Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/462

BAPTISMAL PRAYER BEFORE THE GOSPEL

ANCIENT CHURCH.

CHURCHES UPON THE ANCIENT MODEL.

REFORMED CHURCHES

Ancient Gothic.

Ancient Latin form translated by Luther 1523, unaltered in his revision, 1524.

Hermann, Archbishop of Cologne.

Danish, Norwegian.

Edward VI. May, 1549.

English present [..]

Zurich.

Belgium.

Protestants of France and Geneva.

Polanus.

English at Geneva and Scotch.

Scotch, 1644.

Alasco.

1.

2.

3.

No. 4.

No. 5.

No. 6.

No. 7.

No. 8.

No 9.

No. 10.

No. 11.

No. 12.

No. 14.

O God, who didst sanctify the fount of Jordan for the salvation of souls, let the Angel of Thy blessing descend upon these waters, that Thy servants being bedewed therewith, may receive remission of sins; and being born again of water and the Holy Spirit may serve Thee devotedly forever, thro' Jesus Christ.

Almighty everlasting God, who†, according to Thy strict1 judgment didst2 condemn the unbelieving world through the flood, and didst preserve3 faithful Noah, the 8th person, of Thy4 great mercy, and didst drown in the red sea5 obstinate Pharaoh† with all his† and leddest6 Thy people Israel dry through7, that this laver of Thy Holy Baptism hereafter might be signified8, and didst hallow and consecrate with the Baptism of9 Thy beloved child our Lord Jesu Christ, Jordan and10 all waters to a11 blessed flood and abundant washing away of sins: We pray Thee through the same Thy exceeding mercy look favourably upon this12 N, and endue him with a right faith in the Spirit, that13 all which was born in Him of Adam, and which he has added thereto, may be drowned and14 destroyed by this15 wholesome flood, and he, being separated from the number of the16 unbelieving, may be kept dry and safe in the holy ark of17 Christendom, may serve Thy name always fervent in Spirit, joyful in hope, that he may be worthy to attain18 Thy promise of everlasting life with all19 believers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

— everlasting † in old time 1 terrible 2 destroy the wicked 3 only the family of godly Noah, 8 souls 4 unspeakable 5 hardened † the king of the Egyptians † army and warlike power 6 causedst to pass over with dry feet 7 and wouldst shadow in them Holy Baptism the laver of regeneration 8 furthermore who didst consecrate 9 Thy son Christ Jesu 10 other waters 11 holy dipping =abundant=away =the same 12 infant and give him true faith, and Thy Holy 13 whatsoever filth he has taken of Adam, it 14 put away in him 15 holy 16 ungodly = dry and 17 the Church, and may confess and sanctify Thy name with a lusty and fervent spirit, and serve Thy kingdom = be worthy 18 the promises 19 the ungodly

1 most strict 2 destroy by the avenging water of the 3 Thy faithful servant, with seven others 4 immense 6 as Hermann 7 whereby thou shadowest 9 Thy beloved Son 10 a bath which should most abundantly wash away 11 infinite 17 =be worthy

Almighty and everlasting God, which of Thy justice didst destroy by floods of water the whole world for sin, except eight persons, whom of Thy mercy (the same time) thou didst save in the ark: and when thou didst drown in the Red Sea wicked King Pharaoh with all his army, yet (at the same time) thou didst1 lead Thy people the children of Israel safely through the midst thereof, whereby thou didst figure the washing of Thy Holy Baptism, and by the Baptism of Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ† Thou didst sanctify the flood Jordan and all other waters to2 this mystical washing away of sin. We beseech Thee (for Thine infinite mercies) that Thou wilt mercifully look upon these children† and sanctify them with3 thy Holy Ghost, that4 by this wholesome laver of regeneration whatsoever sin is in them maybe washed clean away, that they being delivered from Thy wrath may be received into the ark of Christ's Church, and so saved from perishing: and being fervent in spirit, stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, rooted in charity, may5 ever serve Thee and finally attain to everlasting life, with all Thy holy and chosen people. This grant us, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord.

=which eight persons 1who of Thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing in water, also did safely lead the children of Israel, Thy people, through the Red Sea figuring thereby Thy holy †in the river Jordan =the flood Jordan and all other 2the †wash him 3the 4=by [..] away =so saved from perishing =fervent in spirit 5so pass [..] waves of this troublesome world, that finally we may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with Thee, world without end

Almighty everlasting God, who by [..]st and worthy [..]nent didst des[..] the whole un[..] ving2 and un[..] world by the [..]s of the flood, and didst meanwhile in thine3 unspeakably great mercy and kindness4 deliver Noah a preacher of righteousness, with [..] souls; who [..] pleased to [..] the ungodly [..] hardened Pharoah with all his [..] in the depths of the Red Sea, but [..]ake Israel Thy [..]n, to go over dry-shod, representing to us by these [..]s, as by a type, [..]ver of Baptism, [..] us supplicants, [..]ring Thy mer[..] and graciously and mildly look upon this Thy servant at the light of [..] into his mind6, [..] being incorporated into Thy Son, and buried with Him [..] death, he may [..] together with [..] to a new life, [..]ein bearing [..]ully the cross [..] upon him, he [..] continue to [..] in His steps, [..] cleave to Him [..] with true faith, [..] hope, and ar[..] fire of charity, [..] that for Thy name's sake, he may [..]ar to lose, with [..]aken mind, this [..] which is more [..] to be called [..] and at the [..] judgment of [..] Son, may ap[..] without dread [..]gh the same [..] Lord Jesus Christ, Thine only begotten Son, who liveth and reigneth Thee, with the [..] of the Holy Ghost, one God. Amen.

