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
Secondly, when in Canon 6 it is established that pregnant women may be
baptized whenever they desire it, because there is no communication
between the mother and the child which is born of her, it clearly
confirms that infant baptism had no place whatever among them, but,
that they were indeed inimical to it. It appears that a difficulty was
raised at that time, as to whether pregnant women might be baptized or
not; for it was thought or feared that the fruit had such communion
with the mother, that the child, too, would become a partaker of the
baptism received by the mother; which would have been contrary to
the views held by the church, that no one should be baptized except
upon his own confession of faith, and consequently, no infants, much
less unborn children. But this apprehension or difficulty was removed,
when it was declared that in the reception of baptism there is no
communication between the mother and the child, and that for this
reason the child does not participate in the baptism received by the
mother. This is too clear to be refuted.
Thirdly, when in Canon 11, mention is made of Christ being baptized
when he was thirty years old, notwithstanding that preaching is here
spoken of, and that the same ought not to be undertaken by one before
he is thirty years old, the baptism which is administered upon faith or
in adult years, is nevertheless also recommended and deemed necessary.
For, as Christ was baptized in adult years, and forthwith began to
preach, so that the time of his baptism was also the time of his
preaching, even so (the Canon apparently means to say), baptizing, like
preaching, may only take place in adult years; for as the one requires
understanding, so does the other, according to the example of Christ.
_A. D. 360._--P. J. Twisck writes: “Notwithstanding that at this time,
much bloody cruelty was practiced against the bishop who sided with
Arius, so that this party was almost wholly crushed, still, according
to history, there remained sects like the Anabaptists, etc. If their
books were extant, we might give an account of what they taught
concerning all these matters; but as it is, we let it suffice with what
others have written.” _P. J. Twisck, Chron., 4th book, page 106, col.
2_, from _Jac. P. Verm. Onsch., lib. 4, fol. 131_.
It is exceedingly to be regretted that so few of the writings of the
Anabaptists who lived at that time, are extant; for thereby we are
compelled to receive information concerning them from the mouths of
their enemies; which information, as we may readily judge, was not
dictated by love, but by animosity. However, we owe thanks to God, that
even this much has come down to us respecting their history; since
Satan, through the instrumentality of his adherents, has always aimed
to exterminate, not only their books, but also their lives, yea, their
bodies and souls, if this were possible.
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