divided whereof is one Christ very God and very Man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice for all sin of man both original and actual Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died and was buried for us so also it is to be believed that he went down into Hell for the body lay in the Sepulchre until the Resurrection but his Ghost departing from him was with the Ghosts that were in Prison or in Hell and did preach to the same as the place of St. Peter doth testifie The Resurrection of Christ CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth until he return to judge men at the last day The Doctrine of holy Scripture is sufficient to Salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is neither read therein nor may be proved thereby although it be sometime received of the Faithful as godly and profitable for an order and comeliness yet no man ought to be constrained to believe it as an Article of Faith or reputed requisite to the necessity of salvation The Old Testament is not to be refused THe Old Testament is not to be put away as though it were contrary to the New but to be kept still for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man VVherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises The three Creeds THe three Creeds Nicene Creed Athanasius's Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture Of Original or Birth-sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk which also the Anabaptists do now adays renew but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from his former righteousness which he had at his Creation and is of his own nature given to evil so that the flesh desireth always contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born in this world it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation and this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are baptized whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some the sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin Of Free-will WE have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the Grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working in us when we have that will Of Grace THe Grace of Christ or the holy Ghost by him given doth take away the stony heart and giveth an heart of flesh and although those that have no will to good things he maketh them to will and those that would evil things he maketh them not to will the same yet nevertheless he enforceth not the will and therefore no man when he sinneth can excuse himself as not worthy to be blamed or condemned by alledging that he sinned unwillingly or by compulsion Of the justification of man JVstification by only Faith in Iesus Christ in that sense as it is declared in the Homily of Iustification is a most certain and wholsom Doctrine for Christian men Works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men mete to receive grace or as the School-Authors say deserve grace of Congruity but because they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin Works of Supererogation VOluntary works besides over and above Gods Commandments which they call works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and iniquity For by them men do declare that they do not only render to God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that is commanded you say We be unprofitable Servants No man is without sin but Christ alone CHrist in the truth of nature was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be the Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself made once for ever should take away the sins of the World and sin as St. John saith was not in him But the rest yea although we be baptized and born again in Christ yet we offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the ruth is not in us Of sin against the holy Ghost EVery deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is not sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable wherefore the place for penitents is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from Grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here or deny the place for penitents to such as truely repent and amend their lives Blasphemy against the holy Ghost BLasphemy against the holy Ghost is when a man of malice and stubbornness of mind doth rail upon the truth of Gods Word manifestly perceived and being enemy thereunto persecuteth that same and because such be guilty of Gods curse they entangle themselves with a most grievous and heinous crime whereupon this kind of sin is called and affirmed of the Lord unpardonable Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his own judgment secret from us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen out of mankind and to bring them to everlasting salvation by Christ as vessels made to honor whereupon such as have so excellent a benefit of God given unto them be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made sons by adoption they be made like the Image of
the Father Haec notata non habentur in Edw. 6. begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect Natures that is say the Godhead and Manhood were joyned together in one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men 3. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died for us and was buried Nam Corpus usque ad resurrectionem in Sepulchro jacuit spiritus ab illo emissus cum spiritibus qui in carcere sive in inferno detinebantur fuit illisque praedicavit quemadmodum testatur Petri locus Sic Artic Edw. 6. so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell 4. Of the Resurrection of Christ CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day 5. Of the holy Ghost Non habentur in R. Edw. 6. Artic. THE holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one Substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God 6. Of the sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for Salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein †Licet intetdum a fidelibus ut pium conducibile ad ordinem decorum admittatur nor may be proved thereby * is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the Names and numbers of the Canonical Books Non habetur in R Edw 6. Artic. GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numeri Deuteronomium Josue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or Songs of Salom. