a Minister of God of the Church he may receive comfort and absolution to the satisfaction of his mind and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness requiring such as shall be satisfied with a general confession not to be offended with them that do use to their further satisfying the auricular and secret confession to the Priest nor those also which think needful or convenient for the quietness of their own consâ—iences particularly to open their sins to the Priest to be offended with them which are satisfied with their humble confession to God and the general confession to the Church But in all these things to follow and keep the rule of charity and every man to be satisfied with his own conscience not judging other mens minds or acts whereas he hath no warrant of Gods word for the same The time of the Communion shall be immediatly after that the Priest himself hath received the Sacrament without the varying of any other rite or ceremony in the Masse until other order shal be provided but as heretofore usually the Priest hath done with the Sacrament of the body to prepare blesse and consecrate so much as will serve the people so it shall yet continue still after the same manner and form save that he shall blesse and consecrate the biggest Chalice or some faire and convenient cup or cups full of wine with some water put unto it And that day not drink it up all himself but taking one onely sup or draught leave the rest upon the altar covered and turn to them that are disposed to be partakers of the Communion and shall thus exhort them as followeth DEarly beloved in the Lord ye coming to this holy Communion must consider what S. Paul writeth to the Corinthians how he exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves or ever they presume to eat of this bread and drink of this Cup for as the benefit is great if with a truely penitent heart and lively faith we receive this holy Sacrament for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be made one with Christ and Christ with us So is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily for then we become guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour we eat drink our own damnation because we make no difference of the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath over us we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases and sundry kinds of death Iudge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Let your minde be without desire to sin Repent you truely for your sinnes past have an earnest and lively faith in Christ our Saviour be in perfect charity with all men so shall ye be meet partakers of these holy mysteries But above all things you must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ both God and man who did humble himself even to the death upon the crosse for us miserable sinners lying in darknesse and the shadow of death that he might make us the children of God and exalt us to everlasting life And to the ende that we should alwayes remember the exceeding love of our Master and onely Saviour Iesus Christ thus doing for us and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained to us he hath left in these holy mysteries as a pledge of his love and a continual remembrance of the same his own blessed body and precious blood for us spiritually to feed upon to our endlesse comfort and consolation To him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost let us give as we are most bounden continual thanks submitting our selves wholly to his holy will and pleasure and studying to serve him in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Amen Then the priest shall say to them which be ready to take the Sacrament If any man here be an open blasphemer adulterer in malice or envie or any other notable crime and be not truely sorry therefore and earnestly minded to leave the same viâ—es or that doth not trust himself to be reconciled to Almighty God and in charity with all the world let him yet a while bewaile his sins and not come to this holy table least after the taking of this most blessed bread the devil enter into him as he did into Iudas to fulfil in him all iniquity and to bring him to destruction both of body and soul Here the Priest shall pause a while to see if any man will withdraw himself and if he perceive any so to do then let him commune with him privily at convenient leasure and see whether he can with good exhortation bring him to grace and after a little pause the Priest shall say You that do truely earnestly repent you of your sins and offences committed to almighty God and be in love and charity with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life and heartily to follow the Commandments of God and to walk from hence forth in his holy wayes draw neer and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort make your humble confession to almighty God and to his holy Church here gathered together in his name meekly kneeling upon your knees Then shall a general confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion either by one of them or else by one of the ministers or by the Priest himself all kneeling humbly upon their knees Almighty God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of all things judge of all men we knowledge and bewaile our manifold sins and wickednesse which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought word and deed against thy divine majesty provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us we do earnestly repent and be heartily sorry for these our misdoings The remembrance of them is grievous unto us the burthen of them is intolerable have mercy upon us have mercy upon us most mercyful Father for thy son our Lord Iesus Christs sake Forgive us all that is past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life to the honour 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 froÌ„ their sins to restore to the grace of the heavenly Father such as truely believe in Christ have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all sins confirm and strengthen you in all goodnesse and bring you to everlasting life Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him toward the people say thus Here what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith to all that truely 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 Heare also what S. 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 Heare 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 righteousnesse but in thy manifold and great mercies we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crombs 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 pretious 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 drink 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 the 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 into two pieces at the least or more by the discretion of the Minister and so distributed And men must not think lesse to be received in part then 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 hallowed 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 devoutly prepare and consecrate an other and so the third or more likewise beginning at these words Simili modo postquam coenatum est and ending at these words qui pro vobis pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum and without any levation or lifting up Articles to be enquired of in visitations to be had within the Diocesse of Canterbury in the second year of the Reign of our Dread Sovereign Lord Edward the 6. 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 pretensed authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Item Whether they have preached declared likewise 4. times of 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 ciphring 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 sea heretofore claimed and usurped or by any pretense obstinately or maliciously invented any thing for the extolling of the fame 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 candelsticks trindels or rolles of wax pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glaswindowes or elsewhere Item Whether they have exhorted moved and stirred their parishoners to do the like in every of their houses Item Whether they have declared to their Parishoners the Articles concerning the abrogation of certain superfluous holy dayes and done their indeavour to perswade the said parishioners to keep and observe the same Articles inviolably and whether any of those abrogate dayes hath been kept as holy dayes 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 quatter of the year once at the least exhorting their parishioners to the works commanded by Scriptures 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 high Altar Item Whether they have not every holy day when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recited to their parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Creed and the Ten Commandements in English Item Whether every Lent they examine such persons as come to Confession to them whether they can recite the Pater Noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandements in English Item Whether they have charged fathers and mothers masters and governours of youth to bring them up in some vertuous study or occupation Item Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their benefices do leave their Cure to a rude and unlearned
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 shall 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 1547. 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 us with the consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons there assembled most godly and agreeably 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 other wayes require least any man phansying and devising a sundry way by himself in the use of this most blessed Sacrament of unity there might thereby arise any unseemly and ungodly diversity Our pleasure is by the advice of our most deare Vncle the Duke of Somerset governour of our person and Protector of all our Realms Dominions and Subjects and other of our privie Councel that the said blessed Sacrament be ministred unto our people onely after such form and manner as hereafter by our authority with the advice before mentioned 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 so be partakers of this holy Communion that they may dwell in Christ and have Christ dwelling in them And allso with such obedience and conformity to receive this our ordinance and most godly direction that we may be encouraged from time to 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 authority according to the bounden duty of subjects and not enterprising to run afore and so by their rashnesse become the greatest hinderers of such things as they more arrogantly then godly would seem by their own private authority most hotly to set forward We would not have our subjects so much to mislike our Iudgement 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 minde by the advice of our most dear uncle and other of our privie Councel with all diligence and convenient speed so to set forth the same as it may most stand with Gods glory and edifying 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 parishioners 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 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 remission of our sins and be made partakers of the kingdom of heaven wherof 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 onely 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 wayes and means thereto is First that you be truly repentant of your former evil life and that you confesse with an unfeigned heart to almighty God your sins and unkindnesse towards his Majesty committed either by will word or deed infirmity or ignorance and that with inward sorrow and tears you bewaile 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 others I am commanded of God especially to move and exhort you to reconcile your selves to your neighbours whom you have offended or who hath offended you putting out of your hearts all hatred and malice against them to be in love charity with all the world and to forgive other as you would that God should forgive you And if there be any of you whose conscience is troubled and grieved at any thing lacking comfort or counsel let him come to me or to some other discreet and learned Priest taught in the law of God and confess and open his sin and grief secretly that he may receive such ghostly counsel advice and comfort that his conscience may be relieved that of us as
thing vainly invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God 23. Of ministring in the Congregation IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the Office of publick preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords vineyard 24. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God Haec clausula non habetur in Edvard 6. Artic. and the custome of the Primitive Church to have publick prayer in the Church or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people 25. Of the Sacraments SAcraments ordained of Christ be not onely badges or tokens of Christian mens profession Dominus noster Iesus Christus Sacramentis numero paucissimis observatu facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem novi populi colligavit sicut est Baptismus Coena Domini but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signes of grace and Gods good will towards us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not onely quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments that is to say confirmation Penance orders Matrimony and extream Vnction are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel being such as have grown Haec notata non habentur in Edv. 6 Artic. partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper for that they have not any visible signe or ceremony ordained of God The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should duely use them And in such onely as worthily receive the same †Idque non ex opere ut quidam loquuntur operato quae vox ut peregrina est Sacris literis ignota sic parit sensum minimè pium sed admodum superstitiosum Artic. Edvard 6. they have a wholesome effect or operation but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith 26. Of the unworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effect of the Sacraments ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but in Christs and do minister by his commission and authority we may use their ministery both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving of the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Christs ordinance taken away by their wickednesse nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Neverthelesse it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of evil Ministers and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgement be deposed 27. Of Baptisme BAptisme is not onely a signe of profession and mark of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christened but it is also a signe of Regeneration or new birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptisme rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of the forgiveness of sin of our adoption to be the sons of God by the holy Ghost are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The Baptisme of yong children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ 28. Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ and likewise the Cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine in the supper of the Lord cannot be proved by holy Writ Quum naturae humanae veritas requirat ut unius ejusdemque hominis Corpus in multis locis simul esse non possit sed in uno aliquo definito loco esse oporteat idcirco Christi corpus in multis diversis locis eodem tempore praesens esse non potest Et quoniam ut tradunt sacrae literae Christus in coelum fuit sublatus ibi usque ad finem seculi est permansurus non debet quisquam fidelium carnis ejus fanguinis Realem corporalem ut loquuntur praesentiam in Eucharistiâ vel credere vel profiteri R. Edvardi 6. Artic. but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath given occasion to many superstitions The body of Christ is given taken and eaten Haec notata non habentur in Reg. Edvard 9. Artic. in the Supper onely after an heavenly and spiritual manner And the meane whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Christs ordinance reserved carried about lifted up and worshipped 29. Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ in the use of the Lords Supper Non habetur hie Artic. in R. Edv. sexti THe wicked and such as be void of a lively faith although they do carnally and visibly press with their teeth as St. Augustine saith the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation do eat and drink the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing 30. Of both kindes THe Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people For both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Christs ordinance and commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men alike 31. Of the one oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross THe offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption propitiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in
Obedience Item Whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Queens Majesty and Ministers and to charity and love one to another The Sacrament Item Whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ before they can say perfectly the Lords prayer the Articles of the faith and the ten Commandements in English Hospitality Item Whether they be resident upon their Benefices and keep hospitality or no whether they do relieve their Parishioners and what they give them Reparations Item Whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clarks having Churches Chappels and Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Prayer in English Item Whether they do counsel or move their Parishioners rather to pray in a tongue not known then in English or put their trust in any certain number of prayers as in saying over a number of Beads Beads or other like Defamed persons Item Whether they have received any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with their neighbours or defamed with any notorious crime and not reformed Poor mens box Item Whether they have provided and have a strong chest for the poor mens box and set and fastned the same in a place of the Church most convenient Testament Item Whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their parishioners and especially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens Box and to bestow that upon the poor which they were wont to bestow upon Pilgrimages Pardons Trentalls and upon otherlike blinde devotions Sick Burial Item Whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Simony Item Whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud guile deceit or Simony Adulterers 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 within their Parishes Item Whether they have monished their parishioners openly Church goods that they should not sell give nor otherwise alienate any of their Church goods Item Whether they Many Benefices or any of them do keep moe Benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions then they ought to do not having sufficient licences and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item Whether they minister the holy Communion any otherwise Communion then onely after such form and manner as it is set forth by the common authority of the Queens Majesty and the Parliament Item Letters of the word or preaching Whether you know any person within your Parish or else where that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached in place and times convenient Item Whether in the time of the Letany Goers out of the church or any other Common prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scriptures to the Parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without just and necessary cause or disturbed the minister otherwise Item Whether the money coming and rising of any Cattel Church money or other moveable stocks of the Church and money given and bequeathed to the finding Torches Lights Tapers or Lamps not paid out of any lands have not been imployed to the