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THE ORDERING OF DEACONS.

The Bishop. WH TILL you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other 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?

Answer. I will endeavour myself, ALMIGHTY God, giver of all

the Lord being my helper.

good things, great goodness hast vouchsafed to accept and take these thy servants unto the Office of Deacons in thy Church; Make them, we beseech thee, O Lord, to be modest, humble, and constant in their Ministration, to have a ready will to observe all spi­ritual Discipline; that they having always the testimony of a good con­science, and continuing ever stable and strong in thy Son Christ, may so well behave themselves in this infe­rior Office, that they may be found worthy to be called unto the higher Ministries in thy Church; through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honour world without end. Amen.

T Then the Bishop laying his Hands severally upon the Head of every one of them, humbly kneeling before him, shall say,

AKE thou Authority to execute TAKE the Office of a Deacon in the Church of God committed unto thee; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

T Then shall the Bishop deliver to every one of them the New Testament, saying, TA AKE thou Authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be there to licensed by the Bishop himself. T Then one of them, appointed by the Bishop, shall read the Gospel. St. Luke xii. 35.

Then shall the Bishop proceed in the Communion, and all that are Ordered shall tarry, and receive the holy Com­munion the same day with the Bishop. The Communion ended, after the last Collect, and immediately before the Be­nediction, shall be said these Collects following.

in all

our doings with thy most gra­

cious favour, and further us with thy in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy ob­tain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LET your loins be girded about, and your lights ye yourselves 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. 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 meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall I come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

HE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Je­sus Christ our Lord: And the Bless­ing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be a­mongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

And here it must be declared unto the Deacon, that he must continue in that Office of a Deacon the space of a whole year( except for reasonable causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop) to the intent he may be perfect, and well expert in the things appertaining to the Ecclesiastical Administration. In executing whereof if he be found faithful and diligent, he may be admitted by his Diocesan to the Order of Priesthood, at the times appointed in the Canon; or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other Sunday, or Holy- day, in the face of the Church, in such manner and form as hereafter followeth.