CHRIST'S Church; and being that thou art a teacher come steadfast in faith, joyful through from God; for no man can do hope, and rooted in charity, these miracles that thou doest, may so pass the waves of this except God be with him. JESUS troublesome world, that finally answered and said unto him, they may come to the land of Verily, verily, I say unto thee, everlasting life; there to reign Except a man be born again, with thee, world without end, he cannot see the kingdom through JESUS CHRIST Our of GOD. Nicodemus saith Lord. Amen. T Or this. unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his ALMIGHTY and immortal mother's womb, and be born? GOD, the aid of all who need, JESUS answered, Verily, verily, the helper of all who flee to I say unto thee, Except a man thee for succour, the life of be born of water and of the those who believe, and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into resurrection of the dead; we call upon thee for these persons, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of their sins, by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, O LORD, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: so give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open the After which he shall say this Exhortation gate unto us who knock; that these persons may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by CHRIST Our Lord. Amen. the kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the SPIRIT, is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the SPIRIT. following: BELOVED, ye hear in this gospel the express words of our Saviour CHRIST, that, except a man be born of water and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last chapter of Saint Mark's gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth, Amen. and is baptized, shall be saved; fully and devoutly give thanks but he that believeth not, shall to him, and say, be damned: which also showeth ALMIGHTY and everlasting unto us the great benefit we GOD, heavenly Father, we give reap thereby. For which cause thee humble thanks, for that Saint Peter the Apostle, when thou hast vouchsafed to call us upon his first preaching of the to the knowledge of thy grace, Gospel many were pricked at and faith in thee: increase this the heart, and said to him and knowledge, and confirm this the rest of the apostles, Men faith in us evermore. Give and brethren, what shall we do? thy HOLY SPIRIT to these replied, and said unto them, persons, that they may be born Repent and be baptized every again, and be made heirs of one of you, for the remission everlasting_salvation, through of sins, and ye shall receive our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who the gift of the HOLY GHOST: liveth and reigneth with thee For the promise is to you and and the HOLY SPIRIT, now and your children, and to all that for ever. are afar off, even as many as T Then the Minister shall speak to the the LORD our GoD shall call. persons to be baptized on this wise: And with many other words WELL-BELOVED, who are exhorted he them, saying, Save come hither desiring to receive yourselves from this untoward holy Baptism, ye have heard generation. For, as the same how the Congregation_hath apostle testifieth in another prayed, that our Lord JESUS place, even baptism doth also CHRIST Would vouchsafe now save us, (not the putting receive you and bless you, to away of the filth of the flesh, release you of your sins, to but the answer of a good con- give you the kingdom of heaven, science towards GOD,) by the and everlasting life, Ye have resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. heard also that our Lord JESUS Doubt ye not therefore, but CHRIST hath promised in his earnestly believe, that he will holy word, to grant all those favourably receive these present things that we have prayed persons, truly repenting, and for; which promise he, for his coming unto him by faith; that part, will most surely keep and he will grant them remission of perform. Wherefore, after their sins, and bestow upon this promise made by CHRIST, them the HOLY GHOST; that he ye must also faithfully, for will give them the blessing of your part, in the presence of eternal life, and make them these your witnesses, and this partakers of his everlasting whole Congregation, promise kingdom. and answer to the following questions. Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward these persons, declared by his Son JESUS CHRIST, let us faith to The Minister shall then demand of the persons to be baptized as follows; the questions being considered as addressed to them severally, and the answers to be made accordingly. Question. everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed LORD GOD, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. DOST thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh; so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them? Answer. I renounce them all; and, by GoD's help, will endeavour not to follow, nor water and blood; and gave be led by them. Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. ALMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son JESUS CHRIST, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST; regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that the persons, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Minister take each person to be baptized by the right hand; and placing him conveniently by the Font, according to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the name; and then shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying, N. I baptize thee in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. Then shall the Minister say, after he shall not be ashamed Grant that they, being here to confess the faith of CHRIST dedicated to thee by our office crucified, and manfully to fight and ministry, may also be en-under his banner, against sin, dued with heavenly virtues, and the world, and the devil; and to continue CHRIST's faithful | T Then, all standing up, the Minister shall T The same rule, as to the omission of the sign of the cross, is to be observed here, as in the Baptism of Infants. Then the Minister shall say, use this Exhortation following; speaking FORASMUCH as these per- GOD, and to serve him; ye SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these persons are regenerate, and grafted into the body of CHRIST's Church; let us give thanks unto ALMIGHTY promise, and profession, they GOD for these benefits, and with have now made before this one accord make our prayers congregation, and especially unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. before you their chosen wit- AND as for you, who have now by baptism put on CHRIST, it is your part and duty also, being made the children of GoD WE yield thee humble thanks, and of the light, by faith in O heavenly Father, that thou JESUS CHRIST, to walk answerhast vouchsafed to call us to ably to your Christian calling, the knowledge of thy grace, and as becometh the children and faith in thee: increase this of light; remembering always, knowledge, and confirm this that Baptism representeth unto faith in us evermore. Give thy us our profession; which is, holy Spirit to these persons; to follow the example of our that being now born again, and Saviour CHRIST, and to he made heirs of everlasting sal-made like unto him; that as he vation, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST, they may continue thy servants, and attain thy promises, through the same Lord JESUS CHRIST thy Son; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same HOLY SPIRIT, everlastingly. Amen. died, and rose again for us, so Ε E ¶ It is expedient that every person thus baptized should be confirmed by the Bishop, so soon after his baptism as conveniently may be; that so he may be admitted to the Holy Communion. ¶ Whereas necessity may require the baptizing of adults in private houses, in consideration of extreme sickness; the same is hereby allowed in that case. And a convenient number of persons shall be assembled in the house where the Sacrament is to be performed. And in the exhortation, Well-beloved, &c. instead of these words, come hither desiring, shall be inserted this word, desirous. If there be occasion for the Office of Infant Baptism and that of Adults at the same time, the Minister shall use the exhortation and one of the prayers next following in the Office for Adults; only, in the exhortation and prayer, after the words, these persons, and these thy servants, adding, and these infants. Then the Minister shall proceed to the questions to be demanded in the cases respectively. After the immersion, or the pouring of water, the prayer shall be as in this service; only, after the words, these persons, shall be added, and these infants. After which the remaining part of each service shall be used; first that for Adults, and lastly that for Infants. T If any persons, not baptized in their infancy, shall be brought to be baptized before they come to years of discretion to answer for themselves, it may suffice to use the Office for Public Baptism of Infants; or, in case of extreme danger, the Office for Private Baptism; only changing the word infant, for child, or person, as occasion requireth. A CATECHISM; THAT IS TO SAY, AN INSTRUCTION, TO BE LEARNED BY EVERY PERSON BEFORE HE BE BROUGHT TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE BISHOP. Question. WHAT is your name? name? Ans. My Sponsors in Baptism; wherein I was made a member of CHRIST, the child of GoD, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. Quest. What did your sponsors then for you? walk in the same all the days of my life. Quest. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee? Ans. Yes verily; and by GoD's help so I will: and I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through JESUS CHRIST our Saviour: and I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end. Ans. They did promise and vow three things in my name: First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh; Secondly, that I should believe all the articles of I BELIEVE in GOD the the Christian faith; And thirdly, Father Almighty, Maker of that I should keep GoD's holy heaven and earth: Catechist. Rehearse the articles of thy Belief. Answer. will and commandments, and And in JESUS CHRIST his |