The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

ercise such discipline as by the authority of God's Word, and by the order of this Church, is committed to you?

Answer. I will so do, by the help of God.

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you be faithful in Ordaining, sending, or laying hands

upon others?

Answer. I will so be, by the help of God.

The Presiding Bishop.

WILL you show yourself gentle, and be merciful for Christ's

sake to poor and needy people, and to all strangers destitute of help?

Answer. I will so show myself, by God's help.

¶ Then the Presiding Bishop, standing up, shall say,

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hath given you a good will to do all these things, Grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same; that, he accomplishing in you the good work which he hath begun, you may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the latter day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop elect put on the rest of the Episcopal habit; and, kneeling down, Veni, Creator Spiritus shall be sung or said over him; the Presiding Bishop beginning, and the Bishops, with others that are present, answering by verses, as followeth.

COME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.

Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed Unction from above,
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And thee, of both, to be but One.
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song;

Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
TOr this.

COME, Holy Ghost, eternal God,

Proceeding from above,

Both from the Father and the Son,
The God of peace and love;

Visit our minds, into our hearts
Thy heavenly grace inspire;
That truth and godliness we may
Pursue with full desire.

Thou art the very Comforter
In grief and all distress;

The heavenly gift of God most High;
No tongue can it express.

The fountain and the living spring
Of joy celestial;

The fire so bright, the love so sweet,
The Unction spiritual.

Thou in thy gifts art manifold,

By them Christ's Church doth stand: In faithful hearts thou writ'st thy law, The finger of God's hand.

According to thy promise, Lord,
Thou givest speech with grace;
That, through thy help, God's praises may
Resound in every place.

O Holy Ghost, into our minds
Send down thy heavenly light;
Kindle our hearts with fervent zeal,
To serve God day and night.

Our weakness strengthen and confirm,
(For, Lord, thou know'st us frail;)
That neither devil, world, nor flesh,
Against us may prevail.

Put back our enemy far from us,

And help us to obtain

Peace in our hearts with God and Man,

(The best, the truest gain;)

And grant that thou being, O Lord,
Our leader and our guide,

We may escape the snares of sin,
And never from thee slide.

Such measures of thy powerful grace
Grant, Lord, to us, we pray;
That thou may'st be our Comforter
At the last dreadful day.

Of strife and of dissension

Dissolve, O Lord, the bands,

And knit the knots of peace and love

Throughout all Christian lands.

Grant us the grace that we may know

The Father of all might,

That we of his beloved Son

May gain the blissful sight;

And that we may with perfect faith
Ever acknowledge thee,

The Spirit of Father, and of Son,
One God in Persons Three.

To God the Father laud and praise,
And to his blessed Son,

And to the Holy Spirit of Grace,
Co-equal Three in One.

And pray we, that our only Lord
Would please his Spirit to send
On all that shall profess his Name,

From hence to the world's end. Amen

That ended, the Presiding Bishop shall say

Lord. hear our prayer.

Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY God, and most merciful Father, who, of thine infinite goodness, hast given thine only and dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, to be our Redeemer, and the Author of everlasting life; who, after that he had m: le perfect our Redemption by his death, and was ascended into heaven, poured down his gifts abundantly upon men, making some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Pastors and Doctors; to the edifying and making perfect his Church; Grant, we beseech thee, to this thy servant, such grace, that he may evermore he ready to spread abroad thy Gospel, the glad tidings of reconciliation with thee; and use the authority given him, not to destruction, but to salvation; not to hurt, but to help: so that, as a wise and faithful servant, giving to thy family their portion in due season, he may at last be received into everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Presiding Bishop and Bishops present shall lay their Hands upon the Head of the Elected Bishop, kneeling before them, the Presiding Bishop saying,

RECEIVE the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Bishop

in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition of our hands; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And remember that thou stir up the grace of God, which is given thee by this Imposition of our hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and soberness.

Then the Presiding Bishop shall deliver him the Bible, saying,

GIVE heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine. Think upon the things contained in this Book. Be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men; for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour

them not. Hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost. Be so merciful, that you be not too remiss; so minister discipline, that you forget not mercy: that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

Then the Presiding Bishop shall proceed in the Communion Service; with whom the new Consecrated Bishop, with others, shall also communicate.

¶ And for the last Collect, immediately before the Benediction, shall be said this Prayer.

MOST merciful Father, we beseech thee to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke, with all patience and doctrine; but also may be to such as believe a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness, laid up by the Lord, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your 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.

THE LITANY AND SUFFRAGES.

GOD the Father of Heaven; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Father of Heaven; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God; have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: spare us, good

Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.

Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness. Good Lord, deliver us.

From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and Commandment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost,

Good Lord, deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way;