Professor Jacobi says: “Infant baptism was established neither by Christ, nor by the Apostles.” Art. Bap., Kitto’s Cycl. Bib. Lit.
Doctor Hanna says: “Scripture knows nothing of the baptism of infants.” North Brit. Review, Aug., 1852.
Professor Hagenbach says: “The passages from Scripture cited in favor of infant baptism as a usage of the primitive church are doubtful and prove nothing.” Hist. Dict., pp. 190, 193.
Bishop Burnett, Baxter, Goodwin, Limborch, Celarius, Field, and many others bear similar testimony.
when did it rise?
Since the New Testament knows nothing of infant baptism, and since it was neither instituted by Christ, nor practiced by His Apostles, what was its origin, and when did it come into use?
Tertullian is the first who mentions the custom, and he opposes it. This was at the close of the second century, or about a. d. 200. His opposition to it proves two things: First, that it was in occasional use, at least. Second, that it was of recent origin, since had it been long used some earlier record if it could be found. Neander, Ch. Hist., Vol. I., p. 311.
Bingham could find no earlier allusion to it than that of Tertullian, though he believed it arose earlier. It must, therefore, as is generally agreed, have had its origin about the beginning of the third century.
Curcellæus says: “The baptism of infants in the two first centuries after Christ was altogether unknown; but in the third and fourth was allowed by some few. In the fifth and following ages it was generally received.” Inst. Christ. Religion, B. I., Ch. 12.
Salmasius says: “In the first two centuries no one was baptized, except, being instructed in the faith and acquainted with the doctrines of Christ, he was able to profess himself a believer.” Hist. Bapt. Suicer. Thesaur., Vol. II., p. 1136.