peculiar people, and in the Church of God? We condemn also the Anabaptists in the rest of their opinions, which they peculiarly do hold against the word of God. We therefore are not Anabaptists, neither do we agree with them in any point that is theirs.

II.-FROM THE FORMER CONFESSION OF HELVETIA.

Article 21. Of Baptism.

Baptism, according to the institution of the Lord, is the font of regeneration, the which the Lord doth give to his chosen in a visible sign, by the ministry of the Church, in such sort as we have declared before. In which holy font we do therefore dip our infants, because that it is not lawful for us to reject them from the company of the people of God, which are born of us, (who are the people of God,) and all but pointed out by the voice of God; especially seeing that we ought godly to presume of their election.

Out of the Declaration of the same Confession, sent unto Luther :— Of Baptism.

Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the Lord by a visible sign doth testify his grace unto us; whereby he doth regenerate us, and cleanse us from our sins, and also receive us to be his people, that we may live to Christ, die to the old Adam, and be partakers of the good things of Christ. For we all are born sinners; whereupon. we have need of regeneration, and the purging of our sins, which cometh to pass by the free mercy of God; whereby also we are received into the covenant, that, being buried into his death, we may rise again in newness of life: the which thing is taught more at large in the Apostles' writings. But the goodness of God doth indeed give unto us these heavenly gifts, and also useth a sign hereunto, that it may declare these things unto us, and, by pouring them into our senses, may allure us to more excellent things; that so the whole glory may be to God, and yet the holy institution of the sign may not be made frustrate. For it is most truly said, Baptism doth save us :" but it is added of Peter, "Not that which washeth away the filth of the body." 1 Pet. iii. 21. "I indeed do baptise you with water, but he (that is, Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Matt. iii. 11. Whereunto the holy Council of Nice having respect, did say, 'Our Baptism is to be considered, not with sensible eyes, but with the eyes of the mind.'

And the Baptist saith,

Also, Baptism is a badge: for it serveth to our confession. For this we do plainly confess in the Church, that we, together with our children and all our family, do profess the Christian religion, that we are the members of that body whereof Christ is the Head, to whom we have given our names, being received of him into the number of those soldiers, who, by the good guiding of Christ, do through all their life exercise a warfare against the world, Satan, and the flesh.

Hitherto also appertaineth Article 5, Section 2, of the Confession of Basle; which was placed above in the Twelfth Section.

III. FROM THE CONFESSION OF BOHEMIA.

Chapter 12. Of Holy Baptism.

Touching holy Baptism it is taught, that men must believe and profess, that this is a Sacrament, or wholesome ministry, of the New Testament, instituted of Christ the Lord, concerning which the faithful Ministers have in charge, that by the administration hereof they benefit the holy Church. This Sacrament consisteth of an outward washing, that is done with water, with calling on the name of the Holy Trinity; that of the element and the word there may arise, and be jointly made withal, a Sacrament. August. Homil. in Johan. cap. xiii. And that washing is used both to signify, and to witness, a spiritual washing and inward cleansing of the Holy Ghost from the disease of hereditary sin, and from other sins, the guilt of which is here forgiven and taken away; and to the attaining of a new manner of birth, or regeneration: whereupon it is called the Sacrament of the new birth, that is, of regeneration, or a washing with water in the word of life. Acts ii. 38. and xxii. 16. For we believe that whatsoever by Baptism, as by a Sacrament added to the word of the Gospel, is in the outward ceremony signified and witnessed, all that doth the Lord God work and perform inwardly: that is, that he washeth away sin, Tit. iii. 5. begetteth a man again, and bestoweth salvation upon him, John iii. 5. and, through the washing of water, cleanseth by the word the society of his Church, Eph. v. 26. clotheth and apparelleth it with his Son, Gal. iii. 27. burieth and taketh away sin, Rom. vi. 4. and giveth testimony to, and sealeth the peace of, a good conscience. 1 Pet. iii. 21. For Baptism is not a washing away of the outward filth of the flesh, but the stipulation or promise that a good conscience maketh unto God. For the bestowing of these excellent fruits was holy

Baptism given and granted to the Church; which the faithful shepherds of souls ought to administer, and which the faithful people of Christ, touching the receiving thereof, ought to use lawfully, but once only: yet, in deed and truth, throughout their whole life.

And although Baptism in the Primitive Church was for the most part ministered to such, as were well grown and of discretion, after a Confession of Faith made by them, according to Christ's commandment: yet this is taught, that young children also, who are reckoned in the number of God's people, in like sort are by this Ministry to be benefited toward the attaining of salvation, that they likewise may be consecrated and dedicated to Christ, according to this commandment, when he saith, "Suffer ye the little ones to come to me, and forbid them not because unto such belongeth the kingdom of God." Matt. xix. 14. Therefore according to the word of the Lord, and many other testimonies, and other promises made to this beloved age of children; especially when as also there is extant an example of that ancient ministry ordained of God, to wit, Circumcision, which, by reason of the covenant, belonged not only to those of discretion, but therewithal also to young children: Gen. xvii. 10. for these causes do our Ministers, without any doubt, and boldly, baptize children in the name of the Holy Trinity, applying unto them a sign of most effectual virtue, and a most sure attestation of that thing, which, by Christ's own words, is assigned to this age, and is imparted unto it. For so Christ in general, and without exception, giveth in charge, not touching some, but touching all, "Teach ye all nations, and baptize them, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Matt. xxviii. 19. And so over children this most holy name is invoked, in which alone there is salvation. Acts iv. 12.

