Where there are more ministers in a congregation than one, and they of different gifts, each may more especially apply himself to doctrine or exhortation, according to the gift wherein he most excelleth, and as they shall agree between themselves.

Of Prayer after Sermon.

THE HE sermon being ended, the minister is "To give "thanks for the great love of God, in sending his Son: "Jesus Christ unto us; for the communication of his Holy "Spirit; for the light and liberty of the glorious gospel, "and the rich and heavenly blessings revealed therein; as, "namely, election, vocation, adoption, justification, sanctification, and hope of glory; for the admirable goodness "of God in freeing the land from antichristian darknes "and tyranny, and for all other national deliverances; for "the reformation of religion; for the covenant; and for many temporal blessings..

"To pray for the continuance of the gospel, and all or-.. "dinances thereof, in their purity, power, and liberty to "turn the chief and most useful heads of the sermon into "some few petitions; and to pray that it may abide in the "heart, and bring forth fruit..

"To pray for preparation for death and judgment, and "a watching for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: to "entreat of God the forgiveness of the iniquities of our "holy things, and the acceptation of our spiritual sacrifice, "through the merit and mediation of our great High Priest "and Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ."

And because the prayer which Christ taught his disciples is not only a pattern of prayer, but itself a most comprehensive prayer, we recommend it also to be used in the prayers of the church.

And whereas, at the administration of the sacraments, the holding publick fasts and days of thanksgiving, and other special occasions, which may afford matter of special petitions and thanksgivings, it is requisite to express somewhat in our publick prayers, (as at this time it is our duty to pray for a blessing upon the Assembly of Divines, the armies by sea and

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land, for the defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom,) every minister is herein to apply himself in his prayer, before or after sermon, to those occasions: but, for the manner, he is left to his liberty as God shall direct and enable him, in piety and wisdom to discharge his duty.

The prayer ended, let a psalm be sung, if with conveniency it may be done. After which (unless some other ordinance of Christ, that concerneth the congregation at that time, be to follow) let the minister dismiss the congregation with a solemn blessing.

Of the Administration of the Sacraments.

BAP

And first, Of Baptism.

APTISM, as it is not unnecessarily to be delayed, so it is not to be administered in any case by any private person, but by a minister of Christ, called to be the steward of the mysteries of God.

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Nor is it to be administered in private places, or privately, but in the place of publick worship, and in the face of congregation, where the people may most conveniently see and hear; and not in the places where fonts, in the time of Popery, were unfitly and superstitiously placed.

The child to be baptized, after notice given to the minister the day before, is to be presented by the father, or (in case of his necessary absence) by some Christian friend in his place, professing his earnest desire that the child may be baptized.

Before baptism, the minister is to use some words of instruction, touching the institution, nature, use, and ends of this sacrament: shewing,

"That it is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ: That it " is a seal of the covenant of grace, of our ingrafting into "Christ, and of our union with him, of remission of sins,. "regeneration, adoption, and life eternal: That the water, " in baptism, representeth and signifieth both the blood of "Christ, which taketh away all guilt of sin, original and "actual; and the sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ against the dominion of sin, and the corruption of our " sinful nature: That baptizing, or sprinkling and washing with water, signifieth the cleansing from sin by the blood

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"and for the merit of Christ, together with the mortifica❝tion of sin, and rising from sin to newness of life, by virtue "of the death and resurrection of Christ: That the promise "is made to believers and their seed; and that the seed and posterity of the faithful, born within the church, have, by "their birth, interest in the covenant, and right to the seal "of it, and to the outward privileges of the church, under "the gospel, no less than the children of Abraham in the "time of the Old Testament; the covenant of grace, for "substance, being the same; and the grace of God, and the "consolation of believers, more plentiful than before: That "the Son of God admitted little children into his presence, embracing and blessing them, saying, For of such is the kingdom of God: That children, by baptism, are solemnly "received into the bosom of the visible church, distinguished "from the world, and them that are without, and united with "believers; and that all who are baptized in the name of "Christ, do renounce, and by their baptism are bound to fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh: That they are Christians, and federally holy before baptism, and "therefore are they baptized: That the inward grace and "virtue of baptism is not tied to that very moment of time "wherein it is administered; and that the fruit and power "thereof reacheth to the whole course of our life; and that "outward baptism is not so necessary, that, through the “want thereof, the infant is in danger of damnation, or the parents guilty, if they do not contemn or neglect the "ordinance of Christ, when and where it may be had." In these or the like instructions, the minister is to use his own liberty and godly wisdom, as the ignorance or errors in the doctrine of baptism, and the edification of the people, shall require.

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He is also to admonish all that are present,

"To look back to their baptism; to repent of their sins against their covenant with God; to stir up their faith; "to improve and make right use of their baptism, and of "the covenant sealed thereby betwixt God and their souls." He is to exhort the parent,

"To consider the great mercy of God to him and his "child; to bring up the child in the knowledge of the 66 ground

"grounds of the Christian religion, and in the nurture and "admonition of the Lord; and to let him know the danger "of God's wrath to himself and child, if he be negligent: requiring his solemn promise for the performance of his duty." This being done, prayer is also to be joined with the word of institution, for sanctifying the water to this spiritual use ; and the minister is to pray to this or the like effect:

"That the Lord, who hath not left us as strangers with❝out the covenant of promise, but called us to the privi"leges of his ordinances, would graciously vouchsafe to "sanctify and bless his own ordinance of baptism at this "time: That he would join the inward baptism of his Spi"rit with the outward baptism of water; make this bap"tism to the infant a seal of adoption, remission of sin, re"generation, and eternal life, and all other promises of the "covenant of grace: That the child may be planted into "the likeness of the death and resurrection of Christ; and "that, the body of sin being destroyed in him, he may "serve God in newness of life all his days."

Then the minister is to demand the name of the child; which being told him, he is to say, (calling the child by his name,)

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

As he pronounceth these words, he is to baptize the child with water: which, for the manner of doing of it, is not only lawful but sufficient, and most expedient to be, by pouring or sprinkling of the water on the face of the child, with out adding any other ceremony.

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

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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 numbereth us, "among his saints, but is pleased also to bestow upon our "children this singular token and badgeof his love in Christ::

That, in his truth and special providence, he daily bringeth "some into the bosom of his church, to be partakers of "his inestimable benefits, purchased by the blood of his dear Son, for the continuance and increase of his church..

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"And praying, That the Lord would still continue, and "daily confirm more and more this his unspeakable favour: "That he would receive the infant now baptized, and so"lemnly entered into the household of faith, into his father"ly tuition and defence, and remember him with the fa"vour that he sheweth 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 discretion, that the "Lord would so teach him by his word and Spirit, and "make his baptism effectual to him, and so uphold him "by his divine power and grace, that by faith he may pre"vail against the devil, the world, and the flesh, till in the "end he obtain a full and final victory, and so be kept by "the power of God through faith unto salvation, through "Jesus Christ our Lord."

Of the Celebration of the Communion, or Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

THE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated; but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And, when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning sermon.

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive this sacrament of the Lord's supper.

Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be frequently administered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before the administration thereof: and that either then, or on some day of that week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast.

When the day is come for administration, the minister, having ended his sermon and prayer, shall make a short exhortation:

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