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

have no pledge of the forgiveness of their sins; in other words, that there is
no pledge that the sins of unbaptized infants are forgiven; for if they have
the pledge, too, though they have no Baptism, how can Baptism be the
pledge of forgiveness?
The words that follow now, are explanatory of the preceding ones.
"These blessings are forgiveness of sins, or exemption from the penal
consequences of natural depravity." Forgiveness is defined to be
"exemption from penal consequences." Sins are defined to be "natural
depravity."
Now wherein does this doctrine differ from the old one, that in
Baptism the "reatus," or liability of original sin is taken away, although the
"materiale" remains? 360 except, perhaps, in this, That Luther supposes
God graciously to do it by His Holy Spirit through the Baptism, while the
Platform may mean, that Baptism is only the pledge that it is done, but it is
done either way, and in both Baptism is the proof, at least, that it is done.
But we have, furthermore, a statement of what "the penal
consequences of natural depravity" are: "Which would, at least, be
exclusion from heaven, on account of moral disqualification for
admission."
Now, analyze this proposition, and you have the following result:
1. That infants have natural depravity, which is a moral
disqualification for heaven.
2. That this natural depravity has penal consequences, that is, is a
punishable thing; that infants, consequently, have moral character, and
some sort of moral accountability; are the subjects of law, as to its
obligation, for they have sins to be forgiven; and of law as to its pains, for
they are subject to "penal consequences."
3. That this punishment would be exclusion from heaven. But this
statement is qualified in a very remarkable way--"would, at least, be
exclusion from heaven,"--that is the minimum. The words "at least," seem
to mark this train of thought: "They would, at least, be excluded from
heaven, even if they were not sent to hell." Now this style of thinking, as
360 Apolog. Confess., 83, 35.