The person to be baptized having answered these questions in the affirmative, the Minister shall then baptize him by immersion or sprinkling, saying,

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

If the person baptized is to join the church, the Minister shall then say, the congregation rising,—

We then receive you gladly into our number; we welcome you to the communion of Christian hearts; we earnestly desire to sympathize with you, and will endeavor to watch over and support you, in the trials of life and the work of duty. And we engage to unite with you in the diligent use of all Christian ordinances, and to yield obedience to all truth which shall be made known to us as our duty, the Lord assisting us by his spirit and grace. And may God our Father grant that this union, formed on earth, may be continued in heaven, and fit us for the fellowship of the saints in light. Amen.

A prayer and hymn may follow this service.

NOTE.

- This service, omitting the baptismal form, may also be used for admitting members into the church.

MATRIMONY.

When the parties to be married and their friends are assembled, the Minister shall say,

MY FRIENDS, We are met together, in the sight of God and of these brethren, to join this man and this woman in marriage, which is a union appointed by God when he created man male and female, saying, It is not good for the man to be alone; laying its foundation deep in mutual adaptations of mind, heart, and character. It is a union hallowed by Jesus, not only by his presence and first miracle at Cana, but also by the constant influence of his religion, which purifies, elevates, and increases all its joys.

And therefore, since the Gospel makes the earthly union the means of a heavenly one, since it changes the water of life into wine, and makes the temporal tie the means of an eternal growth, progress, and joy, let us pray together for these our friends, asking that Christ may again be present as a guest at this marriage, and that they may be made by him meet helpers to each other in all things.

The Minister may then pray; and afterwards he shall cause the man to take the right hand of the woman in his own right hand. Then shall the Minister say to the man,

Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

The man shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Minister say to the woman,

Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

The woman shall answer,·

I will.

The Minister shall then offer a prayer, and afterward say,

Forasmuch as

and

have consented

together in marriage, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, declaring their purpose by joining of hands, I pronounce them to be man and wife; and whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

He shall then add this blessing: —

And now may the Lord God Almighty bless, preserve, and keep you. The Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and give you peace, now and for ever. Amen.

The following hymn may be sung by the friends before the benediction:

MARRIAGE HYMN. L. M.

(Altered from the "Book of Hymns.")
For this new tie we bless thee, Lord!
To these dear friends in mercy given;
For hearts, thus joined in one accord,
New bliss for earth, new hope for heaven.

Whene'er they tread on danger's height,
Or walk temptation's slippery way,
Be still, to lead their souls aright,

Thy word their guide, thine arm their stay!

Be theirs thy blessed presence still,
United hearts, unchanging love,
No thought that contradicts thy will,
No wish that centres not above!

And since they must be parted here,
Support them when the hour shall come,
Dry gently thou the mourner's tear,
Rejoin them in their heavenly home.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S

SUPPER.*

INTRODUCTORY SENTENCES.

CHRIST, Our Passover, is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only

* We strongly recommend, that, instead of the more usual practice of administering the Lord's Supper at the close of the morning's service, a special meeting be held for this purpose on Sunday afternoon, wherever it be practicable. This custom, which has been adopted by some of our churches, has been found to possess several advantages. The mind is not fatigued by a previous service; there is no necessity for hurrying through the service for want of time; and, as those only are present who either intend to commune or to remain as sympathizing witnesses, the disagreeable sight of a retreating congregation is avoided. We may also be allowed to recommend, from our own experience, that the hymns be sung by the communicants themselves, and not by a choir; and that the communicants take their places together, near the table. If the Communion be thus made an occasion by itself, this service will probably not be found too long; otherwise, a part may be omitted, at the discretion of the Minister.