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 of this holy Buerament.

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.) 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.

the aid of all that need, the LMIGHTY and immortal God,

helper of all that flee to thee for suc-
cour, 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. Re-
ceive 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.

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.

BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

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

287

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 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 towards these persons, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say,

everlasting

goeth: so is every one that is born A God, heavenly Father, we give

of the Spirit.

ELOVED, ye hear in this Gos

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

Bpel the express words of our more. 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,

Baviour 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, imImediately before his ascension into. heaven, (as we read in the last Chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, who are Go ye into all the world, and preach come hither desiring to rethe Gospel to every creature. He ceive holy Baptism, ye have heard that believeth and is baptized shall how the congregation hath prayed, be saved; but he that believeth not that our Lord Jesus Christ would shall be damned. Which also shew-vouchsafe to receive you and bless eth unto us the great benefit we reap you, to release you of your sins, to thereby. For which cause Saint Pe- give you the kingdom of heaven, ter the Apostle, when upon his first and everlasting life. Ye have heard preaching of the Gospel many were also, that our Lord Jesus Christ pricked at the heart, and said to him hath promised in his holy Word to and the rest of the Apostles, Men grant all those things that we have and brethren, what shall we do? prayed for; which promise he, for replied and said unto them, Repent, his part, will most surely keep and and be baptized every one of you for perform.. 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

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:

288

BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

Question. Dos OST thou renounce the devil 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.

Do

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.
Question.

VILT thou be baptized in this
faith?

Answer. That is my desire.

Question.

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

ALMIGHTY, 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 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,

congregation of Christ's flock;

WILT thou then obedientlyHere the Priest

mandments, and walk in the same
all the days of thy life?
Answer. I will endeavour so to
do, God being my helper.

upon the person's forehead,

and do

with to sign him

the Cross, in token 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 tol continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen.

¶Then shall the Priest say,

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

upon them to use all diligence to he rightly instructed in God's holy

grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live godly, righteously, and soberly in this present world.

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 newe baptized give them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Wo heavenly Father, that thou E yield thee humble thanks, 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 servants, 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,)

AN
ND as for you, who have now
by Baptism put on Christ, it
made the children of God and of the
is your part and duty also, being
light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to
walk answerably to your Christian
calling, and as becometh the chil-
dren 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 right-
cousness; 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 is expedient that every person, thus
ing to the Godfathers and Godmothers
first.

FOR

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

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.

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.

WHAT 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 promíse and vow three things in iny 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

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