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↑ When any such persons as are of Riper years are to be baptized, timely notice shall be given to the Minister; 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, Holy day, or Prayer day, appointed) shall be ready to present them at the Font, immediately after the Second Lesson, either at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Minister, in his discretion, shall think fit.

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

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¶ Then shall the Minister say,

Let us pray.

much as all men are conceived and born in sin, (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh) and ALMIGHTY and everlasting they who are in the flesh cannot GOD, who, of thy great mercy, please GOD, but live in sin, didst save Noah and his family committing many actual trans- in the ark from perishing by gressions; and our Saviour water; and also didst safely CHRIST saith, none can enter lead the children of Israel thy into the kingdom of GoD, people through the Red Sea, 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 baptized with water and the HOLY GHOST, and received into CHRIST'S holy Church, and be made lively members of the

same.

figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son JESUS CHRIST in the river. Jordan, didst sanctify 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 that thou art a teacher come steadfast in faith, joyful through from God; for no man can do hope, and rooted in charity, these miracles that thou doest, may so pass the waves of this except God be with him. JESUS troublesome world, that finally answered and said unto him, they may come to the land of Verily, verily, I say unto thee, everlasting life; there to reign Except a man be born again, with thee, world without end, he cannot see the kingdom through JESUS CHRIST our of GoD. Nicodemus saith Lord. Amen.

¶ Or this.

unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his ALMIGHTY and immortal mother's womb, and be born? GOD, the aid of all who need, JESUS answered, Verily, verily, the helper of all who flee to I say unto thee, Except a man thee for succour, the life of be born of water and of the those who believe, and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into resurrection of the dead; we the kingdom of GoD. That call upon thee for these persons, which is born of the flesh, is that they, coming to thy holy flesh; and that which is born of Baptism, may receive remission the SPIRIT, is Spirit. Marvel of their sins, by spiritual re- not that I said unto thee, Ye generation. Receive them, O must be born again. The wind LORD, as thou hast promised bloweth where it listeth, and by thy well-beloved Son, saying, thou hearest the sound thereof; Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, but canst not tell whence it and ye shall find; knock, and cometh, and whither it goeth: it shall be opened unto you: so is every one that is born so give now unto us who ask; of the SPIRIT. let us who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that these persons 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.

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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 Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last chapter of Saint 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; | fully and devoutly give thanks but he that believeth not, shall to him, and say, be damned: which also showeth ALMIGHTY and everlasting unto us the great benefit we GOD, heavenly Father, we give reap thereby. For which cause thee humble thanks, for that Saint Peter the Apostle, when thou hast vouchsafed to call us upon his first preaching of the to the knowledge of thy grace, Gospel many were pricked at and faith in thee: increase this the heart, and said to him and knowledge, and confirm this the rest of the apostles, Men faith in us evermore. Give and brethren, what shall we do? thy HOLY SPIRIT to these replied, and said unto them, persons, that they may be born Repent and be baptized every again, and be made heirs of one of you, for the remission everlasting salvation, through of sins, and ye shall receive our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who the gift of the HOLY GHOST: liveth and reigneth with thee For the promise is to you and and the HOLY SPIRIT, now and your children, and to all that for ever. Amen. are afar off, even as many as Then the Minister shall speak to the . the LORD our GoD shall call. persons to be baptized on this wise: And with many other words WELL-BELOVED, who are exhorted he them, saying, Save come hither desiring to receive yourselves from this untoward holy Baptism, ye have heard generation. For, as the same how the Congregation hath apostle testifieth in another prayed, that our Lord JESUS place, even baptism doth also CHRIST Would vouchsafe to now save us, (not the putting receive you and bless you, to away of the filth of the flesh, release you of your sins, to but the answer of a good con- give you the kingdom of heaven, science towards GOD,) by the and everlasting life. Ye have resurrection of JESUS CHRIST. heard also that our Lord JESUS Doubt ye not therefore, but CHRIST hath promised in his earnestly believe, that he will holy word, to grant all those favourably receive these present things that we have prayed persons, truly repenting, and for; which promise he, for his coming unto him by faith; that part, will most surely keep and he will grant them remission of perform. Wherefore, after their sins, and bestow upon this promise made by CHRIST, them the HOLY GHOST; that he ye must also faithfully, for will give them the blessing of your part, in the presence of eternal life, and make them these your witnesses, and this partakers of his everlasting whole Congregation, promise kingdom. and answer to the following questions.

Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward these persons, declared by his Son JESUS CHRIST, let us faith

The Minister shall then demand of the

persons to be baptized as follows; the questions being considered as addressed to them severally, and the answers to be made accordingly.

Question. everlastingly rewarded, through DOST thou renounce the thy mercy, O blessed LORD devil and all his works, the vain GoD, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of ALMIGHTY, everliving GOD, the flesh; so that thou wilt whose most dearly beloved Son not follow, nor be led by them? JESUS CHRIST, for the forgiveAnswer. I renounce them ness of our sins, did shed out all; and, by GOD's help, will of his most precious side both endeavour not to follow, nor water and blood; and gave be led by them.

Question. Dost thou believe all the articles of the Christian faith, as contained in the Apostles' Creed?

Answer. I do. Question. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?

Answer. That is my desire. Question. 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, by God's help.

T Then shall the Minister say,

O MERCIFUL GOD, grant that the old Adam in these persons may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen.

Grant that all sinful affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them.

Amen.

Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.

Grant that they, being here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and

commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the FATHER, and of the SoN, and of the HOLY GHOST; regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that the persons, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

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to continue CHRIST's faithful ¶ Then, all standing up, the Minister shall

soldier and servant unto his life's end.

Amen.

The same rule, as to the omission of the sign of the cross, is to be observed here, as in the Baptism of Infants.

T Then the Minister shall say,

use this Exhortation following; speaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first.

FORASMUCH as these persons have promised, in your presence, to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in SEEING now, dearly beloved GOD, and to serve him; ye brethren, that these persons are must remember, that it is your regenerate, and grafted into the part and duty to put them in body of CHRIST's Church; let mind, what a solemn vow, us give thanks unto ALMIGHTY promise, and profession, they GOD for these benefits, and with have now made before this one accord make our prayers congregation, and especially unto him, that they may lead before you their chosen witthe rest of their life according nesses. And ye are also to call to this beginning.

¶ Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; 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.

upon them to use all diligence
to be rightly instructed in
God's holy word; that so they
may grow in grace, and in the
CHRIST; and live godly, right-
knowledge of our Lord JESUS
eously, and soberly, in this

present world.
T And then speaking to the baptized persons,
he shall proceed and say,

AND as for you, who have now by baptism put on CHRIST, it is your part and duty also, being made the children of GOD WE yield thee humble thanks, and of the light, by faith in O heavenly Father, that thou JESUS CHRIST, to walk answerhast vouchsafed to call us to ably to your Christian calling, the knowledge of thy grace, and as becometh the children and faith in thee: increase this of light; remembering always, knowledge, and confirm this that Baptism representeth unto faith in us evermore. Give thy us our profession; which is, holy Spirit to these persons; to follow the example of our that being now born again, and Saviour CHRIST, and to be made heirs of everlasting sal-made like unto him; that as he vation, through our Lord JESUS died, and rose again for us, so CHRIST, they may continue thy should we, who are baptized, servants, and attain thy pro- die from sin, and rise again mises, through the same Lord JESUS CHRIST thy Son; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same HOLY SPIRIT, everlastingly. Amen.

unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

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