and rupt affections, and daily proceding in all virtue and godine as of living. Then shall he add, and say, Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (which are essential parts of Baptism) then let the Minister bap tize it in the Form before appointed for Public Baptism of Infants; saving that, at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of Words: of F YE are to take care that this Child be brought to the Bishop thou art not already baptized, to be confirmed by him, so soon N. I baptize thee in the name as he can say the Creed, the the Father, and of the Son Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Com-and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. mandments, and is sufficiently instructed in the other parts of the Church Catechism, set forth for that purpose. But if they who bring the Infont to the Church do make such uncertain Answers to the Minister's Questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was baptized with Water, in the Name of the If Infant Baptism, and the receiving of Infants baptized in private, are to be at the same time, the Minister may make the Questions to the Sponsors, and the succeeding Prayers serve for both. And again, after the Immersion, or the pouring of Water, and the receioing into the Church, the Minister may use the Remainder of the Service for both. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM To such as are of Riper Years, and able to answer for When any such Persons as are of Riper Years are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Minister; that so due care may be taken for their examination, whether they be sufficiently instructed in the principles of the Christian Re ligion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves, with prayers and fasting, for the receiving of this Holy Sacrament. And if they shall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the People being assembled upon the Sunday, Holy Day, or Prayer Day appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font, immediately after the Second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Minister, in his discretion, shall think fit. And standing there, the Minister shall ask, Whether any of the Persons herr presented be baptized or no? If they shall answer, No; then shall the Minister say thus: DEARLY beloved, forasmuch he will grant to these persons that as all men are conceived and which by nature they cannot born in sin (and that which is have; that they may be baptized born of the flesh is flesh) and they with Water and the Holy Ghost, who are in the flesh cannot please and received into Christ's hoGod, but live in sin, committingly Church, and be made lively - many actual transgressions; and members of the same. T Then shall the Minister say, our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of Water and ALMIGHTY and everlasting of the Holy Ghost; I beseech God, who, of thy great mercy, you to call upon God the Father, didst save Noah and his family in through our Lord Jesus Christ. the Ark from perishing by water, that of his bounteous goodnessland also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people written by Saint John, in the through the Red Sea, figuring third chapter, beginning at the thereby thy holy Baptism; and first verse: by the baptism of thy well-beloved THERE was a man of the PhaSon Jesus Christ in the river Jor- risees, named Nicodemus, a dan, didst sanctify the element ruler of the Jews. The same of water, to the mystical washing came to Jesus by night, and said away of sin; we beseech thee, unto him, Rabbi, we know that for thine infinite mercies, that thou art a Teacher come from thou wilt mercifully look upon God; for no man can do these these thy Servants; wash them miracles that thou doest, except and sanctify them with the Holy God be with him. Jesus answerGhost; that they, being delivered ed and said unto him, Verily, vefrom thy wrath, may be received rily, I say unto thee, Except a man into the Ark of Christ's Church; be born again, he cannot see the and being steadfast in faith, joyful kingdom of God. Nicodemus through hope, and rooted in cha-saith unto him. How can a man rity, may so pass the waves of this be born when he is old? can he troublesome world, that finally enter the second time into his they may come to the land of mother's womb, and be born? everlasting life; there to reign with Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I thee, world without end, through say unto thee, Except a man be Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. born of Water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom Or this. ALMIGHTY and immortal of God. That which is born of God, the aid of all who need, the flesh, is flesh; and that which the helper of all who flee to thee is born of the Spirit, is Spirit. for succour, the life of those who Marvel not that I said unto thee, believe, and the resurrection of Ye must be born again. The wind the dead; we call upon thee for loweth where it listeth, and thou these Persons, that they, coming to hearest the sound thereof; but thy holy Baptism, may receive canst not tell whence it