Cornelius
Burges (1589-1665), an English minister and theologian, wrote a volume in 1629,
Baptismal Regeneration of Elect Infants,
arguing that, for infants who are members of the "elect" received
regeneration at their baptism. In chapter 6, "The Confessions of Reformed
Churches," he defends this view from the creedal statements of the
Reformed faith:
. . . it is requisite that I now shew what
the Churches of Christ, since the last happy Reformation, have all conspired to
acknowledge and professe in their severall Publique
conffessions, printed at Geneva,
concerning this point: by which it will appeare, that henin they doe, in
substance, concurre with those Fathers that some shallow braines, please to set
so light by. The judgment of ouw owne Church, as it is expressed in the Form of Baptism, the Catechisme, and Articles of Religion, wee have already seene at large we are
therefore now to produce the Confessions of
forraine Churches only, which here
follow in order.
1. The Helvetian
confession, cap. 20 runs thus: To be
baptized in the name of Christ, is to be inroled, initiated, and receved into
the covenant and family, and so into the inheritance of the sonnes of God: yea
to be even now called by the name of God, that is, to be called a sonne of God,
to bee purged from the filth of sinne, and to bee endowed with the manifold
grace of God, unto a new and innocent life. And a little after: for we are inwardly regenerated, purified,
and renewed by God through the Holy Ghost. And or a close of that Chapter,
they adde; Wee condemne the Anabaptists,
who deny young infants borne of faithfull parents to be admitted unto baptisme.
For according to the doctrine of the Gospell, theirss is the kingdome of God,
and they are within the covenant of God: why therefore should not the signe of
the covenant of God be given unto them? Why should they not bee initiated by
holy baptisme, that are Gods peculiar, and within his Church?
2. The confession
of Scotland We doe certainly believe that by baptisme wee are ingraffed into
Jesus Christ, and made partakens of his rightousnesse whereby all our sinnes
are done away.
3. The Belgicke
confession. art. 34 thus speakes. Therefore
did the Lord command all of his to be baptized with pure water, in the name of
the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost; that he mighte signifie that the
blood of Christ by the Holy Ghost doth performe inwardly in the soule, that
which the water doth effect outwardly upon our bodies. And that they
understand this of infants also, they afterward expresse themselves by
declaring against the Anabaptists, that ven infants parake of Christ in
baptisme, pro modulo suo, according
to their capacity, as well as others;: saying, certainly Christ shed his bloud that hee might no lesse wash infants of
faithfull parents, then those of yeares, and therefore it is requisite they
should also receave the signe or Sacrament of that thing which Christ or their
sakes accomplished.
4. The confession
of France, which is also the confession
of Geneva, professeth this, We
acknowledge only two Sacraments common to the whole church, the former whereof
is Baptismse, given unto us to witnesse our adoption, because in it we are
ingraffed into the body of Christ, that being washed with his blood we might
also be renewed by his spirit unto holinesse of life. Againe in the 37. Art: We
believe, as is aforesaid, that as well in the Lord’s supper, as in baptisme,
God doth bestow upon us in very deed; that is to say, truly, and effectually
whatsoever hee therein sacramentally doth represent unto us: and therefore with
the signes we ioyne the true professions and fruition o that thing which is
therein offered to us. And in Art.
38 thus.
5. The Argentine
confession, cap. 17. thus determineth; Touching
Baptisme we confesse that which the scripture every where affirmeth of it:
that, thereby wee are buried into the death of Christ, knit together in one
body, we put on Christ; it is the laver of Regeneration to wash away our sins,
and to save us, Rom. 6 3. 1. Cor. 12. Ga. 3. Tit. 3. Act 22. 1 Pet. 3.
6. The
Augustane confession. art. 9. teacheth
that infants being by baptisme commended unto Go, are received into the favour
of God, and made his sonnes as Christ testifeith. Math. 18. Saying it is not the will of our father
which is heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
7. The Saxon
confession cap. 14 thus. We retaine
that baptisme of infants also, because it is most certaine that the promise of
grace belongs even to infants &c. nor doe we judge this a mere idle
ceremony, but that then they are truly received by God, and sanctified.
8. The confession
of Wirtemberg, cap. Do. Baptito to the same effect: We teach that he that is baptized in the name of the Father, of the
sonne, and o the Holy Ghost is anointed with a spirutall chrysme: that is, he
is made a member of Christ, and endowed with the Holy Ghost.
9. To all these we mae add the pious and orthodox
confession of the Palatine, extant in
the same Harmony of confessions; Touching the force and efficacy of holy
baptisme, I believe & confesse that our children (forasmuch as they also
are include together with us in the covenant before spoken of) when they are
baptized into the Articles of the ancient and catholike faith (as in them also
they ought to bee traind up and instructed) are made partakers as well as we of
the bloudy death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all other good things which
in that his death he hath procured: and that in this manner; viz: that as they receave
the otward seale, to wit the holy Sacrament, the elementary water from the
Minister of the word externally in the body; so also together at once by Christ
they are washed with his bloud in their soules; that is to say, they are
internally baptized, and are regenerated a new as new creatures by the Holy
Ghost. (Cornelius Burges, Baptismal
Regeneration of Elect Infants, Professed by the Church of England, according to
the Scriptures, the Primitive Church, the present Reformed Churches, and many
particular Divines apart [Oxford: 1629],138-44, italics in original,
spelling in original retained)
