them to be Thine. Grant unto them that seal of perfection, and full endowment for their place in Thy spiritual temple, for which they wait; Fulfil them with Thy Holy Spirit, according to the measure of the gift of Christ; Grant that Thy holy Name, which is upon them, may be glorified in them; that Thy Church and people may be comforted and strengthened through them; and that, receiving blessing from Thee, as good and fruitful ground, they may bring forth the fruits of Thy Holy Spirit, a hundred-fold, unto eternal life. R. Amen. In the Administration of the Communion, before the Benediction of Peace is given, the Angel shall come down to the Candidates, and pronounce this Blessing: THE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you always. R. Amen. The peace of our Lord, &c. R. Amen. The Candidates shall withdraw to the lower part of the Church, and shall not receive the holy Communion. MAY T The Communion Anthem. AY our sons be as plants: May our daughters be as corner-stones: Polished after the similitude of a palace. Yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. The Order for Laying on of Apostles' Hands. The Candidates (followed by their Sponsors) shall be presented by the Angel at the entrance to the choir. The Apostle, and the Ministers with him, shall, after prayer before the altar, turn to them, and the Angel shall say, We present these persons, who have in our presence renewed the vows made in their Baptism, that they may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, through the laying on of hands. EARLY beloved, The Apostle. Ye have brought up these persons, who in holy Baptism have been made children of God, members of Christ, and partakers of the Holy Ghost, that they may be stablished, strengthened, and settled, by the anointing of the Holy Ghost, which is the sealing of the Lord; and that, through the strength and power of the same Spirit, they may be made perfect in Christ Jesus, and complete in all the will of God. But, as the preaching of the Gospel is not only a savour of life unto life, but also a savour of death unto death; and as the most precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, dispensed in His Church, is not only spiritual health and life to the faithful, but also to the unworthy partaker, judgment unto weakness and sickness, and even unto death; So in like manner this holy seal, which is the very seal of God by the Holy Ghost, and strength and confirmation unto all goodness, will also confirm and bind upon the unclean the chain of those sins, which are not put away with indignation and abhorrence. I beseech you, therefore, my brethren, and you especially, my beloved children, who are now presented before the Lord in order to receive this blessing, that ye do humble yourselves before Almighty God, in full assurance of His mercy, confessing all your offences and iniquities, and beseeching, and waiting upon Him, for the absolution of the same. Then the Angel shall offer this Confession, the Let us pray. MOST mighty God and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hast given Thy Son Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world; For His sake have mercy upon us Thine unworthy servants; Hear us, who turn from our sins, and abhor ourselves for our iniquities; Pardon our offences, blot out our transgressions, and give unto us henceforth to walk in Thy holy ways, and to serve and please Thee in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. A The Apostle. LMIGHTY GOD of His great mercy pardon you; absolve you from all your sins, iniqui ties, and transgressions; confirm and strengthen you in your good purposes; and enable you to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Peace be with you. R. Amen. Let us pray. ALMIGHTY GOD, who through holy Baptism hast given unto these Thy servants the grace of spiritual regeneration; Do Thou set upon them, we beseech Thee, the seal and confirmation of the Holy Ghost. Grant that the light of Thy countenance may shine into their hearts; and may they never be deprived of the shield of their faith through any wiles of the enemy. May the holy garment of uncorrupted purity, which Thou bestowest upon them, be kept clean and unpolluted, and the seal of Thy spiritual grace be preserved inviolate. Grant this, we beseech Thee, of Thine abundant loving-kindness, both towards them, and towards all Thy Church. And unto Thine allglorious and honourable Name, the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, be all blessing and praise, now, henceforth, and for ever, world without end. R. Amen. The blessing of the Lord be with you. The Apostle, and those who are to assist him, shall The "Glory be to God on high” shall be sung. The Collect. ́OUCHSAFE, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we may both faithfully ask and effectually obtain Thy spiritual gifts; and also may have grace therewith to profit and edify Thy Church. And grant that all those, who shall be baptized into the One Body of Thy Christ, and made to drink into the One Spirit, may abide in the Unity of the Faith, and grow together unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Hear us, we beseech Thee, for the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord: Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. For the Epistle [Acts, viii. 5-17]. The Anthem after the Epistle. HY throne, O God, is for ever and ever: TH The sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. All Thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia: Out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad. The Gospel [John, xiv. 12–17]. In the Prayer of Oblation (after Consecration). our prayers. Especially beseeching Thee for all these Thy servants, whom Thou hast been pleased to regenerate in the waters of baptism; and for whom we implore the seal and confirmation of their faith, through the gift and anointing of the |