that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Which also sheweth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were pricked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? replied and said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the pro mise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save your selves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe that he will favourably receive these present persons, truly repenting and coming unto him by faith, that he will grant them remission of their sins, and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost; that he will give them the blessing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards these persons, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, 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 born again and be made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. § 238. Then the Priest shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise. WELL-BELOVED, who are come hither desiring to receive holy Baptism, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word to grant all those things that we have prayed for; which promise he for his part will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore after this promise made by Christ, ye must also faithfully for your part promise in the presence of these your witnesses, and this whole congregation, that ye will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his command 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? § 240. ¶ Then shall the Priest say, 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, blessed Lord God, who dost live 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 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', the Son, and the Holy Ghost; 'Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of this 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 and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. § 241. T Then shall the Priest 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. § 242. Then shall the Priest say, WE receive this person into the Here the Priest shall make a Cross upon the person's forehead. congregation of Christ's flock, and t do sign him with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter 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 lives end. Amen. § 243. Then shall the Priest say, SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these persons are re In Sealed Book, "of" is printed, but struck through with a pen. generate 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 they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. $244. T Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling. OUR Father which art in heaven; Hallowed be 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. WE yield thee humble thanks, O heavenly Father, 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 being now born again, and made heirs of everlasting salvation 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. $245. Then all standing up, the Priest shall use this Exhortation following; speaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first. FORASMUCH as these persons have promised in your presence to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember that it is your part and duty to put them in mind what a solemn vow, promise and profession they have now made before this congregation, and espe cially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call upon them to use all diligence to be rightly instructed in God's holy Word, that so they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live godly, righteously and soberly in this present world. § 246. (And then, speaking to the new baptized persons, he shall proceed, and say,) 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, and of the light by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light remembering always that Baptism representeth 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. § 247. 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. CONFIRMATION, WHEREIN IS CONTAINED A CATECHISM FOR CHILDREN. $ 250. To the end that confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it (according to St. Paul's doctrine, who teacheth that all things should be done in the church to the edification of the same) it is thought good that none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say in their mother tongue the articles of the faith, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments; and can also answer to such questions of this short Catechism, as the Bishop (or such as he shall appoint) shall by his discretion appose them in. And this order is most convenient to be ob served for divers considerations. § 251. First, because that when children come to the years of discretion, and have learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers' promised for them in Baptism, they may then themselves with their own mouth, and with their own consent, openly before the church, ratify and confessTM the same, and also promise that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe and keep such things, as they by their own mouth and confession have assented unto. Second Edw. VI. 1552. WHEREIN IS CONTAINED A CATE- § 250. To the end that Confirma- § 251. First, because that, &c. [Same as 1549 throughout.] § 254. And that no man shall, &c. [Same as 1549, to] being baptized, have all things necessary for their salvation, and be undoubtedly saved. Elizabeth, 1559. WHEREIN IS CONTAINED A CATE- § 250. To the end that Confirma- § 251. First, because that, &c. § 254. And that no man shall, &c. In most eds., 1552, "according unto." 1 In ed. 1604, him.' James I. 1604. THE ORDER OF CONFIR- Or Laying on of Hands upon Chil- § 250. To the end that Confirma- § 251. First, because that, &c. [Same as 1549 throughout.] $252. Secondly, forasmuch as confirmation is ministered to them that be baptized, that by imposition of hands and prayer they may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sin, and the assault of the world, and the devil: it is most meet to be ministered, when children come to that age, that partly by the frailty of their own flesh, partly by the assaults of the world and the devil, they begin to be in danger to fall into sino. P § 253. Thirdly, for that it is agreeable with the usage of the church in times past, whereby it was ordained, that Confirmation should be ministered to them that were of perfect age, that they being instructed in Christ's religion, should openly profess their own faith, and promise to be obedient unto the will of God. § 254. And that no man shall think that any detriment shall come to children by deferring of their confirmation: he shall know for truth, that it is certain by God's word, that children being baptized (if they depart out of this life in their infancy) are undoubtedly saved a. ceive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be Confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed, to the end, that children being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves with their own mouth and consent openly before the Church ratify and confirm the same; and also promise that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things as they by their own confession have assented unto. [The Order of Confirmation is continued on p. 329.] the Preface, at the commencement of the Order. Rubrics, 252-254, are omitted, but the last is partly represented by rubric, 210. (See p. 301.) In ed. 1662, "The Catechism" cedes these introductory Rubrics to Conprefirmation. (See pp. 321-327.) |