covenant and baptism SAMPLE

The Covenant and Baptism
4. The Arguments for Infant Baptism, Drawn from
Ecclesiastical History, Briefly Noticed ............ 168
The practice arose from mistaking the meaning of
John 3:5 and considering baptism essential to
salvation. Hermas ― Justin Martyr ― Tertullian the
first who mentions infant baptism―opposes it ―
Various abuses early introduced ― Godfathers,
mentioned by Tertullian, made a profession of faith
for the child ― Austin not baptized till he was 33 ―
He ridicules the idea of infants being saved without
baptism ― Gregory, Chrysostom ― The evidence
from antiquity much against infant baptism ― The
testimony of the fathers in matters of fact may be
useful ― Disregard of the uniform voice of
antiquity respecting the meaning of the word baptize.
Conclusion .......................................................... 178
Recapitulation―The practice of infant baptism
proceeds upon indirect evidence ― Every ordinance
of Christ practical, but infant baptism of no
practical use to the subjects. Practical use of
baptism to a believer. Objection of our baptism
being different from that of the primitive Christians
― Of employing ridicule of this question. No injury
to the health to be apprehended ― connection
between right views of the truth, and rightly
observing the ordinances ― Apprehension of being
thought changeable ― How those who are baptized
should act.
SCRIPTURE INDEX .......................................... 191
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