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
Again, _page 328, Apol. Contr. Ruffin._: “We say that the old man
entirely dies in baptism, and that the new man is raised with Christ in
baptism; that the earthly perishes, and the heavenly is born.”
Then he admonishes the candidates for baptism, how they should conduct
themselves before and at baptism; as well as how those who had already
been baptized before many witnesses, and had made a good confession,
ought to manifest themselves.
Again, _page 374, Epist. 83, ad Ocean_, he writes: “The catechumens
who are learning the Christian faith must observe not to have carnal
intercourse with women before baptism.”
Again the words of Paul, 1 Tim. 6:12, he expounds as follows: “Thou
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses; which was done
through thy baptism, when thou didst renounce the world and its pomp,
before the elders[110] or teachers, before the ministers, and before
the heavenly hosts.”
[110] The translator says _priests_, namely, such priests as John
speaks of, Rev. 1:6: “And hath made us kings and priests,” etc.
In the tract called, _Klare en Grondige Bewijsing van den Doop_,
printed 1581, it is stated, _letter A_, Jerome on Matthew: “The Lord
commanded his apostles, that they should first instruct and teach
all nations, and then baptize those instructed, in the sacrament of
faith; for it is not possible for the body to receive the sacrament of
baptism, unless the soul have previously received the true faith.”
Who could ever believe that this man at any time defended, or at least,
not opposed but admitted infant baptism, seeing he opposes it in the
places mentioned with such abundant clearness and explicitness? We note
only the last mentioned passage, where he certainly says, without the
least dissimulation or exception, that it is not possible for the body
to receive the sacrament of baptism, unless the soul have previously
received the true faith. How can, may, or shall this be explained
otherwise than that there cannot be or consist any other baptism than
that which is received with true faith? for this is the very idea
expressed by his words.
Nevertheless, there are men who ascribe to Jerome a certain dialogue
against Pelagius, in which one Critobulus interrogates, and one Atticus
answers, in this wise: Critobulus asks: “Why are children baptized?”
Atticus replies: “That their sins may be forgiven them in baptism.”
“Why, what sins have they committed?” asks Critobulus. Atticus answers:
“Dost thou ask me this? let the evangelic trumpet answer thee.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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