well done and according vnto due order concerning the baptizing of this childe which being borne in original sinne and in the wrath of God is now by the lauer of regeneration in baptisme receiued into the number of the children of God and heires of euerlasting life For our Lord Iesus Christ doeth not deny his grace and merey vnto such Infants but most louingly doeth call them vnto him as the holy Gospel doeth witnesse to our comfort on this wise AT a certaine time they brought children vnto Christ that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them But when Iesus saw it Marke 10.13 he was displeased said vnto them Suffer little children to come vnto me and forbid them not for to such belongeth the kingdome of God Verely I say vnto you whosoeuer doeth not receiue the kingdome of God as a little childe hee shall not enter therein And when hee had taken them vp in his armes he put his hands vpon them and blessed them After the Gospel is read the Minister shall make this exhortation vpon the wordes of the Gospel FRiends you heare in this Gospel the words of our Sauiour Christ that the commanded the children to be brought vnto him how hee blamed those that would haue kept them from him how hee exhorted all men to follow their innocencie Yee perceiue how by his outward gesture and deede he declared his good will towarde them For hee embraced them in his armes he laide his hands vpon them and blessed them Doubt yee not therefore but earnestly beleeue that hee hath like wise fauourably receiued this present infant that hee hath imbraced him with the armes of his mercie that hee hath giuen vnto him the blessing of eternall life and made him partaker of his euerlasting kingdome Wherefore we being thus perswaded of the good will of our heauenly Father declared by his sonne Iesus Christ towards this infant let vs faithfully and deuoutly giue thanks vnto him say the prayer which the Lord himselfe thaught and in declaration of our faith let vs recite the Articles conteined in our Creede Here the Minister with the Godfathers and Godmothers shall say ¶ Our Father which art in heauen c. Then shall the Priest demaund the name of the childe which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced the Minister shall say Doest thou in the name of this child forsake the Deuil and all his workes the baine pompe and glory of the world with all the couetous desires of the same the carnall desires of the 〈◊〉 and not to follow and be led by them Answere I forsake them all Minister Doest thou in the name of this childe professe this faith to beleeue in God the Father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely begotten sonne our Lord And that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie that he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried that he went downe into hel and also did rise againe the third day that hee ascended into heauen and fitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and from thence he shal come againe at the end of the world to iudge the quicke and the dead And doe you in his name beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the remission of sinnes reserrection and euerlasting life after death Answere All this I stedfastly beleeue Let vs pray ALmightie and euerlasting God heauently father wee giue thee humble thankes for that thou hast vouchsafed to call vs to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee Increase this knowledge confirme this faith in vs euermore giue thy holy spirite to this infant that hee being borne againe and being made heire ot euerlasting saluation through our Lord Iesus Christ may continue thy seruant attaine thy promise through the same our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the same holy spirit euerlastingly Amen Then shall the Minister make this exhortation to the Godfathers and Godmothers FOrasmuch as this childe hath promised by you to forsake the deuill and all his workes to beleeue in God and to serue him you must remember that it is your part and duetie to see that this infant be taught so soone as he shall bee able to learne what a solemne vowe promise and profession he hath made by you And that he may know these things the better ye shall call vpon him to heare Sermons and chiefly you shall prouide that hee may learne the Creede the Lords Prayer and the ten commandements in the English tongue and all other things which a Christian man ought to know and beleeue to his soules health and that this childe may bee vertuously brought vp to lead a godly and a Christian life remembring alway that Baptisme doeth represent dnto vs our profession which is to follow the example of our Saniour Christ and bee made like vnto him that as hee died and rose againe for vs so should wee which are baptized die from sinne and rise againe vnto righteousnesse continually mortifying all our euill and corrupt affections and dayly proceeding in all vertue and godlinesse of liuing And so foorth as in Publique Baptisme But if they which bring the Infants to the Church doe make such vncertaine answeres to the Priests questions as that it cannot appeare that the childe was baptized with water In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost which are Essential parts of Baptisme then let the Priest baptize it in forme aboue written concerning