Part 120 (1/2)

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

The peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.seth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of G.o.d, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of G.o.d Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

_Amen_.

_And here it must be declared unto the Deacon, that he must continue in that office of a Deacon the s.p.a.ce 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 things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical Administration. In executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood, at the times appointed in the Canon; or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other Sunday or Holy-day, in the face of the Church, in such manner and form as hereafter followeth_.

THE

FORM AND MANNER

OF

ORDERING OF PRIESTS

_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 admitted Priests; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ; and also how the people ought to esteem them in their office_.

_First_, [_a Presbyter appointed by the Bishop_] _shall present unto the Bishop_ (_sitting in his Chair, near to the holy Table_) _all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day;_ (_each of them being decently habited;_) _and say_,

Reverend Father in G.o.d, I present unto you these persons present, to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood.

_The Bishop_.

Take heed that the persons, whom ye present unto us, be apt and meet, for their learning and G.o.dly conversation, to exercise their ministry duly, to the honour of G.o.d, and the edifying of his Church.

[_The Presbyter_] _shall answer_,

I have enquired of them, and also examined them; and think them so to be.

_Then the Bishop shall say unto the people_:

Good people, these are they whom we purpose, G.o.d willing, to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood: For after due examination we find not to the contrary, but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministry, and that they be persons meet for the same. But yet if there be any of you, who knoweth any impediment or notable crime in any of them, for the which he ought not to be received into this holy ministry; Let him come forth in the Name of G.o.d, and shew what the crime or impediment is.

_And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordering that person, until such time as the party accused shall be found clear of that crime_.

_Then the Bishop_ (_commending such as shall be found meet to be ordered to the prayers of the Congregation_) _shall, with the Clergy and people present, sing or say the Litany, with the Prayers, as is before appointed in the Form of Ordering Deacons; save only, that, in the proper Suffrage there added, the word_ Deacons _shall be omitted, and the word_ Priests _inserted instead of it_.

_Then shall be sung or said the Service for the Communion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth_.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, 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_.