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 suitable exhortation:+
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 of his
bounteous mercy he will grant to this =child= that which by nature =he=
cannot have; that =he= may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost,
and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made a lively member of
the same.
+Then shall the minister say, Let us pray:+
Almighty and everlasting God, 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 delivered from thy wrath, 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 whosoever 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 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, the
supplications of thy congregation; and grant that =this child=, now to
be baptized, may receive the fullness of thy grace, and ever remain 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 say:+
Hear the words of the Gospel written by St. Mark in the tenth chapter,
at the thirteenth verse.
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.
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 the minister, addressing the parents or others presenting the
child, shall say:+
In causing =this child= to be brought by baptism into the Church of
Christ, it is your duty to teach =him= to renounce the devil and all his
works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires
of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that =he= may not
follow or be led by them; to believe all the articles of the Christian
faith; and to obediently keep God's holy will and commandments all the
days of =his= life.
+Then the minister shall take the child into his hands, if convenient,
and say to the friends of the child:+
NAME THIS CHILD
N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost.
Amen.
+The minister may, at his discretion, lay hands on the subject,
accompanying the act with a suitable invocation, and then, all kneeling,
close with extemporaneous devotions and the Lord's Prayer:+
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth, as it is heaven; give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass
against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.