likeness of the death and refurrection of Chrift; and that, the body of fin being deftroyed in him, he may ferve God in newness of life all his days.'

Then the minifter is to demand the name of the child, which being told him, he is to fay, (calling the child by his name.)

Ibaptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.

As he pronounceth thefe words, he is to baptize the child with water: which for the manner of doing it, is not only lawful but fufficient and most expedient to be, by pouring or fprinkling of the water on the face of the child, without adding any other ceremony.

This done, he is to give thanks and pray, to this or the like purpose;

Acknowledging with all thankfulness, that the Lord is true and faithful in keeping covenant and mercy; that he is good and gracious, not only in that he numbreth us among his faints, but is pleafed alfo to bestow upon our children this fingular token and badge of his love in • Chrift; That, in his truth and special providence, he daily bringeth fome into the bofom of his church, to be partakers of his ineftimable benefits, purchased by the blood of his dear Son, for the continuance and increase of his church.

And praying, that the Lord would ftill continue, and daily confirm more and more,this his unfpeakable favour: That he would receive the infant, now baptized, and folemnly entred into the houshold of faith, into his Fatherly tuition and defence, and remember him with the favour that he fheweth to his people: that, if he shall be taken out of this life in his infancy, the Lord, who is rich in mercy, would be pleased to receive him up into glory; and if he live, and attain the years of difcretion,that the Lord would fo teach him by his word and fpirit, and make his baptifm ' effectual to him, and fo uphold him by his divine power and grace, that by faith he may prevail against the devil, the world, and the fiefh, till in the end he obtain a full and final victory, and fo be kept by the power of God, through faith unto falvation, through Jefus Christ our Lord,

of

Of the celebration of the communion, or facrament of the Lord's fupper.

T

HE communion, or fupper of the Lord is frequently to be celebrated: But how often, may be confidered, and determined by the minifters, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they fhall find moft convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And, when it shall be adminiftred, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning-fermon.

The ignorant and the fcandalous are not fit to receive this facrament of the Lord's fupper.

Where this facrament cannot with convenience be frequently adminiftred, it is requifite that public warning be given the fabbath-day before the administration thereof; And that either then, or on fome day of that week. fomething concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent ufe of all means fanctified of God to that end, both in public and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast.

When the day is come for adminiftration, the minister, having ended his fermon and prayer, fhall make a fhort exhortation.

Expreffing the ineftimable benefit we have by this facrament; together with the ends and ufe thereof; Setting forth the great neceffity of having our comforts and strength renewed thereby, in this our pilgrimage and warfare: how neceffary it is that we come into it with knowledge, faith,. repentance, love, and with hungring and thirfting fouls after Chrift and his benefits: How great the danger, to eat and drink unworthily.

< Next, he is, in the name of Chrift, on the one part, to warn all fuch as are ignorant, fcandalous, profane, or that live in any fin or offence againft their knowledge or confcience, that they prefume not to come to that holy table; fhewing them, That he that eateth and drinketh unworthi ly, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself: And, on the other part, he is in efpecial manner to invite and encourage all that labour under the fenfe of the burden of their fins, and fear of wrath, and defire to reach out un.

to

.6

to a greater progrefs in grace than yet they can attain unto, to come to the Lord's table; affuring them, in the fame name, of cafe, refreshing and strength to their weak and 'wearied fouls.'

After this exhortation, warning and invitation, the table being before defcently covered, and fo conveniently placed, the communicants may orderly fit about it,or at it, the minifter is to begin the action with fanctifying and bleffing the elements of bread and wine fet before him(the bread in comely and convenient veffels, fo prepared, that being broken by him, and given, it may be deftributed amongst the communicants; the wine alfo in large cups) having first in a few words fhewed, that thofe elements, otherwile common are now fet apart and fanctified to this holy use, by the word of inftitution and prayer.

Let the words of inftitution be read out of the evangelifts, or out of the firft epifttle of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians, Chap 11. Verfe 23. I have received of the Lord, &c. to the 27th Verfe, which the minifter may,when he feeth requifite explain and apply.

