THE BAPTISM.

The whole Congregation still standing, the Minister, taking the Child (if an infant) on his arm, or leaving it in the arms of the Parent, performs the Baptism.

THE PRAYER AFTER BAPTISM.

Then, all still standing, the Minister, having restored the Child to the Parent, offers the Prayer after the Baptism.

THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE.

Then, while the Parents with the Child are departing from the Font, the Congregation sitting down, the following Sentence is sung by the Choir:

WHOSOEVER Shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child,
He shall not enter therein.

After which the regular service proceeds; the Hymn following being usually a Baptismal Hymn from among those appointed for the First Part of the service.

THE FORM

OF

RECEIVING ADULT PERSONS

TO THE

COMMUNION.

Children, born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to God in baptism, are under the inspection and government of the church; and are to be taught to read, and repeat the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And, when they come to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body, they ought to be informed it is their duty and their privilege to come to the Lord's Supper.

The years of discretion in young Christians cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the Eldership. The officers of the church are the judges of the qualifications of those to be admitted to sealing ordinances; and of the time when it is proper to admit young Christians to them.Directory for Worship, Ch. IX.

When such young persons, or adult persons who have been so baptized and instructed, are judged fit, by the proper Officers, to come to the holy Communion, they are solemnly received to the Communion in the following public form, unless necessity forbid.

Persons who have been born within the pale of the church, and instructed in Christian knowledge and duty, but for any cause have not been baptized, are also, upon giving satisfaction to the Elders in regard to their Christian desires and purposes, publicly received in the following form, being at the same time baptized in the manner shown therein.

The persons to be thus received to the Communion present themselves before the Minister in the Communion Service, immediately after the Prayer of Confession.

"

THE CHARGE TO THE CANDIDATES.

The Minister, standing by the Communion Table, or by the Font, as the case may require, first gives to the Candidates the Charge; demanding of such as have been baptized, that they believe and do all things which their parents then undertook for them; and of such as are to be baptized, that they be mindful of the blessings and duties signified by holy Baptism, and endeavor to walk in conformity thereto.

THE PRAYER BEFORE BENEDICTION.

After this, the Congregation rising, the Minister offers the Prayer before the Benediction; and, if any of the Candidates are to be baptized, the proper Prayer before the Baptism.

THE BENEDICTION.

The whole Congregation still standing, the Minister now performs the Baptism of those who have not been baptized; each Candidate devoutly kneeling.

Upon each of these Persons, after baptizing him, the Minister solemnly pronounces the proper apostolic Benediction; the Person still kneeling.

Then upon each of the other Candidates he pronounces the same Benediction; each drawing near in his order, and reverently bowing to receive it.

THE CHARGE TO THE CONGREGATION.

Then the Minister gives to the Congregation, still standing, the Charge concerning their duty towards those who thus strive to walk in all faithfulness among them.

THE PRAYER AFTER BENEDICTION.

All still standing, the Minister here offers, first, if occasion require, the Prayer after the Baptism, and then the Prayer after the Benediction.

After which, the new Communicants withdrawing, and the People sitting down, the service proceeds according to the Order for the Communion.

THE ORDER

FOR THE

SOLEMNIZING OF
OF MARRIAGE.

At the time appointed, the persons to be married come into the Church and stand before the Minister at the Communion Table (or, if the Marriage be in a private house, the persons take any convenient place), the Man on the Right Hand, and the Woman on the Left; witnesses also being present.

THE CHARGE TO THE WHOLE COMPANY.

The Minister first gives to all present the proper Charge; reminding them of the solemn warrant and the holy nature and duties of the estate of Marriage, and demanding of the Witnesses that, if they know any impediment to the proposed Marriage, they declare it now.

THE CHARGE TO THE PERSONS TO BE MARRIED.

The Minister, then, in like manner, solemnly charges the Man and the Woman who are come to be married, that if they know any reason why they may not be lawfully married, they confess it now.

THE COVENANT.

If no impediment appear, the Minister now requires the Persons that are to be married to join their Right Hands, and then says to the Man:

Do you (here the Minister calls the Man by his full name) take this Woman to be your lawful and wedded Wife? and do you promise and covenant that you will be unto her a loving and faithful Husband, until you shall be separated by death?

Ans. I do.

Then the Minister says likewise to the Woman:

Do you (here the Minister calls the Woman by her full name) take this Man to be your lawful and wedded Husband? and do you promise and covenant that you will be unto him a loving, faithful, and obedient Wife, until you shall be separated by death?

Ans. I do.

THE PLEDGE.

The Minister then asks of the Man:

WHAT pledge do you give to keep this holy vow?

Then the Man gives to the Woman a Ring, which the Minister then takes, and gives again to the Man, requiring him to put it upon the Finger of the Woman, and hold it there while he says with the Minister:

WITH this Ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

THE DECLARATION OF MARRIAGE.

The Man then leaves the Ring on the Finger of the Woman, and the Minister, joining their Right Hands, and laying his own Right Hand upon theirs, solemnly pronounces the Declaration of the Marriage.

THE PRAYER.

Then, the whole Company kneeling or reverently bowing, and (if the Marriage be in the Church) the newly married Persons and their Attendants always kneeling, the Minister offers the proper Prayer.

After which all present say with the Minister the Lord's Prayer, as follows: OUR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE BENEDICTION.

All still kneeling or bowing, the Minister pronounces the Benediction upon the newly married Persons.