Chapter 30

Almighty and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee to thee for succour, 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 receive remission of _their_ sins by spiritual regeneration. Receive _them_, O Lord: and 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_.

| _In the ministration of Baptism of such as be of riper years it may suffice to say one or other of the two opening prayers_, Almighty and everlasting God, _or_ Almighty and immortal God.

_Then shall the people stand up, and the Priest shall say_,

Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint John in the third chapter, beginning at the first verse.

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 cannot 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 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. 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.

_After which he shall say this exhortation following_.

Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Which also sheweth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were pricked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? replied and said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive _these_ present _persons_, truly repenting, and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant _them_ remission of _their_ sins, and bestow upon _them_ the Holy Ghost; that he will give _them_ the blessing of eternal life, and make _them partakers_ of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards _these persons_, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say,

Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for 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 these persons, that they may be born again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. _Amen_.

_Then the Priest shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise_.

Well-beloved, who are come hither desiring to receive holy Baptism, _ye_ have heard how the Congregation hath prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life. _Ye_ have heard also that 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, _ye_ must also faithfully, for your part, promise in the presence of these your witnesses, and this whole Congregation, that _ye_ will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.

_Then shall the Priest demand of each of the persons to be baptized, severally, these Questions following_.

_Question_.

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 nor be led by them?

_Answer_. I renounce them all.

_Question_.

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 went down into hell, and also did rise 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 flesh; and everlasting life after death?

_Answer_. All this I stedfastly believe.

_Question_.

Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?

_Answer_. That is my desire.

_Question_.

Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?

_Answer_. I will endeavour so to do, God being my helper.

_Then shall the Priest say_,

O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in _these persons_ may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in _them_. _Amen_.

Grant that all carnal affections may die in _them_, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in _them_. _Amen_.

Grant that _they_ may have power and strength, to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. _Amen_.

Grant that _they_, being here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. _Amen_.

Almighty everliving 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, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of this Congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that the persons now to be baptized therein may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

_Then shall the Priest take each person to be baptized by the right hand, and placing him conveniently by the Font, according to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the Name; and then shall dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying_,

_N_. I baptize thee, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_Then shall the Priest say_,

We receive this person into the Congregation of Christ's flock; and * do sign _him_ with the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter _he_ shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto _his_ life's end. Amen.

* _Here the Priest shall make a Cross upon the person's forehead_.

_Then shall the Priest say_,

Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that _these persons_ are regenerate and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that _they_ may lead the rest of _their_ life according to this beginning.

_Then shall be said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling_.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

We yield 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. Give thy Holy Spirit to _these persons_, that, being now born again, and made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, _they_ may continue thy servants, and attain thy promises; through the same Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, everlastingly. _Amen_.

_Then, all standing up, the Priest shall use this exhortation following; speaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first_.

Forasmuch as _these persons_ have promised in your presence to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him: Ye must remember that it is your part and duty to put _them_ in mind, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession _they_ have now made before this Congregation, and especially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call upon _them_ to use all diligence to be rightly instructed in God's holy Word; that so _they_ may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live godly, righteously, and soberly in this present world.

(_And then, speaking to the new baptized persons, he shall proceed, and say_,)

And as for you, who have now by Baptism put on Christ, it is your part and duty also, being made the _children_ of God and of the light by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light; remembering always, that Baptism representeth unto us our profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him; that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin and rise again unto righteousness, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

_It is expedient that every person, thus baptized, should be confirmed by the Bishop so soon after his Baptism as conveniently may be; that so he may be admitted to the holy Communion_.

_If any persons not baptized in their infancy shall be brought to be baptized before they come to years of discretion to answer for themselves; it may suffice to use the Office for Public Baptism of Infants, or_ (_in case of extreme danger_) _the Office for Private Baptism; only changing the word_ [Infant] _for_ [Child _or_ Person] _as occasion requireth_.

A CATECHISM,

THAT IS TO SAY,

AN INSTRUCTION TO BE LEARNED OF EVERY PERSON BEFORE

HE BE BROUGHT TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE BISHOP

_Question_.

What is your Name?

_Answer_. _N_. or _NN_.

_Question_. Who gave you this Name?

_Answer_. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

_Question_. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you?

_Answer_. They did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the articles of the Christian faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.

_Question_. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee?

_Answer_. Yes verily: and by God's help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end.

_Catechist_.

Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief.

_Answer_.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

_Question_. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief?

_Answer_. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world.

Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind.

Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God.

_Question_.

You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you, that you should keep God's Commandments. Tell me how many there be?

_Answer_. Ten.

_Question_. Which be they?

_Answer_.

The same which God spake in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, saying, I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

I. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them. For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandments.

III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his Name in vain.

IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

V. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

VI. Thou shalt do no murder.

VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VIII. Thou shalt not steal.

IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.

_Question_.

What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?

_Answer_. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.

_Question_. What is thy duty towards God?

_Answer_. My duty towards God is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him, with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.

_Question_. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour?

_Answer_. My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me: To love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him: To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt nobody by word nor deed: To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.

_Catechist_.

My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer.

_Answer_.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

_Question_. What desirest thou of God in this Prayer?

_Answer_. I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to send his grace unto me, and to all people, that we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we ought to do. And I pray unto God, that he will send us all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies; and that he will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins; and that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily; and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness, and from our ghostly enemy, and from everlasting death. And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness, through our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore I say, Amen, So be it.

_Question_.

How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?

_Answer_. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

_Question_. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament?

_Answer_. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.

_Question_. How many parts are there in a Sacrament?

_Answer_. Two: the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace.

_Question_. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism?

_Answer_. Water: wherein the person is baptized, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

_Question_. What is the inward and spiritual grace?

_Answer_. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

_Question_. What is required of persons to be baptized?

_Answer_. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin: and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God, made to them in that Sacrament.

_Question_. Why then are infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them?

_Answer_. Because they promise them both by their sureties: which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform.

_Question_. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained?

_Answer_. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby.

_Question_. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper?

_Answer_. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received.

_Question_. What is the inward part, or thing signified?

_Answer_. The Body and Blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.

_Question_. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby?

_Answer_. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine.

_Question_. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?

_Answer_. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.

_The Curate of every Parish shall diligently upon Sundays and Holy-days, after the second Lesson at Evening Prayer, openly in the Church instruct and examine so many Children of his Parish sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism_.

_And all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Dames, shall cause their Children, Servants, and Prentices,_ (_which have not learned their Catechism,_) _to come to the Church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear and be ordered by the Curate, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn_.

_So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say, in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and also can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism; they shall be brought to the Bishop: And every one shall have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a witness of their Confirmation_.

_And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for Children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Curate of every Parish shall either bring or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his Parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. And, if the Bishop approve of them, he shall confirm, them in manner following_.

THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED

AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION

_Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop; he_ (_or some other Minister appointed by him_) _shall read this Preface following_.

To the end that Confirmation maybe ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed; to the end that children being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they by their own confession have assented unto.