DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
EFFECTS OF BAPTISM IN INFANTS.
THE remarks contained in the following pages are intentionally confined to the discussion of the question, What is the doctrine of the Church of England as to the effects of baptism in the case of infants?
In treating this subject, I shall argue it quite independently of the further question,-Whether the XXXIX Articles are, or are not, the supreme standard of faith and test of orthodoxy for the ministers of our Church in those points treated of in them,and shall endeavour to show the sense of our Formularies, both from internal testimony, and as illustrated by the writings of our divines from the period of their construction.
Before I proceed, however, to the regular discussion of the subject, I would offer a few preliminary remarks tending to illustrate the real character of the question, and to show how far a definite and certain solution of it is to be expected. It appears to me that erroneous views are often entertained on this point. The matter is frequently spoken of as if the Church of England must of necessity have laid down, and had in fact laid down, a certain definite precise view upon this subject, and peremptorily enjoined it upon all her ministers for their acceptance and belief. In my humble apprehension such a notion is entirely opposed to fact, and also to the well-known principles upon which our Reformers were guided in drawing up the Formularies of our Church. As our Reformers have not bound us to one precise