We pray thee, O Lord, let every airy and invisible spectre withdraw itself from us, and let not a demon of darkness conceal himself in this water, neither let an evil spirit, bringing obscurity of purpose and rebellious thoughts, descend thereinto with him that is to be baptized. But thou, O Master of all, declare this water water of redemption, water of sanctification, a cleansing of flesh and spirit, a loosing of bonds, a forgiveness of iniquities, an illumination of soul, a bath of regeneration, a renewal of the spirit, a gift of sonship, a garment of incorruption, a fountain of life. For thou hast said, O Lord, Wash you, and be ye clean, put away evil from your souls. Thou hast bestowed upon us regeneration from on high by water and the spirit. Manifest thyself, O Lord, in this water, and grant that he that is to be baptized may be transformed therein to the putting away of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and to the putting on of the new, which is renewed according to the image of him that created him, that, being planted in the likeness of thy death through baptism, he may become a sharer of resurrection; and, preserving the gift of thy Holy Ghost, and increasing the deposit of grace, he may attain unto the prize of his high calling, and be counted among the number of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, to thee our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might, together with thine unbeginning Father, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen. Peace to all. Bow your heads to the Lord. _And he breatheth thrice upon the cruet of oil, and signeth this thrice, while it is held by the deacon, who saith,_ Let us pray to the Lord. _And the priest saith the prayer._ Master, Lord, O God of our fathers, who didst send to them that were in the ark of Noe a dove bearing a twig of olive in its mouth as a sign of reconciliation and salvation from the flood, and by the same didst fore-image the mystery of grace, and who hast provided the fruit of the olive for the completion of thy holy mysteries, and thereby hast filled them that were under the law with the Holy Ghost, and perfected them that are under grace; do thou thyself bless this oil by the might, and operation, and descent of thy Holy Ghost, that it may become an anointing of incorruption, a shield of righteousness, a renewal of soul and body, an averting of every diabolical operation, to the removal of all evils from them that are anointed with it in faith, or that are partakers of it to thy glory, and to that of thine only-begotten Son, and of thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. _Choir._ Amen. _Deacon._ Let us attend. _And the priest, singing Alleluia thrice with the people, maketh three crosses with the oil upon the water._ _Then he exclaimeth,_