as in them that fall away by Apostasie, they cannot bee renewed by repentance, Hebr. 6.6. therefore in such, there is not to bee found any character, badge or signe of Baptisme, which they haue vtterly renounced: onely the memoriall thereof is kept before God, they being so much worse, then they that were neuer bapti∣zed, because they haue wilfully reiected their profession.

Argum. 2. The cause why Baptisme is but once to bee giuen, is not, as they alleadge, because it leaueth such a sure mark behind, so deeply dyed in the soule, that it cannot be blotted out. There are other causes that come nearer the truth: 1. As God is but one, who maketh a couenant with vs in Bap∣tisme, and the fayth but one, into the which we are entred by that sacrament: so Baptisme is one and the same, Ephes. 4.5. 2. The institution of God is an∣other cause, who hath appoynted the other sacrament often to be receiued, 1. Corinth. 11.25. but for the iteration of Baptisme, we haue no such comman∣dement. 3. Baptisme commeth in the place of Circumcision: as that was but once administred, so likewise it must be in the other. 4. In Baptisme God maketh a perpetual couenant with vs, which he alwayes remēbreth, & therfore neede not to be put in minde, by the often vsing of that sacrament. These and the like reasons may be alleaged, why Baptisme is not often to be required: and not that, which by them without any ground is pretended.

Augustine is flat agaynst them, for the iteration of confirmation: Ma∣nus impositio non sicut baptismus repeti non potest. Quid enim est aliud, nisi oratio super hominem? The imposition of hands is not as Baptisme, neuer to be iterated agayne: for what is it else, but prayer ouer a man? De baptism. contr. Donat. lib. 3. cap. 16. Confirmation in his opinion may be iterated, and therefore im∣printeth no such character.