toward God, and my duty toward my neighbor. give us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Quest. What desirest thou of God, in this prayer ? Quest. What is thy duty toward GOD ? Ans. My duty toward GOD is, to believe in him; to fear him; and to love him with all my heart, with all Ans. I desire my LORD GOD, our my mind, with all my soul, and with heavenly Father, who is the giver of all my strength; to worship him; all goodness, to send his grace unto to give him thanks; to put my whole me and to all people; that we may trust in him; to call upon him; to worship him, serve him, and obey honor his holy name and his word; him, as we ought to do: and I pray and to serve him truly all the days of unto GOD, that he will send us all my life. Quest. What is thy duty toward thy neighbor ? things that are needful both for our souls and bodies; and that he will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our Ans. My duty toward my neigh- sins; and that it will please him to bor is, to love him as myself, and to save and defend us in all dangers do to all men as I would they should both of soul and body; and that he do unto me: to love, honor, and suc- will keep us from all sin and wickedcor my father and mother to honor ness, and from our spiritual enemy, and obey the civil authority: to sub- and from everlasting death: and this mit myself to all my governors, teach- I trust he will do of his mercy and ers, spiritual pastors, and masters: to goodness, through our Lord JESUS order myself lowly and reverently to CHRIST; and therefore I say, Amen : all my betters: to hurt nobody by So be it. word or deed: to be true and just in all my dealings: 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 labor truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please GOD to call me. Catechist. My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of GOD, and to serve him, without his special grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear, therefore, if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer. Answer. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And for Question. HOW many Sacraments hath CHRIST ordained in his Church? Ans. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Quest. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament? Ans. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, given unto us; ordained by CHRIST himself; as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof. Quest. How many parts are there in a Sacrament? Ans. Two; the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace. Quest. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism? Ans. Water; wherein the person is baptized, In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Quest. What is the inward and spiritual grace? Ans. A death unto sin, and a new 'birth unto righteousness: for being by Ans. Bread and wine, which the LORD hath commanded to be received. nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace. Quest. What is required of persons to be baptized? Ans. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and faith, whereby they steadfastly believe the promises of GOD made to them in that Sacrament. Quest. Why then are infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them? Ans. Because they promise them both by their sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform. Quest. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained? Ans. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of CHRIST, and of the benefits which we receive thereby. Quest. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper? Quest. What is the inward part or thing signified? Ans. The body and blood of CHRIST, which are spiritually taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper. Quest. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby ? Ans. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of CHRIST, as our bodies are by the bread and wine. Quest. What is required of those who come to the Lord's Supper ? Ans. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy, through CHRIST, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all The Minister of every parish shall diligently upon Sundays and Holy days, or on some other convenient occasions, openly in the church, instruct or examine so many children of his parish, sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism. And all fathers, mothers, masters, and mistresses shall cause their children, servants, and apprentices, who have not learned their Catechism, to corne to the church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear, and to be ordered by the Minister, until such time as they have all that is here appointed for them to learn. men. ave learned So soon as children are come to a competent age, and can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism, they shall be brought to the Bishop. And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Minister linister of every parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then hath thought good to order, that none confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop, he, or some other Minister shall be confirmed, but such as can appointed by him, shall read this preface fol- say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and lowing: TO the end that confirmation may can also answer to such other quesbe ministered to the more edifying of tions, as in the short Catechism are such as shall receive it, the Church contained: which order is very con. venient to be observed; to the end LORD, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying, that children, being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their godfathers and godmothers promised for them in baptism, may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that, by the grace thine for ever, and daily increase in of GOD, they will evermore endeavor themselves faithfully to observe such things as they, by their own confession, have assented unto. Then shall the Bishop say, DO ye here, in the presence of GOD, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your baptism; ratifying and confirming the same; and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which ye then undertook, or your sponsors then undertook for you? And every one shall audibly answer Bishop. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everliving GOD, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate DEFEND, O LORD, this thy child [or, this thy servant] with thy hea. venly grace; that he may continue thy HOLY SPIRIT more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdóm. Amen. Then shall the Bishop say, The LORD be with you. ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who makest us both to will and to do those things which are good, and acceptable unto thy divine majesty; we make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy apostles, we have now laid our hands; to certify them, by this sign, of thy favor and gracious goodness toward them. Let thy Fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them: Let thy HOLY SPIRIT ever be with them: these thy servants by water and the and so lead them in the knowledge HOLY GHOST, and hast given unto and obedience of thy word, that in the them forgiveness of all their sins; end they may obtain everlasting life, strengthen them, we beseech thee, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST; O LORD, with the HOLY GHOST, the who, with thee and the HOLY GHOST, Comforter; and daily increase in liveth and reigneth ever one GOD them thy manifold gifts of grace; the world without end.. Amen. spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly O ALMIGHTY LORD, and everstrength, the spirit of knowledge and lasting GOD, vouchsafe, we beseech true godliness; and fill them, Ol thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Bans in churches, or by License, being different in the several States; every Minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Bans are published, it shall be in the following form:-I publish the Bans of Marriage between M. of, and N. of. If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. [This is the first, second, or third time of asking.] At the day and time appointed for Solemniza- otherwise than as GOD's word doth tion of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbors; and there standing together, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, the Minister shall say, allow, their marriage is not lawful. The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the proposed Marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemnification; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the Man, M. WILT thou have this woman DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of GOD, and in the face of this company, to join to- to thy wedded wife, to live together gether this man and this woman in after God's ordinance, in the holy holy matrimony; which is commend- estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love ed of St. Paul to be honorable among her, comfort her, honor, and keep all men; and therefore is not by any her, in sickness and in health; and, to be entered into unadvisedly or forsaking all others, keep thee only lightly; but reverently, discreetly, unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of GOD. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. And also speaking unto the persons who are to be married, he shall say, I REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it: for be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together I will. The man shall answer, Then the Minister shall say unto the woman, thy wedded husband, to live together keep him, in sickness and in health; forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? I will. The woman shall answer, Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth this woman to be mai. ried to this man? Then shall they give their troth to each other lead us not into temptation; But de in this manner: The Minister receiving the woman at her father's or friend's hands, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth: I M. take thee N. to my wedded liver us from evil. Amen. O ETERNAL GOD, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life; send thy blessing upon wife, to have and to hold, from this these thy servants, this man and this day forward, for better for worse, for woman, whom we bless in thy name; richer for poorer, in sickness and in that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithhealth, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to GOD's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman with her right hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister, I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to fully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (where. of this ring given and received is a token and pledge) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace toge ther, and live according to thy laws, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Minister join their right hands., together, and say,. Those whom God hath joined to obey, till death us do part, according gether, let no man put asunder. to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman a ring. And the Minister taking the ring shall deliver it unto the man, to put it at it upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand. And the man holding the ring there, and taught by the Minister, shall say, Then shall the Minister speak unto the company: FORASMUCH as M. and N. have. consented together in holy wedlock,, and have witnessed the same before GOD and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a WITH this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee en- ring, and by joining hands; I pro dow: In the name of the FATHER, nounce, that they are man and wife; and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. Then the man leaving the ring upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand, the Minister shall say, Let us pray. in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. And the Minister shall add this blessing: GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the HOLY GHOST, bless, preOUR Father, who art in heaven; serve, and keep you: The Lord mer. Hallowed be thy Name; Thy king- cifully with his favor look upon you, dom come; Thy will be done on and fill you with all spiritual beneearth, as it is in heaven; Give us diction and grace; that ye may so this day our daily bread; And for- live together in this life, that in the give us our trespasses, as we forgive world to come ye may have life everthose who trespass against us; And lasting. Amen. |