This is further also taught, that they who are once lawfully and truly baptized, when they come to years, ought to do their endeavour, that they may learn to acknowledge and understand what holy Baptism is, and therewithal the Catholic and Christian faith, (without which Baptism availeth nothing;) to the end that afterward, when they do desire to be partakers of the Lord his Supper, they may with their own mouths, and of their own accord, make profession of their faith, and may renew their sanctification, by which they were consecrated to the Lord. And such, that is, those which are thus instructed, our Ministers receive unto this covenant of holy

Baptism, and by the laying on of hands* do testify to them the grace that is contained in Baptism, to strengthen them to the warfare of faith and so after a convenient and godly manner, and with use of pure ceremonies, and such as are profitable to edifying, they bring them to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, without any reiteration of Baptism; as there are evident tokens and examples to be seen of this matter in the Primitive Church, which is the true and best mistress of posterity, and which, going before, leadeth us the way. For if so be that a man should even after a true manner enjoy the Baptism of Christ, and should by means hereof be buried with Christ into his death to newness of life; Rom. vi. 4. if afterward, his life being prolonged, he should not, according to the doctrine of the holy Gospel, shew forth a true and lively faith in Jesus Christ, brotherly love towards all those that are consecrated to the Lord, and so should lead a life unworthy of his place or calling, and of God and his neighbour, and should not in Baptism conceive a lively hope of life everlasting; such a one should assuredly give certain testimony of himself, that he had in vain received grace in holy Baptism, wherein the name of the Holy Trinity was invoked over him the which thing God the Lord, as his word declareth, suffereth by no means to escape unrevenged or unpunished. Exod. xx. 7.

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IV. FROM THE CONFESSION OF FRANCE.

Art. 35. We acknowledge that there be two only Sacraments common to the whole Church. Whereof the first is Baptism: the which is given to us to testify our adoption; because that therein we are ingrafted into Christ's body, that, being washed in his blood, we may also be renewed to holiness of life by his Spirit. This also we say; that although we are baptized but once, yet the fruit of baptism doth pertain to the whole course of our life: that this promise, to wit, that Christ will be always unto us sanctification, and justification, may be sealed up in us with a sure and firm seal. Further

This whole ceremony is profitably kept in the Churches of Bohemia, not as a point of doctrine, but as a part of Ecclesiastical discipline, without any prejudice to the liberty of other Churches; seeing that it is nowhere commanded in the writings of the Apostles. Neither doth this Confession therefore approve Papistical Confirmation, which they do falsely call a Sacrament. But that which is added, that they which are thus baptized are received into the covenant of Baptism, it is well expounded a little after, to wit, so far forth as that grace which they received in Baptism, is by this mean made manifest to the Church, and to them that are baptized.

more, although Baptism be a Sacrament of faith and repentance, yet, seeing that, together with the parents, God doth account their posterity also to be of the Church, we affirm, that infants, being born of holy parents, are by the authority of Christ to be baptized.

Also, from Art. 38. We say therefore that the element of water, be it never so frail, doth notwithstanding truly witness or confirm unto us the inward washing of our souls in the blood of Jesus Christ, by the virtue and efficacy of the Holy Ghost.

V.-FROM THE CONFESSION OF ENGLAND.

Art. 11. Sect. 2. We say, that Baptism is a Sacrament of the remission of sins, and of that washing which we have in the blood of Christ and that no person, which will profess Christ's name, ought to be restrained therefrom: no not the very babes of Christians; forsomuch as they be born in sin, and pertain unto the people of God.

VI. FROM THE CONFESSION OF BELGIA.

Art. 34. We believe and confess, that Jesus Christ, which is the end of the law, hath by his own blood-shedding made an end of all other propitiatory sacrifice for sins. Also that Circumcision, which was done by blood, being abolished, he hath instituted Baptism in the place thereof; whereby we are received into the Church of God, and separated from all other nations, and all kind of strange religions, being consecrated unto him alone, whose badge and cognizance we wear. Finally, Baptism is a token unto us, that He will be our God for ever, who also is our gracious Father. Therefore the Lord hath commanded all his to be baptized with pure water, In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;" Matt. xxviii. 19. to signify that the blood of Christ doth internally, through the operation of the Spirit, perform and effect that in the soul, which water doth externally work in our bodies. For as water, being poured upon us, and appearing on the body of him that is baptized, moistening the same, doth wash away the filthiness of the body; so the blood of Christ, washing the soul, doth cleanse it from sin, and doth make us the sons of God, which before were the children of wrath. Not that this material water doth these things; but the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God, which is unto us as the Red Sea, where through we must pass, that we may depart from the tyranny of Pharaoh, that is, the Devil, and enter into the spiritual land of Canaan. Therefore the Ministers verily do deliver