birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace. Quest. What is required of persons to be baptized? Ans. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and faith, whereby they steadfastly believe the promises of GOD made to them in that Sacrament. Quest. Why then are infants bap tized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them? Ans. Because they promise them both by their sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform. Quest. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained? Ans. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of CHRIST, and of the benefits which we receive thereby. Quest. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper? Ans. Bread and wine, which the LORD hath commanded to be received. Quest. What is the inward part or thing signified? Ans. The body and blood of CHRIST, which are spiritually taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper. Quest. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby? Ans. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of CHRIST, as our bodies are by the bread and wine. Ques. What is required of those who come to the Lord's Supper? Ans. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy, through CHRIST, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men. The Minister of every parish shall diligently upon Sundays and Holy days, or on some other convenient occasions, openly in the church, instruct or examine so many children of his parish, sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism. And all fathers, mothers, masters, and mistresses shall cause their children, servants, and apprentices, who have not learned their Catechism, to come to the church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear, and to be ordered by the Minister, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn. So soon as children are come to a competent age, and can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism, they shall be brought to the Bishop. And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Minister of every parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop; he, or some other Minister appointed by him, shall read this preface following: hath thought good to order, that none shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and TO the end that confirmation may can also answer to such other ques be ministered to the more edifying of tions, as in the short Catechism are such as shall receive it, the Church contained: which order is very con Bishop, he shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying, T Then all of them in order kneeling before the venient to be observed; to the end LORD, with the spirit of thy holy that children, being now come to the fear, now and for ever. Amen. years of discretion, and having learned what their godfathers and god-" mothers premised for them in baptism, may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that, by the grace of GOD, they will evermore endeavor themselves faithfully to observe such things as they, by their own confes sion, have assented unto. Then shall the Bishop say, DO ye here, in the presence of GOD, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your baptism; ratifying and con firming the same; and acknowledg: ing yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which ye then undertook, or your sponsors then undertook for you? And every one shall audibly answer I do. Bishop. OUR help is in the name of the LORD; Ans. Who hath made heaven and earth. Bishop. Blessed be the name of the LORD; Ans. Henceforth, world without end. Bishop. LORD hear our prayer; thee. DEFEND, O LORD, this thy child venly grace; that he may continue [or, this thy servant] with thy hea thine for ever, and daily increase in thy HOLY SPIRIT more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. Then shall the Bishop say, ¶ All kneeling down, the Bishop shall add, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy king dom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And for give us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But de liver us from evil. Amen. OUR Father, who art in heaven, And these Collects. ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, who makest us both to will and to do ceptable unto thy divine majesty; we those things which are good, and acthee for these thy servants, upon make our humble supplications unto whom, after the example of thy holy to certify them, by this sign, of thy apostles, we have now laid our hands; favor and gracious goodness toward beseech thee, ever be over them: Let them. Let thy Fatherly hand, we thy HOLY SPIRIT ever be with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST; who, with thee and the HOLY GHOST, liveth and reigneth ever one GOD, world without end. Amen. Bishop. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everliving GOD, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by water and the HOLY GHOST, and hast given unto hem forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech thee, O LORD, with the HOLY GHOST, the Comforter; and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly O ALMIGHTY LORD, and everstrength, the spirit of knowledge and lasting GOD, vouchsafe, we beseech true godliness; and fill them, O thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Bans in churches, or by License, being different in the several States; every Minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Bans are published, it shall be in the following form:-I publish the Bans of Marriage between M. of, and N. of. If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. [This is the first, second, or third time of asking.] At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church, or shail be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbors; and there standing together, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, the Minister shall say, DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of GOD, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of GOD. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. And also speaking unto the persons who are to be married, he shall say, " otherwise than as GOD's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the proposed Marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemni fication; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the Man, M. WILT thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after GOD's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? I will. The man shall answer, Then the Minister shall say unto the woman, N. WILT thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after GOD's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live? The woman shall answer, I REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it for be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together ried to this man? Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth this woman to be mai Then shall they give their troth to each other lead us not into templation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. in this manner: The Minister receiving the woman at her father's or friend's hands, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth : for O ETERNAL GOD, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everI M. take thee N. to my wedded lasting life; send thy blessing upon wife, to have and to hold, from this these thy servants, this man and this day forward, for better for worse, woman, whom we bless in thy name; richer for poorer, in sickness and in that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithhealth, to love and to cherish, till fully together, so these persons may death us do part, according to GoD's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman with her right hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister, surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace toge ther, and live according to thy laws, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen. I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from Then shall the Minister join their right hands this day forward, for better for worse, together, and say, for richer for poorer, in sickness and Those whom God hath joined to. in health, to love, cherish, and together, let no man put asunder. obey, till death us do part, according to GOD's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. Then shall the Minister speak unto the company: FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before GOD and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; I pro nounce, that they are man and wife; in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. ¶ And the Minister shall add this blessing: GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the HOLY GHOST, bless, preserve, and keep you: The Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual bene. diction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. FOR THE VISITATION OF THE When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say, PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. When he cometh into the sick man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down, REMEMBER not, LORD, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers; Spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood; and be not angry with us for ever. Ans. Spare us, good LORD. T Then the Minister shall say, Let us pray. LORD, have mercy upon us. CHRIST, have mercy upon us. LORD, have mercy upon us. 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. Amen. Min. O LORD, save thy servant; Ans. Who putteth his trust in thee. Min. Send him help from thy holy place; Ans. And evermore mightily defend him. Min. Let the enemy have no vantage of him; Ans. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him. Min. Be unto him, O LORD, strong tower, SICK. of thy mercy; give him comfort and sure confidence in thee; defend him from the danger of the enemy; and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful GOD and Saviour: extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant, who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to him; that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance: that if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health he may lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like. DEARLY beloved, know this, that ALMIGHTY GOD is the LORD of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining; as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness be, know you certainly that it is GOD'S visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness be sent unto you; whead-ther it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the LORD, laudable, glorious, and honorable, to the increase of glory and end. less felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, for his dear Son JESUS CHRIST'S sake, and render unto him humble a Ans. From the face of his enemy. Min. O LORD, hear our prayers; Ans. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. O LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy serLook upon him with the eyes vant. |