And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and full of the holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Permenas and Nicholas a conuert of Antioch These they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them And the word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Ierusalem greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient vnto the faith And before the Gospel the Bishop sitting in a chaire shall cause the Oath of the Kings supremacie and against the power and authority of all forreigne Potentates to bee ministred vnto euery of them that are to be ordered ⧠The Oath of the Kings Soueraignetie I A. B. doe vtterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highnesse is the onely supreme Gouernour of this Realme of all other his Highnes Dominions and Countries as well in all spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporall and that no forraigne Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to haue any iurisdiction power superiority preeminence or authority Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme and therefore I doe vtterly renounce and forsake all forreigne Iurisdictions Powers Superiorities and authorities and doe promise that from henceforth I shall beare faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highnesse his Heires and lawfull Successours and to my power shall assist and defend all Iurisdictions Priuiledges Preeminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highnes his Heires and Successours or vnited and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme so helpe me God and the Contents of this Booke Then shall the Bishop examine euery one of them that are to bee ordered in the presence of the people after this manner following DOe you trust that you are inwardly moued by the holy Ghost to take vpon you this office and ministration to serue God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people Answere I trust so The Bishop Doe you thinke that yee truly bee called according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the due order of this Realme to the Ministery of the Church Answere I thinke so The Bishop Doe you vnfainedly beleeue all the Canonicall Scriptures of the old and new Testament Answere I doe beleeue The Bishop VVIll you diligently reade the same vnto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serue Answere I will The Bishop IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the Church where he shall be appointed to assist the Priest in diuine Seruice and specially when he ministreth the holy Communion and to helpe him in distribution therof and to reade holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Congregation and to instruct the youth in the Catechisme to Baptize and to Preach if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop And furthermore it is his office where prouision is so made to search said vnto him Feed my sheepe Hee said vnto him the third time Simon Iohanna louest thou me Peter was sorry because he said vnto him the third time Louest thou me And hee said vnto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I loue thee Iesus said vnto him Feed my sheepe Or else out of the tenth Chapter of Iohn as before in the order of Priests After the Gospel and Creed ended first the elected Bishop shall be presented by two Bishops vnto the Archbishop of that Prouince or to some other Bishop appointed by his commission the Bishops that present him saying MOst reuerend Father in God we present vnto you this godly and well learned man to be consecrated Bishop Then shall the Archbishop demand the Kings mandate for the consecration and cause it to be read and the Oath touching the knowledge of the Kings Supremacie 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 vnto the Archbishop as followeth The Oath of due obedience to the Archbishop IN the Name of God Amen I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church and See of N. doe professe and promise all due reuerence and obedience to the Archbishop and to the Metropoliticall Church of N. and to their successors so helpe me God through Iesus Christ This Oath shall not be made at the Consecration of an Archbishop Then the Archbishop shall mooue the Congregation present to pray saying thus to them BRethren it is written in the Gospel of S. Luke that our Sauiour Christ continued the whole night in prayer or euer that he did chuse and send forth his twelue Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did fast and pray or euer they laid hands vpon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let vs therefore following the example of our Sauiour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that we admit and send forth this person presented vnto vs to the worke whereunto we trust the holy Ghost hath called him And then shall be said the Letanie as afore in the order of Deacons And after this place That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops c. he shall say That it may please thee to blesse this our brother elected and to send thy grace vpon him that hee may duely execute the office whereunto hee is called to the edifying of thy Church and to the honour praise and glory of thy Name Answere We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Concluding the Letanie in the end with this prayer ALmighty God giuer of all good things which by thy holy spirit hast appointed diuers orders of Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold this thy seruant now called to the worke and ministery of a Bishop and replenish him so with the truth of thy doctrine and innocencie of life that both by word and deed he may faithfully serue thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy congregation through the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Archbishop sitting in a chaire shall say to him that is to bee consecrated BRother for as much 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 gouernement of the Congregation of Christ which he hath purchased with no lesse price then the effusion of his owne blood afore I admit you to this administration whereunto you are called I will examine you in certaine articles to the end the Congregation present may haue a tryall and beare witnes how ye be minded to behaue your selfe in the Church of God Are you perswaded that you bee truly called to this ministration according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the order of this Realme Answere I am so perswaded The Archbishop ARe you perswaded that the holy Scriptures
