THE ORDERING OF DEACONS.
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Or else this, out of the sixth of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts vi. 2.
HEN the twelve called the multitude THEN of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch; whom 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 to the faith.
upon you this Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people? Answer. I trust so.
And before the Gospel, the Bishop, WILL you reverently obey your Or.
examine every one of them that are to be Ordered, in the presence of the people, after this manner following.
chief Ministers of the Church, and them to whom the charge and government over you is committed, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions?
Do you trust that you are inwardly
Answer. I will endeavour myself, the Lord being my helper.
The Bishop.
Do you think that you are truly 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.
you unfeignedly believe all the
in the Catechism; in the absence of the Priest to baptize infants, 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, to intimate their estates, names, and places where they dwell, unto the Curate, that by his exhortation they may be relieved with the alms of the Parishioners, or others. 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
own lives,
New Testament? Answer. I do believe them.
The Bishop
WILL you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to
serve?
Answer. I will.
The Bishop.
TT appertaineth to the Office of a Deashall
and the lives of your families, according to the Doctrine of Christ; and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock of Christ?
Answer. I will so do, the Lord being my helper. The Bishop.
appointed to serve, to assist the Priest in Divine Service, and specially when he ministereth the holy Communion, and to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church; and to instruct the youth
Then the Bishop, laying his Hands severally upon the Head of every one of them, humbly kneeling before him, shall say,
TAKE thon Authority to execute the
Office of a the Church of God committed unto thee; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 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 thereto licensed by the Bishop himself.
Then one of them, appointed by the Bishop, shall read the Gospel.
St. Luke xii. 35.
ET your loins be girded about, and selves like unto men that wait for their
ding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to