Q. From whence does it appear, that fuch an Impofition of Hands was Reasonable to have been Ordain'd, and to be Continued, in the Church?

A. From the Condition of those who are commonly Baptized among Us; and who being, for the most part, Infants, and fo constrain'd to make Ufe of Others to become Sureties for them at their Baptifm; it was certainly very Reasonable, that there fhould be fome Solemn Time appointed, when fuch Perfons (being come to Years of Difcretion) fhould Themselves Ratify their Baptifmal Covenant; and Acknowledge their Obligation to believe, and do, what their Godfathers, and Godmothers, had before promifed for them.

Q. What are the Benefits of this Inftitution, to those who are Confirmed?

A. Besides the Benefit of God's Grace, which we reasonably prefume to be hereby procured to fuch Perfons, by the Frayers of the Bishop, and Church, on their behalf, thefe Two Advantages do Evidently accrue to Them: That, Firft, They are, by this means, fecured of the Care of their Godfathers, and Godmothers, to fee that they be duly Inftructed in the Principles of their Chriftian Religion; and in which, were this Ordinance strictly obferved, they could not be deficient, without being certainly found out, and cenfured by the Church for their neglect. And, Secondly, That by being thus Solemnly called upon to Ratify their Baptifmal V'ow, and Covenant; They are engaged to begin betimes, both to Confider their Duty, and to apply themfelves to the ferious Difcharge of it.

Q. How does this Ordinance give a Satiffaction to the Church of Chrift, as to these Matters ?

A As, by this means, Care is taken to have all thefe Things Openly tranfacted before it. The Perfon, who perhaps was privately Baptized, being Now publickly Confirmed, in the Face of the Congregation. The Vow, which was made by Others in his Name; being here Solemnly Renew'd, and Ratified, by Himself. The Child, who was Baptized by fome Minister of an Inferior Order, being now Established in the Communion of the Church, by the Chief Paftor of it. And, laftly, The Godfathers, and Godmothers, who became Sureties, both for the Good Inftruction, and Education, of the Perfon, whom they Answer'd for; being hereby fully acquitted, and difcharged, of their Truft, and declared to have faithfully Fulfilled, what they had fo facredly Promifed, and Undertook to Do.

Q. Do you look upon all Godfathers, and Godmothers, to be Obliged to fee, that Thofe for whom they Anfwer, be firft duly Instructed in the Principles of their Religion, and then brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop?

A. They are certainly Obliged, as far as a Solemn Promife, made in the Prefence 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 fuch an Obligation upon Himself, will ever be Able to answer it, either to God, or his Own Confcience, if He fhall neglect to fulfil what He undertook in that behalf.

Q. What think you of Those who Come to the Lord's Supper, without either being Con

firmed,

firmed; or having any Defare, or Intention, to be Confirmed?

A. They are doubtless to be blamed: Inafmuch as thereby they not only break the Orders, and difobey the Command of the Church; which, for fuch Good Reasons as we have feen, Requires them to be Confirmed; but feem ashamed to Own their Chriftian Profeffion; and to despise the Prayers of their Bishop for fuch Graces, as they certainly ought to Defire; and cannot reafonably Hope, by any more effectual means, to obtain of God, than by a Pious, and Reverend Participation, of this Holy Ordinance.

Q. May not the Grace of God be Obtain❜d as well by our Own Prayers, as by the Bishop's Impofition 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 Queftion 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 Prayers of the Bishop, and the Church, to them? And, Secondly, Whether He who Carelefly Neglects, or Prefumptuously Defpifes the Orders of the Church; and the Pious Provision made by Her, for all Her Members, at their firft fetting out into the Dangers, and Temptations, of the World; may not justly fear, left God fhould Refufe that Grace to his Own Solitary Prayers, for which He Neglected, or Defpifed, the Prayers of the Bishop, and the Church, on his behalf?

2. What is Required of Perfons to be Confirmed?

4. First,

?

A. First, That they be of Years of Difcretion: That is to fay, Of a Capacity to underftand the Nature of their Baptifmal Covenant. What God therein Promifes 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 Inftructed in thefe Things. Thirdly, That being hereby brought to a Clear Senfe of what was done for them, by their Godfathers, and Godmothers, at their Baptifm; They be now Ready, and Defirous, in their Own Perfons, to Ratify, and Confirm the fame. And, laftly, That in Teftimony of their fincere Refolutions to make Good what they here Promife, and Vow, they do now truly Repent of All their Sins, and ftedfaftly Refolve, by the Grace of God, to Go on in a Conftant Obedience to God's Commands, unto their Lives End.

Q. At what Times ought fuch Perfons to be Confirmed?

A. At fuch Times as the Bishop appoints for this Purpose. Only, if it be possible, they fhould endeavour to be Confirmed, and thereby fully take upon themselves the First Sacrament; before they proceed to the Participation of the Second.

Q. How often ought any Christian to be Confirmed?

A. The Nature of the Office plainly fhews it. Confirmation, as it is understood, and practifed by Us, is nothing Elfe but a Solemn Ratification of our Baptifmal Covenant. Now no Man ought to be Baptized more than Once; Nor will He therefore need any more than Once,

to

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 Amifs. But our Baptism must not be Repeated; Nor will our Confirmation therefore need to be, any more, Repeated by Us.

FINIS.

ERRAT A.

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