Of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments XIII Due celebration of Sundayes and Holy dayes ALl maner of persons within the Church of England shall from henceforth celebrate and keepe the Lords day commonly called Sunday and other Holy dayes according to Gods holy will and pleasure and the Orders of the Church of England prescribed in that behalfe that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in priuate and publike prayers in acknowledging their offences to God and amendement of the same in reconciling themselues charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath bene in oftentimes receiuing the Communion of the body blood of Christ in visiting of the poore and sicke vsing all godly and sober conuersation XIIII The prescript forme of Diuine Seruice to bee vsed on Sundayes and Holy dayes THe Common prayer shal be said or sung distinctly and reuerently vpon such daies as are appointed to be kept holy by the Booke of Common prayer and their Eeues and at conuenient and vsuall times of those daies and in such place of euery Church as the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinary of the place shall thinke meete for the largenesse or straitnesse of the same so as the people may bee most edified All Ministers likewise shall obserue the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer aswell 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 forme thereof XV. The Letanie to bee read on Wednesdayes and Fridayes THe Letany shal be said or sung when and as it is set downe in the Booke of Common prayer by the Parsons Vicars Ministers or Curats in all Cathedrall Collegiat Parish Churches and Chappels in some conuenient place according to the discretion of the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ecclesiasticall Ordinarie of the place And that wee may speake more particularly vpon Wednesdayes and Fridayes weekely though they bee not Holy dayes the Minister at the accustomed houres of Seruice shall resort to the Church and Chappel and warning being giuen to the people by tolling of a Bell shall say the Letanie prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer whereunto wee wish euery Housholder dwelling within halfe a mile of the Church to come or send one at the least of his Houshold fit to ioyne with the Minister in prayers XVI Colledges to vse the prescript forme of Diuine Seruice IN the whole Diuine Seruice and Administration of the holy Communion in all Colledges and Halles in both Vniuersities the Order Forme and Ceremonies shall be duely obserued as they are set downe and prescribed in the booke of Common prayer without any omission or alteration XVII Students in Colledges to weare Surplisses in time of Diuine Seruice ALl Masters and Fellowes of Colledges or Halles and al the Schollers and Students in either of the Vniuersities shall in their Churches and Chappels vpon all Sundayes Holy dayes and their Eues at the time of Diuine Seruice weare Surplisses according to the order of the Church of England and such as are Graduats shall agreeably were with their Surplisses such Hoods as doe seuerally appertaine to their Degrees XVIII A reuerence and attention to bee vsed within the Church in time of Diuine Seruice IN the time of Diuine Seruice and of euery part thereof all due reuerence is to be vsed For it is according to the Apostles Rule Let all things bee done decently and according to Order Answerable to which Decencie and Order We iudge these our directions following No man shall couer his head in the Church or Chappel in the time of Diuine Seruice except he haue some infirmitie In which case let him weare a Nightcap or Coife All maner of persons then present shall reuerently kneele vpon their knees when the Generall Confession Letanie and other Prayers are read and shall stand vp at the saying of the Beleefe according to the Rules in that behalfe prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer And likewise when in time of Diuine Seruice the Lord IESVS shal be mentioned due and lowly reuerence shall bee done by all persons present as it hath bene accustomed testifying by these outward Ceremonies and gestures their inward humilitie Christian resolution and due acknowledgement that the Lord Iesus Christ the true and eternal Sonne of God is the onely Sauiour of the world in whom alone all the Mercies Graces and Promises of God to mankinde for this life and the life to come are fully and wholly comprised None either man woman or childe of what calling soeuer shall be otherwise at such times busied in the Church then in quiet attendance to heare marke and vnderstand that which is read preached or ministred Saying in their due places audibly with the Minister the Confession the Lords Prayer and the Creed and making such other answeres to the publique Prayers as are appointed in the Booke of Common prayer neither shall they disturbe the Seruice or Sermon by walking or Talking or any other way nor depart out of the Church during the time of Seruice and Sermon without some vrgent or reasonable cause XIX Loyterers not to bee suffered neere the Church in time of Diuine Seruice THe Churchwardens or Questmen and their assistants shall not suffer any idle persons to abide either in the Churchyard or Church porch during the time of Diuine Seruice or preaching but shall cause them either to come in or to depart XX. Bread and Wine to be prouided against euery Communion THe Churchwardens of euery Parish against the time of euery Communion shal at the charge of the Parish with the aduice and direction of the Minister prouide a sufficient quantitie of fine white Bread and of good and wholesome Wine for the number of Communicants that shall from time to time receiue there which Wine we require to bee brought to the Communion Table in a cleane and sweete standing Pot or Stoope of Pewter if not of purer mettall XXI The Communion to be thrice a yeere receiued IN euery Parish Church and Chappel where Sacraments are to bee administred within this Realme the holy Communion shall bee ministred by the Parson Vicar or Minister so often and at such times as euery Parishioner may Communicate at the least thrise in the yeere whereof the Feast of Easter to bee one according as they are appointed by the booke of Common Prayer Prouided that euery Minister as oft as hee administreth the Communion shall first receiue the Sacrament himselfe Furthermore no Bread or Wine newly brought shal be vsed but first the words of Institution shal be rehearsed when the said Bread and Wine bee present vpon the Communion Table Likewise the Minister shal deliuer both the Bread and the Wine to euery Communicant seuerally XXII Warning to be giuen beforehand for the Communion WHereas euery Lay person is bound to receiue the holy Communion thrice euery
nor any Register of any Ecclesiasticall Courts nor any Minister belonging to any of the said Officers or Courts shal hereafter for any cause incident to their seueral Offices take or receiue any other or greater Fees then such as were certified to the most Reuerend Father in God Iohn late Archbishop of Canterburie in the yeere of our Lord God one thousand fiue hundred ninetie and seuen and were by him ratified and approued vnder paine that euery such Iudge Officer or Minister offending herein shall be suspended from the exercise of their seuerall Offices for the space of sixe moneths for euery such offence Alwayes prouided that if any question shall arise concerning the certaintie of the said Fees or any of them then those Fees shall be held for lawfull which the Archbishop of Canterburie for the time being shall vnder his hand approoue except the Statutes of this Realme before made doe in any particular case expresse some other Fees to be due Prouided furthermore that no Fee or money shall bee receiued either by the Archbishop or any Bishop or Suffragan either directly or indirectly for admitting of any into sacred Orders nor that any other person or persons vnder the said Archbishop Bishop or Suffragan shall for Parchment Writing Waxe Sealing or any other respect thereunto appertaining take aboue ten shillings vnder such paines as are already by Law prescribed CXXXVI A Table of the Rates of Fees to bee set vp in Courts and Registries WE do likewise constitute and appoint that the Registers belonging to euery such Ecclesiasticall Iudge shall place two Tables containing the seuerall Rates and Summes of all the said Fees one in the vsuall place or Consistorie where the Court is kept and the other in his Registrie both of them in such sort as euery man whom it concerneth may without difficultie come to the view and perusall thereof and take a Copie of them the same Tables to be so set vp before the Feast of the Natiuitie next ensuing And if any Register shall faile to place the said Tables according to the tenor hereof he shal be suspended from the execution of his Office vntil he cause the same to be accordingly done and the said Tables being once set vp if hee shall at any time remooue or suffer the same to be remooued hidden or any way hindered from sight contrary to the true meaning of this Constitution he shall for euery such offence be suspended from the exercise of his Office for the space of sixe moneths CXXXVII The whole Fees for shewing letters of Orders and other Licenses due but once in euery Bishops time FOrasmuch as a chiefe and principall cause and vse of Visitation is that the Bishop Archdeacon or other assigned to Visite may get some good knowledge of the State Sufficiencie and Abilitie of the Cleargie and other persons whom they are to Visite Wee thinke it conuenient that euery Parson Vicar Curate Schoolemaster or other person licenced whosoeuer doe at the Bishops first Visitation or at the next Visitation after his Admission shew and exhibite vnto him his Letters of Orders Institution and Induction and all other his Dispensations Licences or Faculties whatsoeuer to bee by the said Bishop either allowed or if there be iust cause disallowed and reiected and being by him approued to be as the Custome is signed by the Register and that the whole Fees accustomed to bee payed in the Visitations in respect of the premisses bee payed onely once in the whole time of euery Bishop and afterwards but halfe of the saide accustomed Fees in euery other Visitation during the said Bishops continuance ¶ Apparitors CXXXVIII The number of Apparitors restrained FOrasmuch as wee are desirous to redresse such abuses and aggrieuances as are saide to grow by Sumners or Apparitors Wee thinke it meete that the multitude of Apparitors be as much as is possible abridged or restrained Wherefore we decree and ordaine that no Bishop or Archdeacon or their Vicars or Officials or other inferior Ordinaries shall depute or haue more Apparitors to serue in their Iurisdictions respectiuely then either they or their predecessors were accustomed to haue thirtie yeeres before the publishing of these our present Constitutions All which Apparitors shall by themselues faithfully execute their Offices neither shall they by any colour or pretence whatsoeuer cause or suffer their Mandats to be executed by any Messengers or Substitutes vnlesse it bee vpon some good cause to be first knowen and approued by the Ordinarie of the place Moreouer they shall not take vpon them the office of Promoters or Informers for the Court neither shall they exact more or greater Fees then are in these our Constitutions formerly prescribed And if either the number of the Apparitors deputed shall exceed the foresaid limitation or any of the saide Apparitors shall offend in any of the premisses the persons deputing them if they be Bishops shall vpon admonition of their superiour discharge the persons exceeding the number so limitted if inferiour Ordinaries they shall be suspended from the execution of their Office vntill they haue dismissed the Apparitors by them so deputed the parties themselues so deputed shall for euer be remooued from the Office of Apparitors and if being so remoued they desist not from the exercise of their said Offices let them be punished by Ecclesiasticall censures as persons contumacious Prouided that if vpon experience the number of the said Apparitors be too great in any Diocesse in the iudgement of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being they shall by him be so abridged as hee shall thinke meete and conuenient ¶ Authoritie of Synodes CXXXIX A Nationall Synode the Church representatiue WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that the Sacred Synode of this Nation in the Name of CHRIST and by the Kings Authoritie assembled is not the true Church of ENGLAND by representation let him be Excommunicated and not restored vntill hee repent and publikely reuoke that his wicked error CXL Synodes conclude as well the absent as the present WHosoeuer shall affirme that no maner of person either of the Clergie or Laitie not being themselues particularly assembled in the said sacred Synode are to be subiect to the Decrees thereof in causes Ecclesiasticall made and ratified by the Kings Maiesties supreme Authoritie as not hauing giuen their voices vnto them let him bee Excommunicated and not restored vntill hee repent and publikely reuoke that his wicked error CXLI Deprauers of the Synode censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme That the sacred Synode assembled as aforesaid was a company of such persons as did conspire together against godly and Religious professors of the Gospel and that therefore both they and their proceedings in making of Canons and Constitutions in causes Ecclesiasticall by the Kings authoritie as aforesaid ought to be despised and contemned the same being ratified confirmed and enioyned by the said Regall Power Supremacie and Authoritie let them be Excommunicated and not restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke that wicked error WE of our princely inclination and Royall care for the maintenance of the present Estate and Gouernement of the Church of ENGLAND by the Lawes of this our Realme now setled and established hauing diligently with great contentment and comfort read and considered of all these their sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed vpon as is before expressed and finding the same such as Wee are perswaded will bee very profitable not onely to our Clergie but to the whole Church of this our kingdome and to all the true members of it if they be well obserued Haue therefore for Vs our Heires and lawfull Successours of our especiall Grace certaine Knowledge and meere Motion giuen and by these presents doe giue our Royall assent according to the forme of the sayd Statute or Acte of Parliament aforesayd to all and euery of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and euery thing in them contained as they are before written And furthermore Wee doe not onely by our sayd Prerogatiue Royall and supreme Authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall ratifie confirme and establish by these our Letters Patents the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and all and euery thing in them contayned as is aforesayd but doe likewise propound publish and straightly enioyne and command by our sayd Authority and by these our Letters Patents the same to bee diligently obserued executed and equally kept by all our louing Subiects of this our kingdome both within the Prouince of CANTERBVRIE and YORKE in all points wherein they doe or may concerne euery or any of them according to this our will and pleasure hereby signified and expressed and 〈◊〉 likewise for the better obseruation of them euery Minister by what name or title soeuer he be called shall in the Parish Church or Chappell where he hath charge reade all the sayd Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions once euery yere vpon some Sundayes or Holy dayes in the afternoone before Diuine Seruice diuiding the same in such sort as that the one halfe may bee read one day and the other another day the Booke of the sayd Canons to be prouided at the charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of the Natiuity of our Lord God next ensuing Straightly charging and commaunding all Archbishops Bishops and all other that exercise any Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction within this Realme euery man in his place to see and procure so much as in them lieth all and euery of the same Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all poynts duely obserued not sparing to execute the â—ena 〈…〉 them seuerally mentioned vpon 〈…〉 that shal wittingly or wilfully breake or neglect to obserue the same as they tender the honour of God the peace of the Church the tranquilitie of the Kingdome and their dueties and seruice to Vs their King and Souereigne In witnesse c. ¶ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER Printer to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie ANNO DOM. 1604.
persons hauing cure of soules and all other Preachers and Readers of Diuinitie lectures shall to the vttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely and sincerely without any colour or dissimulation teach manifest open and declare foure times euery yeere at the least in their Sermons and other Collations and lectures That all vsurped and forren power forasmuch as the same hath no establishment nor ground by the law of God is for most iust causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions is due vnto any such forren power but that the Kings power within his Realmes of England Scotland and Ireland and all other his Dominions and Countreys is the highest power vnder God to whom all men aswell inhabitants as borne within the same do by Gods Lawes owe most loyalty and obedience afore and aboue all other Powers and Potentates in earth II. Impugners of the Kings supremacie censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Kings Maiesty hath not the same authority in causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had amongst the Iewes and Christian Emperors in the Primitiue Church or impeach in any part his Regall supremacie in the said causes restored to the Crowne and by the Lawes of this Realme therein established let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but only by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of those his wicked errours III. The Church of England a true and Apostolicall Church WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that the Church of England by Lawe established vnder the Kings Maiestie is not a true and an Apostolical Church teaching maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of this his wicked errour IIII. Impugners of the publike worship of God established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall herafter affirme that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England established by Law and conteined in the booke of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments is a corrupt superstitious or vnlawfull worship of God or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to the Scriptures let him be excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Bishop of the place or Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors V. Impugners of the Articles of Religion established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme that any of the nine and thirtie Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Prouinces and the whole Cleargy in the Conuocation holden at LONDON in the yeere of our Lorde God one thousand fiue hundred sixty two for the auoiding of diuersities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion are in any part superstitious or erroneous or such as hee may not with a good conscience subscribe vnto let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but onely by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors VI. Impugners of the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Law established are wicked Antichristian or superstitious or such as beeing commanded by lawfull authoritie men who are zealously and godly affected may not with any good conscience approue them vse them or as occasion requireth subscribe vnto them let him bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours VII Impugners of the gouernment of the Church of England by Archbishops Bishops c. censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that the gouernement of the Church of England vnder his Maiesty by Archbishops Bishops Deanes Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God let him be excommunicated ipso facto and so continue vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errors VIII Impugners of the forme of consecrating and ordering Archbishops Bishops c. in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or teach that the fourme and maner of making and consecrating Bishops Priests or Deacons conteineth any thing in it that is repugnant to the word of God or that they who are made Bishops Priestes or Deacons in that forme are not lawfully made nor ought to be accounted either by themselues or by others to be truly either Bishops Priests or Deacons vntil they haue some other calling to those diuine Offices let him bee excommunicated ipso facto not to bee restored vntill he repent and publikely reuoke such his wicked errours IX Authours of Schisme in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter separate themselues from the Communion of Saints as it is approoued by the Apostles rules in the Church of England combine themselues together in a new brotherhood accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine Gouernment Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to be prophane and vnmeete for them to ioyne with in Christian profession let them bee excommunicated ipso facto and not restored but by the Archbishop after their repentance and publike reuocation of such their wicked errors X. Maintainers of Schismatickes in the Church of England censured WHosoeuer shall heerafter affirme That such Ministers as refuse to subscribe to the forme and maner of Gods worship in the Church of England prescribed in the Communion Booke and their adherents may truly take vnto