Concerning which, it is enacted by the ftatute of the 2 & 3 Ed. 6. c. 13. that all perfons which by the laws or cuflems of this realm ought to make or pay their offerings, fball yearly well and truly content and pay the fame to the parfon, vicar, proprietor, or their depuies or farmers, of the parifbes where they shall dwell or abide; and that, at fuck four offering days, os at any time heretofore within the space of four years laft paft hath been used and accuft med for the payment of the fame; and in default thereof, to pay for the faid offerings at eafter then next following.

The four offering days are christmas, eafter, whitfuntide, and the fealt of the dedication of the parish church. Gibf. 739.

Concerning the offerings at eafter; it is directed by the rubrick at the end of the communion office, that yearly át eafter, every parishioner fhall reckon with the parfon, vicar or curate, er his or their deputy or deputies, and pay to them or bim all ecclefiafiical duties, accuftomatly due, then at that time to be paid.

And it hath been decreed, that eafter offerings are due of common right, and not by cuftom only. Bunb. 173. [Where it is faid by B. Gilbert, that offerings were a compenfation for pertonal tithes. lb. 198.]

So in the cafe of Carthew and Edwards, T. 1749; it was decreed by ti e court of exchequer, that eafter offerings were due to the plaintiff of common right, after the rate of 2 d. a head for every perfon in the defendant's family of 16 years of age and upwards, to be paid by the defendant.

Befides the oblations on the four principal feftivals, there were occafional oblations upón particular fervices: of which there were fome free and voluntary, which the parishioners or others were not bound to perform but ad libitum; there were others by cuftom certain and obligatory, as thofe for marriages, chriftnings, churching of women, and burials. Dig. p. 2. c. 23.

Thofe offerings which were free and voluntary are now vanished, and are not comprehended within the aforefaid ftatute; but thofe that were customary and certain, as for communicants, marriages, chriftnings, churching ofwomen, and burials, are confirmed to the parish priests, vicars, and curates of the parishes where the paitiès live that ought to pay the fame. Deg. p. 2. c. 23.

Particularly, at the burial of the dead, it was a custom for the furviving friends, toffer liberally at the altar, for the pious ufe of the priest, and the good eftate of the foul of the deceased. Kin. Par. Ant. Glf.

I

And

And from hence the custom still continueth in many places, of beftowing alms to the poor on the like occafions.

Thefe oblations were anciently due to the parfon of the parish, that officiated at the mother church or chapel that had parochial rites; but if they were paid to other chapels that had not any parochial rites, the chaplains thereof were accountable for the fame to the parfon of the mother church. Cal. 427.

By the ftatute of circumfpecte agatis, 13 Ed. 1. If a parfan demands of his parishioners oblations due and accustomed, fuch demand fhall be made in the spiritual court; in which cafe the fpiritual judge fhall have power to take knowledge, notwithflanding the king's prohibition.

But Sir Simon Degge conceiveth, that an action alfo may be formed upon the ftatute at the common law. Dig. p. 2. c. 23.

However, it is certain, that by the fmall tithe act of the 7 & 8 IV. c. 6. offerings, oblations, and obventions may be recovered before the juftices of the peace.

Official.

OFFICIAL principal is an officer, whofe office is

ufually annexed to that of Chancellor, and is there

fore treated of under that title.

There is also an official to the archdeacon; unto whom he ftandeth in the like relation, as the chancellor doth to the bishop.

Old Style. See Kalendar.

Option. See Bishops.
Oratory. See Chapel.

Drdinal.

ORDINAL, ordinale, was that book which ordered the manner of performing divine fervice: and feemeth to be the fame which was called the pie or pertuis, and fometimes portiforium. Lind. 251.

C 4

Drdinary,

2 Ordinary.

ORDINARY, ordinarius (which is a word we have

received from the civil law), is he who hath the proper and regular jurifdiction, as of courfe and of common right; in oppofition to perfons who are extraordinarily appointed. Swinb. 380.

In fome acts of parliament we find the bishop to be called ordinary, and fo he is taken at the common law, as having ordinary jurisdiction in causes ecclefiaftical; albeit in a more general acceptation, the word ordinary fignifieth any judge authorised to take cognizance of caufes in his own proper right, as he is a magiftrate, and not by way of deputation or delegation. God. 23.

Ordination.

1. Of the order of priests and deacons in the church.

II. Of the form of ordaining priests and deacons, annexed to the book of common prayer.

III. Of the time and place for ordination.

IV. Of the qualification and examination of perJons to be ordained.

V. Of oaths and fubfcriptions previous to the

ordination.

