Antiquity

Orchard – Page 27 – quote = "Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Theophilus of Antioch, Tatia, Minucius Felix, Ireaeus, and Clement of Alexandria, constitute the Christian writers of this SECOND century; who so far from directly speaking of INFANT BAPTISM, never once utter a syllable upon the subject."
Orchard – Page 32-33 = quote = We shall now subjoin the views and testimonies of the writers of the third century, on the subject of baptism. Tertullian was born of pagan parents at Carthage. He was brought up to the law. His learning was considerable, and his style of writing acquired him the title of the first of the Latin Fathers. He wrote an able and bold defense of the Christian religion. He was evidently a man of extraordinary genius: his piety was warm and vigorous, with some features of austerity; but a degree of superstition accompanying his profession, prevents our relying on his judgment. Tertullian’s writings prove, that he as a Baptist stood between contending parties; he explained duties to some, enforced them on others, while some of his instructions gave a check to the innovations of the times.
His views of the ordinance were, that "those who are desirous to dip themselves holily in this water, must prepare themselves for it by fasting, by watchings, by prayer, and by sincere repentance for sin." [Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 3d Cent., p. 80] And "that adults were the only proper subjects of baptism, because fasting, confession of sins, prayer, profession, renouncing the devil and his works, are required from the baptized." [De Baptismo, Bap. Mag., v. i, p. 210] "The soul is sanctified, not by washing, but by the answer of a good conscience--baptism is the seal of faith; which faith is begun and adorned by the faith of repentance. We are not therefore washed that we may leave off sinning, but because we have already done it, and are already purified in our hearts." [De Poeniten., c. 6. Gale’s Refl. 410] "There is no distinction between the catechumens and believers, they all meet together, they all pray together, they all hear together." [Rob. Hist. Bapt., p. 245] "To begin with baptism, when we are ready to enter into the water, and even before, we make our protestations before the minister and in the church, that we renounce the devil, all his pomps and vanities; afterwards we are plunged in the water three times, and they make us answer to some things which are not specified in the gospel." [De Corona Militis, Dupin, 3d Cent., p. 82]. end quote
HFB – Sure sounds like BAPTISTS, as they continue to maintain their IDENTITY with the Apostles’ Doctrine – Acts. 2:42; Eph. 2:20.
Orchard – page 34 – quote = "Some persons at this period gave undue importance to places, as to the waters of Jordan. To such Tertullian asserts," "It is all one whether a person is washed in the sea or in a pond, in a fountain or in a river, in standing or in running water; nor is there any difference between those whom John baptized in Jordan, and those whom Peter baptized, unless it be supposed that the eunuch, whom Philip dipped in the water, obtained more or less salvation." [De Bapt., c. 4] On which observation Bingham remarks, "So that the first ages all agree in this, that whether they had baptisteries or not, the place of baptism was always without the church, and after this manner baptisteries continued till the sixth century." [Antiq. of the Christian Church, b. 8, c. 17, ~ 1]
Others felt disposed to forego baptism, because salvation had been realized without. Tertullian rebukes the disobedience of such, and he further argues, from Christ’s words, John 3:5, to prove the necessity of obeying and conforming; and asserts, "that all believers from thenceforth [from the giving of the above words] were baptized." [Wall’s Hist., p. 1, p. 40] He adds, "That men’s minds were hardened against baptism, because the person [to be baptized] was brought down into the water without pomp, without any new ornament or sumptuous preparation, and dipped at the pronouncing of a few words." [De Bapt., c. 2: see African Churches] See churches in Africa." end quote.
Next in the line of succession – links in the chain of Identity are = ORIGEN (185 to 252 AD); then in 254 AD – DIONYSIUS of Alexandria, then, 280 AD ARNOBIUS. These were all BAPTIST.
Orchard – Page 35 – quote = "The most respectable historians affirm, that no evidence exists as to any alteration in the subject or mode of baptism during the third century. "We have no testimony as to any alteration as to the rites of baptism." [Mag. Cent. c. 3. Danv. p. 62]." end quote. HFB - So BAPTIST Identify continues to flow smoothly on through the 3rd Century.
PEDO-BAPTIST = Infant Baptism identity, were not a part of the True BAPTIST Church, yet there were some infractions, irregularities, and variants.
Orchard – Page 36-37 – quote = "The severity of ancient bishops exacted from the new converts a novitiate of two or three years." [Gibbon’s Hist., c. 20]
"The historians of this period do none of them mention anything concerning infant baptism." [Wall’s Hist., p. 1, c. 21, ~ 4, p. 411] .
While the government was pagan, infants could not receive baptism, without being involved with their parents in persecuting edicts; but there is no evidence extant of this. Though Tertullian delicately alludes to this consequence, if minors were baptized; which we shall refer to hereafter. "In the first three centuries, no natural infants appear in any writings, either authentic or spurious." [Rob. Res., pp. 131,362]
Not one natural infant of any description, appears to have been baptized in the Church of Rome during the first three centuries, and immersion was the only method of administering the ordinance. [Jones’s Ecc. Lect. v.i., pp. 277, 324]
The Paedobaptists say, that, "On infant baptism, as well as other subjects, the study of antiquity is an inextricable maze; and to consult what is called the Fathers, is to ask council at on oracle, whose response is usually of an ambiguous import." [Bogue and Bennett’s Hist. of Diss., v.i., p. 144]
During the first three centuries, Christian congregations, all over the East, subsisted in separate independent bodies, unsupported by government, and consequently without any secular power over one another. All this time and though all the Fathers of the first four ages down to Jerome, were of Greece, Syria, and Africa--and though they give great numbers of histories of the baptism of adults, yet there is not one record of the baptism of a child till the year 370, when Galetes, the dying son of the emperor Valens was baptized, by order of a monarch who swore he would not be contradicted. [Robin. Resear. p. 55]."
HFB - So BAPTIST succession marches on without skips, gaps, or loss of their Marks of Identity, even that of the autonomy and independence of each local body.
Herein I will pause and notice the NAMES so far listed, in accordance with my initial listings as per =
John The Baptist = 26 A.D.
Polycarp = 70/82 - - - 156/168 A.D.
Tertullian = 155- - - 220 A.D.
Montanist = 200 + A.D.
Novatians (Rome) = 250 A.D.
Donatist (Africa) = 285 – 331 A.D.
More confirmation will be forth-coming pertaining to these names. hfb