p. 65
CENTURY V
Believers Baptism was asserted in this Age, and the grounds thereof, by many of the Learned Writers; whereof you have the following Instances.
Chrysostome saith, That the time of Grace or Conversion was the fit time for Baptism, which, he saith, was the season in which the three thousand in Acts 2. And others afterwards were baptized.
And again, In Baptism the principal thing to be looked after, is the Spirit by which the Water is made effectual; for, saith he, in the Apostles time the Baptism of Water, and the Baptism of the Spirit were different things, and done at different times, Magd. Cent. 5. p. 363.
And again, As Isaac was brought forth by the Word of Promise, so must we be born by the Word of God, which only makes Baptism powerful and effectual, 364.
Austin himself, in his Book De Fide & bon, oper, cap. 6 saith That none without are due Examination, both as to Doctrine, and Conversation, ought to be admitted to Baptism, Cent. 5, p. 654.
And again, That no ignorant or scandalous person ought by any means, without due Instruction and fruits of Repentance, to be admitted to Baptism, p. 654, 655.
Austin's Creed, and Chrysostome's Creed, also, were calculated for the Catechumeni, for their better instruction before Baptism, pag.
p. 66
655.The Names and Qualities of several Adult persons that were baptized in this Age, are inserted, p. 655.
Synesius Syrenenius was baptized upon profession of Faith, by Theophilus, and then made Bishop of Tolomeus.
Twisk Chron. p. 402. Dutch Martyrol. cent. 4.Cyrillus Alexandrinus, lib. 7. Centra julianum, saith When we lay aside the darkness of our mind, and leave the Devices of Satan, and wholly quit his Service, we declare thereby our Faith and meetness for Baptism. Dutch Martyrol. cent. 4.Faustus Regiensis, a Bishop of France, taught in this Age, that the will and desire of the party that comes to Baptism is necessarily required. Merning. p. 425.
Evangrius saith, that they that have been instructed and enlightened in the Word of God, were the proper Subjects of Baptism. Merning. p. 421.
Fulgentius saith, that none can be saved but the penitent Converts, who after Faith, receive Baptism.
Vicecomes, lib. 3. C. 3. ex Fulgentio.
p. 67
CENTURY VI
In this Age, the Adult, upon profession of Faith, was baptized.
Gregory, l. 4. C.26. saith, That a Sermon was used to be preached to those that were to be baptized, and that the pomps of the Devil were used to be renounced before Baptism; and that the hearts of Believers are, through Grace, cleansed thereby.
Gregory, in Baptism, the Elect receive the Gift of the Spirit, whereby also their understanding are enlightened in the Scriptures, and that by Faith in baptism all sins are relaxed, Cent. 6. P. 226, 227.
Cassiodorus calls Baptism The Divine Fountain, wherein the Faithful have the new Creature brought forth, Cent. 6. 226.
Olympiodorus saith, Our Spiritual Life is one and the same, effecterd withour spiritual death; for they who are born, are buried with Christ in Baptism, p. 226.
The Council of Agathen Decreed, that the Articles of Faith be first preached to the persons to be baptized, before their Baptism. Vicecomes, out of the History of Baptism, p. 482.
p. 68
CENTURY VII
The Bracaren's Council in Spain, decreed, That no Adult person, but such who had been well instructed, and Catechised, and duly examined, should be baptized. Cent. 7. 146.
The Sixth Council of Constance ordained, that none should receive Baptism without rehearsing the Creed, and Lord's Prayer, 146.
The Council of Toletanus, in the Fifth Chapter, saith, That by being dipt into Water, we do, as it were, descend into Hell; and by rising up out of the Water, we do witness a Resurrection.
Paulinus baptized in the River Trent in England, a great number both of men and women at Noon-day, Bead. l. 2. c. 16. cent. 7. 145.
In Egypt the Christians departed from the practice of Rome in Baptism, placing it upon Apostolical Foundation, viz. That Faith should first be taught before Baptism, Vicecomes, l. 2. c. 3.
CENTURY VIII
Bede saith, That men were first to be instructed into the knowledge of the Truth, then to be baptized, as Christ hath taught; because without Faith it was impossible to please God, Cent. 8. p. 220.
And again, As the body is visibly cleansed by Water, so the soul of the faithful is invisibly cleansed by Baptism.
And again, Only that kind of Baptism where the Spirit of the Lord regenerates, is effectual, 223.
And again, If the Word or Water be wanting, it is no Baptism, p. 218.
p. 69
And again, upon John 3. All those that came to the Apostles to be baptized, were instructed and taught concerning the Sacrament of Baptism, then they received the holy administration thereof.Haimo in Postil. Upon Mat. 28. Go and teach all Nations, Baptizing them, &c. fol. 278. In this place, saith he, is set down a Rule how to baptize; that is, that Teaching should go before Baptism; for he saith, Teach all Nations, and then he saith, Baptize them; for he that is to be baptized must be first instructed, that he first learn to believe that which in Baptism he shall receive; for as Faith without works is dead, so works, when they are not of Faith, are nothing worth.
