From the baptism of children who are not yet fully born.
Handwritten in Gotha. From Collect. Loc. Comm. Luth. fol. 43 b, in Buddeus, p. 267; in Welleri Opp. omnia at end, p. 206; from an old copy in a codex Bindseils, Corp. Ref. , vol. 24, XXII and XXVI, fol. 334a, with variations, and in De Wette, vol. V, p. 221. German in Walch, vol. XXI, 1299.
Grace and peace through Christ! Concerning the baptism of children in the womb, my dear Jerome, you yourself judge rightly, as you write: one should not baptize them if they have not been born before. Otherwise, this inconsistency would finally follow, that the fruit, which hardly begins to live and move in the womb, would be baptized for the same reason or because of the danger of the sick mother by pouring water on the womb of the mother. Nevertheless, the women who assist in the birth may do this: they may kneel in prayer and, through the spirit of their faith, command the child in danger in a godly way to God, who is mighty to do more than we ask, no doubt also to give life to the child, on the prayer of faith. But with regard to others who have baptized infants in the past [not yet fully born], I do not want questions to be raised and consciences to be troubled. Let them be left as they are, and meanwhile believe that they are baptized, lest we bring up old things again. We may also command the dead [children] to God. 1) What we have not done, God may do hereafter, namely, by the word of faith those who have grown up, believing that they are baptized, endowed with the Spirit, and so baptize in the Spirit, setting aside the negligence of others in times past. But we give counsel for the future, excuse the past, and take care of that which is quite safe for the consciences on both sides. Farewell and pray for me. On the day before Martinmas [Nov. 10] 1539.
1) Instead of commendantes we have assumed commendemus with Welleri opp. and the manuscript.
No. 2598.