That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute Iustice and to maintaine trueth Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all Nations vnity peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the Spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doe stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yong children and to shew thy pittie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ search for the sicke poore and impotent people of the Parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell vnto the Curate that by his exhortation they may be relieued by the Parish or other conuenient almes will you doe this gladly and willingly Answere I will so doe by the helpe of God The Bishop VVIll you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your owne liues and the liues of your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selues and them as much as in you lieth wholesome examples of the flocke of Christ Answere I will so doe the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you reuerendly obey your Ordinary and other chiefe Ministers of the Church and them to whom the gouernment and charge is committed ouer you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions Answere I will endeauour my selfe the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands seuerally vpon the head of euery of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed vnto thee In the Name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliuer to eueryone of them the new Testament saying Take thou authoritie to reade 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 reade the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receiue the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmightie God giuer of all good things which of thy great goodnesse hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy seruants vnto the offices of Deacons in thy Church make them wee beseech thee O Lord to bee modest humble and constant in their ministration to haue a ready will to obserue all spirituall discipline that they hauing alwayes the testimony of a good conscience and continuing euer stable and strong in thy Sonne Christ may so well vse themselues in this inferiour office that they may be found worthy to bee called vnto the higher ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ to whom be glory and honour world without end Amen And here it must bee shewed vnto the Deacon that hee must continue in that office of a Deacon the space of a whole yeere at the least except for reasonable causes it bee otherwise seene to his Ordinary to the intent hee may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiasticall administration in executing whereof if he befound faithfull and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the order of Priesthood ¶ The forme of ordering of Priests When the exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall bee read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Actes 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 hee said vnto them Yee know that from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I haue beene with you at all seasons seruing the Lord with all humblenesse of minde and with many teares and temptations which happened vnto me by the layings a wait of the Iewes because I would keepe backe nothing that was profitable vnto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout euery house witnessing both to the Iewes and also to the Greekes the repentance that is toward GOD and the faith which is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I goe bound in the spirit vnto Hierusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in euery city saying that bands and troubles abide mee But none of these things mooue mee neither is my life deare vnto my selfe that I might fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration of the word which I haue receiued of the
art the very Comforter in all woe and distresse The heauenly gift of God most high which no tongue can expresse The fountaine and the liuely spring of ioy celestiall The fire so bright the loue so cleare and Vnction spirituall Thou in thy gifts art manifold whereby Christs Church doth stand In faithfull hearts writing thy Law the finger of Gods hand According to thy promise made thou giuest speech of grace That through thy helpe the praise of God may sound in euery place O holy Ghost into our wits send downe thy heauenly light Kindle our hearts with feruent loue to serue God day and night Strength and stablish all our weaknesse so feeble and so fraile That neither flesh the world nor deuill against vs doe preuaile Put backe our enemy farre from vs and grant vs to obtaine Peace in our hearts with God and man without grudge or disdaine And grant O Lord that thou being our leader and our guide We may eschew the snares of sinne and from thee neuer slide To vs such plenty of thy grace good Lord grant we thee pray That thou mayest be our Comforter at the last dreadfull day Of all strife and dissension O Lord dissolue the bands And make the knots of peace and loue throughout all Christian lands Graunt vs O Lord through thee to know the Father most of might That of his deare beloued Sonne we may attaine 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 Sonne equall And to the holy Spirit also one God coeternall And pray wee that the onely Sonne vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that doe professe his Name vnto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present vnto the Bishop all them that shall receiue the order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REuerend Father in God I present vnto you these persons present to be admitted to the order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione vt in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these bee they whom wee purpose God willing to receiue this day vnto 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 bee persons meete for the same but yet if there bee any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for the which hee ought not to be receiued into this holy ministerie now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be obiected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus vsque ad finem Letaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giuer of al good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed diuers orders of Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold these thy seruants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the trueth of thy doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serue thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister vnto euery one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as it is set forth in the order of Deacons And that done hee shall say vnto them which are appointed to receiue the said office as hereafter followeth YOu haue heard brethren as well in your priuate 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 bee called And now wee exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye bee called that is to say the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede and prouide for the Lords family to seeke for Christs sheepe that be dispersed abroad and for his children which bee in the middest of this naughty world to bee saued through Christ for euer Haue alwayes therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheepe of Christ which hee bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serue is his spouse and his body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member therof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence yee know the greatnesse of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selues the end of your ministery towards the children of God towards the spouse and body of Christ and see that you neuer cease your labour your care and diligence vntill you haue done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge vnto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripenesse and perfectnes of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of errour in Religion or for viciousnesse in life Then forasmuch as your office is both of so great excellencie and of so great difficultie ye see with how great care and studie ye ought to apply your selues as well that you may shew your selues kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to be ware that neither you your selues offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot haue a mind and a wil therto of your selues for that power and abilitie is giuen of God alone Therfore ye see how ye ought and haue need earnestly to pray for his holy spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other meanes compasse the doing of so weighty a worke pertaining to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures and with a life agreeable vnto the same Ye perceiue how studious yee ought to bee in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the maners both of your selues and of them that specially pertaine vnto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this selfe same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies Wee haue good hope that you haue well weighed and pondered these things with your selues long before this time and that you haue cleerely determined by Gods grace to giue your selues wholly to this vocation wherunto it hath pleased God to call you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selues 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 heauenly assistance of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our onely Mediatour and Sauiour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so waxe riper and stronger in your ministery And that yee may so endeauour your selues from time to time to sanctifie the liues 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 that this present congregation of Christ here assembled may also vnderstand your mindes and wils in these things and that this your promise shall more moue you to do your duties ye shall answere plainely to these things which we in the name of the congregation shall demand of you touching the same Doe you thinke in your heart that you bee truely called according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the order of this Church of England to the ministery of Priesthood Answere I thinke it The Bishop BEe you perswaded that the holy scriptures conteine sufficiently all doctrine required of necessitie for eternall saluation thorow faith in Iesu Christ And are you determined with the sayd Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of necessitie to eternall saluation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and prooued by the Scripture Answere I am so perswaded and haue so determined by Gods grace The Bishop VVIll you then giue your faithfull diligence alwayes so to minister the doctrine and Sacraments and the discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and as this Realme hath receiued 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 keepe and obserue the same Answere I will so doe by the helpe of the Lord. The Bishop VVIll you bee ready with all faithfull diligence to banish and driue away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to Gods word and to vse both publike and priuate monitions and exhortations as well to the sicke as to the whole within your cures as need shall require and occasion be giuen Answere I will the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you bee diligent in prayers and in reading of the holy Scriptures and in such studies as helpe to the knowledge of the same laying aside the study of the world and the flesh Answere I will endeauour my selfe so to doe the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you bee diligent to frame and fashion your owne selues and your families according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selues and them as much as in you lieth wholsome examples and spectacles to the flocke of Christ Answere I will apply my selfe the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you maintaine and set forwards as much as lyeth in you quietnes peace and loue among all Christian people and specially among them that are or shall bee committed to your charge Answere I will so doe the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you reuerently obey your Ordinarie and other chiefe Ministers vnto whom the gouernment and charge is committed ouer you following with a glad minde and will their godly admonitions and submitting your selues to their godly iudgements Answere I will so doe the Lord being my helper Then shall the Bishop say ALmighty God who hath giuen you this will to doe all these things grant also vnto you strength and power to performe the same that he may accomplish his worke which hee hath begun in you vntill the time hee shall come at the latter day to iudge the quicke and the dead After this the Congregation shall bee desired secretly in their prayers to make humble supplications to God for the aforesaid things for the which prayers there shall be a certaine space kept in