ceit and unfaithfulness; confound all evil, and subtle counsels taken against thy word and church. O Lord withhold not from us thy spirit and word, but grant us increase of faith; and in all trouble and adversity, patience and constancy. Assist thy church, deliver her from all affliction, derision and persecution. Strengthen also the weak and sorrowful of heart, and send us thy peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who hath given us this sure promise: verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he will give it you; and hath commanded us to pray-OUR FATHER, &c.

A morning prayer.

MERCIFUL Father, we that thee, that thou hast in faithfulness watched over us the night past, and we beseech thee to strengthen, and henceforth guide us by thy holy Spirit, that we may spend this, and all the days of our lives in all righteousness and holiness, and that whatsoever we undertake, we may always aim at the promoting of thy glory, and expect all the success of our undertakings from thy bountiful hand alone: and to the end that we may obtain this mercy of thee, he pleased (according to thy promise) to forgive all our sins, through the holy passion and blood-shedding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for we heartily repent of them. Enlighten also our hearts, that we, having cast off all works of darkness, may as children of light walk in a new life in all godliness. Bless also the preaching of thy gospel. Destroy all works of the devil. Strengthen all ministers of the gospel, and inagistrates of thy people. Comfort all those who are persecuted and afflicted in mind, through Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, who hath promised us, that thou wilt certainly give us, whatsoever we shall ask in his name, and therefore hath commanded us to pray-OUR FATHER. &C.

An evening Prayer.

MERCIFUL God, eternal light, shining in darkness, thou who dissince thou hast upthee, grant ls they may

7

pointed the night for rest, and the day for labour; we bese that our bodies may rest in peace and quietness, that after be able to endure the labour they must bear. Temper our sleep, that it be not disorderly, that we may remain spotless both in body and soul, nay, that our sleep itself may be to thy glory. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may not sleep in death; but always look for deliverance from this misery. Defend us against all assaults of the devil, and take us into thy holy protection. And although we have not passed this day, without having greatly sinned against thee, we beseech thee to hide our sins with thy mercy as thou hidest all things on earth with the darkness of the night, that we therefore may not be cast out from thy presence. Relieve and comfort all those, who are afflicted or distressed in mind, body or estate, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who hath taught us to pray-OUR FATHER, &C.

A prayer at the opening of the Consistory.

HEAVENLY Father, eternal and merciful God, it hath pleased thee of

thy infinite wisdom and goodness to gather a church to thyself out of all nations upon the face of the earth, by the preaching of the holy gospel, and to govern the same by the service of men. Thou hast also graciously called us up to this office, and commanded us to take heed unto ourselves and unto the flock, which Christ hath bought with his precious blood. Since we are at this present assembled in thy holy name, after the example of the apostolic churches, to consult, as our office requires, about these things which may come before us, for the welfare and edification of thy churches, for which we acknowledge ourselves to be unfit and incapable, as we are by nature unable of ourselves to think any good much less to put it in practice therefore, we beseech thee, O faithful God and Father, that thou wilt be pleased to be present with thy holy spirit, according to thy promise, in the midst

cording to thy will, and let it all turn according to thy wisdom to our profit. Rather chastise us here, than hereafter, to be lost with the world. Grant that we may die to this world, and all earthly things, and that we may daily more and more be renewed after the image of Jesus Christ. Suffer us not to be separated by any means from thy love; but draw us daily nigher and nigher unto thee, that we may enter upon the end of our calling with joy, that is, may die, rise again, and live with Christ in eternity. We also believe that thou wilt hear us through Jesus Christ, who hath taught us to pray-OUR FATHER, &c.

Strengthen us also in the true faith, which we believe in our hearts and profess with our mouths.-I believe in God, &c.

Or thus:

TERNAL merciful God and Father, the eternal salvation of the living in thy hand alone, and takest such care of us continually, that neither health nor sickness, nor any good or evil can befal us, nay, not a hair can fall from our head without thy will and since thou dost order all things for the good of thy people, we beseech thee, grant us the grace of thy holy spirit, to teach us rightly to acknowledge our misery, and patiently to bear thy chastenings, which we have deserved ten thousand times more severe. We know that they are not the evidences of thy wrath, but of thy fatherly love towards us, that we should not be condemned with the world.--O Lord increase our faith in thine infinite mercy, that we may be more and more united to Christ, as members to their spiritual head, to whom thou wilt make us conform in sufferings and in glory. Lighten the cross, so that our weakness may be able to bear it. We submit ourselves entirely to thy holy will, whether thou art pleased to continue our souls longer in these tabernacles, or take them into eternal life, since we belong to Christ, and therefore shall not perish. We would willingly leave this weak body in hopes of a blessed resurrection, when it shall be restored to us much more glorious. Grant us to experience the blessed comfort of the remission of sins, and of justification through Christ, that we by that shield may overcome all the assaults of satan, May his innocent blood wash away all the stain, and uncleanness of our sins, and his righteousness answer for our unrighteousness in thy last judgment. Arm us with faith and hope, that we may not be ashamed nor confounded by the terror of death; but when our bodily eyes are closing in darkness, may the eyes of our souls be directed towards thee; and when thou shalt have deprived us of the use of our tongues, may our hearts never cease to call upon thee. Q Lord, we commit our souls into thy hands, forsake us not in our last extremity, and that only for the sake of Jesus Christ, who hath taught us to prayQUR FATHER, &c.

