4. so that

faithful ser

vant, giving

to thy Family their portion in

he may at

last be re

ceived into

word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambas. sadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 20. Our authority which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction. 2 Cor. x. 8. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy. 2 Cor. i. 24. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26.

4. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom as a wise and his lord hath made ruler over his houshold, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he due season, will make him ruler over all that he hath. Matt. xxiv. 45. Luke xii. 42, 43, 44. And his lord said unto everlasting him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: Joy; through thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into with thee and the joy of thy lord. Matt. xxv. 21. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he and reigneth counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. one God, 1 Tim. i. 12. 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. 8.

Jesus
Christ our

Lord, who,

the Holy

Ghost, liveth

world without end. Amen.

CCLXXVI. The solemn Words to the Bishop-elect, with Imposition of hands.

Receive the Holy Ghost, for the Office and Work of a Bishop in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition of our Hands; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And remember that thou stir up the grace of God which is given thee by this Imposition of our Hands: for God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and soberness.

Then said 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. John xx. 21, 22. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matt. xxviii. 20. When Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them. Acts xix. 6. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, 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. Acts xx. 17, 18. 28. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Pet. iv. 10. I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. i. 6, 7.

CCLXXVII. Caution, and Exhortation to the
Newly-consecrated Bishop.

1. Give heed unto Reading, Exhortation, and Doctrine. Think upon the things contained in this Book. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men. Take heed unto thyself, and to Doctrine, and be diligent in doing them: for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2. Be to

1. Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Tim. iv. 13 to 16. 2. He that entereth in by the door is the shepthe flock of herd of the sheep. The wolf catcheth and scattereth shepherd, not the sheep. John x. 2. 12. Feed the church of God. I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts xx. 28, 29. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, Feed the flock of broken, bring God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for

Christ a

a wolf; feed

them, devour them not.

Hold up the weak, heal the sick,

bind up the

again the outcasts,

seek the lost. Be so merci

be not too

remiss; so

minister dis

cipline, that you forget

that when

the chief Shepherd

shall appear, ye may receive the

crown of

glory, through Je

sus Christ our Lord. Amen.

filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being ful, that ye lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2, 3. Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Ye eat the fat, not mercy: and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that never-fading which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4. 11. 16. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke iv. 18. The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke xix. 10. Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak. 1 Thess. v. 14. Heal the sick. Matt. x. 8. The Lord gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. Psal. cxlvii. 2. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke vi. 36. Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. Though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 2 Cor. x. 1, 2. 8, 9. I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus

Most mer

ciful Father, we beseech

down upon

this thy

heavenly

with thy

Holy Spirit,

that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to

reprove, be

Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Cor. v. 3, 4, 5. I wrote unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; but if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also. 2 Cor. ii. 3. 5, 6. 10. When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Pet. v. 4.

CCLXXVIII. A Prayer for God's blessing upon the Newly-consecrated Bishop in the discharge of his high office.

God be merciful unto us, and bless us: and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful thee to send unto us. Psal. lxvii. 1. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies. 2 Cor. i. servant thy 3. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father blessing; and and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Tim. i. 2. Grace be so endue him with thee. Amen. 1 Tim. vi. 21. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 2 Tim. iv. 2. Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Tim. iv. 12. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. and doctrine; 2 Tim. ii. 22. but also may Watch thou in all things, endure be to such afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full wholesome proof of [marginal reading, fulfil] thy ministry. example, in For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of versation, in my departure is at hand. I have fought a good love, in faith, fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the and in purity; faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of fully fulfilling righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, his course, at shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but he may re- unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim.

seech, and rebuke, with

all patience

as believe a

word, in con

in chastity,

that, faith

the latter day

ceive the crown of righteous

by the Lord

liveth and

God with the

iv. 5 to 8. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. ii. 10. I give thee ness laid up charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all the righteous things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Judge, who Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep reigneth one this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in! his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Tim. vi. 13 to 16.

Father, and the Holy without end.

Ghost, world

Amen.

Prevent us, O Lord, &c. as CLI.

The peace of God, &c. as CXVII.

A FORM OF

PRAYER WITH THANKSGIVING,

To be yearly used upon the Fifth Day of November.

The Sentences.-The Lord is full of compassion, and mercy: longsuffering, and of great goodness. He will not always be chiding: neither keepeth he his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our wickedness. Psalm ciii. 8, 9, 10.

The Hymn.-O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for ever Let them give thanks, whom the Lord hath redeemed: and delivered from the hand of the enemy. Psalm cvii. 1, 2.-Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up: may Israel now say. Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up: but they have not prevailed against me. Psalm exxix. 1, 2.—They have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause: yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul. Psalm xxxv. 7.-They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul: they have digged a pit hefore me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves. Psalm lvii. 7.-Great is our Lord, and great is his power: yea, and his wisdom is infinite. The Lord setteth up the meek: und bringeth the ungodly down to the ground. Psalm cxlvii. 5, 6.-Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son of man whom thou madest so strong for thy own self. And so will not we go back from thee: O let us live, and we shall call upon thy name. Psalm lxxx. 17, 18.

1, 2. O

rd, save

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the, &c.

Proper Psalms, LIV. CXXIV, CXXV.

The Proper Lessons, 2 Sam. XXII.-Acts XXIII.

CCLXXIX. The Suffrages or Responses.

1, 2. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord,

T