selves indifferent do in some sort alter their natures, when they are either commanded or forbidden by a lawful magistrate; and may not be omitted at every man's pleasure, contrary to the law, when they be commanded, nor used when they are prohibited.

MINISTERS, THEIR ORDINATION, FUNCTION, AND CHARGE.

XXXI. Four solemn Times appointed for the making of Ministers.

Forasmuch as the ancient fathers of the Church, led by example of the apostles, appointed prayers and fasts to be used at the solemn ordering of ministers; and to that purpose allotted certain times, in which only sacred orders might be given or conferred: we, following their holy and religious example, do constitute and decree, that no deacons or ministers be made and ordained, but only upon the Sundays immediately following Jejunia quatuor temporum, commonly called "Ember weeks," appointed in ancient time for prayer and fasting (purposely for this cause at their first institution), and so continued at this day in the Church of England; and that this be done in the cathedral or parish-church where the bishop resideth, and in the time of divine service, in the presence not only of the archdeacon, but of the dean and two prebendaries at the least, or (if they shall happen by any lawful cause to be let or hindered) in the presence of four other grave persons, being masters of arts at the least, and allowed for public preachers.

XXXII. None to be made Deacon and Minister both in one day.

The office of deacon being a step or degree to the ministry, according to the judgment of the ancient fathers, and the practice of the primitive church; we do ordain and appoint, that hereafter no bishop shall make any person, of what qualities or gifts soever, a deacon and a minister both together upon one day; but that the order in that behalf prescribed in the book of making and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons, be strictly observed. Not that always every deacon should be kept from the ministry for a whole year, when the bishop shall find good cause

to the contrary: but that there being now four times appointed in every year for the ordination of deacons and ministers, there may ever be some time of trial of their behavior in the office of deacon, before they be admitted to the order of priesthood.

XXXIII. The Titles of such as are to be made Ministers.

It hath been long since provided by many decrees of the ancient fathers, that none should be admitted either deacon or priest, who had not first some certain place where he might use his function. According to which examples we do ordain, that henceforth no person shall be admitted into sacred orders, except he shall at that time exhibit to the bishop, of whom he desireth imposition of hands, a presentation of himself to some ecclesiastical preferment then void in that diocese; or shall bring to the said bishop a true and undoubted certificate, that either he is provided of some church within the said diocese, where he may attend the cure of souls, or of some minister's place vacant, either in the cathedral church of that diocese, or in some other collegiate church therein also situate, where he may execute his ministry; or that he is a fellow, or in right as a fellow, or to be a conduct or chaplain in some college in Cambridge or Oxford; or except he be a master of arts of five years' standing, that liveth of his own charge in either of the universities; or except by the bishop himself, that doth ordain him minister, he be shortly after to be admitted either to some benefice or curateship then void. And if any bishop shall admit any person into the ministry, that hath none of these titles as is aforesaid, then he shall keep and maintain him with all things necessary, till he do prefer him to some ecclesiastical living. And if the said bishop shall refuse so to do, he shall be suspended by the archbishop, being assisted with another bishop, from giving of orders by the space of a year.

XXXIV. The Quality of such as are to be made Ministers.

No bishop shall henceforth admit any person into sacred orders, which is not of his own diocese, except he be either of one of the universities of this realm, or except he shall bring letters dimissory (so termed) from the bishop of whose diocese he is; and desiring to be a deacon, is three and twenty years old; and to be a priest, four and twenty years complete; and hath taken some degree of school in either of the said universities; or at the least, except he be able to yield an account of his faith in Latin, according to the articles of religion approved in the synod

of the bishops and clergy of this realm, one thousand five hun dred sixty and two, and to confirm the same by sufficient testimonies out of the holy scriptures; and except moreover he shall then exhibit letters testimonial of his good life and conversation, under the seal of some college of Cambridge or Oxford, where before he remained, or of three or four grave ministers, together with the subscription and testimony of other credible persons, who have known his life and behavior by the space of three years next before.

XXXV. The Examination of such as are to be made Ministers.

The bishop, before he admit any person to holy orders, shall diligently examine him in the presence of those ministers that shall assist him at the imposition of hands: and if the said bishop have any lawful impediment, he shall cause the said ministers carefully to examine every such person so to be ordered. Provided, that they who shall assist the bishop in examining and laying on of hands, shall be of his cathedral church, if they may conveniently be had, or other efficient preachers of the same diocese, to the number of three at the least; and if any bishop or suffragan shall admit any to sacred orders who is not so qualified and examined, as before we have ordained, the archbishop of his province, having notice thereof, and being assisted therein by one bishop, shall suspend the said bishop or suffragan so offending, from making either deacons or priests for the space of two years.

