Quest. How many parts are there in a Sacrament? Anfw. Two; the outward vifible fign, and the inward fpiritual grace. Quest. What is the outward visible fign, or form in Baptifm? Answ. Water; wherein the perfon is baptized, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Quest. What is the inward and fpiritual grace? Anfw. A death unto fin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in fin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace. Quest. What is required of perfons to be baptized? Anfw. Repentance, whereby they forfake fin; and Faith, whereby they stedfafify believe the promites of God made to them in that Sacrament. Quest. Why then are Infants baptized, when by reafon of their tender age they cannot perform them? Anfw. Because they promife them both by their fureties; which promife, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform. Queft. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained? Anfw. For the continual remembrance of the facrifice of the death of Chrift, and of the benefits which we receive thereby. Quest. What is the outward part, or fign of the Lord's Supper? Anfw. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received. Quest. What is the inward part, or thing fignified? Anfw. The Body and Blood of Chrift, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper. Quest. What are the benefits, whereof we are partakers thereby? Anfw. The strengthening and refreshing of our fouls by the Body and Blood of Chrift, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine. Quest. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper? Anfw. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former fins, stedfafily purpofing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Chrift, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men. The Curate of every Parish shall diligently upon Sundays and HolyDavs, after the Second Lesson at Evening Prayer, spenty in the Church instruct and examine so many Children of his Parish sent unto him as he shall think convenient, in fome part of this Catechifm. And all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Dames, shall cause their Children, Servants, and Apprentices, (which have not learned their Catechism) to come to the Church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear, and be ordered by the Curate, until fuch time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn. So foon as Children are come to a competent age, and can fay in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and also can answer to the other Questions of this short Catechism; they shall be brought to the Bishop. Ana every one thail have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a witness of their Confirma tion. And whenfoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for Children to be brought unto him for their confirmation, the Curate of every Parish Thall either bring, or jend in writing, with his hand fubscribed thereunto, the Names of all fuch Perfons within his Parish, as he Thall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. And if the Bishop approve of them, he thall confirm them in manner follow OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZĖD AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. Upon the Day appointed, all that are to be then confirmea, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop; he (or fome other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following. To the end that Confirmation may be miniftered to the, more edifying of fuch as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, that none hereafter fhall be confirmed, but fuch as can fay the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Command ments; and can also answer to fuch other Questions, as in the short Catechifm 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 learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptifm, they may themselves, with their own mouth and confent, openly be fore the Church, ratify and confirm the fame; and alfo promife, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themfelves, faithfully to obferve fuch things as they, by their own confeffion, have affented unto. Then shall the Bishop say, D the prefence of God, and of this Congregation, renew the folemn promife and vow, that was made in your name at your Baptifm; ratifying and confirming the fame in your own perfons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe, and Sing to do all those things which your Godfathers and Godinothers then undertook for you? anfwer, I do. The Bishop. UR help is in the Name of the Lord; Anfw. And let our cry come unto thee. A Bishop. Let us pray. LMIGHTY and everliving God, who haft vouchsafed to regenerate these thy fervants by Water and the Holy Ghoft, and haft given unto them forgiveness of all their fins Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghoft the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the fpirit of wisdom and undersianding, the fpirit of counfel and ghoftly ftrength, the fpirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the fpirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. Then all of themin order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every feverally, faying, EFEND, O Lord, child [or this thy fervant] with the heavenly grace, that he may continue thine for ever, and daily increafe in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until the dom. Amen. come unto thy everlafiing king one D this thy Then shall the Bishop say, The Lord be with you: Anfw. And with thy fpirit. And (all kneeling down) the Bishop shall add, Let us pray. OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy And every one shall audibly 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 trefpaffes, as we forgive them thattrespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deli. ver us from evil. Amen. And this Collett. Anfw. Who bath made heaven and earth. Bishop. Bleffed be the Name of the Lord; Anfw. Henceforth, world without end. Bishop. Lord, hear our prayers; ALMIGHTY and everlafting makest us both to will and to do thote things that he good and acceptable unto thy divine Majefty; We make our humble fupplications unto thee, for these thy fervants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy Apoftles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this fign) 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 fo lead them in the know ledge and obedience of thy word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life, through our Lord Jefus Chrift, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY Lord, and ever THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. First the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in the Church three feveral Sundays or Holy-Days, in the time of Divine Service, immediately before the Sentences for the Offertory; the Curate Saying after the accustomed manner, I PUBLISII the Banns of Mar riage between M. of- and N. of. If any