Those who say sprinkling and infant baptism are not legitimate are saying
the following: “The ancient fathers, the noble martyrs, the great reformers –
devoted and Christ-like men such as Knox, Wesley, McCheyne, Edwards, Whitefield
–were, according to the immersion theory, never baptized, never a part of the
Church of Christ on earth, and they never partook of the Lord’s Supper without
profaning it.” – By Rev. W.A. McKay
1881 Pastor of Chalmers’ Church, Woodstock, Ontario
The
logic of this theory (immersion) as declared by its friends is this: Outside of
this theory there is no baptism, no Lord’s Supper, no Christian ministry, no
Christian church – and, by the same inexorable logic, no Christian man. – James
W. Dale, DD in “Christic Baptism.” P. 21
Irenaeus (130-202 A.D.) Irenaeus was
born in Smyrna where Polycarp was bishop until burned alive at age 87 in 167
A.D. Irenaeus was 37 at the time of the burning. Polycarp was in his teens when
the Apostle John was still the overseer of the seven churches of Asia, which
included Smyrna. Irenaeus believed infants were sanctified in baptism. This is
evidence that infant baptism was practiced from the days of the apostles.
"He [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I
say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and
old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants,
sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that
age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not
only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to
relative age" (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).
Hippolytus (215 A.D.) And they shall baptize the little children first. And if
they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their
parents answer or someone from their family. And next they shall baptism the
grown men; and last the women. (Apostolic Tradition 21.3-5)
Origen
(248 A.D.) "Every
soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin. . .
. In the Church, baptism is given for the remission of sins, and, according to
the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants. If there were
nothing in infants which required the remission of sins and nothing in them
pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous" (Homilies
on Leviticus 8:3 [A.D. 248]).
Cyprian of
Carthage (253A.D.)
"As to what pertains to
the case of infants: You [Fidus] said that they ought not to be baptized within
the second or third day after their birth, that the old law of circumcision
must be taken into consideration, and that you did not think that one should be
baptized and sanctified within the eighth day after his birth. In our council
it seemed to us far otherwise. No one agreed to the course which you thought
should be taken. Rather, we all judge that the mercy and grace of God ought to
be denied to no man born" (Letters 64:2
[A.D. 253]).
