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14**Water:Ordeals*of*the*Seventeenth*Century*“They%are%Christians”%–%the%efficacy%of%baptism%*Equally* controversial* were* the* views* of* the* Divines* on* the* efficacy* of*baptism.***Westminster*Confession*(1646)*“grace*and*salvation*are*not*so*inseparably*annexed*unto*it,*as*that*no*person*can*be*regenerated,*or*saved,*without*it:*or,*that*all*that*are*baptized*are*undoubtedly*regenerated”*(28:5)**“The*efficacy*of*Baptism*is*not*tied*to*that*moment*of*time*wherein*it*is*administered;*yet,*notwithstanding,*by*the*right*use*of*this*ordinance,*the*grace*promised*is*not*only*offered,*but*really*exhibited,*and*conferred,*by*the*Holy*Ghost,*to*such*(whether*of*age*or*infants)*as*that*grace*belongs*unto,*according*to*the*counsel*of*God's*own*will,*in*His*appointed*time”*(28:6).**Directory*for*the*Publick*Worship*of*God*(1645)*“The*inward*grace*and*virtue*of*baptism*is*not*tied*to*that*very*moment*of*time*wherein*it*is*administered…*and*that*outward*baptism*is*not*so*necessary,*that,*through*the*want*thereof,*the*infant*is*in*danger*of*damnation,*or*the*parents*guilty,*if*they*do*not*contemn*or*neglect*the*ordinance*of*Christ,*when*and*where*it*may*be*had”**Savoy*Declaration*(1658)*“grace*and*salvation*are*not*so*inseparably*annexed*unto*it,*as*that*no*person*can*be*regenerated*or*saved*without*it;*or*that*all*that*are*baptized*are*undoubtedly*regenerated”*(29:5).**“The*efficacy*of*baptism*is*not*tied*to*that*moment*of*time*wherein*it*is*administered;*yet*notwithstanding,*by*the*right*use*of*this*ordinance,*the*grace*promised*is*not*only*offered,*but*really*exhibited*and*conferred*by*the*Holy*Ghost*to*such*(whether*of*age*or*infants)*as*that*grace*belongs*unto,*according*to*the*counsel*of*God's*own*will*in*his*appointed*time”*(29:6).***Baptist*Confession*(1677/89)*The*words*that*proved*most*controversial*were*those*found*in*the*Directory*relating*to*infants*presented*for*baptism:*“they*are*Christians,*and*federally*holy*before*baptism,*and*therefore*are*they*baptized.”*In*addition,*the*words*of* the* Confession* itself* prove* equally* difficult:* “the* grace* promised* is* not*only*offered,*but*really*exhibited,*and*conferred,*by*the*Holy*Ghost”*(28:6).*The*Savoy*Declaration*makes*identical*statements*(SD*29:5:6).*
FOUNDATIONS*15**Few* statements* have* occasioned* more* reaction,* then* as* much* as* now.*The*Westminster*Divines*viewed*baptism*as*the*instrument*and*occasion*of*regeneration*by*the*Spirit,*of*the*remission*of*sins,*of*ingrafting*into*Christ*(cf.*28:1).*“The*Confession*teaches*baptismal*regeneration,”*concludes*David*F.*Wright,*and*given*his*status*as*both*a*historian*and*theologian,*it*takes*a*degree*of*courage*to*fault*him. 18 *But*fault*him*we*do,*and*that*on*the*“variety*of*qualifications”*that*Wright*himself*provides*but*found*inconclusive.*These*qualifications* demonstrate* that* whatever* else* the* Divines* understood* by*baptism,*they*did*not*view*it*as*a*regenerating*ordinance,*effective%ex%opere%operato.*The*evidence*includes:**(1) The*inward*grace*and*virtue*of*baptism*is*not*tied*to*the*moment*of*administration*of*baptism*(Directory*and*WCF*28:6).*(2) Despite*the*importance*of*baptism,*the*neglect*of*it*does*not*warrant*a*conclusion*that*the*infant*is*in*danger*of*damnation*(Directory 19 ,*WCF*28:5).*(3) The*clear*reference*to*the*work*of*regeneration*taking*place*“in*God’s*appointed*time”*should*be*understood*as*occurring*before,*during,*or*after*baptism*(WCF*28:6 20 ).*(4) The*insistence*on*the*Holy*Spirit*as*the*one*who*confers*what*baptism*signifies*moves*the*focus*away*from*the*ordinance*itself*as*having*regenerating*powers*(WCF*28:6).**Given* these* express* qualifications,* it* is* difficult* not* to* draw* the* opposite*conclusion* than* that* of* Wright’s,* viz.,* that* whatever* the* Divines* were*attempting*to*say*it*was*not*a*view*in*sympathy*with*baptismal*regeneration.*What*the*Divines*were*attempting*to*express*is*admittedly*difficult*to*define*with* any* degree* of* clarity.* That* the* “clarity”* was* not* obvious* to* later*generations* of* Presbyterians* is* evident* from* the* fact* that* the* offending*phrase* “they* are* Christians”* was* dropped* in* subsequent* revisions* of* the*Directory.*Even*the*language*of*the*Confession*needs*deft*explanation.*Thus,*Wayne*Spear,*explaining*the*language*of*“exhibited”*and*“conferred”*in*WCF*28:6*insists*in*a*parenthetical*note*that*they*are*“synonyms”. 21 **Difficult*as*we*may*find*the*language*of*the*Westminster*Confession*and*Directory,*the*degree*of*baptismal*realism*in*the*language*of*the*Divines*is*no*more*difficult*than*what*we*find*in*the*pages*of*the*New*Testament.*One*********************************************************************18*See,*David*F.*Wright,*“Baptism*and*the*Westminster*Assembly,”*169.*19*“Outward* baptism* is* not* so* necessary,* that,* through* the* want* thereof,* the* infant* is* in*danger*of*damnation.”*20*“…the*grace*promised*is*not*only*offered,*but*really*exhibited,*and*conferred,*by*the*Holy*Ghost,*to*such*(whether*of*age*or*infants)*as*that*grace*belongs*unto,*according*to*the*counsel*of*God’s*own*will,*in*His*appointed*time.”*21*Wayne*Spear,*Faith%of%our%Fathers*(Pittsburgh:*Crown*&*Covenant*Publications,*2006),*148.*!
Page 1 and 2: No 63AUTUMN 2012ContentsEditorial 1
Page 3 and 4: Foundations*63*(November*2012):*194
Page 5 and 6: FOUNDATIONS*3**Baptist* Confession*
Page 7 and 8: Foundations*63*(November*2012):*5:1
Page 9 and 10: FOUNDATIONS*7**Among*the*points*of*
Page 11 and 12: FOUNDATIONS*9**Infants”. 9 *The*s
Page 13 and 14: FOUNDATIONS*11**Baptists* and* paed
Page 15: *FOUNDATIONS*“Dipping%is%not%nece
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Page 22 and 23: 20*Infant*Baptism:*Putting*Old*Wine
Page 46 and 47: 44* A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
Page 50 and 51: 48**A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
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64* A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
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66*The*Anglican*Doctrine*of*Baptism
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92* “Let*the*little*children*come
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100*“Let*the*little*children*come
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112**Baptism:*Three*Views**written*
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114**Baptism:*Three*Views**family)*
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116**Baptism:*Three*Views**“impas
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118**A*Christian’s*Pocket*Guide*t
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