The Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. 8. IKEWISE must the Deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy

L'

lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the Office of a Deacon, being found blame. less. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their Children and their own Houses well. For they that have used the Office of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Or else this, out of the sixth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts vi. 2.

THEN
THEN the Twelve called the multi-

But

tue of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the faith.

Then shall the Bishop examine every one of those who are to be Ordered, in the presence of the People, after this manner following:

Dmoved by the Holy Ghost to take O you trust that you are inwardly

upon you this Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people? Answer I trust so

The Bishop.

VILL you diligently read the same

Church where you shall be appointed to serve ?

Answe.. I will.

The Bishop.

app in the Church where he shall be appointed to serve, to assist the Priest in Divine service, and specially when he ministereth the Holy Communion, and to help him in the distribution thereof; and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church, and to instruct the Youth in the Catechism; in the absence of the Priest to baptize Infants, and to preach, if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop. And furthermore, it is his Office, where provision is so made, to search for the sick, poor, and impotent people of the Parish, to intimate their estates, names, and places where they dwell, unto the Curate, that by his exhortation they may be relieved with the alms of the Parishioners, or others: Will you do this gladly and willingly? Answer I will so do by the help of

appertaineth to the Office of a Dea.

God.

tions?

Answer I will endeavour so to de, the Lord being my helper

Then the Bishop, laying his hands sererally upon the Head of every one of them humbly kneeling before him, shall say,

Toice of a Deacon in the Church MAKE thou Authority to execute the

of God committed unto thee; In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen.

Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament, saying,

MAKE thou Authority to read the

to preach the same, if thou be thereto li censed by the Bishop himself.

Then one of them appointed by the
Bishop shall read

The Gospel. St. Luke xii. 35.

your lights burning, and ye your

selves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wed. ding that when he cometh and knock eth, they may open unto him immediate17. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you, That he shall gird himselt, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch or come in the third watch, and find them so. blessed are those servants.

Then shat the Bishop proceed in the Communion, and u who are Ordered. sha tarry, and receive the Holy Com munion the same day with the Bishop. The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediate y before the Benediction, shall he said is Collect fol ring:

ALMIGHTY God, River of all

things, who of hy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy Servants unto the Office of Deacons in thy Church; male them, we beseech thee, O Lord, to be modest, amble, and constant in their Ministration to have a ready will to observe a spiritual Disc pline; that they having ways the testimony of a good conscie e, and contin

uing ever stable and strong in thy Son

Christ, may so well behave themselves in this inferior Office, that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministries in thy Church, through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and honour, world without end. Amen.

THE peace of God, which passeth all

understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Chris: our Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father. the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always Amen

And here it must be declared unto the Deacon, that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole Year (except for reasonable Causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bish op) to the intent he may be perfect, and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical Administration; in executing whereof, if he he found faithful and diligent, he may be admit te by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood, at the times appointed in the Canon, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, in such manner and form as hereafter followeth

find not to the contrary. but that they are lawfully called to their Function and Ministry, and that they are persons meet for the same But yet if there be any of you. who knoweth any impediment or notable crime in any of them, for the which he ought not to be received into this holy Ministry, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impedimer is.

And if any great Crime or Impediment be objected. the Bishop shall cease from Ordering that Person, until such time as the Party accused shall he found clear of that Crime.

Then the Bishop (commending such as shall he found meet to be Ordered, to the Prayers of the Congregation) shall, with the Clergy and People present, say the Litany, with the Prayers as is hefore appointed in the Form of Ordering Deacons, save only. thut in the proper suffrage there added, the word Deacons shall be omitted, and the wori Priests inserted instead of it

Then shall he said the Service for the Communion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth,

The Collect.

Jesus unto them, but they understoo

things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Minis. ters in the Church; mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the Office of Priesthood; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this Office, to the glory of thy name, and the edification of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

UNT

The Epistle. Ephes. iv. 7. NTO every one of us is given grace arcording to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evan. gelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the Perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ; till we all come, in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect inan, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

After this shall be read for the Gospel, part of the ninth Chapter of Saint Matthew, as followeth.

St. John x. 1.

unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them 1 am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly: I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the Shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leav eth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth because he is an hire. ling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear any voice: and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.

Then the Bishop shall say unto them as followeth

YE

E have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel, and the writings of the Apostles, of what dignity, and of how great impor tance this office is, whereunto ye are called. And now again we exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye have in remembrance, into how high a dignity, and to how weighty an office and charge ye are called: "That is to say, to be Messengers, Watchmen, and Stewards of the Lord; to teach, and to premonish, to feed and provide for the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever."

Have always therefore printed in your remembrance, how great a treasure is committed to your charge. For they

that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a rob. ber. But he that entereth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake

with his death, and for whom he shed his blood. The Church and Congregation whom you must serve, is his Spouse, and his Body. And if it shall happen that the same Church, or any member thereof, do take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that will ensure Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of the ministry towards the children of God, towards the Spouse and Body of Christ; and see that ye never cease your labour, your care and diligence, until yo

have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you, either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life.

