to enter; that he will grant unto them the remission of all their sins; and will vouchsafe all needful grace and strength to keep this covenant inviolate, and to walk before God in righteousness and holiness to the end of life. ¶ Then, turning to the candidates, the minister shall say: EARLY beloved: You desire this day, in D the presence of God, and of this assem bly, to renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in your name, at your baptism; to ratify and confirm the same; and to acknowledge yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which your parents then promised or undertook for you? Q. And every candidate shall audibly answer : This is my desire. OST thou then 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 or be led by them? Q. Ans. I renounce them all. DOST OST thou believe in God 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 rose again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God 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 body, and everlasting life after death? Q. Ans. All this I steadfastly believe. WILT T thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life? Ans. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper. The candidates kneeling before the altar, the minister shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying, EFEND, O Lord, this thy child (or, this thy servant,) with thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine forever; and may daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy hast spared these thy servants, from infancy to years of discretion and knowledge; and hast disposed them by thy grace to believe in thee, and to ratify and confirm this day, in the presence of thy people, the covenant entered into in their behalf at the time of their baptism; strengthen thou and confirm * By the Holy Catholic Church is meant the Church of God in general. them, O Lord, with thy Holy Spirit, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace. Grant the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and forever. Amen. LMIGHTY and ever-living God, who ma kest us both to will and to do those things which are good, and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty; we make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of the holy apostles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them, by this sign, of thy favor and gracious goodness toward them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may attain everlasting life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY Lord, the everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and lives; guide us evermore in the way of thy commandments; and bring us finally to the joys of thy heavenly and everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be upon you, and remain with you forever. Amen. CHAPTER IV. FORMULA FOR THE PUBLIC RECEPTION OF CANDIDATES INTO THE CHURCH.* The preliminary examinations, (of whatever kind) having been had, and the candidate having been approved or passed by the committee, board, or church meeting, as the case may be, the pastor shall call them before the altar, and shall address them, saying: EARLY beloved: It has pleased God, in his infinite mercy, to awaken you to a sense of your guilt and danger, and to lead you as we humbly trust, to true repentance and faith in Christ. Of the sincerity of your purpose to lead a new life and seek an inheritance with the righteous beyond the grave, we have so far become satisfied as to accord to you our confidence and fellowship, as Christian believers, entitled to a place with us in the flock of Christ. And having already received the holy rite of Christian baptism, you are invited before this altar to-day to be formally and publicly admitted into the church of God, which Christ has purIchased with his own blood. This Church is declared in the scriptures to be the pillar and ground This is intended to be appropriate for Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, &c. of the truth. It is the visible body of which Christ is the head, and of which henceforth you are to be members. It is the vineyard in which you are to be laborers; the impregnable stronghold against which even the gates of hell shall never prevail. In this church we trust you will endeavor to be ornaments, pillars, and shining lights, to the peace and safety of your own souls, and to the glory of God, your final judge. And now, in further evidence of your purpose to renounce the ways of sin and death, and of your willingness to take the yoke of Christ upon you, and devote yourselves fully to his service henceforth and forever, I ask your public assent to this solemn covenant. Q. IN N the presence of God and of this assembly you declare the LORD JEHOVAH to be your God, and JESUS CHRIST your Redeemer and hope, in whom alone you trust for everlasting life? Q. Ans. I do. Do O you, then, publicly consecrate yourself to him and to his service forever promising henceforth, by the help of God, to avoid all evil; to do good; to lead an humble and devout life; to keep the Sabbath Day holy; to attend statedly upon the public worship of God, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and the private and social means of grace; to watch over your brethren in love, for their good, kindly giving and receiving admonition as occasion may require? |