CHAPTER II.

FORMS OF SERVICE FOR BAPTISMS.

SECTION I.

A full Service for the Baptism of Children.

The child being brought before the altar by its parents or guardians, the minister shall address them, saying:

Ν

IN presenting this child for consecration to God and his service, you not only signify thereby your faith in the Christian religion, of which baptism is an ordinance, but also your desire that he should enjoy the benefits of early consecration to God, and of special prayer on his behalf by this church and congregation; that, if spared to adult years, he may early know and follow the will of God; may live and die a Christian; and may finally attain to everlasting life in heaven.

But in order to this, it will be your duty, as his parents (or guardians), to teach him early the fear of the Lord; to watch over his education, that he be not led astray by false doctrines; to direct his youthful mind to the Holy Scriptures, and his feet to the sanctuary; to restrain him from evil associates and habits; and, as much as in you lieth, to " bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Quest.-Will you endeavor so to do, by the

help of God?

Ans. I will.

Then, turning to the congregation, the minister shall say:
EARLY beloved: Forasmuch as all men

are born in sin, and our Saviour Jesus Christ saith none can enter the kingdom of. God, except he be 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 mercy he will grant to this child that which by nature he cannot have, that he may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and early received into Christ's holy church, and become a lively member of the same.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of

thy great mercy didst save Noah 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 this holy baptism; we beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt look upon this child; wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's church, and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in love, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life; there to reign with thee, world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.

Grant that whosoever is dedicated to thee by our office and ministry may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

A

LMIGHTY, ever-living 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 disciples that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; regard, we beseech thee, the prayers of this thy congregation; sanctify this water for this holy sacrament; and grant that this child now to be baptized may receive the fullness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE

¶ Then the minister, rising, shall say:

HEY brought young children to Christ, that he should put his hands upon them. and pray. 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, and put his hands upon them and blessed them.

¶ Then the minister shall take the child in his arms, and, calling its name, shall baptize it, saying:

N.,

I

BAPTIZE thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The services may then be concluded by extemporaneous prayer, or the benediction.

SECTION II.

A new and concise Service for the Baptism of Children.* The child being brought before the altar by its parents or guardians, the minister shall address them, saying:

IN

N presenting this child for consecration to God and his service, you not only signify thereby your faith in the Christian religion, of which Baptism is an ordinance, but also your desire that he should enjoy the benefits of early

*This service is designed to exclude the idea of baptismal regeneration. The prayer is taken mainly from a Revised Ritual for the Methodist Episcopal Church, prepared in 1857, by a committee of the General Conference, of which Dr. MCCLINTOCK was chairman, but which was never adopted or published, except for private examination.

consecration to God, and of special prayer on his behalf by this church and congregation; that, if spared to adult years, he may early know and follow the will of God; may live and die a Christian; and may finally attain to everlasting life in heaven."

But in order to this, it will be your duty, as his parents (or guardians), to teach him early the fear of the Lord; to watch over his education, that he be not led astray by false doctrines; to direct his youthful mind to the Holy Scriptures, and his feet to the sanctuary; to restrain him from evil associates and habits; and, as much as in you lieth, to "bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Quest.-Will you endeavor so to do, by the

help of God?

Ans.-I will.

¶ Then shall the minister say to the congregation :

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the thirteenth verse:

HEY brought young children to Christ,

THE

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.