Public Baptism

The Administration of Baptism

It appears by ancient writers, that the Sacrament of Baptism in the old time was not commonly ministered, but at two times in the year, at Easter and Whitsuntide, at which times it was openly ministered in the presence of all the congregation: Which custom (now being grown out of use) although it cannot for many considerations be well restored again, yet it is thought good to follow the same as near as conveniently maybe be: Wherefore the people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that baptism should not be ministered but upon Sundays and other holy days, when the most number of people may come together. As well for that the congregation there present may testify the receiving of them, that be newly baptized, into the number of Christ’s Church, as also because in the Baptism of Infants, every man present may be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his Baptism. For which cause also, it is expedient that Baptism be ministered in the English tongue. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) children ought at all times to be baptized, either at the church or else at home.

Public Baptism

When there are children to be Baptized upon the Sunday, or holy day: the parents shall give knowledge over night or in the morning, afore the beginning of Matins, to the curate. And then the Godfathers, Godmothers, and people, with the children must be ready at the Church door, either immediately afore the last Canticle at Matins or else immediately afore the last Canticle at Evensong, as the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And then, standing there, the priest shall ask whether the children be baptized on no. If they answer No, then shall the priest say thus.

DEAR beloved, forasmuch as all men be conceived and born in sin, and that no man born in sin, can enter into the kingdom of God except he be regenerate, and borne anew of water, and the holy ghost, I beseech you to call upon God the father through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these children that thing, which by nature they cannot have, that is to say, they may be baptized with the holy ghost, and received into Christ’s holy Church, and be made lively members of the same.

Then the priest shall say.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which of thy justice did destroy by floods of water the whole world for sin, except eight persons, whom of thy mercy thou didest save in the Ark: And when thou didest drown in the red sea wicked king Pharaoh with all his army, yet thou didest lead thy people the children of Israel safely through the midst thereof: whereby thou didest figure the washing of thy holy Baptism: and by the Baptism of thy well beloved son Jesus Christ, thou didest sanctify the river Jordan, and all other waters to this mystical washing away of sin: We beseech thee, for thy infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these children, and sanctify them with thy holy ghost, that by this wholesome laver of regeneration, whatsoever sin is in them, may be washed clean away, that they, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ’s church, and so saved from perishing: and being fervent in spirit, steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, rooted in charity, may ever serve thee: And finally attain to everlasting life, with all thy holy and chosen people. This grant us we beseech the, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

¶ Here shall the priest ask what shall be the name of the child, and when the Godfathers and Godmothers have told the name, then shall he make a cross upon the childes forehead and breast, saying.

N. Receive the sign of the holy Crosse, both in thy forehead, and in thy breast, in token that thou shalt not be ashamed to confess thy faith in Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue his faithful soldier and servant unto thy life’s end. Amen.

And this he shalt do and say to as many children as be presented to be Baptized, one after another.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTIE and immortal God, the aide 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 infants, that they summond to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of their sins, by spiritual regeneration. Receive them O Lord as thou has promised by thy well beloved son, saying: Ask, and you shall have: seek, and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us that ask: Let us that seek, find: open thy gate unto us that knock: that these infants may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou haste promised, by Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then let the priest looking upon the children, say.

I COMMAND thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the father, of the son, and of the holy ghost, that thou come out, and depart from these infants, whom our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed, to call to his holy Baptism, to be made members of his body, and of his holy congregation. Therefore thou cursed spirit, remember thy sentence, remember thy judgment, remember the day to be at hand, wherein thou shalt burn in fire everlasting, prepared for thee and thy Angels. And presume not hereafter to exercise any tyranny toward these infants, whom Christ hath bought with his precious blood, and by this his holy Baptism called to be of his flock.

Then shall the priest say.

The Lord be with you.
The people. And with thy spirit.
The Minister. ¶ Hear now the gospel written by S. Mark.

At a certain time they brought children to 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 entre therein. And when he had taken them up in his arms: he put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

After the gospel is red, the Minister shall make this brief exhortation upon the words of the gospel.

FRIENDS you 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 exhorteth 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 ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will likewise favorably receive these present infants, that he will embrace them with the arms of his mercy, that he will give unto them the blessing of eternal life: and make them partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly father toward these infants, declared by his son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubting but that he favorably alloweth this charitable work of ours, in bringing these children to his holy baptism: 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, Godmothers, and people present, 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.

And then shall he say.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen.

The priest shall add also this prayer.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly father, we give the humble thanks, that thou haste vouchsafed to call us to knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee: Increase and confirmed this faith in us evermore: Give thy holy spirit to these infants, that they may be borne again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy spirit, now end forever. Amen.

Then let the priest take one of the children by the right hand, the other being brought after him. And coming into the Church toward the font say.

THE Lord vouchsafe to receive you into his holy household, and to keep and govern you always in the same, that you may have everlasting life. Amen.

Then standing at the font the priest shall speak to the Godfathers and Godmothers, on this wise.

Well beloved friends, ye have brought these children here to be Baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive them, to lay his hands upon them, to bless them, to release them of their sins, to give them the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his gospel, to grant all these things that ye have prayed for: which promise he for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, these infants must also faithfully for their parte promise by you, that be their sureties, that they will forsake the devil and all his works, and constantly believe Gods holy word, and obediently keep his commandments.

Then shall the priest demand of the child (which shall be first Baptized) these questions below: first naming the child, and saying.

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, nor be led by them?
Answer. I forsake them.
Minister. Doest thou believe in God the father almighty, maker of heaven and 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 Mary, that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, that he went down into hell, and also did rise 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 this?
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.
Minister. What doest thou desire?
Answer. Baptism.
Minister. Wilt thou be baptized?
Answer. I will.

¶ Then the priest shall take the child in his hands, and ask the name. And naming the child, shall dip it in the water thrice. First dipping the right side: Second the left side: The third time dipping the face towards the font: So it be diseretly and warely done, saying.

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

¶ And if the child be weak, it shall suffice to pour water upon it, saying the foresaid words. N. I baptize thee, &c.
Then the Godfathers and Godmothers shall take and lay their hands upon the child, and the minister shall put upon him his white vesture, commonly called the Crisome [i. e., the baptismal gown]; and say.

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

Then the priest shall anoint the infant upon the head, saying.

ALMIGHTY God the father of our lord Jesus Christ, who hath regenerate thee by water and the holy ghost, and hath given unto thee remission of al thy sins: he vouchsafe to anoint thee with the unction of his holy spirit, and bring thee to the inheritance of everlasting life. Amen.

When there are many to be Baptized, this order of demanding, Baptizing, putting on the Crysome, and anointing, shall be used severally with every child. Those that be first Baptized departing from the font, and remaining in some convenient place within the Church until all be Baptized. At the last end, the priest calling the Godfathers and Godmothers together: shall say this short exhortation following:

FORASMUCH as these children have promised by you to forsake the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him: you must remember that it is your part and duty to see that these infants be taught, so soon as they shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, they have made by you. And that they may know these things the better: ye shall call upon them to hear sermons, and chiefly you shall provide that they may learn the Creed, the Lord’s prayer, and the ten commandments, in the English tongue: and all other things which a Christian man ought to know and believe to his souls’ health. And that these children may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and 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 mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and dally proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.

¶ The minister shall commaned 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