The Sacrament of Baptism is not a mere sign or promise, but actually a means of grace, an instrument, by which, when rightly received, the soul is admitted to the benefits of Christ’s Atonement, such as the forgiveness of sin, original and actual, reconciliation to God, a new nature, adoption, citizenship in Christ’s kingdom, and the inheritance of heaven, – in a word, Regeneration. And next, Baptism is considered to be rightly received, when there is no positive obstacle or hindrance to the reception in the recipient, such as impenitence or unbelief would be in the case of an adult; so that infants are necessarily right recipients of it, as not being yet capable of actual sin.

Certainly no Catholic controversialist will say that his real ground for considering (e.g.) infant baptism obligatory, is the testimony of the first three centuries. Of course he must appeal to the voice of the infallible Church. On what do Anglicans rest its obligation?

All quotes in the Newman A to Z are taken from The Quotable Newman, newly published by Sophia Institute Press.