It is evident, however, from the following principles, that only the children of those who are professors of a personal faith in Christ ought to be baptized. 1st. The example of the apostles. They baptized the households only of believers. 2d. Faith is the condition of the covenant. If the parent is destitute of faith, the transaction is a mockery. 3d. Those who, having been baptized in infancy,, do not by faith and obedience discharge their baptismal vows when they are of mature age, forfeit their own birthright, and of course can not plead its benefits for their children.
The efficacy of baptism.
29. What is the Romish and High Church doctrine as to the efficacy of baptism ?
The Eomish doctrine, with which the high church doctrine essentially agrees, is, 1st, that baptism confers the merits of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost, and therefore (1.) it cleanses from inherent corruption ; (2.) it secures the remission of the penalty of sin ; (3.) it secures the infusion of sanctifying grace ; (4.) it unites to Christ ; (5.) it impresses upon the soul an in- delible character ; (6.) it opens the portals of heaven. — Cat. Rom., Pt. II., Chap. II., Q. 32-44. 2d. That the efficacy of the ordi- nance is inherent in itself in virtue of the divine institution. Its virtue does not depend either on the merit of the officiating min- ister, nor on that of the recipient, but in the sacramental action itself as an opus operatum. In the case of infants, the only con- dition of its efficiency is the right administration of the ordinance. In the case of adults its efficiency depends upon the additional condition that the recipient is not in mortal sin, and does not re- sist by an opposing will. — Dens De Baptismo, N. 29.
30. What is the Lutheran doctrine on this subject ?
The Lutherans agreed with the Reformed churches in repudi- ating the Romish doctrine of the magical efficacy of this sacra-
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ment as an opus operatum. But they went much further than the Reformed in maintaining the sacramental union between the sign and the grace signified. Luther, in his Small Cat., Pt. IV., sec. 2, says baptism, " worketh forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and confers everlasting salvation on all who believe," and, in sec. 3, that "it is not the water indeed which produces these effects, but the word of God which accompanies, and is con- nected with the water, and our faith, which relies on the word of God connected with the water. For the water without the word is simply water and no baptism. But when connected with the word of God, it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life, and a washing of regeneration/'
31. What was the Zuinglian doctrine on this subject ?
That the outward rite is a mere sign, an objective represen- tation by symbol of the truth, having no efficacy whatever beyond that due to the truth represented.
32. What is the doctrine of the Reformed churches, and of our own among the number, on this subject ?
They all agree, 1st, that the Zuinglian view is incomplete.
2d. That besides being a sign, baptism is also the seal of grace, and therefore, a present and sensible conveyance and con- firmation of grace to the believer who has the witness in himself, and to all the elect a seal of the benefits of the covenant of grace, to be sooner or later conveyed in God's good time.
3d. That this conveyance is effected, not by the bare opera- tion of the sacramental action, but by the Holy Ghost, which accompanies his own ordinance.
4th. That in the adult the reception of the blessing depends upon faith.
5th. That the benefits conveyed by baptism are not peculiar to it, but belong to the believer before or without baptism, and are often renewed to him afterwards.
Our Conf. Faith, Chap. XXVIII., sections 5 and 6, affirms,
" 1st. ' That by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost to such, (whether of age or infants,) as that grace belongeth unto.'
502 BAPTISM.
" 2d. That baptism does not in all cases secure the blessings of the covenant.
" 3d. That in the cases in which it does the gift is not con- nected necessarily in time with the administration of the ordi- nance.
" 4th. That these blessings depend upon two things : (1.) the right use of the ordinance ; (2.) the secret purpose of God/' — Dr. Hodge.
The necessity of baptism.
33. What is the Romish and Lutheran doctrine as to the ne- cessity of baptism ?
They hold that the benefits conveyed by baptism are ordi- narily conveyed in no other way, and consequently, baptism is absolutely necessary in order to salvation, both for infants and adults. — Coun. Trent, Sess. 7, canon 4 ; Cat. Kom., Part II., Chap. II., question 28 ; Bellarmine Bapt., 1, 4 ; Augsburg Conf., article 9. The Papists except from this absolute necessity mar- tyrs, and those who, desiring, can not obtain baptism.