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all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceed in all virtue and godliness of living, till we come to that eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. The Service may be concluded here with a benediction: but if thought proper, the Minister may deliver the following (or other) closing Exhortation.

Brethren,

THE design of receiving infants by bap

tism into the church of Christ, is to remind parents and guardians of their duty to them in their innocent and helpless age, that they may train them up as his disciples and the children of God; and have the comfort of contributing to their future happiness in a life that will never end.

Remember, then, that this child belongs to God, who intrusts you with it, that it may be educated and fitted for himself; and if through your criminal neglect or bad example his reasonable creature be lost, he will require it at your hands.

Instil, therefore, into his tender mind the knowledge, reverence, and love of God, the heavenly Father and Maker of all, and a deep sense of the duty he owes

to him. Acquaint him with his benevolent designs for the recovery of a degenerate and perishing world to their duty and happiness and lead him to learn the mind and will of God for his salvation from that inestimable treasure of wisdom the holy Scriptures, especially the words of Christ and his apostles; and not from the doctrines and inventions of men.

Check the first risings of envy and pride in his breast, by teaching him humility and a just knowledge of himself; that all he possesses or hopes for is from God, whose free bounty alone maketh the difference between his creatures. But at the same time inform him of the dignity of his nature; of the importance of reason, the light of God within him; by which he is to govern himself, to restrain his appetites and passions, to moderate his affections, to know the God that made him, to learn his will, to become like unto him, holy, just, and good. Teach him above all things to abhor falsehood and lies; and to love and cultivate truth and integrity, which will make him amiable in the eyes of all, and acceptable to God. Tell him that

he is to love and do good to all men, because all are equally the children of God with himself, and the objects of his fatherly kindness and care: That he is not born only for himself, but for others; to serve his country and mankind by promoting truth and virtue, and the public good.

To this early care of instructing your child, must be added your own invariable good example, that he at no time be witness to any hasty, passionate, profane words, or unseemly behaviour, inconsistent with virtue or innocence; and that the name of GOD in particular be never mentioned before him but with the utmost seriousness and reverence; because it is by imitation chiefly that our characters are insensibly formed from our infancy, and the impressions then made are seldom effaced afterwards.

Be therefore thus watchful over this precious charge of heaven committed to you, that it receive no injury in your hands. And sow in him betimes the seeds of piety, charity, sincerity, and all goodness; for otherwise the weeds of evil will spring up of course in such a

world as this, which it may be difficult afterwards to root out. And although no pains that you can take can ensure success, yet, whatever happens, you will have discharged your duty, and not have the guilt and mortifying reflection of having contributed to the ruin and misery of those you love. But if your labours are successful,-and generally true is the wise man's remark, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,-it will be a source of the highest and purest pleasure and satisfaction to you, and you will have the joy of leaving behind you those who may do good in the world when you shall be no more in it.

And may the supreme Father and Governor of all things direct and bless you in the faithful discharge of your duty, for his glory, the good of mankind, and the advancement of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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When the Persons to be married and their Friends are assembled, together with the Registrar of Marriages legally appointed to that office, the Minister shall say,

MY Christian Brethren, We are gathered together in the sight of Almighty God and in the face of these witnesses, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; a social relation which was instituted by God, under his promise and blessing,-was sanctioned by our Lord Jesus Christ, when he adorned by his presence the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where he wrought his first miracle, and is set forth and commended in the Christian Scriptures,

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