05.04.2013 Views

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

"5. And that thus offered by Baptism, they are received into God's<br />

favor."<br />

VII. <strong>The</strong> churches among us, with one consent, condemn the<br />

Anabaptists, who<br />

"1. Allow not the Baptism of children, <strong>and</strong> who teach that it is not<br />

right;<br />

321<br />

"2. And who affirm that children are saved without Baptism."<br />

Baptism.<br />

Our Lord, in the course of His earthly ministry, authorized His<br />

disciples to baptize (John iv. 1, 2), <strong>and</strong> previous to His ascension,<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>ed them to make disciples of all the nations, by baptizing them<br />

in the name of the Father, <strong>and</strong> of the Son, <strong>and</strong> of the Holy Ghost (Matt.<br />

xxviii. 19). <strong>The</strong> rite of Baptism, thus enjoined by our Lord, has been the<br />

subject of various disputes in the Christian world. It is the object of this<br />

Dissertation to exhibit the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in<br />

regard to the points of dispute. Over against all who deny the divine<br />

institution <strong>and</strong> perpetuity of Baptism, our Church maintains that "God has<br />

instituted it," <strong>and</strong> that it is obligatory <strong>and</strong> necessary throughout all time<br />

(Aug. Conf., Art. V., VII., VIII., IX., XIII., XIV.), so that without it the<br />

Church cannot exist in the world. Serious differences of opinion, however,<br />

exist in Christendom, even among those who recognize the perpetuity <strong>and</strong><br />

obligation of Baptism, as to what are essential to Baptism, even as to its<br />

outward part. For, while all are agreed that the use of water, <strong>and</strong> of the<br />

Word, is essential, some parts of the Christian world maintain that the<br />

essential mode of Baptism is that of the total immersion of the body,<br />

insomuch that this immersion is absolutely necessary, <strong>and</strong> positively<br />

dem<strong>and</strong>ed by our Lord, <strong>and</strong> the application of water in any other way<br />

whatsoever is no Baptism. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH DOES NOT<br />

HOLD that immersion is ESSENTIAL TO BAPTISM.<br />

That the Augsburg Confession uses the word "Baptism" in its then<br />

current sense is indisputable. Baptism was commonly administered in the<br />

sixteenth century by pouring, <strong>and</strong> sprinkling, as well as by immersion. In<br />

the Roman Catholic Agenda (Mentz), 1513, the Rubric says: "He shall<br />

pour (fundat) the<br />

321 Aug. Conf. Art. ix.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!