“Once more, the baneful influence spread by Antichrist over the
nations by infant-baptism, is that poisonous notion infused by him, that
sacraments, particularly baptism, confer grace ex opere operate, by the work
done; that it takes away sin, regenerates men, and saves their souls;
…
“And this pernicious notion still continues, this old leaven
yet remains, even in some Protestant churches, who have retained it from Rome;
hence a child when baptized is declared to be regenerate; and it is taught,
when capable of being catechized to say, that in its baptism it was made a
child of God, a member of Christ, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven,
which has a tendency to take off all concern, in persons when grown up, about
an inward work of grace, in regeneration and sanctification, as a meetness for
heaven, and to encourage a presumption in them, notwithstanding their apparent
want of grace, that they are members of Christ, and shall never perish; are
children and heirs of God, and shall certainly inherit eternal life. Wherefore Dr.
[John] Owen rightly
observes “That the father of lies himself could not easily have
devised a doctrine more pernicious, or what proposes a more present and
effectual poison to the minds of sinners to be drank in by them.”
John Gill, “Infant Baptism: a Part and Pillar of Popery,” Providence
Baptist Ministries
(Disclaimer:
We disagree with Gill that infant baptism is itself an error, so long as it is
understood that infant baptism plays absolutely no role in salvation. As
such, we join Gill in condemning the Catholic view of infant baptism, which
does hold that infant baptism saves.)
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