THE PREFACE.
It is evident unto all men, diligently readinge holye scripture, and auncient
aucthours, that from the Apostles tyme, there hathe bene these orders of
Ministers in Christes church, Bisshoppes, Priestes, and Deacons, which Offices
were evermore had in suche reverent estimacion, that no man by his own private
aucthoritie, might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called,
tried, examined, and knowen, to have such equalities, as were requisite for
the same. And also by publique prayer, with imposicion of handes, approved,
and admitted thereunto. And therfore to the entent these orders shoulde bee
continued, and reverentlye used, and estemed in this Church of England, it
is requysite, that no man (not beynge at thys presente Bisshop, Priest, nor
Deacon) shall execute anye of them, excepte he be called, tryed, examined,
and admitted, accordynge to the forme hereafter folowinge. And none shalbe
admitted a Deacon, except he be xxi yeres of age at the least. And every
man, which is to be admitted a Priest, shalbe full xxiiii yeres olde. And
every man, which is to be consecrated a Bishop, shalbe fully thyrtie yeres
of age. And the Bisshop knowinge, eyther by hymself, or by sufficient testimonye,
any person to be a man of vertuous conversacion
[=reputation], and wythoute
cryme, and after examinacion and triall, fyndynge hym learned in the Latyne
tongue, and sufficientlye instructed in holye Scripture, maye upon a Sondaye
or Holyday, in the face of the church, admitte hym a Deacon in suche maner
and fourme, as hereafter foloweth.
For the ordering of:
[With Poems Added from The Temple 1633.
The poems may be assigned to a narrator, to be called The Poet, or to the
Curate, congregation or private worshipper.
The poems may be read by one person, antiphonally or groups.
Each of the orders is treated separately, and, therefore, the same poem may
appear in all three of the services. In a larger sense the approach to an
ever higher calling is similar to that of the virtuous, faithful and dedicated
Christian.
(Links within the text may be used or omitted.)]
Editors note: In the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, the letter "v" was
not used. A "u" was printed instead. For example "serve" was "serue." If
you find the reading challenging with the "v," think of it with the "u."
Also printers used a line over a letter to show that a letter is missing,
for example "they" or "them" may appear as "the" with a short horizontal
line ( ¯ ) over the "e."
THE
FOURME AND MANER
OF
ORDERINGE OF DEACONS.
¶ Fyrst, when the daye appoynted by the Bisshoppe
is come, there shalbe an exhortacion, declaring the duetie and office, of
suche as come to be admitted Ministers, howe necessarie suche Orders are
in the Churche of Christe, and also howe the people oughte to esteme them
in theyr vocacion.
[The Poet's, Deacon's and Minister's meditation before
entering into the service:
Church-monuments. Their response to
the opportunity to serve God as the
Church-music begins.]
The Poet's exhortation to Deacons and Ministers:
Constancie.
1549:
¶ After the exhortacion ended, the Archedeacon, or his deputie, shal
present such as come to be admitted to the Bisshop every one of them, that
are presented, having upon hym a playne Albe; and the Archedeacon or his
deputie shal saye these wordes. |
1552:
¶ After the exhortacion ended, the Archedeacon,
or his deputie, shal present such as come the Bisshop to be admitted, saying
these wordes. |
REVERENDE Father in GOD, I presente unto you,
these persones presente, to bee admitted Deacons.
¶ The Bisshoppe. Take hede that the
persones whom ye presente unto us, be apte and mete, for theyr learninge
and godlye conversacion
[=behavior], to exercyse
theyr ministerye duely, to the honoure of God, and edifyinge of hys Church.
The Poet or the Deacons:
Pearl.
The Poet, Archdeacon or the Bishop describes the approach
to the Deacons: Church-floor.
The Archedeacon shall aunswere.
I have enquyred of them, and also examined them, and thynke them so to be.
¶ And then the Bisshop shal saye unto the
people.
BRETHREN, yf there bee anye of you, who knoweth anye impediment,
or notable crime, in any of these persones presented to bee ordered Deacons,
for the whych he oughte not to bee admitted to the same, lette hym come foorthe
in the name of God, and shewe what the cryme, or impediment is.
¶ And yf any great cryme, or impediment be objected,
the Bisshoppe shal surcease
[=desist], from ordering that person, untyl suche tyme as the partie
accused, shal trye himself clere of that cryme.
The Poet for the Deacon(s):
Church lock and key.
Then the Bisshop, commending suche as shalbe found mete
to be ordered to the prayers of the congregacion, wyth the Clerkes, and people
present, shalt saye or synge the Letany as foloweth wyth the
prayers.
The Letanie and Suffrages.
O GOD the father of heaven : have mercye upon us myserable
synners.
O God the father of heaven : have mercie upon us miserable
synners.
O God the sonne, redemer of the world : have mercye
upon us myserable synners.
O God the Sonne, redemer of the world : have mercy
upon us miserable synners.
O God the holy Ghost, proceding from the father and
the sonne : have mercye upon us myserable synners.
O God the holy gost, proceding from the Father and
the sonne: have mercye upon us miserable synners.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, thre persons
and one God : have mercie upon us miserable synners.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, thre persons
and one God : have mercie upon us miserable synners.
Remembre not Lorde our offences, nor the offences
of oure forefathers, neyther take thou vengeaunce of oure synnes spare us
good Lorde, spare thy people, whom thou hast redemed with thy most precious
bloud, and be not angry wyth us for ever.
Spare us good Lorde.
From all evyll and mischiefe, from synne, from the craftes and assaultes
of the devyll, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnacion.
Good Lorde deliver us.
From al blyndnes of hearte, from pryde, vayneglory, and hypocrisie, from
envie, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitablenes.
Good lord, deliver us.
From fornicacion, and all other deadlye synne, and from all the deceyptes
of the worlde, the fleshe, and the devyll.
Good lord, deliver us.
From lighteninges and tempestes, from plague, pestilence, and famine, from
battayle and murther, and from sodeyne death.
Good lord, deliver us.
From all sedicion and pryvie conspiracie, from the tyrannye of the Bysshop
of Rome, and al hys detestable enormities, from al false
doctryne and heresy, from hardnes of hearte, and contempte of thy worde
and commaundement.
Good lord, deliver us.
By the misterye of thy holy incarnacion, by thy
holy nativitie and circumcision, by thy baptisme, fastynge, and temptacion.
Good lord, deliver us.
By thyne agonye and bloudie sweate, by thy
crosse, and passion,
by thy precious death and buriall, by thy glorious
resurrection and ascension, and by the cominge
of the holy Ghost.
Good lord, deliver us.
In al time of our tribulacion, in al tyme of our
welth, in the houre of death, and in the
daye of judgement.
Good Lorde delyver us.
We synners doe beseche thee to heare us (O Lorde God), and that it may please
thee to rule and governe thy holy Church universally,
in the ryghte waye.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to kepe EDWARD the sixth thy servaunt, our Kynge
and governour.
We beseehe thee to heare us good lord.
That it may please thee, to rule his heart in thy fayth feare and love, that
he may alwayes have affiaunce
[=faith] in thee, and
ever seke thy honour and glory.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to be his defendour and keper, gevyng hym the victorie
over all his enemies.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lord.
That it may please thee, to illuminate al Bisshops, Pastours, and Ministers
of the Churche, wyth true knowledge, and understanding of thy worde, and
that both by theyr preachynge and lyving, they may
sette it forth and shewe it accordingly.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to blesse these men, and send thy
grace upon them, that they maye duelye execute the
offyce nowe to bee commytted unto them, to the edifyinge of thy Churche,
and to thy honoure, prayse, and glorye.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee to endue the Lordes of the Counsayle and al the nobilitie
wyth grace, wysdome, and understanding.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lord.
That it may please thee, to blesse and kepe the
Magistrates, geving them grace to execute Justice,
and to maynteyne trueth.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to blesse and kepe al thy people.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to geve to al nacions, unitie, peace, and concorde.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee to geve us an heart, to
love and dreade
[=respect] thee, and
dyligently to lyve after thy commaundementes.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it maye please thee to geve all thy people encrease of
grace, to heare mekely thy woorde, and to receyve
it wyth pure affection, and to brynge foorth the fruytes of the spirite.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it maye please thee, to bringe into the waye of trueth, al suche as
have erred, and are deceyved.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to strengthen suche as doe stande, and to comforte
and helpe the weake hearted, and to rayse them up that fall, and finallye
to beate downe Sathan under our feete.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to succoure, helpe and comforte, al that be in daunger,
necessitie, and tribulacion.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to preserve al that travayl by lande, or by water,
al women labouringe of chylde, al sycke persons and yonge chyldren, and to
shewe thy pytie upon al prysoners and captyves.
We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.
That it may please thee, to defende and provide for the fatherles chyldren
and wyddowes, and all that be desolate and oppressed.
We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.
That it may please thee, to have mercie upon al men.
We beseche thee to heare us good lorde.
That it may please thee, to forgeve oure enemyes, persecutours, and slaunderers,
and to turne theyr heartes.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee, to geve and preserve to our use, the kyndly fruytes
of the yearth, so as in due tyme we may enjoye them.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
That it may please thee to geve us true
repentaunce, to forgeve us all oure synnes,
negligences, and ignoraunces, and to endue us wyth the grace of thy holye
spirite, to amende oure lyves accordinge to thy holye worde.
We beseche thee to heare us good Lorde.
Sonne of God: we beseche thee to heare us
Sonne of God: we beseche thee to heare us.
O Lambe of God, that takeste awaye the synnnes of the worlde.
Graunt us thy peace.
O Lambe of God, that takest awaye the synnes of the worlde.
Have mercie upon us.
O Christe heare us.
O Christe, heare us.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
Lorde have mercy upon us.
The Poet, candidates and Bishop reflect on the occasion:
The Church Windows.
1549:
Our father which art in heaven, etc.
And leade us not into temptacion.
But deliver us from evill.
The Versicle. O lorde deale not with us
after our sinnes.
The aunswere. Neither reward us after our
iniquities. |
1552:
¶ Our father which art in heaven, &c.
And leade us not into temptacion.
But deliver us from evill.
The Versicle. O lorde deale not with us
after our sinnes.
The aunswere. Neither reward us after our
iniquities. |
Let us pray.
O GOD mercyfull father, that despyseste not the
sighinge of a contryte hearte, nor the
desyre of suche as be sorowfull, mercyfully assiste
oure prayers that we make before thee, in all
oure troubles and adversities, whensoever
they oppresse us: and graciously heare us, that those evyls, which the craft
and subteltie of the devyl, or man worketh agaynst us, be brought to naught,
and by the providence of thy goodnes, they may be dispersed, that we thy
servauntes, beyng hurte by no persecutions, may evermore geve thankes unto
thee, in thy holy Church, through Jesu Christ oure Lorde.
O Lorde aryse, help us, and delyver us, for thy names
sake.
O GOD, we have heard with our eares, and oure fathers have
declared unto us, the noble workes, that thou dyddeste in their dayes, and
in the olde tyme before them.
O Lorde aryse, help us, and delyver us, for thyne honour.
Glorye be to the father, the sonne, and to the holy ghost.
As. it was in the begynning, is now, and ever shal be, world without ende.
Amen.
From our enemies defende us, O Christ.
Graciously loke upon our afflictions.
Pitifully beholde the sorowes of our heart.
Mercifully forgeve the synnes of thy people.
Favourably with mercy heare our prayers.
O sonne of David have mercy upon us.
Both nowe and ever vouchesafe to heare us, O Christ.
Graciously heare us, O Christe, Graciously heare us, O Lord Christe.
¶ The Versicle. O Lorde let thy mercy
be shewed upon us.
The Aunswere. As we do put our trust in
thee.
¶ Let us praye.
WE humbly beseche thee, O father, mercyfully to looke upon
oure infirmities, and for the glory of thy names sake, tourne from us all
those evylles, that we moste ryghteouslye have deserved: And graunte that
in all oure troubles, we maye put oure whole trust, and confydence in thy
mercye, and evermore serve thee, in holynes and purenesse of lyvinge, to
thy honour and glorye, through our onely mediatour and advocate Jesus Christ
our lord. Amen.
ALMYGHTIE God, which hast geven us grace at this tyme with
one accorde, to make our common supplicacions unto the, and doest promise
that when two, or three be gathered in thy name, thou wilt graunt their
requestes, fulfyll nowe, O Lorde, the desyres and peticions of thy servauntes,
as may be moste expediente for them, grauntynge us in thys worlde, knowledge
of thy trueth, and in the worlde to come lyfe everlastynge. Amen.
Then shalbe sayde also thys that foloweth.
ALMYGHTIE God, whiche by thy devyne providence, haste appoynted
dyverse Orders of ministers in the Churche: and dyddeste enspyre thyne holy
Apostles to chose unto this Ordre of Deacons, the fyrste Martyr sainct Stephyn,
wyth other: mercyfully beholde these thy servauntes, now called to the lyke
office and administracion; replenishe them so wyth the trueth of thy doctryne,
and innocencie of lyfe, that, both by worde and good example, they may faithfully
serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and profyte of the
congregacion, through the merites of our saviour Jesu Christ, who lyveth
and reygneth wyth thee, and the holy Ghost, nowe and ever. Amen.
Then shal be songe or sayd, the Communion of the daye,
savyng the Epistle shalbe read out of Timothe,
[1 Timothy
2:8-16] as foloweth.
LIKEWYSE muste the ministers be honest, not double-tongued,
not geven unto muche wyne, neyther
gredy of fylthy lucre, but holding the mistery
of the fayth, wyth a pure
conscience. And let them first be proved, and
then let them minister, so that no man be able to reprove them. Even so must
theyr wives be honest, not evyll speakers, but sobre
and faythfull in all thinges. Lette the Deacons bee the husbandes of one
wyfe, and suche as rule theyr chyldren well, and theyr owne housholdes. For
they that minister well, geat themselves a good degre, and a greate lybertie
in the fayth, whych is in Christ Jesu.
