"EXERCISES PROPOSED TO THE CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS AT THE FIRST ORDINATION HELD BY THE LORD BISHOP OF RIPON IN THE YEAR 1837." WITH ANSWERS, AND REFERENCES TO AUTHORITIES, HUMBLY DESIGNED AS A HELP TO STUDENTS IN DIVINITY. BY BENJAMIN L. HARGRAVE, LOFTHOUSE. LEEDS: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MASON AND SCOTT, BRIGGATE; MDCCCXXXVIII. In the prospect of presenting myself for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Ripon, I waited upon the Bishop of that Diocese, to know the Regulations under which his Lordship admitted Candidates for the Ministry; when his Lordship kindly gave me, as a specimen of his future examinations, a copy of the "EXERCISES" proposed at the first Ripon Ordination. These I placed in the hands of my respected Tutor, who, from their great excellency, made them the subjects of my own preparatory examinations. And from the persuasion that a diligent attention cannot be given to the various and important subjects they embrace without furnishing the Divinity Student with much information so necessary to his present advantage, and future usefulness in the Church, I have collected my Papers together, and, with a few corrections, ventured to submit them, in the humble hope that they may possibly afford a hint to those who, like myself, are preparing for the highly-important and sacred Office of the Christian Ministry. 66 The following Answers" are not given under the slightest impression that they contain any merit in themselves, for I am fully conscious of their many imperfections; but being given, as before stated, in the course of my own preparation for Orders, they are perhaps better calculated in their present state to afford a suggestion to those for whom they are immediately intended: and the better to secure this end, and to compensate for the defects of the "Answers" themselves, I have given copious "References" to the best Authorities upon the subjects which are introduced; and, therefore, these "REFERENCES chiefly are to be considered, and the Works to which they refer to be consulted, that the Student may be enabled to investigate more at large the subjects merely embodied in the "Answers." But all literary preparations will avail little or nothing towards enabling the Candidate to present himself for Ordination with true credit and satisfaction; and, afterwards, as a Minister, to preach the Gospel "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," unless they be attended with a due preparation of heart. May it, therefore, be deeply impressed upon my own heart, and upon that of every other Candidate for the sacred Office, how indispensable it is to pursue all our studies with prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God, who can both sanctify the affections, and enlighten the understanding, that we may all and each assist in building up the Church of Christ as "workmen who need not to be ashamed." "A diadem," says a pious and learned modern commentator, "is not more honourable to the princely wearer, than true religion, coupled with deep learning, is to the christian and the scholar." MAY THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, AND DISPENSER OF EVERY BLESSING, TEMPORAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SPIRITUAL, FURTHER WITH HIS BENEDICTION, THIS FEEBLE ATTEMPT AT USEFULNESS. B. L. H. LOFTHOUSE, 1838. CANDIDATES FOR PRIEST'S ORDERS. Write a short Sermon on any one of the following Texts :"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made "unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and "redemption; that, according as it is written, he that glorieth, "let him glory in the Lord." (1. Cor. I. 30, 31.) "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our "Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the "Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain "in the Lord." (1. Cor. xv. 56-58.) "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our "Faith." (I. John v. 4.) 1. CANDIDATES FOR DEACON'S ORDERS. Write a short Sermon on any one of the following Texts:"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which "was lost." (Luke XIX. 10.) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and "the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John XIV. 6.) "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: "repent ye, and believe the Gospel." (Mark I. 15.) B |