poor mens chest Item Who hath the said stocks and money in their hands Keepers of the Church money and what be their names Item Contempt of Priests Whether any undiscreet person do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item The Kings Grammar Whether there be any other Grammar taught in any School within this Diocesse then that which is set forth by the authority of King Henry the eight Item The time of Service Whether the service of the Church be done at due and convenient houres Item Whether any have used to commune jangle Talkers in the Church and talke in the Church in the time of the prayer reading of the Homily preaching reading or declaring of the Scripture Item Heresies Whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any Heresies errors or false opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Item Whether any be common drunkards Drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the name of God Adulterers Item Whether any have committed Adultery fornication or incest or be common Bawds or receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Brawlers Item Whether any be brawlers slanderes chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Sorcerers Item Whether you know any that do use Charmes Sorceries Inchantments Invocations Circles Witchcrafts Soothsaying or any like crafts or imaginations invented by the Devil and specially in the time of womens travel Pulpits Item Whether Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired and if they be not in whose default the same is Resorters to other Churches Item Whether you know any that in contempt of their own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Inholders Item Whether any Inholders or Alehouse keepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of common prayer preaching reading of the Homilies or Scripture Divorce Item Whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the laws of God or that be separated or divorced without the degrees prohibited by the law of God and Whether any such have married again Privie contracts Item Whether you know any to have made privie contracts of Matrimony not calling two or moe witnesses thereunto nor having thereto the consent of their parents Banes Item Whether they have married solemnly the banes not first lawfully asked Executors Item Whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not onely bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of High wayes finding of poor scholars or marrying of poor maidens or such other like charitable deeds Images Item Whether you know any that keep in their houses any undefaced Images Tables Pictures Paintings or other Monuments of feigned and false miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and superstition and do adore them and specially such as have been set up in Churches Chappels and Oratories Books Item What books of holy Scripture you have delivered to be burnt or otherwise destroyed and to whom ye have delivered the same Bribes Item What bribes the Accusers Promoters Persecutors Ecclesiastical Iudges and other the Commissioners appointed within the several Diocesses of this Realm have received by themselves or other of those persons which were in trouble apprehended or
being hallowed Item Whether they have given open monition to their Parishoners that they should not wear beads nor pray upon them Item Whether they have moved their Parishoners lying upon their death-beds or at any other time to bestow any part of their substance upon Trentals Masses Satisfactory or any such blinde 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 haue two husbands living within their parishes Item Whether they haue not monished their Parishoners openly that they should not sell giue nor otherwise alienate any of their Churche goods Item Whether they or any of them do keep more benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions then they ought to do not having sufficient licence and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item Whether they minister the Communion any otherwise 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 Ashe-Wednesday or any Palms upon Palm Sunday last past Item Whether they had upon Good-Friday last-past the Sepulchres with their lights having the Sacrament therein Item Whether they upon Easier-Even last past hallowed the Font 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 Arch-Deacon or their officers Item Whether you know any person within your parish or else where 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 keyes for the book of Wedding Christining 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. Iohns Gospel ringing of holy bells or keeping of private holy dayes as Taylors Bakers Brewers Smithes Shoomakers and such other Item Whether the money coming and rising of any cattle or other movable stocks of the Church and mony given or bequethed 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 Diocesse 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 houres 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 Errors 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 bands and receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premises Item Whether any be braulers slanderers chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Item Whether you know any that use Charmes Sorcery Enchantments Witchcraft 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 their own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Item Whether any Inholders or Alehousekeepers 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 privie contratts of matrimony not calling two or more thereunto Item Whether they have married solemnly the banes not first lawfully asked Item Whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not duely bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of high wayes 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 DIOCES of LONDON By the reverend Father in God NICOLAS BISHOP of LONDON In the fourth year of our Soveraign Lord King Edward the 6. 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 next and immediatly under our Saviour CHRIST Imprinted at LONDON by Reynold Wolfe M.DL St. PAUL I Testifie therefore before God and before the Lord Jesus Christ which shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing in his Kingdom preach thou the word be fervent in season or out of season Improve rebuke exhort withal long suffering and Doctrine 2. Tim. 4. Articles of Visitation by Bishop Ridley Anno 1550. WHether your Curates and ministers be of that cdnversation of living that worthily they can be reprehended of no man Whether your Curates and Ministers do haunt and resort to Taverus or Alesouses
through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God So for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination is a most dangerous downfal whereby the Devil may thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesnesse of most unclean living no less perillous then desperation Further more although the decrees of Predestination are unknown unto us yet we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God We must trust to obtain eternal Salvation onely by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed and abhorred that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us onely the name of Iesu Christ whereby men must be saved All men are bound to keep the Moral Commandments of the Law THe Law which was given of God by Moses although it binde not Christian men as concerning the Ceremonies and Rites of the same neither is it required that the civil precepts and orders of it should of necessity be received in any Common-Weale yet no man be he never so perfect a Christian is exempt and loose from the obedience of those Commuadements which are called Moral wherefore they are not to be hearkned unto who affirm that holy Scripture is given only to the weak and do boast themselves continually of the spirit of whom they say they have learned such things as they teach although the same be most evidently repugnant to the holy Scripture Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duely ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Ierusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch hath erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not onely in their living but also in matters of faith Of the authority of the Church IT is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witnesse and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so beside the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Of the Authority of general Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered forasmuch as they be an assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and word of God they may erre and sometimes have erred not onely in worldly matters but also in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture Of Purgatory THe Doctrine of Schoole Authors concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration aswel of Images as of Relicks and also invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly feigned and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God No man may minister in the Congregation except he be called IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords vineyard Men must speak in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is most seemly and most agreeable to the word of God that in the Congregation nothing be openly read or spoke in a tongue unknown to the people the which thing St. Paul did forbid except some were present that should declare the same Of the Sacraments OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath knit together a company of new people with Sacraments most few in number most easie to be kept most excellent in signification as is baptisme and the Lords Supper The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be Gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should rightly use them And in such onely as worthily receive the same they have a wholsome effect and operation and yet not that of the work wrought as some men speak which word as it is strange and unknown to holy Scripture so it engendreth no godly but a very superstitious sense but they that receive the Sacraments unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith Sacraments ordained by the word of God be not onely badges and tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signes of grace and Gods good will towards us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not onely quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him The wickednesse of the Ministers doth not take away the effectual operation of Gods Ordinances ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but do minister by Christs commission and authority we may use their ministery both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Gods ordinances taken away by their wickedness nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Neverthelesse it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of such and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgement be deposed Of Baptisme BAptisme is not onely a signe of profession and mark of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a signe and seal of our new birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptisme rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of forgivnesse of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The custome of the Church to Christen young Children is to be commended and in any wise to be retained in the
