Question. Do you promise to instruct your Child in the principles of our holy religion, as contained in the Scriptures, to pray with him and for him, and to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Answer. I do. Then the Minister shall say, GRANT, O Lord, to these Thy servants grace to perform the things which they have promised before Thee: And sanctify with Thy Spirit this Child now to be baptized according to Thy Word; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then, all present reverently standing, the Minister shall say to the Parents, What is the name of this Child? Then the Minister (taking the Child in his arms, or leaving it in the arms of the Parent), pronouncing the name of the Child, shall pour or sprinkle water upon it, 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, Let us pray. MOST holy and merciful Father, we give Thee hearty thanks that Thou hast numbered us amongst Thy people, and dost also call our children unto Thee, marking them with this Sacrament, as a singular token and badge of Thy love. Wherefore, we beseech Thee to confirm Thy favour more and more toward us, and to take into Thy tuition and defense this Child, whom we offer and present unto Thee with common supplications. Grant that he may know Thee his merciful Father, through Thy Holy Spirit working in his heart, and that he may not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified; but may continue His faithful soldier and servant, and so prevail against evil that in the end he may obtain the victory, and be exalted into the liberty of Thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Minister and People may say together the LORD'S PRAYER, if the same is not said in the Service immediately preceding or following. THE LORD'S PRAYER. OUE Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And for give us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Then the Minister shall say, THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you Amen. all. ¶ Infants descending from parents, either both or but one of them professing faith in Christ and obedience to Him, are within the covenant of promise, and are to be baptized. — Larger Catechism, 166. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this Sacrament the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time. Grace and salvation are, however, not so inseparably annexed unto Baptism as that none can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated. - Confession of Faith, Chap. xxviii, §§ 5, 6. When, by death of the parents or otherwise, children are removed from their custody, the guardian or other person who has undertaken to rear them may present them for Baptism, provided he possess the qualifications requisite for having his own children baptized, and is willing to assume the obligations made by parents in the foregoing service. Minutes of the Synod of 1786. THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO ADULTS AND THEIR RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. ¶ When unbaptized persons apply for admission into the Church, they shall, in ordinary cases, after giving satisfaction with respect to their knowledge and piety, make a public profession of their faith in the presence of the congregation; and thereupon be baptized. - Directory for Worship, Chap. x, § 4. ¶The Candidates appearing before the Minister, he shall say, HEAR the Words of the Institution of this holy Sacrament, as delivered by our Lord and Saviour to His disciples, before His ascension to the right hand of God: 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." Hence St. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, called upon the people, saying, "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." Doubt ye not, therefore, but earnestly believe, that He will number among His people these present Persons, truly repenting and coming unto Him by faith, and that this Baptism with water in His Name shall be unto them the sign and seal of the washing away of their sins, their engrafting into Christ, their regeneration by His Holy Spirit, and their engagement to be the Lord's. ¶ The Minister shall then say to the Persons to be baptized, and each one shall answer, as follows: DEARLY beloved, who are come hither desiring to be baptized, you are now faithfully, for your part, in the presence of God and this congregation, to promise and answer to the following Questions. Question. Do you receive and profess the Christian faith, and in this faith do you desire to be baptized? Answer. I do. Question. Do you confess your sins, and turn from them with godly sorrow, and put all your trust in the mercy of God, which is in Christ Jesus; and do you promise in His strength to lead a sober, righteous, and godly life? Answer. I do. The Question here following is to be omitted at this point in Question. Now desiring to be received to the Lord's Answer. Then the Minister shall say, Let us pray. WE beseech thee, O Lord, that it may please Thee to receive, and to sanctify with Thy Spirit, these Persons now to be baptized according to Thy Word; that they may obtain the fulness of Thy grace, and ever remain in the number of Thy faithful children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then, all present reverently standing, the Person to be baptized will kneel down, and the Minister, pronouncing his name, shall pour or sprinkle water upon his forehead, 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 Person into the congregation of Christ's flock; in the confidence that he shall never be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Here, if Persons who have been baptized in infancy are to be received to the Lord's Supper, they may be called to come forward; and the Minister, omitting the remainder of this Order, may proceed with the Order for the Confirmation of Baptismal Vows the newly baptized persons still standing in their places before him. Then the Minister (laying his hand, if such be his discretion, upon the head of every one in order kneeling before him) shall say, DER EFEND, O Lord, this Thy Child with Thy heavenly grace; that he may continue Thine for ever; and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto Thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, we give Thee hearty thanks and praise that Thou hast not withheld Thy loving kindness from these Thy servants, but hast given them shelter within the covenant of Thy peace, and makest them to sit down at Thy Table. We entreat Thee of Thy great mercy to perfect in them the good work Thou hast begun; that they, being defended by Thy fatherly hand, and strengthened with power through Thy Spirit in the inward man, may be enabled to keep this covenant without spot, unrebukable, until the day of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. |