lieve God's holy Word, and obediently keep his command

ments.

68. What have the godfathers and godmothers prayed for the child about to be baptized?

1st. That the Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him.

2ndly. That He would release him from his sins.

3rdly. That He would sanctify him with the Holy Ghost.

4thly. That He would give unto him the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life.

69. Are we confident that this part of the covenant will be surely kept and performed?

Certainly. "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. xxi. 22.)

70. Since the infant cannot, for his part, promise for himself, who undertakes to covenant for him?

His sureties.

71. How long is the child bound by this promise?

Until the child be of age to take the promise upon himself; that is, till he be confirmed by the bishop.

72. What do the sureties promise for the infant ?

That he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments. 73. Repeat the first question addressed to the godfathers and godmothers.

I demand therefore,

Dost thou, in the Name of this Child, 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?

74. What part of the service is this termed ?

The Renunciation. It has been the custom in the Christian Church, from the earliest period, that the candidates for Baptism should renounce the devil and all his works. The Church therefore calls upon the sureties to engage for the child, that he will count these as his enemies, since "he who loveth them cannot love God." (1 John ii. 15.)

75. Why do the sureties, in the name of the child, renounce the devil and all his works?

Because "he that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil was a murderer from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John iii. 8.)

76. Why do they renounce the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh ?

Because St. John thus exhorts us: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; for all that is in the world, the lust

of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John ii. 15, 16.)

77. What answer does each of the sureties make to the questions which the minister has put to them?

Answer. I renounce them all.

78. What is then the duty of the godfathers and godmothers when they have promised this in behalf of the infant?

Their duty is to see that he be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But if the infant, after all their care, should go astray, the sureties have nothing to answer for. They have discharged the trust reposed in them, and done all they undertook as sureties; and the neglect and forfeiture of the baptismal covenant is what the child himself must answer for at God's tribunal.

79. What is the second question addressed to the sureties?

It is concerning the faith of the child. Since faith is a necessary qualification for Baptism, the Church demands of all those who enter into the Christian profession, whether they believe all the articles of the Christian faith embodied in the Creed or Belief.

80. Repeat the questions put to the sureties concerning the faith of the child.

Minister.

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 Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?

81. What answer does each sponsor make to these questions? Answer. All this I stedfastly believe.

82. What example have we in Scripture of a person about to be baptized making a profession of faith?

We have the example of the eunuch who was baptized by Philip, and to whom Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered, and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." (Acts viii. 37, 38.) 83. What is the third question put to the sponsors?

Minister.

WILT thou be baptized in this faith?

84. Why is this question asked?

Because it is not only necessary that the party to be baptized do believe the Christian faith, but he must also desire to be joined to the holy society of Christians by the solemn rite appointed by Christ as the general way of admission into his Church.

85. What answer do the godfathers and godmothers make for the child?

Answer. That is my desire.

86. To what does the concluding demand made to the sponsors relate?

To obedience; for as they have already promised that the child shall forsake all evil, so they must now engage that he shall do all that is good, without which the baptized cannot be admitted into the Christian Church.

87. Repeat the last question and answer.

Minister.

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.

88. Why is this promise required of the infant to be baptized? Because, "He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John ii. 4. 6.)

89. Repeat the first of the four short prayers which the priest now makes for the child.

¶ Then shall the Priest say,

O MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen.

90. For what is this prayer?

For the child's regeneration. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. xv. 22.) "We are buried with him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Rom. vi. 4.)

91. Repeat the second prayer which is for the child's sanctification.

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

92. Why does the priest pray that all carnal affections may die in the child?

Because, "to be carnally minded is death." (Rom. vii. 6.) 93. Why does he pray that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him?

66

Because, to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Rom. viii. 6.)

94. Repeat the third prayer, for power against spiritual enemies.

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

95. What three adversaries does the priest pray the child may be victorious over?

1st. The devil. (James iv. 7.) 2ndly. The world.

"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John v. 4.)

3rdly. The flesh. Because "the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John ii. 16.)

96. Repeat the fourth prayer, for increase of grace.

Grant that whosoever is 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.

97. What does the priest pray the child may be endued with? Heavenly virtues. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. v. 22, 23.)

98. How does he pray the child may be rewarded?

Everlastingly "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.)

99. Prove that God doth live and govern all things, world without end.

"From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." (Ps. xc. 2.) 100. What is the next prayer?

It is a prayer for the consecration of the water, in accordance with the custom of the primitive Church, which thus sanctified the water to the sacred use for which it was designed.

101. Is this a necessary part of Baptism?

No; neither is it appointed to be used as necessary in the case of urgent private Baptism.

102. Repeat the Prayer of Consecration.

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 command

ment 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 thy congregation; Sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, 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.

103. Repeat that portion of Scripture which shews that Christ did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood.

"One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water." (John xix. 34.)

104. Repeat the command which He gave his disciples concerning Baptism.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. xxviii. 19.)

105. For what purpose do we pray God to sanctify the water?

To the mystical washing away of sin. "Now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts xxii. 16.)

106. What do we pray the child may receive?

The fulness of God's grace. "And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace." (John i. 16.)

107. In what company do we pray the child may ever remain ? In the number of God's faithful and elect children. "Then they

that gladly received his word were baptized; and they continued in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts ii. 41, 42.)

108. What part of the service now follows?

Then the Priest shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers,

Name this Child.

109. What name is now given to the child?

His Christian name, since he is now listed under Christ's banner, and made one of Christ's family; and as often as he hears this name he should remember the vow made in his behalf.

110. What is the next Rubric?

¶And then naming it after them (if they shall certify him that the Child may well endure it) he shall dip it in the Water discreetly and warily, saying,

111. Then the general rule of the Church is to dip the child? Yes, if he can endure it; but if he be weak, the next Rubric says it shall suffice to pour water upon it.

But if they certify that the Child is weak, it shall suffice to pour Water upon it, saying the aforesaid words.