Publique Baptisme sauing that at the dipping of the childe in the Font hec shall vse this forme of wordes IF thou be not already baptized N. I baptized thee in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen ⧠The Order of Confirmation or laying on of hands vpon children baptized and able to render an account of their faith according to the Catechisme following TO the end that Confirmation may be ministred to the more edifying of such as shall receiue it according to Saint Pauls doctrine who teacheth that all things should be done in the Church to the edificatiō of the same it is thought good that none hereafter shall be Confirmed but such as can say in their mother tongue the Articles of the faith the Lords Prayer and the tenne Commandements and can also answere to such questions of this short Catechisme as the Bishop or such as he shall appoint shall by his discretion appose him in And this order is most conuenient to be obserued for diuers considerations First bccause that when children come to the yeeres of discretion and haue learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptisme they may then themselues with their owne mouth and with their owne consent openly before the Church ratifie and confirme the same and also promise
God to call mee Question My good childe knowe thhis that thou art not able to doe these things of thy selfe nor to walke in the comandements of God and to serue him without his speciall grace which thou must learne at all times to call for by diligent prayer Let me heare threfore if thou canst the Lords prayer Answere OUr Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Amen Question What desirest thou of God in this prayer Answere I desire my Lord God our heauenly Father who is the giuer of all goodnesse to send his grace vnto mee and to all people that wee may worship him serue him and obey him as we ought to doe And I pray vnto God that he will send vs all things that be needfull both for our soules and bodies and that hee will bee mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs our sinnes and that it will please him to saue and defend vs in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that hee will keepe vs from all sunne and wickednesse and from our ghostly enemie and from euerlasting death And this I trust hee will doe of his mercy and goodnesse through our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore I say Amen So be it Question HOw many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church Answere Two onely as generally necessary to saluation that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Question What meanest thou by this word Sacrament Answere I meane an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace giuen vnto vs ordained by Christ himselfe as a meanes whereby wee receiue the same and a pledge to assure vs thereof Question How many parts be there in a Sacrament Answere Two the outward visible signe and the inward spirituall grace Question What is the outward visible signe or forme in Baptisme Ansvvere Water wherein the person baptized is dipped or sprinkled with it In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Question What is the inward and spirituall grace Ansvvere A death vnto sinne and a new-birth vnto righteousnesse for being by nature borne in sinne and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Question What is required of persons to be baptized Ansvvere Repentance whereby they forsake sinne and faith wherby they stedfastly beleeue the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Question Why theu are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot performe them Ansvvere Yes they doe performe them by their Sureties who promise and vowe them both in their names which when they come to age themselues are bound to performe Question Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Suuppet ordained Ansvvere For the continuall remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receiue thereby Question What is the outward part or signe of the Lords Supper Answere Bread and Wine which the Lorde hath commaunded to be receiued Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answere The Body and Blood of Christ which are verely and indeed taken receiued of the faithfull the Lords Supper Question What are the benefits whereof we are partakers therby Answere The strengthening and refreshing of our soules by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread wine Question What is required of them which come to the Lordes Supper Answere To examine themselues whether they repent them truely of their former sinnes stedfastly purposing to leade a newe life haue a liuely faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankefull remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men So soone as the children can say in their mother tongue the Articles of the faith the Lords prayer the tenne Commandements and also can answere to such questions of this short Catechisme as the Bishop or such as hee shall appoint shall by his discretion appose them in then shall they bee brought to the Bishop by one that shall be his Godfather or Godmother that euery childe may haue a witnesse of his confirmation And the Bishiop shall confirme them on this wise ⧠Confirmation or laying on of hands OUr helpe