These thinges wryte I unto thee trusting to come shortely
unto thee; but and yf I tarye longe, that then thou mayst yet have knowledge,
howe thou oughteste to behave thyselfe, in the house of
God, whiche is the congregacion of the lyvinge God, the pyller and grounde
of trueth. And without doubt, greate is that misterie of Godlynesse. God
was shewed in the fleshe, was justifyed in the spirite, was sene amonge the
Angels, was preached unto the Gentyles, was beleved on in the worlde, and
receyved up in glory.
Or els thys out of the sixth of the Actes
[Acts
6:2-7].
THEN the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together,
and sayde: it is not mete that we shoulde leave the worde of God, and serve
tables. Wherefore brethren, looke ye oute amonge you, seven men of honest
report and full of the holy goste and wysdome, to whome we maye committe
thys busynesse: but we wyll geve oureselves continually to prayer, and to
the administracion of the word. And that saying pleased the whole multitude.
And they chose Stephin, a man ful of fayth, and ful of the holy ghoste, and
Philip, and Procorus, and Nichanor, and Tymon, and Permenas, and Nicholas
a convert of Antioche. These they set before the Apostles: and when they
had prayed, they layed theyr handes on them. And the worde of God increased,
and the nombre of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great
companie of the Priestes, were obedient unto the fayth.
The Poet recalls the lapse into
Church-rents and schisms.
¶ And before the Gospel, the Bisshop sitting
in a Chaire, shal cause the Othe
[oath] of the Kinges supremacie, and against the usurped power and
aucthoritie of the Bishop of Rome, to be ministred unto every of them that
are to be Ordred.
¶ The Othe of the Kynges Supremacie.
I FROM henceforth shal utterly renounce, refuse, relinquisshe
and forsake the Bysshop of Rome, and hys aucthoritie, power, and jurisdiction.
And I shal never consent nor agree, that the Bysshop of Rome shall practyse,
exercyse, or have any maner of aucthoritie, Jurisdiction, or Power wythin
thys Realme, or anye other the Kynges dominions, but shall resyste the same
at all tymes, to the uttermoste of my power. And I from hence foorth wyll
accepte, repute, and take the Kynges Maiestie, to be the onelye Supreme head
in earth, of the Church of Englande: And to my connynge, wytte, and uttermoste
of my power, wythoute guyle, fraude, or other undue meane, I wyll observe,
kepe, maynteyne and defende, the whole effectes and contentes, of al, and
synguler actes and Statutes made, and to be made wythin thys realme in derogacion
[=impairing], extirpacion
[=extermination], and
extinguishment of the Bisshop of Rome and his aucthoritie, and al other Actes
and Statutes, made or to be made, in confirmacion and corroboracion of the
Kynges power, of the supreme head in earth, of the Church of Englande: and
this I wyll do agaynst all maner of persones, of what estate, dignitie or
degree, or condicion they be, and in no wise do nor attempt, nor to my power,
suffre to be done or attempted, directely or indirectly, any thing or thinges,
prively or appertelye [apertly,
=publicly], to the let
[=prevention], hinderaunce,
dammage, or derogacion thereof, or any part thereof, by any maner of meanes,
or for any maner of pretence. And in case any othe bee made, or hath been
made by me, to any person or persones, in mayntenaunce, defence, or favoure
of the Bisshoppe of Rome, or hys aucthoritie, jurisdiction, or power, I repute
the same, as vayne and adnichilate
[=annulled]: so help
me God, [all Saints
and the holy
Evangelist].*
replaced by "through Jesus Christ" in 1552.
The Poet defines the enviable position of
the British Church.
Then shalt the Bisshop examine every one of them that
are to be ordered, in the presence of the people, after thys maner
folowynge.
Do you trust that you are inwardely moved by the holy
Ghoste, to take upon you thys offyce and ministracion, to serve God,
for the promotinge of hys glorye, and the edyfyinge of hys people?
Aunswere. I truste so.
The Bisshop. Do ye thinke,
that ye truely be called accordinge to the wyll of our Lord Jesus Christe,
and the due ordre of thys realme to the ministery of the Church?
Aunswere. I thinke so.
The Bisshop. Doe ye
unfeynedly beleve all the Canonicall scriptures, of the olde and newe
Testament?
Aunswere. I doe
beleve.
The Bisshoppe. Will
you diligently reade the same unto the people assembled in the Churche, where
you shalbe appoynted to serve?
Aunswere. I wyll.
The Bisshoppe. It perteyneth
to the office of a Deacon in the Churche where he shalbe appoynted to assiste
the Prieste in devine service, and speciallye when he ministreth the
holye Communion, and to helpe him in distribucion
thereof, and to reade holye scriptures and Homelies in the congregacion,
and to instructe the youth in the Cathechisme, to Baptise and to
preache yf he be admitted therto by
the Bisshop. And further more, it is his office where provision is so made
to searche for the sicke, poore, and impotente people of the parishe, and
to intimate theyr estates, names, and places where thei dwel to the Curate,
that by his exhortacion they maye bee relieved by the parishe or other convenient
almose ["almes" in1552]:
wil you do this gladly and wyllingly?
Aunswere. I wyll so
do by the helpe of God.
The Bisshoppe. Will
you applye all youre diligence to frame and fasshion youre owne lyves, and
the lives of all your familie according to the doctrine of Christ, and to
make bothe your selves and them as muche as in you lieth, wholesome examples
of the flocke of Christ?
Aunswere. I wyll so
do, the Lorde beyng my helper.
The Bisshoppe. Will
you reverently obeye your ordinary and other chiefe Ministers of the Church,
and them to whom the governemente and charge is committed over you, folowyng
wyth a gladde mynde and wyll theyr godly admonicions?
Aunswere. I wyl thus
endevor myself, the lord beyng my helper.
The Poet or Choir express the learning of the Deacon(s):
The Elixir.
¶ Then the Bishop layinge his handes severally
upon the head of every of them, shall saye.
Take thou aucthoritie to execute the office of a Deacon in the Church of
God committed unto thee: in the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy
ghost. Amen.
Then shal the Bisshop delyver to every one of them
the newe Testamente, sayinge.
Take thou aucthoritie to reade the Gospell in the Church of God, and to preache
the same, yf thou bee thereunto ordinarely commaunded.
Then one of them appoynted by the Bisshop, shal reade
the Gospel of that daye.
Then shal the Bisshop procede to the Communion, and al that be ordered, shal
tarye and receyve the holy Communion the same daye wyth the Bisshop.
The Communion ended, after the laste Collecte and immediatly before the
benediction, shalbe sayed this Collecte folowynge.
ALMYGHTIE God, gever of al good thinges, which of thy great
goodnes hast vouchsafed to accepte and take these thy servauntes unto the
office of Deacons in thy church: make them we beseche thee, O Lorde, to bee
modest, humble, and constant in their ministracion, to have a ready wyl to
observe al spiritual discipline, that they havinge alwayes the testimonie
of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy sonne
Christ, may so wel use themselves in thys inferior offyce, that they may
be found worthi to be called unto the higher ministeries in thy Church: through
the same thy sonne our Saviour Christ, to whom be glorye and honoure, worlde
wythout ende. Amen.
¶ And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon
that he must continue in that office of a Deacon, the space of a whole yeare
at the least (excepte for reasonable causes, it bee otherwyse seen to his
ordenarie) to thentent he may be perfecte, and wel expert in the thinges
apperteyning to the Ecclesiasticall administracion, in executing whereof,
yf he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his Diocesan
to the ordre of Priesthode.
THE FOURME
OF
ORDERING PRIESTES.
The Poet gives his exhortation:
The Priesthood.
1549:
When the exhortacion is ended, then shall be song, for
the introyte to the Communion, this psalme -- Expectans expectavi Dominum,
Psal. xl. Or els this psalme -- Memento Domine David, Psalm cxxxii. Or els
this Psalme -- Laudate nomen Domini, Psalm cxxxv.
Then shalbe reed for the Epistle this out of the twentieth
Chapter of the Actes of the Apostles
[Acts
20:17-35]. |
1552:
When the exhortacion is ended, then shal folowe the
Communion. And for the Epistle shalbe red out of the twentieth Chapter of
the Actes of the Apostles as foloweth. |
FROM Mileto Paule sent messengers
to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the congregacion; which when they were
come to him, he sayde unto them. Ye know, that from the first day that I
came into Asia, after what maner I have been wyth you at al seasons, servynge
the Lord wyth al humblenes of mynde, and wyth many teares and temptacions
which happened unto me by the layinges awayte of the Jewes, because I would
kepe backe nothinge that was profitable unto you, but to shewe you and teache
you openly throughout every house: witnessing bothe to the Jewes, and also
to the Grekes, the repentaunce that is towarde
God, and the fayth whiche is towarde oure Lorde
Jesus. And now behold, I goe bound in the spyryte unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the thinges that shall come
on me there; but that the holy ghost witnesseth in every citie, saying that
bandes
[=imprisonment] and
trouble abyde me. But none of these thynges move me, nether is my lyfe deare
unto myselfe, that I might fulfyll my course with joye and the ministracion
of the worde whiche I have receyved of the Lord Jesu to testifye the Gospell
of the grace of God. And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye al (through
whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God) shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to recorde thys daye, that I am pure from the bloud
of all men. For I have spared no labor, but have shewed you all the counsayle
of God. Take hede therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flocke amonge
whom the holy ghost hath made you overseers to rule the congregacion of God,
whiche he hathe purchased wyth hys bloud. For I am sure of this, that after
my departing, shal grevous wolves entre in among you, not sparing the flocke.
Moreover, of your owne selves shall men aryse, speaking
perverse thinges, to drawe disciples after them.
Therefore awake, and remembre that by the space of three yeares I ceassed
not to warne every one of you nyght and daye, wyth teares.
And now brethren, I commende you to God and to the woorde
of his grace, whiche is able to buylde further,
and to gyve you an inheritaunce among al them which are sanctified. I have
desyred no mans sylver, golde or vesture. Yea, you knowe youre selves, that
these handes have ministred unto my necessities, and to them that were wyth
me. I have shewed you all thynges, howe that so labouring ye oughte to receyve
the weake, and to remembre the wordes of the Lorde Jesu, howe that he sayd;
it is more blessed to geve than to receyve.
Or els thys thyrde Chapter, of the fyrst Epistle to
Timothe.
THYS is a true sayinge; yf any man desyre the offyce of a
Bisshoppe, he desyreth an honeste worke. A
Bisshop therfore must be blamelesse, the husband of one wyfe, vigilant, sobre,
discrete, a keper of hospitalitie, apte to teache, not geven to over
much wyne, no fyghter, nor gredye of
filthye lucre; but gentle, abhorring fyghting,
abhorringe covetousnes; one that ruleth wel his owne house, one that hath
children in subjection with al reverence. For yf a
man cannot rule hys owne house, how shall he care for the congregacion of
God? He may not be a yong scholer, leste he swell, and fall into the Judgement
of the evyl speaker. He must also have a good reporte of them whiche are
without; leste he fall into rebuke, and snare of the evyll speaker.
Likewise must the Ministers be honest, not double-tongued,
not geven unto muche wyne, nether
gredy of filthie lucre; But holding the mistery of
the fayth, with a pure conscience; and let
them first be proved, and then let them minister so that no man be able to
reprove them.
Even so must their wyves be honest, not evil-speakers;
but sobre and faithful in al thinges. Let the Deacons be the husbandes of
one wyfe, and such as rule their chyldren wel, and
theyr owne housholdes, For they that minister wel get themselves a good degre,
and great libertie in the fayth which is in Christe Jesu.
These thinges wryte I unto thee, trusting to come shortly
unto thee; but and yf I tary longe, that then thou mayst have yet knowledge,
howe thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of
God, which is the congregacion of the livinge God,
the Piller and ground of trueth. And without doubt, greate is that misterie
of Godlynes: God was shewed in the flesh, was Justified in the spirite, was
seen among the Angelles, was Preached unto the Gentyles, was beleved on in
the worlde, and receyved up in glory.
After thys shalbe read for the Gospel a pece of the
laste Chapter of Mathew,
[Matthew
28:18-20] as foloweth.
JESUS came and spake unto them, saying: All power is geven
unto me in heaven and in earth. Goe ye therefore and teache all nacions,
baptising them in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy
gost. Teachyng them to observe all thinges, whatsoever I have commaunded
you. And be, I am with you alway, even untill the end of the worlde.
Or els this that foloweth, of the tenth Chapter of John
[John
10:1-16].
VERELY, verely, I saye unto you; He that entreth not in by
the dore into the sheepe folde, but climbeth up some other way, the same
is a thefe and a murtherer. But he that entereth in by the doore, is the
shepeheard of the shepe, to hym the Porter openeth,
and the Shepe heareth hys voyce, and he calleth hys owne shepe by name, and
leadeth them out. And when he hath sente forth his owne shepe, he goeth before
them, and the shepe folowe hym, for they knowe his voyce. A straunger wyll
they not folow, but wyll flee from hym, for they knowe not the voyce of
straungers. Thys Proverbe spake Jesus unto them, but they understoode not
what thynges they were, whyche he spake unto them. Then sayde Jesus unto
them agayne: verely, verely, I saye unto you, I am the doore of the shepe.
All (even as manye as come before me) are theves and murtherers: but the
shepe dyd not heare them. I am the doore, by me yf any man entre in, he shall
be safe, and goe in and out, and fynde pasture. A thefe cometh not but for
to steale, kyll and to destroye. I am come that they myght have lyfe, and
that they myghte have it more aboundauntlye. I am the good shepeheard: a
good shepehearde geveth his lyfe for the shepe. An hired servaunt, and he
whiche is not the shepeheard (neyther the shepe are hys owne) seeth the wolfe
comming, and leaveth the shepe and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth and scattereth
the shepe. The hyred servaunt fleeth, because he is an hyred servaunte, and
careth not for the shepe. I am the good shepeherd and knowe my shepe, and
am knowen of myne. As my father knoweth me, even so know I also my father.
And I geve my lyfe for the shepe, and other shepe I have, which are not of
this folde. Them also must I bring, and they shall heare my voyce, and there
shall be one folde and one shepehearde.
