must be omitted. Let thy grace preserve this the If the infant does fruit of her womb, and conduct not live, this sentence it to the holy Sacrament of Baptism; that it being regenerated by thy Spirit and adopted into thy family, may live to the glory of God, to the comfort of its parents and friends, to the edification of thy Church, and the salvation of its own soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In case of the above affliction add the Prayer at page 263. The first return of the Mother to the family prayers should be specially mentioned in the daily Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving at page 237, or that after an escape from danger, page 239, would be proper. FOR THE INFANT ONLY In case of the removal of its mother, when the prayer (p. 262), should also be used. Bp. Cosin, (adapted.) GRACIOUS God, by whose providence all things are made; behold the helpless infant of this family which thy hands have fashioned, and grant that it, made by thy power [and already bereaved by thy wisdom,] may be preserved by thy goodness [all its wants supplied by thy mercy]; and enjoying the benefits of thy holy baptism, may be made a lively member of thy Church, and faithfully serve thee [in the communion of thy departed one and of all thy saints], through the merits of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. On the day of the Baptism Of an Infant, to be used at the Morning Prayers, before it is taken to the Font. JESUS said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is S. Mark x. the kingdom of God. Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. S. Matth. vii. THE INVOCATION. O Thou, who calledst little children to come unto thee, Glory be to thee, O Lord. APPROPRIATE PSALM. 8. THE PRAYER. (Adapted from The Use of Salisbury, in a collection of Baptismal Offices.) GOD, the everliving protection of all who need, the deliverance of those who pray, the peace of those who ask, the life of them that believe, the resurrection of the dead; we pray thee in behalf of the infant of this thy family for whom we this day seek the gift of thy baptism, and long that he may attain eternal mercy by spiritual regeneration: accept him, Lord; and since thou hast deigned to say, Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened: so give now the reward to him that asketh, and open the door to him that knocketh; that by the eternal benediction of the heavenly washing, he may receive the promised kingdoms of thy gift: who livest and reignest with God the Father, in unity of the Holy Spirit, God throughout all ages. Amen. ANOTHER PRAYER. (Compiled from the Collection of Devotions, 1734.) WE adore thee, O thou Lord God Almighty, and give thee thanks, who sentest thy Son to be made man for us, and for our salvation; and Thee, O thou only begotten, God the Son, who didst suffer death upon the cross for all men, and appointedst the baptism of regeneration as a symbol thereof; and thee the Holy Ghost, the Giver of all spiritual life, we praise and adore. And we pray that the Lord would vouchsafe to receive the infant of this family into his holy household, the true land of promise, his Church; and keep and govern him in the same, and at length bring him to everlasting life. Amen. At Evening Prayers on this day, suitable thanksgivings may be taken from the Prayers for the Anniversary of Baptism, page 221, or from Saturday Morning. On the Anniversary of the Marriage Of the Master and Mistress of the Family, being the day of thanksgiving for the first establishment of its members as a Christian family, and for all consequent blessings. AS for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Josh. xxiv. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in his ways. Ps. cxxviii. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. THE PRAYER. GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless us thy servants and our household, and sow the seed of eternal life in our hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word we shall profitably learn, we may in deed fulfil the same. Look, Ó Lord, mercifully upon us from heaven and bless us. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessings upon us thy servants; that we obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto our lives' end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. ALMIGHTY God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify them, Pour upon us the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless us, that we may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto our lives' end. Amen. On the Anniversary of a Birthday. A THOUSAND years in thy sight are but as yesterday, seeing that is past as a watch in the night. Ps. xc. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. 90, 103, 121, 127. (Jeremy Taylor, Bp.) BLESSED and eternal God, we give thee praise and glory for thy great mercy unto us, and especially thy servant, whose birth we this day commemorate, in causing us to be born of Christian parents, and bringing us to the light of the world and the illumination of baptism. We have indeed broken the promises then made for us, yet thou hast continued unto us life and time of repentance. We pray thee, pardon the errors and ignorances, the vices and vanities, of our past years; let us no more stain the whiteness of our baptismal robe; but, giving up our names to Christ, and glorying to be his disciples, and servants of Jesus, let us never fail of thy grace. Let our years be so many degrees of nearer approach unto thee, and forsake us not, O God, in our old age, when we are grey-headed. But when our strength faileth us, be thou our strength and our guide unto death; that we may reckon our years, and apply our hearts unto wisdom, and at last, after the spending a holy and a blessed life, we may be brought unto a glorious eternity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |