But this happy faith of their hearts has never been publicly professed before men.  And yet the word of God demands not only faith in the heart, but also confession by the lips.  Rom. x. 9-10:  “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Jesus also says, Matt. x. 32:  “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

And should any one be ashamed of this public profession and refuse to make it, Jesus clearly tells such an one that of him He also will be ashamed in the judgment day.  The Bible nowhere recognizes a secret discipleship.  There are no promises to him who does not confess.

If our catechumens would therefore still follow God’s Way of Salvation he must now also take this step, and publicly confess Jesus as his Lord and Redeemer and himself as His disciple.  And for this there is no time so appropriate as when he desires to be numbered among the communicants of the congregation and participate with them in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

For this also our Church has made fitting arrangement.  It is done at, or is rather a part of, the impressive ceremony of confirmation.  Who has not witnessed this beautiful and touching rite?  And what could be more interesting or impressive than to see a company of young hearts encircling the altar of Christ, confessing their faith, and bowing the knee to their Saviour amid the prayers and benedictions of the Church?  This is confirmation.

The catechumen has been examined by the pastor as to his fitness for this important step.  The pastor has found that he possesses an intelligent understanding of the doctrines taught in the Catechism, and that the experience of his heart bears witness to their truth and power.  On this account he is adjudged as fit and well prepared to be admitted to the holy communion.  He now comes of his own accord—­not because he is old enough, or knows enough, or because father, mother, or pastor wants him to—­before the altar of Christ.  There, in the presence of the assembled congregation and the all-seeing God, his lips confess the faith of his heart, the faith into which he was baptized as a child:  He now voluntarily takes upon himself the vows and promises that parents or sponsors took for him at baptism.  He receives an earnest admonition from his pastor to hold fast that which he has and be faithful unto death.  The whole congregation, together with the pastor, lift their hearts in earnest intercessory prayer to God for His continuous blessing and protection on the young confessor; and, the catechumen kneeling at the altar, the pastor directs the intercessions of the Church to each kneeling one in turn, by laying his hands on him and offering up for him a fervent petition in inspired words.