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2018-05-15


由於嬰兒洗禮而激起爭辯的人,乃是在輕率地擾亂教會Why Satan so violently assailspaedobaptism.

摘錄自《基督教要義》Institutes of the Christian Religion,第四卷第十六章321001頁,約翰·加爾文(John Calvin)著/者任傳龍譯,美國麥種傳道會,2017

我想,所有明達的人,現在再不會疑惑,那些由於嬰兒洗禮而激起爭辯的人,乃是在輕率地擾亂教會。撒旦施展這些詭計所要達到的目的,是要奪去我們從嬰兒洗禮中得著的確信及屬靈喜樂的特別祝福,從而減損神的恩慈的榮耀;我們注意到這一點是非常重要的。敬虔人不僅聽到、也親眼看見,確信天父如此恩寵他們,甚至眷顧他們的後代,這是何等甜蜜的事!在嬰兒說禮上面,我們看到祂是愛護我們最周全的父親,因為祂甚至在我們死後仍然關懷我們,眷顧我們的兒女。難道我們不應當像大衛一樣滿心歡喜(詩四十八11),因著祂所彰顯的良善,而稱頌祂的名嗎?毫無疑問,神的應許將祂的恩典呈現在我們眼前;撒旦全力以赴攻擊嬰兒洗禮,目的是使人看不到,並逐漸抹去神恩典的這個見證。這樣,人不僅不敬虔地對神的憐憫忘恩,而且在訓練兒女的敬虔上怠慢。當我們想到兒女一生下來,神就認他們作祂的兒女,這大大激勵我們教導他們敬畏神,並遵守祂的律法。因此,如果我們不要惡意地遮掩神的恩慈,就該將初生的兒女獻給神,因為主在祂的朋友和家庭——-即教會的肢體——之中,已經給他們安排好位置。

32. Gratitude due for God's care of our children
No sound man, I presume, can now doubt how rashly the Church is disturbed by those who excite quarrels and disturbances because of paedobaptism. For it is of importance to observe what Satan means by all this craft, viz., to rob us of the singular blessing of confidence and spiritual joy, which is hence to be derived, and in so far to detract from the glory of the divine goodness. For how sweet is it to pious minds to be assured not only by word, but even by ocular demonstration, that they are so much in favour with their heavenly Father, that he interests himself in their posterity! Here we may see how he acts towards us as a most provident parent, not ceasing to care for us even after our death, but consulting and providing for our children. Ought not our whole heart to be stirred up within us, as David's was, (Ps. 48: 11,) to bless his name for such a manifestation of goodness? Doubtless, the design of Satan in assaulting paedobaptism with all his forces is to keep out of view, and gradually efface, that attestation of divine grace which the promise itself presents to our eyes. In this way, not only would men be impiously ungrateful for the mercy of God, but be less careful in training their children to piety. For it is no slight stimulus to us to bring them up in the fear of God, and the observance of his law, when we reflect, that from their birth they have been considered and acknowledged by him as his children. Wherefore, if we would not maliciously obscure the kindness of God, let us present to him our infants, to whom he has assigned a place among his friends and family that is, the members of the Church.