176 THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS, AND ABLE TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES. When any such persons, as are of riper years, are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Bishop, or whom he shall appoint for that purpose, a week before at the least, by the Parents, or some other discreet persons; that so due care may be taken for their Examination, whether they be sufficiently instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves with Prayers and Fasting for the receiving f this holy Sacrament. And if they shall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the people being assembled upon the Sunday or Holy-day appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font immediately after the second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Curate in his discretion shall think fit. And standing there, the Priest shall ask, whether any of the persons here presented be baptized, or no: If they shall answer, No; then shall the Priest say thus, Den are conceived and horn in sin, EARLY beloved, forasmuch as all (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh,) and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in sin, committing many actual transgressions; and that our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he he regenerate and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness he will grant to these persons that which by nature they cannot have; that they may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively members of the same. Then shall the Priest say, Let us pray. (And here all the Congregation shall kneel.) ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, wh LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy Bap. tism and by the Baptism of thy wellbeloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify the element of Water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these thy servants; wash them and sanctify them with the Holy Ghost, that they, heing delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, some world, that finally they may come to may so pass the waves of this trouble the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. LMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee to thee for succour, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for these persons, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of their sins by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us that ask; let us that seek find; open the gate unto us that knock that these persons may enjoy the washing, and may come to the eternal everlasting benediction of thy heavenly kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the people stand up, and the Priest shall say, Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint John, in the third Chapter, beginning at the first Verse. T named Nicodemus, a ruler of the THERE was a man of the Pharisees, Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. After which he shall say this Exhortation following. BELOVE ELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last Chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is bap tized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damued. Which also sheweth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were pricked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? replied and said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly be lieve, that he will favourably receive these present persons, truly repenting, and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant them remission of their sins, and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost; that he will give them the blessing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father to wards these persons, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heaA venly Father, we give the humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to these persons, that they may be born again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Then the Priest shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise: WELL-BELOVED, who are come WH hither desiring to receive holy Baptism, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word to grant all those things that we have prayed for; which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, we must also faithfully, for your part, promise in the presence of these your Witnesses, and this whole congregation, that ye will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments. Then shall the Priest demand of each of the persons to be baptized, severally, these Questions following: AL Name; and then shall dip him in N. I baptize thee In the Name of the WE Then shall the Priest say, • Here the make a Cross Priest shall 7E receive this person into the congregation of Christ's flock; and do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed upon the perto confess the faith of son's forehead. under his banner, against sin, the world, Christ crucified, and manfully to fight and the devil; and to continue Christ's life's end. Amen. faithful soldier and servant unto his Then shall the Priest say, EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these persons are regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty accord make our prayers unto him, that God for these benefits, and with one they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling. UR Father, which art in heaven, Thy dom conie Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. E LMIGHTY, everliving God, whose yield thee humble thanks. O most dearly beloved Son Jesus heavenly Father, that thou hast Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, Vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge did shed out of his most precious side of thy grace, and faith in thee; Increase both water and blood, and gave com- this knowledge, and confirm this faith in mandment to his disciples, that they us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to should go teach all natious, aud baptize these persons; that, being now born them In the Name of the Father, the again, and made heirs of everlasting Son, and the Holy Ghost; Regard, we salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, beseech thee, the supplications of this they may continue thy servants, and atcongregation sanctify this Water to the tain thy promises; through the same mystical washing away of sin; and grant Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth that the persons now to be baptized and reigneth with thee, in the unity therein may receive the fulness of thy of the same Holy Spirit, everlastingly. grace, and ever remain in the number Amen. of thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Priest take each person to be baptized by the right hand, and placing him conveniently by the Font, Cecording to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the Then, all standing up, the Priest chall use this Exhortation followig: speaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first. FORASMUCH as these persons have promised in your presence to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your part and duty to put them in mind, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession they have now made before this congregation, and especially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call upon them to use all diligence to be rightly instructed in God's holy Word; that so they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live godly, righteously, and soberly in this present world. (And then, speaking to the new bap tized persons, he shall proceed, and any,) AND as for you, who have now by Bap. tism put on Christ, it is your part and duty also, being made the children of God and of the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light; remembering always that Raptism representeth unto us our profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him; that as he died, and rose again for us: so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceed ing in all virtue and godliness of living 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. if any persons not baptized in their infancy shall be brought to be baptized before they come to years of discretion to answer for themselves; it may suffice to use the Office for Publick Baptism of Infants, or (in case of extreme danger) the Office for Private Baptism; only changing the word [Infant) for [Child or Person] as occasion requireth. A CATECHISM, THAT IS TO SAY, AN INSTRUCTION TO BE LEARNED OF EVERY PERSON, BEFORE HE BE BROUGHT TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE BISHOP. Question. Who gave you this Name? Answer. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. Question. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you? Answer. They did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, aud walk in the same all the days of my life. Question. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee? Ansiver Yes verily; and by God's help so I will And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end. Catechist. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief. Answer. BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his ouly Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church: The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen. Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief? Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world. III Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain. IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it. V. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. VI. Thou shalt do no murder. VII Thou shalt not commit adultery. VIII Thou shalt not steal. IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. Answer. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour. Question. What is thy duty towards God? Answer. My duty towards God, is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life. Question What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour? Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do to all men, as I would they should do unto we: To love, honour, and succour my fa ther and mother: To honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him: To submit myself to all my governours, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt no body by word nor deed To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Nause. Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into tempta tion; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Question. What desirest thou of God. in this Prayer? Answer. I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to send his grace unto me, and to all people; that we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we ought to What dost thou chiefly learn by these do. And I pray unto God, that he will Commandments? Question. send us all things that be needful both |