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continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom,

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who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, through thy mercy in thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear

the petitions of those who ask in thy Son's Name; We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant, that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

There should be for every child two or three sponsors, who may most properly be Parents or nearest Relations.

DEA

Minister.

EARLY beloved, Remember that the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord your God shall call:

Wherefore, hear the words of our Saviour 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.

Hear what he saith in another place:

Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. And yet in another place:

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Hear also what St. Peter saith:

The baptism which saveth us, is not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.

Then the Minister may make this brief Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.

BEL

ELOVED, 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 who 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 God will likewise favorably 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 favorably alloweth this charitable work of ours in bringing this Infant to his holy Baptism: let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say,

A

LMIGHTY 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 may be ever thy child, and live as an heir of everlasting salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then shall the Minister speak unto the Sponsors on this

wise.

Dhere to be baptized; I demand therefore, Will

EARLY beloved, ye have brought this child

ye faithfully and earnestly exhort this child to live above the hurtful vanities, evil desires, and carnal passions of this world, and bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Ans. I will.

Min. Will ye instruct him in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Ans. I will.

Min. Will ye exhort him to keep God's holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life?

Ans. I will.

Then shall the Minister take the Child into his hands, and say to the Sponsors,

Name this child.

Then naming it after them, and either dipping it in the water, or sprinkling water upon it, he shall say,

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

Min. Let us pray.

LMIGHTY and ever blessed God, by whose

ALMIGHTY

providence the different generations of mankind are raised up to know thee, and to enjoy thy favor for ever; grant that this child, now dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may be endued

with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly saved through thy mercy, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. We beseech thee to enable thy servants who are intrusted with the care of this child, to perform their duty faithfully; give them wisdom to be his defence against the temptations incident to childhood and youth; and as he grows up in life, graciously assist them to enlarge his understanding and to open his heart to the impressions of religion and virtue. This our petition we humbly present in the name of Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

WE

E 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.

unto him who is able to keep us from fall

Ning, and to present us faultless before the pres

ence 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.

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