Then the Minister shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise: WE ELL-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 free you from the dominion of sin, 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; wherefore it should be to you a sacred pleasure faithfully to promise in the presence of your fellow Christians, that you will renounce all evil works; that you will read and study God's holy word, and that you will endeavour to keep his commandments. Then all these persons about to be baptized shall answer each separately, Answer. It is my earnest desire and prayer to be enabled so to do. Then shall the Minister use the water, according to the manner most approved by that Church to which he belongs, and say, N. 1 I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. ¶ Or he shall say, as was said by the Apostles when they baptized N. WE converts, I baptize thee In the Name of Jesus Christ. ¶Then shall the Minister say, E receive these persons into the congregation of Christ's flock; and do earnestly pray, that hereafter they shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and all evil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants unto their life's end. Amen. S Then shall the Minister say, EEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these persons are grafted into the body of Christ's Church, L 110 BAPTISM OF THOSE OF RIPER YEARS. let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. OUR Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling. UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Rame Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. WE E yield thee humble thanks, O heavenly Father, 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 these persons; that, being born again, and made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, they may continue thy servants, and attain thy promises; through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit everlastingly. Amen. (¶ And then, speaking to the newly baptized persons, he shall proceed, and say,) A ND you, who have now by Baptism openly avowed your faith in the Gospel, and have put on Christ, it is your part and duty, being made the children of God and of the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light; remembering always that Baptism representeth 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. 111 A CATECHISM To be learned of every person. Question. What is your name ? Answer. M. or N. Question. Who gave you this name? Answer. My parents, when I was baptized, and dedicated to a Christian life. Question. What did they then desire and pray for you? Answer. That I might be a member of Christ's kingdom; that I might receive him and love him as my Saviour; follow him as my example, and obey him as my divine teacher. you? Question. Dost thou wish to confirm their prayers for Answer. Yes; and I trust to be able by God's blessing so to do. Question. What are the great truths of the Christian religion? Answer. That there is one God the Father Almighty, the maker of all things: That he has appointed Jesus Christ to be the teacher, the Saviour, and the judge of mankind : That Christ lived on earth, wrought miracles, taught truths from heaven, always did those things which pleased his heavenly Father, suffered, died, was buried, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven: That he promised after his departure to send the Holy Spirit, which came upon the Apostles; and which assists all believers, who devoutly seek it, to live pure and holy lives: That he established a kingdom or church on earth, and confirmed the general resurrection, the future judgement, and the life everlasting. Question. Which are the ten commandments of the ancient law of Moses? Answer. The following. 1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me. 2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images; nor worship them. 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 4. Thou shalt remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. 5. Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother. 6. Thou shalt do no murder. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 10. Thou shalt not covet any thing that is thy neighbour's. Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these commandments? Answer, I learn my duty towards God, and my duty towards my neighbour. Question. Did our Lord Jesus Christ sanction these commandments in his gospel? Answer. Yes. For he said, "The first and great commandment of the law is, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. And also all the duties enjoined in the other commandments he enforced in his holy teaching, and his perfect example. Question. How wilt thou be able to keep these laws? Answer. By diligent attention and watchfulness not to do any thing which is forbidden; and by prayer to God to help my weakness. Question. Canst thou repeat the Lord's Prayer? Give us this day trespasses, As we And lead us not Answer. Yes. Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. our daily bread. And forgive us our forgive them that trespass against us. into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Question. What dost thou learn in this prayer? Answer. That God is to be reverenced and adored and loved as my heavenly Father: that all things necessary for my life and comfort are his gift: that he will forgive my sins, if I forgive those who offend me that he is able to save me and keep me from evil, when I am tempted to do wrong. Question. How many sacraments are there in the Church? Answer. An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Question. What is the outward sign in baptism? Answer. Water, which is used either by dipping the person in it, or pouring or sprinkling it upon him; and the Minister at the same time saying, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; or, I baptize thee in the name of Jesus Christ. Question. What inward grace does this outward sign represent? Answer. A death unto sin, and a new spiritual birth unto righteousness. Question. What is required of persons to be baptized? Answer. Repentance of all their sins, and faith in Christ as their Saviour. Question. Why then are infants baptized? Answer. That their parents may bind themselves to train them up to a Christian life. Question For what was the ordinance of the Lord's Supper ordained? Answer. To be a continual remembrance of him; of all he did and said; of his sufferings, his death, his resurrection; and of all the benefits which the world enjoys in the completion of his mission on earth. Question. What are the outward signs of this ordinance ? Answer. Bread and wine. Question. What is the signification of these elements? Answer. They are to represent the body and blood of Christ; and while we eat of them, we are in holy remembrance to feed upon the bread of life which he gives to the world; i. e. we are to think devoutly of him, and in love to bind ourselves to serve him. Question. What ought all to do before coming to this supper? Answer. They ought seriously to examine themselves: to repent of their sins; and stedfastly to purpose to lead a new life; to have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and to be in charity with all men. |