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80*The*Anglican*Doctrine*of*Baptism**BCP* Catechism* puts* it),* “an* outward* and* visible* sign* of* an* inward* and*spiritual*grace.” 56 *Puritan* exceptions* to* the* 1662* baptism* service* were* various. 57 *They*thought* ministers* should* not* be* forced* to* baptise* the* children* of* atheists,*infidels,*or*heretics*of*course,*or*of*unbaptised*or*excommunicated*parents.*They*also*wanted*the*power*to*refuse*baptism*to*the*children*of*“notorious*and* scandalous* sinners”* until* their* parents* had* repented.* They* asked* for*more*notice*to*be*given*to*the*minister*than*just*24*hours. 58 *They*were*against*the* imposition* of* godparents* too,* since* Scripture* does* not* mention* them*whereas* it* does* particularly* mention* parents* (especially* fathers)* which* the*liturgy*does*not. 59 *The*main*sources*of*controversy,*however,*surround*the*two*paragraphs*immediately*following*the*baptism*itself,*where*the*child*is*signed*with*the*sign*of*the*cross*and*where*the*minister*says*“Seeing*now,*dearly* beloved* brethren,* that* this# child* is* regenerate* and* grafted* into* the*body*of*Christ’s*Church...” 60 *Concerning* the* sign* of* the* cross,* this* is* part* of* a* wider* debate* about*church* ceremonies* that* was* going* on* throughout* the* sixteenth* and* seven:teenth*centuries.*Cranmer,*like*Calvin,*saw*that*“although*the*basic*core*of*the*baptismal*rite*had*remained*intact,*it*had*been*incrusted*by*a*number*of*superstitious* rites* which* had* obscured* the* basic* sacramental* action.” 61 *These* included* anointings* with* oil,* chrism,* repeated* exorcisms* (where*********************************************************************56*The* Catechism* reminds* all* baptised* children* that* this* outward* and* visible* sign* bound*them* to* personal* repentance* and* faith* upon* coming* of* age,* and* requires* them* to* recite* and*explain*the*Lord’s*Prayer,*the*Ten*Commandments,*and*the*Creed*(thus*testing*the*work*of*the*godparents*which*they*were*exhorted*to*in*the*baptism*service).*57*They* can* be* found* conveniently* grouped* together* in* Richard* Baxter,* Reliquiae#Baxterianae* (London,* 1696),* II.* 326:327.* Colin* Buchanan,* The# Savoy# Conference# Revisited*(Cambridge:* Grove* Books,* 2002),* 52:58* also* provides* the* Bishops’* answers* and* an* informed*discussion*of*the*points*at*issue*in*each*objection.*58*A*week’s*notice*(at*least)*is*now*enshrined*in*Canon*B22.1.*59*It* is* now* acknowledged* in* Canon* B23* that* “Parents* may* be* godparents* for* their* own*children,”*and*the*role*of*the*parents*is*more*significant*in*today’s*Canons*B22,*B23,*and*B26*than*it*was*in*1662.*One*of*the*reasons*why*baptisms*can*be*put*off*is*to*allow*time*to*prepare*and* instruct* the* parents* and* godparents,* who* ought* to* be* both* baptised* and* confirmed*themselves*before*having*their*children*baptised.*Canon*B23*specifically*states*that*godparents*should* be* able* to* faithfully* fulfil* their* responsibilities* towards* the* child* (e.g.* in* giving* them*Christian*instruction,*as*parents*also*must*according*to*B26)*and*also*be*an*example*in*their*own*godly*living*(presumably*in*regular*church*attendance*and*other*marks*of*godly*discipleship).*As*the*official*commentary*on*the*new*Common#Worship*services*says,*“a*committed*Christian*faith*is*presupposed*in*parents*and*godparents.”*Common#Worship:#Initiation#Services*(London:*Church*House,*1998),*200.!60*There* was* also* controversy* regarding* the* doctrine* of* infant* salvation* spoken* of* in* a*rubric*at*the*end*of*the*service*(and*in*the*Homily*on*Salvation),*on*which*see*my*The#Tragedy#of#1662:# The# Ejection# and# Persecution# of# the# Puritans* (London:* Latimer* Trust,* 2007),* 22:23* and*“From*Life’s*First*Cry”*in*Preachers,#Pastors,#and#Ambassadors,*325:366.*61*Hughes*O.*Old,*The#Shaping#of#the#Reformed#Baptismal#Rite#in#the#Sixteenth#Century*(Grand*Rapids:*Eerdmans,*1992),*176.*