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After the Gospel and Nicene Creed are ended, the elected Bishop (vefted with his Rotchet) shall be preJented by two Bishops to the Confecrator fitting in his Chair near the Altar, and the Bishops that prefent him faying,

MOST

OST Reverend Father in God, we present unto you this godly and well learned man to be ordained and confecrated Bishop of the Church and See of N.

TA

The Confecrator.

AKE heed that the perfon whom ye prefent unto us, be apt and meet, for his learning and godly conversation, to exercise this high office duly, to the honour of God, and the edifying of his Church.

The two Bishops shall answer,

We have enquired of him, and also examined him, and think him fo to be.

Then fhall the Confecrator ask the Clergy and People, Is this the perfon whom you defire for your go

vernour?

Clergy and People. This is he.

Confecr. I afk farther, Do you all bear teftimony to him, that he is worthy of this great and glorious authority; that he is a man full of piety towards God, and of juftice towards men; that the affairs of his own houfe have been well ordered by him, and that he hath been unblameable in the course of his life?

Clergy

Clergy and People. We bear teftimony to him.

Confecr. I demand the third time here before God the righteous judge, and Christ, the Holy Ghost being alfo prefent, and all the holy and miniftring fpirits, is he truly worthy of this ministry?

Clergy and People. He is worthy.

Then the Confecrator shall move the Congregation prefent to pray, Jaying thus to them.

BE

Eloved, it is written in the Gospel of S. Luke, That our Saviour Chrift continued the whole night in prayer, before he did choose and fend forth his twelve apoftles. It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles, That the disciples who were at Antioch, did fast and pray before they laid hands on Paul and Barnabas, and fent them forth. Let us therefore, following the example of our Saviour Christ and his Apoftles, having already fafted, now put up our prayers to Almighty God, before we admit and fend forth this perfon prefented unto us, to the work whereunto we truft the Holy Ghost hath called him.

Then, the Confecrator ftanding up, the Deacon being turned to the People fhall fay,

LE

ET us pray to God for this our Bishop Elect, that the Lord would fend his grace upon him, that he may duly execute the office whereunto he is called, to the edifying of his church, and to the honour, praise, and glory of his holy name.

Anfw. Lord, have mercy: We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Then

Then all the Confecrator fay the following prayer. Almighty God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit haft appointed divers Orders of Minifters in thy Church; mercifully behold this thy fervant now called to the work and miniftry of a Bishop, and replenish him so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that both by word and deed he may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and the edifying and well governing of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghoft, world without end. Amen.

Then the Confecrator, fitting in his Chair, fhall fay to him that is to be confecrated,

BRother, forafmuch as the Holy Scripture and the

Ancient Canons command, that we should not be hafty in laying on of hands, and admitting any perfon to government in the Church of Chrift, which he hath purchased with no less price than the effufion of his own blood; before I admit thee to this adminiftration, I will examine thee in certain articles, to the end that thou mayest bear witness before God and this Congregation, how thou art minded to behave thy felf in the Church of God.

I demand therefore,

Art thou perfuaded, that thou art truly called to the office of a Bishop, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ and the laws of the Church?

Anfw. I am fo perfuaded.

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Confecr. Doft thou unfeignedly believe all the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament? And art thou determined out of the fame Holy Scriptures to inftruct the people committed to thy charge?

Anfw. I do believe them, and am fo determined by God's grace.

Confecr. Wilt thou then faithfully exercise thy felf in the fame Holy Scriptures, and call upon God by prayer, for the true understanding of the fame; fo as that thou mayeft be able by them to teach and exhort with wholfome doctrine, and to withstand and convince the gainfayers?

Anfw. I will fo do by the grace of God.

Confecr. Art thou ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous doctrine and ftrange practice, contrary to God's word and to the doctrine and practice of the Catholick Church; and both privately and openly to call upon, and encourage others to the fame?

Anfw. I am ready, the Lord being my helper.

Confecr. Wilt thou deny all ungodliness and worldly lufts, and live foberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, that thou mayeft fhew thy felf in all things an example of good works unto others, that the adverfary may be ashamed having nothing to say against thee?

Anfw. I will fo do, the Lord being my helper.

Confecr. Wilt thou maintain and fet forward, as much as fhall lie in thee, quietnefs, love, and peace

among

among all men; and such as shall be unquiet, disobedient, and criminous within this Diocefe, correct and punish, according to fuch authority as to thee fhall be committed by God's word and the laws of the Church?

Anfw. I will fo do by the help of God.

Confecr. Wilt thou be faithful in Ordaining, Sending, or Laying hands upon others?

Anfw. I will fo be by the help of God.

Confecr. Wilt thou fhew thy felf gentle, and be merciful for Chrift's fake to the poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help?

Anfw. I will fo fhew my self by God's help.

Confecr. It appertaineth to the office of a Bishop, to baptize, confirm, and preach, to offer, blefs, confecrate, and ordain, to difpofe of the oblations of the Church, to excommunicate obftinate offenders, and reconcile penitents, and to govern next under God in Spirituals the Clergy and People committed Wilt thou do all this faithfully and

to his care.

diligently?

Anfw. I will fo do by the help of God.

Confecr. Wilt thou pay canonical obedience to thy Metropolitan?

Anfw. I will by God's help.

Note, at the Confecration of an Archbishop, instead of the foregoing question and anfwer, the following are to be used.

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