The name is not often
distinctly met with there, but the thing meets us on many occasions.
This seems evident even from the following few citations.
_Proof that this doctrine was taught by the Lutheran Symbols and early
Lutheran divines.
ART. II. - _Augsburg Confession_
"Our churches teach that this innate disease and original sin, is truly
sin, and condemneth all those under the eternal wrath of God, who are
_not born again by Baptism and the Holy Spirit_."
_Apology to Augsburg Confession_, p. 226.
"Our opponents also agree to the ninth article, in which we confess that
_Baptism is necessary to salvation_, and that the baptism of infants is
not fruitless, but necessary and salutary.
_Luther's Smaller Catechism_.
"_What does Baptism confer or benefit?_
"_Ans_.--It effects the _forgiveness of sins, delivers from death_ and
_the devil_, and confers _everlasting salvation_ upon all who believe
it, (not believe in Christ,) as the words and promise of God declare."
"_How can water effect such great things?_
"_Ans_.--Indeed it is not the water that has such effect, but the Word
of God that is with and in the water, and the faith trusting such Word
of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is mere
water, hence no baptism; but with the Word of God it constitutes a
baptism, that is, a gracious water of life, and a _washing of
regeneration_, in the Holy Ghost.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176