The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

CHAP. XV. Concerning Baptisme.

BEsides what hath been said of the Sacraments in generall: we further believe and confesse, as followeth, concerning the Sacra∣ment of Baptisme in speciall.

DOCTRINE I. What Baptisme is: and what the effects thereof.

a 1.1BAptisme is the first Sacrament of the New Covenant: by which both all they, which either having made confession of their sins, and profession of their faith in Christ, and so likewise in God the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, or such as at least we believe for the pietie of theirb 1.2 parents do belong unto the Cove∣nant; and they more especially, which truely belong unto the Covenant, arec 1.3 sealed in Christ, being as it wered 1.4 incorporated into him by the holy Ghost, in such manner that they aree 1.5 no longer their own, but his, by whom they are said to be received un∣to

the fellowship of the Covenant, and so become one body with him and all the Saints, and are made par∣takers of all Spirituall and celestiall benefits: being by this Baptisme as the laver of regenerationa 1.6 cleansed from their sins by the bloud of Christ, andb 1.7 buried with him into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glorie of the Father, even so we also should walk in newnesse of life: For which cause it is usually called, the Sacrament, orc 1.8 The Baptisme of re∣pentance for the remission of sins, The seal of faith, the seal of the Cove∣nant, the laver of regeneration, the washing away of sins, and the Sacra∣ment or seal of newnesse of life.

DOCT. II. That the power and vertue of Baptisme hath onely place in the elect: and that they alone are Baptised not onely with water, but also with the holy Ghost.

BUt yet, notwithstanding such ex∣cellent things are said of Baptisme, and are truely attributed unto it as an instrument used by the holy

Ghost, and so Sacramentally, all they which are Baptised, are truely said to be made, and to be such: We believe that it is fulfilled really onely in the elect, which are endued with the holy Ghost, forasmuch as they onely do truely believe, and truely belong unto Christ and his mysticall body. And therefore, that all indeed are Baptised with water, but the elect onely with the holy Ghost; and, that all receive the signe, not all the thing signified and offered by Baptisme, but that the elect onely are made partakers thereof.

DOCT. III. What be the integrall parts of the Sa∣crament of Baptisme.

WE believe that, for the making of the Sacrament of Baptisme to be entire, those two things are suffi∣cient which Christ hath instituted, to wit, the simple element of water, with which men are Baptised whether by way of immersion, or dipping in the water, or aspersion, & sprinkling on the water; and that form of words which Christ taught his Apostles to

use when they Baptized,* 1.9 to wit, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. And we are ful∣ly perswaded, that they neither used any other forme of words, nor added any thing else unto the water.

DOCT. IV. That infants being the children of be∣lieving parents are to be Baptized.

WE believe also with all the an∣cient Church, that to the Sacra∣ment of Baptisme are to be admitted, not onely those which are of ripe years, which repent and confesse their sins, and make profession of their faith in Christ: but also infants being the children of such parents, forasmuch as we are to judge that they also belong unto the Covenant, according to the Apostles saying to this purpose,a 1.10 That the children of believing parents are holy: especial∣ly, considering that Christ in no place hath changed Gods command∣ment made unto Abraham, concer∣ning the sealing of the children also of the faithfull and believers with the seal of the Covenant; yea more,

considering that Christ hath said ex∣presly,a 1.11 Suffer little children, and for∣bid them not to come unto me: for of such is the Kingdome of heaven.

DOCT. V. How far forth Baptisme is necessarie in the Church, and how far forth ne∣cessarie for every one unto salvation.

WE believe that Baptisme is alto∣gether necessarie in the Church, as a Sacrament instituted by Christ; and so farre forth necessarie, that where it is not when it may, there we cannot acknowledge the Church of Christ to be. But in such manner do we think it necessary for every one unto salvation, that yet, if it so happen that any one for defect of a Minister, and not out of contempt, do depart out of this life without Baptisme, we do not therefore believe that he is damned, and swallowed up of eter∣nall destruction. For the children of the faithfull, and believers are there∣fore saved, because they are within the Covenant of God, and so holy. But they which are of ripe years are saved by true faith in Christ, which

certainly cannot stand together with the contempt of Christs command∣ments.

DOCT. VI. That Baptisme once rightly admini∣stred ought not again to be repeated.

