10.07.2015 Views

Download PDF - Affinity

Download PDF - Affinity

Download PDF - Affinity

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

76*The*Anglican*Doctrine*of*Baptism**receive* it* (not,* note,* automatically* as* if* by* magic). 39 *This* accounts* for* the*Reformers’*clear*preference*for*baptisms*in*church*rather*than*at*home. 40 *As*a*seal*it*authenticates*the*promises*of*forgiveness*and*adoption,*as*a*visible*word*from*God.*“Faith*is*confirmed*and*grace*increased”*says*the*Article,*but*not,*note,*by*virtue*of*the*act*of*baptism*itself*but*by*virtue*of*“prayer*unto*God”*(of*which*there*is*much,*as*we*shall*see,*in*the*Prayer*Book*service). 41 *Thus* we* see* how* carefully* the* Article* makes* positive* statements* about*baptism*while*staying*as*far*away*from*the*false*doctrines*of*Rome*on*this*point*as*possible.**“In*the*wording*of*this*Article,”*claims*Boultbee,*“our*Reformers*seem*to*have*borrowed*little*or*nothing*from*other*sources.” 42 *On*the*contrary,*the*final*phrase,*“The*Baptism*of*young*children*is*in*any*wise*to*be*retained*in*the*Church,*as*most*agreeable*with*the*Institution*of*Christ”*is*most*probably*borrowed*directly*from*Calvin’s*Institutes.*In*the*1553*Articles,*Cranmer*had*originally*written,*“The*custom*of*the*Church*to*christen*young*children*is*to*be*commended,*and*in*any*wise*to*be*retained*in*the*Church.”*The*final*1571*wording,*that*paedobaptism*is*“most*agreeable*with*the*institution*of*Christ”*is,* however,* strikingly* similar* to* the* section* heading* added* to* Calvin’s*Institutes,* Book* 4* chapter* 16* in* the* final* edition* of* 1559. 43 *This* reads,*“Paedobaptismum*cum*Christi*institutione*&*signi*natura*optimè*congruere”*(paedobaptism*best*agrees*with*the*institution*of*Christ*and*with*the*nature*of*the*sign). 44 *********************************************************************39*The* Latin* here* is* recte* not* rite,* which* means* that* the* thought* is* “with* the* correct*disposition,* or* fulfilling* the* proper* conditions”,* rather* than* “when* the* external* ceremonial* is*properly*performed.”*Rite*is*the*word*used*in*Article*25*when*it*says*the*sacraments*are*to*be*rightly*used*(as*opposed*to*being*gazed*upon*or*carried*about),*and*in*Article*26*when*it*speaks*about*receiving*the*sacraments*“by*faith*and*rightly”*(fide#et#rite).*40*There* is* a* separate* service* for* baptism* of* infants* at* home,* but* its* use* is* discouraged*except* in* extreme* circumstances.* Canon* B21* states* that* “It* is* desirable* that* every* minister*having*a*cure*of*souls*shall*normally*administer*the*sacrament*of*Holy*Baptism*on*Sundays*at*public*worship*when*the*most*number*of*people*come*together.”*This*is*for*two*main*reasons:*“that*the*congregation*there*present*may*witness*the*receiving*of*them*that*be*newly*baptized*into*Christ’s*Church”*(i.e.*it*is*a*corporate*and*incorporating*act),*and*also*that*other*members*of*the*Church*may*“be*put*in*remembrance*of*their*own*profession*made*to*God*in*their*baptism”*(i.e.*it*is*a*visible*reminder*of*God’s*claim*upon*us).*41*Confusingly,*the*Latin*edition*of*the*Article*has*here*vi#divinae#invocationis,*“by*virtue*of*the*divine*invocation”*which*could*mean*the*baptisand’s*faith*is*confirmed*and*grace*increased*not* by* the* congregation’s* prayers* to* God* but* by* invocation* of* the* Trinity* in* the* formula* of*baptism.*42*Boultbee,*An#Exposition,*226.*43*Published* by* Robert* Stephanus* in* Geneva.* In* the* English* edition* of* 1561* published* in*London*by*Wolf*and*Harison,*the*section*heading*is*translated,*“That*the*Baptisme*of*infantes*doth* very* well* agree* with* the* institution* of* Christ* and* the* nature* of* the* signe.”* The* previous*(3rd*and*4th)*editions*of*the*Institutes*published*in*Strasburg*and*Geneva*in*1543*and*1554*did*not*have*these*section*headings.*44*The*Latin*of*Article*27*is*“cum*Christi*institutione*optime*congruat.”*

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!