Saturday, November 14, 2009

Let the little children come

Calvin's Institutes (1559)
Book 4 of 4 - External Means by which God Invites Us into the Society of Christ and Holds Us Therein

Chapter 16 - Infant Baptism fits with the nature of baptism
7-9 - Jesus welcomed and blessed little children; we should not exclude them from the sign and benefit of baptism
7. Matt 19:13-15. Anabaptists respond that this has nothing to do with baptism. But how could we "shut out those He willingly receives"? They say Jesus says Let them come, that is, when they are able. But the text speaks of infants, and Jesus' invitation means they have access to Him.

8. They say infant baptism can't be allowed because there is no example of it in the NT. But neither is there an example of women partaking of Communion. We discern from the meaning of the sacrament "to whom the use of it ought to be granted."

9. If anyone mocks infant baptism "he is mocking the command of circumcision given by the Lord." They "condemn what they cannot comprehend."

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