1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer: Baptism · The 1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer: Front Matter

The Book of Common Prayer

	The Book of Common Prayer for Scotland (1637)

The
Ministration of Baptisme, to
be used in the Church.
IT
appeareth by ancient Writers that the Sacrament of Baptisme 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 custome now being grown out
of use; (although it cannot for many considerations be well restored
againe) it is thought good to follow the same as neere as conveniently
may be. Wherefore the people are to bee admonished that it is most convenient
that Baptisme should not be ministered but upon Sundayes and other Holy-dayes,
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 Christs Church, as also because in
the Baptisme of Infants, every man present may be put in remembrance
of his own profession made to God in his Baptisme. For which cause also,
it is expedient that Baptisme be ministered in the English tongue. Neverthelesse
(if necessity so require) children may at all times be baptized at home.
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 Morning Prayer, to the Presbyter
or Curate. And then the Godfathers, Godmothers, and people, with the
children, must be ready at the Font, either immediatly after the last
Lesson at Morning Prayer, or else immediatly after the last Lesson at
Evening Prayer, as the Presbyter or Curate by his discretion shall appoint.
And then standing there, the Presbyter shall ask whether the Children
be baptized or no. If they answer, No : Then shall the priest say thus,
DEarly	*
beloved, forasmuch as all men be conceived and born in sin, and that	The water in the font shal be changed twice in the moneth at least:
our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the kingdome of God, except	And before any childe be baptised in the water so changed, the Presbyter
he be regenerate and born anew of water and the holy Ghost : I beseech	or Minister shall say at the font the words thus inclosed [ ].
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 they may be baptized with water and
the holy Ghost, and received into Christs 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 great mercy didst save Noah and
his familie in the ark from perishing by water, and also didst safely
leade the children of Israel thy people through the Red sea, figuring
thereby thy holy baptisme, and by the baptisme of thy welbeloved Son
Jesus Christ, didst sanctifie the floud Jordan, and all other waters,
to the mystical washing away of sin : [Sanctifie this fountain of baptisme,
thou which art the *Sanctifier of all things.] And further we beseech
thee for thy infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon
these children, sanctifie them and wash them with thy holy Ghost, that
they being delivered from thy wrath may be received into the ark of
Christs Church, and being steadfast in faith, joyfull through hope, & rooted
in charitie, may so passe the waves of this troublesome world, that
finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reigne
with thee, world without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALmighty
and immortall God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that
flee to thee for succour, the life of them that beleeve, and the
resurrection of the dead : wee call upon thee for these Infants,
that they coming to thy holy baptisme may receive remission of their
sinnes by spirituall regeneration. Receive them, O Lord, as thou
hast promised by thy welbeloved 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 the gate
unto us that knock; that these Infants may enjoy the everlasting
benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternall
Kingdome which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter say.
¶
Hear the words of the Gospel written by S. Mark in the tenth Chapter.
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	Mark 10. 13.
saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdome of
God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdome
of God as a little childe, he shall not enter therein. And when he had
taken them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
¶
After the Gospel is read, the Presbyter or Minister shall make this
brief exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.
FRiends,
you 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.
You perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good
will toward them. For he embraced them in his arms, he layd his hands
upon them, and blessed them. Doubt not yee therefore, but stedfastly
beleeve, that he will likewise favourably receive these present Infants,
that he will embrace them with the arms of his mercy, that he will give
unto them the blessing of eternall life, and make them partakers of
his everlasting Kingdome. Wherefore we being thus perswaded of the good
will of our heavenly Father toward these Infants, declared by his Son
Jesus Christ, and nothing doubting but that he favourably alloweth this
charitable work of ours, in bringing these children to his holy Baptisme
: let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say.
ALmighty
and everlasting God, heavenly Father, wee give thee humble thanks, that
thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith
in thee : increase this knowledge, and confirme this faith in us evermore
: give thy holy Spirit to these Infants, that they may be born again,
and be made heires of everlasting Salvation; through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Spirit, now and
forever. Amen.
¶
Then the Presbyter shall speake unto the Godfathers and Godmothers
on this wise.
WElbeloved
friends, ye have brought these children here to bee baptized; ye have
prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive them, to
lay his hands upon them, to blesse them, to release them of their sinnes,
to give them the Kingdome of heaven, and everlasting life. Yee 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 part promise
by you that be their sureties, that they will forsake the devil and
all his works, and constantly beleeve Gods holy Word, and obediently
keep his commandements.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter demand of the Godfathers and Godmothers
these questions following,
Doest thou forsake the devil and all his works, the vaine pompe, and glory
of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, the carnall desires
of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?
Answer.
I forsake them all.
Presbyter.
Doest thou beleeve in God the
Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his
only begotten Sonne our Lord? And that he was conceived by the holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, that hee 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
at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, and from thence he shall
come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?
