efore us, that if it is important, there are _means_ of
determining it; but we cannot infer, either that it must actually be
_commanded_ in the letter of Scripture, or that it can be found out by
every individual _for and by himself_.

But it may be said, Scripture says that the times of the Gospel shall
be times of great light: "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord,
and great shall be the peace of thy children[1]." This is true: but
whose children? The Church's. Surely it is a time of light, if we
come to the Church for information; for she has ever spoken most
clearly on the subject. She has ever baptized infants and enjoined the
practice; she has ever answered to the prophecy as being "a word behind
us, saying, This is the way; walk ye in it." Her teachers surely
(according to the prophecy) have never been removed into a corner. But
if we will not accept this supernatural mercy, then I say it is not
unnatural that we should find ourselves in the same kind of doubt in
which we commonly are involved in matters of this world. God has
promised us light and knowledge in the Gospel, but in His way, not in
_our_ way.

But after all, in the present instance, surely there is no great
difficulty in finding out what God would have us to do, though He has
not told us in Scripture in the plainest way. I say it is not
difficult to see, as the Church has ever been led to see, that God
would have us baptize young children, and that to delay Baptism is to
delay a great benefit, and is hazarding a child's salvation. There is
no difficulty, if men are not resolved to make one.

1. Let us consider, first, what is Baptism? It is a means and pledge
of God's mercy, pardon, acceptance of us for Christ's sake; it gives us
grace to change our natures. Now, surely infants, as being born in
sin, have most abundant _need_ of God's mercy and grace: this cannot be
doubted. Even at first sight, then, it appears _desirable_ (to say the
least) that they should be baptized. Baptism is just suited to their
need: it contains a promise of the very blessings which they want, and
which without God's free bounty they cannot have. If, indeed, Baptism
were merely or principally our act, then perhaps the case would be
altered. But it is not an act of ours so much as of God's; a pledge
from Him. And, I repeat, infants, as being by nature under God's
wrath, having no elements of spiritual life in them, being corrupt and
sinful, are sur