IV.  That the gift may be received, in the case of adults, worthily or unworthily, but that it is always received.

V. That the body and blood of Christ are given to every one who receives the Sacramental Bread and Wine.

VI.  That the gift may be received worthily or unworthily, but that it is always received.

There is no mistaking the meaning of this.  It is clear and explicit; but wherein it differs from Romanism it would be difficult to tell.

Note 2.  Heb. xii. 14.

Note 3.  John iii. 6, 2.

Note 4. 1 Cor. i. 14-17.

Note 5.  See also 1 Pet. i. 23.  Luke viii. 4, 11, 15.  Here the whole process of conversion is described, and the grand instrumentality is the word or seed, but not a syllable is said of baptism.  Also James i. 18.

Note 6. 2 Tim. ii. 14.

Note 7.  Jer. xxiii. 29.

Note 8.  John xvii. 17.

Note 9.  Psalm cxix. 11.

Note 10. 1 Tim. 4.

Note 11.  Verbum Dei est medium salutis efficacissimum, quippe cujus vis non est tantum objectiva, sed etiam effectiva.  Hollazii Theol.  Dog.  II. p. 452.  See the writer’s Elemental Contrast, pp. 26, 27.

Note 12.  Mark i. 15. Repent ye and believe the gospel.  James ii. 14-17 Even so faith, if it have not works is dead, being alone, &c.

Note 13.  Rom. v.1, 2; iii. 21, 22, 23.  John iii. 18.

Note 14.  Rom. v. 5.

Note 15.  Rom. viii. 16.

Note 16. 1 John v. 10.

Note 17.  Rom. viii. 15.

Note 18.  Gal. v. 22.

Note 19.  Dogmatik, Vol. iii., p. 285.

Note 20.  Mark xvi. 16.  Acta ii. 37, 38:  viii. 37, &c.  Acts ix. 11. &c.

Note 21. 1 Peter, iii. 21.

Note 22.  Elementa Theol.  Dog., Vol. ii, p. 295.  Qui fidem habent, illis beneficia Christi obsignantur et confirmantur.  Notandum ergo est, fidem quidem ad salutarem fructum et effectum sacramentorum, non autem ad corum essentiam requiri.

Note 23.  Biblische Glaubenslehre von Dr. H. E. F. Knapp, Prop.  Halle, 1840, p. 292.

CHAPTER IX.  BAPTISMAL REGENERATION.

In regard to this error, the author of the Plea, relieves us from the necessity of proving that it is contained in the Symbolical books, by himself not only acknowledging the fact, but also defending the doctrine.  For ourselves we do not think it taught as clearly in the Augsburg Confession, as most of the other errors touched on in the Definite Platform.  But although not inculcated as explicitly as the others, the substance of the doctrine runs through the entire symbolic system, and therefore is justly chargeable on it.  The name is not often distinctly met with there, but the thing meets us on many occasions.  This seems evident even from the following few citations.

Proof that this doctrine was taught by the Lutheran Symbols and early Lutheran divines.