THE

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

The persons to be baptized standing near the font, or, the parents or guardians presenting the children, the Minister will read one or more of the following passages:

IN

those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, and saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan, and were baptized of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repen

tance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that GOD is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and He will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then cometh JESUS from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And JESUS answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. And JESUS, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of GOD descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved SON, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. iii.

THERE

HERE 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 one 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. John iii. 1–8.

AN

:

ND they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them and the disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when JESUS saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of GOD. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of GOD as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark x. 13-16.

AN

ND 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 into the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, until the end of the world. Amen. Matt. xxviii. 18-20.

¶ Here the Minister may read a part or the whole of the following

DOCTRINE CONCERNING BAPTISM.

BAPTISM was instituted as a sign that the person

baptized is of the Church, and as a memorial that he is to be regenerated. For the washing of Baptism is none other than spiritual washing, which is regeneration. All regeneration is effected by the Lord by means of the truths of faith and by a life according to them. Baptism therefore testifies that a man is of the Church, and that he may be regenerated; for it is in the Church that the Lord is acknowledged, who alone regenerates, and there also is the Word wherein are those truths of faith by which regeneration is effected. This the LORD teacheth us in John where He saith: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God" (iii. 5). Water, in its spiritual meaning, is the truth of faith derived from the Word; the Spirit is the life according thereto, and to be born of these is to be regenerated. And inasmuch as every one who is regenerated also undergoes temptations which are spiritual combats against what is evil and false, therefore by the waters of Baptism these temptations are also signified. And because Baptism is for a sign and for a memorial of these things, therefore man may be baptized when a child; and if not then, he may when an adult. (H. D. 202, et seq.)

The first use of Baptism is introduction into the Christian Church and at the same time insertion among Christians in the spiritual world. [These two things are effected by Baptism, because Baptism is the divinelyappointed sign whereby man is known as a Christian, not only on the earth but also in the spiritual world, where also this sign is perceived.]

The second use of Baptism is that the Christian may know and acknowledge the LORD JESUS CHRIST the Redeemer and Saviour, and may follow Him. [This second use results from the first, because, by the acceptance of Baptism, one becomes, in name, a Christian, that is, a disciple of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; and a knowledge and acknowledgment of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and a desire to follow Him through obedience to His commandments, are plainly involved in the acceptance of this name and sign. Wherefore the sign of the cross which the child receives at Baptism on the forehead and breast, is a sign of inauguration into the acknowledgment and worship of the LORD.]

The third and final use of Baptism is that man may be regenerated. [This is the final use of Baptism, because the other uses are for the sake of this, and culminate in this; wherefore the angels, perceive the three as one, and when Baptism is performed or mentioned, they think not of the sign, but of regeneration, which it signifies. Our LORD suffered himself to be baptized by John, saying, "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness," not only that He might institute Baptism for future observance and go before us as an example, but also because He glorified his humanity and made it Divine, as He regenerates man and makes him spiritual. Nevertheless, if one does not believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, even though he may have. been baptized, he cannot be regenerated, for without faith in the LORD, Baptism is of no avail.]

By Baptism, children are introduced into the Christian heaven, and angels are there assigned them by the LORD to take care of them, by whom they are kept in a state to receive faith in the LORD. (T. C. R. 677, et seq.)