9. That Common Prayers | ordering; neither hath it any and Sacraments ought thing that, of itself, is superto be ministered in a stitious and ungodly: and, known Tongue. therefore, whosoever are con 10. Of the reverent estima-secrated or ordered according tion of God's Word. 11. Of Alms-doing. 12. Of the Nativity of Christ. 13. Of the Passion of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of to said form, we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered. Christ. 15. Of the worthy receiving Art. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil Magistrates. of the Sacrament of gistrate extendeth to all men, The power of the Civil Mathe Body and Blood of as well Clergy as Laity, in all Christ. 16. Of the Gifts of the Ho-things temporal; but hath no ly Ghost. 17. For the Rogation-days. 18. Of the State of Matri mony. 19. Of Repentance. 20. Against Idleness. 21. Against Rebellion. [This Article is received in this Church, so far as it declares the books of Homilies to be an explication of Christian doctrine, and instructive in piety and morals. But all references to the constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable to the circumstances of this Church, which also suspends the order for the reading of said Homilies in Churches until a revision of them may be conveniently made, for the clearing of them, as well from obsolete words and phrases, as from the local references. authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay respectful obedience to the evil authority, regularly and legitimately constituted. Art. XXXVII. Of Christian common. Art. XXXIX. Of a Christian As we confess that vain and Art. XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bishops and Minis-Apostle: so we judge that ters. The Book of Consecration of Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, as set forth by the General Convention of this Church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and Christian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of Faith and Charity, so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in Justice, Judgment, and Truth. THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS, According to the Order of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and Laity of said Church, in General Convention, in 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 Consecration 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 Person to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime; and, after examination and trial, finding him sufficiently instructed in the holy Scripture, and other wise learned as the Canons require, may, at the times ap pointed, 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 such as come to be admit ted Deacons; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the People ought to esteem them in their Office. TA Priest shall present unto the Bishop, sitting in his Chair near to the holy Table, such as desire to be ordained Deacons, each of them being decently habited, saying these words: and People present, say the Litany. Then shall be said the Service for the Communion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth, The Collect. ALMIGHTY God, who by hast appointed divers orders of thy Divine Providence Ministers in thy Church, and didst inspire thine Apostles to choose into the Order of Dea be apt and meet for their learn-phen, with others; mercifully ing and godly conversation, to exercise their Ministry duly to the honour of God, and the edifying of his Church. The Priest shall answer: HAVE inquired concern ing them, and also examined them, and think them so to be. Then the Bishop shall say unto the People: RETHREN, if there be behold these thy servants now called to the like Office and Administration; so replenish them with the truth of thy Doctrine, and adorn them with inword and good example they nocency of life, that both by this Office, to the glory of thy may faithfully serve thee in name, and the edification of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, thee and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. Amen. The Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. 8. any impediment, or notable crime in any of these persons presented to be ordered Deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that OfIKEWISE must the Deafice, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impediment is. cons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to muck wine, not greedy of filthy luere; And if any great Crime or holding the mystery of the faith Impediment be objected, the in a pure conscience. And let Bishop shall cease from Or- these also first be proved; then dering that Person, until let them use the Office of a such time as the Party accu- Deacon, being found blamesed shall be found clear of less. Even so must their wives that Crime. be grave, not slanderers, sober, Then the Bishop (commend-faithful in all things. Let the ing such as shall be found meet to be Ordered, to the Prayers of the Congregasion) shall, with the Clergy Deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used th Office of a Deacon well, pur-the will of our Lord Jesus chase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Or else this, out of the sixth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. THE Acts vi. 2. HEN the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, bre thren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full the whole multitude. And they The Bishop. IT appertaineth to the office of a Deacon, in the Church where he shall be appointed to serve, to assist the Priest in Divine Service, and specially when he ministereth the Holy Communion, and to help him in the distribution thereof; and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church; and to instruct the Youth in the Catechism; in the absence of the Priest to baptize Infants: and to preach, if he be admitted thereto by the Bishop. And furthermore it is his Office, where provision is so made, to search for the sick, poor, and pre-impotent people of the Parish, to intimate their estates, names, and places where they dwell, unto the Curate, that by his exhortation they may be relieved with the alms of the Parishioners, or others: Will you do this gladly, and willingly? O you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people? Answer. I trust so. Answer. I will so do, by the help of God. The Bishop. W diligence to frame and fashion your own lives, and the Blessed are. those servants lives of your families, accord-whom the Lord when he coming to the Doctrine of Christ; eth shall find watching: Verily and to make both yourselves I say unto you, That he shall 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 your Bishop, and other chief Ministers, who, according to the Canons of the Church, may have the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions? Answer. I will endeavour go to do, the Lord being my helper. Then the Bishop, laying his bands severally upon the Head of every one of them gird himself, and make them to sit down to meet, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Then shall the Bishop proceed in the Communion and all who are Ordered, shall tarry, and receive the Holy Communion the same day with the Bishop. The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediately before the Benediction, shall be said this Collect following: LMIGHTY God, giver of A all good things, who of humbly kneeling before him, thy great goodness hast vouchshall say, safed to accept and take these TAKE to ex-De servant to NAKE thou authority to ex-thy Servants unto the Office of con in the Church of God com-them, we beseech thee, O Lord, mitted unto thee; In the name to be modest, humble, and conof the Father, and of the Son, stant in their Ministration, to and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. have a ready will to observe all spiritual Discipline; that they Then shall the Bishop deliver having always the testimony of to every one of them the New a good conscience, and contiTestament, saying, nuing ever stable and strong in AKE thou Authority to thy Son Christ, may so well TAKE read the Gospel in the behave themselves in this infe Church, through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and honour, world without end. Amen. THE peace of God, which Church of God, and to each rior Office, that they may be the same, if thou be th to li- found worthy to be called unto censed by the Bishop himself. the higher Ministries in thy Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read, The Gospel. St. Luke xii. 35. ET your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. passeth all understanding. keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son |