art the very Comforter in all woe and distresse The heauenly gift of God most high which no tongue can expresse The fountaine and the liuely spring of ioy celestiall The fire so bright the loue so cleare and Vnction spirituall Thou in thy gifts art manifold whereby Christs Church doth stand In faithfull hearts writing thy Law the finger of Gods hand According to thy promise made thou giuest speech of grace That through thy helpe the praise of God may sound in euery place O holy Ghost into our wits send downe thy heauenly light Kindle our hearts with feruent loue to serue God day and night Strength and stablish all our weaknesse so feeble and so fraile That neither flesh the world nor deuill against vs doe preuaile Put backe our enemy farre from vs and grant vs to obtaine Peace in our hearts with God and man without grudge or disdaine And grant O Lord that thou being our leader and our guide We may eschew the snares of sinne and from thee neuer slide To vs such plenty of thy grace good Lord grant we thee pray That thou mayest be our Comforter at the last dreadfull day Of all strife and dissension O Lord dissolue the bands And make the knots of peace and loue throughout all Christian lands Graunt vs O Lord through thee to know the Father most of might That of his deare beloued Sonne we may attaine the sight And that with perfect faith also we may acknowledge thee The Spirit of them both alway one God in persons three Laud and praise be to the Father and to the Sonne equall And to the holy Spirit also one God coeternall And pray wee that the onely Sonne vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that doe professe his Name vnto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present vnto the Bishop all them that shall receiue the order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REuerend Father in God I present vnto you these persons present to be admitted to the order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione vt in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these bee they whom wee purpose God willing to receiue this day vnto the holy office of Priesthood For after due examination we finde not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they bee persons meete for the same but yet if there bee any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for the which hee ought not to be receiued into this holy ministerie now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be obiected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus vsque ad finem Letaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giuer of al good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed diuers orders of Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold these thy seruants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the trueth of thy doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serue thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister vnto euery one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as it is set forth in the order of Deacons And that done hee shall say vnto them which are appointed to receiue the said office as hereafter followeth YOu haue heard brethren as well in your priuate examination as in the exhortation and in the holy Lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye bee called And now wee exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to haue in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye bee called that is to say the messengers the watchmen the Pastours and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premonish to feede and prouide for the Lords family to seeke for Christs sheepe that be dispersed abroad and for his children which bee in the middest of this naughty world to bee saued through Christ for euer Haue alwayes therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheepe of Christ which hee bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serue is his spouse and his body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member therof to take any hurt or hinderance by reason of your negligence yee know the greatnesse of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selues the end of your ministery towards the children of God towards the spouse and body of Christ and see that you neuer cease your labour your care and diligence vntill you haue done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge vnto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripenesse and perfectnes of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of errour in Religion or for viciousnesse in life Then forasmuch as your office is both of so great excellencie and of so great difficultie ye see with how great care and studie ye ought to apply your selues as well that you may shew your selues kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to be ware that neither you your selues offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot haue a mind and a wil therto of your selues for that power and abilitie is giuen of God alone Therfore ye see how ye ought and haue need earnestly to pray for his holy spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other meanes compasse the doing of so weighty a worke pertaining to the saluation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures and with a life agreeable vnto the same Ye perceiue how studious yee ought to bee in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the maners both of your selues and of them that specially pertaine vnto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this selfe same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies Wee haue good hope that you haue well weighed and pondered these things with your selues long before this time and that you haue cleerely determined by Gods grace to giue your selues wholly to this vocation wherunto it hath pleased God to call you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selues wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies
holy word and the meanes of our saluation that in all our words and deeds we may seeke thy glory and the encrease of thy kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen And if the Order of Deacons and Priesthood be giuen both vpon one day then shall all things at the holy Communion bee vsed as they are appointed at the Ordering of Priests Sauing that for the Epistle the whole third Chapter of the first to Timothie shall bee read as it is set out before in the order of Priests And immediatly after the Epistle the Deacons shall be ordered And it shall suffice the Letany to be said once ⧠The Forme of Consecrating of an Archbishop or Bishop ¶ At the Communion The Epistle THis is a true saying If a man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth an honest worke A Bishop therefore must be blamelesse the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not giuen to ouermuch wine no fighter not greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhorring couetousnesse one that ruleth wel his own house one that hath children in subiection with all reuerence For if a man cannot rule his owne house how shall he care for the Congregation of God Hee may not be a young scholler lest he swell and fall into the iudgement of the euill speaker He must also haue a good report of them which are without lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the euill speaker The Gospel IEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Iohanna louest thou mee more then these Hee said vnto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I loue thee hee sayd to him Feede my Lambes He said to him againe the second time Simon Iohanna louest thou mee Hee said vnto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I loue thee hee said Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which art in heauen c. And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities ¶ Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and graciously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtilty of the deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen From our enemies defend vs O Christ Graciously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Graciously heare vs O Christ graciously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thee ¶ Let vs pray VVE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turne from vs all those euils that wee most righteously haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely Mediatour and Aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and doest promise that when two or three bee gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy trueth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen ¶ Then shall bee said also this that followeth ALmighty God which by thy diuine prouidence hast appointed diuers orders of Ministers in the Church and diddest inspire thine holy Apostles to chuse vnto this order of Deacons the first Martyr S. Stephen with other mercifully behold these thy seruants now called to the like office and administration replenish them so with the trueth of thy doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serue thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of the Congregation through the merits of our Sauiour Iesu Christ who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for euer Amen Then shall be sung or said the Communion of the day sauing the Epistle shall be read out of Timothie as followeth LIke wise must the Ministers be honest not double tongued nor giuen vnto much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mysterie of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first be prooued and then let them minister so that no man be able to reproue them Euen so must their wiues be honest not euill speakers but sober faithfull in all things Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their owne housholds For they that minister well get themselues a good degree and a great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu These things write I vnto thee trusting to come shortly vnto thee but and if I tary long that then thou mayest yet haue knowledge how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God which is the congregation of the liuing God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that mystery of godlinesse God was shewed in the flesh was iustified in the spirit was seene among the Angels was preached vnto the Gentiles was beleeued on in the world and receiued vp in glory Or else this out of the sixth of the Acts. THen the twelue called the multitude of the Disciples together and said It is not meet that we should leaue the word of God and serue tables Wherefore brethren looke yee out among you seuen men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost and wisdom to whom wee may commit this businesse but wee will giue our selues continually to praier and to the administration of the word And that saying pleased the whole multitude
THE FORME AND MANNER OF MAKING and Consecrating BISHOPS PRIESTES and DEACONS ⧠Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Maiesty and by the Assignes of IOHN BILL Anno 1633. ¶ THE PREFACE IT is euident vnto all men diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there hath beene these orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons which offices were euermore had in such reuerent estimation that no man by his owne priuate authoritie might presume to execute any of them except hee were first called tried examined and knowne to haue such qualities as were requisite for the same and also by publique prayer with imposition of hands approued and admitted thereunto And therefore to the intent these orders should bee continued and reuerently vsed and esteemed in this Church of England it is requisite that no man not being at this present Bishop Priest nor Deacon shall execute any of them except he bee called tried examined and admitted according to the forme hereafter following And none shall be admitted a Deacon except hee bee twenty one yeeres of age at the least And euery man which is to bee admitted a Priest shall bee full foure and twenty yeeres old And euery man which is to be consecrated a Bishop shall be fully thirty yeeres of age And the Bishop knowing either by himselfe or by sufficient testimony any person to be a man of vertuous conuersation and without crime and after examination and triall finding him learned in the Latine tongue and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture may vpon a Sunday or Holy day in the face of the Church admit him a Deacon in such manner and forme as hereafter followeth The Forme and manner of Ordering of DEACONS FIrst when the day appointed by the Bishop is come there shall be an exhortation declaring the dutie and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers how necessarie such orders are in the Church of Christ and also how the people ought to esteeme them in their vocation After the exhortation ended the Archdeacon or his Deputie shall present such as shall come to the Bishop to be admitted saying these words REuerend Father in God I present vnto you these persons present to be admitted Deacons The Bishop TAke heede that the persons whom ye present vnto vs bee apt and meete for their learning and godly conuersation to exercise their ministery duely to the honour of God and edifying of his Church The Archdeacon shall answere I Haue enquired of them and also examined them and thinke them so to be And the Bishop shall say vnto the people BRethren if there be any of you who knoweth any impediment or notable crime in any of these persons presented to