Here the Minister is to pray as follows, all kneeling.

(Let us pray.)

ALMIGHTY and everlasting Lord Jesus, who alone dost baptize with the holy spirit and with fire, and who invitest little children to be brought unto thee, that they may receive thy blessing, and be made partakers of thine eternal kingdom; sanctify, we beseech thee, this water to the use which thou hast ordained in thy holy Word, and graciously receive this child now presented before thee to be baptized. Admit him into the fellowship and communion of thy New Church, embrace him with the arms of thy divine mercy, and prepare him for the reception of thy holy spirit; that, being enrolled by baptism among the number of those, who acknowledge the Divinity of thy Humanity, and who rejoice in the glory of thy second advent, he may hereafter deny himself, and take up his cross, by resisting the evils of self-love and the love of the world, and finally through thy assistance overcome all his spiritual enemies. So may he be cleansed from the impurities of his nature, be confirmed in love to thee, and charity towards his neighbour, and at length be prepared for the full enjoyment of thy everlasting kingdom above. Amen.

Then the Minister, after taking the child to be baptized in his arms, is to say to the parents or friends of the child,

Name this Child.

And then, naming it after them, he is to sprinkle the water on the child's forehead, saying,

I BAPTIZE thee in the name of the Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who alone is the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

And then, putting his hand upon the child's head, he pronounces the following blessing, from Numbers vi. 24 to

26.

THE Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Then, returning the child, and after having severally baptized and blessed all the children presented, in manner as above, the Minister is to say,

WE receive this child into the congregation of the New Church, that he may hereafter be initiated into the acknowledgment and true worship of the Lord, according to the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem. And as there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, so let us rejoice on earth, that it has pleased the Lord to add to the number of those, who, by the baptism of repentance and regeneration, may finally inherit the crown of everlasting life.

Then the Minister gives the following Exhortation to the parents or friends of the child. I EARNESTLY exhort you, who have the care of this child, to take charge of his education, and, as far as lies in your power, to see that he be properly instructed in the principles of the true christian religion. Let him be well acquainted with the holy Word, and with the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem. But particularly teach him the necessity of shunning continually all evils as sins against God, and, by renouncing the loves of self and the world, of loving the Lord above all things, and his neighbour as himself. So will you be providing for his happiness in this life, and for his eternal salvation in the world to come.

Then the Minister is to repeat the following Thanksgiving and Prayer, all kneeling. WE give thee most humble and sincere thanks, O heavenly Father, that thou hast been graciously pleased to accept our service at this time, and to receive this child into the congregation of thy New Church on earth. As he grows in stature, may he grow in the knowledge and love of thee and thy kingdom. Support him in the future hour of temptation; give him power over all his spiritual enemies; and, after having followed thy footsteps in the regeneration, may he finally be received into thy new angelic heaven, to glorify and praise thee for ever and ever. Amen.

After which, the Lord's Prayer, as in Matthew vi. v. 9 to 13, may be repeated by all, still kneeling.

OUR Father, who art in the heavens; hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also upon earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

And lastly the Minister standing up, concludes with the following Benediction, from Apoc.

xxii. 21.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

BAPTISM OF ADULTS.

A basin of pure water being provided, and the person or persons to be baptized being present, the Minister reads as follows.

FORASMUCH as the order wherein man was originally created, has been perverted and destroyed by the abuse of his free-will, in consequence of which we are all born in the love of self and of the world; and since no one can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated, and born again of water and of the spirit, that is, by the truths of faith, and a life in conformity to them; therefore baptism was instituted by the Lord as a sign and memorial that man may be purified from his evils and falses, and thereby become regenerate. Thus the Lord was pleased to suffer himself to be baptized by John, in token that his Humanity was to be glorified; for hereby was all righteousness fulfilled in his own divine person.

By the waters of baptism are also signified temptations, or spiritual conflicts against evils and falses; for purification and regeneration can only be effected by means of temptations. And inasmuch as baptism is for a sign and memorial of such things, therefore it may lawfully be administered to infants, or, if neglected at that age, to adults.