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THE FORM AND MANNER

Of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Deaconesses.

THE FORM OF ORDAINING OR CONSECRATING AN ARCHBISHOP OR A BISHOP.

When any See is vacant, the Clergy and the Faithful of the Diocese shall elect a proper person out of the Presbyters of that Diocese to be their Bishop; notice of which election shall be given to the Archbishop or Metropolitan, (or to the Senior Bishop of the Province, when the Metropolitical See is vacant,) who shall consult with the Bishops of the Province. And if the majority of them agree to and approve of the election, after the person elected hath been examined by the two Bishops, who are to present him at the Consecration, and by the Metropolitan or Senior Bishop, he shall give notice of the day of Consecration, (which shall always be a Lord's-day,) both to the Bishops of the Province, and to the Clergy and the Faithful of the Diocese. On all Wednesdays and Fridays, between the time of notice given and the day of Consecration, the following Prayer shall be used in the Penitential Office after the Prayer for all Sorts and Conditions of Men.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast

purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear son: Mercifully look upon the same, and at this time so guide and govern the minds of thy servants, our Bishops, that they may not lay on hands suddenly, but may faithfully and wisely ordain a fit person to the sacred ministry of the Episcopal Office. And to him who shall be ordained to that holy function, give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that both by his life and doctrine he may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Note, that a Bishop is not to be Consecrated till he is forty years of age, unless upon a particular occasion, of which the Metropolitan and Bishops of the Province are to be judges; the majority of whom shall be the determiners.

When the day appointed by the Metropolitan or Senior Bishop is come, he, and as many of the Provincial Bishops as conveniently can, shall repair to the Cathedral Church of the vacant See. But if the Metropolitan, or any of the Provincial Bishops, are hindered from attendance by some very urgent occasion, they shall send their consent in writing: for there shall be no Consecration unless the majority of the Bishops of the Province are either present, or have sent their consent; nor shall there be any Consecration unless three Bishops be present, except in the case of persecution, or some such other very necessary occasion.

Note, that the Metropolitan is always to be the Consecrator, if he be present; and if he be absent, the Senior Bishop present is to be the Consecrator.

After the Creed in the Morning Prayer there shall be a Sermon, or Exhortation, declaring the duty and office of Bishops: how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ; and also how the Clergy and People ought to esteem them in their office. When all things are duly prepared in the Church, and set in order, at the time appointed for celebrating the holy Eucharist, the Consecrator shall begin the Communion Service, in which this shall be

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst bestow on thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock: Give grace, we beseech thee, to all Bishops, the Pastors of thy Church, that they may diligently preach thy word, and duly administer the godly discipline thereof; and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same, that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then another Bishop shall read

The Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. 1.

THIS is a true saying, &c. (to v. 7.)

Then another Bishop shall read

The Gospel. S. John xxi. 15.

JESUS saith to Simon Peter, &c. (to v. 17.)

After the Gospel and Nicene Creed are ended, the elected Bishop (vested with his Rochet) shall be presented by two Bishops to the Consecrator, sitting in his Chair near the Altar, and the Bishops that present him saying:

MOST Reverend Father in God, we present unto you this godly and well-learned man to be ordained and consecrated Bishop of the Church and See of N.

The Consecrator.

TAKE heed that the person whom ye present unto us be apt and meet, for his learning and godly conversation, to exercise this high office duly, to the honour of God, and the edifying of his Church.

The two Bishops shall answer:

We have enquired of him, and also examined him, and think him so to be.

Then shall the Consecrator ask the Clergy and People,

Is this the person whom you desire for your governor

?

Clergy and People. This is he.

Consecr. I ask farther, do you all bear testimony to him, that he is worthy of this great and glorious authority; that he is a man full of piety towards God, and of justice towards men; that the affairs of his own house have been well ordered by him, and that he hath been unblameable in the course of his life?

Clergy and People. We bear testimony to him.

Consecr. I demand the third time, here before God the righteous Judge, and Christ, the Holy Ghost being also present, and all the holy and ministering spirits, is he truly worthy of this ministry?

Clergy and People. He is worthy.

Then the Consecrator shall move the Congregation present to pray, saying thus to them:

BELOVED, it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke, that our Saviour Christ continued the whole night in prayer, before he did choose and send forth his twelve Apostles. It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles, that the disciples who were at Antioch did fast and pray before they laid hands on Paul and Barnabas, and sent them forth. Let us, therefore, following the example of our Saviour Christ

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