And doest thou beleeve in the holy Ghost, the holy Catholique Church,
the Communion of Saints, the remission of sinnes, the resurrection
of the flesh, and everlasting life after death?
Answer
All this I steadfastly beleeve.
Presbyter.
Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?
Answer.
That is my desire.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter say.
O
Merciful God, grant that the old Adam in these children may be so buried,
that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen.
Grant that all carnall affections may die in them,
and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them.
Amen.
Grant that they may have power and strength to have
victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh.
Amen.
Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by
our office and ministery, may also be endued with heavenly virtues,
and everlastingly rewarded through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who
dost live and govern all things world without end. Amen.
ALmighty
everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Sonne Jesus Christ, for the
forgivenesse of our sinnes, did shed out of his most precious side both
water and bloud, and gave commandement to his disciples that
they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the
Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost : regard, we beseech thee, the
supplications of thy Church, and grant that all thy servants which shall
be baptized in this water (which we here blesse and dedicate in thy
name to this spiritual washing), may receive the fullnesse of thy grace,
and ever remain in the number of thy faithfull and elect children; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶
Then the Presbyter shall take the child in his hands, and aske the
name : and naming the childe, shall dip it in the water, so it bee discreetly
and warily done, saying.
N.
I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the
holy Ghost. Amen.
¶
And if the childe be weake, it shall suffice to poure water upon
it, saying the foresaid words.
N.
I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the
holy Ghost. Amen.
¶
Then the Presbyter shall make a cross upon the Childes forehead,
saying.
WE
receive this Childe into the Church of Christ's flock, and do signe
him with the signe of the Crosse, in token that hereafter he shall not
be ashamed to confesse the Faith of Christ crucified, and stoutly to
resist sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christs faithfull
souldier and servant unto his lives end. Amen.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter say.
SEeing
now, dearly beloved brethren, that these children be regenerate and
grafted into the body of Christs Church, let us give thanks unto God
for these benefits, and with one accord make our prayers unto Almighty
God, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning.
¶
Then shall be said.
Our
Father which art in heaven, etc.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter say.
WE
yeeld thee hearty thanks, most mercifull Father, that it hath pleased
thee to regenerate this Infant with thy holy Spirit, to receive him
for thy own Childe by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy
Church : and humbly we beseech thee to grant that he being dead unto
sinne, and living unto righteousnesse, and being buried with Christ
in his death, may crucifie the old man, and utterly abolish the whole
body of sin, that as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, so
he may be partaker of his resurrection : so that finally, with the residue
of thy holy Church, he may be inheritour of thine everlasting Kingdome,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶
At the last end, the Presbyter calling the Godfathers and Godmothers
together, shall say this short exhortation following.
FOrasmuch
as these Children have promised by you to forsake the devill and all
his works, to beleeve in God, and to serve him : you must remember that
it is your parts and duties to see that these Infants bee
taught so soone as they shall bee able to learne, what a solemne vow,
promise, and profession they have made by you. And that they may know
these things the better, yee shall call upon them to heare Sermons,
and chiefly ye shall provide that they may learne the Creede, the Lords
Prayer, and the Ten Commandements in the English tongue, and all other
things which a Christian man ought to know and beleeve to his souls
health; and that these children may be vertuously brought up to lead
a godly and a Christian life, remembering alwayes that Baptisme doth
represent unto us our profession, which is to follow the example of
our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him, that as he dyed and
rose again for us, so should wee which are baptized, die from sinne,
and rise again unto righteousnesse, continually mortifying all our evill
and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all vertue and godlinesse
of living.
¶
The Presbyter or Minister shall command that the children be brought
to the Bishop, to be confirmed of him, so soone as they can say in
their vulgar tongue the Articles of the Faith, the Lords prayer, and
the ten Commandements, and be further instructed in the Catechisme
which is set forth in this book for that purpose, accordingly as it
is there expressed.
Private
Baptisme.
Of them that are to bee baptized in
private houses, in time of necessity, by the
Presbyter or Minister of the parish, or any other lawfull
Presbyter or Minister that can be procured.
THe
Pastours and Curates shall oft admonish the people, that they deferre
not the Baptisme of Infants any longer then the Sunday, or other Holyday
next after the childe be born, unlesse upon a great and reasonable cause
declared to the Curate, and by him approved.
And also they shall warne 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 compell them so to do,
then Baptisme shall be administered in this fashion.
First let the lawfull presbyter or Minister,
and them that be present, call upon God for his grace, and say the Lords
prayer, if time will suffer. And then the childe being named by some
one that is present, the said lawfull Presbyter or Minister shall dip
it in water, or poure water upon it, saying these words.
N.
I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the
holy Ghost. Amen.