them the name of another Church not established by Lawe and dare presume to publish it that this their pretended Church hath of long time groaned vnder the burden of certaine grieuances imposed vpon it and vpon the members thereof before mentioned by the Church of England and the Orders and Constitutions therein by Law established Let them be excommunicated and not restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke such their wicked errors XI Maintainers of Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shall hereafter affirme or maintaine That there are within this Realme other meetings assemblies or congregations of the Kings borne Subiects then such as by the lawes of this land are held and allowed which may rightly challenge to themselues the name of true and lawful Churches let him be excommunicated and not restored but by the Archbishop after his repentance and publike reuocation of such his wicked errors XII Maintainers of Constitutions made in Conuenticles censured WHosoeuer shal hereafter affirme that it is lawfull for any sort of Ministers and Lay persons or either of them to ioyne together and make Rules Orders or Constitutions in causes Ecclesiasticall without the Kings authoritie and shall submit themselues to be ruled and gouerned by them let them be excommunicated ipso facto and not be restored vntill they repent and publikely reuoke those their wicked and Anabaptisticall errors
and the practise of the Primitiue Church we do commend to al the true members of the Church of England these our directions obseruations ensuing First it is to be obserued that although the Iewes Ethnicks derided both the Apostles and the rest of the Christians for preaching and beleeuing in him who was crucified vpon the Crosse yet all both Apostles and Christians were so farre from beeing discouraged from their profession by the ignominie of the Crosse as they rather reioyced and triumphed in it Yea the holy Ghost by the mouthes of the Apostles did honour the Name of the Crosse being hatefull among the Iewes so farre that vnder it he comprehended not onely Christ crucified but the force effects and merits of his Death and Passion with all the comforts fruits and promises which wee receiue or expect thereby Secondlly the honour and dignitie of the Name of the Crosse begat a reuerend estimation euen in the Apostles times for ought that is knowen to the contrary of the signe of the Crosse which the Christians shortly after vsed in all their actions thereby making an outward shew profession euen to the astonishment of the Iewes that they were not ashamed to acknowledge him for their Lord and Sauiour who died for them vpon the Crosse And this signe they did not onely vse themselues with a kinde of glory when they met with any Iewes but signed therewith their children when they were Christned to dedicate them by that badge to his seruice whose benefits bestowed vpon them in Baptisme the name of the Crosse did represent And this vse of the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme was held in the Primitiue Church as well by the Greekes as the Latines with one consent and great applause At what time if any had opposed themselues against it they would certainely haue beene censured as enemies of the name of the Crosse consequently of Christs merits the signe whereof they could no better endure This continuall and generall vse of the signe of the Crosse is euident by many testimonies of the ancient Fathers Thirdly it must be confessed that in processe of time the signe of the Crosse was greatly abused in the Church of Rome especially after that corruption of Popery had once possessed it But the abuse of a thing doth not take away the lawfull vse of it Nay so farre was it from the purpose of the Church of England to forsake and reiect the Churches of Italie France Spaine Germany or any such like Churches in all things which they helde and practised that as the Apologie of the Church of England confesseth it doth with reuerence retaine those Ceremonies which doe neither endammage the Church of God nor offende the minds of sober men and onely departed from them in those particular points wherein they were fallen both from themselues in their ancient integritie from the Apostolicall Churches which were their first founders In which respect amongst some other very ancient Ceremonies the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme hath bene retained in this Church both by the iudgement and practise of those reuerend Fathers and great Diuines in the dayes of King Edward the sixth of whom some constantly suffered for the profession of the trueth and others being exiled in the time of Queene Mary did after their returne in the beginning of the Reigne of our late dread Soueraigne continually defend and vse the same This resolution and practise of our Church hath beene allowed and approoued by the censure vpon the Communion Booke in King Edward the sixt his dayes and by the harmonie of confessions of latter yeeres because in deede the vse of this signe in Baptisme was euer accompanied here with such sufficient cautions and exceptions against all Popish Superstition and errour as in the like cases are either fit or conuenient First the Church of England since the abolishing of Poperie hath euer held and taught and so doth hold and teach still that the signe of the Crosse vsed in Baptisme is no part of the substance of that Sacrament For when the Minister dipping the Infant in Water or laying Water vpon the face of it as the maner also is hath pronounced these wordes I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost the Infant is fully and perfectly baptized So as the signe of the Crosse being afterwards vsed doeth neither adde any thing to the vertue or perfection of Baptisme nor being omitted doeth detract any thing from the effect and substance of it Secondly it is apparant in the Communion Booke that the Infant baptized is by vertue of Baptisme before it be signed with the signe of the Crosse receiued into the Congregation of Christs flocke as a perfect member thereof and not by any power ascribed vnto the signe of the Crosse So that for the very remembrance of the Crosse which is very precious to all them that rightly beleeue in Iesu Christ and in the other respects mentioned the Church of England hath reteined still the signe of it in Baptisme following therein the Primitiue and Apostolicall Churches accounting it a lawful outward Ceremony honourable Badge whereby the Infant is dedicated to the seruice of him that died vpon the Crosse as by the words vsed in the Booke of Common prayer it may appeare Lastly the vse of the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme beeing thus purged from all Popish superstition and errour and reduced in the Church of England to the primary Institution of it vpon those true rules of Doctrine concerning things indifferent which are consonant to the word of God and the iudgements of all the ancient Fathers Wee hold it the part of euery priuate man both Minister and other reuerently to reteine the true vse of it prescribed by publike Authoritie considering that things of themselues indifferent doe in some sort alter their natures when they are either commanded or forbidden by a lawfull Magistrate and may not be omitted at euery mans pleasure contrary to the Law when they bee cōmanded nor vsed when they are prohibited ¶ Ministers their Ordination function and charge XXXI Foure solemne times appointed for the making of Ministers FOrasmuch as the ancient Fathers of the Church led by example of the Apostles appointed Prayers and Fasts to bee vsed at the solemne ordering of Ministers to that purpose allotted certaine times in which onely sacred Orders might be giuen or conferred We following their holy and Religious example doe constitute decree That no Deacons or Ministers be made and ordained but onely vpon the Sundayes immediatly following Ieiunia quatuor temporum commonly called Ember weekes appointed in ancient time for Prayer and Fasting purposely for this cause at their first Institution and so continued at this day in the Church of England and that this bee done in the Cathedrall or Parish Church where the Bishop resideth and in the time of diuine Seruice in the presence not onely of the
suffered to preach pendente lite LIIII The Licences of Preachers refusing Conformitie to be voyd IF any man licenced heretofore to preach by any Archbishop Bishop or by either of the Vniuersities shall at any time from henceforth refuse to conforme himselfe to the Lawes Ordinances and Rites Ecclesiasticall established in the Church of England he shall be admonished by the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinary of the place to submit himselfe to the vse and due exercise of the same And if after such admonition he doe not conforme himselfe within the space of one moneth We determine and decree That the licence of euery such Preacher shall thereupon bee vtterly voyde and of none effect LV. The forme of a Prayer to bee vsed by Preachers before their Sermons BEfore all Sermons Lectures and Homilies the Preachers Ministers shall moue the people to ioine with them in prayer in this forme or to this effect as briefly as conueniently they may Ye shal pray for Christs holy Catholike Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world and especially for the Churches of England Scotland and Ireland And herein I require you most especially to pray for the Kings most excellent Maiestie our Soueraigne Lord IAMES King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendour of the Faith Supreme Gouernour in these his Realmes and all other his Dominions and Countries ouer all persons in all causes aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall Ye shall also pray for our gracious Queene ANNE the Noble Prince HENRY and the rest of the King and Queenes Royall Issue Ye shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word Sacraments aswell Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastours and Curates Ye shall also pray for the Kings most honourable Counsell and for all the Nobilitie and Magistrates of this Realme that all euery of these in their seuerall Callings may serue truely and painefully to the glory of God and the edifying and well gouerning of his people remembring the accompt that they must make Also yee shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realme that they may liue in true Faith and feare of God in humble obedience to the King and brotherly charitie one to another Finally let vs praise God for all those which are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray vnto God that wee may haue grace to direct our liues after their good example that this life ended wee may be made partakers with them of the glorious Resurrection in the life Euerlasting alwayes concluding with the Lords prayer LVI Preachers and Lecturers to reade diuine Seruice and administer the Sacraments twise a yeere at the least EVery Minister being possessed of a Benefice that hath Cure and Charge of soules although he chiefly attend to preaching and hath a Curate vnder him to execute the other duties which are to be performed for him in the Church and likewise euery other stipendarie Preacher that readeth any Lecture or Catechizeth or Preacheth in any Church or Chappell shall twise at the least euery yeere reade himselfe the diuine Seruice vpon two seuerall Sundayes publikely and at the vsuall times both in the Forenoone and Afternoone in the Church which he so possesseth or where he Readeth Catechizeth or Preacheth as is aforesaid and shal likewise as often in euery yeere administer the Sacraments of Baptisme if there be any to be baptized of the Lords Supper in such maner forme and with the obseruation of all such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the booke of Common prayer in that behalfe which if hee doe not accordingly performe then shall he that is possessed of a Benefice as before bee suspended and he thatis but aReader Preacher or Catechizer be remoued from his place by the Bishop of the Diocesse vntil he or they shal submit themselues to performe all the said duties in such mater and â—ort as before is prescribed LVII The Sacraments not to be refused at the hands of vnpreaching Ministers WHereas diuers Persons seduced by false Teachers doe refuse to haue their children baptized by a Minister that is no Preacher and to receiue the holy Communion at his hands in the same respect as though the vertue of those Sacraments did depend vpon his ability to preach Forasmuch as the doctrine both of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper is sufficiently set downe in the booke of Common prayer to bee vsed at the administration of the said Sacraments as nothing can be added vnto it that is material and necessary We doe require and charge euery such person seduced as aforesayd to reforme that their wilfulnesse and to submit himselfe to the order of the Church in that behalfe both the said Sacraments being equally effectual whether they be ministred by a Minister that is no Preacher or by one that is a Preacher And if any hereafter shal offend herein or leaue their owne Parish Churches in that respect and Communicate or causâ— their children to be Baptized in other Parishes abroad and will not bee mooued thereby to reforme that their error and vnlawfull course let them be presented to the Ordinarie of the place by the Minister Churchwardens and Sidemen or Questmen of the Parishes where they dwel and there receiue such punishment by Ecclesiasticall censures as such obstinacie doth worthily deserue that is Let them persisting in their wilfulnesse be suspended and then after a moneths further obstinacie Excommunicated And likewise if any Parson Vicar or Curate shal after the publishing hereof either receiue to the Communion any such persons which are not of his owne Church Parish or shall Baptize any of their children thereby strengthening them in their said errours Let him bee suspended and not released thereof vntill hee doe faithfully promise that hee will not afterwards offend therein LVIII Ministers reading Diuine Seruice and Administring the Sacraments to weare Surplisses and Graduats therewithall Hoods EVery Minister saying the publike Praiers or ministring the Sacraments or other Rites of the Church shall weare a decent and comely Surplisse with sleeues to be prouided at the charge of the Parish And if any question arise touching the matter decencie or comlinesse thereof the same shal be decided by the discretion of the Ordinary Furthermore such Ministers as are Graduats shall weare vpon their Surplisses at such times such Hoods as by the orders of the Vniuersities are agreeable to their degrees which no Minister shall weare being no Graduat vnder paine of suspension Notwithstanding it shal be lawfull for such Ministers as are not Graduats to weare vpon their Surplisses in stead of Hoods some decent Tippet of black so it be not silke LIX Ministers to Catechize euery Sunday EVery Parson Vicar or Curate vpon euery Sunday and Holy day before Euening prayer shall for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of the Beliefe
and in the Lords prayer and shall diligently heare instruct teach them the Catechisme set forth in the Booke of Common prayer And all Fathers Mothers Masters and Mistresses shall cause their children seruants and apprentices which haue not learned the Catechisme to come to the Church at the time appointed obediently to heare and to bee ordered by the Minister vntill they haue learned the same And if any Minister neglect his duetie herein let him bee sharpely reprooued vpon the first complaint and true notice thereof giuen to the Bishop or Ordinarie of the place If after submitting himselfe hee shall wilfully offend therein againe let him be suspended If so the third time there being little hope that he will bee therein reformed then Excommunicated and so remaine vntil he will be reformed And likewise if any of the saide Fathers Mothers Masters or Mistresses Children Seruants or Apprentices shall neglect their dueties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learne as aforesaid Let them bee suspended by their Ordinaries if they be not children and if they so persist by the space of a moneth then let them bee Excommunicated LX. Confirmation to be performed once in three yeeres FOrasmuch as it hath beene a solemne ancient laudable Custome in the Church of God continued from the Apostles times that all Bishops should lay their hands vpon children Baptized and instructed in the Catechisme of Christian Religion praying ouer them and blessing them which wee commonly call Confirmation and that this holy action hath beene accustomed in the Church in former ages to be performed in the Bishops Visitation euery third yeere We will and appoint that euery Bishop or his Suffragan in his accustomed Visitation do in his owne person carefully obserue the said Custome And if in that yeere by reason of some infirmitie he be not able personally to Visit then he shal not omit the execution of that duetie of Confirmation the next yeere after as he may conueniently LXI Ministers to prepare children for Confirmation EVery Minister that hath Cure and charge of soules for the better accomplishing of the Orders prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer concerning Confirmation shall take such especiall care as that none may be presented to the Bishop for him to lay his hands vpon but such as can render an account of their Faith according to the Catechisme in the said Booke contained And when the Bishop shall assigne any time for the performance of that part of his duty euery such Minister shall vse his best endeuour to prepare and make able and likewise to procure as many as he can to be then brought and by the Bishop to be confirmed LXII Ministers not to marrie any persons without Bannes or Licence NO Minister vpon paine of suspension per triennium ipso facto shall celebrate Matrimonie betweene any persons without a Facultie or Licence granted by some of the persons in these our Constitutions expressed except the Bannes of Matrimonie haue bene first published three seueral Sundaies or Holy dayes in the time of diuine Seruice in the Parisâ—… churches and Chappels where the saide parties dwel according to the booke of Common prayer Neither shall any Minister vpon the like paine vnder any pretence whatsoeuer ioyne any persons so licenced in Marriage at any vnseasonable times but onely betweene the houres of eight and twelue in the forenoone nor in any priuate place but either in the said Churches or Chappels where one of them dwelleth and likewise in time of Diuine Seruice nor when Bannes are thrice asked and no Licence in that respect necessary before the Parents or Gouernours of the parties to be married being vnder the age of twentie and one yeeres shall either personally or by sufficient testimonie signifie to him their consents giuen to the said Marriage LXIII Ministers of exempt Churches not to Marry without Bannes or Licence EVery Minister who shal hereafter celebrate Marriage betwixt any persons contrary to our said Constitutions or any part of them vnder colour of any peculiar Libertie or Priuiledge claimed to appertaine to certaine Churches and Chappels shall be suspended per triennium by the Ordinarie of the place where the offence shal be committed And if any such Minister shall afterwards remooue from the place where he hath committed that fault before he be suspended as is aforesaid then shall the Bishop of the Diocesse or Ordinarie of the place where he remaineth vpon Certificat vnder the Hand and Seale of the other Ordinarie from whose Iurisdiction hee remooued execute that censure vpon him LXIIII. Ministers solemnly to bid Holy dayes EVery Parson Vicar or Curate shall in his seuerall charge declare to the people euery Sunday at the time appointed in the Communion Booke whether there bee any Holy dayes or Fasting dayes the weeke following And if any doe hereafter wittingly offend herein and beeing once admonished thereof by his Ordinary shall againe omit that duetie let him be censured according to Law vntill hee submit himselfe to the due performance of it LXV Ministers solemnly to denounce Recusants and Excommunicats ALl Ordinaries shall in their seuerall Iurisdictions carefully see giue order that aswell those who for obstinate refusing to frequent diuine Seruice established by publike authority within this Realme of England as those also especially of the better sort and condition who for notorious contumacie or other notable crimes stand lawfully excommunicate vnlesse within three moneths immediatly after the said sentence of Excommunication pronounced against them they reforme themselues and obtaine the benefit of Absolution bee euery sixe moneths ensuing aswell in the Parish Church as in the Cathedrall Church of the Diocesse in which they remaine by the Minister openly in time of Diuine Seruice vpon some Sunday denounced and declared Excommunicate that others may be thereby both admonished to refraine their company and society and excited the rather to procure out a Writ De excommunicate capiendo thereby to bring and reduce them into due order and obedience Likewise the Register of euery Ecclesiastical Court shal yeerely betweene Michaelmas and Christmas duely certifie the Archbishop of the Prouince of all and singuler the premisses aforesaid LXVI Miuisters to conferre with Recusants EVery Minister being a Preacher and hauing any Popish Recusant or Recusants in his Parish and thought fit by the Bishop of the Diocesse shall labour diligently wiâ—h them from time to time thereby to reclâ—ime them from their errours And if he be 〈◊〉 Preacher or not such a Preacher then hee shall procure if he can possibly some that are Preachers so qualified to take paines with them for that purpose If he can procure none then he shall informe the Bishop of the Diocesse thereof who shal not only appoint some neighbour Preacher or Preachers adioyning 〈…〉 labour vpon them but himselfe also 〈…〉 important affaires wil permit him shal 〈…〉 is best endeuour by instruction perswasion and all good meanes he