XXXVI. Subscription required of such as are to be made Ministers.

No person shall hereafter be received into the ministry, nor either by institution or collation admitted to any ecclesiastical living, nor suffered to preach, to catechize, or to be a lecturer or reader of divinity in either university, or in any cathedral or collegiate church, city, or market-town, parish-church, chapel, or in any other place within this realm, except he be licensed either by the archbishop, or by the bishop of the diocese, where he is to be placed, under their hands and seals, or by one of the two universities under their seal likewise; and except he shall first subscribe to these three articles following, in such manner and sort as we have here appointed.

I. That the king's majesty, under God, is the only supreme governor of this realm, and of all other his highness's dominions

and countries, as well in all spiritual and ecclesiastical thi ngs or causes, as temporal; and that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within his majesty's said realms, dominions, and countries.

II. That the Book of Common Prayer, and of ordering of bishops, priests, and deacons, containeth in it nothing contrary to the word of God, and that it may lawfully so be used; and that he himself will use the form in the said book prescribed, in public prayer, and administration of the sacraments, and none other.

III. That he alloweth the Book of Articles of Religion agreed upon by the archbishops and bishops of both provinces, and the whole Clergy, in the convocation holden at London in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred sixty and two; and that he acknowledgeth all and every the articles therein contained, being in number nine and thirty, besides the ratification, to be agreeable to the word of God.

To these three articles whosoever will subscribe, he shall, for the avoiding of all ambiguities, subscribe in this order and form of words, setting down both his Christian and surname, viz. "IN. N. do willingly and ex animo subscribe to these three articles, above mentioned, and to all things that are contained in them." And if any bishop shall ordain, admit, or license any, as is aforesaid, except he first have subscribed in manner and form as here we have appointed, he shall be suspended from giving of orders and licenses to preach, for the space of twelve months. But if either of the universities shall offend therein, we leave them to the danger of the law, and his majesty's censure.

XXXVII. Subscription before the Diocesan.

None licensed, as is aforesaid, to preach, read, lecture, or catechize, coming to reside in any diocese, shall be permitted there to preach, read, lecture, catechize, or minister the sacraments, or to execute any other ecclesiastical function, by what authority soever he be thereunto admitted, unless he first consent and subscribe to the three articles before mentioned, in the presence of the bishop of the diocese, wherein he is to preach, read, lecture, catechize, or administer the sacraments, as aforesaid.

XXXVIII. Revolters after subscription censured.

If any minister, after he hath once subscribed to the said three articles, shall omit to use the form of prayer, or any of the orders or

ceremonies prescribed in the Communion Book, let him be suspended; and if after a month he do not reform and submit himself, let him be excommunicated; and then if he shall not submit himself within the space of another month, let him be deposed from the ministry.

XXXIX. Cautions for Institution of Ministers into Benefices.

No Bishop shall institute any to a Benefice, who hath been ordained by any other Bishop, except he first show unto him his letters of orders, and bring him a sufficient testimony of his former good life and behavior, if the Bishop shall require it; and lastly, shall appear, upon due examination, to be worthy of his ministry.

XL. An Oath against Simony at Institution into

Benefices.

To avoid the detestable sin of simony, because_buying and selling of spiritual and ecclesiastical functions, offices, promotions, dignities, and livings, is execrable before God; therefore the Archbishop, and all and every Bishop or Bishops, or any other person or persons having authority to admit, institute, collate, install, or to confirm the election of any Archbishop, Bishop, or other person or persons, to any spiritual or ecclesiastical function, dignity, promotion, title, office, jurisdiction, place, or benefice with cure or without cure, or to any ecclesiastical living whatsoever, shall, before every such admission, institution, collation, installation, or confirmation of election, respectively minister to every person hereafter to be admitted, instituted, collated, installed, or confirmed in or to any archbishopric, bishopric, or other spiritual or ecclesiastical function, dignity, promotion, title, office, jurisdiction, place, or benefice with cure or without cure, or in or to any ecclesiastical living whatsoever, this oath, in manner and form following, the same to be taken by every one whom it concerneth in his own person, and not by a proctor:IN. N. do swear, That I have made no simoniacal payment, contract, or promise, directly or indirectly, by myself, or by any other, to my knowledge, or with my consent, to any person or persons whatsoever, for or concerning the procuring and obtaining of this ecclesiastical dignity, place, preferment, office, or living (respectively and particularly naming the same whereunto he is to be admitted, instituted, collated, installed, or confirmed), nor will at any time hereafter perform or satisfy any such kind of