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A Treatise of Baptism
"Decrees of Councils"
By Henry Danvers, 1674

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      In the Fourth Council of Carthage it was determined, that whoever was to be baptized, should give in his Name, and that then after due Examination and Preparations, Baptism was to be administered. Magdiburgensian. Cent. 4. C.6. p. 417.

     In the Council of Laodicea, in their 46 Canon, it was determined, that the baptized should Rehearse the Articles of the Creed, Magd. Cent. 4. 418.

     In the 6th Canon of the Council of Neocesaria, It is said, That Confession and free choice was necessary to Baptism, Magd. Cent. 4. 616.

     Grotius in his Annotat. Upon Mat. 19, saith, That the Canon of the Neocaefaria, held in the year 315. Determined, that a Woman with Child be baptized, because a Baptism reached not the fruit of the womb; because in the Confession made in Baptism, each ones free choice is shewed: From which Canon, saith he, Balsamon and Zonaras do infer, That an Infant cannot be baptized, because it hath no power to confess or chuse the Divine Baptism.

     Dr. Taylor, upon mentioning this Canon, p. 238, saith, It speaks Reason, and it intimates a practice, which was absolutely universal in the Church, of interrogating the Catechumeni, concerning the Articles of their Creed, which is one Argument, that either they did not admit


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Infants to Baptism, or that they did prevaricate egregiously in asking questions of them, who themselves knew were not capable of giving answers.

     And in farther assurance and confirmation of this great truth, you have most remarkable Instances of several of the most eminent persons of this Century, that were no baptized till aged, though the Off-spring of believing Parents, viz. Basil Gregory Naztanzen, Ambroze, Chipsostonie, Jerom, Austin, Nedarius, Constantine, Theodosius, &c. And for proof whereof, take the following Authorities.

     Ofiander, Cent. 4. l. 3. C. 42. P. 371. saith, That Basil the great, Bishop of Caesarea, the Son of Basil Bishop of Nicene, and his wife Eumele, whose Granfather was a Martyr, under the persecutions of Maximinus, was tenderly educated like a second timothy under his gracious Mother, became a learned man, and a great Preacher, and after baptized in Jordan by Maximinus the Bishop, as he saith, is declared by Vincentinus in speculo: and for which Story he also quotes Socrates, I.4.c.26. Sozom. l.6.c.34. Madg. Cent. 4. C. 10. p. 939.

     Ofiander, Cent. 4. 1. 3. 43. P. 380. Tells us, That Gregory Nazianzen was thee Son of Gregory Bishop of Nazianzen, by his Wife Nonna, a very pious holy Woman, and instructed this her Son, as Hannah of old did Samuel, who in the 20th year of His Age was baptized.

     Hugo Grotius, Annot, in Mat. 19.14. saith, It was no small Evidence that Baptism of Infants many hundred years was not ordinary in the Greek Church; because not only Constantine the great,


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the Son of Helena, a zealous Christian, was not baptized till aged. But also Gregory Nazianzen, Who was the Son of a Christian Bishop, and brought up long by him, was not baptized till he came 40 years; as is. saith he, related in his Life.

      Paulinus in vita Ambrosil, saith, That Ambrose, born of Christian Parents, his Father's Name was Ambrose, and his Mother's Marcema, remained instructed in the Faith of Milan, unbaptized, till he was chosen Bishop of Milan, at which time he received Baptism.

      Hugo Grotius farther, upon Mat. 19. Tells us, That Chrisostome was born of Christian Parents, and educated by Miletius a Bishop, was not baptized till past 21 years; who adds farther, that many of the Greeks in every age unto this day, do keep the custom of deferring the Baptism of little ones, till they could themselves make a Confession of their Faith.

      Erasmus in Vira Hieronymi, testifies, That Jerom, born in the City of Strydon of Christian Parents, and brought up in the Christian Religion, was baptized at Rome in the 30th year.

