PUBLIC 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, or Prayer Days. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) Baptism may be administered upon any other day. There shall be for every Male-child to be baptized, when they can be had, two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather and two Godmothers; and Parents shall be admitted as Sponsors, if it be desired. When there are Children to be baptized, the Parents or Sponsors shall give knowl edge thereof, before the beginning of Morning Prayer, to the Minister. 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 Minister by his discretion shall appoint. And the Minister coming to the Font, (which is then to be filled with pure Water,) and standing there, shall say, HATH this Child been already baptized, or no?

DEAR

If they answer, No: then shall the Minister proceed as followeth. EARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin; and 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 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 living mem ber of the same.

T 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 by the Baptism of thy well beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan, didst sanctify Water to the mys thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou tical washing away of sin; We beseech 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 steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee, world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. T Or this.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of

those who 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 sin, by spiritual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy wellhave; seek, and ye shall find; knock, beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall and it shall be opened unto you. So give find; open the gate unto us who knock; now unto us who ask; let us who seek, that this Infant may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, which thou hast promised by Christ our and may come to the eternal kingdom Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister shall say as follows: or else shall pass on to the questions addressed to the Sponsors; and from thence to the Prayer immediately before the Immersion, or the pouring of water on the Infant. But note; that in every church the intermediate parts of the Service shall be used, once at least in every month, (if there be a baptism) for the better instructing of the People in the Grounds of Infant Bap

tism.

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

T Christ, that he should touch them; THEY brought children to and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children 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 shall make this brief Exhortation upon Bhe words of our Saviour Christ, that the words of the Gospel. ELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel

Dthis Child here to be baptized; ALMIGHTY, everliving God, whose

DOST thou, in the name of this Child, N. Father, and of the Son, and of the

renounce the devil and all his works, Holy Ghost. Amen.

T Then the Minister shall say,

WE
E receive this Child into the con-
gregation of Christ's flock; and
do* sign him with
the sign of the Cross,

in token that hereaf

ter he shall not be

ashamed to confess

righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as he is made par*Here the Min-taker of the death of thy Son, he may ister shall make a also be partaker of his resurrection; so Child's forehead, Church, he may be an inheritor of thine Cross upon the that finally, with the residue of thy holy

the faith of Christ crucified, and man-everlasting kingdom; through Christ our fully to fight under his banner, against Lord. Amen. sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen.

those who present the Infant shall desire the sign of the Cross to be omitted, although the Church knows no worthy cause of scruple concerning the same, yet, in that case, the Minister may omit that part of the above which follows the Immersion, or the pouring of Water on the Infant.

Then shall the Minister say,

SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is regenerate, 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 this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.

Then shall be said, all kneeling,

T Then, all standing up, the Minister shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation following.

FORASMUCH as this Child hath promised by you his sureties to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, he hath here made by you. And that he may call up these things the better, ye chiefly ye shall provide, that he may learn shall call upon him to hear Sermons; and the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life; remembering always, that Baptism doth

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hal- represent unto us our profession; which

come.

lowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom 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 And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

us.

T Then shall the Minister say,
TE yield thee hearty thanks, most
merciful Father, that

WE

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. Then shall he add, and say,

take care that Child be

ed thee to regenerate this Infant with Y brought to the Bishop to be confirm thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto

ed by him, so soon as he can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and is sufficiently instructed in the other parts of the ChurchCatechism set forth for that purpose.

THE MINISTRATION OF

PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN,

IN HOUSES.

T The Minister of every Parish shall often admonish the People, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy Day falling between, unless upon a great and reasona ble cause.

And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity, they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered as followeth. First, let the Minister of the Parish (or, in his absence, any other lawful Minis ter that can be procured) with those who are present, call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collectsappointed to be said before in the Form

of Public Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then, the Child being named by some one who is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words:

NI baptize thee In the Name of the

. Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

T Then the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say,

TE yield thee hearty thanks, most

Then the Minister shall say as follows:

or else shall pass on to the questions addressed to the Sponsors.