cometh, remission of their sins, by spiritual and whither it goeth: so is every regeneration. Receive them, O one that is born of the Spirit. Lord, as thou hast promised by After which he shall say this Exhortation thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask. fellowing and ye shall receive; seek, and BELOVED, ye hear in this Gosye shall find; knock, and it shall pel the express words of cur be opened unto you: So now Saviour Christ, that, except a man give unto us who ask; let us who be born of Water and of the Spirit, seek, find, open the gate unto he cannot enter into the kingdom as who knock; that these Persons of God. Whereby ye may per may enjoy the everlasting bene-ceive the great necessity of this diction of thy heavenly washing, Sacrament, where it may be had. and may cose to the eternal king. Likewise, immediately before his dom which thou hast promised by jascension into heaven, (as we Christ our Lord. Amen. read in the last chapter of Saint Then the Ministr shall say, Mark's Gospel,) he gave com Hear the words of the Gospel,'mand to his disciples, saying Go ye into all the world, and preach devoutly give thanks to him, and the Gospel to every creature. He say, that believeth, and is baptized, ALMIGHTY and everlasting shall be saved; but he that be- God, heavenly Father, we lieveth not, shall be damned give thee humble thanks, for that Which also showeth unto us the thou hast vouchsafed to call us to great benefit we reap thereby. the knowledge of thy grace, and For which cause Saint Peter the faith in thee: Increase this knowApostle, when upon his first ledge, and confirm this faith in us preaching of the Gospel many evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit were pricked at the heart, and to these Persons, that they may be said to him and the rest of the born again, and be made Heirs of Apostles, Men and brethren, what everlasting salvation, through our shall we do? replied, and said Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth unto them, Repent and be bap-and reigneth with thee and the tized every one of you, for the Holy Spirit, now and for ever remission of sins, and ye shall Amen. receive the gift of the Holy Then the Minister shall speak to the Persons to be baptized on this wise: Ghost For the promise is to you and your children, and to all WELL-BELOVED, who are that are afar off, even as many as come hither desiring to rethe Lord our God shall call. And ceive holy Baptism, ye have heard with many other words exhorted how the Congregation hath prayhe them, saying, Save yourselves ed, that our Lord Jesus Christ from this untoward generation. would vouchsafe to receive you For, as the same Apostle testifieth and bless you, to release you of in another place, even baptism your sins, to give you the king-. doth also now save us, (not the dom of heaven, and everlasting Ye have heard also that our putting away of the filth of the life. flesh, but the answer of a good Lord Jesus Christ hath promised conscience towards God,) by the in his holy Word, to grant all resurrection of Jesus Christ. those things that we have prayed Doubt ye not therefore, but ear-for; which promise he, for his nestly believe, that he will favour-part, will most surely keep and ably receive these present Per-perform. Wherefore, after this sons, truly repenting, and coming promise made by Christ, ye must unto him by faith; that he will also faithfully, for your part, in grant them remission of their sins, the presence of these your Witand bestow upon them the Holy nesses, and this whole CongregaGhost; that he will give them the tion, promise and answer to the blessing of eternal life, and make following Questions : them Partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore, we being thus per-] suaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward these The Minister shall then demand of the Persons to be baptized as follows; the Question being considered as addressed to them severally, and the Answers to be made accordingly. Question. Persons, declared by his Son Je-DOST thou renounce the devil sus Christ, let us faithfully and! and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, and blood; and gave command with all covetous desires of the ment to his disciples, that they same, and the sinful desires of the should go teach all nations, and Mesh; so that thou wilt not follow, baptize them in the name of the nor be led by them? Father, and of the Son, and of Ans. I renounce them all; and, the Holy Ghost; regard, we beby God's help, will endeavour not seech thee, the supplications of to follow, nor be led by them. thy Congregation; sanctify this Quest. Dost thou believe all water to the mystical washing the Articles of the Christian Faith, away of sin; and grant that the as contained in the Apostles' Persons, now to be baptized thereCreed? in, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the Ans. I do. Quest. Wilt thou be baptized in number of thy faithful children, this Faith? Ans. That is my desire. Quest. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments; and walk in the same all the days of thy life? Ans. I will, by God's help. Then shall the Minister say, Merciful God, grant that the through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then shall the Minister take each Per- N. old Adam in these Persons and may be so buried, that the new Amen. of baptize thee in the naine * Here the man may be raised up in them. WE receive this Person inta the Congregation of Christ's Grant that all sinful affections Flock, and do* sign may die in them, and that all him with the sign of Minister shall things belonging to the Spirit may the Cross; in token make a Cross live and grow in them. Amen. that hereafter he upon the perGrant that they may have power shall not be ashamson's forehead. and strength to bave victory, and led to confess the faith of Christ to triumph against the devil, the crucified, and manfully to fight world, and the flesh. Amen. under his banner, against sin, the Grant that they, being here de-world, and the devil; and to contidicated to thee by ou: Office and nue Christ's faithful soldier and Ministry, may also be endued servant unto his life's end. Amen. with heavenly virtues, and ever- The same rule, as to the Omission of the lastingly rewarded, through thy Sign of the Cross, is to be observed here, mercy, O blessed Lord God, who as in the Baptism of Infants. dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. Then the Minister shall say, SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these Persons are LMIGHTY, everliving God, regenerate, and grafted into the whose most dearly beloved body of Christ's Church; let us Son Jesus Christ, for the forgive-give thanks unto Almighty God ness of our sins, did shed out of for these benefits, and with one his most precious side both waterlaccord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest all his works, to believe in God, of their life according to this be- and to serve him; ye must re ginning. member, that it is your part and all kneeling. WE yield thee humble thanks, Oheavenly Father, that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the AN Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, duty to put them in mind, what a Isolemn vow, promise, and proOUR Father, who art in Hea- fession they have now made before ven, Hallowed be thy Name; this Congregation, and especially Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be before you their chosen Witnesses. done on Earth, as it is in Hea- And ye are also to call upon them ven; Give us this day our daily to use all diligence to be rightly bread; And forgive us our tres-instructed in God's holy Word passes, as we forgive those who that so they may grow in grace, trespass against us; And lead us and in the knowledge of our not into temptation; But deliver Lord Jesus Christ; and live godly as from evil. Amen. righteously, and soberly, in this And then speaking to the baptized Per present world. sons, he shall proceed and say, knowledge of thy grace, and faith ND as for you, who have now in thee: Increase this knowledge, by Baptism put on Christ, it and confirm this faith in us ever-is your part and duty also, being more. Give thy Holy Spirit to made the Children of God and of these Persons; that being now the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, born again, and made Heirs of to walk answerably to your Chris. everlasting salvation through our tian calling, and as becometh the Lord Jesus Christ, they may con- children of light; remembering tinue thy Servants, and attain always, that Baptism representeth thy promises, through the same unto us our profession; which is, Lord Jesus Christ thy Son; who to follow the example of our Saliveth and reigneth with thee, in viour Christ, and to be made like the unity of the same Holy Spirit, unto him; that as he died, and everlastingly. Amen. rose again for us, so should we Then, all standing up, the Minister who are baptized, die from sin shall use this Exhortation following; and rise again unto righteousness, speaking to the Godfathers and Godmo continually mortifying all our FORASMUCH as these Persons evil and corrupt affections, and have promised, in your pre- daily proceeding in all virtue and sence, to renounce the devil and godliness of living. thers first. It is expedient that every person thus baptized should be confirmed by the Bishop, so soon after his Baptism as conveniently may be; that so he may be admitted to the Holy Communion. Whereas necessity may require the baptizing of Adults in private houses, in com sideration of extreme sickness; the same is hereby allowed in that case. And a convenient number of persons shall be assembled in the house where the Sacramens is to be performed. And in the exhortation, Well beloved, &c. instead of these words, come hither desiring, shall be inserted this word, desirous. If there be occasion for the Office of Infant Baptism and that of Adults at the same time, the Minister shall use the exhortation and one of the prayers next following in the Office for Adults; only, in the exhortation and prayer, after the words, these Persons, and these thy Servants, adding, and these Infants Then the Minister shall proceed to the questions to be depanded in the cases re |
