gregation; sanctify this 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 and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Priest shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers, Name this Child. And then naming it after them (if they shall certify him that the Child may well endure it) he shall dip it in the Water discrectly and warily, saying, NI baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. But if they certify that the Child is weak, it shall suffice to pour Water upon it, saying the foresaid words, N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then the Priest shall say, WE receive this Child into the upon the Child's congregation of Christ's flock, *and do sign him with Here the Priest the sign of the Cross, shall make a Cross in token that hereafter forehead. 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. Then shall the Priest 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; Oven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be UR Father, Which art in hea done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Then shall the Priest say, We merciful Father, that it E yield Thee hearty thanks, 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 Priest shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation following. NORASMUCH as this Child hath 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, in the vulgar tongue, 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 baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. add and say, YChild be brought to the Bishop is certain by God's Word, that Children which are baptized, dying before they commit To take away all scruple concerning the use of the sign of the Cross in Baptism; the true explication thereof, and the just reasons for the retaining of it, may be seen in the xxxth Calon, first published in the Year MDCIV. THE MINISTRATION OF PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN IN HOUSES. The Curates of every Parish shall often admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after leir birth, or other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved by the Curate. ¶ And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion: First, let the Minister of the Parish (or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured) with them that are present call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed to be said before in the Form of Publick Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then, the Child being named by some one that is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words; N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then, all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say, E yield Thee hearty thanks, W 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 we humbly beseech Thee to grant, that as he is How made partaker of the death of Thy Son, so he may be also of His resurrection; and that finally, with the residue of Thy Saints, he may inherit Thine everlasting kingdom; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again. Yet nevertheless, if the Child, which is after this sort baptizal, do afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the Church, to the intent that, if the Minister of the same Parish did himself baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism, by him privately before used: In which case he shall say thus, CERTIFY you, that according to the due and prescribed Order at such a place, before divers witof the Church, at such a time, and nesses I baptized this Child. E But if the Child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, then the Minister of the Parish, where the Child was born or christened, shall examine and try whether the Child be lawfully baptized, or no. In which cise, if those that bring any Child to the Church do answer, that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the Minister examine them further, saying, After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gos pel the words of our Saviour Christ, that He commanded the children to be brought unto Him; how that BY whom was this child baptized? kept them from Hinat would have Child was baptized? Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted through fear or haste, in such times of extremity; therefore I demand further of you, With what matter was this Child baptized? With what words was this Child baptized? And if the Minister shall find by the answers of such as bring the Child, that all things were done as they ought to be: then shall not he christen the Child again, but shall receive him as one of the flock of true christian people, saying thus, CERTIFY you, that in this caseal according unto due order, concerning the baptizing of this Child; who being born in original sin, and in the wrath of God, is now, by the laver of Regeneration in Baptism, received into the number of the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life: for our Lord Jesus Christ doth not deny His grace and mercy unto such Infants, but most lovingly doth call them unto Him, as the holy Gospel doth witness to our comfort on this wise. St. Mark x. 13. HEY brought young children to Christ, that He should tonch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when horted all men to follow their innocency. Ye perceive how by His outward gesture and deed He declared His good will toward 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 hath likewise favourably received this present Infant; that He hath embraced him with the arms of His mercy; and (as He hath promised in His holy Word) 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 His Son Jesus Christ, towards this our heavenly Father, declared by Infant, let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto Him, and say the prayer which the Lord Himself taught us: UR Father, Which art in hea OUR die Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Jesus saw it, He was much dis- ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, pleased, 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 bless 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, being born again, and being made an heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, may continue PRIVATE BAPTISM OF INFANTS. mise; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Then shall the Priest demand the Name of the Child; which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say. OST thou, in the name of this DOT all his works, the vain pomp and glory of this world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them? Answer. I renounce them all. Minister. OST thou believe in God the Fa and earth? And in Jesus Christ His onlybegotten Son our Lord? And that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that He went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death? Answer. believe. All this I stedfastly Minister. WILT thon then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life? WE Answer. I will. Then the Priest shall say, E receive this Child into the *Here the Priest upon the Child's *and do sign him with fess the faith of Christ crucified, and Then shall the Priest say, ¶Then shall the Priest say, WE Field Thee most 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 buried with Christ in His death, may living unto righteousness, and being 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then, all standing up, the Minister shall make this Exhortation to the Godfathers and Godmothers. F% 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 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 E 2 Ten Commandments, in the vulgar | tongue, 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 alway, 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 affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make such uncertain answers to the Priest's questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was baptized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (which are essential parts of Baptism,) then let the Priest baptize it in the form before appointed for Publick Baptism of Infants; saving that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of words. F thou not already baptized, again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS, AND ABLE TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES. When any such persons, as are of riper years, are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Bishop, or whom he shall appoint for that purpose, a week before at the least, by the Parents, or some other discreet persons; that so due care may be taken for their Examination, whether they be sufficiently instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves with Prayers and Fasting for the receiving of this holy Sacrament. ¶ And if they shall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the people being assembled upon the Sunday or Holy-day appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font immediately after the second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Curate in his discretion shall think fit. And standing there, the Priest shall ask, whether any of the persons here presented be baptized, or no: If they shall answer, No; then shall the Priest say thus, EARLY beloved, forasmuch as in sin, (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh,) and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in sin, committing many actual transgressions; and that our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of His bounteous goodness He will grant to these persons that which by nature they cannot have; that they may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively members of the same. Then shall the Priest say, (And here all the Congregation shall MIGHTY and everlasting God, Who of Thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel Thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby Thy holy Baptism; and by the Baptism of Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst sanctify the element of water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech Thee, for Thine infinite mercies, that Thou wilt mercifully look upon the se Thy servants; wash them and sanc |