The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-02
BAPTIsMAL REeENERAT1oN.

cnAQ OapuZed 10 their Cnurcn Is regeReFQte0, we
now notice the three that remain.
5th The theory Of conditional grace. It's adyo
Gates explain it thus: The terms Of the baptismal
service are in most places general and absolute
yet in some we find the blessing or benefits be-
slowed depend upon conditions; this Is indicated
by the word worthy" and this word is always to
be supposed before it can be affirmed positively
that the grace signi6ed in baptism is actually con
veyed.
This applies well enough to the case of adult
baptism, but how does it apply to infants? If By
regeneration is TO be understood renovation Of
heart, then all adults must experience it as quail
i6catiOn for wOrthily receiving baptism. So all
evangelical Christians believe, while High Church
EpiseOpaliaus, and Reformers Tor CampbelTtes)
say that this renovation is experienced ia baptism
But if regeneration means renovation of nature,
how does the word 'worthiy" apply to them?
8. The typical or fyur9tige theory The adyo-
Gates Of this theory say-We give the bread to a
communicate, and cali it "the body of our Lord
Jesus Christ, because it represents his body. So
we give baptism to a child and call it regeneration,
because it represents regeneration.
While this theory takes the word regeneration
in its right meaning and does not contain in itself
dOctrinal unsoundness, it is burdaned with insu.
perabe difficulty as an explanation of the baptis-
NAL service Of the Prayer Book Put the de6ni-
ton in place Of the word, and then the minister
says-"We give thee hearty thanks, most merci-
tul Father, that hath pleased thee to represent
or Wpify regeneration to this infant by thy Holy
Spirit dc. And when the Bishop confirms them
and says Almighty and ever living God, who
hast Vouchsated to regenerate these thy servants
BY water and the Holy Ghost, does he mean to
say that it pleased God merely to represent regen-
Grafton to them? This view may be dismissed
without further remark
Z The hypothetical theory. The explanation is
intricate, but is substantially this 1t is the child
that makes the profession of faith in the baptisma
service, but although made in absolute terms, this
profession Is not thing actual and present, but
only supposed or hypothetical; so the regeneration
declared after the baptism, though made in Ike
absolute terms, is not real but supposed or hypo-
thetical.
This hypothetical theory is the one generally
adopted by the party in the Episcopal Church
known as the ErqageL'col, though it is not entire
ly confined to them.
Having now given statement of the different
senses In which Episcopalians consider child tC
be regenerated in or by baptism, the way is pre-
pared for such further remarks as may be sug
gested.
/. 1t Is obvious that this subject is in very
tangled condition. in the Episcopal Church. Sera
theories about what is meant by regeneration p
And it is also remarkable that Goode in his work
on Infant Baptism thinks they are all admissible,
except the opus opTQtam theory. He seems to
think it great excellence Of the service that it
admits Of being interpreted so many ways He
thinks the English Reformers are greatly to be
commended because they have never laid down
any precise view upon this subject" This he
speaks Of as an evidence Of their moderation. 8"
Certainly they were extremely moderate, if on
subject so fundamentally important, FIVE or six
opinions may all pass current There are some
obscure texts Of Scripture of which there may be
twenty or more interpretations. But the creeds
and tormularies of Church are intended to define
and fix its views Of doctrine, of what the Scrip
lures are understood to teach on particular point
Is it not a singular fact that the Episcopal Church
should have defined hers so loosely on the subject
of regaer0tiag infants in baptism, that they are
in state Of complete confusion and often Of strife
as to what Is meant by the wcrd no better off
when they come together than the Corinthians of
old" Every one of you hath a psalm, hath a
doctrine, hath tongue, hath a revelation, hath
an Interpretation"
,. The baptismal service teaches that the change
wrought upon the infant is spiritual not 0utcqrd
In a former article we quoted the language used
quite fully If it does not, it would be impossible
to express an inward moral change of the soul by
any language whatever. Can stronger terms be
found? First we find prayer that the water
may be sancti6ed to the mystical washing away of
SIN then, that the child baptized therein NAV re
ceive the fulness of Gods grace; then, that com
ing to baptism it may not only receive remission
Of sin, but spiritual regeneration; that it may
be born again, and made an heir of everlast-
ing salyahon; that the old Adam may be buried
in him, aud that an sinful affections may die in
him. Such are the things prayed for. And after
the child has been baptized, the congregation are
told that it is 'regeuerated' and grated into
the Church, and God is thanked that it hath
pleased him to "YegmTqts' the child by his HOLY
Spirit and adopt him as his own child"
Notice also the service for adult baptism, and
see how plainly it teaches that the regeneration
and other blessings received, are conferred IL 5ap
tisDl-in which thing consists the grave hereSy.
Whoever viii read that service must observe that
the introductory exhortation addressed to the con
gregation is constructed entirely on the suppose
ton that the persons coming to be baptized are in
an unregenerate state. For the congregation are
told that those who are in the flesh cannot please
God, but live in sin. They are then called upon
to pray that God would " grant these persons that
which by nature they cannot have, and which
therefore they do not possess when they come for
baptism. They are asked to pray also that these
persons may be baptized with water and the
Holy Ghost and received into Christ's Church,
and 10y being so baptized and so receiyed) be
made Hreh members Of the SANE" And farther
to establish the idea that they are up to this time
unregenerate, a prayer is offered that they com
ing to holy baptism, may receive remission Of
their sins, and spiritual regeneration" IF this
does not imply that their sins had not been pre-
viousy RENTED and that they had not before ez-
perienced spiritual regeneration, then words have
nomeaning. Again, in another prayer which fol- |
lows, we find this language Give the Holy
Spirit to these persons, that they may be born
again, and made heirs Of everlasting salvation.
But more still Before the baptismal water is
applied the minister says to the candidates - |
-" Wel-beoyed who are come hitber desiring to /
receive holy baptism, ye have heard how the con
gTegation hath prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ
would youchsate to receirs y0u and bless you, to