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets theless And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and insturction of manners but yet doth not apply them to establish any Doctrine Such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdom Jesus the Son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The Prayer of Manasses The 1. Book of Maccabees The 2. Book of Maccabees All the Books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical 7. Of the Old Testament THe Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testamentum vetus quasi novo contrarium sit non est repudiendum ed retisnendum for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the Law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not bind Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common-wealth Vid. haec Art 18. notata ex R. Edw. yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral 8. Of the three Creeds THE three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrant of holy Scripture 9. Of Original or Birth-sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk †Et hodie Anabaptistae repetunt but is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature inclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin De Gratia GRatia Christi seu S. Spiritus qui per eundem datur cor lapideum aufert dat cor carneum Atque licet ex nolentibus quae recta sunt volentes faciat ex volentibus prava nolentes reddat voluntati nihilominus violentiam nullam infert nemo hâc de causâ cum peccaverit sâ—ipsum excusare potest quasi nolens aut coactus peccaverit ut eam ob causam accusare non mereatur aut damnari Artic. Edwardi 6. decimus 10. Of Free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the Grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will 11. Of the Justification of Man WE are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith Haec non habentur in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. Justificatio ex sola Fide Jesu Christi eo sensu quo in Homilia de Justificatione explicatur est certissima saluberrima Christianorum doctrina Sic in Reg. Edward 6. Artic. 11. and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsom Doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification 12. Of good works ALbeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after Iustification Hic Artic non habetur
into rebuke and the snare of the evil speaker The Gospel JEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Johanna lovest thou me more than these He said unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him feed my lambs He said to him again the second time Simon Johanna lovest thou me He said to him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him Feed my sheep He said unto him the third time Simon Johanna 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 Archbishop of that Province or 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 Archbishop 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 Archbishop IN the Name of God Amen I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church or See of N. do profess and promise all due reverence and obedience to the Archbishop and to the Metropolitan Church of N. and to their Successors So help me God through Jesus 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 the laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let us therefore follow 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 Litany as afore in the order of Deacons And after this place That it may please thee illuminate all Bishops c. 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 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 the 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 government 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 witness how you be minded to behave your self in the Church of God Are you perswaded that you be truly 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 Achbishop 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 erroneous and strange Doctrines 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 ungodliness 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 forwards as much as in you lieth quietness peace and love among all men and such as be unquiet disobedient and criminous within your Diocess 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 performe the same that be 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 ALmighty God and most merciful Father which of thine infinite goodness hast given thy only and most dear beloved Son
17. which is to be understood mystically also of death spiritual by Excommunication by being cut off from the living body of Christ's Church It being thus cleared by reason and Gods own Rule that such power is necessary for preserving peace and unity it cannot be imagined with reason that our great Master should deny his dear-bought Body such necessaries But not to rest upon the reason why they should be given it may be made to appear that de facto He hath given such power to the Church and that by reciting his gracious Commissions granted to the Church with his Apostles practice and exercise of those powers who best knowing their Lords will and pleasure must be by their practice the best Interpreters of his mind and meaning See then how read we For the power of Jurisdiction we find a large Commission St. John 20. As my Father sent me so send I you and one particular of Jurisdiction there expressed Whosoever sins you bind in Earth they are bound in Heaven a sharp and dreadful sentence worse than that of the sword by so much as the death of the Soul is worse than the death of the Body which in obstinate despisers of that correction doth too certainly follow This power of spiritual censures St. Paul calls the rod of discipline 1 Cor. 4. ult By vertue of this Power and Commission St. 