TO

THE PRIESTS AND DEACONS

ORDAINED BY HIM

DURING THE PAST FOURTEEN YEARS,

THESE ADDRESSES

ARE DEDICATED

BY THEIR AFFECTIONATE FRIEND

AND

"CHIEF PASTOR" IN THE LORD,

S. OXON.

Address I. The Inward Call.

"Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of His glory, and the edifying of His people?

"Answer.--I trust so. Office for the Ordination of Deacons.

"Do you think in your heart, that you be truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of the United Church of England and Ireland, to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood?

"Answer.--I think it." Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address II. The Glory of God.

" ... To serve God for the promoting of His glory, and the edifying of his people?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address III. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures.

"Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain all Doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? and are you determined, out of the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing, as required of necessity to eternal salvation, but that which you shall be persuaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture?"

Address IV. The Ministration of Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline.

"Will you then give your faithful diligence always so to minister the Doctrine and Sacraments, and the Discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Church and Realm hath received the same, according to the Commandments of God; so that you may teach the people committed to your Cure and Charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address V. The Driving away of Erroneous and Strange Doctrines.

"Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your Cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address VI. Private Monitions and Exhortations to the Sick and to the Whole.

"Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your Cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address VII. Private Ministration to the Sick and to the Whole.

"Will you use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your Cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address VIII. Diligence in Prayer.

"Will you be diligent in prayer?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address IX. Diligence in the Study of Holy Scripture.

"Will you be diligent in prayers, and in reading of the holy Scriptures, and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the world and the flesh?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address X. Diligence in Study.

"Will you be diligent in ... such studies as help to the knowledge of the same?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address XI. Being Ensamples to the Flock of Christ.

"Will you be diligent to frame and fashion your own selves, and your families, according to the Doctrines of Christ; and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in your lieth, wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address XII. Maintaining Quietness and Peace.

"Will you maintain and set forwards, as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace and love, among all Christian people, and especially among them that are or shall be committed to your charge?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

Address XIII. Obedience to Ordinary and other Chief Ministers.

"Will you reverently obey your Ordinary, and other chief Ministers unto whom is committed the charge and government over you; following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments?" Office for the Ordination of Priests.

THE following Addresses have been delivered at successive Ordinations to the Candidates for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Oxford. I have been led to publish them partly by the urgent request of those to whom they were delivered, and to whom they will, I trust, recall some of the deepest feelings and most solemn moments of their lives; partly because friends in whose judgment I have great confidence have thought them likely, under the blessing of Almighty God, to be extensively useful. Their main object has been, whilst they explain the meaning of our Ordinal, to stir up the devout and religious affections of those who were about to seek the great and blessed, but, at the same time, perilous office of Ministers of Christ. May God the Holy Ghost, without whose aid all such attempts must be in vain, be graciously pleased to bring home to the hearts of those who may [v/vi] read them the mighty and transforming truths which, with whatever weakness and imperfection of execution, it has been my object in these pages to set forth. may God the Holy Ghost, who abideth ever with the Church of Christ, speak Himself through these lines, to hearts waiting for His blessing. May He accept mercifully, for Christ's sake, this attempt to impress on the minds and spirits of some young champions of His faith the living characteristics of that marvellous ministry which is conferred and received in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; to Whom, Three Persons, One God, blessed for ever, be all praise and glory, now and for evermore.

CUDDESDON PALACE,
Christmas, 1859.

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