In order to ensure a body of Clergy duly qualified in mind and morals, St. Paul enjoined Timothy "to lay hands suddenly on no man" (1 Tim. v. 22.); and our Church has in like manner ordered that those only "who are tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for their office," shall be appointed thereto.

15. What are the requisite qualifications in a candidate for ordination; and by what obligation is he bound?

It is necessary that a candidate for ordination should be of the proper age, which is twenty-three years for a deacon, twenty-four for a priest, and thirty for a bishop; that he must be known to the bishop, either personally or by sufficient testimony, as a man of blameless life and conversation; that he be examined and proved to be learned in the Latin tongue, and to have a competent knowledge of the Scriptures; and that he have neither maintained nor written any thing contrary to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England. He is also bound by the oaths of allegiance and canonical obedience, and gives an unreserved assent to the three articles in the thirty-sixth canon, concerning the Queen's supremacy, the Liturgy, and the Thirty-nine Articles of religion.

16. When, and upon what principles, were the forms in our present Ordinal drawn up; what is essential to the validity of the three orders respectively; and what are the prominent features in the several offices?

The forms by which Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are now made, ordained, and consecrated, are contained in the Ordinal set forth in the third year of Edward VI. (1550), from which the reformers removed all ceremonies which could be regarded as merely idle or superstitious. In the ordination of Priests, anointing, and the delivery of the sacred vessels used at the celebration of the Eucharist, were omitted; in the consecration of Bishops, the mitre, the crosier, the ring, the gloves, and the sandals, were no longer employed; and in all the orders, prayers and the imposition of hands, as being the only essentials of ordination sanctioned by Apostolical usage, were alone

retained. At the consecration of a bishop, three at least of the Episcopal order must be present; at the ordination of priests and deacons, one only, assisted by priests; none but Episcopal ordination is accounted valid; and in each case, according to primitive custom, the duties appertaining to the office are clearly and substantially prescribed.

17. Quote the form of words in which authority is given by the ordaining bishop; explain the sense in which they are to be understood; and why they are not employed in the ordination of Deacons.

The form of words in which the bishop gives authority to those ordained is this:-" Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a priest, or bishop, in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands." Attempts have been made to explain away these words; but it is unquestionably the office of the Holy Spirit to invest those ordained with the power of dispensing God's word and Sacraments, and of performing what is necessary "for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. iv. 12.). This power, in accordance with the Saviour's promise to be "with the Apostles always unto the end of the world" (Matt. xxviii. 20.), the Holy Ghost confers by the hands of their successors; and though we lay claim to no supernatural endowments, it may readily be supposed that the aid and blessing of the Spirit is efficiently, though secretly, vouchsafed to the Clergy, in their study of the word of life, in the discharge of their ministerial functions, and in their labours for the spiritual welfare of their flocks. The form is not used in the ordaining of deacons, whose office is rather a probationary title to the ministry, to be afterwards confirmed by admission to the priesthood.

18. What is the title of the beautiful Hymn which is repeated before the act of ordination; and can you cite it in the original Latin?

Immediately before the act of ordination or consecration, the beautiful Hymn Veni Creator is said or sung; and its use in this place is very antient. The composition has generally been ascribed

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to St. Ambrose; but perhaps without sufficient evidence of the fact. Thus it stands, in the original Latin, in the Salisbury Missal.

Veni, Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita;
Imple superna gratia
Quæ tu creasti pectora :
Qui Paracletus diceris,
Donum Dei altissimi;
Fons vivus, ignis, charitas,
Et spiritalis unctio.
Tu septiformis munere,
Dextræ Dei tu digitus ;
Tu rite promissum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura,

Accende lumen sensibus,
Infunde amorem cordibus,
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpetim.
Hostem repellas longius,
Pacemque dones protinus:
Ductore sic te prævio
Vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
Noscamus atque Filium,
Te utriusque Spiritum
Credamus omni tempore.

Sit Laus Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito;

Nobisque mittat Filius

Charisma Sancti Spiritus. Amen.

19. What is the office and responsibility of a Deacon in the English Church?

The office of a deacon, who is entrusted with no independent cure of souls, corresponds very exactly with the description given of it in the Acts of the Apostles. He is appointed to “assist the priest in divine service," and specially in the distribution of the Eucharistic elements; "to read Holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church;" to catechise; "in the absence of the priest, to baptize infants;" to preach with the bishop's licence; and to devote his attention to the relief and consolation of the sick, the poor, and the infirm.

20. State the origin and import of the word Priest; and point out the duties and functions of the Priesthood.

The title of Priest, which is an abbreviation of Presbyter, manifestly conveys no idea in common with the sacerdotal function of the Jewish hierarchy, but simply indicates the dignity of age and office, by virtue of which he takes the lead in all matters connected with the service of the sanctuary, where the bishop is not present. The priesthood are commissioned to feed the flock of Christ; to preach the word of God, and minister the Sacraments to the congregation;

they are invested with the power of remitting and retaining sins, by giving or withholding absolution; they are required to aid the bishops with their counsel; and they are in fact qualified to exercise every sacred function which is not properly and exclusively Episcopal.

21. What are the peculiar functions of a Bishop?

In the English Church the functions peculiar to the bishop are Ordination, Confirmation, and the consecration of Holy places; together with the general supervision of the diocese over which he is appointed to preside. See above, qu. 6.

Larsma ancti Spiritos. Amen.

at s ze ice and responsibility of a Deacon

The office of a descon, who is entrusted with no independent of seats, corresponds very exactly with the description given of sinthe ters of the Apostles. He is appointed to assist the priest in Crime service," and specially in the distribution of the Encharistic dements; to read Holy Scriptures and Homilies in the Church;" a catenise in the absence of the priest, to baptize infants;" to reach with the bishop's licence; and to devote his attention to the relief wad consolation of the sick, the poor, and the infirm.

20. State the origin and import of the word Priest; and point out the duties and function