Church Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a communion of the body of Christ likewise the Cup of blessing is a Communion of the blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the Substance of Bread and wine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy Writ but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture and hath given occasion to many superstitions For as much as the truth of mans nature requireth that the body of one and the self same man cannot be at one time in divers places but must needs be in some one certain place therefore the body of Christ cannot be present at one time in many and divers places and because as holy Scripture doth teach Christ was taken up into heaven and there shall continue unto the end of the World a faithful man ought not either to believe or openly to confesse the real and bodily presence as they tearm it of Christs flesh and blood in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not commanded by Christs ordinance to be kept carried about lifted up nor worshipped Of the perfect oblation of Christ made upon the Cross THe offering of Christ made once for ever is the perfect redemption the pacifying of Gods displeasure and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world both original and actual and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or sin were forged fables and dangerous deceits The state of single life is commanded to no man by the word of God BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded to vow the state of single life without marriage neither by Gods Law are they compelled to abstain from matrimony Excommunicate persons are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicate ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican until he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereto Traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgement willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren Of Homilies THe Homilies of late given and set out by the Kings authority be godly and wholsome containing Doctrine to be received of all men and therefore are to be read to the people diligently distinctly and plainly Of the book of Prayers and Ceremonies of the Church of England THe Book which of very late time was given to the Church of England by the Kings authority and the Parliament containing the manner form of praying and ministring the Sacraments in the Church of England likewise also the book of ordering Ministers of the Church set forth by the foresaid authority are Godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel but agreeable thereunto furthering and beautifying the same not a little and therefore of all faithful members of the Church of England and chiefly of the Ministers of the word they ought to be received allowed with all readinesse of minde and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is Supream head in earth next under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Civil Magistrate is ordained and allowed of God wherefore we must obey him not onely for fear of punishment but also for conscience sake The Civil Laws may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christians at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars Christian mens goods are not common THe riches and goods af Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability Christian men may take an oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle Iames So we judge 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 judgement and truth The Resurrection of the dead is not yet brought to passe THe Resurrection of the Dead is not as yet brought to passe as though it onely belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is raised from the death of sin but it is to be lookt for at the last day For then as Scripture doth most manifestly testifie to all that be dead their own bodies flesh and bone shall be restored that the whole man may according to his works have either reward or punishment as he hath lived vertuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither dye with the bodies nor sleep idly THey which say that the Souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving untill the day of judgement or affirm that the souls dye with the bodies and at the last day shall be raised up with the same do utterly dissent from the right belief declared to us in holy Scripture Hereticks called Millenarii THey that go about to renew the Fable of the Hereticks called Millenarii be repugnant to holy Scripture and cast them selves headlong into a Iewish dotage All men shall not be saved at the length THey also are worthy of Condemnation who endeavour at this time to restore the dangerous opinion that all men be they never so ungodly shall at length be saved when they have suffered paines for their sins a certain time appointed by Gods Iustice The End of the Articles Imprinted by John Day 1553. ARTICULI de quibus in
were joyned together in one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men 3. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ dyed for us and was buried Nam Corpus usque ad resurrectionem in Sepulchro jacuit spiritus ab illo emissus cum spiritibus qui in carcere sive in inferno detinebantut fuit illisque praedicavit quemadmodum testatur Petri locus Sic Artic. Edw. 6. so also it is to be believed that he went down into Hell 4. Of the resurrection of Christ CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day 5. Of the Holy Ghost Non habentur in R. Edward 6. Artic. THe Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God 6. Of the sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein nor may be proved thereby * Licet interdum à fidelibus ut pium conducibile ad ordinem decorum admittatur is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of the faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the names and numbers of the Canonical Books Non habetur in R. Edw. 6. Artic. GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numeri Deuteronomium Josue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chron. The 2. Book of Chron. The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or songs of Salom. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets the lesse And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners but yet doth not apply them to establish any doctrine Such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdom Jesus the son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The prayer of Manasses The 1. Book of Maccabees The 2. Book of Maccabees All the books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical 7. Of the Old Testament THe old Testament is not contrary to the New Testamentum vetus quasi novo contrarium sit non est repudiandum sed retinendum for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankinde by Christ who is the onely Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old Fathers did look onely for transitory promises Although the Law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not binde Christian men Vid. haec Art 18. notata eâ—… R. Edwardiâ—… nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common wealth yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the Obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral 8. Of the three Creeds THe three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly Called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrant of holy Scripture 9. Of Original or Birth-sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk * Et hodie Anabaptistae repetunt but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature enclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confesse that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin De Gratia GRatia Christi seu S. spiritus qui per eundem datur cor lapideum aufert dat cor carneum Atque licet ex nolentibus quae recta sunt volentes faciat ex volentibus prava nolentes reddat voluntati nihilominus violentiam nullam infert nemo hâc de causâ cum peccaverit seipsum excusare potest quasinolens aut coactus peccaverit ut eam ob causam accusari non mereatur aut damnari Artic. Edward 6. decimus 10. Of Free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will 11. Of the Justification of man WE are accounted righteous before God Haec non habentur in Reg. Edward 6. Artic. onely for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort Justificatio ex solâ Fide Jesu Christi eo sensu quo in Homiliâ de justificatione explicatur est certissima saluberrima Christianorum doctrina fie in Reg. Edward 6. Artic. 11. as more largly is expressed in the Homily of Iustification 12. Of good works ALbeit that good workes which are the fruits of faith Hic Artic. non habetur in Reg. Edward 6. Articulis and follow after Iustification cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgement yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith in so much that by them a lively faith may be as evidently
the which it was commonly said that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have remission of pain or guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits 32. Of the marriage of Priests Non habentur haec notata in R. Edvard 6. Artic. BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods law either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage therefore it is lawful also for them as for all other Christian men to marry at their own discretion as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness 33. Of excommunicate persons how they are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an Heathen and Publican untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereunto 34. Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary that Traditions and ceremonies be in all places one or utterly like for at all times they have been divers and may be changed according to the diversity of countries times and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods Word Whosoever through his private judgement willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain Non habentur haec notata in Edv. 6. Artic. change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying 35. * Homiliae nuper Ecclesiae Anglicanae per injunctiones Regias editae atque commendatae piae sunt atque salutares doctrinamque ab omnibus amplectendam continent Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the several titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be understanded of the people Of the names of the Homilies 1 OF the right use of the Church 2 Against peril of Idolatry 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the place and time of prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods Word 11 Of almes doing 12 Of the nativity of Christ 13 Of the Passion of Christ 14 Of the Resurrection of Christ 15 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idleness 21 Against Rebellion De libro precationum ceremoniarum Ecclesiae Anglicanae LIber qui nuperrime authoritate Regis Parliamenti Ecclesiae Anglicanae traditus est continens modum formam orandi Sacramenta administrandi in Ecclesiâ similiter libellus eadem autoritate editus de ordinatione ministrorum Ecclesiae quoad doctrinae veritatem pii sunt salutari doctrinae Evangelii in nullo repugnant sed congruunt eandem non parum promovent illustrant atque ideo ab omnibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae fidelibus membris maxime à ministris verbi cum omni promptitudine animorum gratiarum actione recipiendi approbandi populo Dei commendandi sunt Artic. R. Edvard 6. 36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and ordering neither hath it any thing that of it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second year of the afore-named King Edward unto this time or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites we decree all such to be rightly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered 37. Of the civil Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions Rex Angliae est supremum caput in terris post Christum Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae Artic. Edv. 6. Haec notata non habentur in Artic. Edverd 6. unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreigne Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief government by which titles we understand the minds of some dangerous folkes to be offended we give not our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth out Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers Magistratus eivilis est à Deo ordinatus atque probatus quamobrem illi non solum propter iram sed etiam propter conscientiam obediendum est Artic. R. Edv. 6. The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars 38. Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability 39. Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of
persons present to be admitted Deacons The Bishop TAke heed that the persons whom ye present unto us be apt and meet for their learning and godly conversation to exercise their ministry duly to the honour of God and edifying of his Church The Archdeacon shall answer I Have enquired of them and also examined them and think them so to be And the Bishop shall say unto the people BRethren if there be any of you who knoweth any impediment or notable 〈◊〉 in any of these persons presented to be ordered Deacons for the which he ought not to be admitted to the same let him come forth in the Name of God and shew what the crime or impediment is And if any great crime or impediment be objected the Bishop shall surcease from Ordering that person until such time as the party accused shall try himself clear of that crime Then the Bishop commending such as shall be found meet to be Ordered to the prayers of the Congregation with the Clerks and people present shall say or sing the Letany as followeth with the prayers The Letany and Suffrages O God the Father of heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the Father of heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three Persons and one God have mercy upon us miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three persons and one God have mercy upon us miserable sinners Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sins Spare us good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with us for ever Spare us good Lord From all evil and mischief from sin from the crafts and assaults of the devil from thy wrath and from everlasting damnation Good Lord deliver us From all blindnesse of heart from pride vain-glory and hypocrisy from envy hatred and malice and all uncharitablenesse Good Lord deliver us From fornication and all other deadly sin and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the devil Good Lord deliver us From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battle and murder and from sudden death Good Lord deliver us From all sedition and privie conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from heardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and commandment Good Lord deliver us By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision by thy Baptisme Fasting and Temptation Good Lord deliver us By thine Agony and bloody Sweat by thy Crosse and Passion by thy precious death and burial by thy glorious resurrection and ascenson and by the coming of the holy Ghost God Lord deliver us In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the hour oâ—… death and in the day of judgement Good Lord deliver us We sinners do beseech thee to hear us O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universally in the right way We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshiping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy servant CHARLES our most gracious King and Governour We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith fear and love and that he may evermore have affiance in thee and ever seek thy honour and glory We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giving him the victory over all his enemies We beseech thee to hear us good Lord That it may please thee to blesse and preserve our gracious Queen Mary Prince James Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Progeny We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to edue the Lords of the Councel and all the Nobility with grace wisdome and understanding We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keep all the Magistrates giving them grace to execute Iustice and to maintain truth We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keep all thy people We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all Nations unity peace and concord We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and dread thee and diligently to live after thy commandments We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word and to receive it with pure affection and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and help the weak hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beat down Satan under our feet We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to succour help and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to preserve all that travel by land or by water all women labouring of childe all sick persons and young children and to shew thy pity upon all prisoners and captives We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless children and widows and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies persecuters and slanderers and to turn their hearts We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enjoy them We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give us true repentance to forgive us all our sins negligences ignorances and to