is in the Name of the Lord. Answere Which hath made Heauen and Earth Minister Blessed be the Name of the Lorde Answere Henceforth world without ende Minister Lorde heare our prayers Answere And let our crie come vnto thee Let vs pray ALmightie and euerliuing GOD who hast bouchsafed to regenerate these thy seruants by water and the holy Ghost and hast giuen vnto them forgiuenesse of all their sinnes strengthen them wee beseech thee O Lord with the holy Ghost the Comforter and daily encrease in them thy manifolde giftes of grace the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirit of counsaile and ghostly strenghth the spirit of knowledge and true godlinesse and fulfill them O Lord with the spirit of thy holy feare Amen Then the Bishop shall lay his hand vpon euery childe seuerally saying Defend O Lord this childe with thy heauenly grace that hee may continue thine for euer and daily increase in thy holy spirit more and more vntill hee come vnto thy euerlasting kingdome Amen Then shall the Bishop say Let vs pray ALmightie and euerliuing GOD which makest vs both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable vnto thy Maiestie wee make our humble supplications vnto thee for these children vpon whome after the example of the holy Apostles wee haue layde our handes to certifie them by this signe of thy fauour and gracious goodnesse toward them let thy fatherly hand we beseech thee euer be ouer them let thy holy Spirite euer bee with them and so leade them in the knowledge and obedience of thy worde that in the end they may obtaine the euerlasting life through our Lord Iesus Christ who with thee and the holy Ghost liueth and reigneth one God world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall blesse the children saying thus The blessing of God Almightie the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost bee vpon you and remaine with you for cuer Amen The Curate of euery Parish or some other at his appointment shall diligently vpon Sundayes and Holy dayes halfe an houre before Euensong openly in the Church instruct and examine so many children of his Parish sent vnto him as the time will serue and as he shall thinke conuenient in some part of this Catechisme And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Dames shall cause their children seruants and prentices which haue not learned their Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed and obediently to heare and be ordered by the Curate vntill such time as they haue learned all that is here appointed for them to
beloued forasmuch as all men bee conceiued borne in sinne and that our Sauiour Christ faith None can enter into the kingdome of God except hee bee regenerate and borne anew of water and of thr holy Ghost I beseech you to call vpon God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ that of his vounteous mercie hee will graunt to these children that thing which by nature they cannot haue that they may bee baptized with water and the holy Ghost and reciued into Christes holy Church and be made liuely members of the same Then shall the Priest say Let vs pray ALmightie and euerlasting God which of thy great mercy diddest faue Noe and his family in the Arke from perishing by water and also diddest safly leade the children of Israel thy people through the red sea figuring thereby thy holy baptisme by the baptisme of thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Crist diddest sanctifie the flood Iordan all other waters to the mysticall washing away of fsainne we beseech thee for thine infinite mercies that thou wilt mercifully looke vpon these children sanctifie them and wash them with the holy Ghost that they being deliuered from thy wrath may be receiued into the Arke of Christs Church and being stedfast in faith ioyfull through hope and rooted in charitie may so passe the waues of this troublesome world that finally they may come to the land of eueriasting life there to raigne with thee world without ende through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmightie and immortall God the aid of all that need the helper of all that slee to thee for succour the life of them that beleeue and the resurrectiō of the dead we call Vpon thee for these insants that thay comming to thy holy Baptisme may receiue remission of their sinnes by spirituall regeneration Receiue them O Lord as thou hast promised by thy melbeloued sonne saying Aske and you shall haue seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you So giue now vnto vs that aske let vs that seeke finde open the gate vnto vs that knocke that these infantes may enioy the euerlasting benediction of thy heauenly washing and may come to the eternall kingdome which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen Then shall the Priest say Heare the words of the Gospel written by S. Marke in the tenth Chapter AT a certaine time they brought children to Christ that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that bought them But when Iesus saw it hee was displeased and said vnto them Suffer little children to come vnto mee and forbid them not for to such belongeth the kingdome of God Verely I say vnto you whosoeuer doth not receiue the kingdome of God as a little childe hee shall not enter therein And when hee had taken them vp in his armes hee put his hands