Note 22. Elementa Theol. Dog., Vol. ii, p. 295. Qui fidem habent, illis beneficia Christi obsignantur et confirmantur. Notandum ergo est, fidem quidem ad salutarem fructum et effectum sacramentorum, non autem ad corum essentiam requiri.
Note 23. Biblische Glaubenslehre von Dr. H. E. F. Knapp, Prop. Halle, 1840, p. 292.
CHAPTER IX. BAPTISMAL REGENERATION.
In regard to this error, the author of the Plea, relieves us from the necessity of proving that it is contained in the Symbolical books, by himself not only acknowledging the fact, but also defending the doctrine. For ourselves we do not think it taught as clearly in the Augsburg Confession, as most of the other errors touched on in the Definite Platform. But although not inculcated as explicitly as the others, the substance of the doctrine runs through the entire symbolic system, and therefore is justly chargeable on it. The name is not often distinctly met with there, but the thing meets us on many occasions. This seems evident even from the following few citations.
_Proof that this doctrine was taught by the Lutheran Symbols and early Lutheran divines.
ART. II. - Augsburg Confession
"Our churches teach that this innate disease and original sin, is truly sin, and condemneth all those under the eternal wrath of God, who are not born again by Baptism and the Holy Spirit."
Apology to Augsburg Confession, p. 226.
"Our opponents also agree to the ninth article, in which we confess that Baptism is necessary to salvation, and that the baptism of infants is not fruitless, but necessary and salutary.
Luther's Smaller Catechism.