Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

The Minister of every parish shall diligently, upon Sundays and Holydays, or on some other convenient occasions, openly in the church, instruct or examine so many children of his parish, sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism.

And all fathers, mothers, masters, and mistresses, shall cause their children, servants, and apprentices, who have not learned their Catechism, to come to the church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear, and to be ordered by the Minister, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn.

So soon as children are come to a competent age, and can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism, they shall be brought to the Bishop.

And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Minister of every parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons, within his parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed.

THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop; he, or some other Minister appointed by him, shall read this preface following:

T O the end that confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, that none shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed; to the end that children, being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their godfathers and godmothers promised for them in baptism, may themselves,with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that, by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things as they, by their own confession, have assented unto. Then shall the Bishop say,

Do ye here, in the presence of GOD, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your baptism; ratifying and confirming the same; and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which ye then undertook, or your sponsors then undertook for you? ¶ And every one shall audibly answer,

I do.

Bishop.

OUR help is in the name of the LORD;

Ansiver. Who hath made heaven and earth. Bishop. Blessed be the name of the LORD;

Answer.

Henceforth, world without end.

Bishop. LORD, hear our prayer;

Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Bishop. Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everliving GOD, who hast vouchsafed to

regenerate these thy servants by water and the HOLY GHOST, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech thee, O LORD, with the HOLY GHOST, the Comforter; and daily increase. in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O LORD, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and forever. Amen.

¶ Then all of them, in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying,

DEFEND, O LORD, this thy child [or, this thy servant] with thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy HOLY SPIRIT more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. Then shall the Bishop say,

The Lord be with you.
Answer.

And with thy spirit.

¶ All kneeling down, the Bishop shall add,
Let us pray.

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.

T And these Collects.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who makest us both to

will and to do those things which are good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; we make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy apostles, we have now laid our hands; to certify them, by this sign, of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy Fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them: Let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them: And so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST; who, with thee and the HOLY GHOST, liveth and reigneth ever one GoD, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY LORD, and everlasting GOD, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments: that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul, through our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Amen. Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus:

THE blessing of GOD Almighty, the FATHER, the Son, and the HOLY GHOST, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

The laws respecting matrimony, whether by publishing the Bans in churches, or by license, being different in the several States; every Minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the Persons:

And when the Bans are published, it shall be in the following form:-1 publish the Bans of Marriage between M. of, and N. of —. If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. [This is the first, second, or third time of asking.]

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbours; and there standing together, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left. the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of GOD, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

I

¶ And also speaking unto the persons who are to be married, he shall say, REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it: for be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.

The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the proposed Marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemnification; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the man,

M.

WILT thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? T The Mau shall answer

I will.

Then the Minister shall say unto the woman,

N. WILT thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to

live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

The woman shall answer,

T Then shall the Minister say,

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner: The Minister receiving the woman at her father's or friend's hands, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth :

M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

I

Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman with her right hand taking the man by his right hand shall likewise say after the Minister, N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman a ring. And the Minister, taking the ring, shall deliver it unto the man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand. And the man, holding the ring there, and, taught by the Minister, shall say,

WITH this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods

thee endow: In the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

Then the man, leaving the ring upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand, the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

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. Ámen.

ETERNAL GOD, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life; send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister join their right hands together, and say, Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Then shall the Minister speak unto the company:

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before GoD and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their

troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce, that they are man and wife; in the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

¶ And the Minister shall add this Blessing:

GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the HOLY GHOST, bless, preserve, and keep you: The LORD mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

THE ORDER FOR

THE VISITATION OF THE SICK.

When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say,

PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

When he cometh into the sick man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down,

REMEMBER not, LORD, our iniquities, nor the iniquities forefathers; Spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood; and be not angry with us for ever.

Answer. Spare us, good LORD.

T Then the Minister shall say,

[blocks in formation]

OUR

UR 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.

[ocr errors]

Minister. O LORD, save thy servant;

Answer. Who putteth his trust in thee.

Minister.

Send him help from thy holy place;

Answer. And evermore mightily defend him.

Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him,

Answer. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him.

Minister. Be unto him, O LORD, a strong tower,
From the face of his enemy.

Answer.

Minister. O LORD, hear our prayer;

Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; give him comfort and sure confidence in thee; defend

« AnteriorContinuar »