Regard, O Lord, the supplications of Thy servants, and grant that whosoever shall be dedicated to Thee in this house, by BAPTISM, may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, delivered from Thy wrath and eternal death, and received as a living member of Christ's Church; and may ever remain in the number of Thy faithful children. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that they who at this place shall, in their own persons, renew the promises and vows which they made, or which were made for them, by their sureties, at their Baptism, and thereupon shall be coNFIRMED by the Bishop, may receive such a measure of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may be enabled faithfully to fulfil the same, and grow in grace unto their lives' end. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed SACRAMENT OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, may come to that holy ordinance with faith, charity, and true repentance; and, being filled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their great and endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of His passion. Amen. I. BAPTISM. What is Baptism? The washing of regeneration."—Titus iii. 5. What does that mean? To "be born again" " of water and of the Spirit.”—St. John iii. 3, 5. What are we before Baptism? 46 By nature the children of wrath."—Ephesians ii. 3. What are we made in Baptism? "The children of God."-Galatians iii. 25. child of God."-"Children of grace."-Catechism.] ["The ["Ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ: for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."-Galatians iii. 26, 27. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."-St. John í. 12, 13. "God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."— Galatians iv. 4, 5. What do we receive in Baptism? "The remission of sins."-Acts ii. 38. ["A death unto sin."-Catechism. "One baptism for the remission of sins."-Nicene Creed.] ["Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the re mission of sins."—Acts ii. 38. "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."-xxii. 1.6. 5872 302 (RECAP) What else? Being "in Christ."-Galatians iii. 26. ["A member of Christ."-Catechism.] ["As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."-Galatians iii. 27. "By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body."-1 Corinthians xii. 13. "Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." -27. What else? Regeneration,' ‚”—Titus iii. 5. or new birth. ["A new birth unto righteousness."-Catechism.] ["Born again"" of water and of the Spirit."-St. John iii.. 3, 5. What else? The promise of "the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts ii. 38. ["Be baptized -for the remission of sins, and ye shall re ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Ubi supra. "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts."-Galatians iii. 6. But not before the laying on of hands. "For as yet He (the Holy Ghost) was fallen upon none of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."-Acta viii. 16. What else? An entrance "into the kingdom of God."-St. John iii. 5. ["An inheritor of the kingdom of God."-Catechism.] ["Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God."-St. John iii. 5. "Baptism doth also now save us."-1 St. Peter iii. 21. May infants be baptized? "Of such is the kingdom of God."-St. Mark x. 14. ["Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them, not; for of such is the kingdom of God."-Ubi supra. Who instituted Baptism? Our Lord Jesus Christ.-St. Matthew xxviii. 19. ["All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and make disciples, baptizing them."-18, 19. Whom did He authorize to administer it? His Apostles. ["Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee -and Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying-Go ye, and make disciples baptizing them."-Ubi supra. Might any others baptize? Yes, such as they commissioned for that purpose. [“They chose Stephen,—and Philip, and—————,whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized."-Acts vi. 5, 6: viii. 5, 12. "They went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."--38. 46 They that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase When they had ordained them elders in every Church."- "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set With what were they to baptize? Water. ["Born of water, and of the Spirit."-St. John iii. 5. "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" -Acts viii. 36. In what name were they to be baptized? "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Floly Ghost."-St. Matthew xxviii. 19. 1* |