VI. Form and manner of ordaining deacons.
VII. Forms and manner of ordaining priests.
VIII. Fees for ordination.

IX. Simoniacal promotion to orders.

X. General office of deacons.

XI. General office of priests.

XII. Exhibiting letters of orders.

XIII. Archbishop Wake's directions to the bishops

of his province, in relation to orders.

I. Of the order of priests and deacons in the church.

deacon.

1. THE ΤΗ HE word prieft is nearly the fame in all the chrif- Origin of the tian languages: the Saxon is preoft, the German words priest and prifter, the Belgic priefter, the Swedish preft, the Gallic, preftre, the Italian prete, the Spanish prefle; all evidently enough taken from the Greek weerBulegos. Jun. Etym.

πρεσβύτερος.

In like manner, the word deacon, with little variation, runneth through all the fame languages; deduced from the Greek diaxovos. id.

crament.

2. Art. 35. Orders are not to be accounted for a fa Orders not a facrament of the gospel; as not having the like nature of facraments with baptifm and the Lord's fupper; for that they have not any vifible fign or ceremony ordained of God.

cons in the

3. It is evident unto all men diligently reading the holy Antiquity of feripture and ancient authors, that from the apofiles time there Piefs and dea have been these orders of minifters in Christ's church; bishops, church. priests and deacons. Which offices were evermore had in fuch reverend estimation, that no man might prefume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried and examined, and known to have fuch qualities as are requifite for the fame; and alje by public prayer with impofition of hands, were approved and admitted thereunto by lawful authority. Preface to the forms of confecration and ordination.

Bifhops, priefts, and deacons] Befides thefe, the church of Rome hath five others; viz. fubdeacons, acolythi, exorcift, readers, and oftiaries. 1. The fubdeacon, is he who delivereth the veffels to the deacon, and affifteth him in the administration of the facrament of the Lord's fupper. 2. The acolyth, is he who bears the lighted candle whilst the gospel is in reading, or whilft the priest confecrateth the hoft. 3. The exorcift, is he who abjureth evil spirits in the name of Almighty God to go out of perfons troubled therewith. 4. The reader, is he who readeth in the church of God, being alfo ordained to this, that he may preach the word of God to the people. 5. The oftiary, is he who keepeth the doors of the church, and tolleth the bell. Thefe, tho' fome of them ancient, were human inftitutions, and fuch as come not under the limitation which immediately precedes, [from the apostles time]; for which reason, and because they were evidently inftituted for convenience only, and were not immediately concerned in the facred offices of the church, they were laid afide by our Erff reformers. Gibf. 99.

That

Form eftablift.ed

That no man might prefume to execute any of them] And to this purpose, the rule laid down in the canon law is, that if any perfon, not being ordained, fhall baptize, or exercife any divine office, he fhall for his rafhnefs be caft out of the church, and never be ordained. Gibf. 138.

Except he were first called] Accordingly in the feveral offices, the perfon to be admitted is first examined by the archbishop or bishop, whether he thinks or is perfuaded that he is truly called thereunto, according to the will of Chrift, and the due order of this realm.

Tried, examined, and known] By the office of ordination, when the archdeacon or his deputy prefenteth unto the bifhop the perfons to be ordained, the bifhop fays, "Take/ heed that the perfons whom you present unto us, be apt and meet for their learning and godly converfation, to "exercise their miniftry duly to the honour of God and "the edifying of his church." To which he answereth, "I have enquired of them, and alfo examined them, and "think them fo to be."

Impofition of bands] This was always a diftinction between the three fuperior, and the five forementioned inferior orders; that the firft were given by impofition of bands, and the fecond were not, Gibf. 99.

II. Of the form of ordaining priests and deacons, annexed to the book of common prayer.

1. In the liturgy eftablifhed in the fecond year of king in the z Ed. 6. Edward the fixth, there was alfo a form of confecrating and ordaining of bishops, priests and deacons ; not much differing from the préfent form.

All other forms abolished.

Form annexed to the book of

common prayer.

Established by

فوع

2. Afterwards, by the 3 4 Ed. 6. c. fò. it was enacted, that all books heretofore used for fervice of the church, other than such as shall be fet forth by the king's majesty, shall be clearly abolished. f. 1.

ૐ

3. And by the 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. I. it is thus enacted! The king, with the affent of the lords and commons in partiament, bath annexed the book of common prayer to this prefent fatute; adding aifo a form and manner of making and confecrating of archbishops, bijh:ps, priests, and deacons, to be of like force and authority as the back of common prayer. 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. 1. f. 5. 8 El. c. I.

4. And by Art. 36. The book of confecration of archthe 29 articles, bishops and bifhops and ordering of priests and deacons, lately