Page images
PDF
EPUB

Now

OW unto him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BAPTISM

OF THOSE WHO ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

The Persons to be baptized being present and standing before the Minister, the Minister shall begin the Service by saying:

HEAR the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to his apostles:

Go ye, and make disciples of 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 always, even to the end of the world.

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.

HEAR also what St. Peter saith:

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; for the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

WE give thee humble thanks, O Heavenly

Father, 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, that we may be enabled to mortify all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily to proceed in all virtue and godliness of living, till we come to that eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say to the Person desiring to be baptized,

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as one who has spoken the words of eternal life?

Answer. I do.

Min. Do you believe in that kingdom of God in the hearts of men, where the will of God is done on earth, even as it is in heaven? Ans. I do.

Min. Do you now promise to obey the commandments of God, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and to make his example the guide of your conduct and life?

Ans. This I now promise and by the help of God will endeavor to perform.

[ocr errors]

The Minister shall then baptize the Person, saying,

I BAPTIZE thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Then shall the Minister also say:

WE E receive this person into the congregation of Christ's flock, as one not ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified. We welcome him as one engaged henceforth to fight manfully under Christ's banner, and to continue his faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, regard in mercy the prayers of thy people; and bless thy servant, who hath now been acknowledged as a member of the Christian Church, by baptism. Incline his heart to receive with all readiness the doctrines and instructions of Christ, and to submit faithfully to the authority of his laws. Give him strength to triumph over the temptations of vice, and to be steadfast in the practice of that holiness which baptism is designed to represent; that, living as becometh a good and faithful member of the Christian Church here on earth, he may at length partake in heaven of that eternal kingdom which thou hast revealed to us by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

« PreviousContinue »