were laid) he hath constantly decreed, by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation, those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting they, which he endued with so excellent a benefit of salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made Sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works; and at length by God's mercy they attain to everlasting felicity. As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high aud heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the Sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. Furthermore, we must receive God's Promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: And in our doings, that will of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God. ART. XVIII. Of obtaining Eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ. ART. XIV. Of Works of Supererogation. Voluntary Works, besides over and above God's Commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and They are also to be had accursed, that presume impiety. For by them men do declare, That they to say, that every man shall be saved by the Law do not only render unto God as much as they are or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent bound to do, but that they do more for his sake than to frame his life according to that Law, and the of bounden duty is required: Whereas Christ saith light of nature. For holy Scripture doth set out plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby to you, say, We are unprofitable servants. men must be saved. ART. XV. Of Christ alone without sin. Christ in the truth of our nature, was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be a Lamb without spot, who by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world; and sin (as St. John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest (although baptized and born again in Christ) yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ART. XVI. Of Sin after Baptism. Not every deadly sin, willingly committed after Baptism, is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God (we may) arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. ART. XIX. Of the Church. The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's Ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Hierusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of faith. ART. XX. Of the Authority of the Church. The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and Authority in Controversies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written; neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a Witness and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation. ART. XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils.* ART. XXII. Of Purgatory. ART. XVII. Of Predestination and Election. Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory, ParGod, whereby (before the foundations of the world dons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Ima *The 21st of the former articles is omitted, because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining parts of it, in other articles. ges, as of Reliques, and also Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God. ART. XXVII. Of Baptism. of Difference, whereby Christian men are discerned Baptism is not only a sign of Profession, and mark from others that be not christened: but it is also a sign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church: the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed: faith is confirmed, and grace increased by vir tue of Prayer unto God. The Baptism of young children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. ART. XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper. ART. XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in Love that Christians ought to have among themsuch a tongue as the People understandeth. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church, to have Public Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people. ART. XXV. Of the Sacraments. Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's Profession; but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimo ny, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the Aposles, partly are states of life allowed by the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible Sign or Ceremony ordained of God. The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith. The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the selves one to another; but rather it is a Sacrament that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith reof our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch ceive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation (or the change of the Substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but it is repug nant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many Superstitions. The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. Christ's Ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by up, or worshipped. ART. XXIX. Of the Wicked, which eat not of the although they do carnally and visibly press with ART. XXX. Of both Kinds. The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-People: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament by Christ's Ordinance and Commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike. ART. XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross. ART. XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the Effect of the Sacraments. Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the Word and redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the The offering of Christ once made, is that perfect Sacraments: yet, forasmuch as they do not the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do min- and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that ister by his Commission and Authority, we may use alone. Wherefore the Sacrifice of Masses, in which their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer and in receiving the Sacraments. Neither is the Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission effect of Christ's Ordinance taken away by their of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and danwickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such, as by faith, and rightly, do receive the gerous deceits. Sacraments ministered unto them, which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men." ART. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, are not comNevertheless, it appertaineth to the Discipline of manded by God's Law, either to vow the estate of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, single life, or to abstain from Marriage: therefore and that they be accused by those that have know-it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, ledge of their offences: and finally being found guil-to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge ty, by just judgment, be deposed. the same to serve better to godliness. ART. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided. That person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the Unity of the Church, and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he be openly reconciled by Penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereunto. 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. it declares the Books of Homilies to be an explica[This Article is received in this Church, so far as tion of Christian doctrine, and instructive in piety ART. XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. and morals. But all references to the constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremo-to the circumstances of this Church, which also susnies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all pends the order for the reading of said Homilies in times they have been divers, and may be changed Churches until a revision of them may be conveniaccording to the diversity of countries, times, and ently made, for the clearing of them, as well from men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against obsolete words and phrases, as from the local reGod's word. Whosoever, through his private judg-ferences.] ment, willingly and purposely doth openly break Ministers. The Book of Consecration of Bishops, and Order the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, ART. XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bishops and which be not repugnant to the word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly (that other may fear to do the like) as he that offendeth against the common Or-ing of Priests and Deacons, as set forth by the Geder of the Church, and hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the Consciences of the weak Brethren. Every Particular or National Church hath Authority to ordain, change, and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church, ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying. ART. XXXV. Of Homilies. neral Convention of this Church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordering; neither hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodly: and, therefore, whoso ever are consecrated or ordered according to said form, we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered. ART. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil Magis trates. The second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined, under this Article, doth The power of the Civil Magistrate extendeth to contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine, and ne- all men, as well Clergy as Laity, in all things temcessary for these Times, as doth the former Book poral; but hath no authority in things purely spiof Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Ed-ritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men ward the Sixth, and therefore we judge them to be who are professors of the Gospel, to pay respectful read in Churches by the Ministers diligently and obedience to the civil authority, regularly and legitidistinctly, that they may be understanded of the mately constituted. people. Of the Names of the Homilies. 1. Of The right Use of the Church. 3. Of Repairing and keeping clean of Churches. 7. Of Prayer. 8. Of the Place und Time of Prayer. 9. That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known Tongue. 10. Of the reverent Estimation of God's Word. 11. Of Alms-Doing. 12. Of the Nativity of Christ. 13. Of the Passion of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of Christ. ART. XXXVIII. Of Christian Men's Goods, which are not common. The Riches and Goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Ana-baptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. ART. XXXIX. Of a Christian Man's Oath. As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Apostle: so we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of Faith and Charity, so it be done according to 15. Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the the Prophets teaching in Justice, Judgment, and Body and Blood of Christ. Truth. THE Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS, According to the Order of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as estab lished by the Bishops, the Clergy, and Laity of said Church, in General Convention, in the mouth of September, A. D. 1792. THE PREFACE. It is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors, that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church,-Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which Offices were evermore had in such reverend estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the same; and also by public Prayer, with imposition of Hands, were approved and admitted thereunto by lawful Authority. And therefore, to the intent that these Orders may be continued, and reverently used and esteemed in this Church, no man shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, in this Church, or suffered to execute any of the said Functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereunto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had Episcopal Consecration or Ordination. And none shall be admitted a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop, except he be of the age which the Canon in that case provided may require. And the Bishop knowing, either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, any Person to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime; and, after examination and trial, finding him sufficiently instructed in the holy Scripture, and otherwise learned as the Canons require, may, at the times appointed, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, admit him a Deacon, in such Manner and Form as followeth. The Form and Manner of Making Deacons. When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon, or Exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of such as come to be admitted Deacons ; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the People ought to esteem them in their Office. ¶ A Priest shall present unto the Bishop, sitting in his Chair near to the holy Table, such as desire to be ordained Deacons, each of them being decently habited, saying these words: RE EVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these persons present, to be admitted Dea cons. The Bishop. TAKE heed that the persons be apt and meet for their learning and godly conversation, to exercise their Ministry duly to the Office, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impediment is. And if any great Crime or Impediment be ohjected, the Bishop shall cease from Ordering that Person, until such time as the Party accused shall be found clear of that Crime. Then the Bishop (commending such as shall be found meet to be Ordered, to the Prayers of the Congregation) shall, with the Clergy and Peo Ple present, say the Litany, for the Comteu nion, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, as followeth. The Collect. LMIGHTY God, who by honour of God, and the edifying A thy Divine Providence hast of his Church. I The Priest shall answer: appointed divers orders of MinisHAVE inquired concerning ters in thy Church, and didst in and think them so to be. Then the Bishop shall say unto the People: to the Order of Deacons the first Martyr Saint Stephen, with others; mercifully behold these thy ser pediment, or notable crime in any fice and Administration; so reof these persons presented to be plenish them with the truth of thy ordered Deacons, for the which Doctrine, and adorn them with he ought not to be admitted to that innocency of life, that both by S i word and good example they may increased, and the number of the faithfully serve thee in this Office, disciples multiplied in Jerusalem to the glory of thy name, and the greatly, and a great company of edification of thy Church, through the Priests were obedient to the the merits of our Saviour Jesus faith. Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. Amen. Then shall the Bishop examine every one of those who are to be Ordered, in the presence of the Peo Ο ple, after this manner following: Do you trust that you are inThe Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. 8. wardly moved by the Holy IKEWISE must the Deacons Ghost to take upon you this Ofbe grave, not double-tongued, fice and Ministration, to serve God not given to much wine, not gree-for the promoting of his glory, and dy of filthy lucre; holding the mys-the edifying of his people? tery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first Answer. I trust so. The Bishop. be proved; then let them use the D O you think that you are truOffice of a Deacon, being found ly called, according to the blameless. Even so must their will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and wives be grave, not slanderers, so- according to the Canons of this ber, faithful in all things. Let the Church,to the Ministry of the same? Deacons be the husbands of one Answer. I think so. wife, ruling their Children and The Bishop. their own Houses well. For they Do you unfeignedly believe all Answer. I do believe them. that have used the Office of a Dea- the Canonical Scriptures of con well, purchase to themselves the Old and New Testament? a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¶ Or else this, out of the sixth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Acts vi. 2. THEN the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason The Bishop. WILL you diligently read the same unto the people assembled in the Church where you shall be appointed to serve? Answer. I will. T appertaineth to the Office of that we should leave the Word of Deacon, in the Church where God, and serve tables. Where a fore, brethren, look ye out among he shall be appointed to serve, to you seven men of honest report, assist the Priest in Divine service, full of the Holy Ghost and wis- and specially when he ministereth dom, whom we may appoint over the Holy Communion, and to help this business. But we will give him in the distribution thereof; ourselves continually to prayer, and to read holy Scriptures and and to the ministry of the Word. Homilies in the Church; and to inAnd the saying pleased the whole struct the Youth in the Catechism; multitude. And they chose Ste- in the absence of the Priest to bapphen, a man full of faith and of the tize Infants; and to preach, if he Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Pro-be admitted thereto by the Bishop. chorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, And futhermore, it is his Office, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a pros- where provision is so made, to elyte of Antioch: whom they set search for the sick, poor, and imbefore the Apostles; and when they potent people of the Parish, to inhad prayed, they laid their hands timate their estates, names, and on them. And the word of God places where they dwell, unto the |