not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully break or neglect to observe the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church tranquillity of the Kingdom and their duties and sorvice unto Us their King and Soveraign In witness c. Constitutions AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland and agreed upon by the Kings Majesties licence in their Synod begun and holden at Dublin Anno Domini 1634. and in the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Brittain France and Ireland the Tenth I. Of the agreement of the Church of England and Ireland in the profession of the same Christian Religion FOR the manifestation of our agreement with the church of England in the confession of the same christian faith and the doctrine of the Sacraments We do receive and approve the book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the whole clergy in the convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God 1562. for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion And therefore if any hereafter shall affirm that any of those Articles are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto let him be excommunicated and not absolved before he make a publick revocation of his errour II. The Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical to be maintained ALl Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls and all other Preachers and Readers of Divinity lectures shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other collations and lectures That all usurped and sorrain power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Majesties Realms and Dominions is due unto such forreign power but that the Kings power within his Realm of Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countries is the highest power under God to whom all men as well Inhabitants as born within the same do by Gods laws owe all loyalty and obedience and to no other forreign power and potentate in the earth And whosoever shall hereafter maintain that the Kings-Majesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Jews and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church or impeach in any part his Regal supremacy in the said causes restored to the Crown and by the laws of this Realm therein established let him be excommunicated and not restored but only by the Archbishop of the Province after his repentance and publick revocation of his errour III. Of the prescript form of Divine Service contained in the book of Common Prayer THat form of Liturgy or Divine Seâ—vice and no other shall be used in any Church of this Realm but that which is established by the law and comprised in the book of common-Common-Prayer and administration of Sacraments And if any one shall preach or by other open words declare or speak any thing in the derogation or despising of the said book or of any thing therein contained let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour IV. Of the form of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. and of the churches established according to that order THat form of ordination and no other shall be used in this Church but that which is contained in the book of Ordering Bishops Priests and Deacons allowed by authority and hitherto practised in the Churches of England and Ireland And if any shall affirm that they who are consecrated or ordered according to those rites are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either Bishops Priests or Deacons or shall deny that the Churches established under this government are true Churches or refuse to joyn with them in christian profession let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour V. Authors of Schisme and maintainers of Conventicles censured WHosoever shall separate themselves from the communion of Saints as it is approved by the Apostles rules in the Church of Ireland and combine themselves rogether in a new brotherhood accounting the christians who are conformable to the doctrine government rites and ceremonies of the Church of Ireland to be prophane and unmeet for them to joyn with in christian profession or shall affirm and maintain that there are within this Realm other meetings assemblies or congregations than such as by the laws of this Land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored until he repent and publickly revoke his errour VI. Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy-dayes ALl manner of persons shall celebrate and keep the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy-dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the orders of this Church that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ in visiting the poor and fick using all godly and sober conversation VII The prescript form of Divine Service to be used on Sundayes and Holy-dayes with all decency and due reverence EVery Sunday and Holy-day the Parsons Vicars and Curates shall celebrate Divine Service at convenient and usual times of the day and in such place of every Church as the Bishop of the Diocess or Ecclesiastical Ordinary of the place shall think meet for the largeness or straitness of the same so as the people may be most edified All Ministers likewise shall use and observe the Orders Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies prescribed in the book of Common prayer and in the Act for Uniformity printed therewith as well in reading the holy Scriptures and saying of prayers as in administration of the Sacraments without either diminishing in regard of preaching or in any other respect or adding any thing in the matter or form thereof And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches all Deans Masters and Heads of Collegiate Churches Canons and Prebendaries being Graduates shall daily at the times both of Prayer and Preaching wear with their Surplices such Hoods as are agreeable to their degrees No man also shall cover his head in any Church or Chappel in the time of Divine Service except he have some infirmity in which case he may wear a night-cap or coise Neither shall any person be otherwise at such times
