On Administering the Sacrament of Baptism
§ 1. Do not baptize the children of the openly profane, as it may harden them in their wickedness; — but refuse the children of none who make any thing of a hopeful profession of religion, whether they be church members or not, attend the meeting or go elsewhere. — Never, however, go into the congregations of your brethren to baptize the children of their people, unless which is sometimes the case, they scruple infant baptism themselves.
§ 2. Insist not upon their bringing their children to meeting to be baptized. — If you have a mixture of baptists it may perhaps give offence, and private baptism will give you greater freedom in your address to the parents: — and for this reason do not baptize many children together, nor grudge an hour or two to any family on such an occasion.
§ 3. Engage the presence of two or there friends of some reputation in the society when yon can; — both to prevent reflections, if the characters be dubious, and to preserve more solemnity in the administration.
§ 4. Before you baptize the child, visit the parents, if you have any opportunity, and talk seriously to them, that you may, if possible, bring them to a sense of the solemnity of the ordinance, and promote a proper preparation for it. V
5. Let the method of administration be generally this: — Begin with a short prayer, — then deliver a brief discourse on some text of scripture. — Keep a little catalogue oP proper texts for such occasions; that you may have a proper variety, when you dispense the ordinance at different times, before the same per« eons; such as ‘* I will be a God to thee and thy seed.” — “I will make with thee an everlasting covenant.” — -” One generation shall rise and declare his works to another.” — “Who am I, and what is my house, &c.” — •’ Baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” — Suffer little children to cooie, &c.” — “The promise is unto you and to your children.” — “Baptism is not putting away the filth of the flesh.” — Touch gently sometimes at the reason of infant baptism; but generally employ your time in addressing the consciences of the parents, and endeavour to raise such affections as are suitable to the occasion. — Then pray, confessing the original corruption of our nature, and the demerit of sin; — acknowledge also the goodness of God in sparing root and branch, and do it affectionately. Pray also that the parents may be suitably assisted in the discharge of their duty; and let all tend to fix proper impressions on their minds. — Receive the child from the hand of one of the parents as soon as the prayer is ended, then ask them both. Whether it is their sincere desire to give themselves and their child up to God, and their purpose to educate it in the christian faith and fear of God? — And on their intimating their intention, solemnly pronounce the words of
LeCt 19. ADMfNISTERING BAPTISM. 107
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baptism, taking care to pour some water on the child, and to pronounce the name of each person of the Sacred Trinity, in a very distinct and audible manner. — rTake care also that the name of the child be so mentioned that it may evidently appear the end of the ordinance is not giving a name, hut only that you might speak by that name to the child. — Then re* turn the child to the parents, giving them a short charge to ‘’Train it up in the way it should go.” Then give them some particular directions and cautions for this purpose. Es* pecially plead with those parents who have had a religious education, or for whom God hath done any thing remarkable in his providence. — Remind them of the obligations they are under to pray for the child, and to resign it to the Divine Will, that if it he taken from this life, the transactions of the baptismal day may be recollected as an engagement to chris* tian submission. — Conclude your discourse with an address to the spectators. — If there are any children belonging to the family old enough to be quietly present, desire that they may be, if possible,. — and drop a word to them touching the meaning of the service.-^^Then renew your thanksgiving and prayer; especial* ly for the family, and the several branches of it, as well as for the families of the friends present, and the interest of Christ fn the rising generation. — Conclude all with a benediction. § 6. In the entertainment which generally follows, “Let your moderation appear to all;” and endeavour to conduct the conversation so
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that good impressions may be promoted ratln er than, as they too freqaently are, weakened and erased. Remember yon have many ey08 upon you, and much of your reputation will depend on your conduct at such seasons. A1-* low yourselves intervals of moderate cheerfulness, but rather err on the grave extreme; and always retire as early as you conveniently and decently can.
§ 7. Keep a register of all the children you baptize, and the time when you administered the ordinance, which will be the means of pre* serving the state of fiimilies in your minds, and will lead you into proper inquiries about the state of the youth of your charge; — it may also serve, to settle some disputes arising with regard to the age of children.
8. Lastly, When you baptize persons of riper years, talk seriously with them, chiefly on the nature of the ordinance; — and if they insist upon being baptized by immersion, do not absolutely recuse them, but rather intimate your desire that it may be done by another person. — Admit none to this kind of baptism, but those whom you and the church are sat* isiied in admitting to church communion.