Lib. 1. cap. XVIU. ; 'Offoi yap iiei rccxirrig Trjg yvcJo/j.rjs /^varayuyol, roeaurai
xa! tt'ToXvTpuiffiie. "On /ih dg s^dpvrisiv rou ^arr-'iGiMarog Trig f'S &^(>v
' See also Dr Owen on the Hebrews, toI. i. Excrcitation the sixth, and vol. ii. p. 256 ; in which place he gives further light into this truth of infant baptism. [This note is appended by the editors of the folio edition of Owen's Sermons and Tract.s, published in 1721. The second passage referred to occurs in the exposition of chap. iv. ver. 9. — Ed.]
264 ■ OF INFANT BAPTISM.
dvayswyiffSMC, x.ai Traffics r^g T/ffrscog d'^odiSiv i'jToZ'iZXrjrai to tJdog rou l/to Tov earava, eXsy^ovrss ccvroiig dvayysXov/u.sv sv rw irpoSriTiovri to'Ttuj.
Mr Tombs tells us, "This proves not infant baptism, because though it be granted that in Justin Martyr, and others of the ancients, to be regenerated is to be baptized, yet it doth not appear that Irenaeus meant it so in this place, unless it were proved it is so only meant by him and the ancients. Nor doth Irenseus, lib. i. cap. xviii., term baptism 'regeneration;' but saith thus, 'To the denying of bap- tism of that regeneration which is unto God.' But that indeed the word ' renascuntur," ' are born again,' is not meant of baptism is proved from the words and the scope of them; for, —
" 1. The words are, ' Per eum renascuntur,' ' By him,' that is, Christ, ' are born again.' And it is clear, from the scope of the speech about the fulness of his age, as a perfect master, that ' By him' notes his person according to his human nature. Now, if then, ' By him are born again,' be as much as ' By him are baptized,' this should be Irenaeus' assertion, that by Christ himself, in his human body, infants, and little ones, and boys, and young men, and elder men, are baptized unto God. But this speech is most mani- festly false ; for neither did Christ baptize any at all in his own per- son, (John iv. 1,2,' Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,') nor did the disciples baptize any infant at all, as may be gathered from the whole New Testament.
" 2. The word which Irenseus expresseth whereby persons are bom again to God by Christ is applied to the example of his age, as the words and scope show. But he was not in his age an example of every age by his baptism, as if he did by it sanctify every age, for then he should have been baptized in every age; but in respect of the holiness of his human nature, which did remain in each age, and so exemplarily sanctify each age to God, so as that there was no age but was capable of holiness by conformity to his example.
" 3. Irenseus' words are, * Omnes enim venit per semetipsum sal- vare, omnes, inquam, qui per eum renascuntur in Deum, infantes, et parvulos,' etc. Now, if the meaning were, that Christ came to save all that were baptized by him or by his appointnaent, then he came to save Simon Magus, or whoever are or have been baptized rightly. But in that sense the proposition is most palpably false; and therefore that sense is not to be attributed to his words.
" 4. Christ is by Irenseus said to sanctify as 'a perfect master, — not only according to the exposition of truth, but also as an example to them of piety, justice, and subjection.' But this is to be understood not in respect of his baptism only, but his whole life, in which he was an example ; even as an infant, for then he did willingly empty himself, — ' Took upon him the form of a servcint/ etc., Phil. ii. 7, 8.
OF INFANT BAPTISM. 265
" By all which reasons," saith Mr Tombs, " I presume the readers who are willing to see truth will perceive this passage of Irenseus to be wrested by Pedobaptists against its meaning, to prove a use of pedobaptism in his time."
Ans. 1. The phrase of " Renascuntur in Deum" is so constantly used by the ancients for baptism that it may be referred to the con- science of Mr Tombs or any one who hath been conversant in their writings, whether they would not have judged and granted that it was here intended, if mention had not been made of infants and little ones. The ensuing exceptions, therefore, are an endeavour to stifle light in favour of an opinion ; — which is not unusual with some.
2. " Per eum" is the same with " Per semetipsum," in the words immediately foregoing; that is, "By himself," in his mediation, grace, and ordinances. And to suppose that if baptism be intended, he must baptize them in his own person, is a mere cavil; for all that are born to God by baptism to this day are so by him.
8. The words, E/g s^dpvrjSiv roD ^wxrig/xaro; r^g sig Qshv dvaysw/jCsug, " Unto the denial of the baptism of regeneration unto God," do plainly declare that by " renascuntur" he intends the baptism of re- generation, as being the means and pledge of it, in allusion to that of the apostle, Aourpov icaXiyyinGicig, Tit. iii. 5.
4. It is remarkable in the words of Irenseus, that in expressing the way and means of the renascency of infants, he mentions nothing of the example of Christ, which he adds unto that of all otlier ages.