Orthodox Creed · Chapter 28

Of the right Subject and Administration of Holy Baptism

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1. Baptism is an Ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the Party Baptized, or Dipped, a Sign of our entrance into the Covenant of Grace, and ingrafting into Christ, and into the Body of Christ, which is his Church:^a And of Remission of Sin in the Blood of Christ,^b and of our Fellowship with Christ, in his Death and Resurrection, and of our living, or rising to newness of Life.^c And orderly none ought to be admitted into the Visible Church of Christ, without being first^d Baptized;^e and those which do really profess Repentance towards God, and Faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper Subjects of this Ordinance; according to our Lord’s holy Institution, and Primitive Practice; and ought by the Minister, or Administrator, to be done in a solemn manner, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,^f by Immersion or Dipping of the Person in the Element of Water;^g this being necessary to the due Administration of this holy Sacrament, as holy Scripture sheweth, and the first and best Antiquity witnesseth for some Centuries of Years.^* But the Popish Doctrine which they teach and believe, that those Infants that die without Baptism, or have it not actually, or in desire, are not, nor cannot be saved, we do not believe. Nor yet their practice of admitting Persons only upon an Implicite Faith of the Church; nor their Superstitious and Popish Ceremonies of Salt, and Spittle, and Breathing on the Face of the party Baptized; together with their Chrisoms, and hallowed Lights.^† Neither do we believe, that Infants dying in Infancy without Baptism, go to Purgatory, or Limbus Infantum, as they erroneously teach. Nor do we believe, that the Pope of Rome, or any other Persons whomsoever, have power to alter, or change, this Ordinance of Christ, as they have done by these Superstitious, and such like Idolatrous Inventions and Practices of the Romish Church. All which Superstitions of theirs, are contrary to Christ’s Institution, or the Apostles Practice of holy Baptism.

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