THE

ORDER

OF

CONFIRMATION,

OR

Laying on of Hands upon those that are Baptized.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop; be, or some Priest appointed - by him, shall read this Preface following.

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O the end that Confirmation may be ministred to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, that

none hereafter shall be confirmed, but fuch as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the ten Commandments, and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained. Which order is very convenient to be observed, to the end that children

being now come to the years of difcretion, and having

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having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptifm, they may themselves, with their own mouth and confent, openly before the Church ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they by their own confeffion have assented unto.

Then shall the Bishop say to those who are to be confirmed,

:

:

Donation
O ye here, in the prefence of God and of

mise and vow that was made in your Name at your Baptifm; ratifying and confirming the fame in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things, which your Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for you?

I do.

And every one shall audibly answer,

The Bishop.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord;

Answer.

Who hath made heaven and earth.

Bishop.

Let us pray.

Here all shall kneel down, except the Bishop, who shall proceed, saying,

A Lmighty and everliving God, who hast vouch fafed to regenerate these thy fervants by water and the Holy Ghost, and haft thereby given unto them forgiveness of all their fins; Send down from heaven, we beseech thee, O Lord, thine Holy Ghost the Comforter upon them; and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill them with the spirit of thy holy fear now and ever. Sign them, O Lord, and mark them to be thine for ever, by the vertue of thy holy Cross and Pafsion. Mercifully confirm and strengthen them with the inward unction of thy Holy Ghost unto everlasting life. Amen.

Then all of them kneeling in order before the Bishop, he shall anoint every one of them with the Chrism or Ointment, making the sign of the Cross upon their forehead, and saying, NI fign thee with the sign of the Cross, I anoint thee with Holy Ointment,

Then the Bishop shall lay his hand upon the head of the Person he is confirming, and say,

AND I lay my hand upon thee: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Ghost, Amen.

And the Bishop keeping his hand still upon the person's bead, shall say,

DEfend, O Lord, this thy child [or this thy fervant] with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thine everlasting kingdom. Amen.

And thus shall the Bishop do to every person that is to be confirmed, one after another; and then he shall fay,

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Answer.

And with thy Spirit.

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And all kneeling down, except the Bishop, be Shall say the Lord's Prayer and the two Collects following.

OUR Father, which art in heaven; Hallowed

be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

A Lmighty and everlasting God, who makest us both to will and to do those things, which are good and acceptable unto thy Divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy fervants, upon whom (after the example

ple of thy Holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord Jesus Chrift; who, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty Lord and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and foul, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chrift. Amen.

Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus, THE bleffing of God Almighty, the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

When any Persons are confirmed, who were of riper years when they were baptized, and so answered for themselves; then the Preface at the beginning of this Office, and the Question which follows it, shall both be omitted; and the Bishop shall begin with, Our help is in the Name of

the Lord.

And there shall none be admitted to the Holy

Communion, until such time as he be confirmed.

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Before

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