A short instruction for to arm all good Christian people against the pestiferous errors…A short instruction for to arme all good Christian people agaynst the pestiferous errours…

And we must also note this, that when a man is received of god into the company of the faithful: the promise of salvation which is made to him: is not only for his person, but also for his children. For it is said unto him. I am thy God, and the God of thy children after thee. So now a man which from his infancy, was not received into the covenant of God, is as a stranger from ⟨image 9⟩the church, unto such time as by the doctrine of salvation he be brought unto faith and repentance. But than his seed is made by and by of the household of the church. And for this cause are the little children of faithful men, baptised in the virtue of this covenant which is made with their fathers in their name and to their profit. Here you see where the Anabaptists are deceived. That the doctrine ought to proceed the sacrament, we do not resist. But the hole matter is as we have said, to consider how, and by what men. For when the question is, of a man in age to be baptised, which was before no christian: before he be christened, he must be taught those things which be figured by baptism. But as touching his children, they shall be baptised upon the doctrine which he hath received: which doeth contain that God shall be a saviour not only of his person but also of his children. To make it somewhat plain to the understanding: when a man which was a stranger to the company of the faithful, is converted unto God, the doctrine upon which he is baptised is set forth unto him: and therefore it is necessary that he understand it, and comprehend it, before he be received unto the sacrament. The doctrine upon which the young children of christen men be baptised is not set forth to them, but to their parents, and to the whole church: and therefore it is not requisite that they understand it, before they do receive the sign.

And we muste also note this, that when a man is receyued of god into the company of the fayethful: the promise of saluatiō which is made to hym: is not onely for hys person, but also for hys chyldren. For it is saied vnto hym. I am thy God, and the God of thy chyldren after the. So nowe a man whyche from hys infancy, was not receiued into the couenaunte of God, is as a straunger frome ⟨image 9⟩the church, vnto such tyme as by the doctrine of saluation he be broughte vnto fayeth and repentaunce. But than hys seede is made by and by of the howshoulde of the church. And for thys cause are the little children of faythful men, baptised in the vertue of thys conuenaunte which is made wyth their fathers in their name and to their profite. Here you se wher the Anabaptistes are disceyued. That the doctrine ought to procede the sacrament, we do not resiste. But the hole matter is as we haue sayed, to consider how, and by what men. For whan the question is, of a man in age to be baptised, which was before no christiā: before he be christened, he must be taught those thynges whyche be figured by baptisme. But as touchyng hys chyldrē, they shalbe baptised vpon the doctrine whyche he hath receyued: whyche doeth contayne that God shalbe a sauioure not onely of his person but also of hys children. To make it somewhat playne to the vnderstandynge: whan a man whyche was a straunger to the companye of the fayethfull, is conuerted vnto God, the doctrine vpon whyche he is baptised is sette forth vnto hym: and therefore it is necessarye that he vnderstand it, and comprehende it, before he be receyued vnto the sacramente. The doctrine vpon whyche the yonge children of christen men be bapiised is not setforth to them, but to their parentes, and to the whole churche: and therfore it is not requisite that they vnderstande it, before they do receyue the sygne.