270
(C.)
SPECIMEN OF MODERN LANGUAGE,
INTRODUCED BY
BUCER INTO HERMANN'S FORM,
AND EXCLUDED
BY THE REFORMERS OF OUR BAPTISMAL LITURGY.
"Almighty and merciful God and Father, Thou didst promise to Abraham our father, and the father of all that believe, and in him Thou didst promise us also, his children, that Thou wouldest be a God to us and our seed. Wherefore, as Thou didst receive the infants of the old people into grace, and into Thine own people, by circumcision; and Thy Son Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, admitted children, offered unto Him, right gently, and blessed them, testifying that the kingdom of God pertaineth to such; so let it be Thy pleasure to beget our infants again, to adopt them into sons, unto the fellowship of everlasting life, by the sacrament of Baptism. Grant then, Heavenly Father, that we may earnestly require so great riches of grace, set forth in Baptism for Thine infants, that we may acknowledge and receive them with true faith, being offered both in Thy word and in the sacrament. Finally, that we may ever thank Thee, and magnify Thee for them. And impute not to these infants the sin of Adam, issued into them and engendered by their parents; and regard not the merits of their parents, and of all this people; but let the Death and Merit of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ prevail in them, and impute unto them His righteousness and obedience. Plant them into His Death and Resurrection; make them members of His body; put Him upon them, that they may be Thy sons and heirs, and continue for ever. Grant us also,
that, after Baptism, we may acknowledge them Thy children, and members of the body of Thy Son; that we may godly bring them up in the fear of Thee, unto Thy glory; that we may help them in all corporal and spiritual things; that also by them Thy holy Name may be the more magnified, the kingdom of Thy Son enlarged, Thy will be done in this earth as in heaven. Furthermore, keep them safe, give them bounteously the necessaries of life, and preserve them from all evil. Amen."
