I. ORDER OF BAPTISM. 563. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO INFANTS. The Minister coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following, or some other exhortation suitable to this sacred office. Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ saith, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that having of his bounteous mercy redeemed [this child] by the blood of his Son, He will grant that [he] being baptized with water may also be baptized with the Holy Ghost, be received into Christ's holy Church, and become [a lively member] of the same. Then shall the Minister say,-Let us Pray. Almighty 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 hast set apart water for this Holy Sacrament; and who hast condescended to enter into gracious covenant kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Then the Minister shall take the Child in his arms, and say to the parents or friends of the Child, NAME THIS CHILD. And then, naming it after them, he shall baptize the child, saying, Then shall be said, all kneeling, 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 them that trespass against And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from AMEN. us. evil. The Minister may conclude with extempore prayer. 564. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO ADULTS. The Minister shall use the following, or some other exhortation suitable to this holy office. Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born 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 our Saviour Christ saith, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God :—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] being baptized with water, may also be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively [members] of the same. Then shall the Minister say, Almighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee to thee for succour, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for [these persons]; that [they], coming to thy holy baptism, may be filled with the Holy Ghost. 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 that ask; let us that seek find; open the gate unto us that 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. After which he shall say, Almighty and everlasting God, our heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks for 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 [these persons] that [they] may be made [heirs] of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN. O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in [these persons] may be so buried that the new man may be raised up in [them.] AMEN. Grant that all carnal affections may die in [them,] and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in [them.] AMEN. Grant that [they] may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. AMEN. Grant that [they] being here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, 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 end. AMEN. Almighty, ever living God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, 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 in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Regard we beseech thee, the supplications of this congregation, and grant that [these persons] now to be baptized may receive the fulness of thy grace, and be found, at last, in the number of thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. Then shall the people stand up, and the Minister shall say-Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. John, in the third chapter, beginning at the first verse: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into 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 |