τὸ δὲ τέλος ἐστὶν οὐ ΓΝΩΣΙΣ, ἀλλὰ ΠΡΑΞΙΣ. ARISTOT. ETH. Nicom. Lib. i, c. 3. WINCHESTER COLLEGE. MDCCCXLII. CATECHETICAL QUESTIONS, &c. § 1. Of Holy Baptism. I. WHY is it necessary first to understand HOLY BAPTISM in preparing for Confirmation? II. What were the conditions required of you beforehand in order to your receiving Holy Baptism? 1. Repentance," whereby I, &c.," or 1. Renouncing. See Acts ii, 38; II Tim. ii, 19; Mark xvi, 16; Acts viii, 36, 37; xvi, 31; Heb. xi, 6. III. What warrant had others to become your Sponsors, and to promise these things for you, when you were too young to promise them for yourself? 1. The encouraging words and gesture of Christ. Mark x, 13-16; Matt. xix, 14. 2. Practice of the Jews in circumcising infants, as commanded by God. Gen.xvii,12; Lukei,59; ii, 21. 3. Practice of the Apostles in baptizing whole families. Acts xv, 15, 33. 4. Practice of the Church in all ages. See Article xxvii. Institution of Godfathers and Godmothers. IV. Explain the several particulars of what took place at your Baptism. 1. A minister of God took me up in his arms, in token of God's embracing me with the arms of his mercy. Mark x, 16; Tit. iii, 5; Eph. ii, 8. 2. Then he sprinkled me with holy, i.e. consecrated, water, in token of my sins being washed away. Acts ii, 38; I Cor. vi, 11; Zech. xiii, 1; Heb. x, 22; Ezek. xxxvi, 25—28. 3. At the same time he named me by a new name, in token of my being made a new creature, by the operation of God the Holy Ghost (Col. ii, 12; Acts i, 5; I Cor. xii, 13; Tit. iii, 5; II Cor. v, 17), and pronounced over me the words of Christ, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," i.e. of the God whom Christians worship. 4. Lastly, he signed me with the sign of the Cross, in token of my having been made a Christian, and that thenceforth I should not be ashamed to confess the Faith which I believed, and manfully to fight against the enemies whom I had renounced. Matt. xvi, 24; I Tim. vi, 12. V. Why was your name thus joined with the most holy name of God in this ceremony? Because I was thereby admitted into covenant with God, that is, I received from God certain benefits upon my promise (by my sureties) to observe the conditions required of me. See Jer. xxxi, 31-34. VI. What necessity was there for your admission into this covenant? "Forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin,” &c. Bapt. Serv.—Original or birth-sin. Its origin and consequences. Gen. iii, 6; Rom. v, 12—18; Ps. li, 5; Job xxv, 4; Eph. ii, 3; John iii, 3, 5; Rom. iii, 10. VII. What was the means by which you were admitted into this covenant? Could you have been admitted into it B |