The Book of Common Prayer Part 122

Put back our enemy far from us, and help us to obtain

_Peace in our hearts with G.o.d and man_, (_the best, the truest gain_;)

And grant that thou being, O Lord, our leader and our guide,

_We may escape the snares of sin, and never from thee slide_.

Such measures of thy powerful grace grant, Lord, to us, we pray;

_That thou may'st be our Comforter at the last dreadful day_.

Of strife and of dissension dissolve, O Lord, the bands,

_And knit the knots of peace and love throughout all Christian lands_.

Grant us the grace that we may know the Father of all might,

_That we of his beloved Son may gain the blissful sight_;

And that we may with perfect faith ever acknowledge thee,

_The Spirit of Father, and of Son, One G.o.d in Persons Three_.

To G.o.d the Father laud and praise, and to his blessed Son,

_And to the Holy Spirit of grace, co-equal Three in One_.

And pray we, that our only Lord would please his Spirit to send

_On all that shall profess his Name, from hence to the world's end. Amen_.

_That done, the Bishop shall pray in this wise, and say_,

Let us pray.

Almighty G.o.d and heavenly Father, who of thine infinite love and goodness towards us hast given to us thy only and most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer and the Author of everlasting life; who, after he had made perfect our redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, sent abroad into the world his Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Doctors, and Pastors, by whose labour and ministry he gathered together a great flock in all the parts of the world, to set forth the eternal praise of thy holy Name: For these so great benefits of thy eternal goodness, and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call these thy servants here present to the same office and ministry, appointed for the salvation of mankind, we render unto thee most hearty thanks, we praise and wors.h.i.+p thee; and we humbly beseech thee, by the same thy blessed Son, to grant unto all, which either here or elsewhere call upon thy holy Name, that we may continue to shew ourselves thankful unto thee for these and all other thy benefits; and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son, by the Holy Spirit. So that as well by these thy Ministers, as by them over whom they shall be appointed thy Ministers, thy holy Name may be for ever glorified, and thy blessed kingdom enlarged; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, world without end. _Amen_.

_When this prayer is done, the Bishop with the Priests present shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the Order of Priesthood; the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the Bishop saying_,

Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Priest in the Church of G.o.d, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dispenser of the Word of G.o.d, and of his holy Sacraments; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

_Then the Bishop shall deliver to every one of them kneeling the Bible into his hand, saying_,

Take thou authority to preach the Word of G.o.d, and to minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation, where thou shalt be lawfully appointed thereunto.

_When this is done, the Nicene Creed shall be sung or said; and the Bishop shall after that go on in the Service of the Communion, which all they that receive Orders shall take together, and remain in the same place where hands were laid upon them, until such time as they have received the Communion_.

_The Communion being done, after the last Collect, and immediately before the Benediction, shall be said these Collects_.

Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to send upon these thy servants thy heavenly blessing, that they may be clothed with righteousness, and that thy Word spoken by their mouths may have such success, that it may never be spoken in vain. Grant also that we may have grace to hear and receive what they shall deliver out of thy most holy Word, or agreeable to the same, as the means of our salvation; that in all our words and deeds we may seek thy glory, and the increase of thy kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that 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_.

The peace of G.o.d, which pa.s.seth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of G.o.d, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of G.o.d Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

_Amen_.

_And if on the same day the Order of Deacons be given to some, and the Order of Priesthood to others; the Deacons shall be first presented, and then the Priests: and it shall suffice that the Litany be once said for both. The Collects shall both be used; first that for Deacons, then that for Priests. The Epistle shall be Ephes. iv_. 7-13, _as before in this Office. Immediately after which, they that are to be made Deacons shall be examined and ordained, as is above prescribed. Then one of them having read the Gospel_ (_which shall be either out of St Matth. ix_. 36-38, _as before in this Office; or else St Luke xii_. 35-38, _as before in the Form for the Ordering of Deacons,_) _they that are to be made Priests shall likewise be examined and ordained, as is in this Office before appointed_.

THE FORM

OF

ORDAINING OR CONSECRATING

OF AN

[ARCHBISHOP OR] BISHOP;

WHICH IS ALWAYS TO BE PERFORMED UPON SOME SUNDAY OR HOLY-DAY

_When all things are duly prepared in the Church, and set in order; after Morning Prayer is ended, the_ [_Primus_] (_or some other Bishop appointed_) _shall begin the Communion Service: in which this shall be_

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and didst charge them to feed thy flock: Give grace, we beseech thee, to all Bishops, the Pastors of thy Church, that they may diligently preach thy Word, and duly administer the G.o.dly discipline thereof; and grant to the people, that they may obediently follow the same; that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

_And another Bishop shall read_

THE EPISTLE. 1 Tim. iii. 1.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of G.o.d?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

_Or this_

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xx. 17.

From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the Church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward G.o.d, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of G.o.d. And now behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of G.o.d, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of G.o.d. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of G.o.d, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that by the s.p.a.ce of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to G.o.d, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel: yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

_Then another Bishop shall read_

THE GOSPEL. St John xxi. 15.

Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.