Chapter X: ‘Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved

by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth.’”

“Elect infants, Doctor? Does not that imply that there are non-elect infants?”

“You can put that construction upon it, if you wish,” said the Doctor; “but the term is explained in several ways. I really do not know which view the framers of the Confession intended we should take. So we are at liberty to construe it in that way which appears most consistent to us.”

“What is your construction?”

“It is this: all mankind are evidently divided into two classes--the elect and the non-elect--the saved and the lost. You believe that, do you not?”

“O, yes; that is true.”

“Well, of course, the non-elect are sinners in their infancy as well as in after life. In that sense there are non-elect infants; but we do not believe that any of them die in infancy.”

“But how do you know that they do not?”

“Because Christ says, that ‘of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”

“According to your view, then,” said Ernest, “there are non-elect infants, but they do not die in infancy?”

“Exactly,” replied the Doctor. “But there is another explanation. Some say the framers of the Confession put in the word ‘elect’ not to divide infants into two classes, but to show upon what principle they are saved; they are _elected_ to salvation. You know, John uses the expression, ‘the elect lady’ and her sister. This certainly would not mean that there was a non-elect lady. Again, in the form for the baptism of infants in the Methodist Discipline, the minister prays that ‘_this child may be numbered among the elect children of God_.’ We would not, of course, insist that the Methodists believe that there are _non-elect_ children. Some say that the Confession means by ‘elect infants,’ just what the Methodists do in their form of baptism. But after all, the Presbyterian Church is the only one probably whose doctrine does consistently save infants. We declare they are saved by _election_. If not, tell me how they can be saved? They cannot repent and believe as adults do. Then do you not see, if they are not _elected_ by a merciful Father, they must be lost forever?”

“Upon my word,” quickly and honestly exclaimed Ernest, “I had never looked at the subject in that light. You have taught me something I never knew before.”

“I am glad,” replied the Doctor, “if I have helped you out of any difficulty.”

“I candidly acknowledge, Doctor, that the more I study this deep subject, the more reasonable and Scriptural it seems.”

And here the discussion ended for that day. Ernest, seeing Mildred walking in the yard and clipping flowers, vacated his seat and joined her. The Doctor looked at him, as he left, and a perceptible smile stole over his benevolent face.