A Prayer to be used by a Person troubled in Mind. ALMIGHTY God, who beholdest with compassion and mercy the weaknesses and frailties of us thy sinful creatures, look down on me, I beseech thee, and deliver me, if it be thy blessed will, from the distress of mind under which I labour. Strengthen my judg ment, and inform my understanding, that I may rightly know my duty; and grant that I may act on all occasions, and in every circumstance of life, in the manner most acceptable to thee. Pardon my secret sins and infirmities, and preserve me from all wilful neglects and offences. If thou seest it consistent with thy glory, and with the everlasting welfare of my soul, fill me with that fervency of affection toward thee, and with that measure of spiritual comfort and assurance, which may preserve my mind in a frame of cheerfulness and composure. But if trouble and bitterness of mind be more expedient for me, continue to me both this and all other afflictions which thou seest most conducive to my future happiness, and grant that I may bear them with patience and resignation. Let thy Holy Spirit direct and support me under every trial, and enable me so to walk in thy faith and fear, that I may at last be received into thy heavenly kingdom, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

A Prayer to be used by an old Person.

O GRACIOUS Lord, my maker and my preserver, I give thee thanks for the long continuance which thou hast granted me in this world, in order that I may be the better prepared for another. Enable me by thy grace to make a right use of the time afforded me, and give me a true and deep repentance of the sins which I have committed. Support me by thy help under the infir

mities of age, keep me from covetousness, and fretfulness, and from all unreasonable fears and cares. Give me that degree of ease and health which thou seest most convenient for me; wean my affections and desires from the things of this life, and keep me continually prepared for death; through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A Prayer for a Person condemned to Die.

[From Dr. Inet.]

O MOST just and holy Lord God, who bringest to light the hidden things of darkness, and by thy just and wise providence dost bring sin to shame and punishment; disappointing the hopes of wicked men ; visiting their sins upon them in this present life, that thou mayest deter others from the evil of their ways, and save their souls in the day of judgment; O Lord, in mercy look down upon this thy servant, who now is before thee to confess thy justice in making him a sad example to others. He with sorrow and shame confesseth it would be just with thee, should death eternal be the wages of his sins, and everlasting sorrow the recompense of his iniquity. He has, we confess, O Lord, despised thy mercy, and abused thy goodness, and has therefore no reason to expect any other than to be made an everlasting sacrifice to thy justice. When thou hast, by the ministry of thy word, and the interposition of thy providence, called him to repentance, he has slighted thine admonitions. O, how just therefore would it be now in thee to disregard his cry, in this day of trouble, when distress and anguish are come upon him! He confesses that he hath hardened his heart, notwithstanding all thy importunities to him to repent and live; that he has still gone on from one wickedness to another, eagerly repeating the works of darkness, and even hating to be reformed; that he has

notoriously broken his baptismal vows, and given encouragement to others to blaspheme our holy faith; and that on these accounts he has nothing to expect but that thou shouldest deal with him according to his sins, and reward him according to the multitude of his offences. But thou, O God, hast been pleased to declare, that with thee is mercy and plenteous redemption; that thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent and live. Thou hast so loved the world, that thou gavest thy only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. O, let not him whom we are now commending to thy mercy, for ever perish and be lost. Have compassion upon a miserable sinner, who owns he deserves eternally to die; and let him find mercy in his distress. Pardon, we earnestly entreat thee, his wilful and his heedless follies, his errors, and his crying and notorious sins; particularly that for which he is now to die. O Lord, thou God of mercy, who art abundant in goodness, have pity on the work of thine own hands. Bury his sins in his grave, and, however they may rise up in this world to disgrace him, let them never rise up in the next to condemn him: and whatever he suffers here, let him hereafter be in the number of those whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. However men, in the execution of justice, and to deter others from being guilty of the like wickedness, may kill his body, let neither his body nor his soul be destroyed in hell, but be delivered from eternal condemnation, for the sake of Jesus Christ, who died to save sinners. Amen.

A Prayer of Preparation for Death.

O ALMIGHTY God, Maker and Judge of all men, have mercy upon me, thy weak and sinful creature; and if, by thy most wise and righteous appointment, the hour

of death be approaching toward me, enable me to meet it with a mind fully prepared for it, and to pass through this great and awful trial in the manner most profitable for me. O let me not leave anything undone which may help to make my departure safe and happy, or to qualify me for the highest degree of thy favour that I am capable of attaining. Pardon the sins which I have committed against thee by thought, word, and deed, and all my neglects of duty. Pardon the sins which I have committed against my neighbour; and if others have wronged or offended me, incline my heart freely and fully to forgive them. Cleanse my soul from all its corruptions, and transform it into the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ; that I may behold thy face in glory, and be made partaker of thy heavenly kingdom. And, O merciful Father, give me that supply of spiritual comfort which thou seest needful for me in my present condition: and grant that, when my change comes, I may die with a quiet conscience, with a wellgrounded assurance of thy favour, and a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION

OF

PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

TO BE USED IN CHURCHES.

THE people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that baptism should not be administered but upon Sundays and other holy days, when the most number of persons come together; as well for that the congregation there present may testify the receiving of them that be newly baptised into the number of Christ's church; as also because, in the baptism of infants, every man present be put

in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his baptism. For which cause also it is expedient that baptism be ministered in the vulgar tongue. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) children may be baptised on any other day.

And note, that there shall be for every male child to be baptised, two godfathers and one godmother; and for every female one godfather and two godmothers.

When there are children to be baptised, the parent shall give knowledge thereof over night, or in the morning before the beginning of morning prayer, to the curate. And then the godfathers and godmothers, and the people with the children, must be ready at the font, either immediately after the last lesson at morning prayer, or else immediately after the last lesson at evening prayer, as the curate by his direction shall appoint. And the priest coming to the font (which is then to be filled with pure water), and standing there, shall say,

Q. Hath this child been already baptised, or no?

If they answer No, then shall the priest proceed as follows: DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ saith, none can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost, I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant this child that thing which by nature he cannot have, that he may be baptised with water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made a lively member of the same.

Then shall the priest say,

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water, and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan,