Page images
PDF
EPUB

and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, 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 I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also 1 must bring, and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Then the Bishop shall say unto them as

followeth.

YE 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 importance 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 are the sheep of CHRIST, which he bought 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 ensue. Wherefore consider with your selves 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 ye 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 placed 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 ye 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 calĺ 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 then 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 C.RIST may also understand your minds and wills in these things, and that this your promise may the

The Bishop.

more move you to do your duties; ye shall answer plainly to these things, WILL you be diligent to frame and which we, in the name of GOD, and of fashion your own selves, and your famihis Church, shall demand of you touch-lies, according to the doctrine of CHRIST; ing the same. and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of CHRIST?

you

Do you think in your heart, that are truly called, according to the will of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and according to the Canons of this Church, to the order and ministry of Priesthood? Answer. I think it.

[blocks in formation]

Answer. I will apply myself thereto, the LORD being my helper.

The Bishop.

WILL you maintain and set forwards, as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love among all Christian people, and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge? Answer. I will so do, the LORD being my helper.

The Bishop.

WILL you reverently obey your Bishop, and other chief ministers, who, according to the Canons of the Church, may have the charge and government 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, standing up, say,

ALMIGHTY GOD, who hath given you this will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same; that he may accomplish his work which he hath begun in you, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

After this, the congregation shall be 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 beginning, and the Priests and others that are present answering by verses, as followeth.

COME, HOLY GHOST, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire:
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart :
Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love:
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness 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 GHOST, eternal GOD,
Proceeding from above,

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 all distress;

The heavenly gift of GOD most High;
No tongue can it express;
The fountain and the living spring

Of joy celestial;

The fire so bright, the love so sweet,
The unction spiritual.

Thou in thy gifts art manifold,

By them CHRIST'S Church doth stand: In faithful hearts thou writ'st thy law, The finger of GOD's hand.

According to thy promise, LORD,

Thou givest speech with grace;

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 vouchsafed to call these thy servants here present to the same office and ministry appointed for the salvation of mankind, we render unto thee most hearty thanks, we praise and worship thee; and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy blessed Son, to grant unto all, which either here or elsewhere call upon thy

That, through thy help, God's praises may holy name, that we may continue to

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 devil, world, nor flesh
Against us may prevail.

[ocr errors]

Put back our enemies far from us,
And help us to obtain
Peace in our hearts with GOD and man,
The best, the truest gain;
And grant that thou being, O LORD,
Our leader and our guide,

We 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 last 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 beloved SON,

May gain the blissful 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 shall 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 Father, who, of thine infinite love and

show ourselves thankful unto thee for these and all thy other benefits; and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son, by the HOLY SPIRIT: so that as well by these thy ministers, as by them over whom they shall be appointed thy ministers, thy holy name may be for ever glorified, and thy blessed kingdom enlarged, through the same thy Son JESUS CHRIST our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same HOLY SPIRIT, world without end. Amen.

When this prayer is done, the Bishop with the Priests present, shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the order of Priesthood; the receivers humbly kneeling, and the Bishop saying,

RECEIVE the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of GOD, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands: whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven: and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained: And be thou a faithful dispenser of the word of God, and of his holy sacraments: In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

¶ Or this:

TAKE thou authority to execute the office of a Priest in the Church of GOD now committed to thee by the imposition of our hands; and be thou a faithful dispenser of the word of GOD, and of his

[blocks in formation]

When this is done, the Bishop shall go on in the Service of the Communion, which all they who receive Orders shall take together, and remain in the same place where hands were laid upon them, until such time as they

have received the Communion.

The Communion being done, after the last collect, and immediately before the Benediction, shall be said this Collect.

MOST merciful Father, we beseech thee to send upon these thy servants thy

heavenly blessing; that they may be clothed with righteousness, and that thy word spoken by their mouths may have such success, that it may never be spoken in vain. Grant also, that we may have grace to hear and receive what they shall deliver out of thy most holy word, or agreeably to the same, as the means of our salvation; that in all our words and deeds we may seek thy glory, and the increase of thy kingdom, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. 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 CHRIST 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 if, on the same day, the Order of Deacons be given to some, and the Order of Priesthood to others; the Deacons shall be first presented, and then the Priests; and it shall suffice that the Litany be once said for both. The Collects shall both be used; first, that for Deacons, then that for Priests. The Epistle shall be Ephesians iv. 7 to 13, as before in this office. Immediately after which, they that are to be made Deacons, shall be examined, and ordained, as is above prescribed. Then one of them having read the Gospel, which shall be either out of Saint Matthew ix. 36, as before in this office; or else Saint Luke xii. 35 to 38, as before in the form for the Ordering of Deacons, they that are to be made Priests, shall likewise be examined, and ordained, as in this office before appointed.

THE FORM OF

ORDAINING OR CONSECRATING A BISHOP.

When all things are duly prepared in the church, and set in order, after Morning Prayer is ended, the Presiding Bishop, or some other Bishop appointed by the Bishops present, shall begin the Communion Service, in which this shall be

[blocks in formation]

blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of GOD? not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil.

Or this:

For the Epistle. Acts xx. 17. FROM Miletus, Paul sent to Ephe sus, and called the Elders of the Church.

And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward GOD, and faith toward our Lord JESUS CHRIST. And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; save that the HOLY GHOST witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord JESUS; to testify the Gospel of the grace of GOD. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom 1 have gone preaching the kingdom of GOD, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the HOLY GHOST hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, 1 ceased not to warn every one, night and day, with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to Gop, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified, I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel: yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord JESUS, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

¶ Then another Bishop shall read

The Gospel. St. John xxi. 15. JESUS saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. JESUS saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Or this: St. John xx. 19.

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then saith JESUS to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the HOLY GHOST; whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Or this: St. Matt. xxviii. 18.

JESUS came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and teach all nations, baptizing them in and of the HOLY GHOST; teaching them commanded you: and lo, I am with you to observe all things whatsoever I have alway, even unto the end of the world.

After the Gospel and the Sermon are ended, the elected Bishop, vested with his rochet, shall be presented by two Bishops of this Church unto the Presiding Bishop, or to the Bishop appointed, sitting in his chair near the holy table; the Bishops who present him saying,

REVEREND father in GOD, we present unto you this godly and welllearned man to be ordained and conse crated Bishop.

« PreviousContinue »