Anthem or the Poet reads The
23 Psalme.
Or els thys, of the xx. Chapter of John
[John
20:19-23].
THE same daye at night, which was the fyrst daye of the Sabbothes,
when the doores were shutte (where the Disciples were assembled together,
for feare of the Jewes) came Jesus and stode in the middes
[midst], and sayde unto
them; peace be unto you. And when he had so sayd, he shewed unto them hys
handes and his syde. Then were the disciples glad, when they sawe the Lord.
Then sayd Jesus unto them agayne, peace bee unto
you. As my father sent me, even so send I you also. And when he had sayd
those wordes, he breathed on them and said unto them, receyve ye the holy
ghost: whosoevers synnes ye remytte, they are remytted unto them: and whosoevers
synnes ye retayne, they are retayned.
When the Gospel is ended, then shalbe sayd or songe
[Veni creator
spiritus].
COME holy ghost eternall God procedinge
from above,
Both from the father and the sonne, the God of peace and
love:
Vysyte oure myndes, and into us, thy heavenly grace
inspyre;
That in all trueth and godlynesse, we maye have true
desyre.
Thou art the very comforter, in al woe and distresse:
The heavenly gyfte of God moste highe, whych no tongue
can expresse.
The fountayne and the lively springe, of joye
celestiall:
The fyre so brighte, the love so clere, and
Unction spirituall.
Thou in thy gyftes arte manifolde, whereby Christes Churche
doeth stande:
In faythfull heartes wrytinge thy lawe, the fynger of
Goddes hande.
According to thy promes made, thou gevest speache of
grace;
That throughe thy helpe, the prayse of God, may sounde
in every place.
O holy ghoste, into oure wittes, sende downe thyne heavenly
lyght;
Kyndle our heartes wyth fervent love, to serve God daye
and nyght.
Strength and stablishe all oure weakenes, so feble and
so frayle:
That neyther fleshe, the worlde,
nor devyl, agaynste us do prevayle.
Put backe oure enemie farre from us, and graunte us to
obtayne:
Peace in our heartes with God and man, withoute grudge
or disdayne.
And graunt O Lorde that thou beyng, oure leader and oure
guyde;
We may eschewe the snares of
synne, and from thee never slyde.
To us such plentie of thy grace, good Lord graunt we thee
praye:
That thou mayest bee oure comforter, at the laste dreadfull
daye.
Of all stryfe and dissencion, O Lorde, dissolve the
bandes:
And make the knottes of peace and love, throughoute all
Christien landes.
Graunte us O Lorde, throughe thee to knowe the father
most of myght;
That of hys deare beloved sonne we may attayne the
syght.
And that wyth perfect fayth also,
we may acknowledge thee;
The Spirite of them both alwaye, one
God in persones three.
Laude and prayse be to the father, and to the sonne
equall:
And to the holy spyryte also, one God coeternall.
And praye we that the onely sonne, vouchesafe hys spyryte
to sende;
To all that do professe hys name, unto the worldes ende.
Amen. [(the last two lines are repeated
in 1552)]
And then the Archedeacon shalt present unto the Bisshop,
all them that shall receyve the order of Priesthode that
daye, [every
of them having upon hym a playne Albe
--]*[ omitted in
1552.] The Archedeacon
sayinge.
REVERENDE Father in GOD, I presente unto you, these persones
presente, to bee admitted to the ordre of Priesthode, Cum interrogatione
et responsione, ut in ordine Diaconatus.
And then the Bisshop shal saye to the people.
GOOD people, these bee they whome we purpose God wyllyng,
to receyve this daye, unto the holye offyce of
Priesthode. For after due examinacion, we fynd
not the contrary but that they be lawfully called to theyr function and
ministery, and that they be persones mete for the same: but yet yf there
be any of you whyche knoweth any impediment, or notable cryme in any of them,
for the whyche he oughte not to bee receyved into this holy ministery, nowe
in the name of God declare the same.
¶ And yf any great cryme or impediment be objected,
&c. Ut supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litanie cum hac
Collecta.
ALMYGHTIE GOD, gever of all good thinges, which by thy holy
spirit has appoynted dyverse orders of Ministers in thy church, mercifully
behold these thy servantes, now called to the Office of Priesthode, and replenish
them so wyth the trueth of thy doctryne,
and innocencie of lyfe, that both by worde and good
example, they may faythfully serve thee in thys office, to the glorye of
thy name, and profyte of the congregacion, through the merites of oure saviour
Jesu Christ, who lyveth and reygneth, wyth thee and the holy Ghoste, worlde
wythout ende. Amen.
¶ Then the Bisshop shal minister unto every of
them the othe, concerning the Kinges Supremacie, as it is set oute in the
ordre of Deacons. And that done, he shall saye unto them, which are appoynted
to receyve the sayde Office, as hereafter fotoweth.
YOU have hearde brethren, as well in youre private examinacion,
as in the exhortacion, and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel, and
of the writinges of the Apostles, of what dignitie, and of how great importaunce
thys offyce is, (whereunto ye be called). And nowe we exhorte you, in the
name of oure LORDE Jesus Christe, to have in remembraunce, into howe hyghe
a dignitie, and to howe chargeable an offyce ye bee called, that is to saye,
to be the messengers, the watchemen, the Pastours, and the stewardes of the
LORDE to teache, to premonisshe
[=warn], to feede, and
provyde for the Lordes famylye: to seeke for Christes shepe that be dispersed
abrode, and for hys children whiche bee in the myddest of thys naughtye worlde,
to be saved through Christe for ever. Have alwayes therfore printed in your
remembraunce, howe great a treasure is committed to your charge, for they
be the shepe of Chryste, whiche he boughte with hys death, and for whom he
shed his bloud. The churche and congregacion whom you must serue, is his
spouse and hys body. And if it shall chaunce the same churche, or any membre
therof, to take any hurt or hinderaunce, by reason of youre negligence, ye
knowe the greatnesse of the faulte, and also of the horrible punishment which
will ensue. Wherfore, consider with yourselves the end of your ministery,
towardes the chyldren of God, towarde the spouse and body of Christ, and
see that ye never cease your laboure, your care and dilygence, untill you
have doen all that lieth in you, accordynge to your bounden dutie, to bryng
all suche as are, or shalbe commytted to youre charge, unto that agremente
in faith, and knowledge of God, and to that ripenes, and perfectnesse of
age in Christe, that there be no place left emong them, either for errour
in Religion, or for viciousnesse in lyfe.
Then, forasmuche as your office is both of so greate
excellencye, and of so great difficultie, ye se with howe greate care and
study ye oughte to apply yourselves, as well that you maye shewe yourselves
kinde to that Lorde, who hath placed you in so high a dignitie, as also to
beware, that neyther you yourselves offende, neither be occasion that other
offende. Howbeit, ye cannot have a mynde and a wyll thereto of yourselves,
for that power and abilitie is geven of God alone. Therfore ye se how ye
ought and have nede, earnestly to praye for hys
holy spirit. And seyng that ye cannot by any other meanes compasse the doyng
of so weightie a woorke perteining to the salvacion of man, but with doctryne
and exhortacion, taken out of holy scripture and with a life agreable unto
the same. Ye perceyve how studyous ye oughte to be in readyng and learnyng
the holy scriptures, and in framyng the maners, both of yourselves, and of
them that specially partein unto you, accordyng to the rule of the same
scriptures. And for this selfesame cause, ye see how you oughte to forsake
and set aside (as much as you maye) all worldly cares
and studyes.
