thy holy Commandments And as thou didst confirm the faith of Thomas thy Apostle whom thou didst suffer to be doubtful of thy Sons resurrection so grant unto us that we may so perfectly and without all doubt believe in thy Son Jesus Christ that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved And as thou didst chuse thy faithful servant Matthias in the place of the traytor Judas to be numbred with the Twelve Apostles so grant still that thy Church being alwayes preserved from false Apostles may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors And seeing thou hast instructed thy Church with heavenly doctrine in thy Gospel by the labour and care of St. Mark and the other Evangelists give us grace that we be not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine but finally be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel and grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way the truth and the life whom truly to know is everlasting life as thou hast taught Philip and the other Apostles And O Lord as thou didst earnestly command thy Apostle Peter to feed thy flock make we beseech thee all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy word and the people obediently to follow the same that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory And as thy holy Apostle James leaving his Father and all that he had without delay was obedient to the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ and followed him so we forsaking all wordly and carnal affections may be evermore ready to follow thy commandements that as he preached what he was taught from thee so we may believe what he preached and love what we do believe And let the example of Matthew who readily obeyed thy blessed Sons call from the receipt of custome to be an Apostle and Evangelist be our imitation in forsaking all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and to follow thy Son Jesus Christ who is God blessed for ever Grant us to love our enemies by the example of thy Martyr Stephen who prayed for his persecutors and cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church that it being lightned by the doctrine of thy Apostle and Evangelist John may attain to thy everlasting gifts And seeing we read those young innocent children of Bethlehem did shew forth thy praise not in speaking as witnesses but in dying for thy names sake mortifie and kill all vices in us that in our conversation our life may express thy faith which with our tongues we do confess And as thou wert pleased to teach the world through the preaching of thy blessed Apostle Paul grant we beseech thee that we which have his wonderful conversion in remembrance may follow and fulfil the holy doctrine which he hath taught us whom with Barnabas as thou didst endue with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost so let us not be destitute of thy manifold gifts nor yet of grace to use them always to thy glory And seeing thou hast ordained and constituted the services of all Angels and men in a wonderful order mercifully grant that they which alway do thee service in Heaven may by thy appointment succour and defend us in earth And as thou didst call Luke the Physician whose praise is in the Gospel throughout the Churches to be a Physitian of the Soul may it please thee by the wholsome medicines of his doctrine to heal all the diseases of our Souls and thus O Lord seeing thou hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone and that thou hast knit together thy Elect in one Communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son We beseech thee grant that we may so be joyned together in unity of spirit by the doctrine of thy Apostles that we may be made an holy Temple acceptable unto thee as also that we may so follow thy holy Saints in all vertuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joyes which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour in whose name and words we further call upon thee saying Our Father which art in Heaven c. A Heavenly Prayer VI. O Most holy and merciful God We do here humbly and thankfully acknowledge thy infinit love in the great work of our redemption by thy Son Jesus Christ the glad tidings of whose incarnation Conception of our Saviour thou wert pleased to make known unto us by the message of an Angel We beseech thee poure thy grace into our hearts that as we are brought to the knowledge of his conception so by his Cross and Passion we may be translated unto the glory of his Resurrection Thou wert gratiously pleased to give him thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him and to be born of a pure Virgin Grant Birth that we being regenerate and made thy children by Adoption and grace may dayly be renewed by thy holy Spirit through the same our Lord Jesus Thou didst also make thy blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient Circumcision to the law for man grant us the true circumcision of the heart that our hearts and all our members mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts may in all things obey thy blessed will And as thou wert pleased by the leading of a Star to manifest thy only begotten Epiphâ—â—y Son to the Gentiles mercifully grant that we which know thee now by faith may after this life have Presenting in the â—emple the fruition of thy glorious Godhâ—ad And as he was presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh So grant that we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean mindes And as by thy providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born and sent to prepare the way to the manifestation of thy Son our Saviour by preaching of repentance make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life that we may truly repent according to his preaching and after his example constantly speak the truth boldly rebuke vice and patiently suffer for the truths sake And O Lord who of thy tender love towards man hast sent our Saviour Jesus Christ not only to take upon him our flesh but to suffer death upon the Cross mercifully Passion grant that we may both follow the example of his great humility and patience and be made partakers of his Resurrection And we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family for the which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and thus to be given up into the hands of wicked men And not only us but the whole body of thy Church which by thy Spirit is governed and sanctified and all estates of men in thy holy Congregation for whom we beseech thee to receive our supplications and prayers which we now offer before thee for them that every member of the same in
heaven hallowed be thy name c. A Prayer for the Evening IIII. ALmighty God and our most mercifull Father who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life give us the grace that we may alwayes most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also dayly endeavour our selves to follow the blessed stepps of his most holy life And as thou doest shew unto all men that be in errour the light of thy truth to the intent that they may returne unto the way of righteousnes grant unto all them that be admitted into the fellowship of Christs religion that they may eschew those things that be contrary to their profession and follow all such things as be agreeable to the same And O Lord which dost make the minds of all faithfull men to be of one will Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest and desire that which thou doest promise that among the sundry and manifold dangers of the world our hearts may surely be there fixed where true joyes are to be found And as from thee all things do come so grant us thy humble servants that by thy holy inspiration we may think the things that be good and by thy mercifull guiding who art the strength of all that put their trust in thee may performe the same And because the weakenes of our mortall nature can do no good thing without thee grant us the helpe of thy grace that in keeping thy commandements we may please thee both in will and deed Lord make us to have a perpetuall feare and love of thy holy name And in regard thou never failest to helpe and governe them whom thou doest bring up in thy stedfast love but art the Protectour of all that put their trust in thee without whom nothing is strong nothing is holy encrease and multiply upon us thy mercy that thou being our ruler and guide we may so passe through things temporall that finally we may not lose the things eternall And grant that the course of this world here may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance that thy congregation may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietnes And seeing thou hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as passe all mens understanding power into our hearts such love towards thee that wee loving thee in all things may obtaine thy promises which exceed all that we can desire And O Lord who art the God of all power and might the author and giver of all good things graft in our hearts the love of thy name encrease in us true religion nourish us with all goodnes and of thy great mercy keepe us in the same and because thy providence is never deceived wee humbly beseech that thou wilt put away from us all hurtfull things and grant those things which be profitable for us and that we may have thy Spirit to think and do alwayes such things as be righteous that we which cannot be without thee may by thee be able to live according to thy will And let thy mercifull eares O Lord be open to the prayers of thy humble servants and that we may obtaine our petitions move us to aske only such things which may please thee And as thou doest declare thy Almighty power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity so give unto us abundantly thy grace that we flying to thy promise may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure And O mercifull God of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithfull people do unto thee true and laudable service grant we beseech thee that we may so run to thy heavenly promises that wee faile not finally to attaine them and give unto us the increase of faith hope and charity and that we may obtain that which thou doest promise make us to love that which thou doest command And we beseech the to keepe thy Church with thy perpetuall mercy and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall keepe us ever by thy helpe and leade us to all things profitable to our salvation And let thy continuall pity cleanse and defend thy congregation and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour preserve it evermore by thy helpe and goodnes Let thy grace alwayes prevent and follow us and make us continually to be given to all good workes and carefull to avoid the infections of the Divell the world and the flesh and with pure heart and mind to follow thee the only God And for as much as without thee we are not able to please thee grant that the working of thy mercy may in all things direct and rule our hearts And let thy bountifull goodnes keepe us from all things that may hurt us that we being readie both in body and in soule may with free hearts accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done And we beseech thee to grant unto thy faithfull people pardon and peace and keepe thy household the Church in continuall godlines that they may be cleansed from all their sinnes and serve thee with a quiet mind and through thy protection they may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve thee in good workes to the glory of thy name O Lord. Be readie to heare our devout prayers who art our refuge and strength that those things we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually Absolve thy people from their offences that through thy goodnes we may be delivered from the bonds of all those sinns which by our frailty we have committed And stirre up the wills of thy faithfull people that they plenteouslly bringing forth the fruit of good workes may of thee be plenteously rewarded in thy eternall glory And take us wee beseech thee into thy care and protection this night following that we may be preserved from all dangers which wee are subject unto And in regard we find thou art alwayes