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 than all power necessary for the well and peaceable Government of the Church and such a power is this of making Laws this is a Commission in general for making Laws then in particular for making Articles and decisions of Doctrines controverted the power is more explicit and express St. 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 ef 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 St. 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 errors 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 twentieth Article Add 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 endeavor to preserve as by stopping the mouths of obstinate gainsayers 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 Saviors Divinity she first declared what sense of the Creed she had received by constant tradition from the Apostles and then enjoined 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 questian her Authority in this particular And in contriversies 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 prefest 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 is an error 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 Vniversal 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
Gods only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfall where by the Devil may thurst them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore although the decrees of Predestination are unknown unto us yet we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God We must trust to obtain eternal Salvation only by the. Name of Christ They also are to be had accursed and abhorred that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of Nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved All men are bound to keep the Moral Commandments of the Law THe Law which was given of God by Moses although it bind not Christian men as concerning the Ceremonies and Rites of the same neither is it required that the civil precepts and orders of it should of necessity be received in any Commonweal yet no man be he never so perfect a christian is exempt and loose from the obedience of those Commandments which are called Moral wherefore they are not to be hearkned unto who affirm that holy Scripture is given only to the weak and do boast themselves continually of the Spirit of whom they say they have learned such things as they teach although the same be most eminently repugnant to the holy Scripture Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch hath erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living but also in matters of faith Of the Authority of the Church IT is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another wherefore although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy of VVrit yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so beside the same ought not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God they may erre and sometimes have erred not only in worldly matters but also in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of the holy Scripture Of Purgatory THe Doctrine of School-Authors concerning Purgatory Pardons worshipping and adoration as well of Images as of Relicks and also invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly feigned and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God No man may Minister in the Congregation except he be called IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching or ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers in the Lords vineyard Men must speak in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is most seemly and most agreable to the Word of God that in the Congregation nothing be openly read spoken in a tongue unknown to the people the which thing St. Paul did forbid except some were present that should declare the same Of the Sacraments OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath knit together a company of new people with Sacraments most few in number most easie to be kept most excellent in signification as is Baptism and the Lords Supper The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be carried about but that we should rightly use them And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholsom effect and operation and yet not that of the work wrought as some men speak which word as it is strange and unknown to holy Scripture so it engendreth no godly but a very superstitious sense but they that receive the Sacraments unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith Sacraments ordained by the Word of God be not only badges and tokens of Christian mens profession but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signs of grace and Gods good will toward us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him The wickedness of the Ministers doth not take away the effectual operation of Gods Ordinances ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name but do minister by Christs Commission and Authority we may use their Ministry both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Gods Ordinances taken away by their wickednes nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith rightly receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Nevertheless it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church that enquiry be made of such and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty by just judgment be deposed Of Baptism BAptism is not only a sign of profession and mark
