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Riper Years.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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In one of the offices for baptism, this phrase is used to designate those who are beyond the age of children and "able to answer for themselves." This definition is not only that given by the Church, but is implied in the words themselves, which embrace both adults and those in age between the latter and children. In the ordinal this and kindred terms are used, as in the exhortation of priests, "that by daily reading and weighing the Scriptures ye may wax riper and stronger in your ministry."