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his place, professing his earnest desire that the child may be baptized.

Before baptism, the minister is to use some words of instruction, touching the institution, nature, use, and ends of this sacrament: shewing,

"That it is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ: That it " is a seal of the covenant of grace, of our ingrafting into "Christ, and of our union with him, of remission of sins, "regeneration, adoption, and life eternal: That the water, " in baptism, representeth and signifieth both the blood of "Christ, which taketh away all guilt of sin, original and " actual; and the sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ " against the dominion of sin, and the corruption of our

sinful nature: That baptizing, or sprinkling and washing " with water, signifieth the cleansing from sin by the blood " and for the merit of Christ, together with the mortifica" tion of sin, and rising from sin to newness of life, by virtue " of the death and resurrection of Christ: That the promise " is made to believers and their seed; and that the seed and

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posterity of the faithful, born within the church, have, by "their birth, interest in the covenant, and right to the seal " of it, and to the outward privileges of the church, under "the gospel, no less than the children of Abraham in the "time of the Old Testament; the covenant of grace, for "substance, being the same; and the grace of God, and the "consolation of believers, more plentiful than before: That "the Son of God admitted little children into his presence, " embracing and blessing them, saying, For of such is the "kingdom of God: That children, by baptism, are solemnly "received into the bosom of the visible church, distinguished "from the world, and them that are without, and united with "believers; and that all who are baptized in the name of "Christ, do renounce, and by their baptism are bound to "fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh: That "they are Christians, and federally holy before baptism, and " therefore are they baptized: That the inward grace and "virtue of baptism is not tied to that very moment of time " wherein it is administered; and that the fruit and power "thereof reacheth to the whole course of our life; and that " outward baptism is not so necessary, that, through the "want thereof, the infant is in danger of damnation, or the

" parents guilty, if they do not contemn or neglect the or"dinance of Christ, when and where it may be had."

In these, or the like instructions, the minister is to use his own liberty and godly wisdom, as the ignorance or errors in the doctrine of baptism, and the edification of the people, shall require.

He is also to admonish all that are present, "To look back to their baptism; to repent of their sins " against their covenant with God; to stir up their faith; " to improve and make right use of their baptism, and of the "covenant sealed thereby betwixt God and their souls."

He is to exhort the parent,

"To consider the great mercy of God to him and his "child; to bring up the child in the knowledge of the " grounds of the Christian religion, and in the nurture and "admonition of the Lord; and to let him know the danger " of God's wrath to himself and child, if he be negligent : "requiring his solemn promise for the performance of his "duty."

This being done, prayer is also to be joined with the word of institution, for sanctifying the water to this spiritual use; and the minister is to pray to this or the like effect:

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"That the Lord, who hath not left us as strangers with" out the covenant of promise, but called us to the privile"ges of his ordinances, would graciously vouchsafe to sanc"tify and bless his own ordinance of baptism at this time: "That he would join the inward baptism of his Spirit with "the outward baptism of water; make this baptism to the " infant a seal of adoption, remission of sin, regeneration, " and eternal life, and all other promises of the covenant of grace: That the child may be planted into the likeness of "the death and resurrection of Christ; and that, the body of sin being destroyed in him, he may serve God in new"ness of life all his days."

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Then the minister is to demand the name of the child; which being told him, he is to say, (calling the child by his name,)

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

As he pronounceth these words, he is to baptize the child with water: which, for the manner of doing of it, is not only lawful, but sufficient, and most expedient to be, by pour

ing or sprinkling of the water on the face of the child, without adding any other ceremony.

This done, he is to give thanks and pray, to this or the like purpose:

"Acknowledging with all thankfulness, that the Lord is "true and faithful in keeping covenant and mercy: That he " is good and gracious, not only in that he numbereth us " among his saints, but is pleased also to bestow upon our " children this singular token and badge of his love in Christ: "That, in his truth and special providence, he daily bringeth " some into the bosom of his church, to be partakers of "his inestimable benefits, purchased by the blood of his "dear Son, for the continuance and increase of his church.

