TOUCHING SOME OTHER POINTS OF CYRIL’S FAITH, ACCORDING TO THE ACCOUNT OF P. J. TWISCK, CHRON., 5TH BOOK, PAGE 152, COL. 1.

“Cyril, a celebrated teacher, strenuously opposed the heresy of Nestorius.”

Again: “Cyril says: ‘Antichrist shall come when the time of the Roman Empire shall be fulfilled.’ ”

“The mysteries of the faith ought not to be taught inconsiderately, without the holy Scriptures. If I shall merely tell you these things, without bringing any proof, do not believe me, unless you receive from me proof from holy Scripture; for the salvation of our faith proceeds not from an eloquent recital, but from the demonstration of the divine Scriptures.” Joh. Polii, fol. 93.

“It is necessary that we follow the holy Scriptures, departing in no wise from their precepts.” Joh. Polii, fol. 93. Valent. Vanni., fol. 41.

Cyril, in the 7th book against Valentinian, says also, in regard to spiritual eating, “That at the holy table we must not simply gaze on the bread and wine placed there, or be deceived thereby, but that, with uplifted hearts, we must apprehend by faith, that on this holy table there is also the Lamb which taketh away the sins of the world. This must be apprehended and eaten spiritually, by faith, and not with the hands.” Chron., Seb. Franck, fol. 65, idem, Chron. Rom. Kett., fol. 77, col. 2.

Thus Cyril wrote soundly, not only on the matter of baptism, but also respecting the authority of the divine Scriptures, as well as, that the substance of the Supper is not the body and blood of Christ, but bread and wine; and that we must not become deluded thereby, that is, esteem it for more than it is; yet that we must eat the Lamb of God, that is, Christ, by faith, or spiritually.

NOTE.—At this time Cyril taught that those who have died, can add nothing to what they have done; but that they must remain what they are, and await the day of judgment. Lib. 3, on Isaiah. In the Geslacht-register, page 123.

A. D. 430.—In Bapt. Hist., page 392, quoted from Socrates by Vicecomes, lib. 1, cap. 27, Socrates writes, in the 7th book of the Church History: “A Jew, who was very sick, lying almost at the point of death, desired to be baptized. To this end, he was carried into the church, where the teacher instructed him in the articles of faith, and expounded to him the hope on Christ. And having thus been brought to baptism on his bed, he was baptized.”

Page 393, from Vicecomes, lib. 3, cap. 5, he (Socrates) writes (lib. 9, cap. 29, Tripart): “In the city of Alexandria many hastened to holy baptism, and were baptized upon the confession of their sins”.

Again (Vicecom., cap. 6, from Socrates, lib. 7, cap. 17): “A Jew came to Paul, the bishop, and desired to be baptized by him. The latter commended him for his desire, but refused to baptize him until he should be instructed in the doctrine of the faith, and have fasted many days. But the Jew, compelled to fast contrary to the sentiment of his heart, importuned the more eagerly, and begged to be baptized, which request was finally complied with.”

As regards that which, page 393, is related according to the account of Vicecomes, lib. 5, cap. 5, from Socrates, lib. 7, cap. 30, how the Burgundians, having journeyed to a certain city in France, prayed the Bishop of that city, to make them Christians by baptism; and how they, after seven days of fasting, and having been instructed in the faith, were baptized on the eighth day, and dismissed in peace; about this we will not say more at present, because these Burgundians in a certain article in which they should have been taught, were not yet rightly instructed; we notice, simply, that they were baptized upon their faith, and that baptism upon faith was customary at that place.

Touching the above account from Socrates, respecting the Jew, who was brought to church on his sick-bed, and was baptized upon his faith, we would not praise or recommend the baptizing of the sick, when there is more danger of death than hope of life. O no! for baptism should and must be received at a time when one can voluntarily forsake the old man, put on the new, and walk thenceforth in newness of life (Rom. 6:4); which no sick person, much less one that is at the point of death, can accomplish. Still, it is commendable in this case, that, according to the doctrine of Christ, faith was required before baptism, as is also stated of the other Jew, who was baptized in health; for he asked for baptism, which, after previous instruction and many days of fasting, was administered to him. We will say nothing about those of Alexandria, who hastened to baptism, and were baptized upon confession of their sins; for the matter speaks so clearly for the views of the Anabaptists, that an explanation of it is wholly unnecessary.