more ready to heare then we to pray and art wont to give more then either we desire or deserve Poure down upon us the abundance of thy mercy forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid and giving unto us that which for our own sake our prayers could not presume to aske but only for the infinit merits of thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we further pray saying Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come c. A most profitable Prayer V. O Most holy Lord God seeing we hear that what is recorded in holy Scripture of thy Apostles and Saints was written for our instruction and imitation give us grace so to be followers of them as they were of thy Son Christ Jesus Thou didst incline the heart of thy Apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son and followed him without delay grant unto us all that we being called by thy holy word may forthwith give over our selves obediently to follow
as their own bodies He that loveth his wife loveth himself for no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joyned unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife even as himself Likewise the same St. Paul writing to the Colossians speaketh thus Colos 3. 9. to all men that be married Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them Hear also what St. Peter the Apostle of Christ which was himself 1 Pet. 3. 7. a married man saith unto all men that are married Ye husbands dwell with your wives according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband toward the wife now hear the wives duty towards the husband even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture Saint Paul in the forenamed Epistle to the Ephesians teacheth you thus Ye women submit your selves Ephes 5. 22. unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in all things And again he saith Let the wife reverence her husband And in his Epistle to the Colossians St. Paul giveth you this short lesson Ye wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. St. Peter also doth instruct you very godly thus saying Let wives be subject to their own husbands so that if any obey not the word they may without the word be wonne by the conversation of the wives while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of platted hair and wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is a precious thing in the sight of God For after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God adorn themselves being in subjection to their own husbands even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well and not being dismayed with any fear These are your duties which if you shall observe that blessing in the 128. Psalm may be your portion BLessed are all they that fear the Lord and walk in his wayes For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house Thy children like the olive branches round about thy table Lo thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord from out of Sion shall so blesse thee that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israel Dearly beloved friends we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of his congregation to joyn together this man and this woman in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate instituted of God in paradise in the time of mans innocency signifying unto us the mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men and therefore is not to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly to satisfie mens carnall lusts and appetites like brute beasts that have no understanding but reverently discreetly advisedly soberly and in the feare of God duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained One was the procreation of children to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord and praise of God Secondly it was ordained for a remedy against sinne and to avoid fornication that such persons as have not the gist of continency might marry and keepe themselves undefiled members of Christs body Thirdly for the mutuall society helpe and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversity into the which holy state these two persons present come now to be joyned Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joyned together let him now speake or else hereafter for ever hold his peace And also speaking to the persons that shall be married he may say I require and charge you as you will answer at the dreadfull day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed that if either of you do know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joyned together in matrimony that ye confesse it For be ye well assured that so many as be coupled together otherwise then Gods word doth allow are not joyned together by God neither is their matrimony lawfull N. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony Wilt thou love her comfort her honour and keepe her in sickness and in health forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live The man answereth I will Then the Minister sayeth unto the woman N. Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony Wilt thou obey him and serve him love honour and keep him in sicknes and in health and forsaking all other keepe thee only unto him so long as you both shall live The woman answereth I will Then the Minister sayeth Who giveth this woman to be married to this man And the Minister receiving the woman of her fathers or friends hands causeth the man to take the woman by the right hand saying I. N. 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 sicknes and in health to love and to cherish till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I plight thee my troth Then they loose their hands and the woman taking againe the man by the right hand sayeth I. N. Take thee N. to my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sicknes and in health to love cherish and to obey till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I give thee my troth Then again loosing their hands
