the entrance into each the people were asked if any of them knew any impediment or notable crime in any of them now presented for the which they ought not to be admitted and were desired in the name of God to come forth and declare it and if any were objected the person accused was not to be ordained until such time as he had fully cleared himself of it The place where it was to be done was in the face of the Church or congregation on the Lords day or some other day of publick meeting the manner of the Ordination as followeth First for the Deacons THey were first commended unto God by the prayer of the whole congregation then some fitting portions out of holy Scripture were read before them containing their duties viz. 1 Tim. 3. from the 8. ver to the end of the Chapter Acts 6. from the 2. to the 8. After this the office of a Deacon was declared unto them many serious questions asked them some in matter of belief as whether they did believe they had an inward call by the motion of the Holy Ghost to take upon them that office and ministration and that their outward was according to the will of Christ that they did believe all the Canonical books of holy Scripture Some in matter of practice as whether they would frame their own lives and the lives of their families as examples unto others and would reverently obey their Governours and superiours hearkning to their admonitions c. To these there were solemn engagements for them accordingly in the presence of the congregation The manner of Ordaining was thus The Deacons being upon their knees the Bishop laid his hands severally upon the head of each of them saying Take thou Authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen Then was delivered to each of them the New Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded And as an initiation of them one of them by appointment did read a portion out of the Gospel that day The oath of Supremacy administred unto each and the seasonable and sitting prayers both before imposition of hands and after and that they were that day to receive the Communion may be found in the book it self of which is here intended only a summary thus much for the inferiour office of the Deacon upon the experience and trial of whom in it for the space of a year except for reasonable causes it should be thought otherwise and being found faithful and diligent they might be admitted unto the higher ministries in the Church viz. unto the order of Priesthood or Presbyters which followeth The ordination of Presbyters NOw secondly for the manner of ordering of those admitted into the Ministry of Priesthood or Presbyters it was thus after the Sermon or exhortation wherein their office and duty was to be shewen unto them they were solemnly presented by a principal person for that end the consent and approbatition of the people was asked in these words following Good people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood and after due examination we finde not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministrie and that they be persons meet for the same but yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for the which he ought not to be received into this holy ministrie now in the name of God declare the same c. And if any were objected the person was not to be ordained till he had cleared himself of it Those that were to be ordained were first commended as before unto God by the prayers of the whole congregation of which this was one viz. That God who is the giver of all good things and by his holy spirit had appointed diverse orders of Ministers in his Church would be pleased mercifully to behold these his servants now called to that office that he would replenish them so with the truth of doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they might faithfully serve him in this office to the glory of his name and profit of his Church or congregation c. After Prayer some select portions out of holy Scripture containing their duties were read before them viz. Acts 20. 17. to the 36. From Mileto Paul sent messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church c. or 2 Tim. 3. 1. to the 8. If a man desire the office of a Bishop he desires a worthy work a Bishop must be blameless c. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. containing the Apostles commission from our Saviour or John 10. 11. to 17. chap. 20. 19. to 24. And then an Ancient Hymn said or sung as may be seen more at large in the book of Ordination These things premised then followed the Ordination it self first a grave solid exhortation and admonition directed to the persons to be ordained with divers serious questions and solemn engagements taken of them and I conceive 't is more profitable to have things of this nature punctually set down without any variation whereby all come to be a like obliged and each may have an often serious review of what was charged upon him and engaged by him then to have them left to the ordainers sudden transient expressions which cannot be well called to minde by either and for the same causes a set form of Prayer at these solemnities is the most prudent The Exhortation given by the Bishop to the persons ordained YOu have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye be called And now we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the messengers the watchmen the pastours and the stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the middest of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have alwayes therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be 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 chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence ye know the greatness of the fault and also
may receive the crown of righteousnesse laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Whereby it is evident if there were any negligence in the Bishop in preaching or other labours in the work of the Ministry the constitution was not defective in the exhortations of him and prayers for him accordingly nay it rather laies more upon him then it doth upon the Presbyâ—ers To conclude let the Reader take a view of the thirty sixt Article of religion of the Church of England and let him judge if they had not very good cause to approve as they there do this book of ordination and to declare that all such as have been or shall be ordered accordingly to be rightly and lawfully ordered and whether it had not been much better upon the disputes concerning it to have had some moderate accommodation then a totall suppression of it The Lord give us moderate spirits and a right understanding in all things ARTICLES AGREED UPON By the ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS of both Provinces and the whole CLERGIE In the Convocation holden at LONDON in the yeer 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching true RELIGION THE TABLE 1 OF faith in the Trinity 2 Of Christ the Son of God 3 Of his going down into hell 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the Holy Ghost 6 Of the sufficiency of the Scripture 7 Of the old Testament 8 Of the three Creeds 9 Of the Original sin 10 Of free-will 11 Of Iustification 12 Of good works 13 Of works before justification 14 Of works of supererogation 15 Of Christ alone without sin 16 Of sin after Baptism 17 Of Predestination and Election 18 Of obtaining salvation by Christ 19 Of the Church 20 Of the authority of the Church 21 Of the authority of the general councels 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the congregation 24 Of speaking in the congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the unworthiness of the Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kindes 31 Of Christs one oblation 32 Of the marriage of Priests 33 Of excommunicate persons 34 Of Traditions of the Church 35 Of Homilies 36 Of consecration of Ministers 37 Of civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens goods 39 Of a Christian mans oath 40 Of the Ratification ARTICLES OF RELIGION I. Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinit power wisdom and goodness the maker and preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost II. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of the Father begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and manhâ—â—d were joyned together in one person neveâ— to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men III. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died for us and was buried so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell IV. Of the Resurâ—â—ction of Christ. CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth untill he return to judge all men at the last day V. Of the Holy Ghost THe Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God VI. Of the sufficientcy of the holy Scriptures for salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the names and numbers of the Canonical BOOKS GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomium Joshue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or songs of Solo. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets the less And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdome Jesus the son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The prayer of Manasses The 1. book of Maccabees The 2. book of Maccahees All the books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical VI. Of the Old Testament THe old Testament is not contrary to the new for both in the old and new Testament everlasting life is offered to mankinde by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not binde Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common wealth yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral VIII Of the three Creeds THe three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture IX Of original birth or sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature
of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Question What is the inward and spirituall Grace Answer A death unto sinne and a new birth unto righteousnesse For being by nature borne in sinne and the children of wrath we are hereby * i. e. Sacramentally made the children of grace Question What is required of persons to be baptized Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sinne and faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in the Sacrament Question Why then are infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot performe them Answer Yes they do perform them by their sureties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Question Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive thereby Question What is the outward part or signe of the Lords Supper Answer Bread and wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The body and blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithful in the Lords Supper Question What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby Answer The strengthning and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the bread and wine Question What is required of them which come to the Lords Supper Answer To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men CONFIRMATION of Children upon their repeating this Catechisme was an Ancient and laudable custome who thereby took upon themselves the profession and performance of that which had been promised in their names at Baptisme which Calvin and other Divines of the Reformed Churches in his time did much lament the disuse of and wished it were restored the substance of which was as followeth The Prayer for the Children before CONFIRMATION ALmighty and everliving God who hast vouchsafed to admit these thy servants to the Sacrament of regeneration by water and the holy Ghost and given them the seal of forgiveness of sins and who have now in their own persons professed what had been before promised in their names strengthen them we beseech thee with thy Holy Ghost the comforter and dayly increase in them the manifold gifts of grace the spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength the spirit of knowledge and true godliness and fulfil them with the spirit of thy holy fear Amen After this Prayer the Bishop laying his hand on each Childe sayeth DEfend O Lord this Childe with thy Heavenly grace that he may continue thine for ever and dayly increase in thy holy spirit more and more until he come unto thy everlasting Kingdome Amen The Prayer after Confirmation ALmighty and everliving God which maketh us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy majesty we make our humble supplications unto thee for these children upon whom after the example of the holy Apostles we have laid our hands to certifie them by this signe of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them let thy fatherly hand we beseech thee ever be over them let thy holy spirit ever be with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word that in the end they may obtain everlasting life through our Lord Jesus Christ who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen The Blessing to the Children THe blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be upon you and remain with you for ever Amen Vpon a day of FASTING or HVMILIATION This taken out of that which was called the Commination against Sinners may be useful upon a private day of Fasting or Humiliation the exhortation being as followeth WE read in the book of Deuteronomy and other places of Scripture of divers curses solemnly pronounced against notorious and impenitent sinners to the end that being admonished of the great indignation of God against them they may be the rather called to earnest and true repentance and may walk more warily in these dangerous times and flee from such vices for which God may justly suffer his wrath to break forth against us And therefore seeing as David also beareth witness Psalm 119. 21. That all they be accursed which do erre and go astray from the Commandements of God let us remembring the dreadful judgement hanging over our heads and being alwayes at hand return unto our Lord God with all contrition and meekness of heart bewailing and lamenting our sinful life knowledging and confessing our offences and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of repentance For now Mat. 3. 10. is the axe put unto the root of the trees so that every tree which bringeth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire It is a fearful thing to fall into the Heb. 10. 31. hands of the living God he shall poure down rain upon the sinners snares fire Psal 11. 6. and brimstone storm and tempest this shall be their portion to drink For loe the Lord is come out of his place Isa 26. 26. to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth But who may abide the Mal. 3. 2. day of his coming Who shall be able to endure when he appeareth His fan is in his hand and he will purge his floor Mat. 3. 12. and gather his wheat into the barn but he will burn the chaffe with unquenchable fire The day of the Lord 1 Thes 5. 2. cometh as a Thief in the night and when men shall say peace and all things are safe then shall sudden destruction come upon them as sorrow cometh upon a woman travelling with childe and they shall not escape Then Rom. 2 4. shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance which obstinate sinners through the stubbornness of their heart have heaped unto themselves which despised the goodness patience and long sufferance of God when he called them contiually to repentance Then shall they call upon me Prov. 1. 28. saith the Lord but I will not hear they shall seek me early but they shall not finde me and that because they hated knowledge and received not the fear of the Lord but abhorred my counsel and despised my correction Then shall it be too late to knock when Mat. 2â— 10. the door shall be shut and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice O terrible voice of most just judgement which shall be pronounced upon them when it shall be said unto them Go ye cursed Mat. 4. 1. into the fire everlasting