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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 suy,

Η ΑΤΑ

ATH this Child been already baptized, or no? If they answer, No: Then shall the Priest

DEA

proceed as followeth.

EARLY beloved, forasmuch 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 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 mercy he will grant to this Child that thing which by nature he cannot 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.

| 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 Water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite 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 troublesome world, that finally Let us pray. he may come to the land of LMIGHTY and ever-everlasting life, there to reign lasting God, who of thy with thee world without end;

Then shall the Priest say,

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(Public Baptism)

OF.

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

dren 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 blessed them.

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

spiritual regeneration. Re-BE

ceive 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.

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ELOVED, 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,

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the

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

knowledge of thy grace, and D of this Child, renounce

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 ever. Amen.

Then shall the Priest speak unto the God-
fathers and Godmothers on this wise.

EARLY beloved, ye have
brought this Child here

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?

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to be baptized, ye have pray-only-begotten Son our Lord? ed that our Lord Jesus Christ And that he was conceived would vouchsafe to receive by the Holy Ghost; born of him, to release him of his sins, the Virgin Mary; that he to sanctify him with the holy suffered under Pontius Pilate, Ghost, to give him the king-was crucified, dead, and budom of heaven, and everlast-ried; that he went down into ing life. Ye have heard also hell, and also did rise again that our Lord Jesus Christ the third day; that he ashath promised in his Gospel.cended into heaven, and sitto grant all these things that teth at the right hand of God ye have prayed for: which the Father Almighty; and promise he, for his part, will from thence shall come again most surely keep and per- at the end of the world, to

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