blessings bestowed severally by each person are the same which are ascribed to them in my text. And when the priest pronounced this blessing to the people (as we still do in the visitation of the sick) God promised that he himself would accordingly bless them. And if you faithfully and devoutly receive it as ye ought, I do not question but he will do so now, upon my pronouncing in his name the same blessing, according to this apostolical form in my text: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” Amen.

THE CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS.

A CONSECRATION SERMON.

[ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT.]

TITUS, i. 5.

Τούτου χάριν κατελιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ, ἴνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.

a

b

THIS epistle is one of the three, not unfitly styled the hierarchical epistles, de statu ecclesiastico composite, as Tertullian speaks; being so many rescripts apostolical to Timothy and Titus, (the one desired by St. Paul to stay at Ephesus, Primate of Asia; the other left in Crete, Metropolitan of that and the neighbour islands ;) directing them how they ought to behave themselves in “ the house of God, which is the church of the living God." True and genuine decretal epistles; not like that counterfeit ware which Isidore Mercatord, under venerable names, hath had the hardiness to obtrude upon the world; but of the right stamp and alloy, and such

a Adv. Marcion, 1. 5. in fine.

b Vide S. Hieron. in Catalog. Script. Eccles.

c 1 Tim. iii. 15.

d Vide D. Blondelli Pseudo Isidor.