busied than in quiet attendance to hear marke and understand that which is read preached or ministred using all such reverent gestures and actions as by the book of Common Prayer are prescribed in that behalf and the commendable use of this Church received and not departing out of the Church during the time of Service and Sermon without some urgent or reasonable cause VIII Of the ordering of certain parts of the Service ALso the Minister reading the lessons Epistle and Gospel and the Ten commandements and such other parts of Divine service as do greatly tend to the edifying of the people shall so place himselt and so turn him to the people as they may best hearken thereunto and be edified by the same And every Beneficiary and Curate shall endeavour that the confession of sinns and absolution and all the second service at or before the communion to the Homily or Sermon where the people all or most are Irish shall be used in English first and after in Irish if the Ordinary of the place shall so think meet IX Beneficed Pâ—eachers being resident upon their livings to preceh every Sunday EVery beneficed man allowed to be a Preacher and residing on his benefice having no lawful impediment shall in his own cure preach one Sermon every Sunday of the year And therein he shall reach no vain opinions no Heâ—esies nor Popish errors disagreeing from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland nor any thing at all whereby the people may be stirred up to the desire of novelties or contention but shall soberly and sincerely divide the Word of truth to the glory of God and to the best edification of the people X. No publick opposition between Preachers IF any Preacher shall in the Pulpit particularly or namely of purpose impugne or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church or in any other near adjoyning or otherwise make any publick opposition unto him before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocess therewith and received order from him what to do in that case because upon such publick dissenting and contradicting there may grow much offence and disquieting to the people the Church-wardens or party grieved shall forthwith signifie the same to the said Bishops and not suffer the said Preacher any more to occupy that place which he has once abused except he faithfully promise to forbear all such matter of contention in the Church until the Bishop hath taken further order therein who shall with all convenient speed so proceed therein that publick satisfaction may be made in the congregation where the offence was given Provided that if either of the parties offending do appeal he shall not be suffered to preach pendente lite XI Ministers to catechize every Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate upon every Sunday before Evening Prayer shall for half an hour or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the Ten commandements the Articles of the belief and in the lords prayer and shall diligently hear and instruct and teach them the catechisme set forth in the book of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children Servants and Apprentises which have not learned the catechism to come to Church at the time appointed obediently to hear and to be ordered by the Minister until they have learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duty herein let him be sharply reproved upon the first complaint and true notice thereof given to the Bishop or Ordinary of the place If after submitting himself he shall wilsully offend therein again let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will be therein reformed then excommunicated and so remain until he will be reformed And likewise if any of the said Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses children servants or apprentices shall neglect their duties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learn as aforesaid let them be suspended if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth let them be excommunicated Neither shall the Minister admit any to be married or to be Godfathers or God mothers at the Baptism of any childe or to receive the holy communion before they can say the Articles of the belief the Lords Prayer and the commandements in such a language as they understand XII The People to be informed in the body of Christian Religion and reformed in their conversation FOr the better grounding of the People in the Principles of christian Religion We ordain that the heads of the catechism being divided into so many parts as there are Sundayes in the year shall be explained to the people in every Parish church In the handling whereof the Ministers and Curates are to use such moderation that they do not run into curious questions or unnecessary controversies but shortly declare and confirm the doctrine proposed and make application thereof to the behoof of the hearers The Ministers also in all their preachings and catechizings and private conferences when need requireth shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in God and not in creatures neither in the Habit or Scapular of any Fryer or in hallowed Beads Medals Reliques or such like trumperies They shall do their endeavour likewise to root out all ungodly superstitious and barbarous customs as using of charms sorcery enchantments witchcrast or sooth saying and generally to resorm the manners of the people committed to their charge unto a christian sober and civil conversation XIII Preachers and Lecturers to read Divine Service and administer the Sacraments twice a year at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a benefice that hath cure and charge of Souls although he chiefly attend to preaching and hath a Curate under him to execute other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise every other stipendary Preacher that readeth any lecture or catechizeth or preacheth in any Church or Chappel shall twice at the least every year read himself the Divine Service upon two several Sundayes publickly and at the usual times both in the forenoon and afternoon in the Church which he so possesseth or where he readeth catechizeth or preacheth as is aforesaid and shall likewise as often in every year administer the Sacraments of Baptism if there be any to be baptized and of the Lords Supper in such manner and form and with the use and observation of all such Rites Ornaments and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the book of Common prayer and the Act for Uniformity printed therewith in that behalf which if he do not accordingly perform then shall he that is possessed of a benefice as before be suspended and he that is but a Reader Preacher or catechizer be removed from his place by the Bishop of the Diocess until he or they shall submit themselves to perform all the said duties in such manner and sort as before is prescribed XIV Ministers not to refuse to Christen er bury NO Minister shall refuse or delay to christen any childe according to the form of the book of Common prayer that
is brought to the Church to him on Sundayes or Holy-dayes to be christened or to bury any Corps that is brought to the Church or church-yard convenient warning being given to him thereof before in such manner as is prescribed in the said book of common prayer And if he shall refuse to christen the one or bury the other except the party deceased were denounced excommunicated majori excommunicatione for some grievous and notorious crime and no man able to testifie of his repentance he shall be suspended by the Bishop of the Diocess from his Ministery by the space of three months XV. Ministers not to defer christening if the child be in danger IF any Minister being duely without any manner of collusion informed of the weakness and danger of death of any Infant unbaptized in his Parish and thereupon desired to go or come to the place where the said Insant remaineth to baptize the same shall either wilfully refuse so to do or of gross negligence shall so defer the time as when he might conveniently have resorted to the place and have baptized the said Infant it dyeth through such default unbaptized The said minister shall be suspended for three months and before his restitution shall acknowledge his fault and promise before his Ordinary that he not wittingly incurr the like again Provided that where there is a Curate or a Substitute this constitution shall not extend to the Parson or Vicar himself but the Curate or Substitute present XVI Fathers not to be Godfathers in baptism nor Children not communicants NO Parent shall be urged to present nor be admitted to answer as Godfather for his own child nor any Godfather or Godmother shall be suffered to make any other answer or speech than by the book of Common Prayer is prescribed in that behalf Neither shall any person be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any childe at christening or confirmation before the said person so undertaking hath received the holy communion XVII Confirmation or laying hands upon children to be performed by the Beshop once in three years EVery Minister that hath cure and charge of Souls for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the book or common prayer concerning confirmation shall take such special care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hand upon but such as can render an account of their saith according to the catechism in the said book contained The Bishop also in his own person every third year at least in the time of his Visitation shall perform that duty of confirmation or if in that year by reason of some infirmity he be not able personally to visit his Diocess he shall not omit to do it the next year after as he may conveniently And whensoever the time shall by him be assigned every such Minister shall use his best endeavour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought to be confirmed XVIII Of the receiving of the holy Communion IN every Cathedral and Collegiate Church at least once every moneth and in every Parish Church and Chappel where Sacraments are to be administred within this Realm the holy communion shall be ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as every Parishioner may communicate at the least thrice in the year whereof the Feast of Easter to be one according as they are appointed by the book of common prayer And that no minister when he celebrateth the communion shall wittingly administer the same to any but such as kneel Provided that every minister as often as he administreth the communion shall first receive the Sacrament himself Furthermore no bread nor wine newly brought shall be used but first the words of Institution shall be rehearsed when the said bread and wine be presented upon the communion Table Likewise the minister shall deliver both the bread and wine to every communicant severally XIX Warning to be given before hand for the Communion WHereas every Lay person is bound to receive the holy communion thrice every year and many notwithstanding do not receive that Sacrament once in a year We do require every minister to give warning to his Parishioners publickly in the Church at morning prayer the Sunday before every time of his administring the holy Sacrament for the better preparation of themselves Which said warning we enjoyn the said Parishioners to accept and obey under the penalty and danger of the law And the minister of every Parish and in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches some principal minister of the Church shall the afternoon before the said administration give warning by tolling of the Bell or otherwise to the intent that if any have any scruple of conscience or desire the special ministery of reconciliation he may afford it to those that need it And to this end the people are often to be exhorted to enter into a special examination of the state of their own souls and that finding themselves either extream dull or much troubled in mind they do resort unto Gods ministers to receive from them as well advise and counsel for the quickning of their dead hearts and the subduing of those corruptions whereunto they have been subject as the benefit of absolution likewise for the quieting of their consciences by the power of the Keys which Christ hath committed to his ministers for that purpose XX. Notorious offenders not to be admitted to the Communion NO minister shall in any wise admit to the receiving of the holy communion any of his cure or flock which be opeâ—ly known to live in sin notorious without repentance Nor any who have maliciously and openly contended with their Neighbours until they shall be reconciled Nor any Church-wardens or Sidemen who having taken their Oaths to present to their Ordinaries all such publick offences as they are particularly charged to inquire of in their several Parishes shall notwithstanding their said Oaths and that their faithful discharging of them is the chiefest means whereby publick sins and offences may be reformed and punished wittingly and willingly desperately and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of perjury either in neglecting or refusing to present such of the said enormities and publick offence as they know themselves to be committed in their said Parishes or are notoriously offensive to the Congregation there although they be urged by some of their Neighbours or by their minister or by their Ordinary himself to discharge their consciences by presenting of them and not to incur so desperately the said horrible sin of perjury XXI Ministers not to preach or administer the Communion in private houses NO Minister shall Preach or administer the Holy
