Trollope on Article XXXVI: Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers

In order to render Ordination valid and complete, it is essential that it should be Epiaeoptd, and conferred on one or other of the three appointed orders of the Christian ministry ; that the candidate be * lawfully called and sent’ after due examination into his moral and religious character, as weU as Uterar^ and theological acquirements ; that prayer and the impoaititmfo hands constitute an indispensable part of the ceremony, as sanctioned by Apostolical usage and the constant practice of the Church ; and that in other re- spects the Ordinal contain nothing that ’ of itself is super- * stitious or ungodly.’

2. Prove that the Ordinal of our Church cor- responds in every respect with these particulars ; and consequently that her ministers are duly and lawfully ordained.

That this book is drawn up in perfect accordance with the stated requisites, is proved at lai^e in the Qitestions o?i the Liturgy ; Sect. xvi. Since, therefore, its use is pre- scribed by proper authority, and embodies all that is known

to hare the sanotion of the Apostlefl, all who are * conse-

• crated or ordered according to the rites* thereof, are to be considered ’ rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and

• ordered. *

3. Account for the retrospective view of the last clause of this Article.

In the reign of Queen Mary, the Ordinal of Edward VI., included in the Book of Common Prayer, was condemned by name ; but when the Prater Book was again authorized under Elizabeth, the office of Ordination, as forming part of it, was not expressly specified. Bishop Bonner, however, contended, that as it had been condemned by name, and not since revived by name, all ordinations conferred ac- cording to its rules were null and void; and, an act of Parliament having been passed to obviate the objection, a clause to the same e£Fect was introduced into this Article.

4. Shew that our Ordinal agrees with the forms and Canons of the early Church ; and the statements of the primitive Fathers.

No very early form of Ordination is now extant ; but it will appear by comparing it with the most antient that are still in being, that the English Ordinal has omitted nothings which was formerly deemed essential to render ordination complete. By the fourth Canon of the Council of Nice (a. d. 325.) it was decreed that, if possible, a bishop should he constituted by all the bishops ((f the province, but at all events, that three shmtld meet together for the purpose, and the rest certify their assent in writing. The second Canon of the Council of Carthage (a. d. 399.) directs that, when a Bishop is ordained, two bishops are to hold the booh qf the Gospels over his head : and one pronouncing the blessing upon him, tlie others who are present are to lay their Itanas on him. According to the second Apostolical Canon, Presfjyters and Dea4}ons are to be ordained by one Bishop. At the Ordination of a Priest, the Council of Carthage (Can. 3.) directs that, while the bishop blesses him and lays his hand on his head, all the presbyters present are to place their hands upon his head by the hand of the bishop; and that, at the Ordination of a Beacon (Can. 4.), the bishop only is to lay his hnnd on his head, because he is not ad- mitted to the priesthood. In the first Council of Constanti*

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