The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

If thou believest with all thy heart. Whereas the Eunuch is not admitted to Baptism, until he have made confession of his faith: we must fetch a general rule hence. That those ought to be received into the church, who were estranged from the same before, until they have testified that they believe in Christ. For baptism is as it were an appurtenance of faith: & therefore it is later in order. Secondly, if it be given without faith, whose seal it is, it is both a wicked and also too gross a profaning. But frantic fellows do both unskilfully & also wickedly impugn baptizing of infants under colour hereof, why was it meet that faith should go before baptism in the Eunuch? To wit, because seeing that Christ marketh those alone which are of the household of the church with this note and mark, they must be engrafted unto the church, who are to be baptized. And as it is certain that those who are grown up, are engrafted by faith, so I say that the children of the godly are born the children of the church, and that they are accounted members of Christ from the womb, because God adopteth us upon this condition, that he may be also the Father of our seed. Therefore though faith be requisite in those which are grown up, yet this is untruly translated unto infants, whose estate is far unlike. But certain great men have abused this place, when as they would prove, that faith hath no confirmation by baptism: for they reasoned thus: the Eunuch is commanded to bring perfect faith unto baptism: therefore there could nothing be added. But the scripture taketh the whole heart often times for a sincere & unfeigned heart, whose opposite is a double heart. So that there is no cause why we should imagine that they believe perfectly, who believe with the whole heart seeing that there may be a weak & faint faith in him, who shall notwithstanding have a sound mind, and a mind free from all hypocrisy. Thus must we take that which David saith, that he loveth the Lord with all his heart. Philip had in deed baptized the Samaritans before, & yet he knew that they were yet far from the mark. Therefore the faith of the whole heart, is that which having living roots in the heart, doth yet notwithstanding desire to increase daily.

If thou beleeuest with all thy heart. Wheras the Eunuch is not admitted to Baptism, vntil he haue made confession of his faith: we must fet a generall rule hence. That those ought to be receiued into the church, who were estraunged frō the same before, vntill they haue testified that they beleeue in Christ. For baptisme is as it were an appertenance of faith: & therefore it is later in order. Secondly, if it be giuen without faith, whose seale it is, it is both a wicked and also too grosse a profaning. But frantike fellowes doe both vnskilfully & also wickedly impugne baptizing of infants vnder colour hereof, why was it meet that faith should go before baptisme in the Eunuch? To wit, because seeing that Christe marketh those alone which are of the houshold of the church with this note and mark, they must be ingraffed vnto the church, who are to bee baptized. And as it is certain that those who are growen vp, are ingraffed by faith, so I say that the childrē of the godly are born the childrē of the church, and that they are accounted members of Christ frō the womb, because God adopteth vs vpon this condition, that he may be also the Father of our seed. Therfore thogh faith be requisite in those which are grown vp, yet this is vntruly translated vnto infants, whose estate is far vnlike. But certain great men haue abused this place, when as they wold proue, that faith hath no confirmation by baptisme: for they reasoned thus: the Eunuch is commanded to bring perfect faith vnto baptisme: therfore there could nothing be added. But the scripture taketh the whole heart oftē times for a sincere & vnfeigned heart, whose opposite is a double heart. So that there is no cause why we should imagine that they beleeue perfectly, who beleeue with the whole heart seing that there may be a weak & faint faith in him, who shal notwithstāding haue a sound minde, and a mind free frō all hyporcisie. Thus must we take that which Dauid saith, that he loueth the Lord with all his heart. Philip had in deede baptized the Samaritans before, & yet hee knewe that they were yet far from the mark. Therfore the faith of the whole heart, is that which hauing liuing rootes in the heart, doth yet notwithstanding desire to encrease daylie.