A Golden Chain

Rebaptizing is at no hand to be admitted: for as in natural generation man is once only borne; so must he be in the spiritual regeneration. Therefore they that are baptized of a minister, which is an heretic, not yet degraded from that calling, (if the external form of administration be observed) must not be baptized again of the Church of God: especially, if after baptism they have been made partakers of the Lords Supper: only they ought to be instructed in the true faith. Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 7. c. 8. saith, There was in our Province an ancient professor of the faith, yea before I was created Bishop, nay before my predecessor Heraclas: who, when he was present at the baptism of some, & heard what questions they were asked, & what answer they returned, forthwith came weeping unto me, and humbling himself before me, confessed that he was baptized by an heretic: yet in regard of that administration which he saw in our Church, he accounted that no baptism, in that the confession there used, was fraught with blasphemies. This also he added, that he was for this offence so sore grieved, that he durst not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven: wherefore he most earnestly besought me, that •e might be cleansed and purified with the baptism of our Church, and so receive the gift of the holy Ghost. The which notwithstanding, I durst not presume to administer, but said, it was sufficient for him that he had been so long a professor amongst us, & that at the receipt of the Lords Supper, he answered, Amen. These things I told him were of force enough to purge him. And therefore I advised him, to rest himself in his former faith and conscience already sufficiently purified, especially in that he so long was partaker with us in the Sacraments. Aug. lib. 3. c. 2. contra Petil. literas. […] ⟨image 62⟩[…]

Rebaptizing is at no hand to be admitted: for as in naturall generation man is once onely borne; so must he be in the spiritual regeneration. Therfore they that are baptized of a minister, which is an heretike, not yet degraded from that calling, (if the externall forme of administration be obserued) must not be baptized againe of the Church of God: especially, if after baptisme they haue beene made partakers of the Lords Supper: onely they ought to be instructed in the true faith. Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 7. c. 8. saith, There was in our Prouince an ancient professour of the faith, yea before I was created Bishop, nay before my predecessour Heraclas: who, when he was present at the baptisme of some, & heard what questions they were asked, & what answer they returned, forthwith came weeping vnto me, and humbling himselfe before me, confessed that he was baptized by an heretike: yet in regard of that administration which he saw in our Church, he accoū ted that no baptisme, in that the confession there vsed, was fraught with blasphemies. This also he added, that he was for this offence so sore grieued, that he durst not so much as lift vp his eyes to heauen: wherefore he most earnestly besought me, that e might be clensed and purified with the baptisme of our Church, and so receiue the gift of the holy Ghost. The which notwithstanding, I durst not presume to administer, but said, it was sufficient for him that he had beene so long a professour amongst vs, & that at the receit of the Lords Supper, he answered, Amen. These things I told him were of force enough to purge him. And therefore I aduised him, to rest himselfe in his former faith and conscience alreadie sufficiently purified, especially in that he so long was partaker with vs in the Sacraments. Aug. lib. 3. c. 2. contra Petil. literas.