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

of immersion," we feel safe in affirming that Luther held neither.
Luther’s Catechisms.
From Luther's Larger Catechism, by confounding the very plain
distinction between allowance, or even preference of a mode, and a belief
in its necessity, the evidence has been drawn that our Confessions teach
the Baptist doctrine of immersion.
Yet this very Catechism, in express terms, repudiates any such
doctrine, and acknowledges, in the most decisive manner, what the Baptist
doctrine denies--the validity of other modes than immersion. Mark these
two sentences from the Larger Catechism: "Baptism is not our work, but
God's. For thou must distinguish between the Baptism which God gives,
and that which the keeper of a bath-house gives. But God's work, to be
saving, does not exclude faith, but demands it, for without faith it cannot be
grasped. For in the mere fact that thou hast had water poured on thee,
thou hast not so received Baptism as to be useful to thee; bit it profits thee
when thou art baptized with the design of obeying God's command and
institution, and in God's name of receiving in the water the salvation
promised. This neither the hand nor the body can effect, but the heart must
believe." 326 In these words there is an express recognition of pouring or
sprinkling (for the word used by Luther covers both, but excludes
immersion) as modes of Baptism.
But there is another passage yet more decisive, if possible: "We must
look upon our Baptism, and so use it, as to strengthen and comfort us
whenever we are grieved by sins and conscience. We should say: I am
baptized, therefore the promise of salvation is given me for soul and body.
For to this end these two things are done in Baptism., that the body, which
can only receive the water, is wet by pouring, and that, in addition, the
word is spoken that the soul may receive it." 327 Here not only is the
recognition of pouring (or sprinkling)
326 Catech. Maj. Müller, 490, 36, das Wasser über dich giessen. The Latin is, "aqua perfundi."
327 Do. 492, 45. German: "Der Leib begossen wird." Latin: "Corpus aqua perfundatur."