eisdem Archiepiscopo Episcopo vel Suffragano subservientes pro membrana scriptione cera sigillatione vel alia quavis causa hoc negotium contingente supra decem solidos percipient sub paenis hac in parte lege constitutis 136. Statarius Feodorum census in tabulas relatus publicè in Consistoriis Archivis proponendus STatuimus porrò ordinamus ut cujusque Judicis Ecclesiastici Registrarius tabulas binas in quibus certae singulorum feodorum summae separatim exprimentur publicè figi curet proponi unam in Confistorio vel loco consueto ubi dicta Curia teneri solet alteram in suo Archivo utramque in loco ita congruo ut quilibet cujus intererit ejusdem inspiciendae legendae vel etiam transcribendae liberam habeat facultatem quod ante Festum Nativitatis proximè futurum perfici volumus Quod siquis Registrarius dictas tabulas juxta tenorem praemissorum publicê figendas non curaverit ab executione Officii sui eousque suspendetur quoad praemissa modo forma specificatis perfecerit easque tabulas semel fixas siquando vel auferet vâ—l in fraudem hujus Constitutionis ex loco in quo primùm positae erant removeri vel quovis pacto occultari patietur tunc pro singulis ejusmodi delictis ab exercitio muneris sui per semestre spatium suspendetur 137. Feoda pro ordinum literis aliisque licentiis Episcocopo exhibendis tantùm dimidia praeterquam in prima Episcopi visitatione persolvenda CUm non minima sit Visitationis causa effectus ut Episcopus Archidiaconus aut alius Visitans de statu sufficientia facultatibus Cleri aliorum visitandorum perfectiorem aliquem notitiam consequantur aequum duximus ut quilibet Rector Vicarius Curatus Ludimagister alius quicunque licentiatus literas Ordinum Institutionis Inductionis itemque Dispensationes Licentias Facultates suas quascunque in Visitatione prima illius Episcopi vel in proxima post ejus admissionem exhibeat per dictum Visitantem approbandas aut si justa fuerit causa rejiciendas si approbatae fuerint per Registrarium uti moris est consignandas quodque feoda in Visitationibus intuitu praemissorum consueta solvi semel duntaxat tempore alicujus Episcopi integra persolvantur in reliquis verò ejusdem Visitationibus quamdiu in ea sede permanserit dictorum feodorum dimidium tantùm exigatur Apparitores 138. Apparitorum excessus coerciti QUoniam excessibus gravaminibus quae per Apparitores inferri dicuntur remedium cupimus adhibere opportunum censemus Apparitorum multitudinem quantum fieri poterit restringendam Statuimus ergo ordinamus nullatenùs licitum fore Episcopis vel Archidiaconis eorumve Vicariis seu Officialibus aliisque inferioribus Ordinariis deputare habere plures Apparitores jurisdictionibus suis respectivè infervientes quà m ante triginta annos praetâ—ritos vel ipsi vel ipsorum praedecessores habere consueverunt qui omnes per se suum fideliter exequantur Officium nec per nuntios aut substitutos quocunque quaesito colore suâ vice mandatorum executiones demandent aut permittant nisi ex causa à loci O dinario priùs cognita approbata neque vero promotorum Officii vel denunciatorum personas omninô sustinebunt feodave ampliora vel majora quà m quae his Constitutionibus superiùs statuuntur ullatenùs exiget Quòd si vel plures quà m superiùs est expressum deputati extiterint vel illorum aliqui praemissa violaverint deputantes si Episcopi sint per Superiorem moniti supernumerarios dimittant si Ordinarii Episcopis inferiores ab executione Officii suspendantur donec hujusmodi deputatos amoverint Deputati autem ipsi ab Apparitorum Officio amoveantur perpetuô si amoti non desistant tanquam contumaces Canonicis censuris coerceantur Proviso semper quòd si Archiepiscopus Cantuariensis experientia compertum habuerit Apparitorum numerum in aliqua Dioecesi redundare tum omnem ejusmodi redundantiam dicto Archiepiscopo relinquimus pro ipsius beneplacito minuendam Authoritas Synodorum 139. Synodus nationalis Ecclesia repraesentativa QUisquis de caetero affirmabit sacrosanctam hujus Nationis Synodum in Christi nomine ac de Regis mandato congregatam non esse repraesentativè veram Ecclesiam Anglicanam excommunicetur nequaquà m absolvendus priusquam resipuerit impium hunc errorem publicè revocârit 140. Synodi acta tà m absentes quà m praesentes obligant QUisquis de caetero affirmabit nullos sive Clericos sive Laicos qui in eà dem sacra Synodo personaliter non convenerint ejusdem Decretis Ecclesiasticas causas concernentibus quantumvis ex suprema Regiae Majestatis authoritate conditis per eandem ratihabitis ullatenùs obligari ut quibus ipsi votum consensum suum non praebuerint excommunicetur nequaquam absolvendus priusquam resipuerit ac impium hunc errorem publicè revocârit 141. Synodi authoritati derogantes coerciti QUsquis de caetero affiâ—mabit dictam sacram Synodum congregatam ut suprà fuisse coetum ex talibus conflatum qui in pios religiosos Evangelii professores conspirabant ac proinde tùm ipsos tùm ipsorum actâ— in Canonibus sive Constitutionibus circa causas Ecclesiasticas ex Regis authoritate ut praedictum est condendis ac sanciendis rejici ac contemni debere quantumvis eaedem per dictam potestatem Regiam ac supremam ej sdem authoritatem ratihabitae confirmatae ac injunctae sint excommunicetur haudquaquam absolvendus priùsquam resipuerit ac impium hunc errorem publicè revocârit FINIS CONSTITUTIONS AND CANONS ECCLESIASTICAL Treated upon by the ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBVRY YORK Presidents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of those Provinces And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties License in their several Synods begun at London and York 1640. In the year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland the Sixteenth And now published for the due observation of them by His Majesties Authority under the Great Seal of England London Printed by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and by the Assigns of John Bill 1640. CHARLES By the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting WHereas our Bishops Deans of our Cathedral Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges and the other Clergy of every Diocess within the several Provinces of Canterbury and York being respectively summoned and called by vertue of our several Writs to the most Reverend Father in God Our right trusty and right well-beloved Councellor William by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan and to the most Reverend Father in God Our right trusty and well-beloved Councellor Richard by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England respectively
to use themselves in such wise as may be to Gods glory the Kings honor and the weal of this Realm Thirdly ye shall pray for all them that be departed out of this world in the faith of Christ that they with us and we with them at the day of Iudgment may rest both body and soul with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven ALL which singular Injunctionsr the Kings Majesty ministreth unto his Clergy and their Successors and to all his loving Subjects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits or Benefices suspension excommunication and such other coertion as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction whom his Majesty hath appointed for the due execution of the same shall be seen convenient charging and commanding them to see these Injunctions observed and kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction as they will answer to his Majesty for the contrary and his Majesties pleasure is that every Iustice of Peace being required thall assist the Ordinaries and every of them for the due execution of the said Injunctions THE ORDER Of the Communion Imprinted at London by Richard Grafton MDXLVII The PROCLAMATION EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and of the Church of England and Ireland in Earth the Supreme Head to all and singular Our loving Subjects Greeting For so much as in Our high Court of Parliament lately holden at Westminster it was by Vs with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons there assembled most godly and agreably to Christs holy institution Enacted That the most blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of Our Saviour Christ should from thenceforth be commonly delivered and ministred unto all persons within Our Realm of England and Ireland and other Our Dominions under both kinds that is to say of Bread and Wine except necessity otherways require lest any man phansying and devising a sundry way by himself in the use of this most blessed Sacrament of Vnity there might thereby arise any unseemly and ungodly diversity Our pleasure is by the advice of Our most dear Vncle the Duke of Somerset Governour of our Person and Protector of all Our Realms Dominions and Subjects and other of Our Privy Council That the said blessed Sacrament be ministred unto Our people only after such form and manner as hereafter by Our Authority with the advice beforementioned is set forth and declared willing every man with due reverence and Christian behaviour to come to this holy Sacrament and most blessed Communion lest by the unworthy receiving of so high mysteries they become guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and so eat and drink their own damnation but rather diligently trying themselves that they may so come to this holy Table of Christ and so be partakeres of this holy Communion that they may dwell in Christ and have Christ dwelling in them And also with such obedience and conformity to receive this our Ordinance and most godly direction that we may be encouraged from to time time further to travel for the reformation and setting forth of such godly Orders as may be most to Gods glory the edifying of Our Subjects and for the advancement of true Religion Which thing we by the help of God most earnestly intend to bring to effect willing all Our loving Subjects in the mean time to stay and quiet themselves with this Our direction as men content to follow Our Authority according to the bounden duty of Subjects and not enterprising to run a fore and so by their rashness become the greatest hinderers of such things as they more arrogantly than godly would seem by their own private Authority most hotly to set forward We would not have Our Subjects so much to mislike Our Iudgment so much to mistrust Our Zeal as though we either could not discern what were to be done or would not do all things in due time God be praised we know both what by his word is meet to be redressed and have an earnest mind by the advice of Our most dear Vncle and other of Our Privy Council with all diligence and convenient speed so to set forth the same as it may most stand with Gods glory and edifying and quietness of Our people which we doubt not but all Our obedient and loving Subjects will quietly and reverently tarry for God save the KING The order of the Communion First the Parson Vicar or Curate the next Sunday or Holy-day or at the least one Day before he shall Minister the Communion shall give warning to his Parishoners or those which be present that they prepare themselves thereto saying to them openly and plainly as hereafter followeth or such like DEar Friends and you especially upon whose souls I have cure and charge upon day next I do intend by Gods Grace to offer to all such as shall be there godly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ to be taken of them in the remembrance of his most fruitful and glorious Passion by the which Passion we have obtained remisson of our sins and be made partakers of the Kingdom of Heaven whereof we be assured and ascertained if we come to the said Sacrament with hearty repentance for our offences stedfast faith in Gods mercy and earnest minds to obey Gods will and to offend no more wherefore our duty is to come to these holy mysteries with most hearty thanks to be given to Almighty God for his infinite mercy and benefits given and bestowed upon us his unworthy servants for whom he hath not only given his body to death and shed his blood but also doth vouchsafe in a Sacrament and mystery to give us his said body and blood spiritually to feed and drink upon The which Sacrament being so divine and holy a thing and so comfortable to them which receive it worthily and so dangerous to them that will presume to take the same unworthily my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the greatness of the thing and to search and examine your own consciences and that not lightly nor after the manner of dissemblers with God But as they which should come to a most godly and heavenly banket not to come but in the Marriage-garment required of God in Scripture that you may so much as lyeth in you be found worthy to come to such a Table The ways and means thereto is First That you be truly repentant of your former evil life and that you confess with an unfeigned heart to Almighty God your sins and unkindness towards His Majesty committed either by will word or deed infirmity or ignorance and that with inward sorrow and tears you bewail your offences and require of Almighty God mercy and pardon promising to him from the bottom of your hearts the amendment of your former life And amongst all
past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life to the honor and glory of thy Name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him to the people say thus Our blessed Lord who hath left power to his Church to absolve penitent sinners from their sins and to restore to the grace of the heavenly Father such as truly believe in Christ have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all sins confirm and strengthen you in all goodness and bring you to everlasting life Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him toward the people say thus Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith to all that truly turn to him COme unto me all that travel and be heavy laden and I shall refresh you So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have life everlasting Hear also what St. Paul saith THis is a true saying and worthy of all men to be embraced and received that Iesus Christ came into this world to save sinners Hear also what St. John saith IF any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he it is that obtained grace for our sins Then shall the Priest kneel down and say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this Prayer following WE do not presume to come to this thy Table O merciful Lord trusting in our own righteousness but in thy manifold and great mercies we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crums under thy Table but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Iesus Christ and to drink his blood in these holy Mysteries that we may continually dwell in him and he in us that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood Amen Then shall the Priest rise the people still reverently kneeling and the Priest shall deliver the Communion first to the Ministers if any be there present that they may be ready to help the Priest and after to the other And when he doth deliver the Sacrament of the body of Christ he shall say to every one these words following THe body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body unto everlasting life And the Priest delivering the Sacrament of the blood and giving every one to drrnk once and no more shall say THe blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy soul unto everlasting life If there be a Deacon or other Priest then shall he follow with the Chalice and as the Priest ministreth the Bread so shall he for more expedition minister the Wine in form before written Then shall the Priest turning him to the people let the people depart with this blessing THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. To which the people shall answer Amen Note That the Bread that shall be consecrated shall be such as heretofore hath been accustomed And every of the said consecrated Breads shall be broken in two pieces at the least or more by the discretion of the Minister and so distributed And men must not think less to be received in part than in the whole but in each of them the whole body of our Saviour Iesus Christ Note That if it doth so chance that the Wine hollowed and consecrate doth not suffice or be enough for them that do take the Communion the Priest after the first Cup or Chalice be emptied may go again to the Altar and reverently and devâ—utly prepare and Consecrate another and so the third or more likewise beginning at these words Simili modo postquam coenatum est and ending at these words qui pro vobis promultis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum and withiout any leavation or lifting up Articles to be enquired of in the Visitations to be had within the Diocese of Canterbury in the second year of the Reign of our Dread Soveraign Lord Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the Supreme Head FIrst Whether Parsons Vicars and Curates and every of them have purely and sincerely without colour or dissimulation four times in the year at the least preached against the usurped power pretended authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Item Whether they have preached and declared likewise four times in the year at the least that the Kings Majesties power authority and preheminence within his Realms and Dominions is the highest power under God Item Whether any person hath by writing cyphring preaching or teaching deed or act obstinately holden and stand with to extol set forth maintain or defend the authority jurisdiction or power of the Bishop of Rome or of his See heretofore claimed and usurped or by any pretense obstinately or maliciously invented any thing for the extolling of the same or any part thereof Item Whether in their Common-prayers they use not the Collects made for the King and make not special mention of his Majesties name in the same Item Whether they do not every Sunday and Holy-day with the Collects of the English procession say the prayer set forth by the Kings Majesty for peace between England and Scotland Item Whether they have not removed taken away and utterly extincted and destroyed in their Churches Chappels and Houses all Images all Shrines coverings of Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindels or Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and allother Monuments of feigned Miracles Pilgrimges Idolatry and Superstition so that there remain on memory of the same in walls glass-windows or elsewhere Item Whether they have exhorted moved and stirred their Parishioners to do the like in every of their houses Item Whether they have declared to their Parishioners the Articles concerning the abrogation of certain superfluous Holy-dayes and done their endeavor to perswade the said Parishioners to keep and observe the same Articles inviolably and whether any of those abrogate dayes have been kept as Holy-days and by whose occasion they were so kept Item Whether they have diligently duly and reverently ministred the Sacraments in their Cures Item Whether they have preached or caused to be preached purely and sincerely the word of God in every of their Cures every quarter of the year once at the least exhorting their Parishioners to words commanded by the Scripture and not to works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wearing or praying upon Beads or such like Item Whether they suffer any Torches Candles Tapers or any other lights to be in your Churches but only two lights upon the
Trentals Masses satisfactory decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Friers and upon other like blind devotions Item whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Item whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit Item whether they have every Sunday when the people be most gathered read one of the Homilies in order as they stand in the book set forth by the Kings Majesty Item whether they do not omit prime and hours when they have any Sermon or Homily Item whether they have said or sung any Mass in any Oratory Chappel or any mans house not being hallowed Item whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners that they should not wear Beads nor pray upon them Item whether they have moved their Parishioners lying upon their death-beds or at any other time to bestow any part of their substance upon Trentals Masses satisfactory or any such blind devotions Item whether they take any Trentals or other Masses satisfactory to say or sing for the quick or the dead Item whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners to detect and present to their Ordinary all adulterers and fornicators and such men as have two wives living and such women as have two husbands living within their Parishes Item whether they have not monished their Parishoners openly that they should not sell give nor otherwise alineate any of their Churches goods Item whether they or any of them do keep more Benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions than they ought to do not having sufficient license and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item whether they minister the Communion any other ways then only after such form and manner as is set forth by the Kings Majesty in the book of the Communion Item whether they hallowed and delivered to the people any Candles upon Candlemas-day and Ashes upon Ash-Wednesday or any Palms uyon Palm-Sunday last past Item whether they had upon Good-Friday last past the Sepulchres with their lights having the Sacrament therein tem whether they upon Easter-even last past hallowed the Front Fire or Paschal or had any Paschal set up or burning in their Churches Item whether your Parsons and Vicars have admitted any Curates to serve their Cures which were not first examined and allowed either by my Lord of Canterbury Master-Archdeacon or their Officers Item whether you know any person within your Parish or elfewhere that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached or of the execution of the Kings Majesties Injunctions or other his Majesties proceedings in matters of Religion Item whether every Parish have provided a Chest with two locks and for the book of VVedding Christning and Burying Item whether in the time of the Letany or any other Common-prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the Parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without a just and necessary cause Item whether any Bells have been knowled or rung at the time of the premisses Item whether any person hath abused the Ceremonies as in casting holy water upon his bed or bearing about him holy-bread St. Johns Gospel ringing of holy Bells or keeping of private holy-days as Taylors Bakers Brewers Smiths Shoomakers and such other Item whether the money coming and rising of any Cattle or other moveable stocks of the Church and money given or bequeathed to the finding of Torches Lights Tapers or Lamps not paid out of any Lands have not been employed to the poor mens Chest Item who hath the said stocks and money in their hands and what be their names Item whether any undiscreet persons do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item whether they that understand not the Latine do pray upon any Primer but the English Primer set forth by the Kings Majesties Authority and whether they that understand Latine do use any other then the Latine Primer set forth by like Authority Item whether there be any other Grammar taught in any other School within this Diocess then that which is set forth by the Kings Majesty Item whether any person keep their Church holy-day and the Dedication day any otherwise or at any other time then is appointed by the Kings Majesty Item whether the service in the Church be done at due and convenient hours Item whether any have used to commune jangle and talk in the Church in the time of the Common-prayer reading of the Homily Preaching reading or declaring of the Scripture Item whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any Heresies Errours or false Opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Item whether any be common drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the Name of God Item whether any have committed adultery fornication or incest or be common Bawds and receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Item whether any be brawlers slanderers chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Item whether you know any that use Charms Sorcery Enchantments VVitchcraft Southsaying or any like craft invented by the Devil Item whether the Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired Item whether you know any that in contempt of your own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Item whether any Inholders or Alehouse-keepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of Common prayer Preaching or Reading of the Homilies or Scripture Item whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the Laws of God or that be separated or divorced without a just cause allowed by the Law of God and whether any such have married again Item whether you know any to have made privy contracts of matrimony not calling two or more thereunto Item whether they have married solemnly the Banns not first lawfully asked Item whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high-ways finding of poor Scholars or marrying of poor Maids or such other like charitable deeds Item whether any do contemn married Priests and for that they be married will not receive the Communion or other Sacraments at their hands Item whether you know any that keep in their houses undefaced any abused or feigned Images any Tables Pictures Paintings or other monuments of feigned miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry or Superstition ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED of IN THE VISITATION OF THE DIOCESS of LONDON By the Reverend Father in God NICOLAS BISHOP of LONDON In the fourth year of our Soveraign Lord King Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the supreme
that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth R. Edv. 6. Art 39. Resurrectio mortuorum nondum est facta REsurre Aio mortuorum non adhuc facta est quasi tantum ad animum pertineat qui per Christi Gratiam à morte peccatorum excitetur sed extremo die quoad omnes qui obierunt expectanda est tunc enim vita defunctis ut scripturae manifestissimè testantur propria corpora earnes ossa restituentur ut homo integer prout vel recte vel perdite vixerit juxta sua opera sive praemia sive poenas reportet Art R. Ed. 6. R. Ed. 6. Art 40. Defunctorum animae neque cum corporibus intereunt neque etiose dormiunt QUi animas defunctorum p rdicant usque ad diem judicii absque omni sensu dormire aut illas asserunt una cum corporibus mori extrema die cum illis excitandas ab orthodoxa fide quae nobis in sacris literis traditur prorsus dissentiunt R. Edv. 6. Art 41. Millenarii QUi Millenariorum fabulam revocare conantur sacris literis adversantur in Judaica deliramenta sese praecipitant R. Edv. Art 42. Non omnes tandem servandi sunt HI quoque damnatione digni sunt qui conantur hodie perniciosam opinionem instaurare quod omnes quâ—ntumvis impii servandi sunt tandem cum definito tempore à justitia divina poenas de admissis flagitiis luerunt The Ratification THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm by the assent and consent of our Soveraign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith c. Which Articles were deliberately read and confirmed again by the subscription of the hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the nether House in their Convocation in the year of our Lord 1571. 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 Justification 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 Councils 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the Congregation 24 Of speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the worthiness of Ministers 27 Of Baptism 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kinds 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 Anno primo Reginae Eliz. cap. 2. There shall be Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of Sacraments WHere at the death of our late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth there remained one uniform Order of Common Service and Prayer and of the Administration of Sacraments Rights and Ceremonies in the Church of England which was set forth in one Book entituled The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England authorised by Act of Parliament Stat. 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. holden in the fifth and sixth years of our said late Soveraign Lord King Edward the sixth entituled An Act for the Uniformity of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments the which was repealed and taken away by Act of Parliament in the first year of the raign of our late Soveraign Lady Queen Mary Stat. 1. M. 2. to the great decay of the due honor of God and discomfort to the professors of the truth of Christs Religion A Repeal of the Satute 1. M. 2. and the Book of Common prayer shall be of effect Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the said Statute of Repeal and every thing therein contained only concerning the said Book and the Service Administration of the Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies contained or appointed in or by the said Book shall be void and of none effect from and after the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming And that the said Book with the Order of Service and of the Administration of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies with the Alteration and Additions therein added and appointed by this Estatute shall stand and be from and after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist in full force and effect according to the tenour and effect of this Estatute any thing in the foresaid Estatute of Repeal to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted by the Queens Highness with the assent of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled the authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in any Cathedral or Parish-Church The book of Common-prayer shall be used 8. Eliz. or other place within this Realm of England Wales and the Marches of the same or other the Queens Dominions shall from and after the feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist next coming be bounden to say and use the Mattens Even-song Celebration of the Lords Supper and Administration of each of the Sacraments and all the Common and open Prayer in such order and form as is mentioned in the said Book so authorised by Parliament The alteration of the Book set forth 5 6. Ed. 6. 1. in the said 5. and 6. years of the Reign of King Edward the sixth with one alteration or addition of certain Lessons to be used on every Sunday in the year and the form of the Letany altered and corrected and two sentences only added in the delivery of the Sacrament to the Communicants and none other or otherwise And that if any manner of Parson Vicar The forfeiture of those which use any other Service than the Book of Common-prayer or other whatsoever Minister that ought or should sing or say Common-Prayer mentioned in the said Book or minister the Sacraments from and after the feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist next coming refuse to use the said Common-prayer or to minister the Sacraments in such Cathedral or Parish-Church or other places as he should use to minister the same in such order or form as they be mentioned and set forth in the said Book or
of this Realm And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this Book the Queens Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain and publish such farther Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his Church and the due reverence of Christs holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Laws All Laws and Ordinances made for other service shall be void Statutes and Ordinances wherein or whereby any other Service Administration of Sacraments or Common-prayer is limited established or set forth to be used within this Realm or any other the Queens Dominions or Countries shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect Coke pla fol. 352. A Clause Anno 8. Eliz. cap. 1. A Confirmation of the Stat. of 2 Eliz. 1 touching the Book of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments WHerefore for the plain declaration of all the premises and to the intent that the same may the better be known to every of the Queens Majesties Subjects whereby such evil speech as heretofore hath been used against the high state of Prelacy may hereafter cease Be it now declared and enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the said Act and Statute made in the first year of the Reign of our said Severaign Lady the Queens Majesty whereby the said Book of Common-prayer and the Administration of Sacraments with other Rites and Ceremonies is authorised and allowed to be used shall stand remain good and perfect to all respects and purposes And that such order and form for the Consecrating of Archbishops and Bishops A Confirmation of the Stat. of 5. 6. Ed. 6. 1. touching the form of consecrating of Archbishops c. and for the making of Priests Deacons and Ministers as was set forth in the time of the said late King Edward the sixth and authorized by Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of the said late King shall stand and be in full force and effect and shall from henceforth be used and observed in all places within this Realm and other the Queens Majesties Dominions and Countries Anno 13. Eliz. cap. 12. Reformation of Disorders in the Ministers of the Church c. THat the Churches of the Queens Majesties Dominions may be served with Pastors of sound Religion be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament that every person under the degree of a Bishop which doth or shall pretend to be a Priest or Minister of Gods holy Word and Sacraments by reason of any other form of Institution Consecration or ordering than the form set forth by Parliament in the time of the late King of most worthy memory 3 Ed. 6. 12. 5 Ed 6. 1. Dyer f. 377. King Edward the sixth or now used in the Reign of our most gracious Soveraign Lady before the Feast of the Nativity of Christ next following shall in the presence of the Bishop or Guardian of the Spiritualities of some one Diocess where he hath or shall have Ccclesiastical Living declare his assent and subscribe to all the Articles of Religion which only concern the Confession of the true Christian Faith and the Doctrine of the Sacraments comprised in a Book imprinted entituled Articles Every Ecclesiastical person shall subscribe to the Articles touching the Confession of the Faith and declare his assent there unto Reading of the Articles and Testimonial The penalty of maintaining of Doctrine against the Articles whereupon it was agreed by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord 1562. according to the computation of the Church of England for the avoiding of the diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion put forth by the Queens Authority and shall bring from such Bishop or Guardian of Spiritualities in writing under his Seal authentick a testimonial of such assent and subscription openly on some Sunday in the time of some publick Service afternoon in every Church where by reason of any Ecclesiastical living he ought to attend read both the said testimonial and the said Articles upon pain that every such person which shall not before the said Feast do as is appointed shall be ipso facto deprived and all his Ecclesiastical promotions shall be void as if he were then naturally dead And that if any person Ecclesiastical or which shall have Ecclesiastical Livings shall advisedly maintain or affirm any Doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to any of the said Articles and being convented before the Bishop of the Diocess or the Ordinary or before the Queens Highness Commissioners in causes Ecclesiastical shall persist therein or not revoke his errour or after such revocation eftsoons affirm such untrue Doctrine such maintaining or affirming and persisting or such eftsoon affirming shall be just cause to deprive such person of his Ecclesiastical Promotions And it shall be lawful to the Bishop of the Diocess Several things required in him which shall be admitted to a Benefice or to the Ordinary or the said Commissiones to deprive such persons so persisting or lawfully convicted of such eftsoons affirming and upon such sentence or deprivation pronounced he shall be indeed deprived And that no person shall hereafter be admitted to any Benefice with Cure except he then be of the age of 23 years at the least and a Deacon shall first have subscribed the said Articles in presence of the Ordinary and publickly read the same in the Parish-Church of that Benefice with declaration of his unfeigned assent to the same And that every person after the end of this Session of Parliament to be admitted to a Benefice with Cure except that within two Months after his Induction he do publickly read the said Articles in the same Church whereof he shall have Cure in the time of Common-prayer there with declaration of his unfeigned assent thereto and be admitted to minister the Sacraments within one year after his Induction if he be not so admitted before shall be upon every such default ipso facto immediately depâ—ived And that no person now permitted by any dispensation or otherwise shall retain any Benefice with Cure being under the age of 21 years or not being Deacon at the least or which shall not be admitted as is aforesaid within one year next after the making of this Act or within six Months after he shall accomplish the age of 24 years on pain that such his dispensation shall be meerly void The Age of a Minister or Preacher and his testimonial And that none shall be made Minister or admitted to preach or administer the Sacraments being under the age of 24 years nor unless he first bring to the Bishop of that Diocess from
of his dear beloved Son we may attain the sight And that with perfect faith also we may acknowledge thee The Spirit of them both alway one God in persons three Laud and praise be to the Father and to the Son equal And to the only Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the holy Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do profess his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione ut in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood for after due examination we find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they pe 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 which he ought not to be received into this holy ministery now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be objected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister unto every one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as is set forth in the Order of Deacons And that done he shall say unto them which are appointed to receive the said Office as hereafter followeth 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 he called And how we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the Messengesrs and Watchmen the Pastors and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premouish 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 midst of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have always 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 Body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence you know the greatness of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministery towards the children of God towards the Spouse and Body of Christ and see that you never cease your labour your care and diligence until you have done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge unto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of error in Religion or for viciousness of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellency and of so great difficulty ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to beware that neither you your selves offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and a will thereto of our selves for that power and ability is given of God alone Therefore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his holy Spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work pertaining to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scripture and with a life agreeable unto the same Ye perceive how studious ye ought to be in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the manners both of your selves and of them that specially pertain unto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this self-same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies We have good hope that you have well-weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time and that you have clearly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this vocation whereunto it hath pleased God to cal you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selves wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies this way and to this end And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavor your selves from time to time to sanctifie the lives of you and yours and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ and that ye may be wholsom and godly examples and patterns for the rest of the Congregation to follow and that this present Congregation of Christ here assembled may also understand your minds and wills in these things and that this your promise shall move you to do your duties ye shall answer plainly to these things which we in the name of the Congregation demand of you touching the same Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priest-hood Answer I think it The Bishop BE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Iesu Christ And are you determined with the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of
directed bearing date the twentieth day of February in the fifteenth year of Our Reign to appear before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury in Our Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London and before the said Lord Archbâ—shop of York in the Metropolitan Church of St. Peter in York the fourteenth day of April then next ensuing or elsewhere as they respectively should think it most convenient to treat consent and conclude upon certain difficult and urgent affairs contained in the said Writs Did thereupon at the time appointed and within the Cathedral Church of S. Paul and the Metropolitan Church of S. Peter aforesaid assemble themselves respectively together and appear in several Convocations for that purpose according to the said several Writs before the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Lord Archbishop of York respectively And forasmuch as We are given to understand that many of Our Subjects being misled against the Rites and Ceremonies now used in the Church of England have lately taken offence at the same upon an unjust supposal that they are not only contrary to Our Laws but also introductive unto Popish Superstitions whereas it well appeareth unto Vs upon mature consideration that the said Rites and Ceremonis which are now so much quarrelled at were not onely approved of and used by those learned and godly Divines to whom at the time of Reformation under King Edward the sixth the compiling of the Book of of Common-Prayer was committed divers of which suffered Martyrdom in Queen Maries days but also again taken up by this whole Church under Queen Elizabeth and so duly and ordinarily practised for a great part of her Reign within the memory of divers yet living as that it could not then be imagined that there would need any Rule or Law for the observation of the same or that they could be thought to savour of Popery And albeit since those times for want of an express Rule therein and by subtile practises the said Rites and Ceremonies began to fall into disuse and in place thereof other forraign and unfitting usages by little and little to creep in Yet forasmuch as in our own Royal Chappels and in many other Churches most of them have been ever constantly used and observed We cannot now but be very sensible of this matter and have cause to conceive that the Authors and Fomentors of these jealousies though they colour the same with a pretence of Zeal and would seem to strike only at some supposed iniquity in the said Ceremonies Yet as we have cause to fear aim at Our own Royal Person and would fain have Our good Subjects imagine that we Our Self are perverted and doe worship God in a Superstitious way and that we intend to bring in some alteration of the Religion here established Now how far we are from that and how utterly We detest every thought thereof We have by many publick Declaracions and otherwise upon sundry occasions given such assurance to the World as that from thence We also assure Our Self that no man of wisdom and discretion could ever be so beguiled as to give any serious entertainment to such brain-sick jealousies and for the weaker sort who are prone to be misled by crafty seducers We rest no less confident that even of them as many as are of loyal or indeed but of charitable hearts will from henceforth utterly banish all such causeless fears and surmises upon these our sacred professions so often made by Vs a Christian Defender of the Faith their King and Soveraign And therefore if yet any person under whatsoever mask of Zeal or counterfeit Holiness shall henceforth by speech or writing or any other way notwithstanding these Our right hearty faithful and solemn Protestations made before Him whose Deputy We are against all and every intention of any Popish Innovation be so ungracious and presumptuous as to vent any poisoned conceits tending to such a purpose and to cast these develish aspersions and jealousies upon Our Royal and Godly proceedings We require all Our loyal Subjects that they forthwith make the same known to some Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Civil And We straightly charge all Ordinaries and every other person in any Authority under Vs as they will answer the contrary at their utmost peril that they use no palliation connivance or delay therein but that taking particular information of all the passages they do forthwith certifie the same unto Our Court of Commission for causes Ecclesiastical to be there examined and proceeded in with all fidelity and tenderness of Our Royal Majesty as is due to Vs their Soveraign Lord and Governour But forasmuch as we well percieve that the misleaders of Our well-minded people do make the more advantage for the nourishing of this distemper among them from hence that the foresaid Rites and Ceremonies or some of them are now insisted upon but only in some Diocesses and are not generally revived in all places nor constantly and uniformly practised thorowout all the Churches of Our Realm and thereupon have been liable to be quarrelled and opposed by them who use them not We therefore out of Our Princely inclination to Vniformity and Peace in matters especially that concern the holy worship of God proposing to Our Self herein the pious examples of King Edward the sixth and of Queen Elizabeth who sent forth Injunctions and Orders about the Divine Service and other Ecclesiastical matters and of Our dear Father of blessed memory King James who published a Book of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical and according to the Act of Parliament in this behalf having fully advised herein with Our Metropolitan and with Our Commissioners authorised under Our great Seal for causes Ecclesiastical have thought good to give them free leave to treat in Convocation and agree upon certain other Canons necessary for the advancement of Gods glory the edifying of his holy Church and the due reverence of his blessed Mysteries and Sacraments that as We ever have been and by Gods assistance by whom alone We Reign shall ever so continue careful and ready to cut off Superstition with one hand so We may no less expel Irreverence and Profaneness with the other whereby it may please Almighty God so to bless Vs and this Church committed to Our Government that it may at once return unto the true former splendour of Vniformity Devotion and holy Order the lustre whereof for some years by-past hath been overmuch obscured through the devices of some ill-affected to that sacred Order wherein it had long stood from the very beginning of the Reformation and through inadvertency of some in Authority in the Church under Vs We therefore by vertue of Our Prerogative Royal and supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical by Our several and respective Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England dated the fifteenth day of April now last past and
the twelfth day of May then next following for the Province of Canterbury And by Our like Letters Patents dated the seven and twentieth day of the same month of April and the twentieth day of the month of May aforesaid for the Province of York did give and grant full free and lawful liberty license power and authority unto the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and unto the said Lord Archbishop of York President of the said Convocation for the Province of York and to the rest of the Bishops of the said Provinces and unto all Deans of Cathedral Churches Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges and the whole Clergy of every several Diocess within the said several Provinces and either of them that they should and might from time to time during the Present Parliament and further during Our will and pleasure confer treat debate consider consult and agree of and upon Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions as they should think necessary fit and convenient for the honor and service of Almighty God the good and quiet of the Church and the better Government thereof to be from time to time observed performed fulfilled and kept as well by the said Archbishop of Canterbury and the said Archbishop of York the Bishops and their Successors and the rest of the whole Clergy of the said several Provinces of Canterbury and York in their several Callings Offices Functions Ministeries Degrees and Administrations As by all and every Dean of the Arches and other Iudges of the said several Archbishops of Courts Guardians of Spiritualties Chancellours Deans and Chapters Archdeacons Commissaries Officials Registers and all and every other Ecclesiastical Officers and their inferiour Ministers whatsoever of the same respective Provinces of Canterbury and York in their and every of their distinct Courts and in the order and manner of their and every of their proceedings and by all other persons within this Realm as far as lawfully being members of the Church it may concern them as in our said Letters Patents amongst other clauses more at large doth appear Now forasmuch as the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury President of the said Convocation for the Province of Canterbury and the said Archbishop of York President of the said Convocation for the Province of York and others the said Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chapters and Colledges with the rest of the Clergy having met together respectively at the time and places before mentioned respectively and then and there by vertue of Our said Authority granted unto them treated of concluded and agreed upon certain Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to the end and purpose by Vs limited and prescribed unto them and have thereupon offered and presented the same unto Vs most humbly desiring Vs to give Our Royal assent unto the same according to the form of a certain Statute or Act of Parliament made in that behalf in the five and twentieth year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth and by Our said Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in causes Ecclesiastical to ratifie by Our Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England and to confirm the same the Title and Tenour of them being word for word as ensueth Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical treated upon by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York Presidents of the Convocations for the respective Provinces of Canterbury and York and the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of those Provinces And agreed upon with the Kings Majesties License in their several Synods begun at London and York 1640. In the year of the Raign of our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland the Sixteenth I. Concerning the Regal Power WHereas sundry Laws Ordinances and Constitutions have been formerly made for the acknowledgment and profession of the most lawful and independent Authority of our dread Soveraign Lord the Kings most Excellent Majesty over the State Ecclesiastical and Civil We as our duty in the first place binds us and so far as to us appertaineth enjoyn them all to be carefully observed by all persons whom they concern upon the penalties of the said Laws and Constitutions expressed And for the fuller and clearer instruction and information of all Christian people within this Realm in their duties in this particular We do further ordain and decree That every Parson Vicar Curate or Preacher upon some one Sunday in every quarter of the year at Morning-prayer shall in the place where he serves treatably and audably read these Explanations of the Regal Power here inserted THE most High and Sacred Order of Kings is of Divine Right being the Ordinance of God Himself founded in the prime Laws of Nature and clearly established by express Texts both of the Old and New Testaments A supreme Power is given to this most excellent Order by God Himself in the Scriptures which is That Kings should Rule and Command in their several Dominions all persons of what rank or estate soever whether Ecclesiastical or Civil and that they should restrain and punish with the Temporal Sword all stubborn and wicked doers The care of Gods Church is so committed to Kings in the Scripture that they are commended when the Church keeps the right way and taxed when it runs amiss and therefore her Government belongs in chief unto Kings For otherwise one man would be commended for anothers care and taxed but for anothers negligence which is not Gods way The Power to call and dissolve Councils both National and Provincial is the true right of all Christian Kings within their own Realms and Territories And when in the first times of Christs Church Prelates used this Power 't was therefore only because in those days they had no Christian Kings And it was then so only used as in times of persecution that is with supposition in case it were required of submitting their very lives unto the very Laws and Commands even of those Pagan Princes thar they might not so much as seem to disturb their Civil Government which Christ came to confirm but by no means to undermine For any person or persons to set up maintain or avow in any their said Realms or Territorities respectively under any pretence whatsoever any independent Coactive Power either Papal or Popular whether directly or indirectly is to undermine their great Royal Office and cunningly to overthrow that most sacred Ordinance which God Himself hath established And so is treasonable against God as well as against the King For Subjects to bear Arms against their Kings Offensive or Defensive upon any pretence whatsoever is at least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God And though they do not invade but only resist St. Paul tells them plainly They shall receive to themselves damnation And although Tribute and Custom and Aid and Subsidy and all manner of necessary support and supply be respectively due to Kings from their Subjects by the Law of God
Porta clauditur Prior Sacellanus pergit legendo sententias illas hortatorias ad Eleemosynas interea dum alter Sacellanus singulos Communicaturos adit atque in patinam argenteam oblationes colligit Collecta est summa 4. l. 12 s. 2. d. quam Dominus Episcopus convertandam in Calicem huic Capellae donandum decernit Caeteris rebus ordine gestis demum Episcopus sacram Mensam redit Sacellanis utrisque ad aliquantulum recedentibus lotisque manibus pane fracto vino in Calicem effuso aqua admista stans ait ALmighty God our Heavenly Father c. Eucharistiam ipse primo loco accipit sub utraque specie proximo loco tradit Fundatori quem jam coram sacra Mensa in genua supplicem collocarant dein utrique Sacellano Ad caeteros vero pergentem Episcopum atque panem iis tradentem prior Sacellanus subsequitur Calicem ordine porrigit Cum vinum quod prius effuderat non sufficeret Episcopus de novo in Calicem ex poculo quod in sacra Mensa stabat effundit admistaque aqua recitat clare verba illa consecratoria Finita tandem exhibitione Dominus Episcopus ad Sacrae Mensae Septentrionem in genibus recitante quoque populo ait OUr Father c. O Lord our Heavenly Father c. GLory be to God on high c. Concludit denique cum hac precatione BLessed be thy name O Lord that it hath pleased thee to put into the heart of this thy servant to erect an house to thy worship and service by whose Pains Care and Cost this work was begun and finished Bless O Lord his substance and accept the work of his hands Remember him O our God concerning this wipe not out this kindness of his that he hath shewed for the house of his God and the offices thereof and make them truly thankful to thee that shall injoy the benefit thereof and the ease of it and what is by him well intended make them rightly to use it which will be the best fruit and to God most acceptable Post haec vota populum stans dimitit cum Benedictione hac THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and Minds in the Knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the Blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you always Amen Consecratio COEMETERII STatim à prandio quod in aedibus suis vicinis Fundator Capellae satis lante appararat Domino Episcopo atque convenarum magnae frequentiae ad rem divinam reversis alter Sacellanorum praeit OUr Father c. Post Responsas Psalmus 90. recitatur alternis Post Psalmum Episcopus cum universa multitudine egreditur Capella atque ad Orientalem Coemeterii partem stans denuo sciscitatur Captain Smith for what have you called us hither again Ille schedulam ut prius humillime porrigit quam praefatus à Registris recitat in haec verba IN the name of Richard Smith of Peer-tree in the County of Southampton Esquire R. Reverend Father in God I present unto you the state of the Village of Weston c. ut prius usque ad the River cannot be passed whereby it often cometh to pass that they have been constrained to bury their dead in the open fields the water not being passable or if they durst venture over yet the dead body was followed with so little Company as was no way seemly And thus much formerly having been presented to your Predecessor the R.R.F. in God James late Bishop of Winton and Petition to him made to give and to grant leave unto the said Richard Smith to enclose a piece of ground for a Burial-place on the east side of the said River he favorably gave licence and granted power unto the said Richard Smith so to do as may appear by an instrument under his Episcopal Seal bearing date the 23 of February in the year of our Lord God according to the Computation of the Church of England 1617. Which place of Burial being now enclosed with a decent Rail of Timber at the only proper cost and charges of him the said Richard Smith with intent and purpose that it might be dedicated and consecrated only and wholly for Christian burial for him the said Richard Smith and his Family and the said inhabitants and none other In which respect I beseech God to accept of this sincere intent and purpose and both he and they are together humble Suiters to your Lordship as Gods Minister the Bishop and Ordinary of this Diocess in Gods stead to accept this his free-will offering and to decree this ground severed from all former common and profane uses and to sever it as by the Word of God and prayer and other special Religious duties to dedicate and consecrate it to be a Coemeterie or place of christian burial as aforesaid wherein their bodies may be laid up until the day of general Resurrection promising that they will ever so hold it for holy ground and use it accordingly applying it to no other use but that only and that they will from time to time and ever hereafter as need shall be see it conveniently repaired and fenced in such sort as a Coemetery or Burying-place ought to be Hoc ipsum vero ab Episcopo paucis interrogatis viva voce confirmant Fundator qui è vicinia Lectio prima desumitur è 23. Gen. Secunda Lectio destinabatur è prima Epist ad Cor. cap. 15. à vers 15. ad finem propter angustias temporis omissa Tum Dominus Episcopus in genua ibi submissus precatur O Lord God thou hast been pleased to teach us in thy holy Word as to put a difference between the soul of a Beast and the spirit of a Man for the soul of a Beast goes down to the earth from whence it came and the spirit of a Man returneth unto God that gave it so to make diverse accompts of the Bodies of Mankind and the Bodies of other living creatures in so much as the Body of Adam was resolved on and afterwards the workmanship of thine own hands and endued with a soul from thine own breath But much more since the second Adam thy blessed Son by taking upon him our nature exalted this flesh of ours to be flesh of his flesh whose flesh thou sufferedst not to see Corruption so that the Body returns to the earth and the soul to him that gave it It shall from thence return again it is but a rest and a rest in hope as saith the Psalmist for it is a righteous thing with God that the Body which was partaker with the soul both in doing and suffering should be raised again from the Earth to be partaker also with the soul of the reward or punishment which God in Mercy or Justice shall reward not to one of them alone but joyntly to them both There being then so