to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness he will grant to these persons that which by nature they can not have; that they, being baptized with water, may also be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and being received into Christ's holy Church, may continue lively members of the same.

Then shall the Minister say,

LET US PRAY.

Almighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee to thee for succor, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead: we call upon thee for these persons; that they, coming to thy holy baptism, may also be filled with thy Holy Spirit. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall receive; 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 these persons 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 Minister shall say:

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. John, (Chap. iii, vs. 1–8.)

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. Jesus answered. and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,

he can not 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. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Then the Minister shall speak to the Persons to be Baptized on this wise:

Well beloved, who have come hither, desiring to receive holy baptism, you have heard how the congregation hath prayed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you, to bless you, and to give you the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. And our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word to grant all those things that we have prayed for: which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform.

Wherefore after this promise made by Christ, you must also faithfully, for your

part, promise, in the presence of this whole congregation, that you will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.

Then shall the Minister demand of each of the Persons to be Baptized.

Ques. Dost thou 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 or be led by them?

Ans. I renounce them all.

Ques. 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 rose 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 body, and everlasting life after death?

Ans. All this I steadfastly believe. Ques. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?

Ans. This is my desire.

Ques. 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 endeavor so to do, God being my helper.

Then shall the Minister say:

O merciful God, grant that all carnal affections may die in these persons, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them. Amen.

The one universal Church of Christ.