The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians: who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660Braght, Thieleman J. van (Thieleman Janszoon)
History
The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians: who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660
Braght, Thieleman J. van (Thieleman Janszoon)
Anabaptists -- Europe -- Biography; Christian martyrs -- Biography; Persecution
These are certainly clear arguments, which confirm the institution of
Christ as regards baptism upon faith; for, when Justinus writes: “As
many then, as are convinced, and believe,” and adds: “are admonished to
pray,” and finally says: “After that, we lead them to the water, and
they are then born again in the same manner of regeneration,” that is
to say (speaking by way of metonymy), baptized; he certainly gives to
understand with this, that the candidates for baptism, in his day, had
to be convinced, namely through the preached word, and had to believe,
and, also, that they had to be admonished to pray, before they were led
to the water, to be baptized, or, as he calls it, regenerated.
A little further on in the same apology or defense, he writes thus:
“This, concerning this matter, we have learned from the apostles; for,
since we are ignorant by our first birth, and have been brought up in
evil practices and wicked habits; therefore, in order that we may not
remain children of ignorance, but become children of free volition and
of knowledge, and may obtain the remission of sins committed, there is
invoked over those who voluntarily desire to be born again, and who
repent of their past sins, the name of God, the Father and Lord of all
men; and, invoking him alone, we lead the one to be baptized to the
washing of water; and this washing of water is called an enlightenment,
because the understanding of those who learn these things, becomes
enlightened. But those who become enlightened, are also washed, that
is, baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under
Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who, through the
prophets, has foretold all concerning Christ.” _H. Mont. Nietighz.,
page 6, ex Justino._
From this it is again quite evident, that Justinus has in view, nothing
else than to give an account of the true baptism, which Christ and
his apostles taught that it should only be administered upon faith
and repentance for sins; for, when he says: “Those who voluntarily
desire to be baptized again, and who repent of their past sins,” and
adds: “Invoking the name of God, we lead the one to be baptized to the
washing of water,” he certainly says nothing else than what was said to
those baptized by John. Matt. 3:6: “And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins,” and what Peter said to the contrite penitents,
who inquired what they must do to be saved. Acts 2:38: “Repent, and
be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the
remission of sins.” The very same idea is expressed here by Justinus,
as is shown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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