prohibited by the Bishop XCIII To see Churches and Church-yards kept in sufficient reparations THey shall take care and provide that the Churches be well and sufficiently repaired and so from time to time kept and maintained that the Windowes be well glazed and that the floores be kept paved plain and even and all things there in such an orderly and decent sort without dust or any thing that may be noisome or unseemly J as best becometh the house of God The like care they shall take that the church-yards be well and sufficiently repaired fenced and maintained with walls rayles and pales as have been in each place accustomed at their charge unto whom by law the same appertaineth XCIV To furnish all churches with things necessary for the celebration of Divine Service preaching and administration of the Sacraments THey shall provide in every church at the common charge of the Parish two books of common prayer one for the Minister and the other for the clerk with all convenient speed but at farthest within six moneths after the publishing of these canons And likewise the Bible of the last translation set forth in the time of King James of blessed memory And where all or the most part of the people are Irish they shall provide also the said books in the Irish tongue so soon as they may be had The charge of these Irish books being to be borne also wholly by the Parish They shall also at the same common charge provide a fit seat for the Minister to read Service in a comely and decent Pulpit to be set in a convenient place for the preaching of Gods word a Font of stone set in the ancient usual place for the ministration of baptism together with a fair Table to be placed at the East end of the church or chancel and a cup of Silver for the celebration of the Holy communion Which Table also shall stand covered in time of Divine Service with a carpet of Sikl or other decent stuffe thought meet by the Ordinary of the place if any question be made of it and with a fair linnen cloath at the time of the ministration as becometh that Table XCV To provide things fitting for every communion and to observe those that come or come not to the same LIkewise they shall at the charge of the Parish against the time of every communion with the advise and direction of the Minister provide a sufficient quantity of fine white bread and of good and wholsom Wine for the number of communicants that shall from time to time receive there which wine they shall cause to be brought to the communion Table in a clean and sweet standing pot or stoop of Pewter if not of purer mettal Also they shall mark as well as the Minister whether all and every of the Parishioners come so often every year to the holy communion as the laws and our constitutions do require and whether any strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Minister of them least perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Table amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their own Parish Churches and Ministers there to receive the communion with the rest of their own neighbours XCVI To provide a chest for Almes in every church THey shall provide and have within three moneths next after the publishing of these constitutions a strong chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the charge of the Parish having three keys of which one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Viear or Curate and the other two in the custody of the churchwardens for the time being Which chest they shall set and fasten in the most convenient place to the intent the Parishioners may put into it the Almes for their poor neighbours And the Parson Vicar or curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbours to conferr and give as they may well spare to the said chest declaring unto them that whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise than God commanded upon superstitious uses now they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a sacrifice which pleaseth God and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and is so accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same The which Almes and devotion of the people the keepers of the keyes shall yearly quarterly or ofther as need requireth take out of the chest and distribute the same in the presence of most of the Parish or fix of the chief of them to be truly and faithfully delivered to their most poor and needy neighbours XCVII To abolish all Monuments of superstition MOreover they shall with the approbation of the Ordinary of the place see that all Rood-lofts in which wooden crosses stood all shrines and all coverings of shrines and all other Monuments of fained miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition be clean taken away and removed XCVIII None to teach School without licence and curates desirous to teach to be licenced before others IT shall not be lawfull for any to teach the Latine tongue or to instruct children either in publick Schoole or private house but such as shall be allowed by the Ordinary of the place under his hand and Seal being found meet as well for his learning and dexterity in teaching as for sober and honest conversation and also for right understanding of Gods true Religion saving to all Patrons and Founders of Schooles the right of nomination And in what Parish soever there is a Curate which is a Master of Arts or Bachellor of Arts or is otherwise well able to teach youth and will willingly so do for the better increase of his living and training of children in the principles of true Religion We will and ordain that the licence to teach Grammar shall be granted to none by the Ordinary of that place but only to the said Minister or Schoolemaster Provided alwayes that this constitution shall not extend to any Parish where there is a publick Schoole founded already In which case we think it not meet to allow any to teach Grammar but only him that is allowed for the said publick Schoole XCIX The duty of Schoolemasters ALl Schoolemasters and Ushers shall endeavour to train up the children committed to their charge in good learning civility and piety And in the latine tongue they shall teach the Grammar set forth in England by King Henry the eight and so continned ever since and none other They shall also teach such other books as shall be allowed and appointed by the Bishop of the Diocess Provided that according to the priviledge granted to the University near Duotin Logick and Philosophy shall not be taught in Grammar Schooles Provided also that none be admitted or licenced to be a Schoolemaster or Usher within this Kingdom unless he first by his subscription testifie his consent to the two first canons And also that every Archbishop and Bishop and other Ordinary having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction shall by censures of the Church respectively compel all such as are subject to their Jurisdiction which do now teach Schoole or hereafter shall presume to teach Schoole not having testified their consent by subscription as aforesaid to desist from teaching of Schoole C. The authority of this National Synod established THis sacred Synod being the representative body of the Church of Ireland in the name of Christ and by the Kings authority lawfully assembled doth pronounce and decree that if any within this Nation shall despise and contemn the constitutions thereof being by the said Regal power ratified and confirmed or affirm that none are to be subject thereunto but such as were present and gave theirm voices unto them he shall be excommunicated and not restored untill he shall publickly revoke his error FINIS