character, and also into their religious knowledge and principles: it requires, at the time both of ordination and consecration, an explicit declaration and solemn promise, relative to the great points of faith and practice: the prayers are devout and appropriate, and all the ceremonial parts of these offices are simple and grave, and admirably adapted to their respective occasions. The service for the ordination of priests is indeed so solemn and impressive, and contains such an excellent summary of the duties of ministers of the Gospel, and such earnest exhortations to the discharge of those duties, that every clergyman, whatever may be his age or his station in the church, would do well to read it carefully and attentively at least once in every year. AND THEREFORE WHOSOEVER ARE CONSECRATED OR ORDERED ACCORDING TO THE RITES OF THAT BOOK, SINCE THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FORENAMED KING EDWARD UNTO THIS that recommendation to the bishop, which now they trust, and in most cases, I fear, with too much reason, that they shall certainly obtain, unless they be guilty of some gross immorality. I say not this from any want of respect for the Universities, but from a real regard for their best interests, and from a conviction that the discipline which they observe is of great importance to the cause of religion, and to the welfare of the kingdom at large. THIS TIME, OR HEREAFTER SHALL BE CONSECRATED OR ORDERED ACCORDING ΤΟ THE SAME RITES; WE DECREE ALL SUCH TO BE RIGHTLY, ORDERLY, AND LAWFULLY CONSECRATED AND ORDERED. This latter part of the article has a retrospective view, and the reason of adding it was this: a new form of ordination was composed by the bishops, and approved by King Edward the Sixth, in the third year of his reign; and two years afterwards it was confirmed by Act of Parliament, together with the Book of Common Prayer, of which the form of ordination was declared to be a part. In Queen Mary's reign this Act was repealed, and the Book of Common Prayer, and the Book of Ordination, were by name condemned. When Elizabeth came to the throne, Queen Mary's Act was repealed, and King Edward's Prayer Book. was again authorized; but the book of Ordination was not expressly named, because it had been a part of the Common Prayer Book; and therefore it was no more thought necessary to specify the office of ordination, than any other office of the Common Prayer Book. But Bishop Bonner contended, that as the Book of Ordination had been by name condemned in Queen Mary's reign, and had not been since revived by name, that it was still condemned in law; and NN 2 and consequently that all ordinations, conferred according to that form, were illegal and invalid. To obviate this objection, it was declared in a subsequent session of parliament, that the office of ordination was considered as a part of the Common Prayer Book; and it was further declared, that all ordinations which had been performed according to that office were valid; and upon the same principle a singular clause was inserted in this article. With respect to those who are NOW CONSECRATED OR ORDERED, ACCORDING TO THE RITES OF THAT BOOK, as these rites are prescribed by just and proper authority, and are conformable to the practice of the Apostles, as far as it is known, it follows that such persons ARE RIGHTLY, ORDERLY, AND LAWFULLY, CONSECRATED AND ORDERED. It appears from a variety of authorities, that in the early ages of Christianity, the ordination of priests and deacons was performed by bishops. The second of the apostolical canons directs that a presbyter should be ordained by one bishop. In the first Council of Constantinople it was decreed, that all ordinations performed by Maximus were invalid, because he himself was not a lawful bishop, having been consecrated by presbyters only. The Council of Sardis, and also also a council held at Alexandria, decreed the same thing concerning Ischyras. "How came Ischyras," says Athanasius, in his Second Apology, "to be so much as a presbyter? Who ordained him? Did Colluthus? This is all that can be pretended. But as Colluthus died a presbyter, all ordinations by his hands were invalid, and all persons ordained by him are still laics." And even Jerome, at a moment when he was endeavouring to lower episcopacy, asked, "What does a bishop do, except ordaining, which a presbyter may not do?" ARTICLE THE THIRTY-SEVENTH. Of the Civil Magistrates, THE QUEEN'S MAJESTY HATH THE CHIEF POWER SOME SLANDEROUS FOLKS TO BE offended,) WE GIVE NOT TO OUR PRINCES THE MINISTERING EITHER OF GOD'S WORD, OR OF THE SACRAMENTS; THE WHICH THING THE INJUNCTIONS ALSO LATELY SET FORTH BY ELIZABETH OUR QUEEN, DO MOST PLAINLY TESTIFY; BUT THAT ONLY PREROGATIVE WHICH WE SEE TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALWAYS TO ALL GODLY PRINCES IN HOLY SCRIPTURES BY GOD HIMSELF; THAT IS, THAT THEY SHOULD RULE ALL ESTATES AND DEGREES COMMITTED ΤΟ THEIR CHARGE BY GOD, WHETHER THEY BE ECCLESIASTICAL |