in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgment yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit 13. Of Works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of this Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-Authors say deserve grace of Congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin 14. Of Works of Supererogation VOluntary Works besides over and above Gods Commandments which they call works of Supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and iniquity For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly When ye have done all that are commanded to you say We are unprofitable servants 15. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only excepted from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his Spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the World and sin as S. John saith was not in him But all we the rest although baptised and if born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Blasphemia in Spiritum Sanctum EST cum quis Verborum Dei manifestè perceptam veritatem ex malitia obfirmatione animi convitiis insectatur hostiliter insequitur Atque hujusmodi quia maledicto sunt obnoxii gravissimo sese astringunt scelere unde peccati hoc genus irremissibile à Domino appellatur affirmatur Artic. 16. Edward 6. 16. Of sin after Baptism NOt every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism is sin against the holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism After we have received the holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent 17. Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made Sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth frequently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the Spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination is a most dangerous downfal whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perilous than desperation Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God Omnes obligantur ad moralia legis praecepta servanda LEx à Deo data per Mosen licet quoad ceremonias ritus Christianos non astringat neque civilia eis praecepta in aliqua Repub. necessario recipi debeant nihilominus ab obedientia mandatorum quae moralia vocantur nullus quantumvis Christianus est solutus quare illi non sunt audiendi qui sacras literas tantum infirmis datas esse perhibent spiritum perpetuo jactant à quo sibi quae praedicant suggeri asserunt quamquam cum S. Scripturis apertissime pugnent Art Edward 6.19 18. Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are to be had accursed that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that aw and the light of nature For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Iesus Christ whereby men must be saved 19. Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacramencs be duly ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred So also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies but also in matters of faith 20. Of the Authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies authority in Controversies of Faith And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation 21. Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes And when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and word of God they may erre and sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation
ordered according as is prescribed in the said Act with more care and diligence than heretofore hath been done the which negligence hath been cause why such disorders have of late now so much and in so many places encreased and grown And if any persons shall either in private houses or in publick places make assemblies and therein use other Rites of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments than is prescribed in the said Book or shall maintain in their houses any persons being notoriously charged by Books or Preachings to attempt the alteration of the said Orders they shall see such persons punished with all severity according to the Laws of this Realm by pains appointed in the said Act. And because these matters do principally appertain to the persons Ecclesiastical and to the Ecclesiastical Government her Majesty giveth a most special and earnest charge to all Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and Deans and all such as have ordinary jurisdiction in such cases to have a vigilant eye and care to the observation of the Orders and Rites in the said Book prescribed throughout their Cures and Diocess and to proceed from time to time by ordinary and Ecclesiastical jurisdiction as is granted them in the said Act with all celerity and severity against all persons who shall offend against any of the Orders in the said Book prescribed upon pain of her Majesties high displeasure for their negligence and deprivation from their Dignities and Benefices or other Censures to follow according to their demerits Given at Greenwich the 20 day of October 1573 In the fifteenth year of the Queens Majesties Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Newgate-Market next unto Christs Church by Richard Jugge Printer to the Queens Majesty Cum privilegio Regiae Majestatis By the Queen A Proclamation against the Sectaries of the Family of Love WHereas by report of sundry of the Bishops of this Realm and others having cure of souls the Queens Majesty is informed that in sundry places of her said Realm in their several Diocesses there are certain persons who do secretly in corners make privy assemblies of divers simple unlearned people and after they have craftily and hypocritically allured them to esteem them to be more holy and perfect men than other are they do then teach them damnable Heresies directly contrary to divers of the principal Articles of our Belief and Christian Faith and in some parts so absurd and fanatical as by feigning to themselves a monstrous new kind of speech never found in the Scriptures nor in ancient Father or Writer of Christs Church by which they do move ignorant and simple people at the first rather to marvel at them than to understand them but yet to colour their sect withal they name themselves to be of the Family of Love and then as many as shall be allowed by them to be of that Family to be elect and saved and all others of what Church soever they be to be rejected and damned and for that upon conventing of some of them before the Bishops and Ordinaries it is found that the ground of their sect is maintained by certain lewd heretical and seditious books first made in the Dutch tongue and lately translated into English and printed beyond the seas and secretly brought over into the Realm the author whereof they name H. N. without yielding to him upon their examination any other name in whose name they