Father Cotton a Iesuite, the Kings confessour, his two and thirtie demands, to the ministers of France with the answeres added at the end of euerie demand. Also threescore and foure demands proposed to Father Cotton, by way of counter-change. By Peter Moulin, minister of the word of God in the church of Paris. Printed according to the French copie, printed in Paris. Also a new late chalenge, by a learned diuine, to all Papists, in 24. other Popish articles.

II. DEMAND. That Children may be saued by the faith of the Parents onely, without Baptisme, and therefore that Baptisme is not of absolute necessitie.

ANSVVERE.

HEere begin the slanders, The Author of these que∣stions hath not fully conceiued what we hold in the points. God saith to Abraham that he will be his God and the God of his seed, Gen. 17. And S. Paul. 1 Cor. 7. speaking of Children borne of faithfull Fathers and Mothers, saith, that they be holy. By the strength of this Couenant it commeth to passe that the Children of the faithfull so soone as they be borne doe belong to God. As for this absolute necessitie of Baptisme, we ac∣knowledge that it is absolutely necessary to celebrate Baptisme in the Church, sith God that so commanded: as also according to the saying of Iesus Christ, Iohn 3. That, whosoeuer is not borne of water and the spirit cannot enter into the Kingdome of God: we beleeue that who∣soeuer voluntarily doth depriue himselfe of Bap∣tisme and contemneth it, cannot be saued. For it is the contempt, not the want or depriuation of Baptisme that bringeth condemnation. But to say that God cannot, or will not saue a childe without Baptisme, or to beleeue that a childe being carried towards Baptisme and dying by the way, is excluded from eternall saluation. 1. It is a cruell and rash sentence. 2. It is a tying of the grace of God to the water. 3. It is the committing of the sal∣uation of a childe into the power of a man, or of a Mid∣wife: for if they list to baptise the dying childe it shall passe into Paradise; if not, it shall not come there. 4. It is an accusing of God, that he did prouide but badly for the saluation of Children borne vnder the old Testa∣ment, in that they might not be circumcised before the eight day. 4. Euen our aduersaries themselues doe hold that many are saued without Baptisme of water, as sundry Martyrs that were neuer baptised. They are much to blame therefore so to vrge this passage or Text of the third of Iohn, wherein themselues doe say

there is no speech but of the Baptisme of water.* 1.1 6. This Baptisme likewise of bloud is contrary to their Canons, which hold that the Sacrament is none, if he that bapti∣seth hath not an intent to baptise: for dare they auow that the executioners conferred Baptisme, or that euer they had any entent to baptise? 7. How many people also died there by Martyrdome without effusion of bloud? 8. Also sith Baptisme is irreiterable (that is, not to be twise administred to one and the same person) what reason haue they, that Martyrdome of a person baptised should not be a Sacrament, but the Martyrdome of a person not baptised should be a Sacrament? 9. Doe not our aduersaries make themselues, mention of a Baptisme of the Spirit, which they call Baptismum flaminis, which supplieth the default of the Baptisme of water? and what else doe we say? 10. But if we craue formall examples out of the holy Scriptures, euery man knoweth that to the Israelites Circumcision was the same which at this day Baptisme is to vs, and that the necessitie was alike: and yet infinite people were saued vnder the old Testa∣ment without Circumcision, as all the faithfull women, and such as truly repented among the Niniuites. 11. But what a presumption was it in them to build for children dying without Baptisme, a seuerall Chamber vnder the earth, which they tearme the Childrens Limbe; whereof we finde not any mention eyther throughout the Scrip∣tures, or in all the antiquity of the Church? 12. This do they place vnder the earth, yet tell they vs not where it shall be when the earth shall not be: nor whether these infants shall vndergoe the iudgement in the latter day, and what sentence the Iudge shall giue: neyther doe they shew vs the reason wherefore the bodies of these children are throwne headlong into a bottom∣lesse pit, which is in the Hospitall called Hostel Dieu, at Paris, as vnworthy of Buriall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Concil. Trid. Sess. 7. c. 11.