Ques. What is the inward and spiritual grace?

Ans. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

Ques. What is required of persons to be baptized?

Ans. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and Faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacra

ment.

Ques. Why then are Infants baptized, when, by reason of their tender age, they cannot perform them?

Ans. Because they promise them both by their Sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform. Ques. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained? Ans. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby.

Ques. What is the outward part, or sign of the Lord's Supper? Ans. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received.

Ques. What is the inward part, or thing signified?

Ans. The Body and Blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received, by the faithful, in the Lord's Supper.

Ques. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby? Ans. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine.

Ques. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper? Ans. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.

The Curate of every Parish shall diligently, upon Sundays and Holydays, after the second Lesson at Evening Prayer, openly in the Church, instruct and examine so many Children of his Parish sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism.

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 such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn. So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say, 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. And every one shall have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a Witness of their Confirmation.

And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for Children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Curate of every Parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his Parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be Confirmed. And, if the Bishop approve of them, he shall Confirm them in manner following.

THE ORDER OF

CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED
AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then Confirmed, being placed, and standing in order, before the Bishop; he (or some other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following.

To end that fonferve it, the Church hath thought good to order,

O the end that Confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying

That none hereafter shall be Confirmed, but such 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 discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, 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 confession, have assented unto.

Then shall the Bishop say,

O ye here, in the presence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in your name at your Baptism; ratifying and confirming the same 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?

And every one shall audibly answer,

The Bishop. Let us pray.

LMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate

unto them forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and under

The Order of Confirmation.]—When children have been well instructed, by means of the Church Catechism, in the vows made for them at their Baptism, it is then required that they should take the vows upon themselves, and be confirmed in the same by the Bishop; and the rite appointed for that purpose, is called the rite of Confirmation.

standing, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the Spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever.

Amen.

Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one severally, saying,

EFEND, O Lord, this thy child [or this thy servant] with thy

increase in thy holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

Ο

And (all kneeling down) the Bishop shall add,

Let us pray.

UR 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.

And this Collect.

LMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; we make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example 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 Christ, 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 soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying, thus,

TGhose, beg of you, remain with you for ever.
HE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Amen.

And there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be Confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be Confirmed.

Ghostly strength.]—" Spiritual," relating to the spirit or soul. This expression is of frequent occurrence, such as ghostly counsel, ghostly advice, ghostly dangers, that is, spiritual:-Ghostly enemy, the enemy of the ghost or soul, that is, the devil. The Holy Spirit is likewise called the Holy Ghost.

THE FORM OF

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

First, the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in the Church three several Sundays, during the time of Morning service, or of Evening Service, (if there be no Morning Service,) immediately after the Second Lesson; the Curate saying, after the accustomed manner;

I

Publish the Banns of Marriage between M. of

and N. of

If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second, or third] time of asking.

And if the persons that are to be married dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked, from the Curate of the other Parish.

At the day and time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church with their friends and neighbours: and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Priest shall say ;

DEARLY we arecongregation, to join together this Man and

EARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God,

this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men: and, therefore, is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes 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 praise of his holy Name.

Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined:

The Form of the Solemnization of Matrimony.]-In every country on the globe, there has been some religious form of solemnizing the great and most important act of matrimony. Among Christians especially, from the first ages of the Church, those who have been married, have been so by a religious ceremony, and at the hands of an ecclesiastical person.

Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else, hereafter, for ever hold his peace.

And also speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say,

I

Require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that, if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so 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 sufficient sureties with him, to the parties; or else put in a Caution, (to the full value of such charges as the persons to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation; then the solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried.

M.

WILT

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the Man, TILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

N.

WILT

The Man shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Priest say unto the Woman,

VILT thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

The Woman shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Minister say,

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 Woman 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 say after him as followeth.

I

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 sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 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 likewise say after the Minister,

I

N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness