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
endue us with the grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Son of God we beseech thee to hear us Son of God we beseech thee to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us O Christ hear us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Amen The Versicle O Lord deal not with us after our sins Answer Neither reward us after our iniquities ¶ Let us pray O God merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppresse us and graciously hear us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thy names sake O God we have heard with our ears and our Fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didest in their dayes and in the old time before them O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. From our enemies defend us O Christ Graciously look upon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people Favourably with mercy hear our prayers O Son of David have mercy upon us Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us O Christ Graciously hear us O Christ graciously hear us O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed upon us Answer As we do put our trust in thee Let us pray WE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holinesse and purenesse of living to thy honour and glory through our onely Mediator and Advocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God which hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and doest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting Amen ¶ Then shall be said also this that followeth ALmighty God which by thy divine providence hast appointed divers orders of ministers in the Church and didst inspire thine holy Apostles to chuse unto this Order of Deacons the first Martyr S. Stephen with other mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the like office and administration replensh 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 the Congregation through the merits of our saviour Iesu Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Then shall be sung or said the Communion of the day saving the Epistle shall be read out of Timothy as followeth LIkewise must the ministers be honest not double-tongued not given unto 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 a great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu These things write I unto thee trusting to come shortly unto thee but and if I tarry long that then thou mayest yet have 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 preached unto the Gentiles was believed on in the world and received up in glory Or else this out of the sixth of the Acts. THen the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve tables Wherefore brethren look you out among you seven men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost and wisdom to whom we may commit this businesse but we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the administration of the word And that saying pleased the whole multitude And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and full of the holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas a convert of Antioch These they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them And the word of God encreased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Ierusalem greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient unto the faith And before the Gospel the Bishop sitting in a chair shall cause the Oath of the Kings supremacy and against the power and authority of all forreign Potentates to be ministred unto every of them that are to be ordered ¶ The Oath of the Kings Soveraignty I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highnesse is the onely supreme governour of this Realm and of all other his Highnesse dominions and Countries as well in all spiritul or Ecclesiastical things or causes as temporal and that no forraign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction power superiority preeminence or authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all forreign jurisdictions powers superiorities and authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highnesse his Heires and lawful Successors and to my power shall
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
Peter doth testifie The Resurrection of Christ CHrist did truely 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 untill he return to judge men at the last day The Doctrine of holy Scripture is sufficient to salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is neither read therein nor may be proved thereby although it be some time received of the Faithful as godly and profitable for an order and comlinesse yet no man ought to be constrained to believe it as an Article of Faith or reputed requisite to the necessity of salvation The old Testament is not to be refused THe old Testament is not to be put away as though it were contrary to the New but to be kept still for both in the Old and new Testaments 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 The three Creeds THe three Creeds Nicene Creed Athanasius 's Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture Of Original or Birth sin ORiginal sin staudeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk which allso the Anabaptists do now adayes renew 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 his former righteousness which he had at his creation and is of his own nature given to evil so that the flesh desireth alwayes 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 baptized whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some the 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 Of Free-will 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 in us when we have that will Of Grace THe Grace of Christ or the holy Ghost by him given doth take away the stony heart and giveth an heart of flesh and although those that have no will to good things he maketh them to will and those that would evil things he maketh them not to will the same yet neverthelesse he enforceth not the will and therefore no man when he sinneth can excuse himself as not worthy to be blamed or condemned by alledging that he sinned unwillingly or by compulsion Of the Justification of Man JVstification by onely Faith in Iesus Christ in that sense as it is