CURCELLÆUS says: "The baptism of infants in the _two first_ centuries after Christ was altogether unknown; but in the _third_ and _fourth_ was allowed by some few. In the _fifth_ and following ages it was generally received." _Inst. Christ. Religion, B. I., Ch. 12._ SALMASIUS says: "In the _first two_ centuries no one was baptized, except, being instructed in the faith and acquainted with the doctrines of Christ, he was able to profess himself a believer." _Hist. Bapt. Suicer. Thesaur., Vol. II., p. 1136._ Such testimony is conclusive, and quite sufficient, though much more of a similar character might be added. _But observe:_ That when the baptism of children began, it was not that of unconscious infants at all, as is now practiced, but, as Bunsen declares, of "little growing children, from six to ten years old." And he asserts that Tertullian "does not say one word of new-born infants." Cyprian, an African bishop, at the close of the _third_ century, urged the baptism of infants proper, because of the saving efficacy of the ordinance; and he is called the inventor, or father, of infant baptism. _Bunsen's Hippol. and His Age, Vol. III., pp. 192-5._ WHY DID IT RISE? There is even less difficulty in tracing the cause than in finding the origin of infant baptism. It originated in a perversion of Christian doctrine, and was itself the perversion of a Christian ordinance. All students of ecclesiastical history know that at an early period corruptions perverted Christian faith and practice. Among these, one of the earliest was that of an undue efficacy attributed to baptism. Its sanctity was so exalted that it was believed to have power to wash away sins, and cleanse the soul for heaven. By it the sick were supposed to be prepared for death, and salvation made more certain by its efficacy. Anxious parents therefore desired their dying children to be thus prepared--"washed in the laver of regeneration," as it was termed--that they might be sure of salvation. And here came in that pernicious error of "baptismal regeneration," which gave rise to infant baptism, and which has through all these ages clung with more or less pertinacity to the clergy and laity of all churches which have practiced it. SALMASIUS says: "An opinion prevailed that no one could be saved without being baptized; and for that reason the custom arose of baptizing infants." _Epist. Jus. Pac. See Booth's Pedo. Exam., Ch. III., Sec. 3._ VENEMA declares that "the ancients connected a regenerating power with baptism." He cites Justin Martyr, Irenæus, Clemens, Tertullian, and Cyprian as holding that opinion. _Eccl. Hist., Vol. 4, p. 3., Secs. 2, 3, 4._ CHRYSOSTOM, writing about A. D. 398, as cited by Suicerus, says, "It is impossible without baptism to obtain the kingdom," and as cited by Wall he says: "If sudden death seize us before we are baptized, though we have a thousand good qualities, there is nothing to be expected but hell." _Suicer., Thesaur. Eccl., Vol. I., p. 3._