Almighty God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit
hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church: Mercifully
behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood;
and replenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn
them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example,
they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy
Name, and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the
Holy Ghost, world without end. _Amen_.
THE EPISTLE. Ephes. iv. 7.
Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of
the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high,
he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he
ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists,
and some Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;
till we all come, in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ.
_After this shall be read for the Gospel part of the ninth chapter
of Saint Matthew, as followeth_.
_St Matth_. ix. 36.
When Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on
them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep
having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore
the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into
his harvest.
_Or else this that followeth, out of the tenth chapter of Saint
John_.
St John x. 1.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is
a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep
hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth
them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before
them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they
know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto
them, but they understood not what things they were which he spake
unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me
are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the
door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the
good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The
hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the
sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I
lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are
not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my
voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
_Then the Bishop, sitting in his Chair, shall say unto them as
hereafter followeth_.
You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination,
as in the exhortation which was now made to you, and in the holy
Lessons taken out of the Gospel and the writings of the Apostles,
of what dignity and of how great importance this office is,
whereunto ye are called. And now again we exhort you, in the Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you have in remembrance, into how
high a dignity, and to how weighty an office and charge ye are
called: that is to say, to be messengers, watchmen, and stewards
of the Lord; to teach and to premonish, to feed and provide for
the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed
abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty
world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever.
Have always therefore printed in your remembrance, how great
a treasure is committed to your charge. For they are the sheep
of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed
his blood. The Church and Congregation whom you must serve, is
his spouse and his body. And if it shall happen the same Church,
or any member thereof, to take any hurt or hindrance by reason
of your negligence, ye know the 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,
towards 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.
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 yourselves; for that will and ability is given
of God alone. Therefore ye 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 of the holy
Scriptures, and with a life agreeable 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.
We have 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, you will apply yourselves wholly to this
one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way; and that
you will continually 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, that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns
for the 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 may the more move you to do your duties, ye shall
answer plainly to these things, which we, in the Name of God, and
of his Church, shall demand of you touching the same.
Do you think in your heart that you be truly called, according to
the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of [this Church],
to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood?
_Answer_. I think it.
_The Bishop_.
Are you persuaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently
all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through
faith in Jesus Christ? 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 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.
_The Bishop_.
Will 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] 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.
_The Bishop_.
Will 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 occasion shall be given?
_Answer_. I will, the Lord being my helper.
_The Bishop_.
Will 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.
_The Bishop_.
Will 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.
_The Bishop_.
Will you maintain and set forwards, as much as lieth in you,
quietness, peace, and love, among all Christian people, and
specially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge?
_Answer_. I will so do, the Lord being my helper.
_The Bishop_.
Will you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other chief Ministers,
unto whom is committed the charge and government over you;
following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, and
submitting yourselves to their godly judgements?
_Answer_. I will so do, the Lord being my helper.
_Then shall the Bishop, standing up, 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. _Amen_.
_After this, the Congregation shall be desired, secretly in their
prayers, to make their humble supplications to God for all these
things: for the which prayers there shall be silence kept for a
space_.
_After which shall be sung or said by the Bishop_ (_the persons to
be ordained Priests all kneeling_) Veni, Creator Spiritus; _the
Bishop beginning, and the Priests, and others that are present,
answering by verses, as followeth_.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
_And lighten with celestial fire_.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
_Who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart_.