THE RITUAL.

I.

ORDER OF BAPTISM.

1. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO INFANTS.

The Minister coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following, or some other exhortation suitable to this sacred office.

DEARLY BELOVED: Forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ saith, "Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God;" I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that having, of His bounteous mercy, redeemed this child by the blood of His Son, He will grant that he, being baptized with water, may also be baptized with the Holy Ghost, be received into Christ's Holy Church, and become a lively member of the same.

Then shall the Minister say,-Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who of Thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel, Thy people, through the Red Sea, figuring thereby Thy

Holy Baptism; and hast set apart water for this Holy Sacrament; and hast condescended to enter into gracious covenant with man, wherein Thou hast included children as partakers of its benefits, declaring that "of such is the Kingdom of heaven;" we beseech Thee for Thine infinite mercies that Thou wilt look upon this child; wash him, and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he, being saved by Thy grace, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church, and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in love, 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.

O 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 whoever is dedicated to Thee by our office and ministry, 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.

Almighty, ever-living 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, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; regard, we beseech Thee, our supplications; and grant that this child, now to be baptized, may receive the fulness of Thy grace, and be found at last in the number of Thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Then shall the people stand up, and the Minister shall read one or more of the following portions of Scripture:

Hear the word of the Lord written in the Book of Genesis (chap. xvii. 7):

And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generation for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

The Apostle Peter declares (Acts ii. 39): is unto you, and to your children, and to all off

The promise that are afar

The Apostle Paul likewise saith in the Epistle to the Galatians (chap. iii. 13, 14, 29): Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Lord hath by His servant Ezekiel (chap. xxxvi. 25) said: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

Hear also the words of the Gospel written by St. Mark, in the tenth chapter, beginning at the thirteenth verse:

They brought young children to Him, 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.

Then may the Minister say,

DEARLY BELOVED: Forasmuch as this child is now presented by you for Christian baptism, you must remember that it is your part and duty to see that he be taught, as soon as he shall be able to learn, the nature and end of this holy sacrament, and all those truths of the Holy Scriptures which reveal our duty and God's will concerning us. Bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, so that he may lead a virtuous and holy life, and, being sheltered from the dangers and temptations of the world, and kept safe from ungodly teaching and example, may be led to trust in Christ his Saviour, and abide through life a faithful member of His holy Church.

Then shall the Minister take the child in his arms, and say to the parents or friends of the child:

NAME THIS CHILD.

And then, naming it after them, he shall baptize the child, saying:

N, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN.