Upon the holy days, if there be no Communion, shall be said all that is appointed at the Communion, until the end of the Homily, concluding with the general prayer, for the whole state' of Christ's church militant here in earth and one or mo of these Collects before rehearsed, as occasion shall serve.

¶ And there shall be no celebration of the Lord's Supper except there be a good number to communicate with the priest3, according to his discretion.

¶ And if there be not above twenty persons in the Parish of discretion to receive the communion: yet there shall be no Communion, except four, or three at the least communicate with the priest3. And in Cathedral and Collegiate churches, where be many Priests and Deacons, they shall all receive the Communion with the Minister every Sunday at the least, except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary.

And to take away the superstition which any person hath, or might have, in the bread and wine, it shall suffice that the bread be such, as is usual to be eaten at the Table with other meats, but the best and purest wheat bread, that conveniently may be gotten. And if any of the bread or wine remain, the Curate shall have it to his

own use.

The bread and wine for the Communion shall be provided by the Curate, and the Churchwardens, at the charges of the parish, and the parish shall be discharged of such sums of money, or other duties, which hitherto they have paid for the same, by order of their houses every Sunday.

And note, that every Parishioner shall communicate at the least three times in the year: of which Easter to be one: and shall also receive the Sacraments, and other rites, according to the order in this book appointed. And yearly, at Easter, every Parishioner shall reckon with his Parson, Vicar or Curate, or his, or their deputy or deputies, and pay to them or him all Ecclesiastical duties, accustomably due, then and at that time to be paid.

[ Grafton, estate.]

[2 1578, a great number. This alteration first appears in a quarto Prayer Book of 1576 by Jugge, prefixed to a copy of the Bishops' Bible. Afterwards, as in 1617, it crept also into some of the authorised folios.]

[3 1578, the Minister.]

[* 1578, or.]

[1578, Ministers.]

[ See 'Liturgies of K. Edward VI.', Parker Society, p. 98.] [Grafton, of.]

The Ministration of

Baptism.

to be used in the Church.

Ir appeareth by ancient writers, that the sacrament of Baptism in the old time was not commonly ministered, but at two times in the year: at Easter, and Whitsuntide. At which times it was openly ministered, in the presence of all the congregation: which custom (now being grown out of use,) although it cannot for many considerations be well restored again, yet it is thought good to follow the same as near as conveniently may be: wherefore the people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that Baptism should not be ministered but upon Sundays and other holy days, when the most number of people may come together, as well for that the congregation there present may testify the receiving of them that be newly Baptized into the number of Christ's Church, as also because in the Baptism of Infants every man present may be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his Baptism. For which cause also, it is expedient that Baptism be ministered in the English tongue. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) children may at all times be baptized at home.

Publick" Baptism.

¶When there are children to be baptized upon the Sunday, or holy day, the Parents shall give knowledge over night, or in the morning, afore the beginning of Morning prayer, to the Curate. And then the Godfathers, Godmothers, and people with the children, must be ready at the Font, either immediately after the last Lesson at Morning Prayer, or else immediately after the last Lesson at Evening Prayer, as the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And then standing there, the Priest" shall ask whether the children be Baptized or no. If they answer, no: Then shall the Priest" say

thus.

DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men be conceived and born in sin, and that our Saviour Christ saith, none can enter into the kingdom of God (except he be regenerate, and born [Grafton, tyme.]

[ 1578 omits this rubric.]

[10 Not in Grafton, nor in 1578.]
["11578, the Minister.]

anew of water and the Holy Ghost:) I beseech you to 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 received into Christ's holy church, and be made lively members of the

same.

:

Then the Priest' shall say.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which of thy great mercy didst save Noe and his family in the Ark, from perishing by water 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, didst sanctify the flood Jordan and all other waters to the mystical washing away of sin: We beseech thee, for thy2 infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these children, sanctify them and wash them with thy Holy Ghost: that they, being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the Ark of Christ's Church; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee, world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all that need, the helper of all that flee3 to thee for succour, the life of them that believe, and the resurrection of the dead: we call upon thee for these infants, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of their sins by spiritual regeneration. Receive them, (O Lord) as thou hast promised by thy wellbeloved Son, saying, Ask and you shall have, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us that ask. Let us that seek find. Open thy gate to us that knock, that these infants may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal Kingdom, which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

[1578, the Minister.]
[3 Grafton, fly.]

[ Grafton and 1596, thine.]
[1596, the gate.]

4

¶ Then shall the Priest say: Hear the words of the Gospel written by Saint Mark in the tenth Chapter.

AT a certain time they brought children to Christ that Mar. x. he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was displeased, and said unto them: Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever doth not receive the kingdom of God, as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And when he had taken them up in his arms, he put his hands upon them and blessed them.

¶ After the Gospel is read, the minister shall make this brief exhortation upon the words of the Gospel.

:

FRIENDS, you hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the children to be brought unto him how he blamed those that would have kept them from him how he exhorteth8 all men to follow their innocency. You perceive how by his outward gesture and deed he declared his good will toward them. For he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. Doubt not ye9 therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will likewise favourably receive these present infants, that he will embrace them with the arms of his mercy, that he will give unto them the blessing of eternal life, and make them partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father, toward these infants declared by his Son Jesus Christ, and nothing doubting but that he favourably alloweth this charitable work of ours, in bringing these children to his holy Baptism: Let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say,

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks, that thou hast vouchsafed 10 to call us to the knowledge of thy grace and faith in thee increase this knowledge, and confirm this faith in us evermore: Give thy holy Spirit to these infants, that they may be born again, and be made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord

[1578 uniformly omits, Public.]

[ Grafton, ye.]

[ Grafton, you.]

[ 1578, the Minister.]
[ Grafton, exhorted.]
[10 Grafton, vouchedsaufe.]

Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Then the Priest' shall speak unto the Godfathers and Godmothers on this wise:

WELLBELOVED friends, ye have brought these children here to be Baptized: ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive them, to lay his hands upon them, to bless them, to release them of their sins, to give them the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things that ye have prayed for: which promise he for his part will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, these infants must also faithfully for their part promise by you that be their sureties, that they will forsake the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy word, and obediently keep his commandments.

Then shall the Priest1 demand of the Godfathers and Godmothers these questions following2.

Dost thou forsake the devil and all his works, the vain pomp, and glory of the world, with all covetous3 desires of the same, the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?

Answer. I forsake them all.

Minister". Dost 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 went down into hell, and also did rise 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