Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/363

Rh the Christian, what St. Augustine here says of an adult convert: for in no one baptized ought sin ever to have grown to that height of feverishness, as to leave such dismal effects as St. Augustine speaketh of: our struggle ought to be against the remains of natural, not (or at least not in any great degree) against acquired corruption; else, as the baptized person sins more grievously than he of whom St. Augustine speaketh, so neither has he the same means of restoration open to him. The case of the baptized infant is rather described in St. Augustine's other words, "The Sacrament of regeneration in them doth precede, and if they hold on in Christian piety the conversion of the heart will follow, the mystery whereof preceded in the body." For "mystery" in St. Augustine's language does not mean a mere outward type or emblem; and the very mention of "perseverance" in Christian piety, shows that by "conversion of the heart," he intendeth not a new commencement of spiritual existence, but rather that entire renovation and conforming of the whole soul and spirit to the image of, which, though pledged, and if it be cherished, actually commencing from baptism, is gradually completed by the sanctification of a whole life.

2. The next objection was akin in character to the former, viz. that "children could not have faith, and therefore could not be re-born, since faith is essential to the new-birth." The answer to this branched into several subjects, which are of moment in this day also: as on whose faith children were accepted in Baptism, whether that of their parents, or their sponsors, or of the Church; and again with regard to the faith of those who brought them, whether that degree of faith, which was implied by the very act of bringing the child to Holy Baptism, by itself was available to the child, or whether a living faith was required, involving personal holiness.

The judgment of the ancient Church was very clear, as evinced both by the statements of the Fathers and her actual practice; viz. that it was through the Faith of the Church (as performing