صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

der the law as under the gospel, moved either by the express command of God, or by the secret inspiration of the blessed Spirit, and acting agreeably to their own reason and sense of the natural decency of things, have erected houses for the public worship of God, and separated them from all unhallowed, worldly, and common uses, in order to fill men's minds with greater reverence for his glorious Majesty, and affect their hearts with more devotion and humility in his service; which pious works have been approved of and graciously accepted by our heavenly Father: Let us not doubt but that he will also favourably approve our godly purpose of setting apart this place in solemn manner, for the performance of the several offices of religious worship, and let us faithfully and devoutly beg his blessing on this our undertaking.

Then the Bishop kneeling shall say the following Prayer.

hallowed, ordinary and common uses, and dedicating it to thy service, for reading thy holy word, for celebrating thy holy sacraments, for offering to thy glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, for blessing thy people in thy name, and for the performance of all other holy offices: accept, O Lord, this service at our hands, and bless it with such success as may tend most to thy glory, and the furtherance of our happiness both temporal and spiritual, through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

After this the Bishop shall stand up, and turning his face towards the Congregation, shall say,

REGARD, O Lord, the sup

of thy servants,

and grant that whosoever shall be dedicated to thee in this house by Baptism, may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, delivered from thy wrath and eternal death, and received as a living member of Christ's Church, and may ever remain in the number of thy faithful children. Amen.

O Eternal God, mighty in power and of majesty incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples Grant, O Lord, that they who made with hands; and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise thy especial presence, wherever two or three of thy faithful servants shall assemble in thy name to offer up their praises and supplications unto thee; vouchsafe, O Lord, to be present with us, who are here gathered together, with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate this place to the honour of thy great name; separating it henceforth from all un

at this place shall in their own persons renew the promises and vows which they made, or which were made for them by their sureties at their Baptism, and thereupon shall be confirmed by the Bishop, may receive such a measure of thy holy Spirit, that they may be enabled faithfully to fulfil the same, and grow in grace unto their lives end. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this place

the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, may come to that holy ordinance with faith, charity, and true repentance; and being filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, may to their great and endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of his passion. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that by thy holy word which shall be read and preached in this place, and by thy holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall be joined together in this place in the holy estate of matrimony, may faithfully perform and keep the vow and co venant between them made, and may remain in perfect love together unto their lives' end.

Amen.

Co

[blocks in formation]

PROPER PSALMS, 84.... FIRST LESSON. 1 Kings

8th, verse 22 to verse 63. SECOND LESSON. Heb. 10th, verse 19 to verse 27.

Grant, we beseech thee, blessed Lord, that whosoever shall draw near to thee in this place, to give thee thanks for the be-Morning Prayer being ended, there shall

nefits which they have received at thy hands, to set forth thy most worthy praise, to confess their sins unto thee, and to ask such things as are requisite and necessary as well for the body

as

for the soul, may do it with such steadiness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to give whatever in thy infinite wisdom thou shalt see to be most expedient for them: all which we beg for Jesus

from book of Psalms in metre, Psal. xxvi. verse 6, 7, 8, with the Gloria Patri.

The Bishop shall then proceed to the Com-. munion Service. The following shall be the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, for the occasion.

The Collect.

Most glorious Lord, we hard, we

not worthy to offer unto thee any thing belonging unto us; yet we beseech thee in thy great goodness, graciously to accept the dedication of this place to thy service, and to prosper this our undertaking; receive the prayers and inter

cessions of all those thy servants, who shall call upon thee in this house; and give them grace to prepare their hearts to serve thee with reverence and godly fear; affect them with an awful apprehension of thy divine Majesty, and a deep sense of their own unworthiness; that so approaching thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, and coming before thee with clean thoughts and pure hearts, with bodies undefiled, and minds sanctified, they may always perform a service acceptable to thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 2 Cor. vi. verse 14 to verse 17.

BE ve not unequally yoked for what fellowship hath righte

together with unbelievers;

ousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with Idols? For ye are the temple of the Living God: as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The Gospel. St. John ii. ver. 13.

[blocks in formation]

THE

AND the Jews Passover was keep your

at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all

HE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

A

TO BE USED AT THE MEETINGS OF CONVENTION. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, by thy Holy Spirit, didst preside in the councils of the blessed Apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world; we beseech thee to be present with the council of thy Church here assembled in thy name and presence. Save them from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our present work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, satan, and death; till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life, through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

AN OFFICE OF

INSTITUTION OF MINISTERS

INTO

PARISHES OR CHURCHES,

Prescribed by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America; established in General Convention of the Bishops, the Clergy and Laity, 1804; and set forth, with Alterations, in General Convention, 1808.

The Bishop having received due Notice of the Election of a Minister into a Parish or Church, as prescribed by the Canon "concerning the Election and Institution of Ministers," and being satisfied that "the Person chosen is a qualified Minister of this Church," may transmit the following Letter of Institution, for the proposed Rector, Associated Rector, or Assistant Minister, to one of his Presbyters, whom he may appoint as the Institutor.

In any State or Diocese the concluding Paragraph in the Letter of Institution may be omitted, where it interferes with the Usages, Laws, or Charters of the Church in the

same.

To our well-beloved in Christ, A. B. Presbyter, Greeting. Sigillum. WE do by these Presents give and grant unto you, in whose Learning, Diligence, sound Doctrine, and Prudence, we do fully confide, our License and Authority, to perform the Office of a Priest in the Parish [or Church] of E. And also Signat. hereby do institute you into said Parish [or Church], possessed of full power to perform every Act of sacerdotal Function among the People of the same; you continuing in communion with us, and complying with the Rubrics and Canons of the Church, and with such lawful Directions as you shall at any time receive from us.

And as a canonically instituted Priest into the Office of Rector [Associated Rector, or Assistant Minister, as the case may be] of Parish [or Church], you are faithfully to feed that portion of the flock of Christ which is now entrusted to you; not as a man-pleaser, but as continually bearing in mind, that you are accountable to us here, and to the Chief Bishop and Sovereign Judge of all hereafter.

And as the Lord hath ordained, that they who serve at the altar should live of the things belonging to the altar; so we authorise you to claim and enjoy all the accustomed temporalities appertaining to your cure, until some urgent reason or reasons occasion a wish in you, or in the congregation committed to your charge, to bring about a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal relation between you and them; of all which you will give us due notice: and in case of any difference between you and your congregation, as to a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal connection between you and them, we, your Bishop, with the advice of our Presbyters, are to be the ultimate arbiter and judge.

In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our Episcopal seal and

signature, at this day of

year of our consecration.

A. D.

and in the

In the Case of a Minister to be instituted in a State or Diocese in which there is no Bishop, the Clerical Members of the Standing Committee shall send the following Letter of Institution, for the proposed Minister, to the Presbyter whom they may appoint as In

stitutor.

To our well-beloved in Christ, A. B. Presbyter, Greeting.

Sigillum.

E do by these Presents authorise and empower you to ex

E. And by virtue of the power vested in us, do institute you into said Parish [or Church], possessed of full power to perform every act of sacerdotal function among the people of the same; you complying with the Rubrics and Canons of the Church.

And as a canonically instituted Priest into the office of Rector [Associated Rector, or Assistant Minister, as the case may be] of Parish, [or Church], you are to feed that portion of the flock of Christ which is now entrusted to you; not as a man-pleaser, but as continually bearing in mind that you are accountable to the ecclesiastical authority of the Church here, and to the Chief Bishop and Sovereign Judge of all hereafter.

And as the Lord hath ordained that they who serve at the altar should live of the things belonging to the altar; so you have our authority to claim and enjoy all the accustomed temporalities appertaining to your cure, until some urgent reason or reasons occasion a wish in you, or in the congregation committed to your charge, to bring about a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal connection between you and them; of all which you will give us due notice: and in case of any difference between you and your congregation, as to a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal connection between you and them, the ecclesiastical authority of the Church in this diocese (taking the advice and aid of a Bishop) shall be the ultimate arbiter and judge.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this day of

in the year

The day being appointed for the new Incumbent's Institution, at the usual hour of Morning Prayer, the Institutor, attended by the new Incumbent, and one or more Presbyters appointed by the Bishop, Cor, where there is no Bishop, by the Clerical Members of the Standing Committee) for that purpose, shall enter the Church: Then, all the Clergy present standing without the rails of the Altar, except the officiating Priest, who shall go into the desk; the Wardens, Cor, in case of their necessary absence, two Members of the Vestry) standing on the right and left of the Altar, without the rails; the senior Warden, or the Member of the Vestry supplying his place) holding the keys of the Church in his hand, in open view, the officiating Priest shall read Morning Prayer.

« السابقةمتابعة »