“Again, ‘As the religion of others does not concern us, and neither profits nor harms us; therefore, it does not become any one religion to force itself upon another, since it must be accepted voluntarily, and not by coercion, for what is required is the offering of a willing mind.’” (This agrees with Ex. 25, 35 and 36. _Chr. Leonh., lib. 1. Seb. Fr. in the Arke fol. 174. Stand der Religie, lib. 4. Grond. Bew. letter B. Menn. Sym. Doop. C., fol. 8. Th. Imbroek, fol. 28._)
“Again, Tertullian (in his fourth book against Marcion) quoting the words of Christ: _This is my body_, that is, a figure of my body, says: ‘It would not have been a figure, had his body not been real; for a phantasm, or mere illusion, cannot have a figure or shadow?’ With this he means to prove that Christ had a real body; and what he here calls a figure, he, in the fifth book, calls a sacrament, with the express words: ‘The bread and the cup.’ Still more clearly he says in the first book: ‘Neither did he despise or reject the bread, by which he represented or typified his body.’
“He says: ‘These words of Christ: _This is my body_, we must understand as though Christ had said: This is the sign and figure of my body.’ I pass over Dionysius Alexandrinus, and Paulinus, who both treat in the same manner of the above sacrament.’” _Tertul. Apolog., cap. 39. Euseb. lib. 6 and 9. Daniel Saut., lib. 1, cap. 6._
“Again, Tertullian says: ‘We must not seek the faith from the persons, but prove the persons by the faith.’” _De Præscript., lib. 4. P. J. Twisck, Chron. 2d book, page 53, col. 1, 2._
NOTE.--Tertullian taught at this time: “We have the apostles for authors, who established nothing according to their own inclination, but faithfully taught the nations that which they had received from God.” _Lib. 1. Præscript._
He writes further, that “all churches are apostolic churches, though they may have been founded long after the time of the apostles, if they have but kinship with the doctrine.” _Lib. 1. Præsc._ See _Samuel Veltius, in the Geslacht-register der Roomscher Successie, second edition, 1649 pages 115, 116_.
Tertullian says among other things: “The emperors would have believed in Christ, if the world had not prevented them; for they could not become Christians, because they had to serve the world, and carry on war.” See, _Grondelijke Verklaringe Danielis ende Johannis_, printed at _Harlem, 1635, on Tertullian_.
Vicecomes, in his first book on baptism, chap. 1, notes the following testimony from Tertullian (_lib. 1, cap. 4._): “There is no difference between those whom John baptized in Jordan and those Peter baptized in the Tiber.” With this he intends to prove that in the first days of Christianity there were neither baptismal fonts nor churches. _J. M., Baptism. Hist., page 275._
Again says Tertullian: “Thus, when we go into the water of baptism, we justly confess our sins and the Christian faith.” _Vicecom., lib. 4, cap. 7, and J. M., Baptism. Hist., page 277._
These last two passages from Tertullian we have adduced over and above what was necessary, but they are not useless, since they confirm what we have said above about baptism; for by the first the superstition which was wont to be connected with the water, the baptismal font, and the church in which baptism was administered, is removed, or at least (_per consequentiam_) controverted; and the second states that it is proper to confess our sins, and the Christian faith, at baptism. And therewith he proves that it is not proper to be baptized without confessing one’s sins, and the Christian faith. What has been said is sufficient for the intelligent. With this we take our leave of Tertullian.
_A. D. 224._--Leonilla, a Christian grandmother, had three grandsons, Sosyphus, Cleosyphus, and Melosyphus. She begged Romigius that he would instruct the three lads in the Christian faith, and then baptize them. This was done in a godly manner. _P. J. Twisck, Chron. for the year 224, 3d book, page 60, col. 1, from Grond. Bew., letter B._ Also, _Kort verhæl van den loop der werelt_, printed 1611, _page 47_.