Question 74

Are infants also to be baptized?

Yes: for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church of God;²¹⁵²¹⁵    Gen. 17:7. and since redemption from sin²¹⁶²¹⁶    Matt. 19:14. by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult;²¹⁷²¹⁷    Luke 1:15; Ps. 22:10; Isa. 44:1–3; Acts 2:39. they must therefore by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the christian church; and be distinguished from the children of unbelievers²¹⁸²¹⁸    Acts 10:47. as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision,²¹⁹²¹⁹    Gen. 17:14. instead of which baptism is instituted²²⁰²²⁰    Col. 2:11–13. in the new covenant.