¶ And let them not doubt, but that the childe
so baptized is lawfully and sufficiently baptized, and ought not to
be baptized again in the church. But yet neverthelesse, if the childe
which is after this sort baptized do afterward live, it is expedient
that he be brought into the Church, to the intent
that if the Presbyter or Minister of the same Parish
did himself baptize that child, the Congregation may be certified of
the true forme of Baptisme by him privately before used. Or if the
childe were baptized by any other lawfull Presbyter or Minister, that
then the Presbyter of the Parish, where the childe was borne or christened,
shall examine and trie whether this childe be lawfully baptized or
no. In which case if those that bring any child to the Church, do answer
that the same childe is already baptized, then shall the Presbyter
or Minister examine them further, saying,
BY
whom the childe was baptized?
Who was present when the childe was baptized?
And because some things essentiall to this Sacrament
may happen to be omitted through fear or haste in such times of extremitie
: therefore I demand further.
With what matter was the childe baptized?
With what words the childe was baptized?
Whether think you the childe to bee lawfully and
perfectly baptized?
¶
And if the Presbyter or Minister shall finde by the answers of such
as bring the childe, that all things were done as they ought to be :
then shall not he christen the child againe, but shall receive him as
one of the flocke of the true Christian people, saying thus,
I
Certify
you, that in this case all is well done, and according unto due order,
concerning the baptizing of this childe, which being born in originall
sinne, and in the wrath of God, is now by the laver of regeneration
in Baptisme, received into the number of the children of God, and heires
of everlasting life. For our Lord Jesus Christ doth not denie his grace
and mercy unto such Infants, but most lovingly doth call them unto
him, as the holy gospel doth witnesse to our comfort on this wise.
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	Mark 10, 13.
saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdome of
God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdome
of God as a little childe, he shall not enter therein. And when he had
taken them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
¶
After the Gospel is read, the Presbyter or Minister shall make this
brief exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.
FRiends,
you heare 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 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 stedfastly
beleeve, that he hath likewise favourably received this present Infant,
that he hath embraced him with the arms of his mercy, that he hath given
unto him the blessing of eternall life, and made him partaker of his
everlasting Kingdome. Wherefore wee being thus perswaded of the good
will of our heavenly Father, declared by his Sonne Jesus Christ toward
this Infant, let us faith fully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and
say the prayer which the Lord himself taught, and in declaration of
our Faith, let us recite the Articles contained in our Creede.
¶
Here the Presbyter or Minister with the Godfathers and Godmothers
shall say.
¶ Our Father which art in heaven, &c.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter demand the name of the childe, which being
by the Godfathers and Godmothers pronounced, the Minister shall say.
Doest thou in the name of this childe forsake the devil and all his works,
the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all the covetous desires of
the same, the carnall desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow,
nor be led by them?
Answer.
I forsake them all.
Presbyter.
Doest thou in the Name of this
childe profess this faith, to beleeve in God the Father Almighty, maker
of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord?
and that he was conceived by the holy Ghost, born 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 at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty, and from thence he shall come again at the end of the
world to judge the quick and the dead? And do you in his
name beleeve in the holy Ghost, the holy Catholike Church, the Communion
of Saints, the Remission of sinnes, the resurrection of the body, and
everlasting life after death?
Answer.
All this I steadfastly beleeve.
¶
Let us pray.
ALmighty and everlasting God, heavenly
Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to
call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee : increase this
knowledge, and confirme this faith in us evermore. Give thy holy Spirit
to this Infant, that he being born again, and being made heire of everlasting
Salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, may continue thy servant,
and attaine thy promise; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy
Sonne, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy
Spirit everlastingly. Amen.
¶
Then shall the Presbyter or Minister make this exhortation to the
Godfathers and Godmothers.
FOreasmuch
as this childe hath promised by you to for sake the devil and all his
works, to beleeve 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 bee able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and
profession he hath made by you. And that he may know these things the
better, yee shall call upon him to hear Sermons, and chiefly ye shall
provide that he may learn the Creede, the Lords prayer, and the ten
Commandments in the English tongue, and all other things which a Christian
man ought to know and beleeve to his souls health : and that this childe
may be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life,
remembering alway that Baptisme doth represent unto us our profession,
which is to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and be made like
unto him, that as he dyed and rose again for us, so should we which
are baptized, dye from sinne, and rise again unto righteousnesse, continually
mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding
in all vertue and godlinesse of living.
And
so forth, as in Public Baptism.
¶
But if they which bring the Infants to the Church do make an uncertaine
answer to the Presbyters questions, as that it cannot appeare that the
childe was baptized with water, In the Name of the Father, and of the
Sonne, and of the holy Ghost (which are the Essentiall parts of Baptisme)
then shall the Presbyter baptize it in forme above written, concerning
publique Baptisme, saving that at the dipping of the childe in the Font,
he shall use this forme of words.
IF
thou be not already baptized, N. I baptize thee in the Name of the Father,
and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Amen.

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