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Dedication of Children.

Mark x. 13-16.

ND they brought young children to him, that he shoud touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when JESUS saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them,

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of GOD. Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of GOD as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

¶ To the Parents.

Y DEAR FRIENDS: Though we cannot now come

Mine the visible presence of the SAVIOUR, the loving

heart that welcomed little children with a benediction, is the same to-day, yesterday, and for ever. And if he will surely be in the midst when two or three disciples are assembled in his name, we may not doubt his special favor when we commend little children to his heavenly blessing.

The Minister, taking the child in his arms if convenient, and using water if requested, or simply laying his hand upon the child, will announce the name, and say,

No

OW, in the morning of life, [by baptism] I solemnly dedicate thee to the remembrance and worship of GOD our Father, in the name of Christ our Redeemer, and of the Holy Spirit of Truth.

The LORD deliver thee in the day of temptation, and quicken thee to delight in His law. The LORD be thy comforter in the sorrows of the life that now is, thy light in the dark valley, and thine exceeding joy in the life that is to come.

In the prayer following, the Minister will make the requisite change if the child be a female, or if there be more than one.

FATHER

THER ALMIGHTY, who dost claim children as Thy heritage, and hast declared in Thy holy word that of such is the kingdom of heaven: How great, O LORD, is Thy goodness toward us, even when we know Thee not! With what marvellous tokens of Thy tenderness dost Thou crown our earliest days and years!

In the full assurance of hope we commend this child Thy faithfulness and love; yet the yearnings of the heart go forth in prayer, when we consider the evils which are abroad in the earth.

Let Thy fatherly hand be over this helpless one, that he may enjoy the blessing of those who seek Thee early and find Thee truly. May he be trained into remembrance of Thee in the days of his youth; and grant, O merciful Helper, that he may be enabled so to endure in the midst of temptation, as to receive the crown of life which Thou hast promised unto all who love Thee.

Endue these parents, O LORD, with wisdom from above, that they may faithfully fulfil the vows of this solemn hour. Continually renew the thought, that they have offered at Thine altar, in devout dedication to Thee, the cherished gift of Thy goodness to them; and inspire them, we beseech Thee, with a living sense of duty, that this child may ever bless them for early reverence of Thy holy name.

¶ Benediction:

THE LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make

gracious unto you: The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace, for evermore.

Amen.

[If a child be dangerously ill, and the parents shall request the rite of Dedication or Baptism, the following formula may be used:

NOW, in the morning of thy life, and while the shadow of a cloud is upon thee, [by baptism] I solemnly dedicate thee to GoD our Father, in the name of Christ

VER-LIVING FATHER, with whom are the issues

is known what a day or an hour may bring forth: Only unto Thee is known the sorrow of a stricken heart, in the perishing of a cherished hope.

If it may be, O our GOD, grant recovery to this child, and ever have him in Thy merciful keeping, that he may glorify Thy name by a righteous and peaceful life. If it be possible, let the cup of bitterness be taken away from pleading lips: Nevertheless, not our will, but Thy will, be done.

Thou doest all things well. Whatever of woe shall come to us from Thy fatherly hand, enable us to bow in the submissive prayer, Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight.

GOD of Hope: Increase our faith, that we may freely trust Thee where we cannot fully trace Thee; and of Thy great mercy bring us at last into the blessed land, where sorrow and sighing shall be known no more. Benediction, as at the close of the preceding formula.

Christian Fellowship.

Children and youth, and all other persons, should be instructed in the principles of Christianity, and, if found worthy, encouraged to make open profession of the Christian Faith.

A Hymn. After which,

DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN: The spirit of

prophecy, in foreshowing a time of refreshing from above, declared that "in those days the children of Israel shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant which shall not be for gotten."

And it was announced, as the manner and form of

LORD's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel." A nobler and loftier name than that of Jacob or Israel, has been proclaimed among the nations. It is the name of JESUS. In that redeeming name every knoe shall yet bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord of All, to the glory of God the Father.

Blessed are they who have so entered into the spirit of this great truth, as devoutly to surname themselves by the name of CHRIST.

How becoming it is when even children greet the Messiah in the temple-cry, Hosanna in the highest! How worthily may the generous sentiments of youth be dedicated to remembrance of the Son of Man!

How greatly is manhood ennobled by avowal of the Lame and religion of the Lord of Life!

How befitting it is that the weary pilgrim, bowed in the evening of years, and going down into the valley, should call upon the name of the Victor of Death!

By believing in him-rather, by believing with him, by believing in GOD our Father as Christ believed and taught we come into the kingdom of heaven. Entering by the DOOR, we find the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE; and through the Faith, Hope and Charity of the New Covenant, we enter into the promised rest.

To the Candidates.

MY DEAR FRIENDS: You have come hither, in the

fear of the LORD, I trust, and with a conscience void of offence toward both GOD and man, desiring to receive the fellowship of the Christian Church.

We have assurance that you are worthy of personal sympathy and friendship; yet the question put by the blessed Saviour to his disciples in the time of his humiliation, may properly be put to you, now in the day

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Saviour of the world.

Upon this rock, saith the Messiah, will I build my Church. The truth you have avowed is the chief cornerstone of our holy religion; and other foundation can no man lay. This, indeed, is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith; for who is he that overcometh the world, but he who believeth that JESUS is the Son of God?

Do you also make open acknowledgment of your obligation and desire to lead a truly Christian life? Answer: I DO.

Then surely you are entitled to the Christian name, and worthy the fellowship of the Christian Church.

It is nevertheless true, in a most solemn sense, that "if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." And forasmuch as we should ever be sensible of our infirmities, and incline our hearts to the merciful Helper, it is seemly and needful that we invoke a blessing.

[LET US PRAY.]

GOD OVER ALL, blessed for ever, in whose presence,

is fulness of joy: Grant us Thy continual help, that we who approach Thee in the name of Thy be loved Son, may know him to be the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. Draw us to Thyself, O LORD, by Thine own good spirit, that our souls may evermore re joice in the light and the blessing of Thy fatherly love. All unite in the Lord's Prayer.

OUR FATHER who art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and