The Ministration of

Holy Baptism
 

¶ The Minister of every Parish shall often admonish the People, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children, and that it is most convenient that Baptism should be administered upon Sundays and other Holy Days. Nevertheless, if necessity so require, Baptism may be administered upon any other day. And also he shall warn them that, except for urgent cause, they seek not to have their Children baptized in their houses.

¶ There shall be for every Male-child to be baptized. when they can be had, two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather and two Godmothers; and Parents shall be admitted as Sponsors, if it be desired.

DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as 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 (or Person) 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 living member of the same.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead; We call upon thee for this Child (or this thy Servant), that he, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of sin, by spiritual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, arid ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask; let us ‘who seek, find; open the gate unto us who knock; that this Child (or this thy Servant) 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.
 

¶ Then the Minister shall say as followeth:

    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, putS his hands upon them, and blessed them.

¶ Or this.

    Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. John, in the third Chapter, at the first Verse.

THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but. canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

¶ Or this.

    Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. Matthew, in the twenty-eighth Chapter, at the eighteenth Verse.

JESUS came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
 

¶ Then shall the Minister say:

AND now, we being persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward this Child (this Person) declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him and say,

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 from sin, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life.
    Dost thou, therefore, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?
    Answer. I renounce them all; and, by God’s help, will endeavor not to follow, nor be led by them.

    Minister. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles’ Creed?
    Answer. I do.
    Minister. Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith?
    Answer. That is my desire.
    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, by God’s help.

    Minister. Having now, in the name of this Child, made these promises, will ye also on your part take heed that he learn the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe, to his soul’s health?
    Answer. I will, by God’s help.
    Minister. Will ye take heed that this Child, so soon as sufficiently instructed, be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him?
    Answer. I will, God being my helper.
 

DOST thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?
    Answer. I renounce them all; and, by God's help, will endeavour not to follow, nor be led by them.
    Minister. Dost thou believe in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
    Answer. I do.
    Minister. Dost thou accept him, and desire to follow him as thy Saviour and Lord?
    Answer. I do.
    Minister. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles' Creed?
    Answer. I do.

    Minister. Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith?
    Answer. That is my desire.
    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, by God's help.
 

¶ Then shall the Minister say, 

¶ Then the Minister shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers,

Name this Child.

¶ And then, naming the child after them, he shall dip him in the Water discreetly, or shall pour Water upon him, saying,

N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

WE receive this Child (or person) into the congregation of Christ’s flock; and do *sign him with the sign of the 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.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child (or this Person) is 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 this Child (or this Person) may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.

¶ Then shall be said,

OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in 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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

WE yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this Child (or this thy Servant) with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, may live unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, 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 Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶The Child (or Person) being named by some one who is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon him, saying these words:

N. I baptize thee In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ After which shall be said the Lord’s Prayer, and the Thanksgiving from the Office, beginning, We yield thee hearty thanks, etc.

CONDITIONAL BAPTISM.
   

¶ If there be reasonable doubt whether any Person were baptized with Water, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (which are essential parts of Baptism), such Person may be baptized in the manner herein appointed; saving that, at the immersion or the pouring of water, the Minister 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.