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

THEY brought young children to

W merciful Father, that it hath pleas-Christ, that he should touch them;

ed thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as he is made par. taker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ And let them not doubt, but that the
child so baptized is lawfully and suffi
ciently baptized, and ought not to be
baptized again. Yet nevertheless, if
the Child, which is after this sort bap
tized, do afterwards live, it is expedient
that it be brought into the Church, to
the intent that if the Minister of the
same Parish did himself baptize that
Child, the Congregation may be certi-
fied of the true Form of Baptism, by
him privately before used: In which
case he shall say thus:

I
CERTIFY you, that according to
the due and prescribed Order of the
Church, at such a time, and at such a
place, before divers witnesses, I baptized
this Child.

But if the Child were baptized by any
other lawful Minister, then the Minister
of the Parish where the Child was born
or christened, shall examine whether the
same hath been lawfully done. And
if the Minister shall find, by the an-
swers of such as bring the Child, that
all things were done as they ought to
be; then shall he not christen the Child
again, but shall receive him as one of
the flock of true Christian People, say
ing thus:

I
CERTIFY you, that in this case all
is well done, and according unto due
order, concerning the baptizing of this
Child; who is now by Baptism incorpo-
rated into the Christian Church: for our
Lord Jesus Christ doth not deny his
grace and mercy unto such Infants, but

most lovingly doth call them unto him,
as the holy Gospel doth witness to our
comfort on this wise.

and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children 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 shall make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.

words of our Saviour Christ, that BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the he commanded the children to be brought unto him; how he blamed those who 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 hath likewise favourably received this present Infant; that he hath embraced him with the arms of his mercy; and, as

he hath promised in his holy Word, will give unto him the blessing of eternal life, and make him partaker of his everlast ing kingdom.

Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father, declared by his Son Jesus Christ, toward this Infant, let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say the Prayer which the Lord himself taught us.

owed be thy Name. Thy kingdom UR Father, who art in heaven, Halcome. 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.

Then shall the Minister demand the name of the Child; which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say as fuilows.

so unce the devil and all his works, OST thou, in the name of this Child, the vain pomp and glory of the world,

Minister. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles' Creed?

Answer. I do.

Minister. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy lite?

Fo

with all covetous desires of the same, DORASMUCH as this Child hath and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that promised by you his sureties to re thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?nounce the devil and all his works, to Answer. I renounce them all; and, by believe in God, and to serve him; ye God's help, will endeavour not to follow, must remember, that it is your parts nor be led by them. and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, he hath here made by you. And that he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear Sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide, that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life; remembering always, that Baptism doth represent 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.

Answer. I will, by God's help.

Then the Minister shall say, WE WE receive this Child into the congregation of Christ's flock; and do* sign him with * Here the Minthe sign of the Cross, ister shall make a in token that hereaf Cross the ter he shall not be Child's forehead. ashamed to confess

upon

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 life's end. Amen.

The same Rule is to be observed here,
as to the Omission of the sign of the

Cross, as in the Public Baptism of In-YE
fants.

Then shall the Minister say, EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is regenerate, 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 this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.

WE

T Then shall he add, and say,

"E are to take care that this Child be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him, so soon as he can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and is sufficiently instructed in the other parts of the Church. Catechism set forth for that purpose.

But if they who bring the Infant to the Church do make such uncertain Answers to the Minister's Questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was bap tized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (which are essential parts of Baptism,) then let the Minister baptize it in the Form before appointed for Public Baptism of Infants; saving that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this form of words: [F thou art not already baptized, N. I

Then shall be said, all kneeling, JE yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he being dead unto sin, and living unto righteous-baptize thee In the Name of the Fa ness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and ut. terly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then, all standing up, the Minister shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation following.

ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy

Ghost. Amen.

¶ If Infant Baptism, and the receiving of Infants baptized in private, are to be at the same time, the Minister may make the Questions to the Sponsors, and the succeeding Prayers, serve for both. And again, after the Immersion, or the pouring of Water, and the receiving into the Church, the Minister may use the remainder of the Service for both.