tion of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then the Minister shall say as follows: or else shall pass on to the questions addressed to the Sponsors; and from thence to the Prayer immediately before the Immersion, or the pouring of Water on the Infant. But note; that, in every Church, the intermediate parts of the Service shail be used, once at least in every month (if there be a Baptism) for the better instructing of the people in the Grounds of Infant Baptism. Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the thirteenth verse. TH HEY brought young children to Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those who 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 : ВЕЛ ELOVED, 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 who would have kept them from him; how he exhorteth all men to follow their innocency. Ye perceive how, by his outward gesture and deed, he declared his good will towards 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 embrace him with the arms of his mercy; 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 ours, in bringing this Infant to this holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say, A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee 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 may be born again, and be made an heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Then shall the Minister speak unto the God-fathers and Godmothers in this wise: DE EARLY beloved, ye have brought this Child here to be baptized; ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him from sin, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life. Ye have 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. The Minister shall then demand of the Sponsors as follows: the Questions being considered as addressed to them severally, and the answers to be made accordingly. I demand therefore, OST thou, in the name of this Child, renounce D the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh; so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them? Ans. I renounce them all; and by God's help, will endeavour not to follow, nor be led by them. Minis. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles' Creed? Ans. I do. Minis. Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith? Minis. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life? Ans. I will, by God's help. ¶ Then shall the Minister 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 sinful 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 here 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, 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, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify his water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Minister shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the God-fathers and God-mothers, Name this Child. And then, naming it after them, he shall dip it in the Water discreetly, or shall pour Water upon it, saying, N. I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. ¶ Then the Minister shall say, WE receive into VE receive this Child into the Congregation of shall make a Cross up Christ's Flock, and do *sign him with the *Here the Minister sign of the Cross; in token that hereon the Child's forehead. after 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. If those who present the Infant shall desire the sign of the Cross to be omitted, although the Church knows no worthy cause of scruple concerning the same, yet, in that case, the Minister may omit that part of the above which follows the Immersion, or the pouring of Water on the Infant. S Then shall the Minister say, EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is 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 this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning. Then shall be said, all kneeling, UR Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is Heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. T Then shall the Minister say, WE E yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it 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 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 Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then, all standing up, the Minister shall say to the God-fathers and God-mothers this Exhortation following: 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 here made by you. And that he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear Sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide, that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, 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: remembering always, that Baptism doth represent 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 |