_The Curates of every Parish shall often admonish the people, that
they defer not the Baptism of their children longer than the first
or second Sunday next after their birth, or other Holy-day falling
between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, to be approved
by the Curate_.
_And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and
necessity they profuse not their children to be baptized at home
in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then
Baptism shall be administered on this fashion_.
_First let the Minister of the Parish_ (_or, in his absence, any
other lawful Minister that can be procured_) _with them that are
present call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of
the Collects appointed to be said before in the form of Public
Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then,
the child being named by some one that is present, the Minister
shall pour Water upon it, saying these words_;
_N_. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
_Then, all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God,
and say_,
We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath
pleased thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to
receive _him_ for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate
_him_ into thy holy Church. And we humbly beseech thee to grant,
that as _he_ is now made partaker of the death of thy Son, so _he_
may be also of his resurrection; and that finally, with the residue
of thy Saints, _he_ may inherit thine everlasting kingdom; through
the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_And let them not doubt, but that the Child so baptized is lawfully
and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to be baptized again. Yet
nevertheless, if the Child which is after this sort baptized do
afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the Church,
to the intent that, if the Minister of the same Parish did himself
baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true
form of Baptism, by him privately before used. In which case he
shall say thus_,
I certify you, that according to the due and prescribed Order of
the Church, at such a time, and at such a place, before divers
witnesses, I baptized this Child.
_But if the Child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, then
the Minister of the Parish, where the Child was born or christened,
shall examine and try whether the Child be lawfully baptized, or
no. In which case, if those that bring any Child to the Church do
answer that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the
Minister examine them further, saying_,
By whom was this Child baptized? Who was present when this Child
was baptized?
Because some things essential to this Sacrament may happen to be
omitted through fear or haste, in such times of extremity;
therefore I demand further of you,
With what matter was this Child baptized? With what words was this
Child baptized?
_And if the Minister shall find by the answers of such as bring
the Child, that all things were done as they ought to be; then
shall not he christen the Child again, but shall receive him as one
of the flock of true Christian people, saying thus_,
I certify you, that in this case all is well done, and according
unto due order, concerning the baptizing of this Child; who being
born in original sin, and in the wrath of God, is now, by the
laver of Regeneration in Baptism, received into the number of the
children of God and heirs of everlasting life: for our Lord Jesus
Christ doth not deny his grace and mercy unto such infants, but
most lovingly doth call them unto him, as the holy Gospel doth
witness to our comfort on this wise.
St Mark x. 13.
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.
_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 exhorted
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 hath
likewise favourably received this present Infant; that he hath
embraced him with the arms of his mercy; and (as he hath promised
in his holy Word) 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,
declared by his Son Jesus Christ, towards this Infant, let us
faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say the Prayer
which the Lord himself taught us:
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 trespasses, As we forgive
them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.
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_, being born again, and being made an heir of everlasting
salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, may continue thy servant,
and attain thy promise; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy
Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever. _Amen_.
_Then shall the Priest demand the Name of the Child; which by the
Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say_,
Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all
his works, the vain pomp and glory of this world, with all covetous
desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that
thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?
_Answer_. I renounce them all.
_Minister_.
Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth?
And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was
conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third
day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the
end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?
And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church;
the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection
of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?
_Answer_. All this I stedfastly believe.
_Minister_.
Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments,
and walk in the same all the days of thy life?
_Answer_. I will.
_Then the Priest shall say_,
We receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ's flock,
and do * sign _him_ with the Sign Of Cross, in token that hereafter
_he_ shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified,
and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and
the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant
unto _his_ life's end. Amen.
[Margin Note:] * _The Priest shall make a Cross upon the Child's
forehead_.
_Then shall the Priest say_,
Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is by Baptism
regenerate and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us
give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and with one
accord make our prayers unto him, that _he_ may lead the rest of
_his_ life according to this beginning.
_Then shall the Priest say_,
We yield thee most hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it
hath pleased thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit,
to receive _him_ for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate
_him_ into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant
that _he_ being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and
being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man,
and utterly abolish the whole body of sin; and that, as _he_ is
made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of
his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy
Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_Then, all standing up, the Minister shall make this exhortation
to the Godfathers and Godmothers_.
Forasmuch as this Child hath promised by you _his_ sureties to
renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to
serve him: Ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to
see that this Infant be taught, so soon as _he_ shall be able to
learn, what a solemn vow, promise and profession _he_ hath made by
you. And that _he_ may know these things the better, ye shall call
upon _him_ to hear sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide that _he_
may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments
in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought
to know and believe to his soul's health; and that this Child may
be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life;
remembering alway, that Baptism doth represent unto us our
profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ,
and be made like unto him; that as he died and rose again for us,
so should we, who are baptized, die from sin and rise again unto
righteousness, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt
affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of
living.
_But if they which bring the Infant to the Church do make such
uncertain answers to the Priest's questions, as that it cannot
appear that the Child was baptized with water, In the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,_ (_which are
essential parts of Baptism,_) _then let the Priest baptize it in
the form before appointed for Public Baptism of Infants: Saving
that at the dipping of the Child in the Font, he shall use this
form of words_.
If thou art not already baptized, _N_. I baptize thee in the Name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.