of life; that they may daily follow Him, joyfully bearing their cross, and cleave unto Him in true faith, firm hope, and ardent love; that they may, with a comfortable sense of Thy favor, leave this life, which is nothing but a continual death, and at the last day, may appear without terror before the judgment-seat of Christ Thy Son, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One Only God, lives and reigns forever. ΑΜΕΝ. AN EXHORTATION TO THE PARENTS, AND THOSE WHO COME WITH THEM TO BAPTISM. Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have neard that Baptism is an Ordinance of God, to seal unto us and to our seed His Covenant. Therefore it must be used for that end, and not out of custom or superstition. That it may then be manifest that you are thus minded, you are to answer sincerely to these questions: First. Do you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemna tion itself; yet that they are sanctified* in Christ, and therefore, as members of His Church, ought to be baptized? Secondly. Do you acknowledge the doctrine which is contained in the Old and New Testament, and in the Articles of the Christian faith, and which is taught here in this Christian Church, to be the true and perfect† doctrine of salvation? "My children :" Ezek. 16:21. "They are holy :"1 Cor. 7:14. Thirdly. Do you promise and intend to see these children, when come to the years of discretion, instructed and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine, or to help or cause them to be instructed therein, to the utmost of your power? Answer. Yes. Then the Minister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say: I baptize thee, in the name of the Fa ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN. THANKSGIVING. Almighty God and Merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy Beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through Thy Holy Spirit, as members of Thy Only Begotten Son, and adopted us to be Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by Holy Baptism. We beseech Thee, through the same Son of Thy love, that Thou wilt be pleased always to govern these baptized children by Thy Holy Spirit; that they may be piously and religiously educated, increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ; that they then may acknowledge Thy Fatherly goodness and mercy, which Thou hast shown to them and us; and live in all righteousness, under our only Teacher, King, and High-Priest, Jesus Christ; and manfully fight against and overcome sin, the devil, and his whole dominion, to the end that they may eternally praise and magnify Thee, and Thy Son Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost. the One Only True God. AMEN. II. TO ADULT PERSONS. However, children of Christian parents, although they understand not this mystery, must be baptized, by virtue of the Covenant; yet it is not lawful to baptize those who have come to years of discretion, except they first be sensible of their sins, and make confession both of their repentence and their faith in Christ. For this cause not only did John the Baptist preach, according to the command of God, the baptism of repentance, and baptize for the remission of sin, those who confessed their sins, (Mark 1:4); but our Lord Jesus Christ also commanded His disciples to teach all nations, and then to baptize them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, adding this promise: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." According to which rule the Apostles (Acts. 2, 10, 16) baptized none who were of years of discretion, but such as made confession of their faith and repentance. Therefore it is not lawful now to baptize any other adult persons, than such as have been taught the mysteries of Holy Baptism by the preaching of the Gospel, and are able to give an account of their faith by the confession of the mouth. Since therefore you, are also desirous of Holy Baptism, to the end it may be to you a seal of your engrafting into the Church of God: that it may appear that you* do not only receive the Christian religion, in which you have been privately instructed by us, and of which also you have made confession before us, but that you, through the grace of God, intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same; you are sincerely to give answer before God and His Church: First. Dost thou believe in the Only True God, distinct in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Who hath made heaven and earth, and all that in them is, of nothing, and still maintains and governs them, insomuch that nothing comes to pass, either in heaven or on earth, without His. divine will? Answer. Yes. Secondly. Dost thou believe that thou art conceived and born in sin, and therefore art a child of wrath by nature, wholly incapable of doing any good and prone to all evil; and that thou hast fre quently, both in thought, word, and deed, transgressed the commandments of the Lord; and art thou heartily sorry for these sins? Answer. Yes. Thirdly. Dost thou believe that Christ, who is the True and Eternal God, and Very Man, who took His human nature on Him out of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary, is given thee of God, to * When persons who have been baptized in Infancy are also to be received to full communion, the Minister may here add: Together with you also who have been baptized in Infancy. be thy Saviour; and that thou dost receive, by this faith, remission of sins in His blood; and that thou art made, by the power of the Holy Ghost, a member of Jesus Christ and of His Church? Answer. Yes. Fourthly. Dost thou assent to all the Articles of the Christian religion, as they are taught here in this Christian Church, according to the Word of God; and purpose steadfastly to continue in the same doctrine to the end of thy life; and also dost thou reject all heresies and schisms, repugnant to this doctrine, and promise to persevere in the communion of our Christian Church, not only in the hearing of the Word, but also in the use of the Lord's Supper? Answer. Yes. Fifthly. Hast thou taken a firm resolution always to lead a Christian life; to forsake the world and its evil lusts, as is becoming the members of Christ and His Church; and to submit thyself to all Christian admonitions? Answer. Yes. The Good and Great God mercifully grant His grace and blessing to this thy purpose, through Jesus Christ. ΑΜΕΝ. Then the Minister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say: I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, AMEN. THANKSGIVING. Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we give Thec most humble and hearty thanks that Thou |