3 greatness of the fault, and also 'the horrible punishment that will ensue. Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of your ministry towards the children of God, 2towards 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 the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you, either for error in Religion, or for viciousness in life. 5 6 Forasmuch then 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 yourselves, as well that 'ye may shew yourselves dutiful and thankful unto that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity; as also to beware that neither you yourselves offend, nor be occasion that others offend. Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and will thereto of your selves: for that 10 will and ability is given of God alone: Therefore 11ye ought, and have need to pray earnestly 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 13 of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable 14 to the same; "consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manners both of yourselves, and of them that specially pertain unto you, according to the rule of the same Scriptures: And for this self-same cause, "how ye ought to forsake and set aside (as much as you may) all worldly cares and studies. 3 21 19 We have 18 good hope that you have well weighed and pondered these things with yourselves long before this time; and that you have clearly determined, by God's grace, to give yourselves wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you: so that as much as lieth in you, 20 you will apply yourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way; and that you will continually 22 pray to God the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost; that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your ministry, and that ye may so endeavour yourselves from time to time, to sanctify the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, 23 that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the 24 people to follow. And now that this present congregation of Christ here assembled, may also understand your minds and wills in these things, and that this your promise 26 may the more move you to do your duties, ye shall answer of the horrible punishment which will ensue [1552] [1549 G.] 2 toward [1552] [1549 G.] 4 in faith 6 Then, forasmuch as 3 ye [1549 G.] 5 them 7 you may shew yourselves kind to that Lord, &c. s neither be occasion that other offend 10 power and ability 9 a will ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray, &c. 13 out of holy Scripture 15 ye perceive how studious, &c. 16 and in learning the holy Scriptures, &c. 14 unto [1552] [1549 G.] plainly to these things, which we in the Name 27 of God, and of his Church, shall demand of you touching the same. D 0 think in heart that your you be truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Order of this Church of England, to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood? Answer. I think it. 28 The Bishop. 29 "A1 RE you persuaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all Doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in 30 Jesus Christ? 31 And are you determined out of the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing (as required of necessity to eternal salvation) but that 32 which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture? Answer. I am so persuaded, and have so determined by God's grace. 33 The Bishop. ILL 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 Church and 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 so do by the help of the Lord. W ILL The Bishop. 3 you be ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God's word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick, as to the whole within your Cures, as need shall require, and 34 occasion shall be given? Answer. I will, the Lord being my helper. ILL WILI The Bishop. you be diligent 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 endeavour myself so to do, the Lord being my helper. pray for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost, from God the Father, by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Jesus Christ, that by daily reading, &c. 23 and that 25 28 [1552] 24 the rest of the congregation to follow now omitted 26 shall more So Jesu 31 And are you determined with the said, &c. 32 but that you shall be, &c. 33 and as this Realm hath, &c. 34 occasion be given W ILL The Bishop. you be diligent to frame and fashion your own selves and your families, according to the Doctrine of Christ, and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples and 'patterns to the flock of Christ? Answer. I will apply myself thereto, the Lord being my helper. WILL The Bishop. ILL you maintain and set forwards, as much as lieth in you, 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. ILL you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other chief Ministers, WILL yo the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments? Answer. I will so do, the Lord being my helper. Then shall the Bishop standing up, say, | Then shall the Bishop say, ALMIGHTY God, who hath given you this will to 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, through Jesus Christ our Lord. | until the time he shall come at the Amen. latter day to judge the quick and dead. Both from the Father and the Son, Thou art the very Comforter in grief and all distress; The heavenly gift of God most high no tongue can it express. The fountain and the living spring of joy celestial; The fire so bright, the love so sweet, the Unction spiritual. Thou in thy gifts art manifold, by them Christ's Church doth stand, In faithful hearts thou writ'st thy law, the finger of God's hand. According to thy promise, Lord, thou givest speech with grace, That through thy help God's praises may resound in every place. O holy Ghost, into our minds send down thy heavenly light; Kindle our hearts with fervent zeal, to serve God day and night. Our weakness strengthen and confirm (for Lord, thou know'st us frail) That neither devil, world, nor flesh, against us may prevail. Put back our enemies far from us, and help us to obtain, Peace in our hearts with God and man (the best, the truest gain ;) And grant that thou being, O Lord, our leader and our guide, We may escape the snares of sin, and never from thee slide. Such measures of thy powerful grace, grant, Lord, to us, we pray, That thou mayst be our comforter at the last dreadful day. Of strife and of dissension dissolve, O Lord, the bands, And knit the knots of peace and love, throughout all Christian lands. Grant us the grace that we may know the Father of all might, 3 the government and charge is committed over you; following, &c. [1552] [1549 G.] ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, who of thine infinite love 3 and goodness towards us, hast given to us thy only and most 2 dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, and the 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 ministry 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 appointed for the salvation of mankind, we render unto thee most hearty thanks, we praise and worship thee, and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy blessed Son, to grant unto all, which either here or elsewhere call upon thy holy Name, that we may continue to shew ourselves thankful unto thee for these and all other thy benefits, and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son, by the holy Spirit. So that as well by these thy Ministers, as by them 10 over whom they shall be appointed thy Ministers, thy holy Name may be 12 for ever glorified, and thy blessed kingdom enlarged, through the same thy Son 13 Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. 8 9 When this Prayer is done, the Bishop, with the Priests present, shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the Order of Priesthood; the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the Bishop saying, |