_Canon 14._ “The unbaptized weak (members), who are concerned about their purification, and commit themselves to spiritual guardians, following their admonitions, may commune, in order that, through the virtue of the sacrament received, they may be strengthened against the assaults of the devil.”
_Canon 15._ “Weak catechumens shall be provided with baptism, according as necessity and opportunity demand.”
There were still other canons or rules, established by said council, from which it appears that at that time many people omitted to have their children baptized, so that the latter, when they had reached adult years, were still unbaptized; as Canons 18, 19, 20. But it suffices us briefly to have shown this, since by our promise we are not bound to prove anything further than that in all the centuries, from the time of Christ, there were persons, few or many, who rejected infant baptism, and observed the true baptism upon faith, according to the institution of Christ and the example of his apostles.
_A. D. 454._--It is recorded for this year, that Nazarius, the son of Perpetua, a Christian woman, followed the religion of his mother, when he was still very young, and that he was baptized after previous catechization or instruction. Tract, _Gantsch Grondig. Bewijs., 1581_. Also, _Kort verhael van den loop der Werelt_, compared with _P. J. Twisck, Chron., 5th book, page 160, col. 2_.
As to the teacher who baptized Nazarius, his name is differently given by different writers; hence, we pass him by, simply noticing the faith of Perpetua, and the baptism of her son; for it appears from the circumstances, that Perpetua was a Christian woman, who herself professed the Christian religion, but who nevertheless let her son remain without baptism in his infancy, apparently regarding infant baptism as unlawful, or at least without benefit; besides this it appears that Nazarius, her son, regarded baptism upon faith as good and necessary, notwithstanding he was born of a Christian mother, else he would not have had himself baptized, upon having come to adult years.
NOTE.--_A. D. 455._--Montluck, Bishop of Valence said before the King of France, it should be borne in mind, that there were 380 bishops in the council of Nice, 150 in the council of Constantinople, 200 in the council of Ephesus, and 300 in the council of Chalcedon, who would use no other weapons than the word of God, against the Arians, Macedonians, Nestorians, and others. _P. J. Twisck, Chron., 5th book, page 161, col. 1_, from _Den Stant der Religie, 200_.
_A. D. 456._--Gelasius taught at this time, that in the Supper there are celebrated the figures of the body and blood of Christ, and that, through the Holy Ghost we become partakers of divine things, though the bread and wine continue what they are. In the _Book of the two Natures_. See _Sam. Veltius, Geslacht-register, page 124_.
_A. D. 458._--Salvian of Massilia (Marseilles) _lib. 6, de Providentia_ (_Bapt. Hist., page 448_), says to the candidates: “You say: ‘I renounce the devil, his pomp, his adherents, and his works.’ And what else? You also say: ‘I believe on God the Father, and on Jesus Christ his Son.’ Thus, one first forsakes the devil, that he may believe on God; but whosoever does not forsake the devil, does not believe on God; and whoever turns again to the devil, forsakes God.” These things, says the annotator, can in no wise be said of infants.
From this formula, which the candidates at that time were obliged to confess publicly, we certainly see without controversy, that it stood altogether differently with the matter of baptism, than is now the case among many so-called Christians; for then the candidates had to make confession themselves of their faith, before they were baptized; but now, in many places, when infants are baptized, no confession is demanded, or, if demanded, is not made by the children themselves, since they cannot do it, but by their parents, or godfathers and godmothers, who bring them to baptism; however, if the confession is demanded from the children themselves, they do not make it before baptism (as is required by holy Scripture), but after baptism, so that twenty, thirty, sixty, or even more years, elapse, yea, that their baptism is forgotten by the time they make their confession; and some who are baptized, never make their confession.