Chemnitz, that eminent light in the Church of God in those elaborate works of his against the Papists (Exam. part 2. can 14. de Baptisme) has this memorable saying, namely:
It is not to be left free, to the choice of those who have been baptized in infancy, when they come to be adult, whether or no they will have confirmed, what was done in their baptism; as though the Covenant of Grace, and Testament of peace, which is offered and sealed up to little children in baptism, should then first begin to be established, when the consent of their will, when adult, is added thereunto: for from this wicked position, the Anabaptists it would seem have taken away, and condemned paedobaptism; but such baptized little ones are to be admonished, as they grow, what a Covenant of Grace, and Testament of peace it is, which was entered into with them in baptism: and by what promise of grace they have likewise obliged themselves to obedience to God, with renunciation of the Devil; and they are seriously to be exhorted, that they render thanks to God for that wonderful great grace, that they abide in that Covenant of peace, and endeavour to fulfill that obligation, by mortifying sin, and walking upon newness of life, and that they do this freely, and sincerely: and if they shall, through unthankfulness, depart from that Covenant, and [illegible], that then they repent, and return to the Covenant, and subject themselves again to that stipulated obedience. But as for them that shall do otherwise, the most severe comminations of the law and gospel are to be heaped up, and set before them; to which says [illegible] excommunication is to be added, for these are the weapons of the ministry (2 Corinthians 10).
