Liturgical Services

The Preface.

Ir is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy Scripture, and ancient authors, that from the Apostles' time there hath been these orders of Ministers in Christ's Church: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons : which officers' were evermore had in such reverent estimation, that no man, by his own private authority, might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as were requisite for the same; and also by public prayer, with imposition of hands, approved and admitted thereunto. And therefore, to the intent these orders should be continued, and reverently used and esteemed in this Church of England: it is requisite, that no man (not being at this present Bishop, Priest, nor Deacon) shall execute any of them, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted, according to the form hereafter following. And none shall be admitted a Deacon, except he be .xxi. years of age at the least. And every man, which is to be admitted a Priest, shall be full .xxiiii. years old. And every man, which is to be consecrated a Bishop, shall be fully thirty years of age. And the Bishop, knowing, either by him self or by sufficient testimony, any person to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime, and after examination and trial, finding him learned in the Latin tongue, and sufficiently instructed in holy Scripture, may, upon a Sunday or holy day, in the face of the Church, admit him a Deacon, in such manner and form, as hereafter followeth.

The form and manner of ordering of Deacons.

First, when the day appointed by the Bishop is come, there shall be an exhortation, declaring the duty and office of such as come to be admitted Ministers, how necessary such orders are in the church of Christ, and also how the people ought to esteem them in their vocation.

¶ After the exhortation ended, the archdeacon, or his deputy, shall present such as come to the Bishop to be admitted, saying these words. REVEREND father in God, I present unto you these persons present, to be admitted Deacons.

The Bishop.

Take heed that the persons whom ye present unto us, be apt and meet, for their learning and godly con

[Misprint for, offices.]

versation, to exercise their ministry duly, to the honour of God, and edifying of his church.

The Archdeacon shall answer.

I have inquired of them, and also examined them, and think them so to be.

¶ And then the Bishop shall say unto the people.

BRETHREN, if there be any of you, who knoweth any impediment, or notable crime, in any of these persons presented to be ordered Deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to the same, let him come forth in the name of GOD, and shew what the crime or impediment is.

¶ And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordering that person, until such time as the party accused shall try him self clear of that crime.

¶ Then the Bishop, commending such as shall be found meet to be ordered to the prayers of the congregation, with the Clerks and people present, shall say or sing the Litany as followeth, with the prayers.

The Litany and Suffrages.

O God the Father, of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Father, of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed

with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for

ever.

Spare us good Lord.

From all evil and mischief, from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation :

Good Lord deliver us.

From all blindness of heart: from pride, vain glory, and hypocrisy, from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness:

Good Lord deliver us.

From fornication, and all other deadly sin, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil:

Good Lord deliver us.

From lightning and tempest, from plage, pestilence, and famine, from battle, and murther, and from sudden death: Good Lord deliver us.

From all sedition and privy conspiracy, from all false doctrine and heresy, from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word and commandment :

Good Lord deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, by thy holy nativity and circumcision, by thy baptism, fasting, and temptation:

Good Lord deliver us.

By thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Ghost:

Good Lord deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment:

Good Lord deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us (O Lord God), and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universally in the right way.