Calvin's Institutes 4.16.14. to 4.16.19.

INSTITUTES
OF
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION
By
John Calvin

BOOK FOURTH.
OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHAPTER 16.
PÆDOBAPTISM. ITS ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN.

4.16.14.

Calvin then turns to another objection offered by those of us who are baptistic, that being, Romans 9:7. There Paul says that not all Israel is Israel, thus dividing a carnal, secular group from the spiritual. Calvin sees this as no consequence in regard to baptism of babies. Calvin will argue that the ethnic origins of Israel are being honored here, not dismissed. That even though some were covenant-breakers that the promise still remains with ethnic Israel as well as believing Israel. "We must consider, that in respect of the promise, the blessing of God still resides among them; and, as the apostle testifies, will never entirely depart from them, seeing that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Rom. 11:29)."

4.16.15.

" The case of the Christian Church is entirely of the same description; for as Paul there declares that the Jews are sanctified by their parents, so he elsewhere says that the children of Christians derive sanctification from their parents." Calvin quotes Romans 15:8 where Christ is deemed to be the Savior of the circumcision and uncircumcision; and also Acts 2:39 where the covenant promise is made to the children of the covenant. His rebuke is stated thus: "If we listen to the absurdities of those men, what will become of the promise by which the Lord, in the second commandment of his law, engages to be gracious to the seed of his servants for a thousand generations? Shall we here have recourse to allegory?"

4.16.16. - 4.16.18.

Calvin argues with others in terms of the timing of circumcision and baptism and issues of gender. A more prevalent argument against paedobaptism is the rationality and awareness of the child itself. " They [baptists] seem to think they produce their strongest reason for denying baptism to children, when they allege, that they are as yet unfit, from nonage, to understand the mystery which is there sealed-viz. spiritual regeneration, which is not applicable to earliest infancy." But how can infants without comprehension be regenerated? "We answer, that the work of God, though beyond the reach of our capacity, is not therefore null. Moreover, infants who are to be saved (and that some are saved at this age is certain) must, without question, be previously regenerated by the Lord." Additionally, Calvin argues that "Christ was sanctified from earliest infancy, that he might sanctify his elect in himself at any age, without distinction."

4.16.19.

But faith comes by hearing, the Scriptures say. How does Calvin respond to that? "The Lord is to illumine with the full brightness of his light, why may he not, if he so pleases, irradiate at present with some small beam, especially if he does not remove their ignorance, before he delivers them from the prison of the flesh? I would not rashly affirm that they are endued with the same faith which we experience in ourselves, or have any knowledge at all resembling faith (this I would rather leave undecided); but I would somewhat curb the stolid arrogance of those men who, as with inflated cheeks, affirm or deny whatever suits them."

Summary

Calvin's arguments are hard to follow and his language is vehement against credo-baptists. What Calvin is saying is that we are all born in Adam, in sin, under wrath. His thought is that all infants who die are then damned. But, Calvin would argue, just because you don't see regeneration doesn't mean it didn't take place. Calvin would not limit regeneration to understanding (Nor would a reformed credo-baptist.). Calvin is intent on not limiting God in such a way that God cannot regenerate and give faith and repentance to whom He wishes. This I hope is a good summary of his argument. A Baptist would not agree; nor would the Scriptures, I would think.

If you want to read a lucid article of a credobaptist turned paedobaptist ... to help you understand their position, I encourage you to read: http://www.wscal.edu/clark/dejbaptism.php

Or another good post is here by Kevin DeYoung.