the rod of Discipline 1 Cor. 4. ult By vertue of this Power Commission S. Paul delivers the incestuous Corinthian to Satan and casts him out of the Churches Communion 1 Cor. 5. and the same St. Paul not only exercises this Jurisdiction himself but also directs his son Bishop Timothy how to behave himself in the ordering of these Church censures 1 Tim. 5.19 not to receive an accusation against a Presbyter under two or three witnesses and when he hath heard to rebuke or censure as the cause requires without partiality or leaning to either side all which speak plainly a Tribunal erected in the Church and acknowledged by the Apostle enough to prove the power of Jurisdiction Then the Legislative of making Laws and Constitutions for regulating manners and determining doubts and controversies it cannot with reason be denied to be granted in that large Commission forecited St. John 20. As my father sent me so send I you For here committing the Government of the Church to his Apostles our Lord Commissions them with the same Power that was committed to him for that purpose when he was on earth with the same necessary standing power that he had and exercised as Man for the good of the Church Less cannot in reason be thought to be here granted then all power necessary for the well and peaceable government of the Church and such a power is this of making lawes this is a Commission in general for making lawes then in particular for making Articles and decisions of doctrines controverted the power is more explicit and expresse S. Matth. 28. All power is given to me Go therefore and teach all nations that is with authority and by vertue of that power that is given to me and what is it to teach the truth with authority but to command and oblige all people to receive the truth so taught and this power was not given to the Apostles persons only for Christ there promised to be with them in that Office to the end of the world that is to them and their successors in that Pastoral Office to the Apostles or Bishops that should succeed them to the end of the world This will appear still more clear by S. Paul Heb. 13. where after he had commanded them not to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines he prescribes this as the preservative against such errours and inconstancy Obey them that have the oversight over you and watch for your souls obey them in the guidance and conduct of your souls in their determinations and decisions about such divers and strange Doctrine all which supposes in those Guides a power to govern and rule us in such doubts and controversies about doctrines and matters of belief an authority to determine in controversies of faith as our Church teaches in her 20. Article adde to this that St. Paul tells us 1 Tim. 3.15 that the Church is the ground and pillar of truth And whither then should we go in doubts and controversies for the determination of what is truth but to the ground and pillar of truth For the clearer understanding of this power in the Church know that to this one holy Church our Lord committed in trust the most holy faith and the whole stock of necessary Christian truth therefore called the ground and pillar of truth This truth she must endeavour to preserve as by stopping the mouthes of obstinate gainsaiers so by guiding and governing the meek but weak doubters into the truth by determining their doubts and controversies Not that the Church can make Articles of faith and obtrude them upon the members but that she may and must if the true sense of faith and holy Scriptures be called in question declare and determine what that sense is which she hath received in trust from Christ and his Apostles commanding under penalties and censures all her children to receive that sense and to profess it in such expressive words and form as may directly determine the doubt Thus she did in the great NICENE Council venerable over all the Christian world when the Arrians had perverted by subtil controversies and questions the true sense of the Creed concerning our Saviours Divinity she first declared what sense of the Creed she had received by constant tradition from the Apostles and then enjoyned all Christians to profess that sense by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance with the Father a word directly determining the controversie in hand Nor did the Christian world ever question her Authority in this particular And in controversies about doctrines where she hath received no such clear determination of either part from Christ and his Apostles she hath power to declare her own sense in the controversie and to determine which part shall be received and profest for truth by her members and that too under Ecclesiastical penalty and censure which they accordingly are bound to submit to not as an infallible verity but as a probable truth and rest in her determination till it be made plain by as great or a greater authority that this her determination 〈…〉 our and if it shall appear to any of the members to be an errour or if they shall think it so to be by the weight of such reasons as are privately suggested to them yet are they still obliged to silence and peace where the Decision of a particular Church is against the Doctrine of the Universal not to profess in this case against the Churches determination because the professing of such a controverted truth is not necessary but the preservation of the peace and unity of the Church is This is not to assert infallibility in the Church but authority The sentence shall binde to submission though the Superiors may erre in the sentence Thus God ordered it Deut. 17. that in doubts the inferior were to stand to the decision and sentence of the Priests and the Judge and yet their judgement was not infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole assembly the chiefest Senate might erre sin through ignorance a sacrifice is appointed for the expiation of their error Lev. 4.13 Better that inferiours be bound to stand to such fallible judgement as to quiet submission in such kind of controversies as afore mentioned then that every man be suffered to interpret Laws determine controversies which will bring into the Church certain confusion Nor wil such submission in the Inferiors be damnable seeing in this submission to authority they follow Gods method obeying them that have the oversight over them Heb. 13. and keep order of which God is the Author 1 Cor. 14.33 God is not the Author of confusion but of order and peace as in all Churches of the Saints This Authority in determining doubts and controversies the Church hath practised in all Ages and her constant practice is the best interpreter of her right We read not onely of St. Pauls determining controversies about rites and circumstances 1 Cor. 14. but
