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)
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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
This he confirms in the five subsequent passages, using these
arguments: That they must not neglect to repent, so that the grace
of baptism may not be withheld from them. Again, that they would not
have to hear it said to them, as the unprepared guest in the Gospel:
‘Friend, how camest thou in hither?’ Again, that they, being called to
the marriage of the Lamb, might be found worthy. Again, that to this
end they should hear the voice of the prophet, that saith: “Wash ye,
make you clean; put away the evil of your doings.”
In the sixth passage he admonishes the newly baptized: As you have put
off the old garments (that is, forsaken the old life) and put on those
that are according to the Spirit (that is, put on a new life), you
shall henceforth always walk in white garments, that is, henceforth you
shall live a holy life and pay unto God your vows made unto him when
you were baptized. This is certainly a scriptural exposition, and is
not obscurely expressed in Cyril’s words.
We now come to the seventh or last passage, of which we shall say
but little, as it contains not a single word which does not clearly
indicate that he speaks of the baptism of the believers and penitent;
for he there says to the baptized, that being enlightened they now had
on them the odor of salvation, and admonishes them, to gather heavenly
flowers with which to make heavenly crowns, adding this wish: “The
blossoms have now appeared on the trees; but oh! that also the fruit
were conceived!”
Any one with only a little understanding can easily see that these
words of Cyril do not pertain to infants, and that he therefore
does not speak to infants or of infant baptism, but is speaking to
reasonable persons, and of the baptism that is administered to such.
Moreover, from his having previously mentioned the catechumens, it
is evident that it was customary at that time in the church where he
was teacher, first to instruct the youth in the faith, and then, when
they had accepted it, to baptize them upon confession of it. Without
contradiction, it was a scriptural and holy custom, which proceeded not
from human reason, like infant baptism, but from the mind of Christ and
the understanding of the holy apostles. With this we take our leave
from Cyril.
_A. D. 300._--Arnobius, an old teacher says (in _Psalms 146_): “You
are not first baptized, and then apprehend the faith, and rejoice
in it; but when you are about to be baptized, you state before the
teacher your perfect willingness, and make your confession with your
own mouth.” _P. J. Twisck, Chron., 3d book, page 82, col. 1, 2_, from
_Grond. Bew., letter B_.
These words of Arnobius are very excellent, and show that at his time
they did not first baptize, and then apprehend faith; but that the one
to be baptized had to state his willingness before baptism, and then to
make confession of faith with his own mouth. However, we shall speak
more fully of Arnobius in the succeeding century.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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