them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the children to be brought unto him; how he blamed those that would have kept them from him; how he exhorteth all men ceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will toward them; for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will likewise favourably receive this present Infant; that he will em heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things that ye have prayed for: which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, this Infant must also faithfully, for his part, promise by you that are his sureties, (until he come of age to take it upon himself,) that he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments. I demand therefore, DOST thou, in the name of this heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall comme again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead? brace him with the arms of his mer-DOT thou believe in God the ey; that he will give unto him the blessing of eternal life, and make him partaker of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards this Infant, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubting but that he favourably alloweth this charitable work of our's In bringing this Infant to his holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee 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 this Infant, that he may be born again, and be made an heir of everlasting salva. And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death? Answer. All this I stedfastly believe. tion, through our Lord Jesus Christ, faith? who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Answer. That is my desire. Then shall the Priest speak unto the God-WILT thou will and command fathers and Godmothers on this wise. DEARLY beloved, ye have monts, and walk in the same all the brought this Child here to be baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him of his sins, to sanctify him with the holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have days of thy life? Then shall the Priest say, MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen. Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen. and the devil; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen. Then shall the Priest say, EEING now, dearly beloved Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to tri-brethren, that this Child is regeumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. Grant that whosoever is here de. Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly re: warded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen. LMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his dis. ciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy con nerate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our lead the rest of his life according to prayers unto him, that this Child may this beginning. Then shall be said, all kneeling; OUR Father, which art in hea ven, Hallowed be thy Name. 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 temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Then shall the Priest say, yield thee hearty thanks, gregation; sanctify this Water to the WE most merciful Father, that it mystical washing away of sin; and hath pleased thee to regenerate this grant that this Child, now to be bap- Infant with thy holy Spirit, to retized therein, may receive the ful-ceive him for thine own Child by aness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Priest shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers, Name this Child. And then naming it after them (if they shall certify him that the Child may well endure it) he shall dip it in the Water discreetly and warily, saying, I the doption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he be an inheritor thine ever N. of the Father, and of the Son, lasting kingdom; through Christ our and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. But if they certify that the Child is weak, it shall suffice to pour Water upon it, saying the foresaid words, I baptize Name Lord. Amen. Then, all standing up, the Priest shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation following. N.ether, and of the Son, FORASMUCH as this Child hath of and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then the Priest shall say, W congregation of Christ's promised by you his sureties to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your and do sign him fant be taught, so soon as he shall be Here the Priest with the sign of able to learn, what a solemn vow, shall make a Cross the Cross, in token promise, and profession, he hath here upon the Child's forehead. that hereafter he made by you. And that he may know shall not be a- these things the better, ye shall call shamed to confess the faith of Christ upon him to hear Sermons; and chiefcrucified, and manfully to fight un-ly ye shall provide, that he may learn der his banner, against sin, the world, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a christian life; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. Then shall he add and say, E are to take care that this Child doth represent unto us our profes-Y be brought to the Bishop to be sion; which is, to follow the exam-confirmed by him, so soon as he can ple of our Saviour Christ, and to be say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, made like unto him, that, as he and the Ten Commandments, in died, and rose again for us, so should the vulgar tongue, and be further we, who are baptized, die from sin, instructed in the Church-Catechism and rise again unto righteousness; set forth for that purpose. I T is certain by God's Word, that Children which are baptized, dying before they commit actual sin, are undoubtedly saved. To take away all scruple concerning the use of the sign of the Cross in Baptism; the true explication thereof, and the just reasons for the retaining of it, may be seen in the xxxth Canon, first published in the Year MDCIV. THE MINISTRATION OF PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN IN HOUSES. The Curates of avery Parish shall often admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved by the Curate. And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion: First, let the Minister of the Parish (or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured) with them that are present call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed to be said before in the Form of Publick Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then, the Child being named by some one that is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words N.I baptize thee In the Name of through the same thy Son Jesus the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then, all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say, Christ our Lord. Amen. And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again. Yet nevertheless, if the Child, which is after this sort baptized, do afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the Church, to the intent that, if the Minister of the same Parish did himself baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism, by him primately be fore used: In which case he shall say thus, to the due and prescribed Order CERTIFY you, that according of the Church, at such a time, and at such a place, before divers witnesses I baptized this Child. But if the Child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, then the Minister of the Parish, where the Child was born or christened, shall examine and try whether the Child be larefully oaptized, or no. In which case, if those that bring any Child to the Church do answer, that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the Minister examine them further, saying, dren to be brought unto him; how he blamed those that would have! kept them from him; how he exhorted all men to follow their inno cency. Ye perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will toward them; for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed BY whom was this Child baptized them believe, that he hate, hat Who was present when this Child was baptized? Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted through fear or haste, in such times of extremity; therefore I demand further of you, With what matter was this Child baptized? With what words was this Child baptized? And if the Minister shall find by the answers of such as bring the Child, that all things were done as they ought to be; then shall not he christen the Child again, but shall receive him as one of the flock of true christian people, saying thus, CERTIFY you, that in this case all is well done, and according unto due order, concerning the baptizing of this Child; who being born in original sin, and in the wrath of God, is now, by the laver of Regeneration in Baptism, received into the number of the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life: for our Lord Jesus Christ doth not deny his grace and mercy unto such Infants, but most lovingly doth call them unto him, as the holy Gospel doth witness to our comfort on this wise. St. Mark x. 13. THEY brought young children to Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the chil earnestly believe, that he hath likewise favourably received this present Infant; that he hath embraced him with the arms of his mercy; and (as he hath promised in his holy Word) will give unto him the blessing of eternal life, and make him partaker of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father, declared by his Son Jesus Christ, towards this Infant, let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say the Prayer which the Lord himself taught us: ΟΙ UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. 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 temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. A heavenly Father, we give thee ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, humble thanks, 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 this Infant, that he, being born a gain, and being made an heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, may continue thy servant, and attain thy promise; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Then shall the Priest demand the Name of the Child; which being by the Godfa thers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say, Minister. OST thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death? Answer. All this I stedfastly believe. Minister. W God's holy will and command. Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then, all standing up, the Minister shall make this Exhoriation to the Godfathers and Godmothers. ORASMUCH as this Child hath promised by you his sureties to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession he hath made by you. And that he may know these go hear sermons; and chiefly se things the better, ye shall call upon shall provide, that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe W to Here the Priest shall make a Cr upon the Child's forehead. Then the Priest shall say, E receive this Child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him Child may be virtuously brought up with the sign of to lead a godly and a christian life; the Cross, in token remembering alway, that Baptism that hereafter he doth represent unto us our professhall not be a- sion; which is, to follow the examshamed to confess the faith of Christ ple of our Saviour Christ, and to be crucified, and manfully to fight un-made like unto him; that, as he died, der his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen. ¶Then shall the Priest say, SEEING this Bag EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is by Baptism regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that he may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning. Then shall the Priest say, WE yield the most hearty thanks, hath pleased thee to regenerate this Infant with thy holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy most merciful Father, that it 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 proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make such uncertain answers to the Priest's questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was bap tized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (which are essential parts of Baptism,) then let the Priest baptize it in the form before appointed for Pub lick Baptism of Infants; sucing that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of words. F I. I baptize thee In the Name of |