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

school, have maintained, as we have already seen, 358 that it would be harsh
and cruel to give over, absolutely, to condemnation, the infants of pagans,
for the lack of that which it was impossible for them to have. This view has
been defended at large, by Dannhauer, Hulsemann, Scherzer, J. A.
Osiander, Wagner, Musaeus, Spener, and very many others. Some of our
best theologians, who have not considered the argument on either side as
decisive, have suspended their judgment in the case, as did Gerhard,
Calixtus, Meisner, Baldwin, Bechman, and others. HUNNIUS, whom
Gerhard quotes approvingly, makes the statement of this middle view, in
these words: "That the infants of pagans are saved, outside of the Church,
is a matter on which the silence of Scripture forbids us to pronounce with
assurance on the one side, yet I would not dare to affirm, on the other, that
those little ones, without distinction, are lost.
"For, 1. Since God desires the death of none, absolutely, it cannot
rightly be supposed that he takes pleasure in the death of these little ones.
2. Christ died for them also. 3. They are necessarily excluded from the use
of the Sacraments. Nor will God visit the children with eternal death, on
account of the impiety of the parents. Ezek. xviii. We commit them,
therefore, to the decision of God."
COTTA approves of the most hopeful view of their condition, and
argues for it--" 1. From the infinite pity of God. 2. The extent of the
benefits wrought by Christ. 3. The analogy of faith--no one absolutely
reprobated, but actual unbelief alone condemns. 4. Not the absence, but the
contempt of Baptism condemns. 5. God can operate in an extraordinary
way. 6. Though original sin, in itself, merits damnation, and is a sufficient
cause of it, yet it is not (because of God's infinite goodness) an adequate
cause of the actual infliction of that condemnation."
9. Baptismal regeneration.
The facts we have dwelt upon dispose of another charge against our
Church--the charge of teaching an unscriptural doctrine in regard to
regeneration, and the relation of Baptism to it.
358 See Dissertation on Original Sin.