hood, Cum interrogatione et responsione, ut in Ordine Diaconatus.

And then the Bishop shall say to the people.

GOOD people, these be they whom we purpose, God willing, to receive this day unto the holy Office of Priesthood. For after due examination we find not 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 which knoweth any impediment, or notable crime in any of them, for the which he ought not to be received to this holy ministry, now in the Name of God declare the same.

And if any great crime or impediment be objected, &c. ut supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Letanie

cum hac Collecta.

ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, which by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed diverse 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 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 profit of the congregation, through the merits of our Saviour Jesu Christ; who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

Then the Bishop shall minister unto every one of them the Oath concerning the King's Supremacy, as it is set out in the Order of Deacons. And that done, he shall say unto them which are appointed to receive the said Office, as hereafter followeth.

You have heard, brethren, as well in your private examination, as in the exhortation, and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel, and of the writings of

the Apostles, of what dignity and of how great importance this Office is (whereunto ye be called). And now we exhort you, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to have in remembrance into how high a dignity, and to how chargeable an office ye be called, that is to say, to be the Messengers, the Watchmen, the Pastors, and Stewards of the Lord; to teach, to premonish, to feed, and provide for the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that be dispersed abroad, and for his children which be in the midst of this naughty world, to be saved through Christ for ever. Have always, therefore, printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge; for they be the sheep of Christ which be 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 chance the same Church, or any member thereof, to take any hurt or hinderance, by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue. Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of your ministry towards the children of God, toward the Spouse and Body of Christ, and see that ye 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 faith, and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left emong them, either for error in religion or for viciousness in life.

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Then, forasmuch 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 you may slew yourselves kind to that Lord, who hath placed you in so high a dignity, as also to

beware that neither you yourselves offend, neither be occasion that other offend. Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and a will thereto of yourselves; for that power and ability is given of God alone. Therefore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his Holy Spirit. And seeing that ye 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 holy Scripture, and with a life agreeable unto the same; ye perceive how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the holy 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 selfsame cause ye see how you ought to forsake and set aside (as much as you may) all worldly cares and studies.

We have a 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 vocation, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you, so that (as much as lieth in you) you apply yourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way, and to this end: And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost, from God the Father, by the mediation of cur only Mediator and Saviour Jesus Christ, 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; and that ye may be wholesome and godly examples and patterns for the rest of the congregation to follow. And that this present congregation of Christ, here assembled, may also understand your minds and wills in these things;

And that this your promise shall more move you to do your duties, ye shall answer plainly to these things, which we, in the name of the congregation, 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 of England, to the ministry of Priesthood?

I think it.

Answer

The Bishop.

Be you persuaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation, through faith in Jesu Christ? And are you determined with the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing, as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that 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 Realm hath received the same, according to the commandments of God, so that ye 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.

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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 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 spectacles to the flock of Christ?

Answer.

I will so apply myself, the Lord being my helper.

The Bishop.

Will you maintain and set forwards (as much as lieth in you) quietness, peace, and love amonges all Christen people, and specially amonges them that are, or shall be, committed to your charge?

Answer.

I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

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