THE MINISTRATION OF

PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS,

TO BE USED IN THE CHURCH.

IN performing this Service, the Minister must be reminded of the marked change of manner which is absolutely necessary, in order to show the distinction between the supplication to Almighty God, and the address and exhortation to our fellow mortals.

Hath this Child been alréady-baptized, or nò? If they answer No, then shall the Priest proceed as followeth.

Dearly beloved:-forasmuch as all-men are conceived and born in sin, and that our SAVIOUR CHRIST saith (slow) none can enter into the kingdom of Gód, except he be regenerate and born anew' of water and of the Holy GhostI beseech you to call upon the Fáther, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that' of his bounteous mercy', he will grant unto this Child that thing which by nature he cannot háve-that he may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's Holy Church, and be made 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 wáter, and also safely lead the children of Israel' thy people' through the Red Séa, figuring thereby thy Holy Baptism; and by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jórdan, didst sanctify water to the mystical washing-away of sín ;-we beseech-thee' for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon this Child; wash him and sanctify him with thy Holy Ghost: that he being delivered from thy wráth, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity', he may so pass through the waves of this troublesome-world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting-life, there to reign with thee, world without énd,-through Jesus Christ' our Lòrd. -Amen.

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint Mark in the tenth chapter and the thirteenth

verse:

They brought young children to Christ, that he should touch-them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw-it, he was much displeased, and he said unto them, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of them is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall nót ènter-therein." And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upón-them, and blessed-them.

Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ; that he commanded the little

children to be brought unto him; that he blamed those who would have kept them fròm-him; how he exhorteth all-men to follow his èxample. Ye perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will tóward them for he took 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 our's in bringing this infant to his holy Baptism, let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him and say,

Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thée: Increase this knowledge and confirm this faith in us èvermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to this infant, that he may be born agáin, and be made an heir of everlasting salvátion, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for èver.-Amen.

Then shall the Priest speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this wise.

Dearly beloved-ye have brought this Child here to be baptized; ye have prayed' that our

Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receivehim, to reléase-him of his sins, to sanctify-him with the Holy Ghost, to give-him the kingdom of héaven and everlasting life. Ye have heard also' that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things-that-ye-haveprayed-for which promise-He for his part will most surely keep and perfòrm. . 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.

I demand therefore,

Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works; the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires-ofthe same; and the carnal desires of the flésh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be lèd-by-them?

Answer. I renounce them all.

Dost thou believe in God, the Father Almighty? &c. (See p. 67.)

Answer. All this I steadfastly beliève.

Wilt thou be baptized-in-this-faith?
Answer. That is my desire.

Wilt-thou-then' obediently keep God's holy will and commándments, and wálk-in-the-same' all the days of thy lifè ?

Answer. I will.

O merciful God, grànt that the old-Adam in

this Child may be so búried that the new man' may be raised-up-in-him.—Amen.

Grant that all carnal affections may die-in-him, and that àll-things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow-in-hím.—Amen.

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

Grant' that whosoever is here dedicated unto Thée by our office and mínistry'-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 ènd.—Amen.

Almighty and everliving Gód,-whose most dearly beloved Son' Jesus Christ' for the forgiveness of oùr síns 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-(slow) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost-regard' we beseech-thee' the supplications of thy cóngregátion; sanctify this water to the mystical washing-away of sín; 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 and eléct-childrenthrough Jesus Christ, our Lord.-Amen.

Name this Child.

N. I baptize-thee' in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

We receive this child' into the congregation of