We have a good hope, that you have well weighed and pondred
these thynges with yourselves, long before thys tyme,
and that you have clerely determyned, by goddes grace, to geve yourselves
wholy to this vocacyon, wherunto it hath pleased God to
call you, so that (as muche as lieth in you) you
apply youreselves wholy to this one thing, and drawe al your cares and studies
this way, and to thys ende. And that you wyll continually praye for the heavenly
assistaunce of the holy goste, from God the father, by the mediacion of
our only mediatour and saviour Jesus Chryste, that
by dayly readyng and weighing of the scriptures, ye may waxe riper and stronger
in your ministerie. And that ye may so endevour yourselfes 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 maye be wholesome and godly examples
and paternes, for the reste of the congregacyon to folowe. And that this
present congregacion of Christ here assembled, may also understande youre
myndes and wylles, in these thynges: And that this your promes, shall more
move you to doe your dueties, ye shal answer plainly to these thinges, whiche
we in the name of the congregacyon shal demaunde of you, touchyng the same.
Doe you thynke in your heart, that you be truly called
accordyng to the will of our Lorde Jesus Chyrste, and the ordre of this Churche
of Englande, to the ministerie of Priesthode?
Aunswere. I thinke it.
The Bishoppe. Be you
perswaded that the holy Scriptures contein
sufficiently al doctrine required of necessitie for eternal salvacion, throughe
faith in Jesu Christe? And are you determined with the saied
scriptures, to enstructe the people committed
to your charge, and to teache nothyng, as required of necessitie, to
eternal salvacion, but that you shalbe perswaded
may be concluded, and proved by the scripture?
Aunswere. I am so perswaded,
and have so determyned by Gods grace.
The Bishoppe. Will you then geve your faythfull
dylygence alwayes, so to mynister the doctryne and Sacramentes, and the
discipline of Christ, as the lord hath commaunded, and as thys realme hath
received the same, accordyng to the commaundementes of God, so that you may
teache the people committed to youre cure and charge, with al diligence to
kepe and observe the same?
Aunswere. I wil so doe,
by the helpe of the Lord.
The Bishoppe. Wil you
be ready with al faithful diligence, to banishe and drive away al erronious
and straunge doctrines, contrarye to gods worde, and to use both publyke
and private monycyons
[=warnings] and
exhortacyons, as well to the sicke as to the whole, within youre cures, as
nede shall require and occasion be geven?
Aunswere. I wyll, the
Lorde beyng my helper.
The Bisshoppe. Wil you
be diligent in praiers, 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 fleshe?
Aunswere. I wyll endevour
myself so to doe, the Lord beyng my helper.
The Bisshoppe. Wil you
be diligent to frame and fashion youre own selves, and your families, according
to the doctrine of Christe, and to make bothe youreselves and them (as muche
as in you lieth) wholsome examples and spectacles to the flocke of Chryst?
Aunswere. I wyll so
apply myselfe, the lorde beyng my helper.
The Bisshoppe. Wil you
maintein and set forwardes (as much as lieth in you) quietnes, peace, and
love emonges al christian people, and specially emong them that are, or sha
be committed to your charge?
Aunswere. I will so
do, the Lorde being my helper.
The Bisshoppe. Will
you reverentlye obeye your Ordinarie, and other chiefe ministers, unto whom
the governement and charge is commytted over you, folowing with a glad mynde
and will, their godly admonicion, and submyttyng youreselves to theyr godlye
judgementes?
Aunswere. I wyll so
doe, the Lorde beyng my helper.
¶ Then shal the Bisshoppe saye.
ALMIGHTIE god, who hath geven you this wyl to doe al these
thynges, graunt also unto you strength and power to performe the same, that
he may accomplishe his worke which he hath begon in you, until the tyme he
shal come at the latter day, to judge the quicke and the dead.
¶ After this, the congregacion shalbe desired,
secretly in their praiers, to make humble supplicacions to God for the foresaied
thinges ; for the whiche praiers, there shalbe a certaine space kept in
silence.
That doen, the Bisihoppe shall praye in this wyse.
[THE Lorde be with you.
Aunswere. And with thy spirite.]*
* omitted in 1552.
¶ Let us praye.
ALMIGHTIE god and heavenly father, which of thy infinite love
and goodnes towardes us, hast geven to us thy onely and moste deare beloved
sonne Jesus Christe, to be our redemer and aucthour of everlasting life:
who after he had made perfecte our redempcion by hys death, and was ascended
into heaven, sent abrode into the worlde hys Apostles, Prophetes, Evangelistes,
Doctours and Pastours, by whose labour and ministere
[ministry], he gathered
together a greate flocke in al the partes of the worlde, to set furth the
eternal praise of thy holy name. For these so greate benefites of thy eternal
goodnes, and for that thou hast vouchsafed to cal these thy servauntes here
present, to the same office and ministerie of the salvacion of mankynde;
we render unto thee moste hartie thankes, we worship and praise thee, and
we humbly beseche thee by the same thy sonne, to graunt unto al us which
either here, or elswhere cal upon thy name, that we maye shewe ourselves
thankefull to thee for these and all other thy benefites, and that we maye
daily encrease and goe forwardes, in the knowledge and faith of thee, and
thy sonne, by the holy spirite. So that as well by these thy ministers, as
by them to whom thei shalbe appointed ministers, thy holy name may be alwaies
glorified, and thy blessed kyngdom enlarged, throughe the same thy sonne
our Lorde Jesus Christe; which liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unitie
of the same holy spirite, world without ende. Amen.
¶ When this praier is done, the Bisshoppe with
the priestes present, shal lay theyr handes severally upon the head of every
one that receiveth orders. The receivers humbly knelyng upon their knees,
and the Bisshop saying.
RECEIVE the holy goste, whose synnes thou doest forgeve, they
are forgeven: and whose sinnes thou doest retaine, thei are retained: and
be thou a faithful despensor of the word of god, and of his holy Sacramentes.
In the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy gost. Amen.
1549:
The Bisshop shall deliver to every one of them, the Bible
in the one hande, and the Chalice or cuppe with the breade, in the other
hande, and saying. |
1552:
The Bisshop shall deliver to every one of them, the Bible
in his hande, saying. |
TAKE thou aucthoritie to preache the word of god, and to minister
the holy Sacramentes in thys congregacion, where thou shalt be so appointed.
¶ When thys is doen, the Congregacyon shall syng
the Crede, and also they shal goe to the
Communion which at they that receive orders
shal take together, and remaine in the same place where the handes were layd
upon them, untyl suche time as thei have received the Communion.
¶ The Communion beyng doen, after the last Collecte,
and immediatly before the benediccion, shalbe sayed thys Collecte.
MOST mercifull father, we beseche thee so to sende upon these
thy servauntes thy heavenly blessyng, that they maye be cladde about with
all justice, and that thy worde spoken by theyr mouthes may have such successe,
that it may never be spoken in vain. Graunt also that we may have grace to
heare, and receive the same as thy moste holy worde and the meane of our
salvacion, that in all our wordes and dedes we may seke thy glory, and the
encrease of thy kingdom, thorow Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.
¶ If the orders of Deacon and Priesthood, be
geven both upon one day, then shal the Psatme for the Introyte and other
thinges at the holy Communion, be used as they are appointed at the orderyng
of Priestes. Saving that for the Epistle, the whole thirde Chapiter of the
first to Timothe shalbe read, as it is sette out before in the order of Priestes.
And immediatly after the Epistle, the Deacons shalbe ordered. And it shall
suffice, the Letany to be sayed once.
THE FOURME OF CONSECRATING
OF AN
ARCHEBISSHOPPE OR BISSHOPPE.
1549:
The Psalme for the Introyte at the Communion, as at the
orderyng of Priestes.
The Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. |
1552:
¶ At the Communion
The Epistle. 1 Timothy
3:1-7 |
THIS is a true saying, if a man desire the office
of a Bisshoppe, he desireth an honest woorke. A Bishoppe therefore muste
bee blamelesse, the husbande of one wyfe, dilygent,
sober, discrete, a keper of hospitalitie,
apte to teache, not geven to overmuche
wyne, no fyghter, not gredy of filthy lucre, but
gentle, abhorring fightynge, abhorrynge covetousnesse,
one that ruleth wel his own house, one that hath children
in subjeccion with al reverence. For if a man cannot rule his own house,
howe shal he care for the congregacion of God? He may not be a yong scholer,
lest he swel and fal into the judgemente of the evil speaker. He must also
have a good report of them whiche are without, leste he fall into rebuke
and snare of the evil speaker.
The Poet justifies himself: Matth
13. The Pearl.
The Gospell. John xxi. [John
21:15b-17]
JESUS saied to Symon Peter, Symon Johanna
[i. e., Simon, son of
John], loveste thou me more than these? He said unto him,
yea, lorde, thou knowest that I love thee: he said unto him, fede my lambes.
He said to him againe the seconde time: Simon Johanna, lovest thou me? He
saied unto him, yea lorde, thou knowest that I love thee: he saied unto him,
feede my shepe. He said unto him the thirde time; Simon Johanna, lovest thou
me? Peter was sory, because he said unto hym the third time, lovest thou
me, and he said unto him: lord thou knowest al thinges, thou knowest that
I love thee. Jesus said unto hym, fede my shepe.
¶ Or els out of the tenth Chapiter of John, as
before in thorder of Priestes.
¶ After the gospel and Credo ended, firste the
elected Bisshoppe
[havyng upon
hym a Surples and
Cope]* shall
bee presented by two Bisshoppes
[(beeyng also
in surplesses and copes, and having theyr pastorall staves in their
handes)]* unto
the Archebisshoppe of that Province, or to some other Bysshoppe appoynted
by his commission: The Bisshoppes that present hym saying.
* omitted in 1552.
MOST reverend father in god, we presente unto you this godly
and wel learned man to be consecrated Bisshoppe.
1549:
¶ And then the Kynges mandate to the Archebisshoppe
for the consecracion shalbe read. And the othe touching the knowledging of
the kinges supremacie, shalbe ministred to the person elected, as it is set
oute in the Order of Deacons. And then shalbe ministred also, the othe of
due obedience unto the Archebisshoppe, as foloweth.
¶ THE OTHE OF DUE OBE-
dience to the Archebisshoppe.
IN the name of GOD, Amen. I, N. chosen Bisshoppe of
the Churche and sie of N. doe professe and promesse, al due reverence
and obedience to the Archebisshoppe, and to
the Metropoliticall churche of N. and to their successours: so helpe
me God, and his holy gospell. |
1552:
¶ Then shal the Archebisshoppe demand the Kynges
mandate for the consecracion and cause it to be read. And the othe
touching the knowledge of the kinges supremacie, shalbe ministred to the
person elected, as it is set oute in the Order of Deacons. And then shalbe
ministred also the othe of due obedience unto the Archebishoppe, as
foloweth.
¶ THE OTHE OF DUE OBEDIENCE
to the Archebisshoppe.
IN the name of GOD, Amen. I, N. chosen Bisshoppe of
the Churche and sie of N. doe professe and promesse, al due reverence
and obedience to the Archebisshoppe, and to
the Metropoliticall churche of N. and to their successours: so helpe
me God throughe Jesus Chryste. |
¶ This othe shal not be made at the consecracion
of an Archebishoppe.
¶ Then the Archebisshoppe shal move the congregacion
present to praye; saying thus to them.
BRETHREN, it is written in the gospel of saincte Luke, that
our savioure Christe continued the whole night in praier, or ever that he
did chose and sende furth his xii. Apostles. It is written also in the Actes
of the Apostles, that the disciples whiche were at Antioche did fast and
pray, or ever they layed handes upon, or sent furth Paul and Barnabas. Let
us therefore. folowyng the example of oure savioure Christ and his Apostles,
first fal to prayer, or that we admit and send
furth thys person presented unto us, to the worke wherunto we truste the
holy goste hath called hym.
¶ And then shalbe saied the Letany, as afore
in the order of Deacons, And after this place: That it may please the to
illuminate at Bisshoppes. &c. he shal saye.
THAT it maye please thee to blesse this our brother elected,
and to sende thy grace upon him, they he may duely
execute the office wherunto he is called, to the edifying of thy Churche,
and to the honour, prayse and glory of thy name.
Aunswere. We beseche
thee to heare us good Lorde.
The Poet shall pray for the proposed Bishop/Archbishop
or the choir/people will sing: The Call.
Concluding the Letanye in thende, with this prayer.
ALMIGHTIE God, gever of all good thynges, which by thy holy
spirite hast appointed diverse orders of ministers in thy Church: mercifully
beholde this thy servaunt, now called to the worke and ministerie of a Bisshoppe,
and replenishe him so with the trueth of thy doctryne, and innocencie of
life, that both by worde and dede, he may faithfully serve thee in this office,
to the glorye of thy name, and profite of thy congregacyon: Through the merites
of our savioure Jesu Christe, who lyveth and reigneth with thee and the holy
gost, worlde without ende. Amen.
Then the Archebisshoppe sittyng in a chaire, shall saye
this to hym that is to be consecrated.
BROTHER, forasmuche as holy scripture and the olde Canons
commaundeth, that we should not be hastie in laying on handes and admyttynge
of any person to the governement of the congregacion of Christe, whiche he
hath purchased with no lesse price than the effusion
of hys owne bloud; afore that I admit you to this administracion wherunto
ye are called, I wil examyne you in certaine articles, to thende the congregacion
present, may have a trial and beare witnes how ye be minded to behave your
self in the churche of god.
Are you perswaded that you be truely called to thys
ministracion according to the will of oure Lorde Jesus Christ, and the order
of this realme?
Aunswere. I am so
perswaded.
The Archebisshoppe. Are
you perswaded that the holy Scriptures conteine sufficiently all doctryne,
requyred of necessitie for eternall salvacyon, through the faith in Jesu
Christe? And are you determyned with the same holy
scriptures, to enstruct the people committed to your charge, and to teache
or maintein nothyng, as required of necessitie to eternall salvacion, but
that you shall bee perswaded may be concluded, and proved by the same?
Aunswere. I am so perswaded
and determined by gods grace.
The Archebisshoppe. Wil
you then faithfully exercise your selfe 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 teache
and exhorte with wholesome doctrine, and to withstande and convince the
gainsaiers?
Aunswere. I wyll so
doe, by the helpe of God.
The Archebisshoppe. Be
you ready with al faithful diligence, to banishe and drive away al erronious
and straunge doctryne, contrary to god's worde, and both privately and openly
to call upon, and encourage other to the same?
Aunswere. I am ready,
the lord beyng my helper.
The Archebisshoppe. Wil
you deny al ungodlinesse and worldly lustes, and live
soberly, ryghteouslye, and godly in thys world, that you may shewe yourself
in all thinges an example of good workes unto other, that the adversary maye
be ashamed, havynge nothing to laye agaynst you?
Aunswere. I wyll so
doe, the lorde beyng my helper.
The Archebisshoppe. Wil
you maintain and set forward (as muche as shal lie in you)
quietnesse, peace, and
love, emonge al men? And suche as be unquiete,
disobedyente, and criminous within your Diocesse, correcte and punishe, accordyng
to suche aucthoritie, as ye have by gods worde, and as to you shalbe committed,
by the ordinaunce of thys realme?
Aunswere. I wyll so
doe by the helpe of god.
The Archebisshoppe. Wil
you shewe yourself gentle, and be mercifull for Christes sake to poore and
nedy people, and to all straungers destitute of helpe?
Aunswere. I wyll so
shewe myselfe by gods helpe.
The Archebisshoppe.
Almightie God oure heavenly father, who hath geven you a good wil to
doe all these thinges, graunt also unto you, strengthe and power to performe
the same, that he accomplishing in you, the good worke which he hath begon,
ye may be found perfecte, and irreprehensible at the latter day, through
Jesu Chryst our Lord. Amen.
Then shalbe song or sayd, Come holy gost,
&c. as it is set out in the Order of Priestes.
That ended, the Archebisshoppe shall saye.
1549:
THE Lord be with you.
Aunswere. And with thy spirite. |
1552:
Lorde, heare our prayer.
Aunswer. And let our
crie come unto thee. |
¶ Let us praye.
ALMIGHTIE God and moste mercyfull father, which of thy infinite
goodnesse haste geven to us thy only and most dere beloved sonne Jesus Chryst,
to be our redemer and aucthour of everlasting life; who after that he had
made perfecte our redempcion by his deathe,
and was ascended into heaven, powred downe his gyftes aboundauntly upon men,
making some Apostles, some Prophetes, some Evangelistes, some Pastours and
doctours, to the edifying and makyng perfecte of his congregacion: graunt
we beseche the, to this thy servaunt suche grace,
that he may be evermore ready to spreade abrode thy gospell, and glad tidinges
of reconcilement to God, and to use the aucthoritie geven unto him, not to
destroie, but to save, not to hurt, but to helpe: so that he as a wise and
a faithful servaunt, geving to thy family meate in due season, may at the
last daye be received into joye, through Jesu Christ our lorde, who with
thee, and the holy goste liveth and reigneth one God, world without ende.
Amen.
Then the Archebisshoppe and Bisshoppes present, shal
lay their handes upon the head of the elect Bisshop, the Arohebisshoppe
saying.
TAKE the holy gost, and remember that thou stirre up the grace
of god, whiche is in thee, by imposicion of handes: for god hath not geven
us the spirite of feare, but of power, and love, and of sobernesse.
1549:
Then the Archebisshoppe shal lay the Bible upon hys necke,
saying.
GEVE hede unto reading, exhortacion and doctrine. Thinke upon
these thinges conteined in this boke, be diligent in them, that the encrease
comyng therby, may be manyfest unto all men. Take hede unto thyselfe, and
unto teaching, and be diligent in doing them, for by doing this thou shalt
save thyselfe, and them that heare thee: through Jesus Christe our Lorde.
Then shal the Archebisshoppe putte into his hande
the pastorall staffe, saying.
BE to the flocke of Christ a shepeheard, not a wolfe: feede
them, devoure them not; holde up the weake, heale the sicke, binde together
the broken, bryng againe the outcastes, seke the lost. Be so mercifull, that
you be not to remisse, so minister discipline, that ye forgeat not mercy;
that when the chief shepheard shal come, ye may receyve the immarcessible
[=unfading] croune of
glory, through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. |
1552:
Then the Archebisshoppe shal deliver him the Bible,
saying.
GEVE hede unto reading, exhortacion and doctrine. Thinke upon
these thinges conteined in this boke, be diligent in them, that the encrease
comyng therby, may be manyfest unto all men. Take hede unto thyselfe, and
unto teaching, and be diligent in doing them, for by doing this thou shalt
save thyselfe, and them that heare thee; bee to the flocke of Christ a
shepeheard, not a wolfe: feede them, devoure them not; holde up the weake,
heale the sicke, binde together the broken, bryng againe the outcastes, seke
the lost. Be so mercifull, that you be not to remisse, so minister discipline,
that ye forgeat not mercy; that when the chief shepheard shal come, ye may
receyve the immarcessible
[=unfading] croune of
glory, through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. |
The Poet shall pray or the choir sing
The 23rd Psalme.
¶ Then the Archebisehoppe shal procede
to the Communion, with whom the newe consecrated Bysshopp shal also communicate.
And after the laste Collecte, immediatlye afore the benediccyon, shall bee
sayed thys prayer:
MOST merciful father, we beseche thee to send down upon this
thy servaunt, thy heavenly blessynge, and so endue hym with thy holy spirite,
that he preaching thy worde, may not only be earneste to reprove, beseche,
and rebuke with al pacience and doctryne, but also may be to such as beleve,
an wholesome example in worde, in conversacion
[=behavior], in love,
in faith, in chastitie, and puritie, that faythfully fulfilling his course,
at the latter day he may receive the croune of righteousnesse, laied up by
the Lord, the righteous judge, who liveth and reigneth, one god with the
father and holy gost, worlde withoute ende. Amen.
The Poet prays for all priests, bishops and archbishop:
Aaron.
1552:
IMPRINTED AT LONDON
IN FLETE STRETE AT THE SIGNE
OF THE SUNNE OVER AGAYNSTE
THE CONDUITE BY
EDvvARDE
WHITCHURCHE.
M.D.LII.
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.
Editor's Note: Each of these Ordinations for George Herbert edition may take
more than an hour to perform. It works as a computer page to show the
relationship of some poems to the liturgical expressions and theological
ideas of the Elizabethan Age. To actually use this as a service, some liturgy
may have to be abbreviated or cut, depending on the purpose of the service
and the number of poems used.
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