OFFICE FOR THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.

    At the time appointed for the Baptism, the Sponsors with the child being ready at the Font, which should then be filled with pure water, the Minister, standing there, shall say:

DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as we are all conceived and born in sin, and our Saviour Christ saith, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot see the kingdom of God; let us beseech the Lord God Almighty that, of His bounteous mercy, He would grant unto this child, now brought to His Holy Baptism, the all powerful aid of His Holy Spirit.

Then shall the Minister say:

    Let us pray.

O LORD, the Creator of all things, the . fountain of living water, Who dost in Holy Baptism wash away the sins of those who come to Thee. fill, we pray Thee, this child with Thy Holy Spirit, that Christ may be formed and ever live in him; for the sake of the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then shall tile Minister say:

    Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. Mark, in the tenth chapter, at the thirteenth to the sixteenth verses.

THEY brought young children to Christ. that he should touch them. and the 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 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 shall the .Minister say:

    Let us pray.

O LORD. our Heavenly Father. Whose most blessed Son, in the days of His flesh. said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; grant Thy blessing, we pray Thee, upon this child whom we bring before Thee: for the sake of the same, Thy Son, ,Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

    The Minister shall then demand of the Sponsors as followeth, the questions being considered as addressed to them severally, and the answers being made simultaneously:

DOST than, in the name of this child. renounce Satan, the pomps of this world, and its sinful pleasures?
    Answer—I renounce them all, and by God's help will endeavor not to follow nor be led by them.
    Minister—Dost than 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, died, and buried; that He went down into Hades, 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?
    Ans.—All this I steadfastly believe.
    Min.— Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?
    Ans.—That is my desire.
    Min.— Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?
    Ans.—I will, by God's help.
 

Then shall the Minister say:

O MERCIFUL God, Grant that the old Adam in this child may be buried and the Hew man raised up in him. Amen.
    Grant that all sinful affections may die in him, and that all that is of the Spirit may spring up and grow in him. Amen.
    Grant that he, who here renounces the devil, may be enabled to triumph over the world. Amen.
    Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to Thee, by our office and ministry, may be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded; through Thy mercy, O our God, Who art blessed, and dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.
    O God, Who only hast immortality, and who hast called us unto eternal life and glory by' a new birth through Jesus, offering to man who had sinned more than his former dignity, through the waters of Baptism; Give ear, we pray Thee, unto us who call upon Thy name; Sanctify this water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this child, now to he baptized therein, may be filled with divine grace, and be numbered forever among Thy faithful people; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers:

    Name this child.

And then, naming him after them, he shall thrice 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 the Minister shall say:

WE receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock. Peace be unto thee; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say:

DEARLY beloved brethren, let us pray to our Lord God for this child who hath now been baptized, that when our Saviour cometh in glorious majesty to judge the world, he who is now regenerated of water and the Holy Ghost may be clothed forever in the garments of salvation.

Then shall be said, all kneeling:

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. Amen.
    For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say:

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we pray Thee for him who hath now been baptized and put on Christ, and to whom Thou hast vouchsafed the gift of the Hew birth, that he may walk answerably to his Christian calling in this world, and in the world to come may inherit eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Then may be said by the Minister, in behalf of those present at the Baptism:

O CHRIST, the Son of God, Who callest little children unto Thee, make us in malice to be children, and ever to obey Thy commandments; And as Thou didst say, Of such is the kingdom of Heaven; number us, we pray Thee, with those whom Thou dost thus approve; through Thy mercy, O our God, Who art blessed, and dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

    When this office is used alone, here may follow a sermon or address, preceded and followed by a hymn, and the service shall be concluded with eny authorized Collects, and

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

    NOTE.—The Minister should be careful to assure himself, before the time of the Baptism, that a child to be brought to him for Holy Baptism hath not already received that sacrament. But if it cannot certainly appear whether or not the child was baptized with water, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, let the Minister baptize the child in the form which precedeth, saving, instead of the words: N., I baptize thee, etc., he shall say: N., If thou art not already baptized, I baptize thee, etc.

    The People will remain standing until the Lord's Prayer, when all will kneel.

    In case of necessity, as when the person to be baptized is at the point of death, the Minister may proceed at once to baptize the child, using before and after the baptism such prayers from this Office as he may deem opportune.