The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-23
BAPT1sMAL REPRESENTATION.

by minister of the Episcopal Church, he says in
returning thanks to God, 4" It hath pleased thee to
regeaerate this child" The question is what does
he mean BY these words? We mentioned when
this subject was last referred to, that there were
seven distinct meanings attached to the word ere
generate" by Episcopalians themselves; so that
the answer would depend upon which of these
the minister adopted. We mentioned also that
the Rev. G. w. Andrews, distinguished minister
of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, has recently
published tract in which these various senses are
presented ard reviewed with much eearness and
ability.
We shall take the liberty of freely using in part
his statements and his language, without the for
maitv of quotation marks. 1t Will be satisfactory
u our readers to know that on question which
has excited so much dispute we can avail ourselves
of the information Of minister of the Episcopal
Church, who is so familiar with the whole subject,
Taking up these theories in order, we have
l. The "opus operatum' theory. This means
that by virtue of the Uery act Of baptism every
child undergoes that spiritual change on which sal
walton depends. This, as we have heretofore
shown, is the doctrine of Popery. The person
baptized is declared to be changed from a state of
sin and condemnation to a state of grace aud JUST
feation, unless he interposes some positive obsta
Gle to the intervention of this grace His original
sin and actual sin is all pardoned, and he is thus
regenerated, aud made a child of God
DR.. Andrews says that while this, the baldest
view of baptismal regeneration, is not avowed by
many EpiscOpalians in TERMS it is virtually held
by no inconsiderable number" We understand
that this was the doctrine held by Bishop Brown
ell, of Connecticut, at the time of his death, not
many years ago. their senior bishop in the United
States. His commentary on the Prayer Book, a
large quartO volume, lies before us as We write. 1t
is a standard work with High Churchmen. 1t is
made up largely of extracts from distinguished
writers. 1t is a mournful task to go through
them, and ask on this and that point can it be
that these are the opinions current among any
number Of Episcopal ministers in this country?
On the particular question now before us, Bish-
op Brownell quotes Dean Cumber Ia favorite au-
thority, with High Churchmen) as follows: 'Our
corrupt nature, is changed in baptism, and there
is a renovation effected thereby both as to the
ening Of the new by the Holy Spirit, which is
hereby given to all who put no bar in the way. -
And as infants cannot interpose this bar they are
of course invariably regenerated. This is essen
italy the Romish doctrine. Many, if not most Of
the present Ritualiss adopt substantially this view
,. The Seed Of Grace" theory. This means
that every child receives in baptism such seed or
germ of the new life. This germ may perish by
neglect, or it may be so developed that nothing
properly called renovation or conversion need take
place thereafter in order to salvation.
This Is the theory now commonly held by High
Churehmen, and as they constitute the overwhelm-
ing majority, it is the prevalent view in the Epis
cOpal Church. Let US illustrate it by an example
One of the living writer's on religious subjects
most popular among Episcopalians, is the Rev. DR..
GOulburn, of England. We have in our hands his
latest publication, Pursuit Of Holiness. " After
showing in the first chapter that holiness is at
tainable," the author places at the head of the
second, this question" What hare zoe to begin up
on ?" How are we to proceed in attaining it?
The answer to this question, he remarks, lis
specially important. For the principles which
must guide US in the prosecution Of this great
work are the very same which must guide US at its
commencement. So that the beginning is not
beginning merely, but beginning which has a
Development ,orqpped up az It seed which has
only to burst and shoot up, in order to become a
blade and then consecutively an ear, and the full
corn in the ear. +" Upon what are we to begin,
then, if we desire to follow after holiness? an
swer, upon the grace Of oar baptism; this is the
grand starting point of all Christian effort. And
the special blessing of infant baptism is this that
God in it prevents lin the old sense of the word
prevents BEFORE anticipates US with his
grace, anticipates temptation, and sin; so that
when the powers of evil throw up their approaches
to the soul, they find the Holy Spirit in possession
of the fortress before them. And thus, before one
eoho has been baptized IN infancy can be soiled eoith
euh, he IS tiac,ued 10Th good.
After having thus in this scheme regenerated
the heart of the child by baptism, and taken away
its natural depravty we have pages of this insidi
Gus and corrupt theology telling US how this holy
nature is to be developed. He describes youth
6 hard and Indifferent to true religion, but some
times stirred by wish to be better, and tells him
well, even that wish is a pure breath from
hearea, lgqtted to you Jas it were across the ooaters
of your baptism, And then he asks him, "Why
do you not cast off sin, or make such resolute eff
fort to cast it off, and take such stride in that
direction as God may meet half way? -
And that is specimen of the doctrine of grace
as currently held and taught in the Episcopal |
Church 1t is this Your baptism deposited !
seed in your heart good principle, a new nature
that is what you have now to work upOn "the
grace of your baptism" Now then, come do |
not imagine yourself SO lost and helpless that you
must be indebted wholly to the gracious power OF
God for your progress heavenward; but take |
"s,eh a stride IN that direction" yourself as will |
bring you half way, and God will come the other
half to meet you
8. The theory that it means change of ecclesi-
qsticaI condition. The child is brought by baptism
vsibly into new covenant relation to the Church /
This was Bishop HObarts view. He says " In |
the sacrament Of baptism we are taken from the |
world where we had no title to the favor of God, |
and placed in a state of salvation in the Christian
Church" In this sense as it respects change !
or state, baptized persons are regenerated." He
limited the idea Of regeneration to this merely out
ward change. The necessity Of an inward renOva
ton he fully admitted. This view is held by
considerable number of the High Church. 1t is
not worth while to examine it infinitely. 1t is /
By the scope of the baptismal service
The prayers ask not for change of mere eeclesi
astical relation but thorough spiritual change,
an incorporation into the body of Christ, an adOp-
ton into the family of God, and becoming heirs of
eternal lite; and the thanksgiving is to the same