of you know caufe or just impediment, why these two Perfons thould not be joined to gether in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it: this is the firft, [Second, or third] time of afking. And if the Persons that are to be married dwell in divers Pa rithes, the Banns must be asked in both Parilhes; and the Curate of the one Panth shall not folemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked from the Curate of the other Parish. it the day andtime appointed for Solemnization of Matrim wy, the Persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church with their Friends and Neigh bours and there standing toge ther, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Priefi Thall fay, D EARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the fight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable eftate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, fignifying unto us the union that is betwixt Chrift and his Church: which holy eftate Christ adorned and beautified with his prefence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to fatisfy men's carnal lufis and appetites, like brute beafts that have no understanding, but reverently, difcreetly, advisedly, foberly, and in the fear of God; duly confidering the caufes for which Matrimony was ordained. First, it was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praife of his holy Name. Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against fin, and to avoid fornication; that fuch perfons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep. themselves undefiled members of Chrift's body. Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual fociety, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in profperity and advertity; Into which holy eftate these two Perfons prefent come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can thew any juft caufe, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now fpeak, or elfe hereafter for ever hold his peace. And also, Speaking unto the PerSons that shall be married, he Thall fay, I REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will anfwer at the dreadful day of judgement, when the fecrets of all hearts thall be difclosed) that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confefs it. For be ye well affuțed, that fo many as are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their Matrimony lawful. At which day of marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony by God's Law, or the Laws of this Realm; and will be bound, and suficient Sureties with him, to the Parties; or else put in a Caution (to the full value of fuch charges as the Perfons to be married do thereby fuftain) to trove his allegation; then the Solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried. If no impediment be alleged, then Shall the Curate say unto the Man, м. ILT thou W have this womån to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy efiate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her comfort her, honour, and keep her in fickness and in health; and, forfaking all other, keep thee only unto her, fo long as ye both thall live? The Man shall anfwer, I will. Then shall the Priest say unto the W N. Woman, 7 ILT thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy eftate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, ferve him, love, honour, and keep him in fickness and inhealth; and, forfaking all other, keep thee only unto him, fo long as ye both thall live? The Woman shall answer, I will. Then shall the Minister fay, Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man? Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner: The Minister receiving the Wo man at her Father's or Friend's hands, shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right hand, and to fay after him as followeth M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in fickness and in health, to love and to cherith, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. Then shall they loose their hands; and the Woman with her right hand taking the Man by his right hand, shall likewife fay after the Minister; I N. take thee M. to my wedded hufband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worfe, for richer for poorer In fickness and in health, to love, cherith, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth. Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring, laying the fame upon the book, with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the Priest taking the Ring, shall deliver it unto the Man to put it upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand. And the Man holding the Ring there, and taught by the Priest thall say, WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then the Man leaving the Ring ubon the fourth finger of the company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the fame by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And the Minister shall add this Bleffing. G OD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghoft, bless, preferve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and fo fill you with all fpiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's Table, shall fay or Sing this Pfalm following: Pfalm cxxviii. Beati omnes. LESSED are all they that fear Woman's left hand, they shall B both kneel down, and the Minifter shall fay, Let us pray. ETERNAL God, Creator and Preferver of all mankind, giver of all fpiritual grace, the author of everlasting life; Send thy blessing upon thefe thy fervants, this Man and this Woman, whom we bless in thy Name: that as Ifaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, fo thefe perfons may furely perform and keep the vow and covenant be twixt them made, (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge;) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jerus Chrift our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and fay, Those whom God hath joined together, let no man putafunder. Then shall the Ministerspeak unto the People. CORASMUCH as M. and N. holy wedlock, and have witnessed the fame before God and this ways. the Lord and walk in his For thou shalteat the labour of thine hands: O well is thee, and happy thalt thou be. Thy wife fhalt be as the fruitul vine: upon the walls of thine house; Thy children like the olive branches: round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be bleffed that feareth the Lord. The Lord from out of Sion shall fo bless thee: that thou shalt fee Jerufalem in profperity all thy life long, Yea, that thou shalt fee thy children's children and peace upon Israel. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it wasin the beginning, &c. Or this Pfalm. Pfalm Ixvii. Deus mifereatur. OD be merciful unto us, and T bless us: and thew us the G light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. That thy way may be known upon earth thy faving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, о God yea, let all the people praise thee. |