sanctuary, carrying life and joy to all around. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children; and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Now, therefore, arise, Q Lord God, into thy resting-place, thou and the ark of thy strength; let thy ministers be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. We beseech thee, O Lord, to overlook our unworthiness, forgive our sins, and make us a habitation of God through the Spirit. We offer all our offerings through the ever-blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom, with thee, and the Holy Spirit, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The service may then be concluded with the Doxology and Benediction.

SECTION IX.

185. THE FORM AND MANNER OF

ORDAINING DEACONS.

When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after a suitable sermon or exhortation, one of the elders shall present unto the Bishop all them that are to be ordained, and say,

I present unto you these present, to be ordained deacons.

persons

Then their names being read aloud, the Bishop shall say unto the people:

Brethren, if there be any of you who knoweth any impediment or crime in any of these persons presented to be ordained deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to that office, let him come forth in the name of God, and show what the crime or impediment is.

If any crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordaining that person, until such time as the party accused shall be found clear of that crime.

Then shall be read the following Collect:

The Collect.

Almighty God, who by thy divine providence hast appointed divers or- . ders of ministers in thy Church, and didst inspire thy apostles to choose into the order of deacons thy first martyr, St. Stephen, with others: mercifully behold these thy servants, now called to the like office and administration: replenish them so with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and the edification of thy Church, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

Then the Bishop, or one of the elders appointed by him, shall read the Epistle.

The Epistle. 1 Tim. iii. 8-13.

grave,

Likewise must the deacons be not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre: holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Then shall the Bishop examine every one of those who are to be ordained, in the presence of the people, after this manner following:

Do you trust that you are inwardly

moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of the ministry in the Church of Christ, to serve God for the promoting of his glory and the edifying of his people?

Ans. I trust so.

The Bishop. Do you unfeignedly believe all the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament?

Ans. I do believe them.

The Bishop. Will you diligently read or expound the same unto the people whom you shall be appointed to serve?

Ans. I will.

The Bishop. It appertaineth to the office of a deacon to assist the elder in divine service, and especially when he ministereth the holy communion, to help him in the distribution thereof, and to read and expound the Holy Scriptures; to instruct the youth; and