THE

ORDER

O F

CONFIRMATION,

OR

Laying on of Hands upon those that are Baptized.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and ftanding in order before the Bishop; be, or fome Priest appointed by him, fhall read this Preface following.

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O the end that Confirmation may be miniftred to the more edifying of fuch as fhall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, that none hereafter fhall be confirmed, but fuch as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the ten Commandments, and can also answer to fuch other questions, as in the short Catechifm are contained. Which order is very convenient to be observed, to the end that children being now come to the years of discretion, and

having

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having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promifed for them in Baptifm, they may themselves, with their own mouth and confent, openly before the Church ratify and confirm the fame; and also promife, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to obferve fuch things, as they by their own confeffion have affented unto.

9 Then Shall the Bishop fay to those who are to be confirmed,

Do ye here, in the prefence of God and of this Congregation, renew the folemn promife and vow that was made in your Name at your Baptifm; ratifying and confirming the fame in your own perfons, and acknowledging yourfelves bound to believe and to do all those things, which your Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for you?

¶ And every one shall audibly answer, I do.

The Bishop.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
Answer.

Who hath made heaven and earth.

Bishop.

Bleffed be the Name of the Lord;

Answer.

Henceforth world without end.

Bishop.

Let us pray.

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9 Here all fhall kneel down, except the Bishop, who shall proceed, faying,

ALmighty and everliving God, who haft vouchfafed to regenerate thefe thy fervants by water and the Holy Ghoft, and haft thereby given unto them forgiveness of all their fins; Send down from heaven, we beseech thee, O Lord, thine Holy Ghost the Comforter upon them; and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace, the fpirit of wisdom and understanding, the fpirit of counsel and ghoftly strength, the fpirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill them with the fpirit of thy holy fear now and ever. Sign them, O Lord, and mark them to be thine for ever, by the vertue of thy holy Cross and Paffion. Mercifully confirm and ftrengthen them with the inward unction of thy Holy Ghost unto everlasting life. Amen.

Then all of them kneeling in order before the Bishop, be fhall anoint every one of them with the Chrifm or Ointment, making the fign of the Cross upon their forehead, and faying, N.I fign thee with the fign of the Cross, I anoint thee with Holy Ointment,

Then the Bishop fhall lay his hand upon the head of the Perfon he is confirming, and fay,

AN ND I lay my hand upon thee: In the Name

of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.

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And

And the Bishop keeping his hand ftill upon the perfon's head, shall fay,

喜

DE Efend, O Lord, this thy child [or this thy fervant] with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thine everlafting kingdom. Amen.

And thus fhall the Bishop do to every perfon that is to be confirmed, one after another; and then he shall fay,

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Answer.

And with thy Spirit.

Bishop.

Let us pray.

And all kneeling down, except the Bishop, he fhall fay the Lord's Prayer and the two Collects following.

OUR Father, which art in heaven; Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Almighty and everlafting God, who makeft us

both to will and to do thofe things, which are good and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty; We make our humble fupplications unto thee for thefe thy fervants, upon whom (after the exam

ple

ple of thy Holy Apoftles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this fign) of thy fa vour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord Jefus Chrift; who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty Lord and everlasting God, vouchfafe, we beseech thee, to direct, fanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy moft mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preferved in body and foul, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chrift. Amen.

Then the Bishop shall bless them, faying thus,

THE bleffing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

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When any Perfons are confirmed, who were of riper years when they were baptized, and so anfwered for themselves; then the Preface at the beginning of this Office, and the Question which follows it, fhall both be omitted; and the Bishop fball begin with, Our help is in the Name of the Lord.

And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until fuch time as he be confirmed.

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Before