網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

know these things the better, ye fhall call upon him to hear Sermons, and chiefly ye fhall provide that he may learn the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian. ought to know and believe to his fouls health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Chriftian life; remembering alway, that Baptifm doth reprefent unto us our prefeffion, which is to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and be made like unto him; that as he died, and rofe again for us; fo fhould we, who are baptized, die from fin, and rife again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all cur evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godlinefs of living. But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make fuch uncertain Anfwers to the Priests Questions, as that it cannot appear that the Child was baptized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the boly Ghoft (which are effential Parts of Baptifm) then let the Prieft baptize it in the Form before appointed for publick Baptifm of infants; faving that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, be fhall ufe this Form of words:

IF

F 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

as are of riper Years, and able to answer for themselves.

WH

HEN any fuch Perfons as are of riper Years are to be baptized, timely Notice fhall be given to the Bishop, or whom he shall appoint for that purpose, a Week before at the least, by the Parents, or fome other difcreet Perfons; that fo due care may be taken for their Examination, whether they be fufficicatly inftructed in the Principles of the Chriftian Religion; and that they may be exhorted to prepare themselves with Prayers and falling for the receiving of this holy Sacrament.

And if they fall be found fit, then the Godfathers and Godmothers (the People being affembled upon the Sunday or Holy-day appointed) shall be ready to prefent them at the Font, immediately after the Second Leffon, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Curate in bis difcretion fhall think fit.

And standing there, the Prieft fhall ask whether any of the Perfons bere prefented be baptized, or no: If they fall answer, No: then shall the Prieft Jay thus,

Dear

Early beloved, forafmuch as all men are conceived and Dorn in fin (and that which is born of the flesh is flefl) and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in fin, committing many actual tranfgreffions; and that our Saviour Chrift faith, None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate, and born anew of Water and of the Holy Ghoft; I befeech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, that of his bounteous goodnefs he will grant to thefe perfons that, which which by nature, they cannot have; that they may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghoft, and received into Chrift's Holy Church, and be made lively members of the fame.

A

Then fhall the Prieft fay,
Let us Pray.

(And here all the Congregation fball kneel.)

Lmighty and everlafting God, who of thy great mercy didit fave Noah and his family in the Ark from perithing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Ifrael thy people through the Red fea, figuring thereby thy holy Baptifm; and by the Baptifin of thy well-beloved Son Jefus Chrift in the river Jordan, didft fanctify the element of

Water

Water to the mystical washing away of fin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon thefe thy Servants; wafh them, and fanctify them with the Holy Ghoft; that they being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the Ark of Chrift's Church; and being ftedfaft in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may fo pafs the waves of this troublefome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlafting life; there to reign with thee world without end, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lmighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need,

the helper of all that flee to thee for fuccour, the life of them that believe, and the refurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for thefe perfons, that they coming to thy holy Baptifin, may receive remiffion of their fins by fpiritual regeneration, Receive them, O Lord, as thou haft promised by thy well-beloved Son, faying, Afk, and ye shall receive; feek, and ye fhall find; knock, and it fhall be opened unto you: So give now unto us that afk; let us that feek, find; open the gate unto us that knock; that thefe perfons may, enjoy the everlafting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal Kingdom which thou haft mifed by Chrift our Lord. Amen.

pro

Then shall the People ftand up, and the Prift fhall fay, Hear the words of the Gofpel written by Saint John, in the third Chapter, beginning at the first Verfe:

THERE was a man of the Pharifees, named Nicodemus,

TH

a ruler of the Jews. The fame came to Jefus by hight, and faid unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a a teacher come from God; for no man can do thefe miracles that thou doeft, except God be with him. Jefus anfvered and faid unto him, Verily, verily I fay unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot fee the kingdom of God." Nicodemus faith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the fecond time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jefus anfwered, Verily, verily I fay Unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,

[ocr errors]

1

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is fpirit. Marvel not that I faid unto thee, Ye muft be born again. The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou heareft the found thereof; but canft not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: fo is every one that is born of the Spirit.

[ocr errors]

After which he fhall say this Exhortation following :

1

Eloved, ye hear in this Gospel the exprefs words of our Saviour Chrift, 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 neceffity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewife immediately before his afcenfion into heaven (as we read in the last Chapter of Saint Marks Gofpel) he gave command to his difciples, faying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is baptized, fhall be faved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned. Which alfo fheweth unto us the great benefit we'reap thereby. For which caufe Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gofpel many were pricked at the heart, and faid to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what fhall we do? replied and faid unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you for the remiffion of fins, and ye fhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promife is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call And with many other words exhorted he them, faying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. For (as the fame Apostle teftifieth in another place) even Baptifm doth alfo now fave us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good confcience towards God) by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive thefe prefent Perfons, truly repenting and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant them remiffion of their fins, and be Atow upon them the Holy Ghoft; that he will give them the bleffing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlafting kingdom.

Where

[ocr errors]

Wherefore we being thus perfuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards thefe Perfons, declared by his Son Jefus Chrift; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and fay,

A

Lmighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou haft vouchfafed 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 thefe Perfons, that bey may be born again, and be made beirs of everlasting falvation, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Then the Priest fall speak to the Perfons to be baptized on this wife: WEL JEll-beloved, who are come hither defiring to receive holy Baptifim, holy Baptifin, ye have heard how the congregation hach prayed that our Lord Jefus Chrift would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your fins, to give you the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard alfo that our Lord Jefus Chrift hath promised in his holy word to grant all thofe things that we have prayed for; which promife he for his part will most furely keep and perform.

Wherefore, after this promise made by Chrift, ye must alfo faithfully for your part promife in the prefence of these your witneffes, and this whole Congregation, that ye will renounce the devil and all his works, and conftantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his Commandments. Then all the Priest demand of each of the Perfons to be baptized, feverally, thefe Questions following.

Quest Dthe vain pomp

OST thou renounce the devil and all his works,

the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all

covetous defires of the fame, and the carnal defires of the flesh, fo that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?

Anfw. I renounce them all.

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »