PRIVATE BAPTISM. I. BOOK K. EDW. VI. 1549. II. BOOK 1552. Of them that be baptized in Private Houses, in time of necessity. [See the Appendix, No. XVII. 1, 2.] The Pastors and Curates shall oft admonish the people, that they defer not the baptism of infants any longer than the Sunday or other holyday next after the child be born, unless upon a great and reasonable cause, declared to the Curate, and by himapproved. 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 do, 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 suffer. And then one of them shall name the child, and dip him in the water, or pour water upon him, saying these words: [The whole of the above is the same in the Books of Elizabeth, except that one of the Quartos reads at the commencement, In the time of necessity,' and in Grafton, 1559, 'it' is omitted in the last Rubric but one. The Latin copies also agree with the above. For the passages in Italics see the Appendix XVII.] TN. I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. PRIVATE BAPTISM. BOOK OF K. JAMES I. 1603. BOOK OF K. CHARLES II. 1662. [The above Titles are adopted in the following Service because the Book of James I. was the first which contained important Rubrical variations from the preceding Books; and also because the Scotch Liturgy is almost verbatim the same as the Book of James.] Of them that are to be baptized in private houses in time of necessity, by the Minister of the Parish, or any other lawful Minister that can be procured. The Pastors and Curates shall often admonish &c. [As in the Books of K. Edward.] And also they shall warn them, that without great cause and necessity, they procure not their children to be baptized at home in their houses. And when great need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion. First let the lawful Minister, and them that be present, call upon God for his grace, and say the Lord's Prayer, if the time will suffer. And then the child being named by some one that is present, the said lawful Minister shall dip it in water, or pour water upon it, saying these words. [No variations in the other Books of James I., or those of Charles I., except that one or two omit in the last Rubric the particle before 'time will suffer.' In the Sc. Lit. Presbyter or Minister. For the above Rubrics, see Appendix XVII.] The Ministration of Private in The Curates of every Parish shall often admonish the People, that they defer not the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their Birth, or other Holy-day falling between, unless upon a great and reasonable cause to be approved by the Curate. And also they shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity they procure not their Children to be baptized at home in their houses. But when need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism shall be administered on this fashion: First, let the Minister of the Parish (or in his absence, any other lawful Minister that can be procured) with them that are present, call upon God, and say the Lord's Prayer, and so many of the Collects appointed to be said before in the Form of Public Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. And then the Child, being named by some one that is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words: N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I. BOOK K, EDW. VI. 1549. II. BOOK 1552. 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, do afterward live, it is expedient that he be brought into the church, to the intent the Priest may examine and try whether the child 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. [The same in the Books of Elizabeth.] By whom the child was baptized? BOOK OF K. JAMES I. 1603. BOOK OF K. CHARLES II. 1662. Then all kneeling down, the Minister shall give thanks unto God, and say, We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this Infant &c. And we humbly beseech thee to grant, that as he is now made partaker of the death of thy Son, so he may be also of his resurrection; and that finally, with the residue of thy Saints, he may inherit thine everlasting kingdom, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [¶ 1662.] And let them not doubt, but that the child so baptized, is lawfully and sufficiently baptized and ought not to be baptized again. [But 1603.] Yet nevertheless, if the Child which is after this sort baptized, do afterward live, it is expedient that it be brought into the the Priest or Minister of the same -Or if the child were baptized by Church; to the intent that if the Minister of the same Parish did himself baptize that Child, the Congregation may be certified of the true Form of Baptism by him privately before used: In which case he shall say thus, I certify you, that according to the due and prescribed Order of the Church, at such a time, and at such a place, before divers witnesses I baptized this child. But if the Child were baptized by any other lawful Minister, [that, 1603.] then the Minister of the Parish where the Child was born or christened, shall examine and try, whether the Child be lawfully baptized, or no. In which case, if those that bring any Child to the Church, do answer, that the same Child is already baptized, then shall the Minister examine them further, saying, [In the Books of Charles I. the same as in the Book of James. In the Sc. Liturgy, By whom was the [this, 1662.] child baptized? Who was present when the [this] child was baptized? I. BOOK K. EDW. VI. 1549. II. BOOK 1552. Whether they called upon God for grace and succour in that necessity. [The above Question was omitted in 1603.] 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 Minister 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 child again, but shall receive him as one of the flock of the true Christian people, saying thus: I certify you, that in this case ye have done well, and according unto due order, concerning the baptizing of this child; which being born 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: [by the laver of regeneration in baptism, received into the number of the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life: 1552.] For our Lord Jesus Christ doth not deny his grace and mercy unto such infants, but most lovingly doth call them unto him, as the holy Gospel doth witness to our comfort on this wise. [The above Questions, Rubric, &c. the same in the Books of Elizabeth as in those of K. Edward, except where the latter differ from each other, and there the reading of the II. Book is followed.] [The Gospel. Grafton 1559.] At a certain time they brought children unto Christ, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them, &c. Mark x. [As in the Office for Public Baptism.] After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this Exhortation upon the words of the Gospel. Friends, ye [you, 1552.] hear in this gospel the words of our Saviour 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 innocency. Ye perceive how by his outward gesture and deed [in deed, 1559.] he declared his good will toward them; for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them and blessed them. Doubt |