Trollope on Article XXVII: Of Baptism

As the Jews were distinguished from all other nations by Circumcision, so are Christians distinguished both from the Jews and all others by Baptism ; and, according to the express declaration of Christ himself^ who ordained Baptism as the sacrament of admission into his Church, none are Christians, and entitled to Christian privileges, who have not been baptized.

2. Is not Baptism a sign of something more than mere external profession ?

Baptism is also a sign of Regeneration or New Birth ; or, according to the Church Catechism, the thing sign\fied by Baptism is * a death unto tiny and a new birth unto rignteoue- nees ; for, being by nature bom in sin, and the children of ’ wrath, we are thereby made the children of grace.’

3. What promises are visibly signed and sealed to the Christian by Baptism ?

St. Peter connects with ’ Baptism in the name of Christ^ the promise of ’ Remission of sins.’ (Acts ii. 38.) Of this promise the outward washing is the visible sign and seal, as well as of our adoption to he the eons qf God, * For we are all the children oi God by fiiith in Jesus Christ ; for as many as have been baptized unto Christ, have put on Christ.’ (Gal. iii. 26, 27.)

4. Shew that Baptism was never administered in the name of Christ only.

From these and other passages, where Baptism in the name of Christ is mentioned, without reference to the pre- scribed form of administration, it is not to be inferred that tile rite can be duly administered without that form. Not only was it always performed in the primitive Chmroh in the

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name of all the three persons in the blessed Trinity ; but there is a striking; incident recorded in the Acts, which clearly marks the Apostolic practice. The guestion, ’ Unto what then were ye baptised V put by St. Paul to certain Ephesian converts, who nad not heard of the Holy Ghost, — implies that, — if they had received Christian Baptism, they could not have failed to hear of him ; and accordinflv it appeared that they had only been baptized * unto John’s baptism/ (Acts xix. 8.).

6. What are the benefits conveyed by the right use of this Sacrament ?

Inasmuch as Baptism is the appointed means of admission into the Gospel Uovenant, the ri^ht use of the Sacrament will neoessariJy tend to a confirmaiicnh qf our Jaith in the proBiises of God ; and a well-gi’ounded faith, accompanied by fervent and constant prayer, will as surely produce an increase qf grace, residtmg in a daily advance towards Christian penection.

6. What is the purport of the prayer which our Church offers up in behalf of those who are baptized ?

Our Church invokes a blessing upon those who are bap- tized to the effect that * the old Adam may be so buried, that

• the new man may be raised up in them ; that all thing^s belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them ; that they may have power and strength to have victoiy, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh ; and that, oeing endued with heavenly virtues, they may be

• everlastingly rewarded through God’s mercy in Christ.’

7. Prove that the doctrine of Baptismal Rege- neration^ and the Baptism of Infants, are confirmed by the writings of the early Fathers.

St Barnabas (Epist. c. 11.) observes that we descend into the waiter full qfsins and poUutions. and ascend out qfitjkdl qfgoodJruitSf having fear in ou/r neartSy and hope towards the Lord in our spirit. Justin Martyr (Apol. I. c. 66.) re- lates that l^ose wno believed the Gospel, and undertook to

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live in conformity therewith, were brought to a pUtee where there n>as watery and regenerated after the same manner qf regeneration, as those who had previously embraced Chris- tianity ; and he adds that in the water they obtained the re- demption qf all their past sine, Theophilus of Antioch (ad Antol. II. 16.) says that men obtain remission qf sins by water, and the laver qf regeneration, even as many as come to the truth, and areoom apain, aim receive the blessing qf God, The Apostolical Constitutions (vi. 16.) direct that chil- dren should be baptiSxd, and brottght up in the nurture and admonition fff the Lord, Irenssus (Hser. ii. 39.) tea- ches that Christ came to save by himseff all who are bom again to God through him, whether truants, children, boys, youths, or old men. See also TertuU. ae Bapt. O. 4. De Cor. Mil. C. 1. Adv. Prax. C. 26. Chrysostom. Horn. in. Joh. 86. Cyprian. Epist. 64. Origen. in Luc. Uom. 14. Augustin. de Peco. Mor. 1. 19.