vpon them and blessed them After the Gospel is read the Minister shall make this briefe exhortation vpon the words of the Gospel FRiends you heare in this Gospel the words of our Sauiour Christ that hee commanded the children to be brought vnto him how hee blamed those that woulde haue kept them from him how he exhorteth all men to follow their innocencie You perceiue howe by his outward gestuce and deede he declare his good will toward them for he imbraced them in his armes he laid his handes vpon them and blessed them Doubt ye not therefore but earnestly beleeue that he will like wise fauourably receiue these Present infants that he will imbrace them with the armes of his mercy that he will giue vnto them the blessing of eternall life and make them partakers of his euerlasting kingdome Wherefore we being thus perswaded of the good will of our heauenly Father toward these infants declared by his sonne Iesus Christ and nothing doubting but that he fauourably alloweth this charitable worke of ours in bringing the children to his holy baptisme let vs faithfully and deuoutly giue thankes vnto him and say ALmightie and euerlasting God heauenly Father wee giue thee humble thankes that thou hast vouchsafed to call vs to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee Encrease this knowledge and confirme this faith in vs euermore Giue thy holy spirit to these infants that they may bee borne againe and be made heires of euerlasting saluation through our Lord Iesus Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy spirit now and for euer Amen Then the Priest shall speake vnto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this wise WElbeloued friends ye haue brought these children here to be baptized ye haue prayed that our Lord Iesus Christ would vouchsafe to receiue them to lay his handes vpon them to blesse them to release them of their sinnes to giue them the kingdome of heauen and euerlasting life Ye haue hear also that our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things that ye haue prayed for which promise he for his part will most sarely keepe and performe Wherefore after this promise made by Christ these infants must also faithfully for their part promise by you that be their sureties that they will forsake the deuill and all his workes and constantly be leeue Gods holy word and obediently keepe his commandements Then shall the Priest demaund of the Godfathers and Godmothers these questions following Doest thou forsake the deuill and all his works the vaine pompe and glory of the world with al eouetous desires of the same the carnall desires of the flesh so that thou wilt not folow nor be led by them Answere I forsake them all Minister Doest thou beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely begotten Sonne our Lord And that hee was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary that he susstreb vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried that he went downe into hell and also did rise againe the third day that he afrended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie and from thence shall come againe at the end of the world to iudge the quicke and the dead And doest thou beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholique Church the communion of Saintes the remission of sinnes the resurrection of the flesh and euerlasting life after death Answere All this I stedfastly beleeue Minister wilt thou be baptized in this faith Answere That is my desire Then shall the Priest say O Mercifull God graunt that the old Adam in these children may be so buried that the new man may be raised vp in them Amen Graunt that all carnall affections may dye in them and that all things belonging to the spirit may liue and grow in them Amen Grant that they may haue power and strength to haue victorie and to triumph against the deuil the world and the flesh Amen Grant that whosoeuer is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministerie may also bee indued with heauenly vertues
and euerlastingly rewarded through thy mercie O blesssed Lord God who doest liue and gouerue all things world without end Amen ALmighty euerliuing God whose most dearly beloued Sonne Iesus Christ for the forgiueness of our sinnes did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood and gaue commandement to his Disciples that they should goe teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Regard we beseech thee the spplications of thy congregation and grant that all thy seruants which shall be baptized in this water may receiue the fulnesse of thy grace and euer remaine in the number of thy faithfull and elect children through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Then the Priest shall take the child in his hands and aske the name And naming the child shall dip it in the water so it bediscreetly and warily done saying N. I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen And if the childe be weake it shall suffice to powre water vpon it saying the foresaid words N. I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Then the Priest shall make a Crosse vpon the childes forehead saying WE receiue this childe into the Congregation of Christ flocke and doe signe him with the signe of the Crosse in token that here after he shall not be ashamed to confesse