Outh respectful obedience to the civil autho- Art. XXXIX. Of a Christian man's rity, regularly and legitimately constituted. As we confess that vain and rash Art XXXVIII. Of Christian men's swearing is forbidden Christian men by tion Is, which are not common our Lord Jesus Christ, and James bis The Riches and Goods of Christians Apostle: so we judge that Christian Reare not common, as touching the right, ligion doth not prohibit, but that a man title, and possession of the same, as cer- may swear when the Magistrate requirtain Anabaptists do falsely boast Not- eth in a cause of Faith and Charity, so withstanding, every man ought of such it be done according to the Prophets things as he possesseth. überally to give teaching in Justice. Judgment aud alms to the poor according to his ability. Truth. AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS, According to the Order of the Protestant Episcopal Church in t United States of America, as established by the Bishops, th Clergy, and Laity of said Church, in General Convention, 'n the month of September, A. D. 1792. THE PREFACE. It is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors, that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church--Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which offices were evermore had in such reverend estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the same; and also by public Prayer, with Imposition of Hands, were approved and admitted thereunto by lawful Authority. And therefore, to the intent that these Orders may be continued, and reverently used and esteemed in this Church, no man shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, in this Church, or suffered to execute any of the said Functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereunto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had Episcopal Cousecration or Ordination. And none shall be admitted a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop, except he be of the age which the Canon in that case provided may require. And the Bishop, knowing, either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, any Per son to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime; and, after examination and trial, finding him sufficiently instructed in the holy Scripture. und otherwise learned as the Canous require, may, at the times appointed, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, admit him a Deacon, in such Manner and Form as followeth The Form and Manner of making Deacons. When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon, or Exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of suck as come to be admitted Deacons; how necessary that Order is in the Cuurch of Christ, and also how the People ought to esteem them in their Office. A Priest shall present unto the Bishop, sitting in his Chair near to the holy Ta The Bishop. ble, such as desire to be ordained Dea-TAKE heed that the persons cons, each of them being decently ha whom ye present unto us, be bited, saying these words: apt and meet for their learning REVEREND Father in God. and godly conversation, to exer. I present unto you these per-cise their Ministry duly to the sons present, to be admitted Dea-honour of God, and the edifying of his Church cons. 7 The Priest shall answer: The Epistle. 1 Tin. iii. 8. I Have inquired concerning IKEWISE must the Deacons them, and also examined them, and think them so to be. be grave, not double-tongued. not given to much wine, not Then the Bishop shall say unto the greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also People: BRETHREN, if there be any of you, who knoweth any im-irst be proved; then let them pediment, or notable crime in any use the Office of a Deacon, being of these persons presented to be found blameless. Even so inust ordered Deacons, for the which their wives be grave, not slanderhe ought not to be admitted to ers, sober, faithful in all things. that office, let him come forth in Let the Deacons be the husbands the name of God, and show what of one wife, ruling their Children the crime or impediment is. and their own Houses well. For And if any great Crime or Impediment they that have used the Office of be objected, the Bishop shall cease a Deacor well, purchase to themfrom Ordering that Person, until such selves a good degree, and great time as the Party accused shall be boldness in the faith which is in found clear of that Crime. Then shall be said the Service for the The Collect. Christ Jesus. Or else this, out of the sixth Chapter THEN the Twelve called the ALMIGHTY God, who by thy God, and serve tables. Where Divine Providence hast ap-fore, brethren, look ye out among pointed divers Orders of Minis-you seven men of honest report, ters in thy Church, and didst in-full of the Holy Ghost and wis spire thine Apostles to choose dom, whon, we may appoint over into the Order of Deacons the this business. But we will give first Martyr Saint Stephen, with ourselves continually to prayer, others; mercifully behold these and to the ministry of the Word. thy servants now called to the like And the saying pleased the whole Office and Administration; so re-multitude. And they chose Steplenish them with the truth of phen, a man fuli of faith and of thy Doctrine. and adorn them the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and with innocency of life, that both Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Tiby