Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/216

 .this subject was suciendy treated of when we gave a gonerul survey of their sacramento. �. THB SUBJECT8 OF BAPTISM. The points on which Romahint8 and Protestants diKer in he subjects of bapm may be ranged under the following
 * 3. Of hfan. 4. Of abortimp. 5. baptism. 6.

t/sin o. fmorrs. A brief notice of each of theae will help to develop the peculiar doctrine8 and usages of Roman Catholic8 respecting baptism. Sapr of By an adult, says Dens, is here understood one who at some time had the use of reason; because persons perpetually and fully insane are to be ranked with infants, in whom no disposition is required. adults, one diapesition is sufl3cient to receive baptism validi F, another is necessary to receive it validi� and fruitf'ully. � proper disposi* tions necessary for baptism are fre*w//J, fa/gA, and (1.) Eomanists maintain that adults must receive baptism vol,m*-. rily; and yet they so explain this that compulsory baptism m,,y also be practised. The Catechism of the Couneil of Trent says: "The faithful are also to be instructed in the necessary dispositions for baptism, that in the first place they must desire and propose to receive it; for as in baptism we die to sin and engage to live a new life, it is fit that it be r-lnistered to those only who receive it of' their own free-will and accord, and is to be foFced upon none. Hence we learn from holr tradition t_h_t it has been the invariable practice of the chuFch to minister baptism to no individual without previously* asking him if he be wl]!in to receive it.' Ferraris says: "The first condition is voluntary consent, because God is unwilling that any one should be introduced into his family' against his will."�he same author, after asserting that, for the validi F receiving or' baptism, a voluntary assent, whether actual, virtual, or habitual, is 8ufii* cient, adds: y y vmg p y ry "Na, for validl recei ' ba tism, an volunta consent is sufficient, although it is mixed with an involuntary one, extorted by lbrce or fear in any mnner, or designed for a perverse end, as, for in- stance, to accomplish a flagitious deed, to obtain the fayour of a prince, or some temporal gain. So Innocent III. hath precisely deftned,' He who is violently attracted by terrors and punishment, and, lest he should receive detriment, receives the sacrament of baptism, such a one (as he who feignediy accedes to baptism) receives the character, the im- press of Christianity; and such also is he who; as it were, conditionally willing, although not absolutely, is Foacm) to the observance of the Christian faith.' In which sense, says the pontiff, ought to be uader- stood the decree of the fomth Toletan council, in the canon concerning the Jews, where it is said, ' But those who are forced to. come over to Christianity, it is necessary that they should be forced, by compulsion i Dens, No. 7, de Baptis. Catechism, p. 165. Ferratis is Ppt/s., art. A, n. 24-3& : Cadp. 165. Prima (con&rio) e eemensus vohntmius quis Dons neminem invitum vult m f.-aim sdmm'bi.--F h verb. lk/m, trt. v, n. . 1

