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Sentence of Dedication.

Forasmuch as God has put it into the hearts of his people to build this house for his worship, and has blessed them in their undertaking, we solemnly dedicate it to his service, for the reading and expounding of his holy word, the administration of his ordinances, and for all other acts of religious worship. That he may graciously accept this labor of our hands, let us devoutly pray.

Then shall be said, all kneeling:

Almighty and everlasting God, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, much less this house which we have built; yet thou dost humble thyself to behold the inhabitants of the earth, and dost promise that in all places where thou dost record thy name thou wilt meet with thy people, and bless them. Let thy name be recorded in this place, and here let thine honor dwell. Preserve this house, which we set apart to thy service, from injury and desecration.

Accept the worship which shall be here offered to thy name. Let thy Holy Spirit accompany thy word and ordinances, which shall be here administered, so that they may prove means of grace to all who shall receive the same. May many sons and daughters be here born to the Lord Almighty. Let thy people be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and make

them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Let their children, be here fed with food convenient for them, and be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let living waters go forth from this sanctuary, carrying life and joy to all around. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children; and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy ministers, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. We beseech thee, O Lord, to overlook our unworthiness, forgive our sins, and make us a habitation of God through the Spirit. We make all our offerings through the ever-blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee, and the Holy Spirit, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The service may then be concluded with the Doxology and Benediction.

SECTION XI

¶662. THE FORM AND MANNER OF ORDAINING DEACONS

When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after a suitable sermon or exhortation, one of the elders shall present unto the Bishop all them that are to be ordained, and say:

I present unto you these persons present, to be ordained deacons.

Then their names being read aloud, the Bishop shall say unto the people:

Brethren, if there be any of you who knoweth any impediment or crime in any of these persons presented to be ordained deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that office, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impediment is.

If any crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordaining that person, until such time as the party accused shall be found clear of that crime.

Then shall be read the following Collect:

The Collect.

Almighty God, who by thy divine providence hast appointed divers orders of ministers in thy Church, and didst inspire thy apostles to choose into the order of deacons thy first martyr, St. Stephen, with others; mercifully behold these thy servants, now called to the like office and administration; replenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name and the edification of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

Then the Bishop, or one of the elders appointed by him, shall read the Epistle.

The Epistle.

1 Timothy iii. 8-13. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy

of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Then shall the Bishop examine every one of those who are to be or dained, in the presence of the people, after this manner following:

Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of the ministry in the Church of Christ, to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people?

Ans. I trust so.

The Bishop. Do you unfeignedly believe all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

Ans. I do believe them.

The Bishop. Will you diligently read or expound the same unto the people whom you shall be appointed to serve?

Ans. I will.

The Bishop. It appertaineth to the office of a deacon to assist the elder in divine service, and especially when he ministereth the holy com

munion, to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read and expound the Holy Scriptures; to instruct the youth; and in the absence of the elder to baptize.

And, furthermore, it is his office to search for the sick, poor, and impotent, that they may be visited and relieved.

Will you do this gladly and willingly?

Ans. I will so do, by the help of God.

The Bishop. Will you apply all your diligence to frame and fashion your own lives (and the lives of your families) according to the doctrine of Christ; and to make (both) yourselves (and them), as much as in you lieth, wholesome examples of the flock of Christ?

Ans. I will do so, the Lord being my helper.

The Bishop. Will you reverently obey them to whom the charge and government over you is committed, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions?

Ans. I will endeavor so to do, the Lord being my helper.

Then the Bishop, laying his hands severally upon the head of every one of them, shall say:

Take thou authority to execute the office of a deacon in the Church of God; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

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