After this, the bishop standing up, and turning his face toward the congregation, says: Regard, O Lord, the supplications of thy servants; and grant, that whoever shall be dedicated to thee in this house by baptism, may be sanctified with the Holy Ghost, delivered from thy wrath and eternal death, and received as a living member of Christ's Church, and may ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that they who in this place shall in their own persons renew the promises and vows made by their sureties for them at their baptism, and thereupon be confirmed by the bishop, may receive such a measure of thy Holy Spirit, that they may be enabled faithfully to fulfil the same, and grow in grace unto their lives' end. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, may come to that holy ordinance with faith, charity, and true repentance; and, being filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their great and endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of his passion. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that by thy holy word which shall be read and preached in this place, and by thy Holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall be joined together in this place in the holy estate of matrimony, may faithfully perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may remain in perfect love and peace together unto their lives' end. Amen. Grant, we beseech thee, blessed Lord, that whosoever shall draw near unto thee in this place, to give thee thanks for the benefits which they have received at thy hands, to set forth thy most worthy praise, to confess their sins unto thee, and to ask such things as are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul, may do it with such stedfastness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to them whatsoever, in thy infinite wisdom, thou shalt see to be most expedient for them: All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. ¶ Then, the bishop sitting in his chair, the sentence of consecration is to be read by the chancellor or registrar, and signed by the bishop, and by him ordered to be registered, and preserved. ¶ After this, the minister officiating is to read the service for the day except where it is otherwise directed. PROPER PSALMS, lxxxiv. cxxii. cxxxii. FIRST LESSON, 1 Kings, viii. 22-62; or Zech. viii. 9. ¶ After the collect for the day, the minister stops until the bishop hath said the following prayer: O most blessed Saviour, who, by thy gracious presence at the feast of dedication, didst approve and honour such religious services as this which we are now performing unto thee, be present at this time with us also by thy Holy Spirit; and because holiness becometh thine house for ever, sanctify us, we pray thee, that we may be a living temple, holy and acceptable unto thee; and so dwell in our hearts by faith, and possess our souls by thy grace, that nothing which defileth may enter into us; but that, being cleansed from all carnal and corrupt affections, we may ever be devoutly given to serve thee in all good works, who art our Saviour, Lord, and God, blessed for evermore. Amen. ¶ Then the minister proceeds in the service of the day, to the end of the general thanksgiving. And immediately before the prayer of St. Chrysostom, the bishop shall say the following prayer: Blessed be thy name, O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to put it into the hearts of thy servants to erect this house to thy honour and worship. Bless, O Lord, them, their families, and substance, and accept the works of their hand; remember them concerning this; wipe not out this kindness that they have shewed for the house of their God, and the offices thereof; and grant that all, who shall enjoy the benefit of this pious work, may shew forth their thankfulness by making a right use of it, to the glory of thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then the minister proceeds with the prayer of St. Chrysostom, and the "Grace of our Lord," &c. A psalm or hymn may be sung, viz. Psalm xxvii. 6-8; with Gloria Patri. Or, see p. 329. COMMUNION Service. The bishop standing at the north side of the communion-table, as before, reads the communion service. ¶ After the collect for the queen (or king), he says the following prayer: O most glorious Lord God, we acknowledge that we are not worthy to offer unto thee any thing belonging to us; yet we beseech thee, in thy great goodness, graciously to accept the dedication of this place to thy service, and to prosper this our undertaking: Receive the prayers and intercessions of us, and all others thy servants, who, either now or hereafter, entering into this house, shall call upon thee; and give both them and us grace to prepare our hearts to serve thee with reverence and godly fear: Affect us with an awful apprehension of thy divine Majesty, and a deep sense of our own unworthiness; that so, approaching thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, and coming before thee ¶ After this, the bishop standing up, and turning his face toward the congregation, says : Regard, O Lord, the supplications of thy servants; and grant, that whoever shall be dedicated to thee in this house by baptism, may be sanctified with the Holy Ghost, delivered from thy wrath and eternal death, and received as a living member of Christ's Church, and may ever remain in the number of thy faithful and elect children. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that they who in this place shall in their own persons renew the promises and vows made by their sureties for them at their baptism, and thereupon be confirmed by the bishop, may receive such a measure of thy Holy Spirit, that they may be enabled faithfully to fulfil the same, and grow in grace unto their lives' end. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall receive in this place the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, may come to that holy ordinance with faith, charity, and true repentance; and, being filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their great and endless comfort, obtain remission of their sins, and all other benefits of his passion. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that by thy holy word which shall be read and preached in this place, and by thy Holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the hearers thereof may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same. Amen. Grant, O Lord, that whosoever shall be joined together in this place in the holy estate of matrimony, may faithfully perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, and may remain in perfect love and peace together unto their lives' end. Amen. Grant, we beseech thee, blessed Lord, that whosoever shall draw near unto thee in this place, to give thee thanks for the benefits which they have received at thy hands, to set forth thy most worthy praise, to confess their sins unto thee, and to ask such things as are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul, may do it with such stedfastness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to them whatsoever, in thy infinite wisdom, thou shalt see to be most expedient for them: All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. ¶ Then, the bishop sitting in his chair, the sentence of consecration is to be read by the chancellor or registrar, and signed by the bishop, and by him ordered to be registered, and preserved. After this, the minister officiating is to read the service for the day except where it is otherwise directed. PROPER PSALMS, lxxxiv. cxxii. cxxxii. FIRST LESSON, 1 Kings, viii. 22-62; or Zech. viii. 9. ¶ After the collect for the day, the minister stops until the bishop hath said the following prayer: O most blessed Saviour, who, by thy gracious presence at the feast of dedication, didst approve and honour such religious services as this which we are now performing unto thee, be present at this time with us also by thy Holy Spirit; and because holiness becometh thine house for ever, sanctify us, we pray thee, that we may be a living temple, holy and acceptable unto thee; and so dwell in our hearts by faith, and possess our souls by thy grace, that nothing which defileth may enter into us; but that, being cleansed from all carnal and corrupt affections, we may ever be devoutly given to serve thee in all good works, who art our Saviour, Lord, and God, blessed for evermore. Amen. ¶ Then the minister proceeds in the service of the day, to the end of the general thanksgiving. And immediately before the prayer of St. Chrysostom, the bishop shall say the following prayer: Blessed be thy name, O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to put it into the hearts of thy servants to erect this house to thy honour and worship. Bless, O Lord, them, their families, and substance, and accept the works of their hand; remember them concerning this; wipe not out this kindness that they have shewed for the house of their God, and the offices thereof; and grant that all, who shall enjoy the benefit of this pious work, may shew forth their thankfulness by making a right use of it, to the glory of thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then the minister proceeds with the prayer of St. Chrysostom, and the "Grace of our Lord," &c. ¶ A psalm or hymn may be sung, viz. Psalm xxvii. 6-8; with Gloria Patri. Or, see p. 329. COMMUNION Service. ¶ The bishop standing at the north side of the communion-table, as before, reads the communion service. After the collect for the queen (or king), he says the following prayer: O most glorious Lord God, we acknowledge that we are not worthy to offer unto thee any thing belonging to us; yet we beseech thee, in thy great goodness, graciously to accept the dedication of this place to thy service, and to prosper this our undertaking: Receive the prayers and intercessions of us, and all others thy servants, who, either now or hereafter, entering into this house, shall call upon thee; and give both them and us grace to prepare our hearts to serve thee with reverence and godly fear: Affect us with an awful apprehension of thy divine Majesty, and a deep sense of our own unworthiness; that so, approaching thy sanctuary with lowliness and devotion, and coming before thee with clean thoughts and pure hearts, with bodies undefiled and minds sanctified, we may always perform a service acceptable to thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The two chaplains shall read, one the Epistle, and the other the Gospel. THE EPISTLE, 2 Cor. vi. 14-17. THE GOSPEL, John, ii. 13-18. ¶ Then the bishop shall read the Nicene Creed. psalm or hymn may be sung, viz. Psalm c. Then follows THe Sermon. After which a See p. 329. The sermon being ended, immediately before the final blessing, the bishop shall say the following prayer: Blessed be thy name, O Lord God, for that it pleaseth thee to have thy habitation among the sons of men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of the saints upon earth; bless, we beseech thee, the religious service of this day; and grant that in this place, now set apart for thy service, thy holy name may be worshipped in truth and purity to all generations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ The bishop gives the blessing. All who do not receive the holy communion having left the church, and the doors shut; the bishop proceeds in the communion service; and he and the clergy having made their oblations, the deacons, churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose, shall collect the offerings of the rest of the congregation. CONSECRATION OF A CHURCHYARD. ¶ The burial-ground is to be properly enclosed, fenced, and completed, with gates and church-ways. ¶ When the service in the church is finished, let the bishop and clergy, with the people, repair to the ground which is to be consecrated, and proceed round the ground, repeating, alternately, the 49th or 115th Psalm. Or, standing in some convenient place, let the bishop say: The glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us. Prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper thou our handy work. ¶ After which the sentence of consecration (unless included in the sentence of consecration of the church) shall be read by the regis trar, and signed by the bishop; and a psalm or hymn may be sung, viz. Psalm xxxix. 5-8. See p. 329. |