You will need all the wisdom and grace you can acquire to enable you to discharge this your imperative duty; we therefore exhort you to pray to God constantly so to enlighten your minds and influence your hearts that you may be enabled by precept and example to lead your children in the true and right way; and induce them to glorify God in their souls and bodies, which is their reasonable service.

Do you now solemnly promise that you will diligently endeavor, by precept and example, to bring up this child [or these children] in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and that you will earnestly pray to God for the assistance of his Holy Spirit, that you may effectually do the same?

Let us pray:

Almighty and most merciful God, Father of our spirits, Former of our bodies, Redeemer and Saviour of our souls, we thank thee that thou hast made it our privilege to dedicate our children to thy service, that they may be lively members of the Church of Christ and heirs of eternal life.

We beseech Thee, O our Heavenly Father, to bestow upon the parents of this child grace whereby they may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives; that by precept and example they may train their child in all godly discipline and admonition that it may be a worthy member of the Church of Christ. Grant, O Lord, that this child may die unto sin, and live unto righteousness; and, being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in love, may safely pass the waves of this transitory life, and finally come to the haven of eternal repose, there to dwell with thee, world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, grant that whosoever

is dedicated to thee by our office and ministry may be endued with heavenly virtues, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children, and be made a partaker of eternal life through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

The people shall then stand up, and the minister shall say:

Hear the words of the Gospel as recorded by St. Mark: They brought young children to Christ that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those who brought them; but when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

The minister shall then take the child in his arms and say to the friends of the child:

Name the child.

Repeating the name as given by the parents, he shall say, when baptizing:

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord bless this child, and grant him eternal life.

The minister shall then address the persons presenting the child, as follows:

Dearly beloved, your child has now, by consecration and the holy office of baptism been solemnly set apart to the service of God. You have acknowledged your duty to rear it as a Christian, and you have promised to perform that duty. It now remains for us to exhort you to be faithful, and to assure you that so

long as you remember your vow, and keep the covenant you have made, you may claim the promise of him who hath said: "I will pour out my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

BAPTISM OF SUCH AS ARE OF

RIPER YEARS

When the persons to be baptized present themselves, the minister shall say:

Dearly beloved, forasmuch as our Saviour, Christ, did commission his disciples to go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that, of his bounteous goodness, he will grant to these persons, now to be baptized, grace whereby they may serve him acceptably, and be lively members in the Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and heirs of eternal life.

The minister shall then demand of each of the persons to be baptized, severally:

1. Do you believe in the existence of God, and that he is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek him?

Answer. I do.

2. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Saviour of the world?

Answer. I do.

3. The Holy Scriptures declare that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but these same Scriptures give assurance that, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; are you now determined, by the aid of divine grace, to

forsake every evil way, to look to Christ as your only and all-sufficient Saviour, and to walk in all the commandments of God?

Answer. I am.

4. It is made our duty to search the Holy Scriptures, and to attend on all the ordinances of the house of God; will you endeavor to be faithful in the discharge of these duties?

Answer. I will, by the assistance of God's Holy Spirit.

Let us all humbly kneel and pray :

Almighty, everlasting God, whose most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood, and gave commandment to his disciples that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of this congregation, and grant that the persons now to be baptized may receive the fullness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy elect children, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O merciful God, grant through the sanctification of thy Spirit, and their belief of the truth, as it is in Christ Jesus, that the carnal mind in them may be destroyed, and that they may be created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good works, and have their fruit unto holiness, and obtain everlasting life.

Grant that they, being dedicated to thee, by our office and ministry, may receive grace whereby they may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives; and being indued with heavenly virtues, and strengthened by thy grace, may have victory, and be eventually rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen.

The minister shall then take each person to be baptized by the right hand; shall ask the name, and then, repeating the name, baptize him, saying:

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The minister may then address the person baptized:

And now dear brother (or sister) the vows of the Lord are upon you. Of your own free will you have sought this significant and solemn Christian ordinance. It is an ordinance in which you have pledged allegiance to Christ. The typical water of divine appointment is upon you, and henceforth, even from this hallowed hour, you go forth a confessor of Christ before the world. In your baptism you have witnessed a good confession. Be steadfast in it. Be true to it. Let your baptism prove the sacramental seal of a life-long covenant with God, whose blessed Son, Jesus Christ, hath said, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven."

