NOW unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

¶ Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible Church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to Him. Larger Catechism, 166.

THE ORDER FOR

THE CONFIRMATION OF BAPTISMAL

VOWS

AND

RECEPTION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER.

¶ At the time appointed, the Minister shall say,

THESE Persons now to be named, who are baptized children of the Church, have been examined, and approved by the Session as to their knowledge and piety, and now present themselves publicly to confirm the vows made for them in Baptism.

The Minister shall then read their names, and they will come forward, and stand before him.

¶ Then addressing them, the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved, in your Baptism you received the sign and seal of your engrafting into Christ, and were solemnly engaged to be the Lord's. And forasmuch as you now desire to confirm the covenant then made in your behalf, and to obey His commandment by confessing Him before men, you are to make answer faithfully to the following Questions.

Question. Do you here, in the presence of God and this congregation, confess Christ as your Lord, and adhere to that Christian faith wherein you were baptized ?

Answer.

I do.

Question. Do you ratify and confirm the vows of your Baptism, and promise with God's help to serve

Answer.

the Lord, and keep His commandments all the days of your life?

I do.

Here, if any Adults have been baptized at the same Service, the Minister shall address the following Question to them as well as to those who were baptized in infancy, and they shall be included in the following parts of this Order.

Question. Now desiring to be received to the Lord's Supper, do you promise to make diligent use of the means of grace, submitting yourself to the lawful authority and guidance of the Church, and continuing in the peace and fellowship of the people of God?

Then the Minister (laying his hand, if such be his discretion, upon the head of every one in order kneeling before him) shall say,

DEFEND, O Lord, this Thy Child with Thy heavenly grace; that he may continue Thine for ever; and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto Thy everlasting kingdom.

Amen.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, we give Thee hearty thanks and praise that Thou hast not withheld Thy loving kindness from these Thy servants, but hast given them shelter within the covenant of Thy peace, and makest them to sit down at Thy Table. We entreat Thee of Thy great mercy to perfect in them the good work Thou hast begun; that they, being defended by Thy fatherly hand, and strengthened with power through Thy Spirit in the inward man, may be enabled to keep this covenant without spot, unrebukable, until the day of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

NOW unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Savfour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Åmen.

¶ Children born within the pale of the visible Church, and dedicated to God in Baptism, are under the inspection and government of the Church; and are to be taught to read and repeat the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord's body, they ought to be informed it is their duty and privilege to come to the Lord's Supper. — Directory for Worship, Chap. x, § 1.

The years of discretion in young Christians cannot be precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the eldership. The Officers of the church are the judges of the qualifications of those to be admitted to sealing ordinances, and of the time when it is proper to admit young Christians to them. Directory for Worship, Chap. x, § 2.

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A public Service for the reception of baptized persons to the Communion is not to be regarded as a part of either Sacrament, nor as an invariable condition of their admission to the Lord's Supper, but simply as a method advisable in ordinary cases; the occasions when it may be necessary or proper to use some other method being left to the prudence and judgment of the Officers of the church.

AN ORDER FOR

THE RECEPTION OF COMMUNICANTS

FROM OTHER CHURCHES.

¶ This Order may be used after the close of the two Services immediately preceding, or at a Service preparatory to the Communion.

If Communicants are received from other Churches, the Minister may read their names, and, bidding them rise, may address them, saying:

DEARLY beloved, Having before made public confes

sion of your faith in Christ, and having voluntarily transferred to this church your covenant relation of membership; you now promise to wait diligently upon its ordinances, to study its peace and prosperity, and to yield becoming submission to its government and discipline.

¶ Then the Minister may bid all the Members of the church to rise, and speaking for them, he shall say,

IN the Name of the Lord Jesus, we, the Officers and Members of this church, bid you welcome to its fellowship and to its covenant privileges. We promise to watch over you and seek your welfare in the Lord. And we pray

God that all of us, being united in the faith, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.