diently to keep God's holy will and commandments all the days of his life.

When he hath reached the age of discretion, he being willing thereto, and showing evidence of living faith in Christ, it will become your duty to bring him before the congregation, that he may there ratify and make his own the act of dedication which you this day perform on his behalf.1

Do you solemnly assume these obligations? Ans. We do, God being our helper.

Then the minister shall take the child into his hands, if convenient, and say to the friends of the child:

Name this child.

And then, naming it after them, he shall sprinkle or pour water upon it (or, if desired, immerse it in water), saying:

N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The minister may, at his discretion, lay hands on the subject, accompanying the act with a suitable invocation, and then, all kneeling, close with extemporaneous devotions and the Lord's Prayer:

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

1The following may be used instead of the address above:

In causing this child to be brought by baptism into the Church of Christ, it is your duty to teach him to 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 he may not follow or be led by them; to believe all the articles of the Christian faith; and obediently to keep God's holy will and commandments all the days of his life.

us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

SECTION II.

¶618. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO CHILDREN AND

YOUTH.

The people shall stand up, and the minister, coming to the font, which is to be filled with pure water, shall say:

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. Matthew, in the twenty-eighth chapter, beginning at the sixteenth verse.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Then shall the minister say:

Almighty, ever-living God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood, and gave commandment

to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; and grant that the persons now to be baptized may receive the fullness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the minister shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise:

Well beloved, who are come hither, desiring to receive holy baptism, you have heard how the congregation hath prayed that God would grant unto you now to be baptized the fullness of his grace, that you might ever remain in the number of his faithful and elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And our God 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, for your part, do you also faithfully promise, in the presence of Almighty God and this congregation, that from this time forth, God helping you, you will put away from you every known sin in thought, word, and deed, and constantly endeavor to keep God's holy commandments?

Ans. God helping me, I do so promise.

Will you believe and diligently study the Bi

ble as God's holy word and in all things strive to make it the rule of your life?

Ans. God helping me, I will.

Having been taught the Apostles' Creed, as given in our book of Discipline, as far as you do now understand, do you accept what this Creed teaches?

Ans. As far as I understand, I accept and believe it.

Will you be baptized in this faith?

Ans. This is my desire.

Then shall the minister take each person to be baptized by the right hand; and placing him conveniently by the font, according to his discretion, shall ask the name; and then shall sprinkle or pour water upon him (or, if he shall desire it, shall immerse him in water), saying:

N., I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The minister may, at his discretion, lay hands on the subject, accompanying the act with a suitable invocation.

SECTION III.

4619. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS.

The minister, coming to the font; which is to be filled with pure water, shall use the following, or some other suitable exhortation:

Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men do inherit a nature so fallen that no man, of his own strength, can so live as to please God, and that our Saviour Christ saith, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God: I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through

our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these persons, now to be baptized with water, that which by nature they cannot have: that they may be baptized with the Holy Ghost, received into Christ's holy Church, and be made 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 now to be baptized. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy wellbeloved 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. Matthew, in the twenty-eighth chapter, beginning at the sixteenth verse.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and