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lie Church , that was also numerous . This member , Tertullian , a lawyer and an elder , speaking agreeably to the opinion and practice of the Catholic Church , answers the question , which relates to the baptism of little ones or infants . Mr . Robinson has
shewn , that there is nothing to be proved as to the precise age from the word little one or infant , for that both in the early and middle ages it was synonymous with minor . He gives his reason for believing these children here were about seven years of age * He observes , «* that such children
could ask ; and so they answer the character proposed by the QuintilJianists . " But be these matters as they may , ( and I intend to illustrate this point hereafter by a passage from Gregory of Nazianzum , ) it is certain , from Tertullian ' s referring to Christ ' s
words , ' * Suffer little children to come unto me , " and from his interpretation of it , "Be unwilling to forbid them to come unto we ; " it is certain , I think , from the turn of the phrases , and the import of the whole passage , that they were not babes at the breast or in the
arms . Nor did Christ baptize the little children brought to him . He baptized none , but merely laid his hands on them and blessed them , and from the innocence of children taught his disciples a lesson . As to the
sponsors here mentioned , they were not , as now , the peculiar and exclusive character of godfathers or god-mothers , but a legal character , as Mr . R . has shewn , of susceptor or guardian : and it is clear , that from considerations
of the character of the sponsor , of the children , and from the custom of the Catholic Church , as exhibited throughout this treatise , that Tertullian * s opinion was , that such infants should not be baptized ( by immersion )
till after they were instructed into Christianity . The baptism ( still less the mere sprinkling ) of new-born babes does not ortce come into view ; and so I do not perceive how that can be forced into an argument at all , in reference at least to Tertullian .
I see Mr . Belsham , on the above passage , ( which is in part quoted by him , ) after the words , ** what occasion ( or necessity ) is there , " adds , ( ex ~ cept in case of necessity , si non tarn necesse , ) and that his quotation ia
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made ( after Mr . Wall ) from Rigaltii Edit . Tertull . Now , at first sight , it should seem , that these are not the words of Tertullian * He had , indeed , referred to expediency or necessity , in the case of adults , who had
committed crimes , by whom , therefore , as repentance was required of them , so was remission of sins to be expected . But in the case of infants , he asks , " What need is there that their innocent age should hurry to the remission of sins ? " It was not ,
therefore , to be expected , ! think , that in that connexion , ( though in aftertimes it was so introduced , ) particularly after he had used the word necessity immediately before , that he should have introduced it again here . Rigaltii , Edit . Lut . 1634 , ( the only copy I have , ) has it not ; nor is it ia
Rigaltius ' s own quotation of this passage , as introduced in the Oxford Edit , of Cyril ' s Works , 1684 , p- 159 . On what authority Mr . W . introduces this passage , ( for it is of some use in this controversy , ) 1 may , perhaps , not having Mr . Wall ' s History of Infant Baptism at hand , probably , as opportunity offers , inquire .
This little tour of observations has been made , Sir , to shew how this question affected my mind many years ago , independently of Mr . R / s History , or any other writings than those alluded to , wishing to ascertain their bearing on this question ; and my conviction was , and on going over the
same ground still is , that so far as the apostolical writings , the writings so called of the Apostolic " Fathers , and of Tertullian , go , there is no foundation for baptizing any but instructed persons , and consequently that for the sprinkling or baptizing new-born babes , there can be none .
Other particulars ^ belonging to this place , will , with your permission , follow in due order ; in the course of which , if I should admit that Mr . R . has made a trip in interpreting one or two passages of Tertullian ' s dubious , African Latin , I am afraid I shall fee obliged to observe , that Mr . B . has made a fall , and one of much more
consequence in this controversy ; and that his interpretation of two or three words from Justin Martyr is not quite correct . D .
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On Mr * Belskams Censure ef Mr . Robinson , 571
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1818, page 571, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2480/page/35/
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