But what does it save us from? Sin. In the Nicene Creed we say: "I believe in one Baptism for the remission of _sins_". Baptism saves us from our sins.
In the case of infants, Baptism saves from original, or inherited, sin--the sin whose origin can be traced to the Fall. In the case of adults, Baptism saves from both original and actual sin, both birth sin and life sin.
The Prayer Book is as explicit as the Bible on this point. In the case of infants, we pray:
"We call upon Thee for this infant, that he, _coming to Thy Holy Baptism_, may receive remission of his sins"--before, i.e., the child has, by free will choice, committed actual sin. In the case of adults, we read: "Well-beloved, who are come hither desiring _to receive Holy Baptism_, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to ... _release you of your sins_". And, again, dealing with infants, the Rubric at the end of the "Public Baptism of Infants" declares that "It is certain, by God's Word, that children _who are { 72} baptized_, dying before they commit _actual sin_, are undoubtedly saved".
In affirming this, the Church does not condemn all the unbaptized, infants or adults, to everlasting perdition, as the teaching of some is. Every affirmation does not necessarily involve its opposite negation. It was thousands of years before any souls at all were baptized on earth, and even now, few[14] in comparison with the total population of the civilized and uncivilized world, have been baptized. The Church nowhere assumes the self-imposed burden of legislation for these, or limits their chance of salvation to the Church Militant. What she does do, is to proclaim her unswerving belief in "one Baptism for the remission of sins"; and her unfailing faith in God's promises to those who _are_ baptized--"which promise, He, for His part, will most surely keep and perform". On this point, she speaks with nothing short of "undoubted certainty"; on the other point, she is silent. She does not condemn an infant because no responsible person has brought it to Baptism, though she does condemn the person for not bringing it. She does not limit { 73} the power of grace to souls in this life only, but she does offer grace in this world, which may land the soul safely in the world to come.