to the same office and ministery of salvation of mankinde we render unto thee most hearty thanks we worship and praise thee and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy Son to grant unto all which either here or elsewhere call upon thy Name that we may shew our selves thankfull to thee for these and all other thy benefits and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son by the holy Spirit So that aâ— well by these thy Ministers as by tâ—em to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy holy Name may be alwayes glorified and thy blessed kingdom enlarged through the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ which liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy Spirit world without end Amen After this prayer the Bishop with the Ministers present did lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that received orders the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees and the Bishop in the name of the rest of the Ministers asisting him in it did say * The sense of these words and the fitness of the use of them here upon this occasion see the late arch Bishop of Armaghs judgment as the neglect in that ordination which gives no power or authority either in these words or any other to the likesense Ordinat of Presby ters p. 136. Receive the holy Ghost whose sins thou doest forgive they are forgiven and whose sins thou doest retain they are retained and be thou a faithfull dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Amen Then was delivered to every one of them the Bible in his hand the Bishop saying Take thou authority to preach the word of God and to minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed After this was done there was a prayer that the Lord would send upon those persons thus ordained his heavenly blessing that they might be clad about with all justice and that his word spoken by their mouthes may have such successe that it may never be spoken in vain and that the people committed to their charge may have grace to heare and receive the same as his most holy word and the meanes of their salvation and that in all their words and deeds they may seek his glory and the increase of his kingdom c. And it was also ordered that there should be a Communion and that all that were ordained should receive it together with the ordainers and to remaine in the same place where hands were laid upon them till they had received the Communion Now thus weighing and well considering the whole proceedings of this constitution Let any moderate prudent person judge if there were any just cause to have laid it wholy aside but that upon second thoughts there is more cause it were restored to the generall satisfaction both of people and Ministry And for the forme of Consecrating a Bishop it was very grave and Solemn the substance of which was as followeth THe person Elected to that office was commended accordingly to God by the prayers of the Congregation that he might have grace duly to execute the office whereunto he is called to the edifying of the Church and to the honour and glory of his name Wherein the principall prayer is the same which was used in the ordaining of Priests or Presbyters with this difference in the former thus behold this thy servant now called to the office of Priest-hood and in this called to the worke and Ministry of a Bishop The portions read out of holy Scripture are the same also as 1 Tim. 3. 1. to vers 8. John 10. 1. to vers 17. only a third added John 21 15. to vers 18. The Bishop Elected was presented by two Bishops as a godly and well learned man to be consecrated accordingly diverse solemn engagements were demanded viz. for the reading of the Scriptures prayers preaching the withstanding of false doctrines an exemplary godly liâ—e maintaining of peace and quietness correcting of the unquiet to be gentle mercifull and charitable to the poore and needy c. As may be seen more at large in the Booke Then the prayer before imposition of hands was this ALmighty God and most mercifull Father which of thine infinite goodnesse hast given thy onely and most deaâ— beloved Son Jesus Christ â—o be our Redeemer and Author of everlasting life who after that he had made perfect our Redemption by his death and was ascended into heaven poured down his gifts abundantly upon men making some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastours and Doctours to the edifying and making perfect his Congregation grant we beseech thee to this thy servant such grace that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel and glad tidings of reconcilement to God and to use the authority given unto him not to destroy but to save not to hurt but to help so that he as a wise and faithfull servant giving to thy family meat in due season may at the last be received into joy through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen Then the Archbishop and Bishops present layd their hands upon the head of the Elected Bishop saying Take the holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre up the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and love and sobernesse Then the Archbishop delivereth to him the Bible saying Give heed unto reading exhortation and doctrine Think upon these things contained in this book Be diligent in them that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men Take heed unto thy self and unto teaching and be diligent in doing them for by doing this thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd not a woolf feed them devour them not hold up the weak heal the sick binde together the broken bring again the outcasts seek the lost be so mercifull that ye be not too too remisse so minister discipline that you forget not mercy that when the chief Shepherd shall come ye may receive the immarcescible crown of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Lastly there was a Communion and the new consecrated Bishop did communicate with the rest When there was one speciall prayer conceived for him as followeth MOst mercifull 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 an wholsome example in word in conversation in love in faith in chastity and purity that faithfully fulfilling his course at the latter day he