WE believe farther that, as circum∣cision was made in the flesh but once onely, so Baptisme also, which succeeded in the place of Circum∣cision, once duely and rightly admi∣nistred ought not again to be repea∣ted. Now we understand that it is duely and rightly administred, when as according to Christs institution, first the Doctrine of the Gospel is premised, concerning the true God, Christ, and his office: and then men are Baptised with water, and that by a lawfull Minister,a 1.12 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. For Christ also died but once, and was buried: and we areb 1.13 Baptised into his death, andc 1.14 buried with him by Baptisme. Neither do we reade that the Apostles ever re∣baptised

any, but onely Paul: and these were such as before hada 1.15 not rightly been Baptised.

DOCT. VII. That the power and vertue of Baptisme lasteth for ever.

ALthough we come unto the Sa∣crament of Baptisme but once: Yet we believe that the thing it self of the Sacrament, and the power and vertue thereof lasteth for ever, that is, our ingrafting into Christ, and so the participation of his benefits the wash∣ing away of sins, and regeneration, which every day is more and more perfected in us by the holy Ghost. For the Apostle saith, thatb 1.16 Christ hath cleansed the Church with the wash∣ing of water by the word,c 1.17 that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle.d 1.18 And the bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth us [eyery day] from all sin. And there∣fore we think that the faithfull and believers being content with the Sa∣crament of Baptisme once received, ought dayly, to be put in mind there∣of, and recall it to their memorie: as

also, into whom they are Baptized, and what God hath conferred upon them by Baptisme; and again, what they likewise have promised unto God: That we may be all every day more and more confirmed in our faith, and grow up together in our communion with Christ, and be made more studious and diligent in the performing of our dutyes. Neither is Baptisme ordained for the remissi∣on either of Originall sinne onely, or the sinnes of our life past; but also for all the sinnes of our whole life: As our plucking out of the water is a signe of new life, not for one day onely, but for all the dayes of our life, according to the saying of the Apostle,a 1.19 We are buried with him by Baptisme [for ever] into death, that, like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk [for ever] in newnesse of life. We were but once washed outwardly with water; but the bloud of Christ is an everliving spring which dayly washeth and cleanseth us from all sinne.

DOCT. VIII. By whom Baptisme ought to be ad∣ministred.

WE believe, that by whom the Gospel is preached, by the same also ought holy Baptisme to be ad∣ministred: For to whom Christ said,a 1.20 Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel: to the same also he said,b 1.21 Go and teach all nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghostc 1.22 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

DOCT. IX. Errours condemned.

WE therefore condemne all here∣sies as well old as new, which are or have been spread abroad concer∣ning Baptisme, contrarie to sound Doctrine; either by Seleucus and Her∣mias, which Baptized with fire; or the Cerdonians and Marcionites, which used another form of words then that which was prescribed by Christ, and that in the name of another God then in the name of the Father, and

of the Son, and of the holy Ghost: Those which Baptised in the name of Iohn or any other: The Cataphryges which Baptised even the dead; toge∣ther with the Donatists, and Ana∣baptists, which rebaptised all that come unto them: Those likewise which deny that infants are to be Baptised; and those also which de∣ny that Baptisme to be true, where∣unto there is not added Exorcismes, Spittle, Salt, and other ceremonies which are the meer inventions of men.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Matt. 21.19.
• b 1.2

  1 Cor. 7.14.
• c 1.3

  Eph. 1.1••.
• d 1.4

  1 Cor. 6.15.
• e 1.5

  1••.
• a 1.6

  Ephes. 5.26.
• b 1.7

  Rom. 6.4.
• c 1.8

  Mark 1.4.
• * 1.9

  Matth. 28.9.
• a 1.10

  1 Cor. 7.14.
• a 1.11

  Matt. 19.14.
• a 1.12

  Matt. 28.19.
• b 1.13

  Rom. 6.3, 4.
• c 1.14

  Col. 2.12.
• a 1.15

  Act. 19.5.
• b 1.16

  Ephes. 5.26.
• c 1.17

  27.
• d 1.18

  1 Ioh 1.7.
• a 1.19

  Rom. c. 4.
• a 1.20

  Mark. 16.15.
• b 1.21

  Matt. 28.19.
• c 1.22

  20.