صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

THE

FORM

and MANNER

O F

Ordaining DEACONS

When there is occafion for a Deacon to be ordained, the Faithful of the Parish fhall elect a proper perfon; notice whereof shall be given to the Bishop: And if when the perfon elected hath been examined by the two Deacons who are to prefent him at the ordination, and by the Bishop himself, he (after confulting with his College of Presbyters) approve of him, he shall give notice of the day of Ordination (which shall always be a Lord's day) both to the Clergy of the Diocese, and to the Faithful of the Parif.

On all Wednesdays and Fridays between the time of the Bishop's notice and the day of ordination, the following prayer fall be used in the Penitential Office after the Prayer for all forts and conditions of men.

A

Lmighty God our heavenly Father, who haft purchased to thy felf an universal church by the precious blood of thy dear Son; mercifully look upon the fame, and at this time fo guide and govern the mind of thy fervant our Bishop, that he

may

may not lay on hands fuddenly, but may faithfully and wifely ordain a fit perfon to the office of Deacon. And to him who fhall be ordained to that holy function, give thy grace and heavenly benediction, that he may faithfully ferve before thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the benefit of thy holy church, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Note, that a Deacon is not to be ordained, till he is Twenty five years of age, unless upon a particular occafion, of which the Bishop is to be judge.

When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, he and as many of the Clergy of the Diocese as conveniently can, fhall repair to the Cathedral Church or to the Parish Church where the Deacon Elect is to minifter. And after the Creed in the Morning Prayer there fhall be a fermon or exhortation, declaring the duty and office of Deacons, how neceffary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and how the People ought to efteem them in their office.

When all things are duly prepared in the Church, and fet in order; at the time appointed for celebrating the Holy Eucharift, before the Communion Service begins, the Elected Deacon (being decently habited) fhall be prefented by two Deacons unto the Bishop fitting in his Chair near the Altar, the Deacons that prefent him faying,

RIght Reverend Father in God, we prefent unto

you this perfon to be admitted a Deacon.

The

TAK

The Bishop.

AKE heed that the perfon whom ye present unto us, be apt and meet, for his learning and godly converfation, to exercife this miniftry duly, to the honour of God and the edifying of his Church.

The two Deacons shall fay,

We have enquired of him, and alfo examined him, and think him fo to be.

Then shall the Bishop fay unto the People,

Beloved, if there be

any

of you

who knoweth any

impediment or notable crime in this perfon prefented to be ordained Deacon, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that office, let him come forth in the name of God, and fhew what the crime or impediment is.

And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop fhall furceafe from ordaining that perfon, until fuch time as the party accused shall be found clear of that crime.

But if no great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop fhall begin the Communion Service, in which the Collect, Epiftle, and Gospel shall be as follow.

The Collect.

ALmighty God, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy church, and didft by thine holy apostles admit into the Order of Deacons the firft Martyr Saint Stephen, with others; mercifully behold this thy fervant now

called

called to the like office and administration. Replenish him so with the truth of thy do&rine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that both by word and good example he may faithfully ferve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name and the edification of thy church, through the merits of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghoft, now and for ever. Amen.

The Epiftle. 2 Tim. 3. 8.

LIkewise must the Deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of faith in a pure confcience. And let these alfo first be proved, then let them ufe the office of a Deacon, being found blameless. Even fo muft their wives be grave, not flanderers, fober, faithful in all things. Let the Deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children, and their own houfes well. For they that have used the office of a Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Chrift Jefus.

The Gospel. S. Luke 12. 35.

LET your

loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye your felves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Bleffed are those fervants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Verily, I fay unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them fit down to meat, and will come forth and ferve them. And if he fhall come in the fecond watch, or come in the third

watch,

watch, and find them fo, bleffed are thofe fer

vants.

After the Gospel and Nicene Creed are ended, the Bishop fitting in his Chair, fhall fay to him that is to be ordained,

Beloved, forafmuch as the Holy Scripture and the

ancient canons, command, that we fhould not be hafty in laying on hands; before I admit thee to this adminiftration, I will examine thee in certain articles, to the end that the congregation here prefent may have a trial, and bear witnefs how thou art minded to behave thy felf in the Church of God.

Bifh. Doft thou think in thy heart, that thou art truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Chrift and the laws of the Church, to the order and miniftry of Deacons ?

Anfw. I think it.

Bifh. Doft thou unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament? And wilt thou diligently read the fame unto the people affembled in the Church, where thou fhalt be appointed to ferve?

Anfw. I do believe them, and will diligently read them.

Bish. Wilt thou be diligent to frame and fashion thy life according to the doctrine of Chrift, and to make thy felf, as much as in thee lieth, an wholfom example to the flock of Chrift?

Anfw. I will fo do, the Lord being my helper.

[ocr errors]
« السابقةمتابعة »