Forasmuch then as your Office is both of so great excellency, and of so great difficulty, ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply yourselves, as well to show yourselves dutiful and thankful unto that Lord who hath pla ced you in so high a dignity; as also to beware that neither you yourselves offend, nor be occasion that others offend. Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and will thereto of yourselves; for that will and ability is given of God alone: therefore ye ought, and have need to pray earnestly for his Holy Spirit. And seeing that ye cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work, pertaining to the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same; consider how studious ve ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manners both of yourselves, and of them that specially pertain unto you. according to the rule of the same Scriptures; and for this self-same cause, how ye ought to forsake and set aside, as much as ye may, all worldly cares and

studies.

We have good hope that ye have well weighed these things with yourselves long before this time; and that ye have clearly determined, by God's grace, to give yourselves wholly to this Office. whereunto it hath pleased God to call you so that, as much as lieth in you, ye will apply yourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way; and that ye will continually pray to God the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost; that by daily reading and weighing the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your Ministry; and that ye may so endeavour yourselves from time to time to sanctify the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow. And now, that this present Congregation of Christ may also understand your minds and wills in these things, and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duties; ye shall answer plainly to these things, which we, in the name of God, and of his Church, shall demand of you touching the same.

Do you think in your heart, that you are truly called, according to the

W

The Bishop.

VILL you reverently obey your Bishop, and other chief Ministers who, according to the Canons of the Church, may have the charge and gov ernment over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions. and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments ?

Answer I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

Then shall the Bishop, stunding up. say,

ALMIGHTY God,

you this will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same: that he may ac complish his work which he hath begun in you. through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

After this, the Congregation shall he desired secretly in their prayers, to make their humble supplications to God for all these things: for the which prayers there shall be silence kept for a space

After which, shall be sung or said by the Bishop, the persons to be ordained Priests all kneeling, Veni Creator Spiritus; the Bishop heginning, and the Priest and others that are present un swering hy verses, as followeth

C

ME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, Ani lighten with celestial fire: Thou the anointing Spirit art. Who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart : Thy blessed Unction from above, Is comfort, life, and fire of love: Enable with perpetual light The du/ness of our blinded sight: Anoint and cheer our soiled face With the abundance of thy grace Keep far our foes, give peace at home; Where thou art Guide, no ill can come. Teach us to know the Father, Son, And thee, of both to be but one: That through the ages all along, This may be our endless song; Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ¶Or this:

COME Holy etern

NOME Holy Ghost, eternal God,

Both from the Father and the Son,
The God of peace and love;
Visit our minds, into our hearts
Thy heavenly grace inspire;
That truth and godliness we may
Pursue with full desire.
Thou art the very Comforter
In grief and ait distress;
The heavenly gift of God most High;
No tongue can it ea press;
The fountain and the living spring
Of Joy celestial;

The Unction spiritual.

Thou in thy gifts art manifold,

By them Christ's Church doth stand t
In faithful hearts thou writ'st thy law,
The finger of God's hand
According to thy promise. Lord.
Thou givest speech with grace.
That, through thy help. God's praises may
Resound in every place.

O Holy Ghost. into our minds
Send down thy heavenly light.
Kindle our hearts with fervent zeal,
To serve God day and night
Our weakness strengthen and confirm,
For. Lord, thou know'st us frail;
That neither devi!, world, nor flesh

Against us may prevail

Put back our enemies far from us,
And help us to obtain

Peace in our hearts with God and min,
The best, the truest gain.
And grant that thou being, O Lord,
Our leader and our guide,
He may escape the snares of sin.
And never from thee slide.
Such measures of thy powerful grace
Grant. Lord, to us, we pray;
That thou may'st be our Comforter
At the lust dreadful day

Of strife and of dissension

Dissolve. O Lord. the bands.
And knit the knots of peace and love
Throughout all Christian lands
Grant us the Grace that we may know
The Father of all might,
That we of his be over Son,
May guin the hissful sight,
And that we may with perfect faith
Ever acknowledge thee,

The Spirit of Father, and of Son,
One God in Persons three

To God the Father laud and praise,
And to his blessed Son,
And to the Holy Spirit of Grace,
Co-equal three in One.

And pray we, that our only Lord
Would please his Spirit to send
On all that shal' profess his name,
From hence to the world's end Amen.
That done, the Bishop shall pray in this
wise, and say.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY God and heavenly fee

ther, who, of thine infinite love and goodness towards us, hast given to us thy only and most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, and the Author of everlasting life who after he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, sent abroad into the world his Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Doctors, and Pastors by whose labour and ministry he gathered together a great Flock in all the parts of the world. to set forth the eternal praise of thy holy name. For these so great benefits of thy eternal goodness, and for that thou hast vouch