THE FORM

FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM

TH

TO INFANTS OF BELIEVERS.

HE principle parts of the doctrine of holy baptism are these three: First. That we with our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are children of wrath, in so much that we cannot enter into the kingdom of God, except we are born again. This, the dipping in, or sprinkling with water teaches us, whereby the impurity of our souls is signified, and we admonished to loathe, and humble ourselves before God, and seek for our purification and salvation without ourselves.

Secondly. Holy baptism witnesseth and sealeth unto us the washing way of sins through Jesus Christ. Therefore we are baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. For when we are baptised in the name of the Father, God the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto us, that he doth make an eternal covenant of grace with us, and adopts us for his children and beirs, and therefore will provide us with every good thing, and avert all evil, or turn it to our profit. And when we are baptised in the name of the Son, the Son sealeth unto us, that he doth wash us in his blood from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of his death and resurrection, so that we are freed from all our sins, and accounted righteous before God. In like manner, when we are baptised in the name of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost assures us, by this holy sacrament, that he will dwell in us, and sanctify us to be members of Christ, applying unto us, that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing away of our sins, and the daily renewing of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without spot or wrinkle among the assembly of the elect in life eternal.

Thirdly. Whereas in all covenants, there are contained two parts: therefore are we by God through baptism, admonished of, and obliged unto new obedience, namely, that we cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that we trust in him, and love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength; that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a new and holy life.

And if we sometimes through weakness fall into sin, we must not therefore despair of God's mercy, nor continue in sin, since baptism is a seal and undoubted testimony, that we have an eternal covenant of grace with God.

And although our young children do not understand these things, we may not therefore exclude them from baptism, for as they are without their knowledge, partakers of the condemnation in Adam, so are they again received unto grace in Christ; as God speaketh unto Abraham the Father of all the faithful, and therefore unto us and our children. Gen. xvii. 7. Saying, "I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." This also the Apostle Peter testifieth, with these words, Acts ii. 39. "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Therefore God formerly commanded them to be circumcised, which was a seal of the covenant, and of the righteousness of faith and therefore Christ also embraced them, laid his hands upon them and blessed them: Mark, Chap. x.

Since then baptism is come in the place of circumcision, therefore infants are to be baptised as heirs of the kingdom of God, and of his covenant. And parents are in duty bound, farther to instruct their children herein, when they shall arrive to years of discretion. That therefore this holy ordinance of God, may be administered to his glory, to our comfort, and to the edification of his church, let us call upon his holy name.

OA

ALMIGHTY and eternal God, we beseech thee, that thou wilt be pleased of thine infinite mercy, graciously to look upon these children, and incorporate them by thy holy spirit into thy Son Jesus Christ, that they may be buried with him into his death, and be raised with him in newness of life; that they may daily follow him, joyfully bearing their cross, and cleave unto him in true faith, firm hope, and ardent love: that they may, with a comfortable sense of thy favour, leave this life, which is nothing but a continual death, and at the last day, may appear without terror before the judgment seat of Christ thy Son, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost, one only God, lives and reigns for ever. Amen.

An Exhortation to the Parents, and those who come with them to Baptism.

B'

ELOVED in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have heard that baptism is an ordinance of God, to seal unto us and to our seed his covenant, therefore it must be used for that end, and not out of custom or superstition. That it may then be manifest, that you are thus minded, you are to answer sincerely to these questions.

First. Whether you acknowledge, that although our. children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet that they are sanctifed* in Christ, and therefore, as members of his church, ought to he baptised?

Secondly. Whether you acknowledge the doctrine which is contained in the old and new testament, and in the articles of the christian faith, and which is taught here in this christian church, to be the true and † perfect doctrine of salvation?

Thirdly. Whether you promise and intend to see these children, when come to the years of discretion, (whereof thou art either parent or witness) instructed and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine, or help or cause them to be instructed therein, to the utmost of your power?

Answer. Yes.

Then the minister of God's word, in baptising, shall say, N. I baptise. thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Amen.

Thanksgiving.

ALMIGHTY God and merciful Father, we thank and praise thee, that

thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through thy holy spirit, as members of thy only begotten Son, and adopted us to be thy children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy baptism: we beseech thee, through the same Son of thy love, that thou wilt be pleased always to govern these baptised children by thy holy Spirit, that they may be piously and religiously educated, increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they then may acknowledge thy fatherly goodness and mercy, which thou hast shown to them and us, and live in all righteousness, under our only Teacher, King and Fligh Priest, Jesus Christ; and manfully fight against, and overcome sin, the devil and his whole dominion, to the end that they nay eternally praise and magnify thee, and thy Son Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, the one only true God. Amen.

THE FORM

FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOLY BAPTISM TO
ADULT PERSONS.

H

OWEVER children of christian parents (although they understand not this mystery) must be baptised by virtue of the covenant; yet it is not lawful to baptise those who are come to years of discretion, except they first be sensible of their sins, and make confession both of their repentance and faith in Christ: for this cause did not only John the Baptist preach (according to the command of God) the baptism of repentance, and baptised, for the

My children, Ezek. 16. 21. They are holy, 1 Cor. 7. 14.
D-Volkomene-complete.