Of the different Ways of Baptising by Immersion, Trine Im- mersion, and Aspersion in the Case of Clinic Baptism. SECT. 1. All Persons anciently divested in order to be baptised.- 2. No Exception in this Case either with respect to Women or Chil- dren.-3. Yet matters were so ordered, as that no indecency_might be committed.-4. Baptism usually performed by Immersion.-5. Yet Aspersion allowed in some extraordinary Cases.-6. Trine Immersion, the General Practice for several Ages. The Reason of this.-7. The Original of this Practice.-8. When first the Church allowed of any Of the Time when, and the Persons to whom Confirmation was SECT. 1. Confirmation anciently given immediately after Baptism, if the Bishop were present.-2. And this as well to Infants as Adult Persons. Which is evidenced first from some plain Testimonies.-3. And, Second- ly, from the Custom of giving the Eucharist to Infants for many Ages. 4. Whence it appears, that Confirmation was not esteemed a proper Sacrament distinct from Baptism.-5. No, not when it was separate from Baptism, as in the case of Heretics, who were baptised out of the Church.-6. No Necessity of giving Confirmation to Infants now, any more than the Eucharist, from the example of the Primitive Church. Of the Minister of Confirmation. SECT. 1. The Consecration of Chrism reserved only to the Office of Bishops by the Canons.-2. The Use of the Chrism divided between the Office of Bishops and Presbyters.-3. The other Ceremony of Imposi- tion of hands reserved more strictly to the Office of Bishops.-4. Yet in some special Cases, Presbyters by Commission allowed to minister it also. As first, when Bishops particularly required their Presbyters to do it to such as were baptised in the Church.-5. Secondly, Pres- byters might administer it to the Energumens, who were baptised at a distance from the Bishop's Church.-6. And, Thirdly, to such as were baptised in Heresy or Schism, in case they were in danger of Death. Of the Manner of Administering Confirmation and the Cere- monies used in the Celebration of it. SECT. 1. The first Ceremony of Confirmation was the Unction of Chrism. -2. The Original of this Unction.-3. The form and Manner of Ad- ministering it, together with the effects of it.-4. The second Ceremony of Confirmation was the Sign of the Cross.-5. The third and most noted ceremony of Confirmation, was Imposition of Hands; and the Fourth, prayer joined therewith.-6. The original of the Ceremony of Imposition of hands.-7. What Opinion the Ancients had of the Ne- cessity of Confirmation.-8. How they punished those that ne- SECT. 1. Persons newly baptised, clothed in White Garments.-2. These sometimes delivered to them with a solemn Form of Words. -3.Worn eight Days and then laid up in the Church.-4. The cere- mony of Lights and Tapers. What intended by it. And at whose Charge both these were provided.-5. The Kiss of Peace given to Persons newly baptised.-6. And a Taste of Honey and Milk in token of their New Birth.-7. Then they were required to repeat the Lord's Prayer.-8. And received into the Church with Psalmody.-9. And ad- mitted immediately to the Communion of the Altar.-10. Of the Cere- mony of Washing the Feet, retained in some Churches.-11. A general reflection upon the whole preceding Discourse, with Relation to the Of the Laws against Rebaptisation both in Church and State. SECT. 1. But one Baptism, properly so called, allowed by the Church. -2. Only the Marcionites allowed Baptism to be thrice repeated. -3. What the Church did in doubtful Cases, not reckoned a Rebapti- sation.-4. Nor when she baptised those, who had been unduly baptised before in Heresy or Schism.-5. Apostates never rebaptised in the Catholic Church.-6. What Heretics rebaptised the Catholics.-7. What Punishments were inflicted on Rebaptisers by the Laws of THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. BOOK X. OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE CATECHUMENS, AND THE FIRST USE OF THE CREEDS OF THE CHURCH. CHAP. I. Of the several Names of Catechumens, and the Solemnity that was used in admitting them to that State in the Church. Also of Catechizing, and the Time of their Continuance in that Exercise. SECT. 1.