declared in the Homily of Iustification is a most certain and wholsome Doctrine for Christian men Works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-authors say deserve grace of congâ—uity but because they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin Works of Supererogation VOluntary works besides over and above Gods commandments which they call works of supererogation cannot be caught without arrogancy and iniquity For by them men do declare that they do not onely render to God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake then of bounden duty is required Whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that are commanded you say We be unprofitable servants No man is without sin but Christ alone CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin onely except from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be the Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself made once forever should take away the sins of the world and sin as S John saith was not in him But the rest yea although we be baptized and born again in Christ yet we offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Of sin against the holy Ghost Every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptisme is not sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the place for penitents is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptisme After we have received the holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here or deny the place for penitents to such as truely repent and amend their lives Blasphemy against the holy Ghost BLasphemy against the holy ghost is when a man of malice and stubborness of minde doth rail upon the truth of Gods word manifestly perceived and being enemy thereunto persecuteth that same and because such be guilty of Gods curse they intangle themselves with a most grievous and hainous crime whereupon this kinde of sin is called and affirmed of the Lord unpardonable Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his own judgement secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen out of mankinde and to bring them to everlasting salvation by Christ as vessels made to honour Whereupon such as have so excellent a benefit of God given unto them be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made sons by adoption they be made like the Image of Gods only begotten Son Iesu Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed
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
the same 26. Also To avoid the detestable sin of Simonie Simonie because buying and selling of benefices is execrable before God therefore all such persons as buy any benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit shall be deprived of such benefices and be made unable at any time after to receive any other spiritual promotion and such as do sell them or by any colour do bestow them for their own gain and profit shall lose their right and Title of patronage and presentment for that time and the gift thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the Queens Majesty 27. Also Homilies to be read Because through lack of Preachers in many places of the Queens Realms and dominions the people continue in ignorance and blindnesse all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall read in their Churches every Sunday one of the Homilies which are and shall be set forth for the same purpose by the Queens authority in such sort as they shall be appointed to do in the Preface of the same 28. Item Whereas many undiscreet persons do at this day uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Contempt of Ministers because some of them having small learning have of long time favoured fond fancies rather then Gods truth yet forasmuch as their office and function is appointed of God the Queens Majesty willeth and chargeth all her loving Subjects that from henceforth they shall use them charitably and reverently for their office and Ministration sake and especially such as labour in the setting forth of Gods holy word 29. Item Although there be no prohibition by the word of God nor any example of the primitive Church but that the Priests and Ministers of the Church may lawfully for the avoiding of fornication have an honest and sober wife and that for the same purpose the same was by Act of Parliament in the time of our dear brother King Edward the sixt made lawful Wherupon a great number of the Clergie of this Realm were then married and so yet continue Yet because there hath grown offence and some slander to the Church by lack of discreet and sover behaviour in many Ministers of the Church both in choosing of their wives and in undiscreet living with them the remedy whereof is necessary to be sought It is thought therefore very necessary that no manner of Priest or Deacon shall hereafter take to his wife any manner of Woman without the advice and allowance first had upon good examination by the Bishop of the same Diocesse and two Iustices of the peace of the same Shire dwelling next to the place where the same woman hath made her most abode before her marriage nor without the good will of the Parents of the said woman if she have any living or two of the next of her kinsfolks or for lack of knowledge of such of her Master or Mistresse where she serveth And before she shall be contracted in any place he shall make a good and certain proof thereof to the Minister or to the Congregation assembled for that purpose which shall be upon some holy-day where divers may be present And if any shall do otherwise that then they shall not be permitted to Minister either the word or the Sacraments of the Church nor shall be capable of any Ecclesiastical benefice for the manner of Marriages of any Bishops the same shall be allowed and appoâ—…ed by the Metropolitan of the Province and also by such Commissioners as the Queens Majesty thereunto shall appoint and if any Master or Dean or any Head of any Colledg shall purpose to marry the same shall not be allowed but by such to whom the Visitation of the same doth properly belong who shall in any wise provide that the same tend not to the hindrance of their house Of apparel of Ministers 30. Item Her Majesty being desirous to have the Prelacy and Clergy of this Realm to be had aswell in outward reverence as otherwise regarded for the worthinesse of