Regarding those Baptized at home Due to Necessity

Regarding those Baptized at home

Due to Necessity

¶ The pastors and curates shall oft admonish the people, that they differ not the Baptism of infants any longer then the Sunday, or other holy day, next after the child bee borne, unless upon a great and reasonable cause declared to the curate and by him approved.
And also they shall warn them that without great cause, and necessity, they Baptize not children at home in their houses. And when great need shall compel them so to doe, that then they minister it on this fashion.

First let them that be present call upon God for his grace, and say the Lord’s prayer, if the time will suffice. And then one of them shall name the child, and dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying these words.

N. I Baptize the in the name of the father, and of the son .and of the holy ghost. Amen.

¶ And let them not doubt, but that the child so Baptized, is lawfully and sufficiently Baptized, and ought not to be Baptized again, in the Church. But yet nevertheless if the child which is after this sort Baptized, dose afterward live: it is expedient that he be brought into the Church, to the intent the priest may examine and try, whether the childe be lawfully Baptized or no. And if those that bring any child to the Church do answer that he is already baptized: Then shall the priest examine them, further.

By whom the child was baptized?
Who was present when the child was baptized?
Whether they called upon God for grace and succor in that necessity?
With what thing, or what matter they did Baptize the child?
With what words the child was baptized?
Whether they think the child to be lawfully and perfectly baptized?

And if the ministers shall prove by the answers of such as brought the child, that all things were done, as they ought to be: Then shall not he christen the childe again, but shall receive him, as one of the flock of the true Christian people, saying thus.

I CERTIFIE you, that in this case ye have done well, and according unto due order concerning the baptizing of this child, which being borne in original sin, and in the wrath of God, is now by the laver of regeneration in Baptism, made the child of God, and heir of everlasting life: for our Lord Jesus Christ doeth not deny his grace and mercy unto such infants, but most lovingly doeth call them unto him. As the holy gospel doeth witness to our comfort on this wise.

AT a certain time they brought children unto Christ that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was displeased, and said unto them: Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for to such belonged the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever doeth not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therm. And when he had taken them up in his arms, he put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

After the gospel is read: the minister shall make this exhortation upon the words of the gospel.

FRIENDS ye hear in this gospel the words of our Savior Christ, that he commanded the children to be brought unto him, how he blamed those that would have kept them from him, how he exhorted all men to follow their innocence: Ye perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will toward them, for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. Doubt you not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he hath likewise favorably received this present infant, that he hath embraced him with the arms of his mercy, that he hath given unto him the blessing of eternal life, and made him partaker of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly father, declared by his son Jesus Christ towards this infant: Let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say the prayer which the Lord himself taught; and in declaration of our faith, let us also recite the articles contained in our Creed.

Here the minister with the Godfathers and Godmothers shall say.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Then shall they say the Creed, and then the priest shall demand the name of the child, which being by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the minister shall say.

N. Doest thou forsake the devil and all his works?
Answer. I forsake them.
Minister. Doest thou forsake the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all the covetous desires of the same?
Answer. I forsake them.
Minister. Doest thou forsake the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow and be led by them?
Answer. I forsake them.
Minister. Doest thou believe in God the father almighty, maker of heaven and ye earth?
Answer. I believe.
Minister. Doest thou believe in Jesus Christ his only begotten son our lord, and that he was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the virgin Marie, that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, that he went down into hell, and also did arise again the third day, that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of god the father almighty: And from thence shall come again at the end of the world to judge the quick and the dead, doest thou believe thus?
Answer. I believe.
Minister. Doest thou believe in the holy ghost, the holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, Remission of sins, Resurrection of the flesh, and everlasting life after death?
Answer. I believe.

Then the minister shall put the white vesture, commonly called the Crysome, upon the child, saying.

TAKE this white vesture for a token of the innocence which by god's grace in the holy sacrament of baptism is given unto thee, and for a sign whereby thou art admonished so long as thou shalt live, to give thyself to innocence of living, that after this transitory life, thou mayest be partaker of the life everlasting. Amen.

Then he shall say

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting god heavenly father, we give thee humble thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to cal us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee: Increase and confirm this faith in us evermore: Give thy holy spirit to this infant, that he being borne again, and being made heirs of everlasting salvation through our lord Jesus Christ, may continue thy servant, and attain thy promises through the same our lord Jesus Christ thy son, who liveth and reigneth with the in unity of the same holy spirit everlastingly. Amen.

Then shall the minister make this exhortation, to the Godfathers, and Godmothers.

FORASMUCH as this child hath promised by you to forsake the devil and al his works, to believe in god, and to serve him, you must remember that it is your part and duty to see that this infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession he hath made by you, and that he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear sermons: and chiefly ye shall provide that he may learn the Creed, the Lord’s prayer, and the ten commandments in the English tong, and all other things which a Christian man ought to know and believe to his souls’ health, and that this child may be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life. Remembering always that baptism doeth represent unto us our profession, which is to follow the example of our savior Christ, and to be made like unto him, that as he died and rose again for us: so should we which are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, continually Subjugating all our evil and corrupt affections, and dally proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

¶ The minister shall communed that the Crisomes be brought to the church, and delivered to the priests after the accustomed manner, at the purification of the mother of every child. And that the children be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed of him, so soon as they can say in their vulgar tongue the articles of the faith, the Lord’s prayer, and the ten commandments, and be further instructed in the Catechism, set forth for that purpose, accordingly as it is there expressed.
And so let the congregation depart in the name of the Lord.

¶ Note that if the number of children to be Baptized, and multitude of people present be so great that they cannot conveniently stand at the Church door: then let them stand within the Church in some convenient place, nigh unto the Church door; And there all things be said and done, appointed to be said and done at the Church door.

¶ But if they which bring the infants to the church, do make an uncertain answer to the priests questions, and say that they cannot tell what they thought, did, or said in that great fear and trouble of mind (as oftentimes it chaunseth): Then let the priest Baptize him in form above written, concerning public Baptism, saving that at the dipping of the child in the font, he shalt use this form of words.

IF thou be not Baptized already, N. I Baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost. Amen.