_The people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that
Baptism should not be administered but upon Sundays, and other
Holy-days, when the most number of people come together; as well
for that the Congregation there present may testify the receiving
of them that be newly baptized into the number of Christ's Church;
as also because in the Baptism of Infants every man present may
be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his
Baptism. For which cause also it is expedient that Baptism be
ministered in the vulgar tongue. Nevertheless_, (_if necessity so
require_,) _children may be baptized upon any other day_.
_The public office for the ministration of Baptism of infants may
be used as a separate service, and such service may be concluded
with the Blessing_.
_And note, that there shall be for every male child to be baptized
two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every female, one
Godfather and two Godmothers_.
_When there are children to be baptized, the parents shall give
knowledge thereof over night, or in the morning before the beginning
of Morning Prayer, to the Curate. And then the Godfathers and
Godmothers and the people with the children must be ready at the
Font, either immediately after the last Lesson at Morning Prayer,
or else immediately after the last Lesson at Evening Prayer, as
the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And the Priest coming
to the Font_, (_which is then to be filled with pure Water,_) _and
standing there, shall say_, Hath this Child been already baptized,
or no? _If they answer_, No: _then shall the Priest proceed as
followeth_.
Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin,
and that our Saviour Christ saith, none can enter into the kingdom
of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of Water and of the
Holy Ghost: 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 thing 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 Priest 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 by the Baptism of
thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the river Jordan, didst
sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin: We beseech
thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully 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 stedfast in faith,
joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, 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_.
Almighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of
all that flee to thee for succour, the life of them that believe,
and the resurrection of the dead: We call upon thee for _this
Infant_, that _he_, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive
remission of _his_ sins 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 that ask; let us that seek
find; open the gate unto us that knock; that _this Infant_ 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_.
| _In the ministration of Baptism of infants it may suffice to say
one or other of the two opening prayers_, Almighty and everlasting
God, _or_ Almighty and immortal God.
_Then shall the people stand up, and the Priest shall say_,
Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint 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 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.
_After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief
exhortation upon the words of the Gospel_.
Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ,
that he commanded the children to be brought unto him; how he
blamed those that would have kept them from him; how he exhorteth
all men to follow their innocency. Ye perceive how by his outward
gesture and deed he declared his good will toward them; for he
embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed
them. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will
likewise favourably receive _this_ present _Infant_; that he will
embrace _him_ with the arms of his mercy; that he will give unto
_him_ the blessing of eternal life, and make _him_ partaker of his
everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good
will of our heavenly Father towards _this Infant_, declared by his
Son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubting but that he favourably
alloweth this charitable work of ours in bringing _this Infant_ to
his holy Baptism; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto
him, and say,
Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble
thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of
thy grace and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm
this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to _this Infant_,
that _he_ may be born again, and be made _an heir_ of everlasting
salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth
with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. _Amen_.
_Then shall the Priest speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers
on this wise_.
Dearly beloved, ye have brought _this Child_ here to be baptized;
ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive
_him_, to release _him_ of _his_ sins, to sanctify _him_ with the
Holy Ghost, to give _him_ the kingdom of heaven and everlasting
life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised
in his Gospel, to grant all these things that ye have prayed for:
which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform.
Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, _this Infant_ must
also faithfully, for _his_ part, promise by you that are _his_
sureties, (until _he_ come of age to take it upon _himself_,) that
_he_ will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly
believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.