Then the Presiding Bishop, and Bishops present, shall lay their hands upon the head of the elected Bishop kneeling before them, the Presiding Bishop saying,

RECEIVE the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a Bishop in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ Then the Presiding Bishop shall deliver him the Bible, saying,

GIVE heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine; think upon the things contained in this book; be diligent in them, that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men ; for by so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, devour them not hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcasts, seek the lost. Be so merciful, that you be not too remiss; so minister discipline, that you forget not mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive the never-fading crown of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ And for the last Collect, immediately before the Benediction, shall be said this Prayer:

MOST merciful Father, we beseech thee to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy holy Spirit, that he preaching thy word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all

patience and doctrine; but also may be to such as believe, a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

THE peace of God, which passeth all under

standing, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the blessing of God Almighty, of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

T The chief Priest of the Church, in each diocess, sovereignty, or state, being the oldest by adoption or ordination, may act as Bishop, and perform duties, as such, until a Bishop be regularly chosen and consecrated.

THE FORM OF

Consecration of a Church or Chapel.

The officiating Priest is to be received at the entrance of the Church or Chapel by the Church-wardens and Vestrymen, or some other persons appointed for that purpose. The officiating Priest and the Clergy who are present, shall go up the aisle of the Church or Chapel, to the Communion Table, repeating the 24th Psalm alternately, the officiating priest one verse, and the Clergy another.

Psalm xxiv.

THE earth is the Lord's and all that therein is: the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the floods.

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall rise up in his holy place?

4 Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart; and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbor.

5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him; even of them that seek thy face, O Jacob.

7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

8 Who is the King of glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is the King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

T The officiating Priest shall go within the rails, with such of the Clergy as can be there accommodated. The officiating Priest, sitting in his chair, shall have the instruments of donation and endowment, if there be any presented to him, and then standing up, and turning to the Congregation, shall say,

DEARLY beloved in the Lord; forasmuch as

devout and holy men, as well under the Law as under the Gospel, moved either by the express command of God, or by the secret inspiration of the blessed Spirit, and acting agreeably to their own reason and sense of the natural decency of things, have erected houses for the public worship of God, and separated them from all unhallowed, worldly, and common uses, in order to fill men's minds with greater reverence for his glorious majesty, and affect their hearts with more devotion and humility in his service; which pious works have been approved of and graciously accepted by our heavenly Father: Let us not doubt but that he will also favorably approve our

godly purpose of setting apart this place in solemn manner, for the performance of the several offices of religious worship, and let us faithfully and devoutly beg his blessing on this our undertaking.

Then the officiating Priest, kneeling, shall say the following Prayer:

FATHER in heaven, mighty in power and of great majesty, whom the world cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands; and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise thy especial presence, wherever two or three of thy faithful servants shall assemble in thy name to offer up their praises and supplications unto thee; vouchsafe, O Lord, to be present with us, who are here gathered together, with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate this place to the honor of thy great name; separating it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary and common uses, and dedicating it to thy service, for reading thy holy word, for celebrating thy holy sacraments, for offering to thy glorious majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, for blessing thy people in thy name, and for the performance of all other holy offices: accept, O Lord, this service at our hands, and bless it with such success as may tend most to thy glory, and the furtherance of our happiness both temporal and spiritual, through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.