Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

them:

Then the Presiding Bishop, sitting in his Chair, shall say to him that is to be consecrated,

BROTHER, forasmuch as the holy Scripture and the ancient canons command that we should not be hasty in laying on hands, and admitting any person to government in the Church of CHRIST, which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood; before we admit you to this administration, we will examine you in Certain articles, to the end that the congregation present may have a trial, and bear witness, how you are minded to behave yourself in the Church of GOD.

ARE you persuaded, that you are truly called to this ministration, according to the will of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and the order of this Church?

Answer. I am so persuaded.

The Presiding Bishop.

BRETHREN, it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke, That our Saviour CHRIST continued the whole night in prayer, before he chose and sent forth his twelve Apostles. It is written also, That the holy Apostles prayed, before they ordained Matthias to be of the number of the twelve. Let us, therefore, following the example of our Saviour CHRIST, and his Apostles, offer up our prayers to ALMIGHTY GOD, before we admit and send forth this person pre-determined, out of the same holy Scripsented unto us, to the work whereunto we trust the HOLY GHOST hath called him.

¶ And then shall be said the Litany; save only, that after this place, That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, &c. the proper Suffrage shall be,

THAT it may please thee to bless 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 thy Church, and to the honour, praise, and glory of thy name; Answer. We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

Then shall be said this Prayer following. ALMIGHTY GOD, giver of all good things, who by thy HOLY SPIRIT hast appointed divers orders of ministers in thy Church; mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the work and

ministry of a Bishop; and so replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that both by word and deed he may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and the edifying and wellgoverning of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the HOLY GHOST, world without end.

Amen.

ARE you persuaded, that the holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith in JESUS CHRIST? And are you

tures, to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach or maintain nothing, as necessary to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded, may be concluded and proved by the same?

Answer. I am so persuaded, and determined by God's grace.

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you then faithfully exercise yourself in the holy Scriptures, and call upon GOD by prayer for the true understanding of the same; so that you may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholesome doctrine, and to withstand and convince the gainsayers?

Answer. I will so do, by the help of GOD.

The Presiding Bishop. ARE you ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's 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 Presiding Bishop. WILL you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world

that you may show yourself in all things an example of good works unto others, that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing to say against you?

Answer. I will so do, the LORD being my helper.

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you maintain and set forward, as much as shall lie in you, quietness, love, and peace among all men; and diligently exercise such discipline, as by the authority of GoD's word, and by the order of this Church, is committed to you?

Answer. I will so do, by the help of GOD.

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you be faithful in ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon others? Answer. I will so be, by the help of GOD,

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you show yourself gentle, and be merciful for CHRIST's sake to poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help?

Answer. I will so show myself, by GOD's help.

Then the Presiding Bishop, standing up,

shall say,

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, you may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the latter day, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop elect put on the rest of the Episcopal habit; and, kneeling down, Veni, Creator Spiritus, shall be sung or said over him, the Presiding Bishop beginning, and the Bishops, with others that are present, answering by verses as followeth :

COME, HOLY GHOST, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire:
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart:
Thy blessed unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love:
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight:
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace:
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the FATHER, SON,
And thee, of both to be but one:
That through the ages all along
This may be our endless song;
Praise to thy eternal merit,
FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT.

¶ Or this:

COME, HOLY GHOST, eternal GOD,
Proceeding from above,
Both from the FATHER and the SON,
The GoD of peace and love;
Visit our minds, into our hearts
Thy heavenly grace inspire;
That truth and godliness we may
Pursue with full desire.
Thou art the very Comforter
In grief and all distress;

The heavenly gift of GOD most High;
No tongue can it express;
The fountain and the living spring
Of joy celestial;

The fire so bright, the love so sweet,
The unction spiritual.

Thou in thy gifts art manifold,

By them CHRIST'S Church doth stand: In faithful hearts thou writ'st thy law, The finger of God's hand.

According to thy promise, LORD,

Thou givest speech with grace;

That, through thy help, GOD's praises may
Resound in every place.

O HOLY GHOST, into our minds
Send down thy heavenly light;
Kindle our hearts with fervent zeal,
To serve GOD day and night:
Our weakness strengthen and confirm,
For, LORD, thou know'st us frail;
That neither devil, world, nor flesh
Against us may prevail.