1 severe 2 impenitent 3 great 4 preserve faithful Noah the 8th person; who didst swallow up the blinded 5whereby Baptism denoted. 6 and by Thy Holy Spirit engraff Him, into Thy Son that he may be buried, &c. as in Zuingli.

[Old Preface omitted.] Lord God, eternal and Almighty Father, since it has pleased Thee of Thine infinite mercy, to promise that Thou wilt be the Father of us, and of our children, we pray that it may please Thee* to confirm this grace in the present infant, born of parents whom Thou hast called into Thy Church; and, as he is offered and dedicated to Thee by us, that Thou wouldest receive him into Thy 1holy protection†, 2declaring that Thou art his God and Saviour, 3by remitting to him original sin,—whereof the Polanus. whole line of Adam4 is guilty, and, 5afterwards, sanctifying him by Thy Spirit, that when he shall come to years6 of understanding, he may7 know and worship Thee, as his only God, 8glorifying Thee during his whole life‡, to obtain of Thee always remission of his sins. And that he may obtain these mercies, may it please Thee to incorporate him into the communion of our Lord Jesus, that he may partake of all his benefits, as one of the members of His body. Hear us, Father of mercy, that the § baptism which we impart to him according to Thy ordinance, may produce its fruit and efficacy,—such as it is declared by Thy Gospel. Our Father, &c. 1 holy, Calv. 2 showing, C. 3 by, C. 4 bears the guilt, C. 5 besides, C. 6 capable of judging and understanding, C. 7 acknowledge 8 a Saviour, giving that praise and glory, so that he may.

* that thou wilt vouchsafe to him Thy goodwill and favour, and wilt confirm with him Thy covenant, who is born, &c. † to be his God. ‡ and as often as he shall ask Thee, obtain free remission of his sins. Let him then be engraffed in our Lord Jesus Christ. § that as, according to Thy command, he is washed by us, with this symbol of baptism, and adopted, so Thy Holy Spirit working in him, he may receive the fruit of all those good things which we have learnt from the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, are sealed in us in this sacrament.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of Thine infinite mercy, hast promised unto us that Thou wilt be not only our God, but also the God and Father of our children—we beseech Thee, that, as Thou hast vouchsafed to call us to be partakers of this Thy great mercy in the fellowship of faith, so it may please Thee to sanctify with Thy Spirit, and to receive unto the number of Thy children this infant, whom we shall baptize this day, according to Thy word, to the end that he, coming to perfect age, may confess Thee, the only true God, and whom Thou has sent, Jesus Christ, and so serve Him, and be profitable to His Church in the whole course of his life, that, after this life ended, he may be brought as a lively member of His body, unto the full fruition of Thy joys in heaven.

After reciting the Creed, the minister explaineth these Articles,—going through each particular branch thereof,—which, being ended, the minister, kneeling down, prays for the child, concluding,—Our Father, &c. Scotch Directory. No. 13. The minister is to pray to this, or the like effect: That the Lord, who hath not left us as strangers without the covenant of promise, but called us to the privileges of His ordinances—would graciously vouchsafe to sanctify and bless His own ordinance of baptism at this time. That he would join the inward baptism of His Spirit with the outward baptism of water:-make this baptism to the infant a seal of adoption, remission of sin, regeneration, and eternal life, and all other promises of the covenant of grace. That the child may be planted into the likeness of the death and resurrection of Christ; and that, the body of sin being destroyed in him, he may serve God in newness of life all his days.

Almighty eternal God, merciful Father, who hast taught us, through Thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to call upon Thee in all our actions, and hast promised that Thou wilt always hear us when we call upon Thee in His name; regard, we beseech Thee, this congregation of Thy family, which looketh on the ministry of this Baptism instituted by Thy Son, and upon this our seed which is offered to Thee in the midsth of the assembly of our Church: whose God Thou hast moreover attested Thyself to be, and whom Thou vouchsafest to embrace and to bless; and so govern us and our seed by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may daily advance in true and salutary knowledge of Thee and ourselves, that all may know that Thou art the God of us and of our seed, and that we with our seed are Thy people in Christ Jesus Thy beloved Son, with Whom and with Thy Holy Spirit, Thou livest and reignest, deus triunus, blessed for ever.

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