The Ministration of

Publick Baptism of Infants.

¶ The Minister may ask of those who bring the Child to be baptized,

ATH this Child been already baptized, or

HATIO?

¶ If they answer, No, he may proceed as followeth. Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Mark, in the tenth Chapter, at the thirteenth Verse.

HEY brought young children to Christ, that

THEY

he should touch them; 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.

BELOVE

THE EXHORTATION.

ELOVED, you 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. You 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 doubting but that he favourably alloweth this our work of faith and love in bringing this Infant to his holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say,

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly

Father, we give thee humble thanks, for 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. Grant unto this Infant, that being sanctified by thy Holy Spirit, he may grow in grace and godliness; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in love, he 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.

Or this.

ALMIGHTY 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. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and it shall be given you; 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 blessing of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ An Exhortation to the Parents, or other Persons bringing the Child to be baptized.

DE

EARLY beloved, you have brought this Child here to be baptized, you have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life: You should therefore faithfully, and in humble dependence upon the gracious promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, endeavour to bring up this Child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, teaching him to renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly to believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.

I ask therefore,

WILL you endeavour, with earnest prayer, to bring up this Child in the knowledge and

grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in humble obedience to his commandments; teaching him to renounce the devil and all his works, the sinful vanities of the world, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that he may not follow, nor be led by them?

Answer.

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

WILI

Minister.

TILL you provide that he be carefully instructed in God's holy Word, and that he be taught to believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he rose again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?

And in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church [or, the Holy Church Universal]; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the body; and everlasting life after death?

Answer.

All this, with God's help, I will endeavour to do.

Then may the Minister say,

MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen.

Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.

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

Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee 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.

A1

LMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should

go

and teach all nations, baptizing 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; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and redeemed children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister may say,

Name this Child.