be ordered Deacons for the which he ought not to bee admitted to the same let him come forth in the Name of God and shew what the crime or impediment is And if any great crime or impediment be obiected the Bishop shal surcease from ordering that person vntill such time as the party accused shall try himselfe cleare of that crime Then the Bishop commending such as shall be found meete to be ordered to the prayers of the Congregation with the Clearkes and people present shall say or sing the Letany as followeth with the prayers The Ordering of Deacons The Letany and Suffrages O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the Sonne redeemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts and assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindnesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hypocrisie from enuy hatred and malice and all vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the deuill Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famin from battell and murther and from sudden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuy conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy word and Commandement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holy Incarnation by thy holy Natiuity and Circumcision by thy Baptisme Fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agony and bloody sweat by thy Crosse and Passion by thy precious Death and Buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of Iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. Wee sinners doe beseech thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse and holinesse of life thy Seruant Charles our most gracious King and Gouernour Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith feare and loue and that hee may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glory We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giuing him the victory ouer all his enemies Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and preserue our gracious Queene Mary Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely sister and her issue Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy Word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Counsell and all the Nobility with grace wisedome and vnderstanding Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute Iustice and to maintaine trueth Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all Nations vnity peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the Spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doe stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yong children and to shew thy pittie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ search for the sicke poore and impotent people of the Parish to intimate their estates names and places where they dwell vnto the Curate that by his exhortation they may be relieued by the Parish or other conuenient almes will you doe this gladly and willingly Answere I will so doe by the helpe of God The Bishop VVIll you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your owne liues and the liues of your family according to the doctrine of Christ and to make both your selues and them as much as in you lieth wholesome examples of the flocke of Christ Answere I will so doe the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you reuerendly obey your Ordinary and other chiefe Ministers of the Church and them to whom the gouernment and charge is committed ouer you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions Answere I will endeauour my selfe the Lord being my helper Then the Bishop laying his hands seuerally vpon the head of euery of them shall say Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed vnto thee In the Name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen Then shall the Bishop deliuer to eueryone of them the new Testament saying Take thou authoritie to reade the Gospel in the Church of God and to preach the same if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall reade the Gospel of that day Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion and all that are ordered shall tarry and receiue the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop The Communion ended after the last Collect and immediately before the Benediction shall be said this Collect following ALmightie God giuer of all good things which of thy great goodnesse hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy seruants vnto the offices of Deacons in thy Church make them wee beseech thee O Lord to bee modest humble and constant in their ministration to haue a ready will to obserue all spirituall discipline that they hauing alwayes the testimony of a good conscience and continuing euer stable and strong in thy Sonne Christ may so well vse themselues in this inferiour office that they may be found worthy to bee called vnto the higher ministeries in thy Church through the same thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ to whom be glory and honour world without end Amen And here it must bee shewed vnto the Deacon that hee must continue in that office of a Deacon the space of a whole yeere at the least except for reasonable causes it bee otherwise seene to his Ordinary to the intent hee may be perfect and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiasticall administration in executing whereof if he befound faithfull and diligent he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the order of Priesthood ¶ The forme of ordering of Priests When the exhortation is ended then shall follow the Communion And for the Epistle shall bee read out of the twentieth Chapter of the Actes of the Apostles as followeth FRom Mileto Paul sent messengers to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Congregation which when they were come to him hee said vnto them Yee know that from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I haue beene with you at all seasons seruing the Lord with all humblenesse of minde and with many teares and temptations which happened vnto me by the layings a wait of the Iewes because I would keepe backe nothing that was profitable vnto you but to shew you and teach you openly throughout euery house witnessing both to the Iewes and also to the Greekes the repentance that is toward GOD and the faith which is toward our Lord Iesus And now behold I goe bound in the spirit vnto Hierusalem not knowing the things that shall come on me there but that the holy Ghost witnesseth in euery city saying that bands and troubles abide mee But none of these things mooue mee neither is my life deare vnto my selfe that I might fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration of the word which I haue receiued of the