Go ye

given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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 Bible 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 IV

9655. 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 to 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 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.

Instead of the above passage, John iii. 1-8 may be read:

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.

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, 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. 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, ye must also faithfully, for your part, promise, in the presence of 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.