Chapter 41.—From the First Epistle of Peter.

See with what earnestness the apostles declare this doctrine, when they received it. Peter, in his first Epistle, says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His abundant mercy, who hath regenerated us unto the hope of eternal life, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance immortal, and undefiled, flourishing, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.”133    1 Pet. i. 3–5. And a little afterwards he adds: “May ye be found unto the praise and honour of Jesus Christ: of whom ye were ignorant; but in whom ye believe, though now ye see Him not; and in whom also ye shall rejoice, when ye shall see Him, with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”134    1 Pet. i. 7–9. Again, in another place he says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”135    1 Pet. ii. 9. Once more he says: “Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God:”136    1 Pet. iii. 18. and, after mentioning the fact of eight persons having been saved in Noah’s ark, he adds: “And by the like figure baptism saveth you.”137    1 Pet. iii. 21. Now infants are strangers to this salvation and light, and will remain in perdition and darkness, unless they are joined to the people of God by adoption, holding to Christ who suffered the just for the unjust, to bring them unto God.

41. Hanc doctrinam suscipientes Apostoli, vide quanta contestatione declarent. Petrus in prima Epistola: Benedictus, inquit, Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, secundum multitudinem misericordiae suae, qui regeneravit nos in spem vitae aeternae, per resurrectionem Jesu Christi, in haereditatem immortalem et incontaminatam , florentem, servatam in coelis, vobis qui in virtute Dei conservamini per fidem in salutem paratam palam fieri in tempore novissimo. Et paulo post: Inveniamini, inquit, in laudem et honorem Jesu Christi, quem ignorabatis; in quem modo non videntes creditis, quem cum videritis, exsultabitis gaudio inenarrabili, et honorato gaudio , percipientes testamentum fidei, salutem animarum vestrarum (I Petr. I, 3-9). Item alio loco: Vos autem, inquit, genus electum, regale sacerdotium, gens sancta, populus in adoptione, ut virtutes enuntietis ejus, qui vos de tenebris vocavit in admirabile lumen suum (Id. II, 9). Et iterum: Christus, inquit, pro peccatis nostris passus est, justus pro injustis, ut nos adducat ad Deum. Item cum commemorasset in arca Noe, octo homines salvos factos: Sic et vos, inquit, simili forma Baptisma salvos facit (Id. III, 18-21). Ab hac ergo salute et lumine alieni sunt parvuli, et in perditione ac tenebris remanebunt, nisi per adoptionem populo Dei fuerint sociati, tenentes Christum passum justum pro injustis, ut eos adducat ad Deum.