Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/466

EXHORTATION TO GOD-PARENTS.

CHURCHES ON ANCIENT MODEL.		REFORMED CHURCHES.
Hermann (after the Renunciation, &c.)	Edward VI. First Book, (before the Renunciation).	Zurich.	Belgium.	Alasco.	French Geneva Polanus.
No. 1.	No. 2.	No. 3.	No. 4.	No. 5.	No. 6.
Beloved in Christ, yesterday, by the grace of God, we heard how exceeding and unspeakable mercy is exhibited in Baptism. Ye have renounced Satan and the world; ye have confessed the faith of Christ, and ye have promised obedience to Christ and the Congregation: and ye have required of God the Father, that for His Son's sake, our Lord Jesus Christ, He will deliver these infants from the kingdom of darkness, and settle them in the kingdom of His beloved Son. You must remember these things and doubt nothing, but that we shall receive all these things that we require, if we believe. Therefore, lifting up your minds unto the Lord, appear ye here with all religion, as in the sight of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and receive ye, with sure faith and thanksgiving, the benefit of regeneration and adoption into everlasting life, of the one God, Himself the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And because the Lord Himself commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, undoubtedly God Himself baptizeth our infants, cleanseth them from sins, delivereth them from everlasting death, putteth upon them His own righteousness, and giveth them life eternal. We must acknowledge, with true faith, and ever magnify these exceeding benefits of God, &c.	Well beloved friends, ye have brought these children here to be baptized, ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive them*, to lay His hands upon them, to bless them, to release them of their sins, to give them the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye 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 are their sureties†, that they will‡ forsake the Devil and all his works, & constantly believe God's Holy Word, and obediently keep His commandments. Present Form. * = To lay His—bless them. † Until he come of age to take it upon himself. ‡ Renounce.	At the request of the parents ye offer this child for Baptism, as being willing to exhort him to a holy life, in the stead of parents. Wherefore I exhort you to consider that our God is a true God, who wills that we worship Him in truth. As then ye bring this child to baptism, and undertake the care of it, so hereafter, as need requires, perform the same as much as ye can; and give heed, that this child be brought up to the glory of God, to whom we now offer him.	To Parents, and those present, (omitted in those Churches where the custom of Parents, or Godparents offering the Children, is not as yet introduced). Beloved in the Lord Christ, ye have heard that Baptism is a Divine Institution, to seal His Covenant to us and to our seed, wherefore it must be used to this end, not of custom, nor of any superstition. That it may appear that this is your meaning, ye shall answer these things without hypocrisy.	Ye have heard, Brethren, (see in the preface,) that the washing of Baptism was instituted by Christ the Lord, in His Church, as a sealing of the Divine Covenant with us, from which our children neither ought, nor can be withheld; since it is known that they are comprehended in it, unless the whole Church be wiling to undergo the charge of neglecting the Lord's Institution, and its Ministers of not faithfully fulfilling their Ministry. Since then ye, in the name of this whole Church, bring these Children to Baptism, I, as bound by my ministry, require of you to attest, before the whole Church, as public witnesses thereof, &c.	Inasmuch as this child is to be admitted to the Society of the [..] Church ye shall prommise, in the name of the whole Church that [..] the age [..] require [..] will take care, &c. (See next head.)