the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight vnder his banner against sinne the world and the deuill and to continue Christs faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end Amen Then shall the Priest say SEeing now dearely beloued brethren that these children bee regenerate and grafted into the bodie of Christs congregation let vs giue thanks vnto God for these benefits and with one accorde make our prayers vnto Almightie God that they may leade the rest of their life according to this beginning Then shall be said Our Father Which art in heauen c. Then shall the Priest say WE yeeld thee heartie thanks most merciful father that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant with thy holy spirit to receiue him for thine owne child by adoption and to incorporate him into thy holy congregation And humbly wee beseech thee to graunt that he being dead vnto sinne and liuing vnto righteousnes and being buried with Christ in his death may crucifie the old man and vtterly abolish the whole body of sinne that as hee is made partaker of the death of thy sonne so he may be partaker of his resurrection so that finally with the residâ—e of thy holy Congregation hee may be inheritout of thine euerlasting kingdome through Christ our Lord Amen At the last ende the Priest calling the Godfathers and Godmothers together shall say this exhortation following FOrasmuch as these children haue promised by you to forsake the deuil and at his workes to beleeue in God and to serue him you must remember that it is your parts and dueties to see that these infants be taught so soone as they shall bee able to learne what a solemne vowe promise and profession they haue made by you And that they may know these things the better ye shall call vpon them to heare Sermons and chiefly you shall prouide that they may learne the Creede the Lords prayer and 〈◊〉 ten Commaundements in the English tongue and all other things which a Christian man ought to know and beleeue to his soules health and that these children may bee vertuously brought vp to leade a godly and a Christian life remembring alwayes that Baptisme doeth represent vnto vs our profession which is to follow the example of our Sauiour Christ and to be made like vnto him that as he died and rose againe for vs so should wee which are baptized die from sinne and rise againe vnto righteousnes continually mortifying all our euil and corrupt affections and dayly proceeding in all bertue and godlinesse of liuing The Minister that command that the children be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed of him so soone as they can say in their vulgar tongue the Articles of the faith the Lords prayer and the ten Commandements and be further instructed in the Catechisme set forth for that purpose according as it is there expressed ¶ Of them that are to be baptized in priuate houses in time of necessitie by the Minister of the Parish or any other lawfull Minister that can be procured The Pastours and Curates shall often admonish the people that they deferre not the Baptisme of Infants any longer then the Sunday or other Holy day next after the childe be borne vnlesse vpon a great and reasonable cause declared to the Curate and by him approued And also they shall warne them that without great cause necessitie they procure not their children to be baptized at home in their houses And when great need shall compell them so to do then Baptisme shal be administred on this fashion First let the lawfull Minister and them that be present call vpon God for his grace and say the Lords prayer if the time wil suffer And then the child being named by some one that is present the said lawfull Minister shal dip it in water or powre water vpon it saying these words N I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen And let them not doubt but that the childe so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized and ought not to be baptized againe But yet neuerthelesse if the child which is after this sort baptized doe afterward liue it is expedient that it bee brought into the Church to the intent that if the Priest or Minister of the same parish did himselfe baptize that childe the Congregation may be certified of the true forme of Baptisme by him priuately before vsed Or if the childe were baptized by any other lawfull Minister that then the Minister of the Parish where the childe was borne or Christened shall examine and try whether the childe be lawfully baptized or no. In which case if those that bring any childe to the Church doe answere that the same childe is already baptized then shall the Minister examine them further saying By whom was the childe baptized Who was present when childe was baptized And because some things Essentiall to this Sacrament may happen to be omitteb through feare or haste in such times of extremitie therefore I demaund further of you With what matter was the child baptized With what words was the child baptized Whether thinke you the childe to bee lawfully and perfectly baptized And if the Minister shall finde by the answeres of such as bring the childe that all things were done as they ought to be then shall not he Christen the childe againe but shall receiue him as one of the slocke of the true Christian people saying thus I Certifie you that in this case all is