have certainly books set forth called Evangelium Regni or a joyful Message of the Kingdom Documental Sentences The prophecie of the spirit of love a publishing of peace upon the earth and such like And considering also it is found that these Sectaries hold opinion that they may before any Magistrate Ecclesiastical or Temporal or any other person not being professed to be of their sect which they teame the Family of Love by oath or otherwise deny any thing for their advantage so as though many of them are well known to be teachers and spreaders abroad of these dangerous and damnable sects yet by their own confession they cannot be condemned whereby they are more dangerous in any Christian Realm Therefore her Majesty being very sorry to see so great an evil by the malice of the Devil first begun and practised in other Countries to be now brought into this her Realm and that by her Bishops and Ordinaries she understandeth it very requisite not only to have these dangerous Hereticks and Sectaries to be severely punished but that also all other means be used by her Majesties Royal authority which is given her of God to defend Christs Church to root them out from further infecting of her Realm she hath thought meet and convenient and so by this her Proclamation she willeth and commandeth that all her Officers and Ministers temporal shall in all their several vocations assist the Archbishops and Bishops of her Realm and all other persons Ecclesiastical having cure of Souls to search out all persons only suspected to be either teachers or professors of the foresaid damnable sects and by all good means to proceed severely against them being found culpable by order of the Laws either Ecclesiastical or Temporal and that also search may be made in all places suspected for the Books and Writings maintaining the said Heresies and Sects and them to destroy and burn And wheresoever such Books shall be found after the publication hereof in custody of any person other than such as the Ordinaries shall permit to the intent to peruse the same for confutation thereof the same persons to be attached and committed to close prison there to remain or otherwise by Law to be condemned until the same shall be purged and cleared of the same Heresies or shall recant the same and be thought meet by the Ordinary of the place to be delivered And that whosoever in this Realm shall either print or bring or cause to be brought into this Realm any of the said Books the same persons to be attached and committed to prison and to receive such bodily punishment and other mulct as fautors of damnable Heresies And to the execution hereof her Majesty chargeth all her Officers and Ministers both Ecclesiastical and Temporal to have special regard as they will answer not only afore God whose glory and truth is by these damnable Sects greatly sought to be defaced but also will avoid her Majesties indignation which in such cases as these are they ought not escape if they shall be found negligent and careless in the execution of their authorities Given at our Mannour of Richmond the third of October in the two and twentieth year of our Reign God save the Queen Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens most Excellent Majesty By the Queen A Proclamation against certain seditious and schismatical Books and Libels c. THe Queens most Excellent Majesty considering how within these few years past and now of late certain seditious and evil disposed persons towards her Majesty and
104 105 At the Kings Healing of the Evil the Prayers Page 165 I. INjunctions of Edward the Sixth Page 1 Images to be taken down and destroyed Page 2 67 Injunctions of E. 6. to be read once a year Page 5 6 71 Of Justification of Man Page 43 95 Injunctions touching both Clergy and Laity by Q. Eliz. 1559 the first year of her Reign Page 65 Inventories of Church Goods to be made and delivered to the Visitors Page 80 Honour to be given to the Name of Jesus Page 82 The day of His Majesties Inauguration to be observed Page 349 Touching Jurisdiction concurrent Page 369 L. LAnguage understood or a known tongue to be read in the Congregation Page 47. 99 Litany when where and how to be read Page 72 181 182 Concerning Licences to Marry Page 370 M. MInisters absent from their Cures to leave Learned ones to do their Duty Page 3 177 Ministers Licensed and none others may Preach Page 4 69 177 They must give the fortieth part of their profit to the Poor and other Exhibitions to Scholars Page 5 70 71 And lay out the Fifth part of their Revenues in repair of their Churches Page 5 71 And must read the Injunctions once a year Page 5 71 And study Scripture Sentences to help despairing Persons Page 6 72 And Preach at least twice a year Page 7 They are not to be abused Page 10 76 No Man may Minister except he be called Page 47 99 The Ministers Wickedness doth not hinder the operation of Gods Ordinances Page 48 100 Of Magistrates Civil Page 51 106 Millenâ—rii called Hereticks Page 52 Ministers Marriages how to be Celebrated Page 76 77 103 Their Apparel Page 77 78 To read the Prayers c. distinctly Page 82 N. NEw Testament both in Latine and English to be had by every Parson c. Page 72 By the Name of Christ only Salvation can be obtained Page 98 O. OAth injoyned to prevent innovations in Doctrine and Government Page 359 Old Testament not to be refused Page 42 93 Of Original Sin Page 42 43 94 Oblation of Christ upon the Cross Page 49 103 Oath may be taken by Christian Men Page 51 52 107 Overseers for the Service of the Holy days Page 79 Oath of Allegiance Page 129 130 Oath of Supremacy Page 131 Oath of Simony ibid. Oath of Canonical Obedience Page 132 Oath of Residence ibid. P. PAter Noster Creed and the Ten Commandements to be read in English after the Gospel Page 2 68 177 Processions in the Church taken away Page 7 72 Pulpits to be provided at the Charge of the Parish Page 7 74 Primer of Hen. 8. only to be used Page 10 Proclamation concerning the Communion Page 15 16 Predestination and Election Page 45 97 Of Purgatory Page 47 99 Perambulation of Parishes continued and how to be performed Page 73 Parishioners to keep to their own Parish