[i. 136; ii. 52; iii. 164.] FRIDAY. ORDINATION. Q. Will you be faithful in ordaining, sending, or laying hands upon others? a FRIDAY. ALMIGHTY God, who knowest the hearts of men, govern my mind, that I may faithfully discharge this great trust; that neither through fear, favour, interest, or negligence, I may ever promote any person to the sacred charge of Christ's flock c. Bless all thosed who have already given themselves to Thy immediate service, and labour with me in this ministration; be with us, and guide us, and help us, for Thy promise sake, for Thine honour's sake, and for the sake of Jesus Christ, that we may teach well, and that we may be examples of all the graces and virtues which we recommend to othersg. Direct all such as are designed to serve at Thine altar; sanctify their persons, their studies, their intentions, and affections1. And grant that no unworthiness in me may ever hinder Thy gifts and graces from descending upon those whom I shall ordain to Thy service. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Jer. iii. 15. O Lord, give us pastors according to Thine own heart, which shall feed us with knowledge, &c. St. Luke vi. 12. And it came to pass that in those days FRIDAY. He went into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in [i. 136.] prayer to God; and when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples, and out of them He chose twelve, whom also He named Apostles: viz. that their very title might put them in mind of their mission *. Ministers being the officers of God's household, we must depend upon Him in the choice of them, and not upon human motives. Acts xiii. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. All Christians being concerned in this affair, all ought to fast and pray, in order to have faithful pastors'. Apostolical usages ought to be kept up to, as proceeding from Jesus Christ Himself. 2 Tim. ii. 2. The things which thou hast heard of me among [iii. 164.] many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Men should consider upon what principles and motives they enter into holy orders, and to what uses they design to employ their revenues. Matt. ix. 38. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that He [i. 137.] will send forth labourers into His harvest. m "O gracious Lord, look down in mercy upon this Church, at this time. Provide it with faithful labourers, such as shall have a true compassion for the souls committed to their care, and a knowledge and zeal answerable to the account they are to give. Grant that we may all preach the truth as it is in Jesus". Give a blessing to our labours, that we may see the fruits of them in the repentance and conversion of ourselves and of all sinners that hear us. Make us truly sensible, that when we labour for our flock, we labour for ourselves, and for Thy glory. And pardon us, gracious God, whereinsoever we have been wanting in any part of our duty. iii. has the text alone. 1 Quesnel. mi. has here, in a later hand, and the pen drawn across it, "Give us, O Lord, pastors according to Thine own heart;" iii. has the text only. " i. adds, in a later hand, "and that knowledge and that learning which is after godliness." FRIDAY. [i. 138; Awaken, and touch all our hearts most powerfully from above, that we may not forget our ordination vows. And for Jesus Christ's sake, grant that I may not be answerable for the sins, and the dreadful mischiefs that may follow, if not hindered by Thy grace. Amen. The conversion of souls is Thine, O Lord, and not ours; prosper Thou Thine own work. It is not in us to save souls. Let us not sacrifice to our own net, but use the means, and ascribe all the glory to God; we of ourselves have nothing whereof to glory. "O blessed Lord and Master, let Thy tender regard for Thy Church make me ever solicitous at the throne of grace, in behalf of those? I send into Thy vineyard; and grant that no unworthiness in me may hinder Thy gifts and graces from descending upon those whom I shall ordain to Thy service. For the sake of this Church, which Thou hast purchased with Thy most precious blood, enable them for the work unto which they are called, that they may teach well, and that they may live well, and be examples of all the holy graces and virtues which they shall recommend to others. Sanctify their persons" and their labours, that they may be respected by their people: and, for Thy authority in them, be heard and obeyed, that they may be able to give a comfortable account at the great day. Amen. John xxi. 15. Jesus said unto Peter, Lovest thou Me?... Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee... Feed My sheep. O Sovereign Pastor, who lovedst and gavest Thy life for us, make our love for Thee, and our care of Thy sheep, so great and sincere, that we may feed them constantly, and dili i. repeats here the text, St. Luke vi. 12, and M. H. adds, " Matt. ix. 38." . M. H., "O blessed Jesus, my great Lord and Master, whose example I desire to imitate as far as my frailty will suffer me; let Thy great care and tender regard for Thy Church move me to be solicitous." P M. H., "labourers which I am a M. H., "O good God, grant." • M. H., "but for Thy promise' sake, of Thy Church which Thou hast purchased with Thy blood, pour down upon them such gifts of Thy Holy Spirit as shall enable them." M. H. adds, "O God." "M. H., "their studies, their labours." ▾ M. H., "honoured for their endowments, and for their works' sake be heard and obeyed, that they may give a comfortable account of their time when all our labours shall be tried." gently watch over them; that not one of them may be lost FRIDAY. through my neglect, or the fault of those whom I send into Thy service. Make us every day more mindful of our charge, and every day more able to perform it, remembering the account we must give. Grant this for the glory of Thy grace, and the good of Thy Church, which Thou hast purchased with Thy most precious blood. Αγαπᾶς με; Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. O Thou [M.H. Ixiii.] good Shepherd, may these persons, whom I am going to send into Thy service, love Thee so passionately, that for Thy sake they may have a tender regard for Thy flock; that they may feed them constantly, and diligently watch over them; that no danger, no enemy, may rob Thee of this handful of sheep which Thou hast so dearly purchased. They are Thine: O save them for Thy mercy's sake, and let not one of them, dear God, perish or go astray, through any neglect or fault of mine, or of those whom I send into Thy service. Assist me, O heavenly Father, in all the duties of my calling: make me every day more sensible than other (sic) of the great charge which lies upon me; and make me, O God, every day more and more able to perform it; for the honour of Thy Name, and for the good of Thy Holy Church. O good God, say Amen to my prayers, and though I am unworthy to be heard for my own sake, for the sake of my dear Master, hear me, I beseech Thee. Jesus said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me?-[i. 139; John xxi. 17.* Though Jesus Christ knew St. Peter's heart, yet He asked him three times whether he loved Him? To teach those to whom the power of ordaining belongs, to be very solicitous and careful, and not to content themselves with a slight enquiry into the dispositions and qualifications of those who are to have the care of souls committed to them2. It being entirely at the Bishop's discretion whether he will [i. two pages after, repeats this text, and the sentence as follows: "J. C. repeats this question several times, to teach those whose duty it is to ordain Pastors, not to content themselves with a slight enquiry into the qualifications iii."solicitous and," om. [See Quesnel on St. John xxi. 16.] iii. 164] FRIDAY. admit any one to the order of priest or deacon, and [he] being not obliged to give any reason for his refusaly; he will be more accountable to God, both for ordaining unfit persons, and for any prejudice against such as are worthy. [i. 138*.] Canon 31. Ordinations shall be on Sundays immediately succeeding the Jejunia quatuor Temporum; where the Bishop resideth, and in presence of the Archdeacon, and four other grave persons allowed to be public Preachers, [also in iii. 166; ii. 53.] Can. 33. None to be ordained but in order to be a curate, or incumbent, or to have some minister's place in some Church; or except he be a fellow, conduct, or some chaplain in some college in the University; or be Master of Arts of five years standing, and live there at his own cost. [iii. 166. In ii. 53 it stands, "Neminem sine certo Titulo ordinandum. Siquis Episcopus aliter fecerit, per integrum annum suspendetur."] Can. 34. A bishop not to ordain any who is not of his own diocese, without letters dimissory, &c. See [Gibson,] Codex, 164. "Rules for letters dimissory." [iii. 166; ii. 53, has, "Siquis ausus fuerit aliquem qui ad alterum pertinet ordinare in sua Ecclesia, cum non habeat consensum Episcopi ipsius a quo recessit clericus, irrita erit hujusmodi ordinatio. Concilii Nicæn. can. 17," [or 16. Hard. i. 330, 332.] Every person to be ordained deacon shall be twenty-three years, and priest twenty-four, complete; and be examined according to the Thirty-nine Articles, which they shall also subscribe; and shall exhibit letters testimonial from college or neighbouring ministers. Can. 35. Bishop shall examine in presence of such as shall assist him at ordination. [iii. 166.] Can. 36. Persons to be ordained shall subscribe the Royal Supremacy, the Book of Common Prayer, the Thirty-nine Articles. There shall be a sermon or exhortation, explaining the office of a deacon, and concerning the order of priests. Can. 32. [iii. prefixes, "No person whatever to be made deacon and priest in one day."] A deacon may be made priest within the year, if the bishop see cause. › Vide [iii. 167, and] Clergyman's Vade-Mecum, p. i. p. 42. |