68. The Fathers, who censured this criminal delay, could not
deny the certain and victorious efficacy even of a death-bed
baptism. The ingenious rhetoric of the Chrysostom could find
only three arguments against these prudent Christians. 1.
That we should love and pursue virtue for her own sake, and
not merely for the reward. 2. That we may be surprised by
death without an opportunity of baptism.3. That, although we
shall be placed in heaven, we shall only twinkle like little
stars, when compared to the suns of righteousness who have
run their appointed course with labour, with success, and
with glory. Chrysostom, in Epist. ad Hebraeos, Homil. xiii.
apud. Chardon, Hist. des Sacremens, tom. i. p. 49. I believe
that this delay of baptism, though attended with the most
pernicious consequences, was never condemned by any general
or provincial council, or by any public act or declaration
of the church. The zeal of the bishops was easily kindled on
much slighter occasions.