The Council of Paris, in the time of Ludo Pius, decreed, chap. 6. That none be admitted to Baptism, but those that were instructed in the Mysteries of the Faith.
In the Council of Laodicea, Tit. 46. It was decreed, That those that will come to Baptism, ought first to be instructed in the Faith, and to make a Confession thereof.
CENTURY IX
Rabanus, cap. 4. saith, that the Catechism which is the Doctrine of Faith, must go before Baptism; to the intent that he that is to be baptized, may first learn the mysteries of Faith. And farther, he saith The Lord Christ anointed the eyes of him that was born blind, with Clay made of Spittle, before he sent him to the Water of Shiloah, to signifie, that he that is to
p. 70
be baptized, must first be instructed in the Faith concerning the Incarnation of Christ; when he doth believe, then he is to be admitted to Baptism, to the intent that he may know what the Grace is which he receiveth in Baptism, and whom, he afterwards in duty ought, and is bound to serve.Albinus saith, Three things are visible in Baptism, viz. The Body, the Water, and the Administrator; and three things are invisible, the Soul, Faith, and the Spirit of God, which being all joined by the Word, they are effectual in that Saccrament, Cent. 8. p. 225.
Damascenus, We are buried with the Lord in Baptism, as saith the Apostle, p. 220.
Rabanus again saith, That the Adult were first to be instructed in the Faith, and duly examined before they were baptized: And that as Noah and his Family were saved by Wood and Water, so the faithful are saved by Baptism, and the Cross, cent. 8. p. 144.
Remigius saith, That Faith is the principal thing in Baptism; for without it, it is impossible to please God, p. 145.
Walafrid Strabo, who lived about 840. In his Book De Reb. Eccl., c. 26. saith, That in the first times, the Grace of Baptism was wont to be given to them only, who were come to that integrity of mind and body, that they could know and understand what profit was to be gotten by baptism; what is to be confest and believed; what lastly, is to be observed by them that are new-born in Christ; and confirms it by Austin's own Confession of himself, continuing a Catechumenus long before Baptism. But afterwards, understanding Original sin, and lest their Children
p. 71
should perish without any means of Grace, had them, he saith, baptized according to the Council of Africa, &c.CENTURY X
Austeberius saith, That the Faithful are born not of bloud [sic], but of God; viz. of the Word of God preached, and of the Baptism of God duly administered; by which Sacraments, saith he, God's Children are begotten. Cent. 10. p. 186.
Smaragdo, on mat. 28. First, men are to be taught in the Faith; then after, to be baptized therein; for it is not enough that the body is baptized, but that the Soul first by Faith receive the truth thereof, p. 187.
Theophilact saith, Whoever are truly baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, p. 189.
CENTURY XI
Anselm saith, That Believers are baptized into the death of Christ, that believing his Death, and conforming thereto, may as dying with him, live also with him. Cent. II. p. 169.
And again, The Baptism of Christ is the washing in Water into the Word of Life; take away either Water or Word, Baptism ceaseth, p. 116.
And again, Whoever is baptized , hath Heaven opened to him, and knows God is there above ready to receive him; which, as by the Steps of a Ladder, he must from his Baptism ascend to
p. 72
him; for as Solomon saith, The way of Life is above to the Wise, p. 160, 170.Algerus saith, As water extinguisheth, cleanseth, and whiteneth above other Liquors; so in Baptismal Water, fleshly lusts are quenched, Sin, both Original and Actual, is washed away, and white Innocency thereby begotten; and so whilst the Image of the heavenly Father is reformed, the Sons of Adoption are begotten.
Buchardus Wormatiensis saith, That Repentance and Faith must precede Baptism, in his sixth Book De Sacrament.
Ado. Treverensis saith, That Faith and Repentance must go before Baptism. Vicecom. L. 3. c. 12.
Ivo writes, That those that come to Baptism, ought first publickly to acknowledge their Faith.
Medin. De Fide, out of the Dutch Martyrol. cent. 10. It appears, that in this Age the Baptism of Believers was asserted and practiced by the Waldenses and Albigenses.
Twisk Chron. lib. II. upon the year 1100. p. 423. The Learned Bernigarius and his Followers were great Asserters of Baptism after Faith. Thuannus inn his Preface to his History. And that many of them did witness the same to Bloud.
Abraham Melin, l. 2 fol. 395. Col. 3. & Saxon Chron. Anno 1135. out of the Dutch Martyrol. cent. 11. Peter Bruis, a Learned man in Tholouse in France, and his Followers not a few, were great
p. 73
Asserters and Practisers of Baptism after Faith and Repentance.Dutch Martyrol. cent. 11. out of Cent. Magd. Where these Doctrines are exprest at large.
============ [Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
More British History
Baptist History Homepage