THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS When the child has been brought forward to the altar, the minister may read as follows, from the Gospel of St. Mark: THEY brought young children to Christ, that 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. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Then may be offered the following Prayer: OUR Heavenly Father, we give thanks unto thee, that by thy goodness we have been brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to faith in him. We bless thee for the kind and encouraging words which he spoke, and for his tender compassion towards those whom he came to save; that he did not suffer little children to be driven away from his presence, but took them in his arms and blessed them. And now that we have brought to thy altar this little one, we pray that thou wilt guide and direct us, while we consecrate him to thee and to thy service. Wilt thou grant that this Baptism of Water may be the type and the earnest of the purifying influences of thy Holy Spirit, by which alone the soul can be regenerated and saved? This we do humbly ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The minister may then say to the parents or guardians of the child: By the act of bringing this child here at this time, you express in the most solemn manner your desire and resolve to instruct him in the gospel of Christ, and in every way to do what lieth in you to enable him to resist sinful inclinations and to keep God's holy will and commandments. Do you so understand this act and accept these duties? Answer: I do. Then the minister shall take the child into his arms, and shall say to the parents or guardians: Name this child. Naming the child, he shall apply the water, saying: I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Then shall follow the Benediction: MAY our Heavenly Father bless and shelter thee. May he guide thee into all truth, and at length receive thee into his heavenly presence. Amen. In choirs, or places where they sing, here shall follow (unannounced) an appropriate Hymn. After which, the Benediction: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. THE BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS When those who wish to be baptized have come forward to the altar, the minister shall read as follows, the candidates standing up: AND Jesus came and spake to his disciples, and said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Then shall be said this Exhortation: My brethren, now that we are about to obey this command, which is with so great authority enjoined upon us, let us seek a blessing from God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the minister may say: Let us pray. ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, we give thee humble and hearty thanks, that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and to faith in thee. Increase this knowledge and confirm this faith in us evermore, that we may be enabled to mortify all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily to proceed in all virtue and godliness of living, till we come to that eternal kingdom which thou hast promised through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the minister shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise: DEARLY beloved, who have come hither to receive holy Baptism: you know what divine help has been promised to all who seek it; how our Lord Jesus Christ hath said, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Renouncing, therefore, the fellowship of evil, will you endeavor to learn of Jesus Christ, and co-operate in the study and practice of his religion? I will. Then the persons about to be baptized shall severally answer: Then, the persons about to be baptized standing or kneeling before the minister, he shall say: I BAPTIZE thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He may also pronounce this Benediction: THE Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Amen. THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION Those about to be confirmed, that is, to receive the Communion of the Church, shall have first received the Sacrament of Baptism; if not in infancy or at some subsequent period, then now. To any such persons, standing in order before the minister, he shall say: DEARLY beloved, you have come hither to receive the consecration of the I will. The minister shall then say: BELOVED in the Lord, on this your open and voluntary confession of Christ, I welcome you to the communion of his Church. And may God the Father grant that this union, formed on earth, may be continued in heaven, and fit us for the fellowship of the saints in light. Receive the fellowship of the Church. The minister may take each candidate by the right hand, offering the following Prayer: DEFEND, O Lord, this thy well-beloved with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine forever, and may daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. Then shall the minister say the following Collect: ALMIGHTY and ever-living God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty: We would offer our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants who have made a public profession of the Christian faith, and expressed their earnest desire and prayer to be enabled to fulfil their duties as disciples of Jesus Christ. Let thy fatherly hand ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; guide and help, strengthen and sanctify them, we beseech thee; that, by the living bond of obedience and charity, they may be united to thee and thy beloved Son. Then shall follow this Benediction: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. Here may follow a Hymn of welcome or a Hymn of peace, unannounced. morning our song shall rise to thee: Holy, holy, holy! mer-ci- ful and mighty! All thy works shall praise thy name,in earth,and sky,and sea. A-MEN. 2 Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; 3 Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee, |