Let no minister, that is therein unsatisfied, be forced against his judgment, to baptize the child of open atheists, idolaters, or infidels, or that are unbaptized themselves, or of such as do not competently understand the essentials of christianity, (what it is to be a christian,) and the essentials of baptism; nor of such as never, since they were baptized, did personally own their baptismal covenant, by a credible profession of faith and obedience, received and approved by some pastor of the church, as before confirmation is required, and in his Majesty's Declaration. Nor yet the child of parents justly excommunicate, or that live in any notorious, scandalous sin, or have lately committed such a sin, (as if the child be gotten in adultery or fornication,) and being justly convicted of it, refuseth penitently to confess it, and promise reformation. But if either of the parents be duly qualified, and present the child to be baptized, (or another for them in case they cannot be present,) the child is to be received unto baptism.
And if both the natural parents are infidels, excommunicate, or otherwise unqualified, yet if any become the pro-parents and owners of the child, and undertake to educate it in the faith of Christ, and fear of God, and so present it to be baptized, let it be done by a minister whose judgment doth approve it, but let no minister be forced to it against his judgment. Let the parents or owners come to the minister at some convenient time the week before, and acquaint him when they intend to offer their child to baptism, and give an account of their foresaid capacity, and receive his further ministerial assistance for the fuller understanding of the use and benefits of the sacrament, and their own duty. The font is to be placed to the greatest conveniency of the minister and people. The child or children being there presented, the minister may begin with this or the like speech directed to the parent or parents that present it.
That you may perform this service to God with understanding, you must know, that God having made man in his own image, to love and serve him, our first parents wilfully corrupted themselves by sin, and became the children of death, and the captives of Satan, who had overcome them by his temptation. And as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all, for that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. We are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath; for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? By the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation. But the infinite wisdom and love of the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt on earth, and overcame the devil and the world; fulfilled all righteousness, and suffered for our sins upon the cross, and rose again, and reigneth in glory, and will come again, and judge the world in righteousness. In him God hath made and offered to the world a covenant of grace, and in it the pardon of sin to all true penitent believers, and power to be the sons of God and heirs of heaven. This covenant is extended to the seed also of the faithful, to give them the benefits suitable to their age, the parents dedicating them unto God, and entering them into the covenant, and so God in Christ will be their God, and number them with his people.