W VIII. Son, as did the Arians' upon the heresy of inequality. Nor CHAP. yet in the name of Christ alone, or into His death, as the Eunomians. For though mention be made in the Acts of the Apostles of baptizing "in the name of Christ," as ch. ii. 38, and xix. 5, yet must not the Apostles be supposed so to have baptized, as excluding the other two persons, nor can the word Christ, in those places, rationally include the Father and the Son; that is, the person anointing, the person anointed, and unction wherewith he was anointed, as learned Grotius, after Irenæus, inclines to think. For in truth, as Beza hath well observed, St. Luke doth not there describe the rite and formula of baptism, but the end and scope of initiating persons into Christianity thereby. The express precept of our Saviour obliged even the Apostles themselves, and all their ecclesiastical derivatives, to such a form of baptism as might distinctly and nominally mention the three persons of the glorious Trinity, which was so indispensably necessary as the omission of any one constituted the baptism null. This nominal distinction being observed, lawful it was for them to superadd some characteristical notes, more graphically explaining them, so was this word Christ annexed to the second person in the Apostles' times: so in Justin Martyr", the form is this; eπ ỏvóμatos Toû Πατρὸς τῶν ὅλων καὶ δεσπότου Θεοῦ, καὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ σταυρωθέντος ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου, καὶ ἐπ ̓ ὀνόματος Πνεύ ματος ἁγίου, ὁ διὰ τῶν προφήτων προεκήρυξε τὰ κατὰ τὸν Ἰησοῦν Távτа: "in the name of the Father of all things, the Lord God, and of Jesus Christ who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and of the Holy Ghost, who foretold by the prophets all things concerning Christ." But if they which bring the infants, &c.] This is a very prudent and Christian injunction, derived, as I conceive, from the fifth council of Carthage: placuit de infantibus, quoties non inveniuntur testes qui eos baptizatos esse certissimi sine dubitatione testentur, absque ullo scrupulo eos esse baptizandos; "it is decreed concerning infants, whensoever there want witnesses to assure that they were before baptized, that without further scruple they shall be baptized." Niceph., lib. xiii. c. 35. Niceph., lib. xii. c. 30; Socrates, lib. v. c. 23. b Apol. 2. • Can. 6. CHAPTER IX. COMMON PRAYER. (A) THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON CHILDREN BAPTIZED, AND ABLE TO RENDER AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR FAITH ACCORDING TO THE CATECHISM FOLLOWING. СНАР. IX. 1 & 2 B. OF EDW. VI. AND LIT. OF Q. ELIZ. CONFIRMATION, WHEREIN IS CONTAINED A CATECHISM FOR CHILDREN. To the end that confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it according unto St. Paul's doctrine, who teacheth that all things should be done in the Church to the edification of the same, it is thought good that none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say in their mother tongue the Articles of the Faith, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and can also answer to such questions of this short Catechism, as the bishop, or such as he shall appoint, shall by his discretion appose them in. And this order is most convenient to be observed for divers consider= ations. First, because that when children come to the years of discretion, and habe learned what their godfathers and godmothers promised for them in baptism, they may then themselves, with their own mouth, and with their own consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same: and also promise that by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keep such things as they by their own mouth and confession have assented unto. Secondly, for as much as confirmation is ministered to them that be baptized, that by imposition of hands and prayer, they may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sin, and the assaults of the world and the devil, it is most meet to be ministered when children come to that age, that partly by the frailty of their own flesh, partly by the 243 assaults of the world and the devil, they begin to be in danger CHAP. to fall into sundry kinds of sin. Thirdly, for that it is agreeable with the usage of the Church in times past, whereby it was ordained that confirmation should be ministered to them that were of perfect age, that they being instructed in Christ's religion, should openly profess their own faith, and promise to be obedient unto the will of God. (B) And that no man shall think that any detriment shall come to the children by deferring of their confirmation, he shall know for truth that it is certain by God's word, that children 244 being baptized, [1 B. of Edw. VI., "if they depart out of this life in their infancy,"] have all things necessary for their salbation, and be undoubtedly saved. IX. (C) A CATECHISM, THAT IS TO SAY, AN INSTRUCTION TO BE LEARNED OF EVERY CHILD BEFORE HE BE My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, wherein E was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. Question. What did your godfathers and godmothers then for you? Answer. They did promise and bow three things in my name. First, that should forsake the devil and all his works, the pomps and banities of the wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the articles of the Christian faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy CHAP. will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days IX. of my life. Question. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to beliebe, and to do as they have promised for thee? Answer. Yes, berily; and by God's help so I will: and X heartily thank our heavenly Father, that He hath called me to this state of salbation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, and X pray God to give me His grace that I may continue in the same unto my life's end. Question. Rehearse the articles of thy belief? Answer. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontiusa Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, He descended into hell, the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence Pe shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these articles of thy belief? Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me and all the world. Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God. Question. You said that your godfathers and godmothers did promise 245 for you, that you should keep God's commandments. Tell me how many there be. [1 B. of Edw. VI. "Ponce."] Answer. Ten. Question. Which be they? Answer. 1 B. of Edw. VI. CHAP. Common Prayer. The same which God spake in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the house of bondage. i. Thou shalt habe none other gods but Me. ii. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graben image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them. For the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them that lobe Me, and keep My commandments. iii. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in bain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. iiii. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day, Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou and thy son and thy daughter, thy man-serbant, and thy maid. |