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THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK.

If any sick Person is desirous of receiving the Communion at his house, he shall give notice to the Minister; and all things necessary being prepared, the Minister shall there celebrate the Communion, beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel here following.

THE COLLECT.

,

ALMIGHTY, everlasting God, maker of mankind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive; we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand; and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently; and to restore his bodily health, if it be thy gracious will; and that whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE.

Heb. xii. 5.

MY son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

THE GOSPEL.

John v. 24.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you, he who loveth my word, and believeth on him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

After which the Minister shall proceed according to the form before prescribed for the Holy Communion, beginning at the words, Ye who do truly, &c.

END OF THE COMMUNION.

THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

There should be for every Child two or three Sponsors; who may most properly be Parents or nearest Relations.

Minister.

HEAR the words of our Saviour Christ to his Apostles.

Go ye, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Will ye faithfully and earnestly exhort this child to renounce the hurtful vanities of this world,' with all covetous desires of the same, and carnal desires of the flesh, so that he may not follow, nor be led by them?

Answ. I will.

Min. Will ye instruct

Hear also what St. Pe- him in the gospel of our

ter saith;

The baptism which saveth us, is not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.

Dearly beloved,

Ye have brought this child here to be baptized; I demand therefore,

Lord Jesus Christ?

Answ. I will.

Min. Will ye exhort him to keep God's holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life?

Answ. I will.

Then shall the Minister take the Child into his

hands, and say to the perform their duty faith

Sponsors,

Name this child.

Then naming it after them, and either dipping it in the water, or sprinkling water upon it, he shall say,

I BAPTIZE thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Min. Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and ever blessed God, by whose providence the different generations of mankind are raised up to know thee, and to enjoy thy favor for ever; grant that this child, now dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly saved through thy mercy, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. We beseech thee to enable thy servants who are entrusted with the care of this child, to

fully; give them wisdom to be his defence against the temptations incident to childhood and youth; and as he grows up in life, graciously assist them to enlarge his understanding and to open his heart to the impressions of religion and virtue. This our petition we humbly present in the name of Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

WE give 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, that we may be enabled to mortify all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily to proceed in all virtue and godliness of living, till we come to that eternal kingdom, which thou hast promised by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

NOW unto him who is able to keep us from fall

ing, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

EXHORTATION to Parents after Baptism, to be read or omitted, at the discretion of the Min

ister.

THE design of receiving infants by baptism into the church of Christ, is, to remind parents of their duty to them in their innocent

and helpless age, to train them up as his disciples and the children of God; that as they have been the instruments of bringing them into this mortal life, they may have the comfort of contributing to their future. happiness in a life which I will never end.

Remember then that this child belongs to God who gave it to you, that it may be educated and fitted for himself; and if through your criminal neglect or bad example, his reasonable creature be lost, he will require it at your hands.

Instil therefore into his

tender mind the knowledge, reverence, and love of God, Maker of all; and a deep the heavenly Father, and

sense of the duty which he owes to him. Acquaint him with his benevolent designs from the beginning, for the recovery of a degenerate and perishing world, to their duty and happiness; and lead him to learn the mind

and will of God for his sal

the

vation, from that inestimable treasure of wisdom, the holy scriptures, especially words of Christ and his apostles; and not from the doctrines and inventions of men.

Check the first risings of envy and pride in his breast, by teaching him humility and a just knowledge of himself; that all he possesses or hopes for, is from God, whose free bounty alone maketh the difference between his creatures. But at the same time inform him of the dignity of his nature; of the importance of reason, the light of God within him, by which he is to govern himself, to restrain his appetites and passions, moderate his affections, to know the God who made him, to learn his will, to become like unto him, holy, just, and good. Teach him above all

things to abhor falsehood and lies; and to love and cultivate truth and integrity, which will make him amiable in the eyes of all, and acceptable to God. Tell him that he is to love and to do good to all men, because all are equally the children of God with himself, and the objects of his fatherly kindness and care; that he is not born only for himself, but for others; to serve his country and mankind by promoting truth and virtue, and the public good. Sow in him betimes these seeds of piety, charity, sincerity, and all goodness; for otherwise the weeds of evil will spring up in his heart, which ye may never afterward be able to root out. And although no pains which ye can take, can ensure success, yet whatever happens, ye will have discharged your duty, and not have the guilt and mortifying reflection of having contributed to the ruin and misery of those you love. Remember the saying of the wise man, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from

it. If your labors should be successful, it will be a source of the highest and purest pleasure and satisfaction to you; and ye will have the joy of leaving behind you those who may live and do good in the world, when ye shall be no more in it.

And may the supreme Father and Governor of all things direct and bless you in the faithful discharge of your duty, for his glory, the good of mankind, and the advancement of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Where there are other

Sponsors who present the Child to be baptized, and not the Parents, the Minister may thus begin the Exhortation,

YE who have now undertaken the care of this child who naturally belongs to the parents, must take heed and remember that it is also a child of God, for whom it is to be educated and fitted; and if through your, &c.

END OF BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

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