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THE MINISTRATION Or

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 ruficiently instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves with Prayers and Fasing 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 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,

Dal men are conceived and born EARLY beloved, forasmuch as in sin, (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 be 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 LMIGHTY 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 thy holy Baptism; and by the Baptism of thy well-beloved 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, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in faith,

charity, may so pass the waves of joyful through hope, and rooted in this troublesome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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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 Bap. tism, 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 everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

LMIGHTY and immortal God,
the

Then shall the people stand up, and the
Priest shall say,

Hear the words of the Gospel, writ-
ten by Saint John, in the third
Chapter, beginning at the first
Verse.

THERE was a man of the Phari

sees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the 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,

BAPTISM OF SUCH AS 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 king dom 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

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ARE OF RIPER YEARS, flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive these present persona, 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 towards these persons, declar. ed by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say,

worth : so is every one that is born A God, heavenly Father, we give goeth: ALMIGHTY and everlasting

of the Spirit.

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Be the express words of our ELOVED, ye hear in this Gos

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

thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith. in thee: Increase this knowledge, more. Give thy holy Spirit to there and confirm this faith in us ever

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:

are

Giove into all the world, and preach W come hither desiring to re

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the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 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 Ishall 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

re

ceive 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, ye 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:

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BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

Question.

and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?

Answer. I renounce them all.

Question.

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?

"Anewer. All this I stedfastly be lieve.

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Then shall the Priest say, MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in these persons may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen.

Grant that all carnal affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them. Amen.

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

Grant that they, being here de

dicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with rewarded, 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 disciples, 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 this congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that the persons now to be baptized therein inay receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number 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, according to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the Name; and then shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying,

N. the Father, and of the Son,

I baptize thee In the Name of

and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

W

Then shall the Priest say, E receive this person into the congregation of Christ's flock; and do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in to

Here the Priest

upon the person's forehead.

ken that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under 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,

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 God for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning.

Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling.

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.

UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed 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 for-And then, speaking to the new baptized give them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

E

O heavenly Father, 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, being now born again, and made heirs of everlasting, salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, they may continue thy serrants, and attain thy promises; through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, everlastingly. Amen.

persons, he shall proceed, and say,) AND as for you, who have now by Baptism put on Christ, it

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 Baptism 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 proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

Then, all standing up, the Priest shall
use this Exhortation following; speak-It
ing to the Godfathers and Godmothers
first.

NORASMUCH as these persons

FOR

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, pro. mise, and profession they have now made before this congregation, and especially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call

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.

WHA

Question.

THAT is your Name? Answer. N. or M. 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

brought thee out of the land of E-
gypt, out of the house of bondage.

Christian Falth. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and 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? Answer. 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 Bellef.
Answer.

I

BELIEVE in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and

earth:

1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my commandments.

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 And in Jesus Christ his only Son labour, and do all that thou hast to do; the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou our Lord, Who was conceived by but the seventh day is the Sabbath the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pi-do no manner of work, thou, and thy late, Was crucified, dead, and bu ried, 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.

son, and thy daughter, thy man-ser-
vant, and thy maid-servant, thy cat-
tle, 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 se-
venth day; wherefore the Lord bless-
ed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church; The Com-ther, V. Honour thy father and thy momunion of Saints; The Forgiveness ther, that thy days may be long in of sins; The Resurrection of the the land which the Lord thy God body; And the Life everlasting. A-giveth thee.

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VI. Thou shalt do no murder.
VII. Thou shalt not commit a-
dultery.

VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false wit-
ness against thy neighbour.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neigh-
bour'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.

Question.

What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?

Answer. I learn two things: my
duty towards God, and my duty to
wards 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

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