Strengthen them, we beseech Thee, through the Holy Spirit the Comforter, and daily increase in them the manifold gifts of Thy grace, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. As they have vowed to be Thy servants, help them, Lord, to fulfil their vow, and to remain faithful to Thee. May they bring forth abundantly the fruits of the Spirit, so that Thy Church and people may be comforted and strengthened through them. Defend them from all heresy and schism, from apostasy and unbelief. When they approach Thy holy table, to partake of the most precious body and blood of Christ, may they receive a rich measure of Thy grace. And grant, O most merciful Father, that they may continue steadfast unto the end, and that their portion may be with Thy saints at the second and glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Then the Minister may add this Exhortation

Amen.

Dearly beloved,-Your eternal welfare depends upon the way in which you fulfil the engagements that you have now undertaken. I beseech you, therefore, to remember them throughout your whole life. Admitted to the privilege of full communion in the Church, walk

worthy of your vocation. Fulfil your part as good soldiers of Christ, and strengthen your brethren, in whose ranks you now take your place. Remember that you are the temples of the Holy Ghost, and the members of Christ, and that you are bound to glorify Him with your bodies and spirits which He hath redeemed. Flee youthful lusts: give yourselves to piety, temperance, charity, and all the Christian graces. Obey those who are over you in the Lord; shun heresy and schism; and labour for the peace and prosperity of the Church.

That you may be enabled to be faithful, seek always the help of God; wait upon all His ordinances; live by His Word; and join watchfulness to prayer.

Thus devoting yourselves to your God and Saviour from your early years, you will find His yoke to be easy, and His burden light. God on His part will bless you. He will give you His peace which passeth all understanding. He will make all things work together for your good, and you will finally receive the crown of life.

Then the Minister shall bless them, saying thus—

The blessing of God Almighty, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Order

for the

Baptism of Adults.

The Minister begins the Service with the following sentence

OUR

UR help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He then asks the person to be baptized—

Do you present yourself for Holy Baptism, desiring to be ingrafted into the body of Christ? Ans. I do.

Then the Minister says—

Dearly beloved,-Attend to the words of the institution of this Holy Sacrament as delivered

by our Lord and Saviour to His disciples, after His resurrection, and before His ascension to the right hand of God.

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

The Sacrament thus instituted is a sign and seal of our ingrafting into Christ, of remission of sin by His blood, and regeneration by His Spirit, of adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life; and by it we are solemnly admitted, by Christ's appointment, into His Church, and enter into an engagement to be the Lord's.

Hence St Peter, on the day of Pentecost, called upon the people, saying, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

He then says to the person to be baptized—

Forasmuch, then, as you are desirous of receiving this Holy Sacrament, it is necessary that you sincerely give answer, before God and His Church, to the questions I have now to ask.

Do you receive the doctrine of that holy faith into which you are now to be baptized, whereof we make confession, saying, "I believe in God the Father Almighty," &c.

These articles of the Christian faith, and the whole doctrine of the Old and New Testaments, you believe, and in this faith you desire to be baptized. Do you not?

Ans. I do.

Do you, with heartfelt sorrow for your sins, renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, and consecrate yourself to God as your Father, to Christ as your Saviour, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier, and promise to keep His commandments all the days of your life? Ans. I do.

Do you promise to submit yourself to all the ordinances of Christ, to use faithfully the means of grace, and to give to the relief of the poor, and the extension of the Church, as the Lord may prosper you?

Ans.-I do.