by the Holy Spirit, if he desired to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Thus, also, the words, Acts xxii. 16, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,” were addressed to Paul after he had surrendered himself to Christ, and signifies:  “Arise, and publicly profess Christ by baptism, and thus complete your dedication of yourself to his cause, the condition, on the sincere performance of which, God will for Christ’s sake, pardon your sins.”

Baptismal regeneration, either in infants or adults, is therefore a doctrine not taught in the Word of God, and fraught with much injury to the souls of men, although inculcated in the former symbolical books.  At the same time, whilst the doctrine of baptismal regeneration certainly did prevail in our European churches, and is taught in the former symbolical books, it is proper to remark, that the greater part of the passages in the symbols relating to this subject, are explained by many in the present day, to signify no more than we above inculcate, and therefore a not teaching baptismal regeneration.

Note 1.  Luther’s Works, Vol. xii., p. 339.

Note 2.  Ibid.

Note 3.  Ibid.  Vol. xxii., p. 139.

Note 4.  Melanchthon’s [sic] Works, Koethe’s edit., Vol. iv., p. 234.

Note 5.  Ibid. pp. 251, 242.

Note 6.  Died in 1643.

Note 7.  Gottheil’s Translation, p. 187.

Note 8.  Ibid. p. 188.

Note 9.  Ibid. p. 193.

Note 10.  Loc.  Com.  Vol. iv., p. 260.

EXAMINATION OF THE LUTHERAN SYMBOLS.  CHAPTER X. THE LORD’S SUPPER.

That the doctrine of the real presence of the body and blood of the Saviour in the eucharist, is taught in the symbolical books, is acknowledged by the Plea of the Rev. Mr. Mann, and indeed generally admitted, though variously stated and explained.  It would therefore be unnecessary to quote those symbols in proof, were it not that many of our readers have not access to them elsewhere, and that the completeness of our representation, as well as the plan of our work require it.  The following passages will suffice to explain this view:—­

Augsburg Confession, Art.  X.

OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.

“Concerning the holy Supper of the Lord, it is taught, that the true body and blood of Christ are truly present, under the form of bread and wine, in the Lord’s Supper, and are there administered and received.”—­Symb.  Books, p. 112.

Apology to the Confession, Art.  VII., VIII. (IV.)

“Our adversaries (the Romanists,) do not object to the tenth article (of the Augsburg Confession,) in which we confess that the body and blood of Christ our Lord, are truly present in the holy supper, and administered and received with the visible elements, the bread and wine, as hitherto maintained in the (Romish) church, and as the Greek Canon shows.”—­Symb.  Books, p. 227.