NOTES.

Lines 1-4. See p. 56. The uncreated Spirit of God can enter into more intimate fellowship with the spirit of man, His own workmanship, than can any fellow creature, whether human or angelic.

1. 5. The Comforter.-For the force of the title, see Chapter xi.

1. 7. The fount of life.-So in the Nicene Creed the Holy Ghost is styled 'the Lord and the Life-giver,' the giver, that is, of man's true, spiritual life. See S. John vii. 37-39, iv. 14; Rev. xxii. 1.

1. 7. The fire of love.-S. Luke xii. 49. On the day of Pentecost He came with the appearance of tongues of fire, as with the sound of a rushing wind.

1. 8. The soul's anointing.-1 S. John ii. 20, 27. See p. 27. 1. 9. Finger of the Hand divine.-S. Luke xi. 20; S. Matt. xii. 28. The figure of the finger represents the delicate touch of the Spirit Who comes to perfect the work of creation and redemption. He traces the law of God on

our hearts.

1. 10. The sevenfold gifts.-See Chapter x.

1. 11. The promise of the Father.-Acts i. 4, 5.

1. 12. The tongue with power endow. -Acts ii. 4; and in a different connection S. Matt. x. 20.

1. 13. Light.-He guides into all truth of faith and life.

S. John xvi. 13. See p. 169.

1. 14. Love.-Rom. v. 5. See p. 189. 1. 15. Might.-See p. 156, and p. 173. 1. 18. Peace. See p. 191.

The following prayers may fitly be added to the notes on the Veni Creator Spiritus. The first is (with only a verbal alteration to suit it for general use) from the Office of Institution in the American Prayer Book; the second is from The Manual of Intercessory Prayer :

O God, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the Faithful, visit, we pray thee, thy servants with thy love and favour; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel; graft in their hearts a love of the truth; increase in them true religion; nourish them with all goodness; and of thy great mercy keep them in the same, O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify as one God, world without end. Amen.

O merciful Lord, we beseech Thee so abundantly to strengthen Thy servants with the sevenfold gift of Thy Holy Spirit, that they who are admitted by Thine ordinance to the perfection of Christian grace, may grow unto the perfection of Christian life in the exercise of the power which Thou hast given them; through thy Son Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

ENGLISH.

THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS, UPON THOSE, THAT ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop: he (or some other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following.

To the end that Confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, 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,

AMERICAN.

THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

¶ Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop, sitting in his chair near to the Holy Table, he, or some other Minister appointed by him, may read this Preface following; the People standing until the Lord's Prayer.

To the end that Confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, 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, 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.

¶ Then the Minister shall present unto the Bishop those who are to be confirmed, and shall say,

REVEREND Father in God, I present unto you these children [or these persons] to receive the Laying on of Hands.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

Do
ye here in the presence of God, and of this Con-
gregation, 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 God-
mothers then undertook for you?

And every one shall audibly answer,
I do.

¶ The Bishop.

OUR help is in the Name of the Lord.
¶ Answer.

Who hath made heaven and earth.
¶ Bishop.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
¶ Answer.

Henceforth, world without end.

¶ Bishop.

Lord hear our prayers.