Then shall the Priest say the following Prayer of Benediction, the People bowing their heads. O ALMIGHTY God, true, infinite, and above all comparison ; who art everywhere present in all things in an expressible manner, but not circumscribed by place ; who dost not wax old with time, nor art terminated by the successions of ages ; who art not subjeet to generation, and standest in no need of preservation, but art incorruptible, invariable, and unchangeable.; who dwellest in light inaccessible, and art invisible by nature ; who art known to every reasonable creature that seeketh thee in uprightness, and art found by all that search after thee in love : O God of Israel, the God of thy people who believe in Christ, mercifully hear me for thy Name's sake, and bless these thy servants who bow down their necks unto thee : grant unto them the requests of their hearts as may be most expedient for them, and suffer none of them to be cast out of thy kingdom ; but sanctify and keep them, protect, defend, and deliver them from the adversary, and from every enemy. Guard their habitations, and preserve their going out and their coming in : for to thee belongeth all glory, praise, and majesty, worship, and adoration, and to thy Son Jesus, thy Depart in peace. is usual to be eaten, but the best and purest wheat-bread that conveniently may be gotten. And the Eucharist shall be celebrated on every Festival, at least, for which Proper Lessons are appointed ; and all the faithful are to frequent it constantly, unless sickness or other just and urgent occasions hinder them. Note, the Priest shall always consecrate more than is necessary for the Communicants: and the remainder of the consecrated elements he shall carefully reserve for the use of the Sick, or other persons who for any urgent cause desire to communicate at their houses. But if there be not persons enow to receive the reserved elements, the Priest and Deacon shall devoutly and reverently receive them, either together or separately, on one day or more, according to their discretion ; always observing that some of the consecrated elements be constantly reserved in the Vestry, or some other convenient place in the Church, under a safe lock, of which both the Priest and Deacon are to have a key. The money given at the Offertory, being the free-will offerings of the People to God, and solemnly devoted to him, the Priest shall take so much out of it as will defray the charge of the Bread and Wine ; and the remainder he shall keep, or part of it, or dispose of it, or part of it, to pious or charitable uses, according to the direction of the Bishop. THE MINISTRATION OF PUBLIC BAPTISM OF INFANTS, To be used in the Church. The most solemn times for the administration of Public Baptism are the night before Easter, Easter-day, and Whitsunday. Public Baptism may also be administered on any day between Easter and Pentecost. And note, that there shall be a Sponsor or Surety for every Child to be baptized, which Sponsor shall be the Father or Mother of the Child, if either of them is to be had ; otherwise the Sponsor may be any one of the faithful above sixteen years of age. When there are Children to be Baptized, the Parents or others shall give knowledge thereof to the Deacon or Priest. And then the Sponsors and the People with the children must be ready at the Church-door at the time that the Priest by his discretion shall appoint. And the Priest and Deacon coming to the Church-door, and standing there, the Priest shall say to the Sponsors holding the children, Have these children been already baptized or no ? If they answer, No; then shall the Deacon proceed as followeth. DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are con ceived 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 ; let us call upon God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these children that thing which by nature they cannot have ; that they may be baptized with water and the Holy Ghost, and be received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively members of the same. People. Lord, have mercy : We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. Then shall the Priest say: ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark, 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 wellbeloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan didst sanctify the element of water to the mystical washing away of sin : We beseech thee of thine infinite mercy that thou wilt graciously look upon these children ; wash them, and sanctify them with the |