Cony_keyoftruth

xxxiv THE KEY OF TRUTH
4. All true baptism in accordance with the precepts of Christ,
especially Mark xvi. 16, must be preceded by repentance and
faith.
See the Key, chaps, i-iii. pp. 72-77 ; and Catechism, p. 117.
5. Consequently infant baptism is invalid ; and, in admitting it,
the Latins, Greeks, and Armenians have lost their Christianity,
lost the sacraments, forfeited their orders and have become a mere
Satanic mimicry of the true faith. If any of them, even their
patriarchs, would rejoin the true Church, they must be baptized.
See in the Key, passim, but especially pp. 73, 74, 86 ; chap, xviii. p. 92 ; and
know that the
We the Catechism, p. 118. And cp. Greg. Nar. pp. 126, 127 :
'
Font is denied by them'; and Arist. p. 140: 'They reject the Church's baptism';
and Greg. Mag. ' p. 146 : Our holy bishops,' &c, and p. 147 he describes how in
' Thonrak alone he baptized over a thousand. We ask, Why do you not allow
yourselves to be baptized . . . .' ' We are in no hurry to be baptized.' ... So
p. 148. On p. 144 he records that Smbat reckoned as in vain ' all priestly
functions,' i.e. in the orthodox churches. So also Aristaces, p. 140: 'Church
and church ordinances they utterly reject.' Greg. Mag. p. 144 :
baptism.'
' Their graceless
5. The catechumen or candidate for baptism must be of mature
age, as was Jesus of Nazareth, in order that he may be able to
understand, recognize, and repent of his sin, which is twofold,
viz. : original, and operative or effective.
See the Key, chap. ii. p. 74; chap. iii. p. ; 76 and particularly on p. 88, the
words :
' So must we also perform baptism when they are of full age like our
Lord'; and in the Catechism, p. 118. And cp. the passage of Greg. Mag. p. 146,
just referred to, from which we may infer that the ' young men ' of Thonrak
were still unbaptized. Of similar import are the words addressed by Greg.
Mag. p. 142, to the Thulaili: ' Hold yourselves far aloof from these innocent
children, . . . and let them come and receive baptism.'
6. Baptism is only to be performed by an elect or ordained
member of the Church, and in answer to the personal demand of
the person who seeks to be admitted into the Church.
See the Key, pp. 77, 91, 92, 96.
7. On the eighth day from birth the elect one shall solemnly
confer a name on the new-born child, using a prescribed form of
prayer. But he shall not allow any mythical or superstitious
names.
See the Key, chap, xvi ; and cp. the passage in John of Otzun, p. 153, begin-
ning : Similiter et primum parientis feminae . . . , in which the writer seems to
glance at the ceremony of name-giving.