Church Wardens at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church shall provide a comely and honest pulpit to be set in a convenient place within the same for the preaching of Gods word ALSO they shall provide and have within three moneths after this visitation a strong Chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be provided at the cost and charge of the parish having three keyes whereof one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other two in the custody of the Church wardens or any other two honest men to be appointed by the parish from year to year which Chest you shall set and fasten near unto the high altar to the intent the parishioners should put into it their Oblation and almes for their poor neighbours And the Parson Vicar or Curate shall diligently from time to time and specially when men make their testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbours to confer and give as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring unto them whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise then God commanded upon Pardons Pilgrimages Trentalles decking of Images offering of Candels giving to Friers and upon other like blinde devotions they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a true worshiping of God required earnestly upon pain of everlasting damnation and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and so is accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same with everlasting life the which almes and devotion of the People the keepers of the keyes shall at times convenient take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of the whole Parish or six of them to be truely and faithfully delivered to their most needy neighbours and if they be provided for then to the reparation of high wayes next adjoyning And also the money which riseth of Fraternities guilds and other stocks of the Church except by the Kings majesties authority it be otherwise appointed shall be put into the said chest and converted to tâ—… said use and also the rents of lands the profit of cattle and mony given or bequeathed to the studing of Torches Lights Tapers Lampes shalt be converted to the said use saving that it shall be lawful for them to bestow part of the said profits upon the reparation of the Church if great need require and whereas the parish is very poor and not able otherwise to repaire the same And forasmuch as priests be publick ministers of the Church and upon the holydayes ought to apply themselves to the common administration of the whole Parish they shall not be bound to go to women lying in childbed except in time of dangerous sickness and not to fetch any corse before it be brought to the Churchyard and if the woman be sick or the corse brought to the Church the priest shall do his duty accordingly in visiting the woman and burying the dead person ALSO to avoid the detestable sin of symony because buying and selling of benefices is execrable before God therefore all such persons as buy any benefices or coine 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 the right and title of patronage and presentment for that time and the gift thereof for that vacation shall appertain to the Kings Maiesty ALSO because through lack of Preachers in many places of the Kings 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 Kings authority in such sort as they shall be appointed to do in the Preface of the same ALSO whereas many indiscrete persons do at this day uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church because some of them having smal learning have of long time favoured phansies rather then Gods truth yet forasmuch as their office and function is appointed of God The Kings Majesty willeth and chargeth all his loving subjects that from henceforth they shall use them charitably and reverently for their office and administrations sake and especially such as labour in the seting forth of Gods holy word ALSO that all manner of persons which understand not the Latine tongue shall pray upon none other Primer but upon that which was lately set forth in English by authority of King Henry the VIII of most famous memory And that no teachers of youth shall teach any other then the said Primer And all those which have knowledge of the Latine tongue shall pray upon none other Latine Primer but upon that which is likewise set forth by the said authority And that all graces to be said at dinner and supper shall be alwayes said in the English tongue And that none other grammar shall be taught in any schoole or other place within the Kings Realms and Dominions but onely that which is set forth by the said authority ITEM that all Chauntery Priests shall exercise themselves in teaching youth to read and write and bring them up in good manners and other vertuous exercises ITEM when any Sermon or Homily shall be had the Prime and houres shall be omitted ⧠The form of bidding the Common Prayers YOU shall pray for the whole congregation of Christs Church and specially for this Church of England and Ireland wherein first I commend to your devout prayers the Kings most excellent Majesty supreme head immediately under God of the spirituality and temporality of the same Church and for Queen Katharine dowager and also for my lady Mary and my lady Elizabeth the Kings sisters Secondly you shall pray for my Lord Protectors grace with all the rest of the Kings Majestes Councel for all the Lords of this Realm and for the Clergy and the commons of the same beseeching almighty God to give every of them in his degree grace to use themselves in such wise as may be to Gods glory the Kings honour and the weal of this Realm Thirdly ye shall pray for all them that be departed out of this world in the faith of Christ thath they with us and we with them at the day of Iudgement may rest both body and soul with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdom of heaven ALL which and singular Iniunctions the Kings Maiesty ministreth unto his Clergy and their successours and to all his loving subiects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits of benefices suspension excommunication and such other coertion as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical jurisdiction whom his
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
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
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
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