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                                                                      153							143
                                                                      
                                                                      	blessed if only its Father believe and pray for it;  more
                                                                      blessed if its Father and Mother Pray:  more ble[o]st if
                                                                      also its Sponsors pray:  more if the Minister who baptized
                                                                      it Pray:  and more if any one - and more in proportion as
                                                                      more, of the witnessing congregation, pray:
	x.  It is called heresy by the Bp. of Exeter to suppose              But if None of them either Pray or believe:  If neither
the Efficacy of the Sacrament dependent on the faith in               Parents nor Sponsors nor Ministers nor Congregation be-
 which it is received Is it so also in the other sacra-               lieve in God:  or expect or desire a blessing:  If the
ment?  and is that efficiently received by those who                  minister have come to baptise the child because he has
therein do not discern the Lord’s body.                               500 a year to baptise the children of the Parish:  and
                                                                      the Parents have come to present their child because in
                                                                      Baptism their Child is to get it[n]s name, and the Congregatio[n]
                                                                      	have remained to see the Baptism in order to hear what
                                                                      the name is to be:  and the  the act which they conjointly
                                                                      perform is no Baptism;  neither is any blessing:  even the
                                                                      smallest therewith conferred  x.
                                                                      If now it be asked what is the lowest measure of Blessing
                                                                      which can be bestowed - I defer the answer till we en-
                                                                      quire whether nature, the Blessing promised really is.
                                                                       So then, do I make the Rite itself, and the Obedience to
                                                                      Christ’s command of no effect?
                                                                      Not so:   Let us first note this general principle.  Every
                                                                      command of God is to be obeyed both in the Letter
                                                                      and in the Spirit;  where there are consistent with each
                                                                      other;  where accidental circumstances render them

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[Version 0.05: May 2008]