"And praying, That the Lord would still continue, and " daily confirm more and more, this his unspeakable favour: "That be would receive the infant now baptized, and so" lemnly entered into the household of faith, into his father"ly tuition and defence, and remember him with the fa

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vour that he sheweth to his people; that, if he shall be "taken out of this life in his infancy, the Lord, who is rich " in mercy, would be pleased to receive him up into glory; " and if he live, and attain the years of discretion, that the "Lord would so teach him by his word and Spirit, and " make his baptism effectual to him, and so uphold him by "his divine power and grace, that by faith he may prevail "against the devil, the world, and the flesh, till in the end "he obtain a full and final victory, and so be kept by the " power of God through faith unto salvation, through Jesus "Christ our Lord."

Of the Celebration of the Communion, or Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

T

HE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated; but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning sermon.

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive this sacrament of the Lord's supper.

Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be fre

quently administered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before the administration thereof: and that either then, or on some day of that week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast.

When the day is come for administration, the minister, having ended his sermon and prayer, shall make a short exhortation:

"Expressing the inestimable benefit we have by this sa"crament, together with the ends and use thereof: setting "forth the great necessity of having our comforts and " strength renewed thereby in this our pilgrimage and war"fare: how necessary it is that we come unto it with know"ledge, faith, repentance, love, and with hungering and "thirsting souls after Christ and his benefits: how great the "danger to eat and drink unworthily.

"Next, he is, in the name of Christ, on the one part, to "warn all such as are ignorant, scandalous, profane, or that "live in any sin or offence against their knowledge or con"science, that they presume not to come to that holy table; "shewing them, that he that eateth and drinketh unworthi"ly, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself: and, on "the other part, he is in especial manner to invite and en

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courage all that labour under the sense of the burden of " their sins, and fear of wrath, and desire to reach out unto " a greater progress in grate than yet they can attain unto, "to come to the Lord's table; assuring them, in the same "name, of ease, refreshing, and strength to their weak and "wearied souls.

After this exhortation, warning, and invitation, the table being before decently covered, and so conveniently placed, that the communicants may orderly sit about it, or at it, the minister is to begin the action with sanctifying and blessing the elements of bread and wine set before him, (the bread in comely and convenient vessels, so prepared, that, being broken by him, and given, it may be distributed amongst the communicants; the wine also in large cups,) having first, in a few words, shewed that those elements, otherwise com

mon, are now set apart and sanctified to this holy use, by the word of institution and prayer.

Let the words of institution be read out of the Evangelists, or out of the first Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, Chap. xi. 23. I have received of the Lord, &c. to the 27th verse, which the minister may, when he seeth requisite, explain and apply.

Let the prayer, thanksgiving, or blessing of the bread and wine, be to this effect:

" With humble and hearty acknowledgment of the great"ness of our misery, from which neither man nor angel was " able to deliver us, and of our great unworthiness of the "least of all God's mercies; to give thanks to God for all "his benefits, and especially for that great benefit of our re"demption, the love of God the Father, the sufferings and " merits of the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, by which " we are delivered; and for all means of grace, the word " and sacraments; and for this sacrament in particular, by "which Christ, and all his benefits, are applied and sealed up "unto us, which, notwithstanding the denial of them unto " others, are in great mercy continued unto us, after so much " and long abuse of them all.

"To profess, that there is no other name under heaven " by which we can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ, " by whom alone we receive liberty and life, have access to "the throne of grace, are admitted to eat and drink at his " own table, and are sealed up by his Spirit to an assurance " of happiness and everlasting life.

"Earnestly to pray to God, the Father of all mercies, and "God of all consolation, to vouchsafe his gracious presence, ""and the effectual working of his Spirit in us; and so to "sanctify these elements, both of bread and wine, and to " bless his own ordinance, that we may receive by faith the " body and blood of Jesus Christ, crucified for us, and so to "feed upon him, that he may be one with us, and we one " with him; that he may live in us, and we in him, and to " him who hath loved us, and given himself for us."

All which he is to endeavour to perform with suitable affections, answerable to such an holy action, and to stir up the like in the people.

The elements being now sanctified by the word and prayer, the minister, being at the table, is to take the bread

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