      Walasfridus Strake, who lived about 840. In his Book De Reb. Eccl. cap 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 was to be confessed and believed, what lastly was to be observed by them that are new-born in Christ, and confirms it by Austin's own Confession of himself, continuing a


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Catechumenius, long afore baptized: But afterwards Christians understanding Original sin, and lest their Children should perish without any means of Grace, had them, he saith, baptized, by the Decrees of the Council of Africa; and then adds, how Godfathers and Godmothers were invented, and the superstitions and impious consequent[s] of it, &c.

      Nauclerus Generat. 14. An. 391. saith Austin the Son of the Virtusus Monica, being instructed in the Faith, was baptized when he was about 30 years of age.

     Vossius De Baptismo, p. 106. saith, That Nectarius was made Bishop of Constantinople before he was baptized.

     Historia Tripartita, l. x. affirmeth, That Theodosius the Emperor, born in spain, his Parents being both Christians, was even from his youth instructed and educated in the Faith; who falling sick at Thessalonica, was by Achalio baptized, and thereupon, recovered of his sickness. Bonsieur [Jean] Daille, the learned French-man, a great searcher into Antiquity, in his book called The Use of the Fathers, saith In ancient times they often deferred the Baptism of Infants; as appeareth by the History of Constantine the Great, Constantinus, Theodostus, ?alentinian, Graccian, and in St. Ambrose, and also by the Orations of Greg. Nazianzen, and St. Basil, on this Subject; and some of the Fathers have been of opinion, that it is fit it should be deferred; but whence is it, saith he, that the very mentioning hereof is scarce to be endured at this day? lib. 2. P. 149.


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      Dr. Field, on the Church, p. 729, saith, That very many that were born of Christian Parents, besides those that were converted from Paganism, put off their Baptism for a long time, insomuch that many were made Bishops before they were baptized.

     Beatris Rhenanns, in Annot. Sup, Tert. saith. That the old Custom was, that those that were come to their full growth, were baptized with the Bath of Regeneration; which Custom, saith he, was observed till the time of Charles the Great, and Lodowick, Emperors; as by the Statues by them established, appeared, &c.

      Mr. Den, besides the former Instances of the Children of Christian Parents not baptized till aged, adds, Pancratius, Pontius, Nazarius, Tecla, Laigerus, and Erasma Tulca, Monica, Austins's Mother, and the three Sons of Leionilla.

      Dr. Jer. Taylor in his Lib. Proph. P. 239. Affirms out of an Antiquity, That the Parents of Austin, Jerom, and Ambrose, although Christians, did not baptize their Children till they were thirty years of age; and that it will be very considerable, in the example, and of great efficacy for destroying the supposed necessity of derivation of Infants-Baptism from the Apostles.

      Dr. Barlow, now Dr. of the Chair at Oxford, a person of great Learning and Eminancy, hath these words in a Letter I have seen in Print, viz. I do believe and know, that there is neither Precept nor Example in Scripture for Pedo-Baaptism, nor any just evidence for it for above 200 years after Christ; that Tertullian condemns it as an unwarrantable Custom, and Nazanzen


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a good while after him, dislikes it too; sure I am, that in the primitive times they were Catechumeni, then illuminati or Baptizati; and that, not only Pagans, and Children of Pagans converted, but Children of Christian Parents.

      The truth is, I do believe Paedo-Baptism, how, or by whom, I know not, came into the world in the second Century, and in the third and fourth, began to be practiced; though not generally, and defended, as lawful, from the Text grossly misunderstood, John 3.3. Upon the like gross mistake of John 6.53. they did for many Centuries, both in the Greek and Latine Church, communicate Infants, and give them the Lord's Supper; and I do confess, they might do both as well as either: But although they baptized some infants, and though it lawful so to do; yet Austin was the first that ever said it was necessary; and farther saith,

      I have read what my learned and worthy Friends, Dr. Hammond, Mr. Baxter, and others say in defence of it, and I confess I wonder not a little, that men of such great parts should say so much to so little purpose; for I have not as yet seen any thing like an Argument for it. Thus far Dr. Barlow.

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CENTURIES V-XI




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