10.12.2012 Views

Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

Schaff - History of the Christian Church Vol. 8 - Media Sabda Org

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

601<br />

But while on this point he went fur<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> most fanatical Anabaptists,<br />

he did not belong to <strong>the</strong>ir society, and rejected <strong>the</strong> revolutionary opinions<br />

concerning obedience to government, and holding civil and military <strong>of</strong>fices.<br />

Children are unfit to perform <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> priests which is given to us in<br />

baptism. They have no faith, <strong>the</strong>y cannot repent, and cannot enter into a<br />

covenant. Moreover, <strong>the</strong>y do not need <strong>the</strong> bath <strong>of</strong> regeneration for <strong>the</strong><br />

remission <strong>of</strong> sins, as <strong>the</strong>y have not yet committed actual transgression.<br />

But children are not lost if <strong>the</strong>y die without baptism. Adam’s sin is remitted<br />

to all by <strong>the</strong> merits <strong>of</strong> Christ. They are excluded from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Church</strong> on earth;<br />

<strong>the</strong>y must die and go to Sheol; but Christ will raise <strong>the</strong>m up on <strong>the</strong><br />

resurrection day and save <strong>the</strong>m in heaven. The Scripture does not condemn<br />

<strong>the</strong> Ismaelites or <strong>the</strong> Ninevites or o<strong>the</strong>r barbarians. Christ gives his blessing<br />

to unbaptized children. How could <strong>the</strong> most merciful Lord, who bore <strong>the</strong><br />

sins <strong>of</strong> a guilty world, condemn those who have not committed an<br />

impiety? f1134<br />

Servetus agreed with Zwingli, <strong>the</strong> Anabaptists, and <strong>the</strong> Second Scotch<br />

Confession, in rejecting <strong>the</strong> cruel Roman dogma, which excludes all<br />

unbaptized infants, even <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christian</strong> parents, from <strong>the</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong> heaven.<br />

(c) In <strong>the</strong> doctrine <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> LORD’S SUPPER, Servetus differs from <strong>the</strong><br />

Roman Catholic, <strong>the</strong> Lu<strong>the</strong>ran, and <strong>the</strong> Zwinglian <strong>the</strong>ories, and<br />

approaches, strange to say, <strong>the</strong> doctrine <strong>of</strong> his great antagonist,<br />

Calvin. f1135 Baptism and <strong>the</strong> Lord’s Supper represent <strong>the</strong> birth and <strong>the</strong><br />

nourishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new man. By <strong>the</strong> former we receive <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong><br />

Christ; by <strong>the</strong> latter we receive <strong>the</strong> body <strong>of</strong> Christ, but in a spiritual and<br />

mystical manner. Baptism kindles and streng<strong>the</strong>ns faith; <strong>the</strong> eucharist<br />

streng<strong>the</strong>ns love and unites us more and more to Christ. By neglecting<br />

this ordinance <strong>the</strong> spiritual man famishes and dies away. The heavenly<br />

man needs heavenly food, which nourishes him to life eternal (John<br />

6:53). f1136<br />

Servetus distinguishes three false <strong>the</strong>ories on <strong>the</strong> Lord’s Supper, and calls<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir advocates transubstantiatores (Romanists), impanatores (Lu<strong>the</strong>rans),<br />

and tropistae (Zwinglians). f1137<br />

Against <strong>the</strong> first two <strong>the</strong>ories, which agree in teaching a carnal presence<br />

and manducation <strong>of</strong> Christ’s body and blood by all communicants, he urges<br />

that spiritual food cannot be received by <strong>the</strong> mouth and stomach, but only<br />

by <strong>the</strong> spiritual organs <strong>of</strong> faith and love. He refers, like Zwingli, to <strong>the</strong>

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!