word and good example they mon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas may faithfully serve thee in this a proselyte of Antioch: whom Office, to the glory of thy name, they set before the Apostles; and and the edification of thy Church, when they had prayed, they laid through the merits of our Saviour their hands on them. And the Jesus Christ, who liveth and word of God increased, and the reigneth with thee and the Holy number of the disciples multiplied Ghost, now and for ever. Amen.jin Jerusalem greatly, and a great Then shall the Bishop examine every company of the Priests were obe-¡to baptize Infants; and to preach, dient to the faith. if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop. And furthermore, it is one of those who are to be Ordered, his Office, where provision is so in the presence of the People, after made, to search for the sick, poor, this manner following: and impotent people of the Pa Do you trust that you are in-frish, to intimate their estates, wardly noved by the Holy naines, and places where they Ghost to take upon you this Officejdwell unto the Curate, that by und Mimstration, to serve Godjhis exhortation they may be refor the promoting of his glory.lieved with the alms of the Paand the edifying of his people?" Answer. I trust so. The Bishop. Do you think that you are truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and according to the Canons of this Church, to the Ministry of the saine? Answer. I think so. The Bishop. Do you unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament? Answer. I do believe them. The Bishop. WILL you diligently read same unto the people sembled in the Church where shall be appointed to serve? Answer. will. rishioners, or others: Will you do this gladly and willingly? Anmoer. I will so do by the heip of God. The Bishop. WILL you apply all your dili gence to frame and fashion your own lives, and the lives of your families, according to the Doctrine of Christ : and to make both yourselves and them. as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock of Christ ? Answer I will so do, the Lord being my helper. The Bishop. WILL you reverently obey the your Bishop, and other chief as-Ministers, who, according to the youCanons of the Church, may have The Bishop. the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions? Answer. I wili endeavour so to do, the Lord bring my helper. Then the Bishop, laying his Hands severally upon the Head of every one of them humbly kneeling before him, shall say, a Deacon, in the Church where be shall be appointed to serve, to assist the Priest in Divine Service, and especially when he minister eth the Holy Communion, and to TAKE thou Authority to exehelp him in the distribution, there- cute the Office of a Deacon of; and to read holy Scriptures in the Church of God committed and Pomilies in the Church: andjunto thee: In the name of the to instruct the Youth in the Cate-Father, and of the Son, and of chism; in the absence of the Priest the Holy Ghost. Amen. ✔ Then shall the Bishop deliver to every Church; make them, we beseech one of them the New Testament, say-thee, O Lord. to be modest, humning, ble, and constant in their Minis TAKE thou Authority to read tration, to have a ready will to the Gospel in the Church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be thereto licensed by the Bishop himself. Then one of them appointed by the observe all spiritual Discipline; that they having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ, may so well behave themselves in this inferior The Gospel. St. Luke, xii. 35. Office, that they may be found LET your loins be girded about worthy to be called unto the and your lights burning, and higher Ministries in thy Church, ye yourselves like unto men that through the same thy Son our wait for their Lord, when he will Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom return from the wedding; that be glory and honcur, world withwhen he cometh and knocketh, out end. Amen. they may open unto him imme diately. Blessed are those ser-THE peace of God, which passvants whom the Lord when he eth all understanding, keep cometh shali find watching: Veri-your hearts and minds in the ly I say unto you, That he shall knowledge and love of God, and gird himself, and make them to of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord· sit down to meat, and will come And the blessing of God Almigh forth and serve them. And if he ty, the Father, the Son, and the shall come in the second watch. Holy Ghost, be amongst you, or come in the third watch, and and remain with you always find them so, blessed are those Amen. servants. Then shall the Bishop proceed in the The Communion ended, after the last ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy Servants anto the office of Deacons in thy And here it must be declared unto the Deacon, that he must continue ir that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole Year (except for reasonable Causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop) to the intent he may be perfect, and well expert in the thing appertaining to the Ecclesiastical Administration; in executing whereof, if he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by Lis Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood. at the times appointed in the Canon, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, in such manner and form as hereafter followeth. 28 |