I.

The Title.

The Order of Confirmation,

or Laying on of Hands upon those that are Baptized and come to Years of Discretion.

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, they 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.

Answer. Henceforth, world

III.

without end.

Bishop.

Lord, hear our

The Solemn Question.

Then shall the Bishop say,

Do ye here, in the presence

of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn

promise and vow that was made in your name at your Baptism; ratifying and confirming the same in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe, and to do, all those things, which your Godfathers and Godinothers then undertook for you?

IV.

The Answer.

And everyone shall audibly

answer

I DO.

V.

The Laying on of
Hands.

The Bishop.

The Bishop. Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everliving safed to regenerate these thy God, who hast vouchservants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given their sins; Strengthen them, unto them forgiveness of all 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.

Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one seve rally, saying,

DEFEND, O Lord, this

thy Child [or this thy Servant] with thy heavenly

UR help is in the Name grace, that he may continue

thine for ever; and daily in

of the Lord; Answer. Who hath made crease in thy Holy Spirit more heaven and earth. and more, until he come unto Bishop. Blessed be the thy everlasting kingdom. AName of the Lord;

men.

VI.

The Collects and

Benediction.

Then shall the Bishop say, The Lord be with you. Answer. And with thy

spirit.

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

And all kneeling down) the one God, world without end. Bishop shall add,

Let us pray.

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 for-
give us our trespasses, As we
forgive them that trespass a-
gainst us. And lead us not
into temptation; But deliver
us from evil. Amen.

And this Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be 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)

Amen.

ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouch

O safe, 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 Blessing of God Al

mighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

And there shall none be admitted to the holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.

THERE is a lad-five loaves hath he,
And fishes twain:-but what are they,
Where hungry thousands be?
Nay, Christ will find a way.

In order on the fresh green hill
The mighty Shepherd ranks His Sheep
By tens and fifties, still

As clouds when breezes sleep.

Oh who can tell the trembling joy,
Who paint the grave endearing look,
When from that favoured boy

The wondrous pledge He took?

Keep thou, dear child, thine early word: Bring Him thy best: who knows but He For His eternal board

May take some gift of thee?

Lyra Innocentium.

CHAPTER I.

THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION.

The Title.

What mean ye by this service?

Ex. xii. 26.

OU have come to me desiring to be Confirmed1, and therefore it is necessary that I should try to explain to you what

Confirmation is, and enable you to understand the solemn Service appointed by the Church of England for the administration of this holy Rite.

2. Now, on turning to the Order of Confirmation contained in the Prayer-Book and here reprinted, you notice that Confirmation has another name. It is called Confirmation, or the LAYING ON OF HANDS upon those that are baptized and come to years of discretion. Indeed, the word Confirmation, as the name of a separate ordinance, does not occur in the Bible, but we often read there of Laying on of Hands.

1 To confirm, from Latin con and firmus, denotes "to make firm" or "strong," to "strengthen," to establish." Compare the Prayer in the Baptismal Service, "Confirm

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this faith in us evermore:' the Absolution in the Communion Service, "Confirm and strengthen you in all goodness."