Слике страница
PDF
ePub

PUBLICK BAPTISM OF INFANTS,

TO BE USED IN THE CHURCH.

The people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that Baptism should not be administered but upon Sundays, and other Holy-days, when the most number of people come together; as well for that the Congregation there present may testify the receiving of them that be newly baptized into the number of Christ's Church; as also because in the Baptism of Infants every Man present may be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his Baptism. For which cause also it is expedient that Baptism be ministered in the vulgar tongue. Nevertheless, (if necessity so require, Children may be baptized upon any other day.

And note, that there shall be for every Male-child to be baptized two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather and two Godmothers.

When there are Children to be baptized, the Parents shall give knowledge thereof over night, or in the morning before the beginning of Morning Prayer, to the Curate. And then the Godfathers and Godmothers, and the people with the Children, must be ready at the Font, either immediately after the last Lesson at Morning Prayer, or else immediately after the last Lesson at Evening Prayer, as the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And the Priest coming to the Font, (which is then to be filled with pure Water,) and standing there, shall say,

HAT

ATH this Child been al-
ready baptized, or no?

If they answer, No: Then shall the Priest

D

proceed as followeth.

beloved,

foras

EARLY
much as all men are

conceived and born in sin;
and that our Saviour Christ
saith, None can enter into
the kingdom of God, except
he be regenerate and born a-
new 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 mercy he
will grant to this Child that
thing which by nature he can-
not have; that he may be
baptized with Water and the
holy Ghost, and received into
Christ's holy Church, and be
made a lively member of the

same.

A

Then shall the Priest say,
Let us pray.

great mercy didst save Noah
and his family in the ark
from perishing by water; and
also didst safely lead the chil-
dren 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 Water to the mysti-
cal washing away of sin; We
beseech thee, for thine infi-
nite mercies, that thou wilt
mercifully look upon this
Child; wash him and sanctify
him with the holy Ghost;
that he, being delivered from
thy wrath, may be received
into the ark of Christ's
Church; and being stedfast
in faith, joyful through hope,
and rooted in charity, may so
pass the waves of this trou-
blesome world, that finally
he may come to the land of
everlasting life, there to reign

LMIGHTY and ever-
lasting God, who of thy with thee world without end;

[graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

:

through Jesus Christ ourdren to come unto me, and Lord. Amen.

A

LMIGHTY 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 this Infant, that he, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of his sins by spiritual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy wellbeloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; 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 this Infant 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.

Then shall the people stand up, and the
Priest shall say,

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint Mark, in the tenth Chapter, at the thirteenth Verse. HEY

TH

brought young

children to Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little chil

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 blessed them.

After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.

BELOVED,

ye

hear in this

Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the children to be brought unto him; how he blamed those that would have kept them from him; how he exhorteth 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 will likewise favourably receive this present Infant; that he will embrace him with the arms of his mercy; that he 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 our heavenly Father towards this Infant, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubt

ing but that he favourably | form. Wherefore, after this

alloweth this charitable work of our's in bringing this Infant to his holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and

say,

A

LMIGHTY 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 this Infant, that he may be born again, and be made an heir of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for Amen.

ever.

Then shall the Priest speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this wise.

D

promise made by Christ, this
Infant must also faithfully,
for his part, promise by you
that are his sureties, (until he
come of age to take it upon
himself,) that he will renounce
the devil and all his works,
and constantly believe God's
holy Word, and obediently
keep his commandments.
I demand therefore,
OST thou, in the Name

D

of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the 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?

[blocks in formation]

OST thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten 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 as

EARLY beloved, ye have brought this Child here to be baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him of his sins, to sanctify him with the holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel.cended into heaven, and sit

to grant all these things that ye have prayed for: which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and per

teth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to

« ПретходнаНастави »