Church Page 78 Protestations to be made by such as take Ecclesiastical Preferment Page 127 Proclamation that the proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Courts are according to the Laws of the Realm Page 132 Priests the form of ordering them Page 149 Popery the growth thereof to be suppressed Page 350 R. ROme Bishop thereof his Power Abolished Page 1 2 Register Books for Weddings Christenings and Burials to be kept in all Parishes Page 4 5 70 178 Resurrection of Christ Page 42 92 Resurrection of the Dead not yet brought to pass Page 52 Reverence to be used in time of Prayers Page 82 The Ratification Page 108 Of Residency Page 177 Reformation of Disorders in the Ministers of the Church Page 118 Concerning the Regal Power Page 345 Rites and Ceremonies a Declaration concerning them Page 361 Ratification Page 373 S. SErmons to be once a quarter Page 2 67 Sacraments to be duly administred Page 3 121 Symony forbidden and punished Page 9 75 178 The Son of God was made very Man Page 41 91 Scripture sufficient to Salvation Page 42 92 Sin against the Holy Ghost Page 44 Salvation obtained only by the Name of Christ Page 46 Of the Sacraments Page 48 100 Of the Lords Supper Page 49 101 Single Life commanded to no Man Page 50 Souls neither dye with the Body nor sleep idly Page 52 All Men shall not be saved Page 52 Superstitious things of all sorts abolished Page 74 Schoolmasters their Allowance and Duty Page 79 Singing Service continued in divers Churches Page 80 Sacramental Bread the Form of it Page 84 Scripture the Names and Numbers of the Canonical Books thereof Page 92 Sin after Baptisme Page 96 Against Socinianisme Page 355 Against Sectaries Page 357 T. TYths must be paid Page 6 71 Traditions of the Church Page 50 103 Tables to be in Churches instead of Altars Page 84 U. USurped and Forreign Authority forbidden Page 67 Upholders thereof to be presented Page 69 Uniformity of Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments Page 110 A confirmation thereof Page 118 W. WOrkes before Justification Page 43 95 Workes of Supererrogation Page 44 95 Workes of Faith Page 67 68 Workes of Mans device Page 68 Witchcraft c. forbidden Page 78 180 Wednesdays and Fridays the Church to read the Litany and Prayers Page 80 Of Good Workes Page 95 TABULA A. ARticuli in Synodo Londinensi anno 1552. Pag. 53 De Arbitrio libero Pag. 56 212 Articuli per Archiepiscopos Episcopos c. 1584 27 Eliz. Pag. 191 Articuli per Archiepiscopos Episcopos c. utriusque Provinciae 1562 Pag. 207 Articulorum confirmatio Pag. 222 Archidiaconi Pag. 229 Æditui Ecclesiarum alii selecti Pag. 234 Apparitorum excessus reformandi Pag. 256 333 Ægrotantes a Ministris sedulò visitandi Pag. 300 Actus judiciales non nisi publica authentica manu expediendi Pag. 325 B. B Blasphemia in spiritum sanctum Pag. 61 218 De Baptismo Pag. 58 96 Vt homines idonei ad sacros ordines Beneficia ecclesiastica admittantur Pag. 193 245 De Beneficiorum Pluralitate cohibenda Pag. 196 247 In Commendationibus Benefactorum Pag. 203 204 In Beneficia instituendi symoniae suspitionem jurejurando jussi avertere Pag. 288 Beneficiorum Pluralitas parcius dispensanda Pag. 289 Beneficiati absentes legitimè Curatum Concionatorem jubentur adhibere Pag. 291 Baptisteria in Ecclesiis paranda Pag. 306 C. COnciliorum Generalium authoritas Pag. 61 218 De Caena Domini Pag. 59 216 Caelibatus ex verbo Dei non praecipitur Pag. 62 Christianorum bona non sunt communia Pag. 63 222 Celebratio Coenae Domini in funebribus Pag. 199 Cancellarii Commissarii c. Pag. 230 Concionatores Pag. 238 Capitula sive Constitutiones Ecclesiasticae Anno 1597 Pag. 247 Constitutiones sive Canones Ecclesiastici Anno 1603 1 Jac. Pag. 263 Coenae sacrae iu usum panis vinum paranda Pag. 278 Coenae trina perceptio quotannis indicta Pag. 278 Coenae administrationem indictio praeire jussa Pag. 278 Coenae usus frequentior Academicis injunctus genuum flexio Pag. 278 Coenae in
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 only Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the holy Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do profess his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon 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 find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they pe 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 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 these 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 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 he called And how 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 Messengesrs and Watchmen the Pastors and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premouish 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 always 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 Body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence you know the greatness 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 ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of error in Religion or for viciousness of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellency and of so great difficulty ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kind 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 mind and a will thereto of our 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 pertaining to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scripture and with a life agreeable unto the same 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 cal 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 of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavor 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 wholsom 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 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 truly called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priest-hood 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 committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of
necessity to eternal salvation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture Answer I am so perswaded and have so determined by Gods grace The Bishop WIll you then give your faithful diligence always so to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments and the Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded and as this Realm hath received the same according to the Commandments of God so that you may teach the people committed to your cure and charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same Answer I will do so by the help of the Lord. The Bishop WIll you be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to Gods Word and to use both publick and private admonitions and exhortations as well to the sick as to the whole within your Cures as need shall require and occasion be given Answer I will the Lord being my helper The Bishop Will you be diligently in prayers and in reading of the holy Scriptures and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same laying aside the study of the world and the flesh Answer I will endeavor my self so to do the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you be diligent to frame and fashion your own selves and your families according to the Doctrine of Christ and to make both your selves and them as much as in you lieth wholsom examples and spectacles to the flock of Christ Answer I will apply my self the Lord being my helper The Bishop WIll you maintain and set forwards as much as in you lieth quietness peace and love among all Christian people and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Bishop VVIll you reverently obey your Ordinary and other chief Ministers unto whom the government and charge is committed over you following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions and submitting your selves to their godly judgments Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper Then shall the Bishop say ALmighty God who hath given you this will do all these things grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same that he may accomplish his work which he hath begun in you until the time shall come at the latter day to judge the quick and the dead After this the Congregation shall be desired secretly in their prayers to make humble supplications to God for the foresaid things for the which prayers there shall be a certain space kept in silence That done the Bishop shall pray in this wise ¶ Let us pray ALmighty God and heavenly Father which of thine infinite love and goodness towards us hast given to us thy only and most dearly bloved Son Iesus Christ to be our Redeemer and Author of everlasting life who after he had made perfect our redemption by his death and was ascended into heaven sent abroad into the world his Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctors and Pastors by whose labour and ministery he gathered together a great flock in all the parts of the World to set forth the eternal praise of thy holy Name For these so great benefits of thy eternal goodness and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call these thy servants here present to the same office and ministry of salvation of mankind 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 thankful 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 thy holy Spirit So that as well by these thy Ministers as by them to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy holy Name may be always glorified and thy blessed Kingdom enlarged through the same thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ which liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy Spirit world without end Amen When this prayer is done the Bishops with the Priests present shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth Orders the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees and the Bishop saying REceive the holy Ghost Whose sins thou dost forgive they are forgiven and whose sins thou dost retain they are retained and be thou a faithful dispenser of the Word of God and his holy Sacraments In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Amen The Bishop shall deliver to every one of them the Bible in his hand saying TAke thou authority to preach the Word of God and to minister the holy Sacraments in this Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed When this is done the Congregation shall sing the Creed and also they shall go to the Communion which all they that receive Orders shall take together and remain in the same place where the hands were laid upon them until such time as they received the Communion The Communion being done after the last Collect and immediately before the Bendiction shall be said this Collect. MOst merciful Father we beseech thee to send upon these thy Servants thy heavenly blessing that they may be clad about with justice and that thy Word spoken by their mouths may have such success that it may never be spoken in vain Grant also that we may have grace to hear and receive the same as thy most holy Word and the means of our salvation that in all our words and deeds we may seek thy glory and the increase of thy Kingdom through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen And if the Order of Deacons and Priesthood be given both upon one day then shall all things at the holy Communion be used as they are appointed at the ordering of Priests saving that for the Epistle the whole third Chapter of the first to Timothy shall be read as it is set out before in the order of Priests And immediately after the Epistile the Deacons shall be ordered And it shall suffice the Litany to be said once The form of Consecrating of an Arch-Bishop 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 work A Bishop therefore must be blameless the husband of one wife diligent sober discreet a keeper of hospitality apt to teach not given to overmuch wine no fighter nor greedy of filthy lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhorring covetousness one that ruleth well his own house one that hath children in subjection with all reverence For if a man cannot rule his own house how thall he care for the congregation of God He may not be a young Scholar lest he swell and fall into the judgment of the evil speaker He must also have a good report of them which are without lest he fall