The Emden Delegation at the Synod of Dordt on the Baptism of Slave Children
Translated from Early Sessions of the Synod of Dordt (V&R, 2018), pgs. 147-48.
[Authors: Daniel Eilshemius; Ritzius Lucas Grimersheim]
THE QUESTION IS PROPOSED: WHETHER CHILDREN BORN IN [EAST] INDIA FROM PAGAN PARENTS AND NOW ADOPTED INTO CHRISTIAN FAMILIES SHOULD BE BAPTIZED, IF THOSE WHO OFFER THEM FOR BAPTISM GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL EDUCATE THEM OR ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EDUCATED IN THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. THIS QUESTION WAS THEN PROPOSED MORE DISTINCTLY. THE RESPONSE AND JUDGMENT OF THE DEPUTIES OF THE CHURCH OF EMDEN.
We believe that infants of Gentiles should not be baptized.
First, not those who are gifted, bought, captured in war, taken from unwilling parents, nor refugees, nor those left surviving after their parents’ death, etc.
Because they are unclean, 1 Cor. 7:14.
They are outside the covenant. When God passes over a person, man cannot enter into a covenant with God, neither for himself nor for others, since the beginning of a free covenant is from God, not from men.
Salvation is not bound to baptism nor enclosed in the vessel of baptismal water.
The “work worked” [Latin: opus operatum] would thus be established.
The holy institution of God would be profaned.
Soon enough, if well enough, delay will not harm.
It is not the lack of baptism, but the contempt of it that condemns.
Second, nor those adopted into a Christian family. For a man can adopt someone into his own family, but in no way [can he adopt someone] into God’s family.
Third, nor those adopted as sons or daughters, whether the adoption is permanent or revocable. For by adoption, a man can make someone an heir of earthly goods, but not of heavenly and spiritual ones. However, he can instruct the adopted one in the Christian faith and work to ensure that, when well-instructed, they request and receive baptism.
Fourth, nor those for whom either private believers or magistrates or pastors and elders stand as guarantors. For they promise, and that solemnly and before God, what they cannot deliver. Nor do they have a mandate to stand as guarantors for the children of pagans, and therefore they cannot promise in faith.
Fifth, nor those whose baptism pagan parents have consented to, unless they themselves have first professed faith and been baptized. For many Gentiles do this in contempt of the Christian religion, which experience has taught us.
The fact that Abraham circumcised those born in his household and bought with money by God’s command, Gen. 17, does not fight against our position. For Abraham had already instructed them in the doctrine of faith for a long time, since they were his household members, when he received this command of circumcision from God. For God himself testifies about him in Gen. 18:19 that he commanded his family to observe the way of Jehovah, by practicing righteousness and justice. Therefore, he rightly circumcised them and their children born from God’s covenant people.
The same was true for proselytes, who did not partake in the sacraments before they had professed faith, for they were adults.
This concerns infants.
However, we judge that [East] Indian children from 10 to 14 years of age, if they can recite the main points of catechetical doctrine and give some account of the faith, and if they themselves desire to be admitted [into the faith] by baptism, and others then stand as guarantors for them, should be baptized. However, the guarantors should not consider [Latin: habere] them as slaves and sell them.
Young men [Latin: adolescentes] and maidens should first be instructed, then make a public confession of faith, profess that they will live a life worthy of the gospel, and demonstrate this in reality, then they should be baptized. For thus the Lord commanded: “Teach all nations and baptize….”
These things are subject to the judgment of those who think more correctly.