THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop, sitting in his chair near to the Holy Table, he, or some other Minister appointed by him, may read this Preface following; the People standing until the Lord's Prayer. To the end that Confirmation may be minis tered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other Questions, as in the short Catechism 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 learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that, by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they, by their own confession, have assented unto. Then the Minister shall present unto the Bishop those who are to be confirmed, and shall say, REVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these children [or these persons] to receive the Laying on of Hands. ¶ Then the Bishop, or some Minister appointed by him, may say, Hear the words of the Evangelist Saint Luke, in the eighth Chapter of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. WHEN maria had received the HEN the apostles which were at Jerusa word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. ¶ Then shall the Bishop say, Do ye here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your Baptism; ratifying and confirming the same; and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which ye then undertook, or your Sponsors then undertook for you? ¶ And every one shall audibly answer, I do. Bishop. UR help is in the Name of the Lord; earth. Bishop. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Bishop. Let us pray. LMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. T Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying, DEFEND, O Lord, this thy Child [or this thy Servant] with thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until hé come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. ¶ Then shall the Bishop say, The Lord be with you. Answer. And with thy spirit. ¶ And all kneeling down, the Bishop shall add, OUR Father, w Let us pray. UR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. ¶ And these Collects. All and who maint LMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest which are good, and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy Apostles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them, by this sign, of thy favour 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 Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶ Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus, The and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, HE Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, and remain with you for ever. Amen. The Minister shall not omit earnestly to move the Persons confirmed to come, without delay, to the Lord's Supper. And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be con firmed. THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Banns in Churches, or by Licence, being different in the several States, every Minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Banns are published, it shall be in the following form: I publish the Banns of Marriage between M. of N. of -. If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matri mony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second or third] time of asking. and TAt the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbours; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say, EARLY beloved, we are gathered together of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. |