The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 315the Baptist church is willing that the child shoulddie a spiritual death, the true mother, the CatholioChurch, cries out: Keep the child, provided itsspiritual life is saved, even at your hands. Let itbe clothed with the robe of innocence even by astranger. Let it be nursed at the breasts even of astep-mother. Better it should live without me thanperish before my face. I will still be its mother,itthough know me not.Ah !my Baptist friend, you think that Baptism isnot necessary for your child s salvation. The oldChurch teaches the contrary. You admit that youmay be wrong, and it is a question of life anddeath. Take the safe side. Give your child thebenefit of the doubt. Let it be baptized.Baptism washes away original sin, and also actualsins from the adult who may have contracted them.The cleansing efficacy of Baptism was clearly foreshadowed by the prophet Ezechiel in these words :"I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall becleansed from all your filthiness." ]When the Jews asked St. Peter what they shoulddo to be saved, the Apostle replied : "Repent, andlet every one of you be baptized in the name ofJesus Christ, for the remission of 2your sins."And Ananias said to Saul, after his conversion :Kise up and be baptized, and wash 1away thy sins.""We were by nature," says St. Paul, "childrenof wrath,"but by our regeneration, or new birth in1Ezech. xxxvi 25.aActs ii. 38.8 Ibid. xxiL 16.