Let the prayer, thanksgiving, or bleffing of the bread and wine, be to this effect;

With humble and hearty acknowledgment of the greatnefs of our mifery, from which neither man nor angel was able to deliver us, and of our great unworthiness of the leaft of all God's mercies; to give thanks to God for all his benefits, and especially for that great benefit of our redemption, the love of God the Father, the fufferings and merits of the Lord Jefus Chrift the Son of God, by which we are delivered; and for all means of grace the word and facraments; and for this facrament in particular, by 'which Chrift, and all his benefits, are applied and fealed upunto us, which notwithstanding the denial of them unto others, are in great mercy continued unto us, after fo much and long abufe of them all.

To profefs, that there is no other name under heaven, by which we can be faved, but the name of Jesus Christ, by whom alone we receive liberty and life, have access to the throne of grace, are admited to eat and drink at his own table, and are fealed up by his fpirit to an affurance of happiness and everlasting Life.

Earneftly

Earnestly to pray to God, the Father of all mercies, and God of all confolation, to vouchfafe his gracious prefence, and the effectual working of his fpirit in us; and fo to fancti'fy thefe elements, both of bread and wine, and to blefs his < own ordinance, that we may receive, by faith,the body and blood of Jefus Chrift crucified for us, and fo to feed upon him, that he may be one with us, and we one with him; that he may live in us, and we in him, and to him, ' who hath loved us, and given himself for us.'

All which he is to endeavour to perform with fuitable affections, anfwerable to fuch an holy action, and to ftir up the like in the people.

The elements being now fanctified by the word and prayer, the minifter, being at the table, is to take the bread, in his hand,and fay, in thefe expreffions (or other the like, used by Chrift or his apostle upon this occafion :)

'According to the holy inftitution, command, and exam'ple of our bleffed Saviour Jefus Chrift, I take this bread and having given thanks, I break it, and give it unto you (There the minifter, who is also himself to communicate, is to break the bread, and give it to the communicants:) < Take ye, eat ye; This is the body of Chrift which is broken for you; Do this in remembrance of him.

In like manner the minifter is to take the cup, and fay, in thefe expreffions (or other the like, ufed by Christ or the apoftle upon the fame occafion :

According to the inftitution, command, and example of our Lord Jefus Chrift, I take this cup, and give it unto you (Here he giveth it to the communicants) This cup is the New Teftament in the blood of Chrift, which is fhed for the remiffion of the fins of many : Drink ye all of it.'

After all have communicated, the minifter may, in a few words, put them in mind,

Of the grace of God, in Jefus Chrift, held forth in this facrament; and exhort them to walk worthy of it.'"

The minifter is to give folemn thanks to God,

For his rich mercy, and invaluable goodnefs, vouchsafed to them in that facrament; and to intr eatfor pardon for the defects of the whole fervice, and for the gracious affiftance of his good fpirit, whereby they may be enabled to walk

in the ftrength of that grace, as becometh those who have received fo great pledges of falvation."

The collection for the poor, is fo to be ordered, that no part of the public worship be thereby hindred.

THE

Of the fanctification of the Lord's day.

HE Lord's day ought to be fo remembred before-hand as that all worldly bufinefs of our ordinary callings may be fo ordered, and fo timely and feasonably laid afide, as they may not be impediments to the due fanctifying of the day when it comes.

The whole day is to be celebrated as holy to the Lord, both in public and private, as being the Chriftian fabbath. To which end, it is requifite, that there be a holy ceffation, or refting all the day, from all unnecessary labours; and an abstaining, not only from all fports and paftimes, but also from all worldly words and thoughts.

That the diet on that day be fo ordered, as that neither fervants be unneceffarily detained from the public worship of God, or any other perfon hindred from the fanctifying that day.

That there be private preparation of every perfon and family, by prayer for themfelves, and for God's affiftance of the minifter, and for a bleffing upon his miniftry; and by fuch other holy exercifes, as may further difpofe them to a more comfortable communion with God in his public ordi

nances.

That all the people meet fo timely for public worship, that the whole congregation may be prefent at the beginning, and with one heart folemnly join together in all parts of the public worship, and not depart till after the bleffing.

That what time is vacant, between or after the folemn meetings of the congregation in public, be fpent in reading, meditation, repetition of fermons; efpecially by calling their families to an account of what they have heard, and catechifing of them, holy conferences, prayer for a bleffing upon the public ordinances, finging of Pfalms, vifiting the fick, relieving the poor, and fuch like duties of piety, charity, and mercy, accounting the Sabbath a delight.

The