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duty, and to apply themselves to the serious discharge of it.

11. Q. How does this ordinance give a satisfaction to the church of Christ as to these matters?

A. As by this means care is taken to have all these things openly transacted before it. The person who, perhaps, was privately baptized, being now publicly confirmed in the face of the congregation. The vow which was made by others in his name, being here solemnly renewed and ratified by himself. The child who was baptized by some minister of an inferior order, being now established in the communion of the church by one of the chief pastors of it. And, lastly, the Godfathers and Godmothers who became sureties both for the good instruction and education of the person whom they answered for; being thereby fully acquitted and discharged of their trust, and declared to have faithfully fulfilled what they had so sacredly promised and undertaken to do.

12. Q. Do you look upon all Godfathers and Godmothers to be obliged to see that those for whom they answer be first duly instructed in the principles of their religion, and then brought to the bishop to be confirmed by him?+

A. They are certainly obliged, as far as a solemn promise made in the presence of God, and in a matter not only lawful but pious and charitable, can oblige them. Nor can I imagine how any one who has taken such an obligation upon himself will ever be able to answer it, either to God or his own conscience, if he shall neglect to fulfil what he undertook to do in that behalf.

13. Q. What think you of those who come to the + See above, Sect ii. Q. 5, &c.

Lord's Supper, without being either confirmed, or having any desire or intention to be confirmed?

A. They are doubtless to be blamed; inasmuch as thereby they not only break the orders, and disobey the command of the church, which for such good reasons as we have seen, requires them to be confirmed; but seem ashamed to own their Christian profession, and to despise the prayers of their bishop for such graces as they certainly ought to desire, and cannot reasonably hope by any more effectual means to obtain of God, than by a pious and reverend participation of this holy ordinance.

14. Q. May not the grace of God be obtained as well by our own prayers, as by the bishop's imposition of hands upon us?

A. That is not the question: we know that God has promised his Holy Spirit to every one who faithfully prays for him. But the question is this: first, whether if a man may obtain this grace by his own. prayers alone, he may not expect more certainly to do it by adding the joint prayers of the bishop and the church to them; and, secondly, whether he who carelessly neglects, or presumptuously despises the orders of the church, and the pious provision made by her, for all her members, at their first setting out into the dangers and temptations of the world; may not justly fear, lest God should refuse that grace to his own solitary prayers, for which he neglected or despised the prayers of the bishop and the church on his behalf.

15. Q. What is required of persons to be confirmed?

A. First, that they be of years of discretion; that

is to say, of a capacity to understand the nature of their baptismal covenant; what God therein promises to us, and what we are thereby obliged to believe and do, in obedience to his will. Secondly, that they be not only capable of this knowledge, but be actually instructed in these things. Thirdly, that being hereby brought to a clear sense of what was done for them by their Godfathers and Godmothers at their baptism; they be now ready and desirous in their own persons to ratify and confirm the same. And, lastly, that in testimony of their sincere resolutions to make good what they here promise and vow, they do now truly repent of all their sins, and stedfastly resolve, by the grace of God, to go on in a constant obedience to God's commands unto their lives' end.

16. Q. At what times ought such persons to be confirmed?

A. At such times as the bishop appoints for this purpose. Only, if it be possible, they should endeavour to be confirmed, and thereby fully take upon themselves the first sacrament before they proceed to the participation of the second.

17. Q. How often ought any Christian to be confirmed?

A. The nature of the office plainly shews it. Confirmation, as it is understood and practised by us, is nothing else but a solemn ratification of our baptismal covenant. Now, no man ought to be baptized more than once: nor will he therefore need any more than once to take that covenant upon himself. If after this he shall fall into any sins, whereby to put himself out of a state of grace; or even to be cut

off from the communion of the church; there are other means of restoring him again to both, upon his sincere repentance, for what he has done amiss. But our baptism must not be repeated; nor will our confirmation therefore need to be repeated by

us.

PRAYERS.

A FORM OF MORNING PRAYER, FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES.

As soon as the Family can be called together (and the sooner it be done the better,) let the Master of the House, or some other person appointed by him,

First, Read the Psalms in order for the Day:

Then a Chapter out of the New Testament, beginning with St. Matthew's Gospel, and so continuing on every day, in order, to the end of the Acts of the Apostles.

After which, let all kneel down, and let the Master of the Family, if he be able, go to Prayers with them in the following manner.

PREVENT US, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name; and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I.

We bless and praise thy holy name, O heavenly Father, that thou hast been graciously pleased to keep and preserve us this night past; † to refresh us

If any thing has happened to disturb it, this clause must be

omitted.

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