silence That done the Bishop shall pray in this wise ¶ Let vs pray ALmighty God and heauenly Father which of thine infinite loue and goodnesse towards vs hast giuen to vs thy only most deare beloued Son Iesus Christ to be our redeemer author of euerlasting life who after he had made perfect our redemption by his death was ascended into heauen sent abroad into the world his Apostles Prophets Euangelists Doctours and Pastours by whose labour and ministery hee gathered together a great flocke in all the parts of the world to set forth the eternall praise of thy holy Name For these so great benefits of thy eternall goodnesse and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call these thy seruants here present to the same office and ministerie of saluation of mankinde wee render vnto thee most hearty thanks we worship and praise thee and wee humbly beseech thee by the same thy Sonne to grant vnto vs all which either here or elsewhere call vpon thy Name that wee may shew our selues thankfull to thee for these and all other thy benefits that we may daily encrease and goe forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Sonne 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 kingdome enlarged through the same thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the same holy Spirit world without end Amen When this prayer is done the Bishop with the Priests present shal lay their hands seuerally vpon the head of euery one that receiueth Orders The Receiuers humbly kneeling vpon their knees and the Bishop saying REceiue the holy Ghost whose sinnes thou doest forgiue they are forgiuen and whose sinnes thou doest reteine they are reteined and be thou a faithfull dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen The Bishop shall deliuer to euery 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 goe to the Communion which all they that receiue Orders shall take together and remaine in the same place where the hands were layed vpon them vntill such time as they haue receiued 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 so to send vpon these thy seruants thy heauenly blessing that they may bee clad about with all iustice and that thy word spoken by their mouthes may haue such successe that it may neuer be spoken in vaine Grant also that we may haue grace to heare and receiue the same as thy most
Lord Iesu to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God And now behold I am sure that henceforth ye all through whom I haue gone preaching the kingdome 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 haue spared no labour but haue shewed you all the counsell of God Take heed therefore vnto your selues and to all the flocke among whom the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers to rule the Congregation of God which hee hath purchased with his blood For I am sure of this that after my departing shall grieuous woolues enter in among you not sparing the flocke Moreouer of your own selues shall men arise speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them Therefore awake and remember that by the space of three yeeres I ceased not to warne euery one of you might and day with teares And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified I haue desired no mans siluer gold or vesture Yea you know your selues that these hands haue ministred vnto my necessities and vnto them that were with me I haue shewed you all things how that so labouring ye ought to receiue the weake and to remember the words of our Lord Iesus how that hee said it is more blessed to giue then to receiue Or else this third Chapter of the first Epistle to Timothie THis is a true saying If any man desire the office of a Bishop 1. Tim. 3. This when Deacons and Priests are made both in one day he desireth an honest worke A Bishop therefore must be blamelesse the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not giuen to ouermuch wine no fighter not greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhorring couetousnesse one that ruleth well his own house one that hath children in subiection with all reuerence For if a man cannot rule his owne house how shall he care for the Congregation of God He may not be a yong Scholer lest he swell and fall into the iudgement of the euill speaker He must also haue a good report of them which are without lest hee fall into rebuke and snare of the euill speaker Likewise must the Ministers bee honest not double tongued not giuen vnto much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mysterie of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first bee proued and then let them minister so that no man bee able to reproue them Euen so must their wiues be honest not euill speakers but sober and faithfull in all things Let the Deacons bee the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their own housholds For they that minister well get themselues a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesus These things write I vnto thee trusting to come shortly vnto thee but if I tarry long that then thou mayest haue yet knowledge how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God which is the Congregation of the liuing God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that mystery of godlinesse God was shewed in the flesh was iustified in the Spirit was seene among the Angels was preached vnto the Gentiles was beleeued on in the world and receiued vp in glory After this shall be read for the Gospel a piece of the last Chapter of Matthew as followeth IEsus came and spake vnto them saying All power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Goe 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 obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you and loe I am with you alway euen vntill the end of the world Or else this that followeth out of the tenth Chapter of Iohn VErely verely I say vnto you Hee that entreth not in by the doore into the sheepefold but climbeth vp some other way the same is a theefe and a murderer But hee that entreth in by the doore is the shepherd of the sheepe to him the porter openeth and the sheepe heare his voyce and hee calleth his owne sheepe by name and leadeth them out And when hee hath sent foorth his owne sheepe hee goeth before them and the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce A stranger will they not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voyce of strangers This prouerbe spake Iesus vnto them but they vnderstood not what things they were which hee spake vnto them Then said Iesus vnto them againe Verely verely I say vnto you