present, and bring you hereafter astray from the blessing of Thy unto everlasting rest. LAST DAY. Ant. Set up Thyself, O GOD, above the heavens. Ps. 111. I will give thanks, &c. Ant. Set up Thyself, O GOD, above the heavens: and Thy glory above all the earth. S. Matt. xviii. 15-22. JESUS said unto His disciples, If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My FATHER which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to Him, and said, LORD, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? JESUS saith unto him, say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 572. Almighty and everlasting GOD, Who hast promised in the sacred teaching of Thy word that where two or three are gathered together in Thy Name, there Thou wouldst be in the midst of them; graciously be present with our assembly, and mercifully enlighten our hearts, that we may not go lovingkindness, but alway keep to the straight path of Thy righteousness. Through. 573. There is no power, O LORD, in the knowledge of man which can without offending accomplish the judgments of Thy will, and therefore because Thine eyes beheld our imperfections, count, we beseech Thee, as perfect that which we desire to bring to a just and perfect end. We pray Thee to meet us at our setting out, we hope for Thee as our witness at this close of our decision, that Thou mayest spare our ignorance, pardon our errors, and bestow perfect and effectual working in answer to our perfected prayers; and because we are sore afraid by the warnings of our consciences lest ignorance should have drawn us into error, or hasty wilfulness have led us to swerve from that which is just; therefore we pray and beseech Thee, that if we have committed any offence against Thee in the assembly of this Synod, it may be remitted by Thy grace, that in this assemblage which we are about to dissolve we may be loosed from all the chains of our sins, that we who have transgressed may obtain pardon, and giving thanks to Thee, may hereafter receive an everlasting reward. Through. LORD, have mercy, &c. Benediction. CHRIST, the SON of GOD, Who is the beginning and the end, grant you the fulness of love. Amen. And He Who hath caused you to reach the end of this Synod deliver you from all contagion of guilt. Amen. That, freed and loosed from every guiltiness by the gift of the HOLY GHOST, you may safely and unharmed return to your own homes. Amen. Then shall follow the Itinerary, see p. 19. ORDINATION OF READERS. The Archdeacon, or the Priest of the parish where the Reader is to officiate, shall present the candidate, vested in cassock and surplice, to the Bishop, seated in his chair in front of the High Altar, and shall say, Right Reverend Father in GOD, we present unto you this person, N., here present, who seeks the imposition of your hands, to be ordained Reader for the Church N. Bishop. Do ye testify that he is worthy of this office? Archd. We do so testify. Bishop. If any man know of any impediment or crime, by reason of which N. ought not to be ordained Reader, for the avoiding of scandal and offence, let him now declare it. If no objection be alleged, the Bishop shall proceed, saying, My son, if thou wouldst be a Reader in the House of our GOD, learn what that office is, that thou mayest fulfil it, and that Almighty GOD may bestow upon thee the grace of everlasting perfection. It behoves a Reader to recite the Lessons, and otherwise, if so ordered, to aid the Priest in Divine Service. Give heed, therefore, to repeat the words of GOD distinctly and plainly, for the instruction and edification of the faithful, lest the true meaning of the Holy Scriptures should, through thy carelessness, be perverted, and fail to teach the hearers. I ask therefore : Bishop. What then thou readest with thy mouth, believe with thy heart, and fulfil in thy works, that thou mayest instruct them that hear thee both by thy words and thine example, which may GOD accomplish of His grace. &c. y. Let us pray. . The LORD, &c. R. And with, LORD, have mercy, &c. Our FATHER, &c. . O GOD, save Thy servant. R. Who putteth his trust in Thee. y. Let his mouth be exercised in wisdom. R. And his tongue be he teach Thy ways unto the wicked. talking of judgment. . Then shall Ry. And sinners shall be converted unto Thee. . Open Thou his eyes. Ry. That he may see the wondrous things of Thy law. . Guide after that receive him with glory. him with Thy counsel. R. And . LORD, hear, &c. Rz. And let, &c. Let us pray. 574. Almighty GOD, bountiful in Thy gifts, Who hast appointed divers grades and orders in Thy Church for the ministry thereof, and hast poured Thy grace on Thy servants; vouchsafe now to hallow this Thy servant N., and choose him to be a Reader, granting him with all wisdom and understanding to meditate upon and read the Divine Scriptures, filling him with Thy gifts, and keeping him pure and blameless, that he may worthily pronounce to Thy people Thy holy Word, which Thou hast given for our help and comfort and the salvation of our souls. Through. Then the Bishop shall lay his hands on the candidate, and give him a Bible, saying, Receive authority to read the Bible in the Church, and be thou a wise setter-forth of the Word of GOD. And if thou fulfil this thy charge with a right heart and mind, thou shalt have a share in the fellowship of the Saints and elect of GOD. that were in the synagogue were Then shall the Archdeacon read the The Gospel ended, the Bishop shall Gospel. S. Luke iv. 16-21. And JESUS came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbathday, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias: and when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the LORD. And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them say, V. The LORD, &c. R. And with, &c. y. Let us pray. 575. O Almighty GOD, Who didst choose Thy servant Ezra, and gavest him wisdom to read Thy Law unto the people; look graciously on this Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen as a Reader of Thy Word. Make him wise in Thy commandments, and understanding in Thy statutes. Enlighten the eyes of his mind, that he may clearly know Thy precepts, and grant him with purity of heart and with faith unfeigned to meditate and read therein, unto the edifying of them that hear, so that they may declare the honour and glory of Thy kingdom, where with Thy SON and HOLY SPIRIT, Thou livest and reignest, GOD, for ever and ever. Prevent us, &c. The peace, &c. ORDINATION OF SUBDEACONS. The Archdeacon shall present the GOD, and the edifying of His candidates, vested in cassock, gir-Church. dle, and surplice, to the Bishop, seated in his chair before the High Altar, and shall say, Right Reverend Father in GOD, we present unto you these persons NN. here present, who seek the imposition of hands for the office of Subdeacon. Bishop. Take heed that the persons whom ye present unto us, be apt and meet, for their learning and godly conversation, to exercise their Ministry duly, to the honour of The Archdeacon shall answer, I have inquired of them, and also examined them, and think them so to be. 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 Subdeacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that Office, let him come forth in the Name of GOD, | you. Be sober; be vigilant; beand show what the crime or impedi- cause your adversary the devil, as ment is. a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom And if any great crime or impedi- resist steadfast in the faith, knowment be objected, the Bishop shall ing that the same afflictions are acsurcease from Ordering that per-complished in your brethren that son, until such time as the party are in the world. But the GOD of accused shall be found clear of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by CHRIST JESUS, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you: to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 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 people present, sing or say the Litany, with the prayers following. Gospel. S. Mark xiii. 33—37. JESUS said unto His disciples, Take ye heed, watch and pray: The Litany and special Suffrages. for ye know not when the time is. (See Form of making Deacons in For the Son of Man is as a man Book of Common Prayer.) taking a far journey, who left his Then shall follow the Holy Eucha-house, and gave authority to his rist, with the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel as under. Collect. 576. O LORD our heavenly FATHER, Almighty, everlasting GOD, vouchsafe to bless this Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen for the office of Subdeacon; make him diligent in Thy sanctuary, a vigilant watchman in the heavenly warfare, a faithful minister at Thy holy Altar, and cause to rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and holiness, and fill him with the spirit of Thy fear; stablish him in the sacred ministry, that obedient in word and deed, he may obtain Thy grace. Through. Epistle. 1 S. Pet. v. 5-11. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for GOD resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest, coming And what I say unto you, I say suddenly, he find you sleeping. unto all, Watch. The Nicene Creed ended, the Bishop shall say, Beloved, ye that seek the holy office of Subdeacon, must needs ponder carefully again and again what a duty it is that ye desire to take upon yourselves. I demand therefore, Do seek you this office freely, not being constrained thereto, nor for the sake of gain, but for the honour and service of GOD? Ans. I do so seek it. Bishop. Do you believe that GOD Himself has called you to His service? Ans. I do so believe. Bishop. Will you be diligent in framing your life and conduct after the rule of CHRIST's doctrine ? Ans. I will, the LORD being my helper. Bishop. Will you be zealous in in the Church of GOD. In the discharging your office according Name, &c. to the laws of this Church of GOD? Ans. I will do so, by the help of GOD. Then shall the Archdeacon put into the hands of each of them the flagon or cruet, and the Book of Epistles, while the Bishop says, Take heed to the ministry which committed unto thee, and see that thou so fulfil it as shall be well-pleasing unto GOD. is Then shall follow the Offertory, and in the Post-Communion the Collect subjoined shall be said. Bishop. It belongeth to the office of a Subdeacon to aid the Deacon in his ministry; to serve at the Altar of GOD; to care for the holy vessels, linen and books thereof, keeping them in readiness, purity, and order; to read the Epistles in the Church; to minister the oblations at the offertory; to see that all things are prepared for 577. Almighty, everlasting GOD, Divine Service, and to perform such Who hast given unction to kings, other duties in the Church and Who didst raise up and sanctify parish as shall be enjoined him by Thy prophets, Who calledst the lawful authority. See therefore just; so call and choose Thy serthat ye be henceforth zealous, vants for the office of a Subdeacon, Thy Church, bestowing on them that they may be good stewards in watchful, sober, pure, and devout, which may He grant you, Who liveth. Then the Bishop laying his hands severally upon the head of every candidate, kneeling before him, shall say, the gift of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, granting that they may love the beauty of Thy House, and the communion of Thy sacraments, and plant them as fruitful olive trees to bring forth the fruits of righteousness unto CHRIST JESUS our LORD. Who Receive the office of a Subdeacon liveth. INSTITUTION OF AN INCUMBENT OF A PARISH OR The Bishop, (or in his absence, the | ing him thereto, I require that if Archdeacon or Rural Dean) shall any of you do know of any just be seated in a chair before the cause or impediment why he should Altar. The new Incumbent shall not be instituted to this office, ye kneel at the Litany-stool in front do now declare it. of him. The Bishop. If any objection be alleged, the In stitutor, according to his discretion, shall suspend or continue the Service. Dearly beloved brethren, N., elected Pastor of this Church, is present here to enter upon his office; wherefore we think fit that Brother, seeing that the grace of he shall be examined, according to GOD, and the choice of the patron the rule of the godly Fathers, in of this benefice [or of the congrethose things which belong to our gation, as may be the case,] and thy holy religion and to the clerical former life and conversation have state. Wherefore, before institut-called thee to this office, we desire |