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النشر الإلكتروني

THE MINISTRATION OF

PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN

IN HOUSES.

THE Curates 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 reasonable cause, to be approved by the Curate.

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 on this fashion.

First, let the Minister of the Parish, (or, in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured,) with them that are present, call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed 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 that is present, the Minister shall pour water upon it, saying these words:

N. I baptize thee, In the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then all kneeling down, the Minister shall

give thanks unto God, and say, Wɛ 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 we humbly beseech thee to grant, that as he is now made partaker of the death of thy Son, so he may be also of his resurrection; and that finally, with the residue of thy saints, he may inherit thine everlasting kingdom, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again. Yet nevertheless, if the Child, which is after this sort baptized, do afterward 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 Con

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gregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism by him privately before used: In which case he shall say thus;

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 and try whether the Child be lawfully baptized or no. which case, if those that bring any Child to the Church do answer that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the Minister examine them further, saying, By whom was this Child baptized? Who was present when this Child was baptized?

Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be omitted through fear or haste, in such times of extremity; therefore I demand further of you,

With what matter was this Child baptized?

With what words was this Child baptized?

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And if the Minister shall find, by the OUR Father, &c. to-But deliver us

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answers of such as bring the Child, that all things were done as they ought to be, then shall not he christen the Child again, but shall receive him as one of the flock of true Christian People, saying thus;

CERTIFY you, that in this case all is well done, and according unto due order, concerning the baptizing of this Child; who being born in original sin, and in the wrath of God, is now, by the laver of regeneration in Baptism, received into the number of the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life; 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;

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hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the children to be

from evil. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, 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 being born again, and being made an heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, may continue thy servant, and attain thy promise, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Then shall the Priest demand the Name of the Child; which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say,

DosT thou, in the name of this Child, renounce, &c. as in p. 447.

Answer. I renounce them all.

Minister.

brought unto him; how he blamed DosT thou believe, &c. as in

those that would have kept them from him; how he exhorted 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 em

p. 447.

Answer. lieve.

All this I stedfastly be

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

Answer. I will.

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Then shall the Priest say,

braced him with the arms of his WE receive, &c. as in p. 448.
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 everlasting kingdom.
Wherefore, we being thus persuaded
of the good will of our heavenly
Father, declared by his Son Jesus
Christ, towards this Infant, let us faith-
fully and devoutly give thanks unto
him, and say the Prayer which the
Lord himself taught us

SEEING now, dearly beloved bre-
thren, that this Child is by Baptism
regenerate, and grafted into the body
of Christ's Church; let us give thanks
unto Almighty God for these bene-
fits, and with one accord make our
prayers unto him, that he may lead
the rest of his life according to this
beginning.

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appear that the Child was baptized 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 Priest 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:

If thou art not already baptized, N.
I baptize thee, In the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION OF

BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS,

AND ABLE TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES.

WHEN any such Persons, as are of Riper Years, are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Bishop, or whom he shall appoint for that purpose, a week before at the least, by the Parents, or some other discreet Persons; that so due care may be taken for their Examination, whether they be sufficiently instructed in the principles of the Christian Religion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves with Prayers and Fasting for the receiving of this holy Sacrament.

And if they shall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the People being assembled upon the Sunday or Holy-Day appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font, immediately after the second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Curate in his discretion shall think fit.

And standing there, the Priest shall ask, Whether any of the Persons here presented be baptized, or no? If they shall answer No, then shall the Priest say thus:

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 that our Saviour Christ saith (a), "None can enter into the king"dom 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 goodness he will grant to these Persons that which by nature they cannot have; that they may be bap

(a) Saith, &c." John iii. 5. infra, P. 452.

tized with Water and the Holy
Ghost, and received into Christ's holy
Church, and be made lively members
of the same.

Then shall the Priest say,
Let us pray.

(And here all the Congregation shall kneel.)
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who
of thy great mercy didst save Noah
and his family in the ark from perish-
ing 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 Bap-
tism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus
Christ in the river Jordan didst sanc-

tify the element of Water to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these thy servants; wash them, and sanctify them with the Holy Ghost, that they, 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 they may come to the land of everlasting life; there to reign with thee world without end, through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the
aid, &c. as in p. 446.

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

Hear the words of the Gospel writ-
ten by Saint John, in the third
chapter, beginning at the first
verse. (ante, 173.)

THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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?" 5. Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I

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say unto thee, Except a man be born "of Water and of the Spirit, he can"not enter into the kingdom of God. "6. That which is born of the flesh is "flesh; and that which is born of the

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After which he shall say this Exhortation following:

BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, "That except a man be born of Water "and of the Spirit, he cannot enter "into the kingdom of God." Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had.

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Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last chapter of St. Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, "Go ye into all the "world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He 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 (b) 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

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every one of you for the remission "of sins, and ye shall receive the gift "of the Holy Ghost: For the promise "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 yourselves "from this untoward generation." For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even "Baptism (c) doth "also now save us, (not the putting

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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

(b)" Pricked, &c." Acts ii. 37 to 40. (c) "Baptism, &c." 1 Pet. iii. 21. ante, 134.

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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 commandments.

Then shall the Priest demand of each of

the Persons to be baptized, severally, these Questions following:

Question. Dost thou 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?

Answer. I renounce them all.

Q. Dost thou believe, &c. as in p. 447.?

A. All this I stedfastly believe. Q. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?

A. That is my desire.

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

A. I will endeavour so to do, God being my helper.

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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, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did (e) shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go (g) teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;

(d)" Old Adam," i. e. "sin."
man," i. e. "righteousness."
(e) John xix. 34. ante, 133.
(g) "Go, &c." Matt. xxviii. 19.

"New

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