The minister then may conclude with extempore prayer, or the benediction:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

RECEPTION OF PROBATIONERS

Beloved in the Lord: The conditions required of those who seek admission to probationary membership in this church, are a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and be saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, with an avowed determination to walk in all the commandments of God blameless. Do you accept such membership on these conditions?

Answer. I do.

* Your parents, or sponsors, having by solemn consecration and the holy office of baptism, dedicated you to the service of Christ, do you ratify the baptismal act and covenant performed and made by them for you?

Answer. I do.

The Holy Scriptures declare: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Do you thus confess and believe?

Answer. I do.

The Holy Scriptures further declare, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do you repent of your sins, and rely only upon the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, promising to obey him as your Prince and to conform your life to his teaching and example?

Answer. I do.

Do you covenant with this church, as far as possible, to attend its services, to co-operate with the pastor and members, and to contribute according to your ability to the religious enterprises of the church?

Answer. I do.

You having made your confession of faith and entered into solemn covenant with the church, I do now in the name of Christ the Head, and his body the church, take you by the right hand, and welcome you to the communion and fellowship of the church, pledging you our prayers and sympathy, and our help for your furtherance and joy of faith.

Brethren, do you thus receive and covenant with this (or these) candidate? Answer. We do.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless

* This question to be asked of such persons only as have received baptism in childhood.

before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

FORM OF RECEPTION INTO THE CHURCH

In the reception of members, the following form shall be used, except those who are received on certificate; for such persons the part of the form beginning at the second paragraph to be used.

The candidates appearing before the church, the minister shall address them as follows:

Beloved in the Lord: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. By this act of uniting with the church, you signify your acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide; and devote yourself to God in the everlasting convenant of his grace, and consecrate your powers to his service and glory; and promise that you will continue to give diligent attention to his word and ordinances, and seek the honor and advancement of His kingdom. And denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

In joining yourself to this church do you agree to all its rules of government; to contribute as God gives you ability for the support of the gospel ministry and the benevolent enterprises of the church; to seek earnestly its peace and purity; to walk with all its members in charity and faithfulness, in meekness and sobriety. Do you thus freely and solemnly devote yourselves to the service of the Lord?

Answer. I do.

Members of the church here arise, and the minister shall read this response of the church:

We, the members of this church, do cordially receive you to our communion and fellowship, and promise to walk with you in love, and to watch over you, instruct, counsel, admonish, and cherish you, with all long-suffering, gentleness, and love.

Brethren and sisters, do you thus covenant before the Lord? Answer. We do.

PRAYER

O Lord, our Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, grant unto these thy servants, according to the riches of the glory, to be strengthened with might by thy Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith; that they, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge; that they may. be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

[Here the pastor, in the name of the church, will give the right hand of fellowship, after which he shall present the person a copy of our Church Discipline, which shall be furnished by the local church.]

MARRIAGE CEREMONY

Marriage should not be performed contrary to the Lord's instruction, as given in Matt. v. 31, 32.

At the time appointed for solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married, standing together, the man on

the right hand and the woman on his left, the minister shall say:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and 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, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come to be joined. If any man can show just cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

The minister shall then address himself to the persons about to be married, and say:

I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judg ment, 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 otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.

If no impediment be alleged, the minister shall say unto the man:

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?

The man shall answer:

I will.

Then shall the minister say unto the

woman:

Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's

ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou 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 will.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE RING

If the parties desire the ceremony of the ring, this form shall be used:

The man shall give unto the woman a ring, and the minister, taking the ring, shall deliver it to the man to put it upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand, and the man, holding the ring there and taught by the minister, shall say:

With this ring I thee wed and with all my worldly goods I thee endow; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Or the following:

You will now place this ring on the fourth finger of the left hand of your bride, to remain as a perpetual memorial of the holy covenant into which you have both entered, and of the solemn pledges which you have each made to the other in the presence of him who hath said: "And they twain shall be one flesh."

The minister shall then say:

Let us pray:

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The minister shall then say: