by the words used in the Book of Common Prayer it may appear.

Laftly, the ufe of the Sign of the Crofs in Baptism, being thus purged from all Popish fuperftition and error, and reduced in the Church of England to the primary inftitution of it, upon those true rules of doctrine concerning things indifferent, which are confonant to the Word of God, and the judgment of all the ancient Fathers, we hold it the part of every private man, both Minifter and other, reverently to retain the true ufe of it prescribed by public authority; confidering that things of themselves indifferent do in fome fort alter their natures, when they are either commanded or forbidden by a lawful magiftrate; and may not be omitted at every man's pleasure, contrary to the law, when they be commanded, nor used when they are prohibited.

Ministers, their Ordination, Function, and Charge. 31. Four folemn Times appointed for the making of Ministers. FORASMUCH as the ancient Fathers of the Church,

led by example of the Apoftles, appointed prayers and fafts to be used at the folemn Ordering of Minifters; and to that purpose allotted certain times, in which only Sacred Orders might be given or conferred: we, following their holy and religious example, do conftitute and decree, that no Deacons or Minifters be made and ordained, but only upon the Sundays immediately following Jejunia quatuor temporum, commonly called Ember Weeks, appointed in ancient time for prayer and fafting, (purposely for this caufe at their first inftitution,) and fo continued at this day in the Church of England: and that this be done in the Cathedral or Parish Church where the Bishop refideth, and in the time of Divine Service, in the prefence not only of the Archdeacon, but of the Dean and two Prebendaries at the leaft, or (if they fhall happen by any lawful caufe to be let or hindered) in the prefence of four other grave perfons, being Mafters of Arts at the leaft, and allowed for public Preachers.

32. None to be made Deacon and Minister both in one day.

THE

HE office of Deacon being a step or degree to the Miniftry, according to the judgment of the ancient Fathers, and the practice of the primitive Church, we do or,

dain and appoint, that hereafter no Bishop fhall make any perfon, of what qualities or gifts foever, a Deacon and a Minifter both together upon one day; but that the order in that behalf prescribed in the Book of making and confecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, be strictly obferved. Not that always every Deacon fhould be kept from the Miniftry for a whole year, when the Bishop fhall find good caufe to the contrary; but that there being now four times appointed in every year for the Ordination of Deacons and Minifters, there may ever be fome time of trial of their behaviour in the office of Deacon, before they be admitted to the order of Priefthood.

IT

33. The Titles of fuch as are to be made Minifters.

T hath been long fince provided by many decrees of the ancient Fathers, that none fhould be admitted either Deacon or Prieft, who had not firft fome certain place where he might use his function. According to which examples we do ordain, that henceforth no perfon fhall be admitted into Sacred Orders, except he shall at that time exhibit to the Bifhop, of whom he defireth impofition of hands, a Presentation of himself to fome Ecclefiaftical Preferment then void in that diocefe; or fhall bring to the faid Bishop a true and undoubted Certificate, that either he is provided of fome Church within the faid diocefe, where he may attend the cure of fouls, or of fome Minifter's place vacant, either in the Cathedral Church of that diocefe, or in fome other Collegiate Church therein alfo fituate, where he may execute his ministry; or that he is a Fellow, or in right as a Fellow, or to be a Conduct or Chaplain in fome College in Cambridge or Oxford; or except he be a Master of Arts of five years standing, that liveth of his own charge in either of the Univerfities; or except by the Bishop himself, that doth ordain him Minifter, he be shortly after to be admitted either to fome Benefice or Curateship then void. And if any Bishop shall admit any perfon into the miniftry, that hath none of these titles as is aforefaid, then he fhall keep and maintain him with all things neceffary, till he do prefer him to fome Ecclefiaftical Living. And if the faid Bishop fhall refuse fo to do, he fhall be fufpended by the Archbishop, being affifted with another Bishop, from giving of orders by the space of a year.

34. The Quality of fuch as are to be made Minifters.

No

TO Bishop fhall henceforth admit any perfon into Sacred Orders, which is not of his own diocefe, except he be either of one of the Universities of this realm, or except he fhall bring Letters Dimiffory (fo termed) from the Bishop of whofe diocese he is; and defiring to be a Deacon, is three and twenty years old; and to be a Priest, four and twenty years complete; and hath taken fome degree of fchool in either of the faid Univerfities; or at the leaft, except he be able to yield an account of his faith in Latin, according to the Articles of Religion approved in the Synod of the Bishops and Clergy of this realm, one thousand five hundred fixty and two, and to confirm the fame by fufficient teftimonies out of the holy Scriptures; and except moreover he fhall then exhibit Letters Teftimonial of his good life and conversation, under the feal of fome College of Cambridge or Oxford, where before he remained, or of three or four grave Minifters, together with the fubfcription and testimony of other credible perfons, who have known his life and behaviour by the fpace of three years next before.

35. The Examination of fuch as are to be made Minifters. THE Bishop, before he admit any perfon to holy Orders,

fhall diligently examine him in the prefence of those Minifters that fhall affift him at the impofition of hands: and if the faid Bishop have any lawful impediment, he fhall cause the faid Minifters carefully to examine every fuch perfon fo to be ordered. Provided, that they who shall affift the Bishop in examining and laying on of hands fhall be of his Cathedral Church, if they may conveniently be had, or other fufficient Preachers of the fame diocefe, to the number of three at the leaft: and if any Bishop or Suffragan fhall admit any to Sacred Orders who is not fo qualified and examined, as before we have ordained, the Archbishop of his province, having notice thereof, and being affifted therein by one Bifhop, fhall fufpend the faid Bifhop or Suffragan fo offending, from making either Deacons or Priefts for the space of two years.

36. Sub

36. Subfcription required of fuch as are to be made Minifters. No perfon fhall hereafter be received into the Miniftry, nor either by inftitution or collation admitted to any Ecclefiaftical Living, nor fuffered to preach, to catechize, or to be a Lecturer or Reader of Divinity in either Univerfity, or in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church, City, or Market-town, Parish-church, Chapel, or in any other place within this realm, except he be licensed either by the Archbishop, or by the Bishop of the diocefe, where he is to be placed, under their hands and feals, or by one of the two Univerfities under their feal likewife; and except he fhall firft fubfcribe to these three Articles following, in fuch manner and fort as we have here appointed.

I. That the King's Majefty, under God, is the only fupreme Governor of this realm, and of all other his Highness's dominions and countries, as well in all Spiritual or Ecclefiaftical things or caufes, as Temporal; and that no foreign prince, perfon, prelate, ftate, or potentate hath, or ought to have, any jurifdiction, power, fuperiority, pre-eminence, or authority, Ecclefiaftical or Spiritual, within his Majefty's faid realms, dominions, and countries.

II. That the Book of Common Prayer, and of ordering of Bishops, Priefts, and Deacons, containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God, and that it may lawfully fo be used; and that he himself will use the form in the faid Book prescribed, in public Prayer, and administration of the Sacraments, and none other.

III. That he alloweth the Book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bifhops of both provinces, and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God one thoufand five hundred fixty and two; and that he acknowledgeth all and every the Articles therein contained, being in number nine and thirty, befides the Ratification, to be agreeable to the Word of God.

To these three Articles whofoever will fubfcribe, he fhall, for the avoiding of all ambiguities, fubfcribe in this order and form of words, fetting down both his Christian and Surname, viz. I N. N. do willingly and ex animo fubfcribe to these three articles above mentioned, and to all things that are contained in them. And if any Bishop shall ordain, admit, or license any, as is aforefaid, except he first have subscribed in manner and form as here we have appointed,

he fhall be fufpended from giving of orders and licences to preach, for the space of twelve months. But if either of the Univerfities fhall offend therein, we leave them to the danger of the law, and his Majefty's cenfure.

37. Subfcription before the Diocefan.

NONE licenfed, as is aforefaid, to preach, read lecture,

or catechize, coming to refide in any diocefe, fhall be permitted there to preach, read lecture, catechize, or minifter the Sacraments, or to execute any other Ecclefiaftical function, by what authority foever he be thereunto admitted, unless he first confent and fubfcribe to the three Articles before mentioned, in the prefence of the Bishop of the diocefe, wherein he is to preach, read lecture, catechize, or adminifter the Sacraments, as aforefaid.

38. Revolters after Subfcription cenfured.

Fany Minifter, after he hath once fubfcribed to the faid three Articles, fhall omit to use the form of Prayer, or any of the Orders or Ceremonies prescribed in the Communion-book, let him be suspended; and if after a month he do not reform and submit himself, let him be excommunicated; and then if he shall not fubmit himself within the space of another month, let him be deposed from the miniftry.

39. Cautions for Inflitution of Minifters into Benefices. No Bishop fhall inftitute any to a Benefice, who hath been ordained by any other Bishop, except he first fhew unto him his Letters of Orders, and bring him a fufficient teftimony of his former good life and behaviour, if the Bishop fhall require it; and lastly, fhall appear, upon due examination, to be worthy of his miniftry.

40. An Oath against Simony at Inftitution into Benefices.

To avoid the deteftable fin of Simony, because buying and felling of Spiritual and Ecclefiaftical functions, offices, promotions, dignities, and livings, is execrable before God; therefore the Archbishop, and all and every Bishop or Bishops, or any other perfon or perfons having

authority