Propositions and principles of diuinitie propounded and disputed in the vniuersitie of Geneua, by certaine students of diuinitie there, vnder M. Theod. Beza, and M. Anthonie Faius ... Wherein is contained a methodicall summarie, or epitome of the common places of diuinitie. Translated out of Latine into English, to the end that the causes, both of the present dangers of that Church, and also of the troubles of those that are hardlie dealt vvith els-vvhere, may appeare in the English tongue.

THE SECOND PART OF THE PRIN∣CIPLES, CONCERNING BAP∣TISME. LIX. (Book 59)

WEE HAVE DISPVTED IN THE FOR∣mer Principles touching the causes and effects of Baptism: it followeth, that wee deale with those things, touching the same argument, which wee referred vnto this Disputati¦on.

1 THe subject of Baptisme is hee, who is baptized: And all those are to bee baptized, who in regard of likelihood, are contained within the couenant of God.

2 Now, the infants that are the progenie of beleeuing Parents; and also those, who beeing of full age, doe offer themselues vnto the church, by making profession of their faith, and yeelding their consent vnto the Doctrine there∣in prefessed, are to be accounted within the couenant.

3 We holde, that they who are of full age, are not to be receiued vnto baptisme, before such time as they be instru∣cted, and haue yeelded a confession of their true faith, to∣gether

with a protestation, that they will lead a better life: Because for more assurance, the confession of the mouth is to be required at their hands.

4 Touching infants, seeing our adoption doth not de∣pend vpon our selues, or vpon any outward thing, but one∣ly vpon the election of God, which began to be manifested at our very conception, by vertue of that couenant, [I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed,] and againe, [I will be the God of those that feare me vnto a thousand genera∣tions:] And although, that infants be not indued with a∣ctuall faith, which is, by hearing: yet doe wee at this day, justlie baptize, (as in times past they were circumcised) the infants of the Saints, because they are comprehended with in the couenaunt of aeternall life, by meanes of the faith of their Parents.

5 It maketh nothing against this point, that al, who are borne of faithfull Parents, are not elected: For if this rea∣son might preuaile, wee would hardly be drawen to admit those, that are of yeares: Seeing all that professe, are not e∣lected. It is not our part, to enquire into those secrete my∣steries of God: but wee may justlie presuppose, that both all their children who professe Christianitie, and all those also, who being of full yeares, doe make profession of true faith, are elected vnto aeternall life.

6 Whereas euery man is said to bee saued by his owne faith, and not by another mans; it is to be vnderstood one∣ly of those that are of yeares: and we cannot allow of the o∣pinion, concerning the actuall faith of infants. But leauing vnto God his secrete judgements, wee doubt not, but that the faithfull Parents, doe according vnto the condition of the couenant, apprehend the promise both to themselues, and also to their children.

7 Now the Sacramental adding of the seale, doth pre∣suppose that, which is sealed to be present indeed; namely, that the partie baptized, is by likelihoode comprehended within the couenant.

8 If no wel ordered Church did euer admit, either Iews or Turkes being of yeares, or any other the professed ene∣mies

of Christ, vntill they had beene catechised, and made open profession of Christianitie: much lesse, cann any re∣ceiue their children, but with the manifest profanation of Baptisme.

9 Touching Papistes, wee are in some sort to thinke o∣therwise of them; in asmuch as wee may justly presuppose, that the Church doeth as yet remaine within the filthines of Poperie, (in respect of the elect, that are in their time to be drawen out of that mire) because that the seale of chri∣stianitie, though defiled with many spots and staines, hath continued among them, in the substantiall forme thereof: as also the doctrine of Christianitie, in respect of the Trini∣ty, and the person of Christ: And therefore we are of judg∣ment, that the children of Papistes, may bee receiued vnto Baptisme, if either one of the Parents do require the same, or som man be present, that wil promise their right bring∣ing vp.

10 It is a great error, to tie saluation vnto the outward Sacramentes, as though they were absolutelie necessarie therevnto; which the Papistes themselues, that are of anie sound judgement doe not altogeather holde. And on the other side, hee that despiseth the marke of the couenant, is justlie guiltie of aeternall death: And therefore it is not the want, but the contempt of Baptisme that is damnable; the which sinne, (as also all other) may bee done away by true repentance.

11 Now he cannot be accounted a contemner of Bap∣tisme, who wanted oportunitie to receiue the same lawful∣lie.

And therefore, wee doe cast away these cases of neces∣sitie, and all the corruptions brought into the Church vpon this occasion, as being the inuentions of men.

12 The effects of Baptisme administred, either vnto infants, or vnto those that are of age, is not to be tied vnto the verie time of the administration thereof. For the seede, both of the worde, and also of the Sacraments, lieth as it were, buried in the earth, as long as it pleaseth God to de∣ferre his grace.

13 Now, seeing wee are baptized for our whole life af∣ter, and that Christ doeth neuer cast away those that were giuen him; it followeth, that Baptisme is not to be ittera∣ted.

We doe therefore condemne Rebaptization; neither can wee in this point, allow of CYPRIAN, and the Affri∣cane Churches; and especiallie of that false and dange∣rous opinion, which holdeth, that the remission of sins past, is onely sealed by Baptisme: whence it came to passe, that some did very carelesly defer Baptisme vnto their last end.

14 The Baptisme of IOHN and of Christ, was one and the same, both in regard of the signes, & also of the things signified.

15 The most meete place for Baptisme to bee admini∣stred, is that, where the worde is preached: and the most meete time is, the time of the preaching; euen for this cause, if their were no more, that publicke praiers, which are of great force in this action, may bee joyned with the administration of the Sacraments.

16 Yet may particular Churches appoint the time, and the place, as circumstances shall require.

17 The vse of witnesses, (called God-Fathers) is nei∣ther absolutelie necessarie, nor yet to bee cleane rejected: but such witnesses onelie are to be chosen, as both knowe, and are also likelie to performe what they promise, con∣cerning the holie bringing vp of the infants.

Defended by IAMES ROVLAND a Low-countrey man.