THE MINISTRATION OF

PUBLICK BAPTISM OF INFANTS,

TO BE USED IN THE CHURCH.

THE Ministers of every parish shall often admonish the people, that they bring their Children to Baptism as soon as possible after birth, and that they defer not the Baptism of their children longer than the fourth or at furthest the fifth Sunday, unless upon a great and reasonable cause.

¶ It is convenient where possible that Baptism should be administered 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. Nevertheless (for sufficient cause), Children may be baptized upon any other day.

¶ And note, that there shall be for every Male­child to be baptized two Godfathers and one Godmother; and .for every Female, one God­father and two Godmothers. Nevertheless, when three Sponsors cannot conveniently be had, one Godfather and one Godmother shall suffice. Parents, if need so require, may be Sponsors for their own Child provided that the Child have one other Sponsor. No person shall be admitted to be a Sponsor who hath not been baptized.

¶ If the Curate be absent it is lawful that a Deacon baptize Infants.

¶ When there are Children to be baptized, the Parents shall give due notice thereof to the Curate. He shall thereupon appoint the time for the Baptism, which shall be either immediately after the last Lesson, or after the third Collect at Morning or Evening Prayer; or at such other time as he in his discretion shall think fit. 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 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 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 sin 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.

¶ 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.
 

¶ Then shall the Priest and people, still standing, say,

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, We give thee humble thanks, For that thou hast vouchsafed to call us 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.

I demand therefore,

DOST thou, 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 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 Catholick 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 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, God being my helper.

The remainder of the service is as in 1662, with the following two rubrics being added at the end:

¶ When Baptism is administered at Morning or Evening Prayer, then all the Prayers after the third Collect may be omitted, except the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.

¶ If a Child that hath been privately baptized be brought to the Church at the same time with a Child that is to be baptized, the Priest, having certified the sufficiency of the Private Baptism, shall begin the Order of the Ministration of Publick Baptism of Infants, putting the appointed questions to the Sponsors of both the Children: Save that the question, Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith? be not asked of the Sponsors of the Child already baptized. Then, having baptized and received the Child that hath not been baptized, he shall demand the name of the Child that hath been privately baptized and receive him. Which done he shall proceed with the rest of the Order of Publick Baptism.
 

AN ALTERNATIVE ORDER FOR THE MINISTRATION OF PUBLICK BAPTISM OF INFANTS,

WHICH MAY BE USED BY THE MINISTER WITH THE ASSENT OF THE PARENTS.

¶ The Minister, coming to the Font, shall say,

HATH this Child been already baptized, or no?

¶ If they answer, No: Then shall the Minister proceed as followeth :

SEEING that all men are by nature born in a state of sinfulness; and that our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdom of God except he be born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant unto this Child 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.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY .and everlasting God, who by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, in the River Jordan didst sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin: Mercifully look upon this Child: wash him and sanctify him with the Holy Ghost; that he may be received into the ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast 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.

Or this:

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 sin, 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, being cleansed and hallowed by thy heavenly washing, may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the people stand up, and the Minister 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 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.

YE hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, when he commanded the children to be brought unto him; ye perceive how he took them in his arms, and blessed them. He is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he loveth this Child, that he approveth this work of ours in bringing him to holy Baptism, that he is ready to receive him, to embrace him with the arms of his mercy, and to give him the blessing of eternal life. Wherefore let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him.

¶ Then shall the Minister and people, still standing, repeat together,

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, We give thee humble thanks that thou hast called us to the knowledge of thy grace and to 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 Minister 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 cleanse him, and to sanctify him. Our Lord has 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.

    You, on your part, must undertake on behalf of this Infant three things: first, that he will renounce the devil and all his works; secondly, that he will constantly believe God's holy Word; and thirdly, that he Will obediently keep his commandments.

I demand therefore,

DOST thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh?
    Answer. I do.
    Dost thou in his name profess the Christian faith?
    Answer. I do.

¶ Then shall be said by the Minister and Godparents the Apostles' Creed as follows,
 

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
    And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under .Pontius Pilate Was crucified, dead; and buried.: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection
of the flesh, and everlasting life after death. Amen.

    Dost thou promise in his name obedience to God's holy will and commandments?
    Answer. I do.
    Dost thou in his name ask for baptism ?
    Answer. I do.
    Wilt thou help him to know and keep these promises?
    Answer. I will endeavour so to do, the Lord being my helper.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

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 the evil desires of the flesh 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 here 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, everliving 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; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister take the Child into his arms, or by the hand, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers,

Name this Child,

¶ And then naming it after them he shall dip it in the water or pour water over it, 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 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 that this Child is regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and pray that this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.

¶ Then shall be said, all kneeling,

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. For thine is the kingdom, 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 Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to make him a member in the body of thy Son, which is thy Holy Church. Amen.

GRANT, O Lord, that he by Baptism being buried with Christ in his death, may also be made partaker of his resurrection; so that, serving thee here in newness of life, he may finally with the rest of thy holy Church be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation following,

YOU who have made these promises in the name of this Child, must see that he be taught the meaning of the promises which he hath here made by you, and that he learn the things which a Christian ought to know, to believe, and to keep, for the sake of his soul's welfare.
    See especially that he be taught the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, as set forth in the Church Catechism.
    See also that he be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life.
    Take care that he be brought to the Bishop at the right time to be confirmed by him, so that strengthened with the gift of the Holy Spirit he may come, with due preparation to receive the most comfortable sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Always remember that Baptism doth represent unto us our Christian profession, which is to follow the example of our Saviour Christ and to be made like unto him; that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die unto sin and rise .again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all evil desires, and daily advancing in all virtue and godliness of living.