their Ministeries and thinking it necessary to have them known to the people in all places and assemblies both in the Church and without and thereby to receive the honour and estimation due to the speciall Messengers and Ministers of Almighty God willeth and commandeth that all Arch-Bishops and Bishops and all other that be called or admitted to Preaching or ministery of the Sacraments or that be admitted into vocation Ecclesiastical or into any society of learning in either of the Vniversities or elsewhere shall use and wear such seemly habits garments and such square caps as were most commonly and orderly received in the latter year of the Reign of King Edward the sixt not thereby meaning to attribute any holinesse or special worthinesse to the said garments but as Saint Paul writeth Omnia decenter secundum ordinem fiant 1 Cor. 14 cap. 31. Item That Heresies no man shall wilfully and obstinately defend or maintain any Heresies Errors or false doctrine contrary to the faith of Christ and his holy spirit 32. Item That no persons shall use Charms Sorceries Charmers enchantments witchcraft sooth saying or any such like divillish device nor shall resort at any time to the same counsel or help 33. Item that no person shall Absent from Common Prayer neglecting their own Parish Church resort to any other Church in time of Common prayer or preaching except it be by the occasion of some extraordinary Sermon in some Parish of the same town 34. Item That no Inholders or Alehouse-keepers Inholders Alehouses shall use to sel no meat nor drink in the time of Common prayer preaching reading of the Homilies or Scriptures 35. Item Images in houses That no persons keep in their houses any abused Images Tables Pictures Paintings and other Monuments of feigned Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition 36. Item Disturbers of Sermon or Service That no man shall willingly let or disturb the Preacher in time of his Sermon or let or discourage any Curate or Minister to sing or say the divine Service now set forth nor mock or jeast at the Ministers of such service 37. Item Rash talkers of Scripture That no man shall talk or reason of the holy Scriptures rashly or contentiously nor maintain any false doctrine or Errour but shall commune of the same when occasion is given reverently humbly and in the fear of God for his comfort and better understanding 38. Item That no man woman or childe Attendant to the Service shall be otherwise busied in the time of the Service then in quiet attendance to hear mark and understand that is read preached and Ministred 39. Item That every Schoolmaster and Teacher shall teach the Grammar set forth by King Henry the 8. The Grammar of King Henry the 8. of noble memory and continued in the time of King Edward the sixth and none other Allowance of School masters 40. Item That no man shall
known as a tree discerned by the fruit 13. Of works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God for as much as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as School-Authors say deserve grace of congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin 14. Of works of Supererogation VOluntary works besides over and above Gods Commandments which they call works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake then of bounden duty is required Whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that are commanded to you say We are unprofitable servants 15. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only except from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the world and sin as S. Iohn saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptized and born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Blasphemia in Spiritum Sanctum EST cum quis verborum Dei manifestè perceptam veritatem ex malitia obfirmatione animi convitiis insectatur hostiliter insequitur Atque hujusmodi quia maledicto sunt obnoxii gravissimo sese astringunt scelere unde peccati hoc genus irremissibile à Domino appellatur affirmatur Artic. 16. Edvardi 6. 16. Of sin after Baptisme NOt every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptisme is sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denyed to such as fal into sin after Baptisme After we have received the holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgivenesse to such as truely repent 17. Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be indued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth frequently 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 downfall whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perillous then desperation Furthermore 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 Omnes obligantur ad moralia legis praecepta servanda LEx à Deo data per Mosen licet quoad ceremonias ritus Christianos non astringat neque civilia eis praecepta in aliqua Repub. necessario recipi debeant nihilominus ab obedientia mandatorum quae moralia vocantur nullus quantumvis Christianus est solutus quare illi non sunt audiendi qui sacras literas tantum infirmis datas esse perhibent spiritum perpetuo jactant à quo sibi quae praedicant suggeri asserunt quanquam cum S. Scripturis apertissime pugnent Art Edvard 6. 19. 18. Of obtaining eternal salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed 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 only the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved 19. 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 Alexandria and Antioch have erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not onely in their living and manner of ceremonies but also in matters of faith 20. Of the authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith And yet 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 besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation 21. Of the authority of general Councels GEneral Councels may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes and when they be gathered together for as much as they be an assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may erre and sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture 22. Of Purgatory THe Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration aswell of Images as of Reliques and also invocration of Saints is a fond
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