I am the doore of the sheepe and all euen as many as came before me are theeues and murderers but the sheepe did not heare them I am the doore by me if any man enter in he shall be safe and goe in and out and finde pasture A thiefe commeth not but for to steale kill and to destroy I am come that they might haue life and that they might haue it more abundantly I am the good shepherd A good shepherd giueth his life for the sheepe An hired seruant and he which is not the shepherd neither the sheepe are his owne seeth the wolfe comming and leaueth the sheep and fleeth and the wolfe catcheth and scattereth the sheepe The hired seruant fleeth because hee is an hired seruant and careth not for the sheepe I am the good shepherd and know my sheepe and am knowne of mine As my Father knoweth me euen so know I also my Father And I giue my life for the sheepe And other sheepe I haue which are not of this fold them also must I bring and they shall heare my voyce and there shall be one fold and one shepherd Or else this of the xx Chapter of Iohn THe same day at night which was the first day of the Sabboths when the doores were shut where the Disciples were assembled together for feare of the Iewes came Iesus and stood in the midst and said vnto them Peace be vnto you and when he had so said hee shewed vnto them his hands and his side Then were the Disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Iesus vnto them againe Peace be vnto you Is my Father sent me euen so send I you also And when he had said those words he breathed on them and said vnto them Receiue ye the holy Ghost Whosoeuers sinnes yee remit they are remitted vnto them and whosoeuers sinnes ye retaine they are retained When the Gospelis ended then shall be said or sung COme holy Ghost eternall God proceeding from aboue Both from the Father and the Sonne the God of peace and loue Visit our mindes and into vs thy heauenly grace inspire That in all truth and godlinesse we may haue true desire Thou
holy word and the meanes of our saluation that in all our words and deeds we may seeke thy glory and the encrease of thy kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen And if the Order of Deacons and Priesthood be giuen both vpon one day then shall all things at the holy Communion bee vsed as they are appointed at the Ordering of Priests Sauing that for the Epistle the whole third Chapter of the first to Timothie shall bee 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 Forme of Consecrating of an Archbishop 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 worke A Bishop therefore must be blamelesse the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not giuen to ouermuch wine no fighter not greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhorring couetousnesse one that ruleth wel his own house one that hath children in subiection with all reuerence For if a man cannot rule his owne house how shall he care for the Congregation of God Hee may not be a young scholler lest he swell and fall into the iudgement of the euill speaker He must also haue a good report of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the euill speaker The Gospel IEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Iohanna louest thou mee more then these Hee said vnto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I loue thee hee sayd to him Feede my Lambes He said to him againe the second time Simon Iohanna louest thou mee Hee said vnto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I loue thee hee said Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities ¶ Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and graciously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtilty of the deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen From our enemies defend vs O Christ Graciously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciously heare vs O Christ graciously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thee ¶ Let vs pray VVE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turne from vs all those euils that wee most righteously haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely Mediatour and Aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three bee gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy trueth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen ¶ Then shall bee said also this that followeth ALmighty God which by thy diuine prouidence hast appointed diuers orders of Ministers in the Church and diddest inspire thine holy Apostles to chuse vnto this order of Deacons the first Martyr S. Stephen with other mercifully behold these thy seruants now called to the like office and administration replenish them so with the trueth of thy doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serue thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of the Congregation through the merits of our Sauiour Iesu Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for euer Amen Then shall be sung or said the Communion of the day sauing the Epistle shall be read out of Timothie as followeth LIke wise must the Ministers be honest not double tongued nor giuen vnto much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mysterie of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first be prooued and then let them minister so that no man be able to reproue them Euen so must their wiues be honest not euill speakers but sober faithfull in all things Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their owne housholds For they that minister well get themselues a good degree and a great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu These things write I vnto thee trusting to come shortly vnto thee but and if I tary long that then thou mayest yet haue knowledge how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God which is the congregation of the liuing God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that mystery of godlinesse God was shewed in the flesh was iustified in the spirit was seene among the Angels was preached vnto the Gentiles was beleeued on in the world and receiued vp in glory Or else this out of the sixth of the Acts. THen the twelue called the multitude of the Disciples together and said It is not meet that we should leaue the word of God and serue tables Wherefore brethren looke yee out among you seuen men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost and wisdom to whom wee may commit this businesse but wee will giue our selues continually to praier and to the administration of the word And that saying pleased the whole multitude