all things. Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as rule their children well, and their own households. For they that minister well, get them selves a good degree, and a great liberty in the faith, which is in Christ Jesu.

These things write I unto thee, trusting to come shortly unto thee: but and if I tarry long, that then thou mayest yet have knowledge, how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. And without doubt, great is that mystery of godliness. God was shewed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen among the Angels, was preached unto the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

Or else this out of the sixt of the Acts.

THEN the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, It is not meet that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, to whom we may commit this business: but we will give our selves continually to prayer, and to the administration of the word. And that saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephin, a man full of faith, and full of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Procorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Permenas, and Nicholas, a convert of Antioch. These they set before the Apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient unto the faith.

And before the Gospel, the Bishop, sitting in a chair, shall cause the Oath of the Queen's supremacy, and against the power and authority of all foreign potentates, to be ministered unto every of them that are to be ordered.

¶ The Oath of the Queen's Sovereignty.

I A. B. do utterly testify and declare in my conscience that the queen's highness is the only supreme governour of this realm, and of all other her highness' dominions and countries, as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or causes, as temporal; and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm: and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign jurisdictions, powers, superiorities and authorities, and do promise that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true allegiance to the Queen's highness, her heirs and lawful successors, and to my power shall assist and defend all jurisdictions, privileges, pre-eminences, and authorities granted or belonging to the Queen's highness, her heirs and

successors, or united and annexed to the imperial crown of this realm, so help me God, and the contents of this book.

Then shall the Bishop examine every one of them that are to be ordered, in the presence of the people, after this manner following.

Do 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.

The Bishop.

I trust so.

Do ye think that ye truly be called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the due order of this realm, to the ministry of the Church?

Answer. I think so.

The Bishop.

Do ye unfeignedly believe all the Canonical

scriptures of the old and new Testament?

Answer. I do believe.

The Bishop. Will you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the church, where you shall be appointed to serve?

The Bishop. It pertaineth to the office of a Deacon in the church where he shall be appointed, to assist the Priest in divine service, and specially when he ministereth the holy communion, and to help him in distribution thereof, and to read holy scriptures and Homilies in the congregation, and to instruct the youth in the Catechism, to Baptize 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 impotent people of the parish, and to intimate their estates, names, and places where they dwell, to the curate, that by his exhortation they may be relieved by the parish, or other convenient alms: will you do this gladly and willingly?

Answer. I will so do by the help of God.

The Bishop. Will you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your own lives, and the lives of all your family, according to the doctrine of Christ, and to make both your selves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock of Christ?

A

Answer.

I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

The Bishop. Will you reverently obey your ordinary, and other chief Ministers of the church, and them to whom the government and charge is committed over you, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions?

Answer. I will thus endeavour my self, the Lord being my helper.

Then the Bishop, laying his hands severally upon the head of every of them, shall say.

Take thou authority to execute the office of a Deacon in the church of God committed unto thee: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the new Testament, saying.

Take thou authority to read the gospel in the church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be thereunto ordinarily1 commanded.

Then one of them appointed by the Bishop shall read the gospel of that day. Then shall the Bishop proceed to the Communion, and all that be ordered shall tarry and receive the holy Communion the same day with the Bishop. The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediately before benediction, shall be said this Collect following.

ALMIGHTY God giver of all good things, which of thy great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the office of Deacons in thy church: make them we beseech thee (O LORD) to be modest, humble, and constant in their ministration, to have a ready will to observe all spiritual discipline, that they having always the testimony of a good conscience, and continuing ever stable, and strong in thy Son Christ, may so well use them selves in this inferior office, that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher ministries in thy church, through the same thy Son our Saviour Christ: to whom be glory and honour, world without end. Amen.

And here it must be shewed unto the Deacon, that he must continue in that office of a Deacon the space of a whole year at the least (except for reasonable causes it be otherwise seen to his ordinary) 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.

[In 1662 this was changed into, licensed by the Bishop himself.]

Acts xx.

i. Tim. iii.

The form of ordering Priests.

When the exhortation is ended, then shall follow the Communion. And for the Epistle shall be read out of the twenty Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, as followeth :

FROM Mileto Paul sent messengers to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the congregation: which when they were come to him, he said unto them. Ye know that from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humbleness of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which happened unto me by the layings await of the Jews, because I would keep back nothing that was profitable unto you, but to shew you and teach you openly throughout every house: witnessing both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, the repentance that is toward God, and the faith which is toward our Lord Jesus. And now behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Hierusalem, not knowing the things that shall come on me there, but that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bands and trouble abide me. But none of these things move me, neither is my life dear unto my self, that I might fulfil my course with joy and the ministration of the word, which I have received of the Lord Jesu, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye all (through whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God) shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have spared no labour, but have shewed you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the flock: among whom the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. For I am sure of this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Moreover of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. Therefore awake, and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you night and day, with tears.

And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have desired no man's silver, gold or vesture. Yea, you know your selves, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring, ye ought to receive the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesu, how that he said, it is more blessed to give, than to receive.

Or else this third Chapter of the first Epistle to Timothe.

THIS is a true saying: If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth an honest work. A Bishop therefore must be blameless, the

husband of one wife, diligent, sober, discreet, a keeper of hospitality, apt to teach, not given to overmuch wine, no fighter, not greedy of filthy lucre, but gentle, abhorring fighting, abhorring covetousness, one that ruleth well his own house, one that hath children in subjection with all reverence. For if a man cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the congregation of God? he may not be a young scholar, lest he swell, and fall into the judgment of the evil speaker. He must also have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and snare of the evil speaker.

Likewise must the Ministers be honest, not oubletongued, not given unto much wine, neither greedy of filthy lucre; but holding the mystery of the faith, with a pure conscience: and let them first be proved, and then let them minister so, that no man be able to reprove them.

Even so must their wives be honest, not evilspeakers: but sober and faithful in all things. Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as rule their children well, and their own households. For they that minister well get them selves a good degree, and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Jesu. These things write I unto thee, trusting to come shortly unto thee: but and if I tarry long, that then thou mayest have yet knowledge, how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth..

And without doubt, great is that mystery of godliness: God was shewed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen among the Angels, was preached unto the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

After this shall be read for the gospel a piece of the last Chapter of Mathew, as followeth.

JESUS came and spake unto them, saying: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even until the end of the world.

Or else this that followeth out of the tenth chapter of John.

VERILY, verily, I say unto you: He that entereth not in by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a murtherer. But he that entereth in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep: to him the porter openeth, and the sheep heareth his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. And when he hath sent forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers. This Proverb 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 (even as