M. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gra The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace! C. In the name of Jesus, Amen. BAPTISM OF ADULTS FROM THE HEATHEN. UR Lord Jesus Christ, Min. Cong. Be gracious unto us! M. By thy divine presence, C. Bless us, gracious Lord and God! M. By all the merits of thy holy humanity, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection, C. Bless us, gracious Lord and God! T. 22. C. Lord Jesus Christ, all praise to thee! And for each soul which thou hast made T. 132. a. O Jesus Christ, thou Son belov'd By whom all enmity's remov'd, And all the lost find succor; Thou slaughter'd Lamb, our God and Lord, And on us all have mercy! T. 127. O Lamb of God unspotted,--Our crucified Saviour, Who hast to shame submitted,-With patient meek behavior; T. 30. Lift up thy pierc'd hands, O dearest Saviour, Now pour out on him (them) that grace and favor, Which in thy loving-And kind heart for him is ever moving. (After these or other verses suited to this transaction have been sung, and a short discourse delivered concerning the aim of baptism, and the grace imparted by it to those who receive it, the minister shall put the following questions to the candidate : M. Dost thou believe, that thou art a sinful creature, and dost, on account of thy sins, deserve the wrath of God, and eternal punishment? Answer. I do believe it. M. Dost thou believe, that Jesús Christ became a man for us, and by his innocent life, sufferings, blood-shedding, and death, reconciled us poor sinful creatures to God? Answer. I verily believe it. M. Dost thou believe, that he hath purchased for thee by his blood and death, remission of sins, life and happiness? Answer. I verily believe it. M. Wilt thou in this faith be baptized into the death of Jesus, and be washed from thy sins in his blood? Answer. That is my sincere desire. M. Dost thou also desire to be delivered from the power of sin and of Satan, and to be received into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and of those who believe in him? Answer. That is my sincere desire, and I renounce the devil and all his works and ways. T. 22. C. Soul, body, spirit, Lord! are thine, O take him, as thy property, (During this verse the candidate for baptism kneels down, and the minister prays that he may be cleansed from all his sins in the blood of Christ; delivered from guilt and punishment, and from the dominion of sin and Satan; buried by baptism into the death of Jesus, and raised together with him unto newness of life, and thus, together with all Believers, received into and made a partaker of the fellowship of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.) T. 75. C. Thro' thy atoning blood, That precious healing flood, Lord, hear thou his confession, OR, T. 22. C. The water flowing from thy side, Which by the spear was open'd wide, (After singing one of these, or any other suitable verses, follows the baptism :) d M. I baptize thee N. N. into the death of Jesus, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; C. Amen. M. Now art thou buried with Christ, by baptism, into his death; therefore, from henceforth live, yet not thou, but Christ live in thee! And the life which thou now livest in the flesh, live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved thee, and gave himself for thee, T. 14. a. C. With awe and heartfelt thankfulness, Him in the dust adore ;* He who hath look'd on thee in grace, Hath bliss for thee in store. * During these words the Congregation kneels down, and the person baptized falls prostrate, during which some more verses may be sung, for instance: T. 22. a. C. May Christ thee sanctify and bless, His Spirit's seal on thee impress; OR, T. 22. C. The Saviour's blood and righteousness, Thus well array'd thou need'st not fear, OR, T. 79. p. 2. C. His death and passion ever, Shall in thy heart engrav'd remain. T. 22. ALL. All pow'r and glory doth pertain Unto the Lamb, for he was slain, And hath redeem'd us by his blood,* And made us kings and priests to God, *At these words the Congregation rises, and the minister pronounces the blessing of the Lord: M. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace! C. In the name of Jesus, Amen. T. 11. a. C. Praise on earth to thee be giv❜n, Never ceasing praise in heav'n; NOTE. IN Of the Holy Communion. 'N the church of the United Brethren there is no prescribed form of words used at the administration of the Holy Communion. The service is opened by singing verses expressive of a penitent, contrite heart, after which a prayer for absolution is offered up. The Congregation rising, a verse is sung and the bread is consecrated by pronouncing the words of Institution, thus: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me." The blessed bread is then distributed by the Minister and his assistants, to each communicant, during the singing of hymns, treating principally of the sufferings and death of our Lord: After all the communicants have received the bread, the Minister repeats the words: Take eat, this is the Lord's body given for you: The congregation partake altogether at the same time, kneeling, either in silence, or while a verse is sung, expressive of the solemn act. The congregation rising, verses of thanksgiving are sung, after which the Minister consecrates the wine, by pronouncing the words: After the same manner also, our Lord Jesus Christ took the cup, when he had supped, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: this is my blood, the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” The Minister then partaking of the blessed cup, delivers it to his assistants, by whom it is administered to the congregation; during which hymns are sung treating of the remission of sins in the blood of Jesus and its healing and sanctifying power. The service is closed with such hymns as treat of brotherly love, com munion with Christ, and thankfulness for his incarnation and death. DOXOLOGIES. To be used at Ordinations. NOTE. THE service being opened by the singing of the Veni, Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Ghost, come Lord our God!) or some other suitable hymn, the Bishop addresses the congregation in an appropriate discourse, ending with a charge to the candidate (or candidates) for ordination, after which he offers up a prayer, imploring the blessing of God upon the solemn transaction and commending the candidate (or candidates) to his grace, that he may be endowed with power and unction and the influences of the Holy Ghost for preaching the word of God, administering the Holy Sacraments, and for doing all those things, which shall be committed unto him, for the promotion of the spiritual edification of the Church: The Bishop then proceeds to ordain the candidate (or candidates) with imposition of hands, pronouncing the following, or similar words; I ordain (consecrate) thee N: N: to be a Deacon (Presbyter) (Bishop) of the Church of the United Brethren, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: And may the Lord bless thee, and keep thee! The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee! The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace! In the name of Jesus, Amen. [N. B. At the consecration of Bishops, three, or at least two, Bishops are required to assist; and the words used are such as particularly refer to the charge committed to them in the Church.] The Bishop having returned to his place, kneels down with the whole Congregation, all worshipping in silent devotion, while the following Doxologies are sung in a solemn manner by the Choir, the Congregation joining in the Amen, Hallelujah! The service is concluded with a short hymn and the Bishop pronouncing the Blessing. |