-The Reason of the Names, Karnyéμevol, Novitioli, Tyrones, &c. HAVING hitherto discoursed of the several orders of men which made up the great body of the Christian Church, and of churches themselves, or places of worship, and of the several districts into which the body diffusive was divided, I come now to consider the service of the Church, or its public offices and exercises, by which men were disciplined and trained up to the kingdom of Heaven. And to speak of these in their most natural order, it will be necessary to begin with the institution of the catechumens, who were the lowest order of men that had any title to the common name of Christians, and their instruction was the first part of the Church's service. Some things relating to these, have been already touched upon in speaking of the difference between them and the Isoì, or perfect Chris VOL. III. B tians, in the first Book. The office of the catechist has also been considered in speaking of the inferior orders of the clergy: and the places of instruction, or catechetic schools, have been treated of in the account that has been given of the ancient churches. So that, omitting these things, I shall only speak in this place of such rites and customs as were observed in the practice of the Church in training up the catechumens, and preparing them for baptism; premising something concerning the several names that were given them. They were called catechumens from the Greek words, κατηχέω and κατήχησις, which signify in general the instruction that is given in the first elements or rudiments of any art or science; but in a more restrained ecclesiastical sense, the instruction of men in the first principles of the Christian religion. Hence they had also the names of Novitioli, and Tyrones Dei, new soldiers of God, as we find in Tertullian and St. Austin,5 because they were just entering upon that state, which made them soldiers of God and candidates of eternal life. They are sometimes also called Audientes, hearers, from their instruction; though that name more commonly denotes one particular sort of them, such as were allowed to hear sermons only, but not to partake in any of the prayers of the Church: of which more hereafter in the following Chapter. 4 SECT. 2.-Imposition of Hands used in the first Admission of Catechumens. I have already observed in another place, that the catechumens, by virtue of their admission into that state, had some title to the common name of Christians also; being a degree higher than either heathens or heretics, though not yet consummated by the waters of baptism. And upon this account, they were admitted to this state not without some ceremony and solemnity of imposition of hands and prayer. Which appears evidently from what Book iii. chap. x. 1 Book i. chap. iv. sect. 5. chap. vii. sect. 12. Fide ad Catechumen. lib. ii. c. i. 8 Book viii. August. de 6 Book i. chap. iii. sect. 3. Sulpicius Severus' says of St. Martin," that passing through a town where they were all Gentiles, and preaching Christ unto them, and working some miracles, the whole multitude professed to believe in Christ, and desired him to make them Christians: upon which he immediately, as he was in the field, laid his hands upon them, and made them catechumens; saying to those that were about him, that it was not unreasonable to make catechumens in the open field, where martyrs were used to be consecrated unto God." Where we may observe, that to make Christians, and to make catechumens, is the same thing; and that this was done by imposition of hands and prayer. Which observation will help us to the right understanding of some obscure canons and difficult passages in ancient writers, which many learned men have mistaken. In the first council of Arles there is a canon, which orders imposition of hands to be given to such Gentiles as in time of sickness express an inclination to receive the Christian faith. And in the council of Eliberis there is another canon to the same purpose, which says, "that if any Gentiles, who have led a tolerable moral life, desire imposition of hands, they should have it allowed them, and be made Christians." Now the question is, what is here meant by imposition of hands, and being made Christians?-Mendoza and Vossius,5 take it for imposition of hands in baptism; and Albaspiny for imposition of hands in confirmation. But the true sense is no more than this imposition of hands used in making catechumens, which in some sort gave Gentile converts an immediate title to be called Christians. And so I find 6 I Sulpic. Vit. Martin. Dialog. ii. c. 5. p. 294. Cuncti catervatim ad genua B. Viri ruere cœperunt, fideliter postulantes, ut eos faceret Christianos. Nec cunctatus, in medio ut erat campo, cunctos, impositâ universis manu, catechumenos fecit; cùm quidem ad nos conversus diceret, 'non irrationabiliter in campo catechumenos fieri, ubi solerent martyres consecrari.' 2 Con. Arelat. i. c. 5. De his qui in infirmitate credere volunt, placuit debere eis manum c. 39. 6 Albaspin. |