Page 128 of A Most Beloved Sister
“All this I steadfastly believe.” As Elizabeth spoke these words, she felt their weight in answering on behalf of the baby.
“‘Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?’”
“That is my desire.”
“‘Wilt thou then obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?’”
“I will.”
As Dr. Fields spoke the next words, Elizabeth pondered on all that had been promised. Realizing it wasn’t the time, she vowed she would think on whether she had been keeping God’s will and commandments in her life.
“‘O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this Child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in him. Amen.
“‘Grant that all carnal affections may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.
“‘Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen.
“‘Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.
“‘Almighty everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out of his most precious side both water and blood; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Regard, we beseech thee, the supplications of thy congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin; and grant that this Child, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’”
After gently removing his finger from Emma Jane’s grip, Dr. Fields took her in his arms. Looking at Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet, and Bingley, he said, “Name this child.”
“Emma Jane Louise Hurst,” the three godparents said in unison.
Having spoken to Dr. Carson and Mr. Jones in advance to assure himself that Emma Jane was healthy enough to withstand it, Dr. Fields gently dipped her into the water of the font until she was entirely submerged for a brief moment. As he did so, he said, “I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
“Amen,” came the murmurs from the church occupants, but they were scarcely heard over the baby’s wails of protest from having been placed in the cold water.
“We receive this Child into the congregation of Christ’s flock, and do sign her with the sign of the Cross,” Dr. Fields said loudly over the sobs as he made the sign of the cross on Emma Jane’s forehead, “in token that hereafter she shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under His banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto her life’s end. Amen.”
He bounced her gently up and down to calm her, while loudly saying, “Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that this Child is regenerate, and grafted into the body of Christ’s Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that this Child may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning.”
At this point, everyone knelt and recited the Lord’s prayer together. Afterwards, Dr. Fields continued the prayer by saying:
“‘We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin;and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ our Lord. Amen.’”
Everyone rose to their feet, and Dr. Fields turned his attention once more to Elizabeth and her two fellow godparents, telling them:
“‘Forasmuch as this Child hath promised by you her sureties to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve Him: ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as she shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, she hath here made by you. And that she may know these things the better, ye shall call upon her to hear Sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide, that she may learn the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to her soul’s health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life; remembering always, that Baptism doth represent unto us our profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto Him; that, as He died, and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.
“‘Ye are to take care that this Child be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him, so soon as she can say the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and be further instructed in the Church-Catechism set forth for that purpose.’”
With that, the ceremonies were complete, and Emma Jane was returned to her mother to be changed into dry clothes and comforted, then fed by the wet nurse.
For her part, Elizabeth was left with much to ponder, both in her new responsibilities as godparent, as well as those she had received when she herself had been baptized.
Was she truly doing all she could?
It was a question that would follow her throughout her life.
Chapter 35
The remaining two months of mourning that followed Emma Jane’s baptism and Louisa’s churching dragged on endlessly for Elizabeth. With Lydia’s departure to an extremely strict boarding school in the remote north, as well as Kitty’s removal to Brighton, Netherfield felt lonely and empty once again.
Although she was spending much of her days with Georgiana and Louisa—and of course, Emma Jane was learning new skills every day—Elizabeth still had quite a lot of time to yearn for Darcy’s company and wish she could be in discussions with him.
As a result, she wrote long letters to him almost daily, filled with her innermost thoughts, childhood memories, and hopes for the future. His, in turn, introduced her to the new home they would share together.