Put back our enemies far from us,
And help us to obtain

Peace in our hearts with GOD and man,
The best, the truest gain;
And grant that thou being, O LORD,
Our leader and our guide,
We may escape the snares of sin,
And never from thee slide.
Such measures of thy powerful grace
Grant, LORD, to us, we pray;
That thou may'st be our Comforter
At the last dreadful day.
Of strife and of dissension

Dissolve, O LORD, the bands,
And knit the knots of peace and love
Throughout all Christian lands.
Grant us the grace that we may know
The FATHER of all might,
That we of his beloved SON,

May gain the blissful sight;
And that we may with perfect faith
Ever acknowledge thee,

The SPIRIT of FATHER, and of SON,
One GOD in Persons three.
To GOD the FATHER laud and praise,
And to his blessed SON,
And to the HOLY SPIRIT of grace,
Co-equal Three in One.
And pray we, that our only LORD
Would please his Spirit to send
On all that shall profess his name,
From hence to the world's end.

Amen.

¶ That ended, the Presiding Bishop shall say, LORD, hear our prayer;

Ans. And let our cry come unto thee.
Presiding Bishop. Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY GOD and most merciful Father, who of thine infinite goodness hast given thine only and dearly beloved Son JESUS CHRIST, to be

our Redeemer, and the 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 Pastors and Doctors, to the edifying and making perfect his Church; grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant such grace, that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel, the glad tidings of reconciliation with thee; and use the authority given him, not to destruction, but to salvation; not to hurt, but to help: so that as a wise and faithful servant, giving to thy family their portion in due season, he may at last be received into everlasting joy, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord, who, with thee and the HOLY GHOST, liveth and reigneth, one GOD, world without end. Amen.

Then the Presiding Bishop, and Bishops present, shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected Bishop kneeling before them, the Presiding Bishop saying,

RECEIVE the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Bishop in the Church of GOD, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands: In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen, And remember that thou stir up the grace of GoD, which is given thee by this imposition of our hands: for GOD hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and soberness.

¶ Then the Presiding Bishop shall deliver him the Bible, saying,

GIVE heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine; think upon the things contained in this book; be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby

may be manifest unto all men; for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself 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 up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost. Be so merciful, that you be not too remiss; so minister discipline, that you forget not mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen.

Then the Presiding Bishop shall proceed in the Communion Service; with whom the new consecrated Bishop, with others, 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 down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy holy Spirit, that he preaching thy word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all patience and doctrine; but also may be to such as believe, a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the LORD, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth one God with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, world without end. Amen.

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of GOD, and of his Son JESUS CHRIST our Lord: And the blessing of GOD ALMIGHTY, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

THE LITANY AND SUFFRAGES.

O GOD, the FATHER of heaven; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O GOD, the FATHER of heaven; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O GOD the SON, Redeemer of the world; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O GOD the SON, Redeemer of the

world; have mercy upon us miserable

sinners.

O GOD the HOLY GHOST, proceeding from the FATHER and the SON; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O GOD the HOLY GHOST, proceeding from the FATHER and the SON, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious TRINITY, three persons and one GOD; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious TRINITY, three persons and one GOD; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Remember not, LORD, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever:

Spare us, good LORD.

From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation;

Good LORD, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness;

Good LORD, deliver us.

From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil;

Good LORD, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death;

Good LORD, deliver us.

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word and commandment;

Good LORD, deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation;

Good LORD, deliver us.

By thine Agony and bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the HOLY GHOST; Good LORD, deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time. of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment;

Good LORD, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O LORD GOD; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way; We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to bless and

preserve all Christian rulers and magistrates; giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to bless these thy servants, now to be admitted to the order of Deacons [or Priests], and to pour thy grace upon them; that they may duly execute their office, to the edifying of thy Church, and the glory of thy holy name;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth, all such as have erred, and are deceived;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand, and to comfort and help the weak-hearted, and to raise up those who fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to preserve all who travel by land or by water, all women in the perils of child-birth, all sick persons, and young children, and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children, and widows, and all who are desolate and oppressed;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them;

We beseech thee to hear us, good LORD.

That it may please thee to give us true repentance, to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances, and to 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.

[blocks in formation]

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.
Then shall the Bishop, and the People with
him, say the Lord's Prayer.

OUR Father who 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 those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Bishop. O LORD, deal not with us according to our sins.

Answer. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

Bishop. Let us pray.

| O GOD, merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as are sorrowful; mercifully assist our prayers which we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us, may, by thy good providence, be brought to naught; that we, thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church, through JESUS CHRIST Lord.

our

O LORD, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thy name's sake.

O GOD, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before

them.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

As we do put our trust in thee.
Bishop. Let us pray.

WE humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant that, in all our troubles, we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory, through our only Mediator and Advocate, JESUS CHRIST Our Lord.

Amen.

Here endeth the Litany.

« AnteriorContinuar »