Part 46 (1/2)

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from G.o.d; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except G.o.d be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of G.o.d. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of G.o.d. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

_After which he shall say this exhortation following_.

Beloved, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of G.o.d. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewise, immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be d.a.m.ned. Which also sheweth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were p.r.i.c.ked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? replied and said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our G.o.d shall call.

And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards G.o.d,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive _these_ present _persons_, truly repenting, and coming unto him by faith; that he will grant _them_ remission of _their_ sins, and bestow upon _them_ the Holy Ghost; that he will give _them_ the blessing of eternal life, and make _them partakers_ of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards _these persons_, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say,

Almighty and everlasting G.o.d, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee: Increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to these persons, that they may be born again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

_Amen_.

_Then the Priest shall speak to the persons to be baptized on this wise_.

Well-beloved, who are come hither desiring to receive holy Baptism, _ye_ have heard how the Congregation hath prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven and everlasting life. _Ye_ have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word, to grant all those things that we have prayed for; which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, _ye_ must also faithfully, for your part, promise in the presence of these your witnesses, and this whole Congregation, that _ye_ will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe G.o.d's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments.

_Then shall the Priest demand of each of the persons to be baptized, severally, these Questions following_.

_Question_.

Dost thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?

_Answer_. I renounce them all.

_Question_.

Dost thou believe in G.o.d the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into h.e.l.l, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of G.o.d the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?

And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?

_Answer_. All this I stedfastly believe.

_Question_.

Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?

_Answer_. That is my desire.

_Question_.

Wilt thou then obediently keep G.o.d's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?

_Answer_. I will endeavour so to do, G.o.d being my helper.

_Then shall the Priest say_,