Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/233

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Cod who justifies, as well as in tl?e place of the Holy Spirit who e?'a?s ?/?r, or sanctifies. (4.) A?m,e? of ,?e#. "The progress of grace in the soul is also accompanisd by a most splendid train of virtues." (5.) Un?m u?A CAr/?. "By baptism we are also united to Christ, . as members to their head." ($.) (?Aa?ac?. "By baptism, moreover, we are sealed with a character that can never be defaced from the soul." (7.) It ope?/2av?. "It opens the portals of heaven, which aim had closed against our admission." The Catec?sm states that the fruits of baptism, as it regards the e..?ac?/of the sacrament, are common to all; but they vary in propor* tion to the dispositions of the receivers. But their divines are much divided respecting f?t/?ou? baptism, titat is, baptism when there is a hinderance or disqualification in the Person baptized. ?2. Dens divides thef?c?m or ?bMeranee (fict?o s/re o?) into e?lm- t?u? and a?c?q?a?. Vtrhen the disqualification is essential, or a want of in?mt?on, it renders baptism null. or invalid from the beginning; hence every effect of baptism is wanting; and such a person must be baptized anew. But if the hinderance be accidental, or a want of d?- pos/t?o? or of proper moral qualifications, the baptism is con_?_dered ??orma?., yet mz?, but unfruitful, or wanting in its effects. It is much disputed whether an impediment of this kind prevents the infusion of the virtues of faith and hope. But when the hinderance is removed, baptism is then said to produce its proper effects, viz., pardon of sins, &c., so that the present disposition, as it were, coalesces with the bap- tism formerly received, validly, but without its fruits. Some curious .questions, however, are discussed respecting those who are ,m6t sub- jects of baptism.** 3. In the following respects we may Scripturally object to the doe- trine of the Church of P?me in reference to the effects of baptism: (1.) Faith is made void, by their substituting baptism in its place. From the foregoing quotations from their standard and infallible authori- ties, this must appear evident to any who have carefully read the Scrip- tures, and have studied their contents. (2.) They put baptism in the place of regeneration by the Holy (?host. This is doing despite to the Spirit o� grace, which alone reno* vates man. It is true, the baptism of the Spirit is sometimes, in their writings, 'dmtinguished from baptism by water; but there is such a pmminency given to the latter, and so much stress laid on the mere ordinance, that most Roman Catholics have no correct views o� tim renewal 0? the Holy Ghost, or a change of heart by his divine in- fiuences. (3.) The mere ceremony of baptism, as Performed according to the ritual of the ?hurch of Eome, is the principal thing kept in view in their baptism. The result is, that they mostly rest in the form, without look- ing for the substance. �11I. Tss cEss-omss oz, S?PTXS-. 1. The P?oman Catholic8 have introduced a multitude of ceremonies into the sacrament of baptism, a brief description of which will be

  • ?m D?m? ? ?pe., No. 90, 31, vol.

VOL. I.?l��