The Radical Reformation Tradition: Anabaptists, English Separatists ...

92 Divergent RiversWith these words the applicants are requested to come before the ministers andwhen they have fallen on their knees the story ofPhilip and the Ethiopian eunuchis told them, how he was reading the prophet Isaiah but did not understand it andhow then Philip preached the Gospel to him, so that he desired to be baptized, andPhilip baptized hirn. Then the applicant for baptism is asked: Do you believe fromyour whole heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God ? Answer, yes. Do you believethat God has raised hirn from the dead, and are you willing to be obedient lo Godand the Church, whether to live or to die? Answer, Yes.When then the head has been uncovered, whether young man or young woman,the bi shop places his hands on the head and a fully ordained deacon pours wateron his hands, whereupon the bishop calls hirn by name and says: 'On thisconfession of faith which thou hast confessed, thou art baptized in the name ofGod the Father and the son and the Holy Ghost'. Then the bi shop gives hirn hishand and raises him up, pronounces peace and says: 'The Lord continue the goodwork which he hath begun in you and complete it unto a blessed end through JesusChrist' . He then dismisses hirn in the name of God.If no fully ordained deacon i8 present, another minister i8 permitted to pour thewater into the hands of the bishop.29Another manuscript 'Minister's Manual', which is undated, but perhaps also lateeighteenth century, notes that instruction takes place, and describes the ritual ofbaptism as folIows:When the usual chapters have been read and explained with still other fitting wordsand speeches then one speaks at last of Philip and the official from Ethiopia outof the eighth chapter of Acts. Afterwards one presents the articles of faith to theapplicants, not entirely according to the written letter indeed, but one explainsthem a Iittle more briefly, otherwise it lasts aItogether too long.Afterward when everything has been presented fully and completely then asalready mentioned above they are asked what then belongs to a true Christian faithwhereupon the ans wer is to be, Baptism and Communion. Then one teils them tokneel down in the name of God. In all such cases of kneeling it i5 fitting that thebishop should say, 'This knee\ing is not to be before me but before the all-highesland all-knowing God and his church.' Then they are asked, 'You also believe thenthat Jesus is the Son of God who has come into the world to save repentantsinners?' Whereupon the ans wer is, 'Yes'. Then baptism is adrnillistered accordingto the commandment of the GospeLWhen the ceremony of baptism is ended, then one extends his hand to oneapplicant after the other, raises them up and says, 'May the dear God who hasbegun this good work in you also help to complete it in you and to strengthen andcomfort you therein to a blessed end, through Jesus Christ, Amen.' Also I do notconsider it unfiUing to give them the kiss [of fellowship] and to wish thempeace. 3029 Ibid., p. 143.30 lohn Umble, 'An Amish Minister's Manual', The Mennonite Quarterly 15 (1941), 95-117,106-m.