Hence the objection brought
against infant baptism can, with equal propriety, be urged against
circumcision; for the latter is the type of the former. In baptism Christ
places Himself in true organic relations to the child, and thus opens up to
it the sources from which alone the Christian life can proceed and develop
itself.
The baptism of our children is grounded in their need of salvation at every
age and stage of development. It is also based upon the very idea of Christ
Himself; upon primitive christianity; upon the extent and compass of the
Christian covenant; and upon those vital relations which believing parents
sustain to their offspring. It might be proven from the commission given by
Christ to His disciples to "preach the gospel to every creature;" from His
language and conduct in reference to children; from the usage of the
Apostles and of the apostolic church. The idea and mission of Christ
Himself, we think, would be a sufficient argument in favor of infant
baptism. He included in His life the stage of childhood, and came to save
the child as well as the man. His own infancy and childhood are securities
for this. He entered into and passed through all the various states and
stages of man's development on earth, and thus became adapted to the wants
of every period of our life,--man's infancy as well as man's maturity.
Ireneus says, "Christ Jesus became a child to children, a youth to youth,
and a man to man.
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