THE ORDINATION OF PRIESTS IN THE CHURCH OF
ENGLAND ACCORDING TO THE RUBRIC IN THE
COMMON PRAYER BOOK.

When the Prayer is done, the Bishop with the Priests present shall lay
their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the Order
of Priesthood; the Receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the
Bishop saying,

RECEIVE the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dispenser of the Word of God, and of his holy Sacraments; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Conferring the Holy Ghost and giving power to forgive or retain sins.

According to the 40th Canon of the Church of England," every Minister has to appear before the Bishop or Archbishop, and take the following Oath: [See also page 50.]

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"To avoid the detestable sin of Simony, because buying and selling of spiritual and ecclesiastical functions, offices, promotions, dignities, and livings, is execrable before GOD, therefore the Archbishop, and all and every Bishop or Bishops, &c., shall respectively minister to every person hereafter admitted, instituted, &c., in or to any ecclesiastical living whatsoever, this oath, in manner and form following, the same to be taken by every one whom it concerneth in his own person, and not by a proctor: I, N. N. do swear, that I have made no simoniacal payment, contract or promise, directly or indirectly, by myself or BY ANY OTHER TO MY KNOWLEDGE, OR WITH MY CONSENT, to any person or persons whatsoever, FOR OR CONCERNING the procuring and obtaining of this ecclesiastical dignity, place, preferment, office, or living, (respectively and particularly naming the same whereunto he is to be admitted, instituted, collated, installed, or confirmed) nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfy any such kind of payment, contract or promise made by any other without my knowledge or consent: So help me God through Jesus Christ.'"

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THE MINISTRATION OF PUBLICK BAPTISM OF INFANTS, TO BE USED IN THE CHURCH [OF ENGLAND].

And note, that there shall be for every Male-child to be baptized two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather & two Godmothers. "Hath this Child been already baptized, or no?

If they answer, No: Then shall the Priest proceed as followeth.

Dearly beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, &c.,I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his mercy he will grant to THIS CHILD that thing which by nature he cannot have; that he may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made a lively member of the same.

I demand therefore,-Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them? Answer.-1 renounce them all.

Then shall the Priest say,-Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that THIS CHILD IS REGENERATE, and grafted into the body of Christ's, Church, we yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, THAT IT HATH PLEASED THEE TO REGENERATE THIS INFANT with thy holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church."

Infants declared Regenerate by Baptism.

"A Catechism, that is to say, an instruction to be learned of every person, before he brought to be confirmed by the Bishop.

Answer. My Godfathers and my Godmothers in my Baptism; WHEREIN I WAS MADE A MEMBER OF CHRIST, THE CHILD OF GOD, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

Question. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you?

Answer. They did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life. Question. Dost thou not think that thou are bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee?

Answer. Yes verily; and by God's help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I' may continue in the same unto my life's end."

YOUNG PERSONS TAUGHT BY THE CLERGYMEN TO BELIEVE

They are made Children of God by Baptism,

And to undertake to believe and do what others have promised for them.

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OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED

AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

The Bishop.

LMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, AND HAST GIVEN UNTO THEM THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL THEIR SINS; STRENGTHEN THEM, O LORD, &c.