Menno Simons on ... baptism
We
are not regenerated because of baptism, as may be perceived in the infants
who have been baptized; but we are baptized because we are regenerated
by faith in God's word, as regeneration is not the result of baptism,
but baptism the result of regeneration. This cannot well be controverted
by any man, by force of the Scriptures. [p. 215]
Faith is before baptism. For faith is the beginning of all righteousness which avails before God, from which faith, baptism is the result as a sign and token of obedience. If the children, then, have faith, their baptism is not forbidden by the alleged words of Matthew and Mark. [p. 197]
The believing receive remission of sins not through baptism, but in baptism, in this manner: as they now sincerely believe the lovely gospel of Jesus Christ which has been preached and taught to them, which is the glad tidings of grace, namely, of the remission of sin, of grace, of peace, of favor, or mercy and of eternal lfe through Jesus Christ our Lord, so they become of a new mind, deny themselves, bitterly lament their old, corrupted life, and look diligently to the word of the Lord, who has shown them such great love; to fulfill all that which he has taught and commanded them in his holy gospel, trusting firmly in the word of grace, in the remission of their sins through the precious blood and through the merits of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
They therefore receive the holy baptism as a token of obedience which
proceeds from faith, as proof, before God and his church, that they firmly
believe in the remission of their sinds through Christ Jesus, as was preached
and taught them from the word of God. [p. 201]