A69535:529
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…
The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by His Sacred Majesty as commissioners for the review and alteration of the Book of common prayer, &c. : being an exact account of their whole proceedings : the most perfect copy.
London printed : s.n., 1661
THE PAPERS That passed between the COMMISSIONERS Appointed by His M… › CONFIRMATION.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CONFIRMATION.
[It is evident that the meaning of these words is, that Children Baptized, 1and dying before they commit actual Sin, are undoubtedly Saved, though they be not Confirmed; wherein we see not what danger there can be of misleading the vulgar, by teaching them truth: But there may be danger in this desire of having these words expunged, as if they were false; for St. Austin says, He is an Infidel that desires them to be true, Ep. 23. ad Bonifac.]
[It is evident that the meaning of these words is, that Children Baptized, 1and dying before they commit actual Sin, are undoubtedly Saved, though they be not Confirmed; wherein we see not what danger there can be of misleading the vulgar, by teaching them truth: But there may be danger in this desire of having these words expunged, as if they were false; for St. Austin saies, He is an Infidel that desires them to be true, Ep. 23. ad Bonifac.]
- 1Sect. 1. Rub. 1.
Repl. What? all Children Saved whether they be Children of the Promise or no? Or, can you show us a Text that saith (Whoever is Baptized, shall be Saved)? The Common-Prayer-Book plainly speaks of the non-necessity of Unction, Confirmation, and other Popish Ceremonies and Sacraments, and meaneth that, ex parte Ecclesiae, they have all things necessary to Salvation, and are undoubtedly Saved, supposing them the due Subjects, and that nothing be wanting ex parte sui; which certainly is not the case of such as are not Children of the Promise, and Covenant. The Child of an Heathen doth not ponere obicem actually quo minus baptizetur, and yet being baptized is not saved, on your own reckoning, (as we understand you); therefore the Parent can ponere obicem, and either hinder the Baptism or effect, to his Infant. Austin speaks not there of all Children whatever, but those that are offered per aliorum spiritualem voluntatem, by the Parents usually, or by those that own them after the Parents be dead, or they exposed, or become theirs: He speaks also of what may be done, & de eo quod fieri non posse arbitratur: But our question is, What is done? and not, What God can do: Our great Question is, What Children they be that Baptism belongeth to?