assist and defend all jurisdictions priviledges preeminences and authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highnesse his Heirs and Successors or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm so help me God and the Contents of this Book Then shall the Bishop examine every one of them that are to be ordered in the presence of the people after this manner following DO you trust that you are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon you this office and ministration to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people Answer I trust so The Bishop DO you think that ye truely be called according to the will of the Lord Iesus Christ and the due order of this Realm to the Ministery of the Church Answer I think so The Bishop DO you unfeignedly beleive all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament Answer I do believe The Bishop WIll you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve Answer I will The Bishop IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the Church where he shall be appointed to assist the Priest in Divine service and specially when he Ministreth the holy Communion and to help him in distribution thereof and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechisme to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where provision is so made to search for the sick poor and impotent people of the parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell unto the Curate that by his exhortation they may be relieved by the Parish or other convenient almes will you do this gladly and willingly Answer I will do so by the help of God The Bishop WIll you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your own lives and the lives of your familie according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholesome examples of the flock of Christ Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers of the Church and them to whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad minde and will their godly admonitions Answer I will endeavour my self the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee In the Name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the new Testament saying Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediatly before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmighty God giver of all good things which of thy great goodnesse hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the Offices of Deacons in thy Church make them we beseech thee O Lord to be modest humble and constant in their ministration to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline that they having alwayes the testimony of a good conscience and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ may so well use themselves in this inferiour Office that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Son our Saviour Christ to whom be glory and honour world without end Amen And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year at the least except for reasonable causes it be otherwise seen to his Ordinary to the intent he may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical administration in executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood ⧠The form of ordering of Priests When the exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall be read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles as followeth FRom Mileto Paul sent messengers to Ephesus and called the elders of the congregation which when they were come to him he said unto them Ye know that from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humblenesse of minde and with many tears and temptations which happened unto me by the lying in wait of the Iews because I would keep back nothing that was profitable unto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout every house witnessing both to the Iews and also to the Greeks the repentance that is toward God and the faith that is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Ierusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bands and trouble abide me But none of these things move me neither is my life dear unto my self that I might fulfil my course with joy and the ministration of the word which I have received of the Lord Iesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God And now behold I am sure that henceforth ye all through whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see my face no more Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men For I have spared no labour but have shewed you all the counsel of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock among whom the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to rule the congregation of God which he hath purchased with his blood For I am sure of this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them Therefore awake and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you night and day with tears And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I have desired no mans silver gold or vesture Yea you know your selves that these hands have ministred unto my necessities and unto them that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so
labouring ye ought to receive the weak and to remember the words of our Lord Iesus how that he said It is more blessed to give then to receive Or else this third Chapter of the first Epistle to Timothy 1 Tim. 3. This when Deacons and Priests are made both in one day THis is a true saying If any man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth an honest work A Bishop therefore must be blamelesse the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not given to overmuch wine no fighter not greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhoring covetousnesse one that ruleth well his own house one that hath children in subjection with all reverence for if a man cannot rule his own house how shall he care for the congregation of God he may not be a young scholar lest he swell and fall into the judgement of the evil speaker He must also have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and snare of the evil speaker Likewise must the Ministers be honest not double tongued not given to much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first be proved and then let them minister so that no man be able to reprove them Even so must their wives be honest not evil speakers but sober and faithful in all things Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their own housholds For they that minister well get themselves a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesus These things write I unto thee trusting to come shortly unto thee but if I tarry long that then thou mayest have yet knowledge how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the congregation of the living God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that Mystery of godlinesse God was shewed in the flesh was justified in the spirit was seen among the angels was precahed unto the Gentiles was believed on in the world and received up in glory After this shall be read for the gospel a piece of the last Chapter of Matthew as followeth JEsus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world Or else this that followeth out of the tenth Chapter of Saint John VErily verily I say unto you He that entreth not in by the door into the sheepfold but climbeth up some other way the same is a thief and a murderer But he that entreth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep to him the porter openeth and the sheep hear his voice and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out And when he hath sent forth his own sheep he goeth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice A stranger will they not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers This Proverb spake Iesus unto them but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them Then said Iesus unto them again Verily verily I say unto you I am the door of the sheep and all even as many as came before me are thieves and murderers but the sheep did not hear them I am the door by me if any man enter in he shall be safe and go in and out and finde pasture A thief cometh not but for to steal kill and to destroy I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly I am the good shepherd A good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep An hired servant and he which is not the shepherd neither the sheep are his own seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep The hired servant fleeth because he is an hired servant and careth not for the sheep I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine As my Father knoweth me even so know I also my Father And I give my life for the sheep And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also must I bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd Or else this of the 20. Chapter of John THe same day at night which was the first day of the Sabboths when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled together for fear of the Iews came Iesus and stood in the midst and said unto them Peace be unto you And when he had so said he shewed unto them his hands and his side Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Iesus unto them again Peace be unto you As my Father sent me even so send I you also And when he had said those words he breathed on them and said unto them receive ye the holy Ghost Whosoevers sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoevers sins ye retain they are retained When the Gospel is ended then shall be said or sung COme holy Ghost eternal God proceeding from above Both from the Father and the Son the God of peace and love Visit our minds and into us thy heavenly grace inspire That in all truth and godliness we may have true desire Thou art the very Comforter in all wo and distress The heavenly gift of God most high which no tongue can express The fountain and the lively spring of joy celestial The fire so bright the love so clear and unction spiritual Thou in thy gifts art manifold whereby Christs Church doth stand In faithful hearts writing thy law the finger of Gods hand According to thy promise made thou givest speech of grace That through thy help the praise of God may found in every place O holy Ghost into our wits send down thy heavenly light Kindle our hearts with fervent love to serve God day and night Strength and stablish all our weakness so feeble and so frail That neither flesh the world nor devil against us do prevail Put back our enemy far from us and grant us to obtain Peace in our hearts with God and man without grudge or disdain And grant O Lord that thou being our leader and our guide We may eschew the snares of sin and from thee never slide To us such plenty of thy grace good Lord grant we thee pray That thou mayest be our Comforter at the last dreadful day Of all strife and dissension O Lord dissolve the bands And make the knots of peace and love throughout all Christian lands Grant us O Lord through thee to
know the Father most of might That 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 holy Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the onely Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do professe his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Arch-deacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Arch-deacon 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 finde not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they be persons meet for the same But yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for the which he ought not to be received into this holy 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 their 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 it 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 be called And now 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 messengers the watchmen the pastors and the stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the midst of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have alwayes therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serve is his Spouse and his body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence you know the greatnesse 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 ripenesse and perfectnesse of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of errour in religion or for viciousnesse of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellencie and of so great difficultie ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kinde 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 minde and a will thereto of your 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 pertainig to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures and with a life agreeable unto the fame 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 call 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 o the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our onely Mediatoâ— and Saviour Iesus Christ that by dayly reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your ministery and that ye may so endeavour 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 wholsome 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 more 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 truely called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priesthood 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 necessity to eternal salvation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture Answer I am so perswaded and have so determined by Gods grace The Bishop WIll you then give your faithful diligence alwayes so to Minister the doctrine and Sacraments and the Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and as this realm hath received the same according to the Commandements of God so that you may teach the people committed to your cure and charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same Answer I will do so by the help of the Lord. The Bishop WIll you be ready with all faithfull diligence to vanish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to Gods word and to use both publick and private monitions and exhortations as well to the sick as to the whole within your Cures as need shall require and occasion be given Answer I will the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you be diligent in prayers and in reading of the holy Scriptures and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same laying aside the study of the world and the flesh Answer I will endeavour my self so to do the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you be diligent to frame and fashion your own selves and your families according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholsom examples and spectacles to the flock of Christ Answer I will apply my self the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you maintain and set forwards as much as lieth in you quietnesse peace and love among all Christian people and specially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief ministers unto whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad minde and will their godly admonitions and submitting your selves to their godly judgements Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper Then shall the Bishop say ALmighty God who hath given you this will to do all these things grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same that he may accomplish his work which he hath begun in you until the time he shall come at the latter day to judge the quick and the dead After this the Congregation shall be desired secretly in their prayers to make humble supplications to God for the foresaid things for the which prayers there shall be a certain space kept in silence That done the Bishop shall pray in this wise ¶ Let us Pray ALmighty God and heavenly Father which of thine infinite love and goodnesse towards us hast given to us thy onely and most dearly beloved Son Iesus Christ to be our redeemer and author of everlasting life who after he had made perfect our redemption by his death and was ascended into heaven sent abroad into the world his Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctors and Pastors by whose labour and ministery he gathered together a great flock in all the parts of the world to set forth the eternal praise of thy holy Name For these so great benefits of thy eternal goodnesse and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call these thy servants here present to the same office and ministery of salvation of mankinde we render unto thee most hearty thanks we worship and praise thee and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy Son to grant unto all which either here or elsewhere call upon thy Name that we may shew our selves thankful to thee for these and all other thy benefits and that we may dayly increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son by the holy Spirit So that as well by these thy Ministers as by them to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy holy Name may be alwayes glorified and thy blessed kingdom enlarged through the same thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ which liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy Spirit world without end Amen When this prayer is done the Bishops with the Priests present shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth Orders the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees and the Bishop saying REceive the holy Ghost Whose sins thou doest forgive they are forgiven and whose sins thou doest retain they are retained and be thou a faithful dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Amen The Bishop shall deliver to every one of them the Bible in his hand saying TAke thou Authority to preach the word of God and to minister the holy Sacraments in this Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed When this is done the Congregation shall sing the Creed and also they shall go to the Communion which all they that receive Orders shall take together and remain in the same place where the hands were laid upon them until such time as they have received the Communion The Communion being done after the last Collect and immediatly before the Benediction shall be said this Collect. MOst merciful Father we beseech thee to send upon these thy servants thy heavenly blessing that they may be clad about with all justice and that thy word spoken by their mouthes may have such successe that it may never be spoken in vain Grant also that we may have grace to hear and receive the same as thy most holy word and the means of our salvation that in all our words and deeds we may seek thy glory and the encrease of thy Kingdom through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen And if the order of Deacons and Priesthood be given both upon one day then shall all things at the holy Communion be used as they are appointed at the ordering of Priests saving that for the Epistle the whole third Chapter of the first to Timothy shal be read as it is set out before in the order of Priests And immediatly after the Epistle the Deacons shall be ordered And it shall suffice the Letany to be said once ⧠The form of Consecrating of an Arch-Bishop or Bishop ¶ At the Communion The Epistle THis is a true saying If a man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth an honest work A Bishop therefore must be blamelesse the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not given to over much wine no fighter not greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhoring covetousnesse one that ruleth well his own house one that hath children in subjection with all reverence For if a man cannot rule his own house how shall he care for the congregation of God He may not be a young scholar lest he swell and fall into the judgement of
the evil speaker He must also have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the evil speaker The Gospel JEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Iohanna lovest thou me more then these He said unto him Ye Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him Feed my Lambs He said to him again the second time Simon Iohanna lovest thou me He said unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him Feed my sheep He said unto him the third time Simon Iohanna lovest thou me Peter was sorry because he said unto him the third time Lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iesus said unto him Feed my sheep Or else out of the tenth Chapter of John as before in the Order of Priests After the Gospel and creed ended first the elected Bishop shall be presented by two Bishops unto the Arch-Bishop of that Province or to some other Bishop appointed by his commission the Bishops that present him saying MOst reverend Father in God we present unto you this godly and well learned man to be consecrated Bishop Then shall the Arch-Bishop demand the Kings mandate for the Consecration and cause it to be read and the Oath touching the knowledge of the Kings Supremacy shall be ministred to the persons elected as it is set out in the order of Deacons And then shall be ministred the Oath of due obedience unto the Archbishop as followeth The Oath of due obedience to the Arch-Bishop IN the Name of God Amen I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church or See of N. do professe and promise all due reverence and obedience to the Archbishop and to the Metropolitical Church of N. and to their successors so help me God through Iesus Christ This Oath shall not be made at the Consecration of an Archbishop Then the Archbishop shall move the Congregation present to pray saying thus to them BRethren it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the whole night in prayer or ever that he did chuse and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the disciples which were at Antioch did fast and pray or ever they laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let us therefore following the example of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that we admit and send forth this person presented unto us to the work whereunto we trust the holy Ghost hath called him And then shall be said the Letany as afore in the Order of Deacons And after this place That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops c. That it may please thee to blesse this our brother elected and to send thy grace upon him that he may duly execute the office whereunto he is called to the edifying of the Church and to the honour praise and glory of thy Name Answer We beseech thee to hear us good Lord Concluding the Letany in the end with this prayer Almighty God giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers orders and Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the work and ministry of a Bishop and replenish him so with the truth of thy doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and deed he 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 Archbishop sitting in a chair shall say to him that is to be consecrated BRother forasmuch as holy Scripture and the old Canons commandeth that we should not be hasty in laying on hands and admitting of any person to the goverment of the Congregation of Christ which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood afore I admit you to this administration whereunto you are called I will examine you in certain articles to the end the Congregation present may have a trial and bear witnesse how you be minded to behave your self in the Church of God Are you perswaded that you be truely called to this ministration according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the order of this Realm Answer I am so perswaded The Archbishop ARe you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through the faith in Iesus Christ And are you determined with the same holy Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the same Answer I am so perswaded and determined by Gods grace The Archbishop WIll you then faithfully exercise your self in the said holy Scriptures and call upon God by prayer for the true understanding of the same so as ye may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholsome doctrine and to withstand and convince the gainsayers Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop BE you ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erronious and strange doctrine contrary to Gods word and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same Answer I am ready the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this world that you may shew your self in all things an example of good works unto others that the adversary may be ashamed having nothing to lay against you Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you maintain and set forward as much as shall lie in you quietnesse peace and love among all men and such as be unquiet disobedient and criminous within your Diocesse correct and punish according to such authority as ye have by Gods word as to you shall be committed by the ordinance of this Realm Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop WIll you shew your self gentle and be merciful for Christs sake to poor and needy people and to all strangers destitute of help Answer I will so shew my self by Gods help The Archbishop ALmighty God our heavenly Father who hath given you a good will to do all these things grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same that he accomplishing in you the good work which he hath begun ye may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the latter day through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then shall be sung or said Come holy Ghost c. As it is set out in the Order of Priests That ended the Archbishop shall say Lord hear our prayer Answer And let our cry come unto thee ¶ Let us Pray
ALmighty God most merciful Father which of thine infinite goodness hast given thy only and most dear beloved Son Iesus Christ to be our Redeemer and author of everlasting life who after that he had made perfect our Redemption by his death and was ascended into heaven poured down his gifts abundantly upon men making some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastours and Doctors to the edifying and making perfect his Congregation grant we beseech thee to this thy servant such grace that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel and glad tidings of reconcilement to God and to use the authority given to him not to destroy but to save not to hurt but to help so that he as a wise and faithful servant giving to thy family meat in due season may at the last be received into joy through Iesu Christ our Lord who with thee and the holy Ghost liveth and raigneth one God world without end Amen Then the Archbishop and Bishops present shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected Bishop the Archbishop saying TAke the holy Ghost and remember that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and love and soberness Then the Archbishop shall deliver him the Bible saying GIve heed unto reading exhortation and doctrine Think upon these things contained in this book Be diligent in them that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men Take heed unto thy self and unto teaching and be diligent in doing them for by doing this thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd not a wolf feed them devour them not hold up the weak heal the sick bind together the broken bring again the outcasts seek the lost be so merciful that ye be not too remiss so minister discipline that you forget not mercy that when the chiefe Shepherd shall come you may receive the immarcescible crown of glory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Then the Archbishop shall proceed to the Communion with whom the new consecrated Bishop with other shall also Communicate And for the last Collect immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Prayer MOst merciful Father we beseech thee to send upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing and so endue him with thy holy Spirit that he preaching thy word may not onely be earnest to reprove beseech and rebuke with all patience and doctrine but also may be to such as believe an wholsome example in word in conversation in love in faith in chastity and purity that faithfully fulfilling his course at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousnesse laid up by the Lord the righteous Iudge who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen AT THE HEALING THE GOSPEL Written in the XVI Chapter of St. MARK beginning at the 14. verse IESUS appeared unto the Eleven as they sate at meat and cast in their teeth their unbelief and hardnesse of heart because they believed not them which had seen that He was Risen again from the dead And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to all Creatures He that believeth and is Baptized shall be Saved but he that believeth not shall be damned And these Tokens shall follow them that believe In my Name they shall cast out divels they shall speak with new tongues they shall drive away serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them * Here the infirm persons are presented to the KING upon their knees and the King layeth his Hands upon them They shall lay their hands on the Sick and they shall recover So when the Lord had spoken unto them he was received into Heaven and is on the right hand of God And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with Miracles following THE GOSPEL Written in the I. Chapter of St. JOHN beginning at the first verse IN the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and God was the Word The same was in the beginning with God All things were made by it and without it was made nothing that was made In it was Life and the Life was the Light of men and the Light shined in the Darknesse and the darkness comprehended it not There was sent from God a man whose name was JOHN The same came as a witnesse to bear witnesse of the Light that all men through him might believe He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of the Light * Here they are again presented unto the KING upon their knees the KING putteth his Gold about their necks That light was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world He was in the World and the world was made by him and the World knew him not He came among his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave he power to be made Sons of God even them that believed on his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor yet of the will of man but of God And the same Word became Flesh and dwelt among us and we saw the Glory of it as the Glory of the onely begotten Son of the Father full of grace and truth THE PRAYERS Vers Lord have mercy upon us Resp Lord have mercy upon us Vers Christ have mercy upon us Resp Christ have mercy upon us Vers Lord have mercy upon us Resp Lord have mercy upon us OUr Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Amen These Answers are to be made by them that come to be Healed Vers O Lord Save thy Servants Resp Which put their trust in thee Vers Send help unto them from above Resp And evermore mightily defend them Vers Help us O God our Saviour Resp And for the Glory of thy name deliver us be merciful unto us sinners for thy Names sake Vers O Lord hear our Prayer Resp And let our Cry come unto thee O Almighty God who art the Giver of all health and the aid of them that seek to Thee for succour we call upon thee for thy help and goodnesse mercifully to be shewed unto these thy servants that they being Healed of their infirmity may give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord AMEN THe Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with us all evermore AMEN A copy of thacte made for