glory: I call to witness my saviour openly. O receive that which is given you of the Lord, and be joyful, giving thanks unto him that hath called you to heavenly kingdoms. Arise up and stand, and behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord; they that withdrew them from the shadow of the world have received glorious garments of the Lord. Look upon thy number, O Sion, and make up the reckoning of those of thine that are clothed in white, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord. The number of thy children, whom thou longedst for, is fulfilled; beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people, which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed. I saw upon the mount Sion a great multitude, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he sets crowns, and was more exalted; whereat I marvelled greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, What are these, my Lord? He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then said I unto the angel, What young man is he that setteth crowns upon them, and giveth them palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. JES The Gospel. St. John vi. 37. ESUS said unto his disciples, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. VIII. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM ESOLVED: The House of Bishops (the House of Deputies) concurring: That the following Office be substituted for the three Offices now standing in the Book of Common Prayer (pages 244-265) and that the proposed change be made known to the several Dioceses in order that it may be adopted by the next General Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article X of the Constitution. The Ministration of To be used in the Church. When there are children to be baptized, the Parents or Sponsors shall give knowledge thereof to the Minister. And then the Godfathers and Godmothers, and the People with the Children, must be ready at the Font, either immediately after the Second Lesson at Morning or Evening Prayer, or at such other time as the Minister shall appoint. ¶And the Minister coming to the Font, and standing there, shall say as follows. But Note, that if he hath already assured himself that the Child (or Person) hath not been baptized, the question may be omitted. Hath this Child (or Person) been already baptized, or no? DE EARLY beloved, let us beseech God the Father almighty, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that this Child (or Person) may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made a living member of the same. Then shall the Minister say, A Let us pray. LMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for this Child (or Person), that he, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of sin, by spiritual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask; let us who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that this Child (or Person) 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. ¶Then the Minister shall say as followeth: or else shall pass immediately to the Questions; or to the Prayer following them. Hear the words of the Gospel. T HEY 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. 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. T Or this HERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be |