1. Almighty God, who

ORDERING OR CONSECRATING OF

AN ARCHBISHOP, OR BISHOP. CCLXVIII. A Prayer that the Bishops of God's Church may have grace to be diligent.

1.

by thy Son you

Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many excel

lent gifts, and

didst charge

them to feed

thy flock;

you.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto as my Father hath sent me, even so send I And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. John xx. 21, 22. Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke xxiv. 49. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Luke x. 19. He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Matt. x. 1. 8. They were all filled with the. Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts ii. 4. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit ; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit ; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor. xii. 7 to 10. When they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John xxi. 15, 16. A Bishop must be apt to teach. 1 Tim. iii. 2. A Bishop

2. Give

grace we be

seech thee to all Bi

shops, the

they may diligently preach thy word, and

ister the

and grant to

ali may receive the crown of

everlasting glory; through Je

must be blameless, as the steward of God. Titus i. 7. Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts xx. 28. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2.

2. And grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. Acts iv. 29. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in Pastors of thy the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseChurch, that verance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mysduly admin- tery of the Gospel, that therein I may speak boldly, godly Disci- as I ought to speak. Eph. vi. 18, 19, 20. I have pline thereof; not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of the people, God. Acts xx. 27. Let all things be done decently that they may and in order. For God is not the Author of conobediently follow the fusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. same; that 1 Cor. xiv. 40. 33. If any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Cor. xi. 16. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2, 3. 5. 7, 8. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,

sus Christ our Lord. Amen.

as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb. xiii. 7. 17. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 1. 1 Thess. i. 6. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1 Thess. iii. 12, 13. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of his calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. i. 11, 12. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10.

The Epistle.-1 Tim. iii. 1 to 6.—This is a true saying, If a man desire the Office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient; not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without: lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil.

Or this. For the Epistle.-Acts xx. 17 to 35.-From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know 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 humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with Joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that ye all, among 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 not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the Rock. Also of your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one 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 you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's

silver, or gold, or apparel: yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The Gospel. John xxi. 15 to 17.-Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that i love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he saith unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Or else this. John xx. 19 to 23.-The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then where the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then saith Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Or this. Matt. xxviii. 18, 19, 20.-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 always even unto the end of the world.

CCLXIX. The Presentation of the Bishop-elect for

consecration.

Most Reverend Father in God, we present unto you this godly and well-learned man to be Ordained and Consecrated Bishop.

CCLXX. The Oath of due obedience to the Archbishop.

In the name of God. Amen. I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church and See of N. do profess and promise all due reverence and obedience to the Archbishop, and to the metropolitical Church of N. and to their Successors: So help me God, through Jesus Christ.

Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. Heb. xiii. 17.

CCLXXI. An Invitation to the Congregation to unite in prayer for the Bishop-elect.

Brethren, it is written in the Gospel of Saint Luke, That our Saviour Christ continued the whole night in Prayer, before he did choose and send forth his twelve Apostles. It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles, That the Disciples who were at Antioch, did fast and pray, before they laid hands on Paul and Barnabas, and sent them forth. Let us therefore, following the example of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles, first fall to prayer, before we admit, and send forth this person presented unto us, to the work whereunto we trust the Holy Ghost hath called him.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve,

That it may please thee to bless this our Brother elected, and to send thy grace upon

him, that he

may duly execute the

office where

whom he also named apostles. Luke vi. 12, 13. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed. Acts xiii. 1 to 4. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Heb. iii. 1. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor. xi. 1.

CCLXXII. A Petition that the Bishop-elect may have grace duly to execute the Episcopal Office.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit. John xv. 16. He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists: and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Eph. iv. 11, 12. The Church which is his body. Eph. i. 22, 23. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oraglory of thy cles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11.

unto he is called to the edifying of thy Church, and to the honour, praise, and

Name.

CCLXXIII. nearly the same as CCLIII.

Almighty God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church; Mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the Work and Ministry of a Bishop; and replenish him so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that, both by word and deed, he may faithfully serve thee in this Office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edifying and well governing of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.