THE FORM AND MANNER

Of ordaining Ministers in the New Jerusalem Church, as heretofore used in the Churches of Baltimore and Philadelphia.

AT the time appointed, the ordaining minister may introduce DIVINE SERVICE, with such appropriate passages from the Holy Scriptures, followed by a hymn and prayer, as to him mag seem proper, concluding with the LORD's Prayer.

The Decalogue is next to be read.

After which, the candidate for ordination shall be presented to the ordaining minister, by two old or respectable members of the Church, each taking the candidate by the hand, and addressing the minister in the following words :

We present you this our brother, to be ordained a priest and teaching minister in the LORD'S New Church of The New Jerusalem.

The two presenting members will then be seated, after having first led the candidate to a seat, prepared for him outside the railings of the altar.

Then shall the minister thus proceed:

Dearly beloved,

We are now assembled together, for the solemn and important purpose of ordaining our friend and brother A. B. into the holy

office of a priest and teaching minister of the LORD's New Church of the New Jerusalem, at the special desire and recommendation of a society of that Church in as a proper person to officiate for them in that sacred work, and to inaugurate him into that awfully responsible office, by solemn prayer, and imposition of hands.

In which solemn work we have to request that you all 'will unite with us, in devoutly imploring the LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ, for his special blessing upon this his servant, and upon our present service.

In his name, therefore, and by his divine permission, we now proceed to ordain this our brother.

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Here the officiating minister, at his own discretion, may add the following prayer, omitting the LORD's Prayer previous, and adding it at the close.

only head of

Most adorable and ever blessed LORD GOD and Saviour Jesus Christ, our only Creator, Redeemer and Regenerator, the infinite fountain and source of all power, wisdom and love. To thee we now come, as to our God and Father, and as the thy Church, from whom alone it existeth, and by whom it is, and ever will be preserved. To thee alone we look for every blessing, and most humbly pray that thou wilt be with us at this time in thy holy Temple; so favouring us with thy divine influence, that what we are now met to perform may promote thy glory and the prosperity of thy New Church.

O! bless this thy servant, who is now surrendering himself up to thy divine will and service by devoting himself to the ministry of thy New Church; and while, with one consent, we receive him into that sacred office, and, by the imposition of hands, inaugurate him into the priesthood, may thy divine spirit rest upon him, and dwell peculiarly in him, operating all those heavenly graces, virtues and qualifications, which may be necessary for his own salvation, and to constitute him a wise, faithful and useful minis

ter of thy Church. Enlighten his understanding with the genuine truth of thy most holy word. Enliven his affections with the fire of thy love, that he, being first taught by thee, may be enabled, through thy divine assistance, to point out to others, both by precept and example, the way which leads to everlasting life.

Direct him in all his duties; support him in every part of the work of the ministry; preserve him from all that is evil and false; make him an instrument, in thy hands, of great good unto mankind; and, when he hath finished the work assigned him, may he be admitted into thy heavenly kingdom, to be happy for ever. Amen.

The candidate shall then rise; while the minister shall thus address him:

Dost thou believe that it is thy duty, to officiate in the character and office of a priest and teaching minister of the LORD's New Church?

Ans. I do.

And art thou desirous of entering upon that sacred office from: motives of usefulness to mankind, by studying, preaching and promoting the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem, according to thy best ability, and not from selfish or worldly views? Ans. I am.

We then call upon you, in the presence of the LORD, and be fore this congregation, to declare your faith by making answer to the following questions :

Dost thou believe in the holy word of God, contained in all those books which have an internal sense in series, as being the foundation of all true religion, as to doctrine, faith and life? Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that this holy word containeth a threefold sense, namely, celestial, spiritual, and natural, which are united by correspondencies, and that in each sense it is divine truth, accommodated respectively to the angels of the three heavens and also to men on earth?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou cordially believe in all the doctrines of the New Jerusalem Church, as set forth in the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and that the same are peculiarly given from

the LORD, in these last days, for the spiritual benefit of mankind and for the establishment of a New Church in the world, which will be the crown of all former Churches, which have heretofore existed on this globe of earth, and that this Church will stand for ever, in consequence of worshipping one visible GoD, in whom is the invisible Jehovah, as the soul is in the body?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that JEHOVAH Gon, the Creator of heaven and earth, is one in essence and in person, in whom is a divine Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ?-Dost thou believe that the LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ is that Gop, and that a saving faith is thus to believe in him?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that Jehovah God himself came down from heaven as Divine Truth, which is the Word, and took upon him human nature, for the purpose of removing evil, or hell, from man, of restoring all things to order, and of preparing the way for a New Church upon earth, and that herein consists the true nature of redemption, which was effected solely by the omnipotence of the LORD's Divine Humanity?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that, immediately on the death of the material body, (which will never be re-assumed) man rises again, as to his spiritual or substantial body, wherein he existeth in a perfect human form; and thus that death is only a continuation of life?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that the state and condition of man after death is according to his past life in this world, and that the predominant love, which he takes with him into the spiritual world, continues with him for ever?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that the two sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Supper are standing institutions of the holy word, and to be observed in the LORD's New Church, the uses of which are now revealed, together with the spiritual sense of the Word?

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that the Last Judgment, (so called) which consisteth in an exploration and condemnation of the errors and the evil lusts of the former Christian Church, has already taken place, agreeably to the testimony of Emanuel Swedenborg, and hence that the former heaven, and the former earth, are passed. away, and that "all things are become new ?"

Ans. I do.

Dost thou believe that now is the second advent of the LORD, which is a coming, not in person, but in the power and glory of his holy word, and that this advent has been effected by means of his servant Emanuel Swedenborg, before whom he manifested himself; and whom he filled with his spirit, in order that he might thereby be enabled to teach the doctrines of the New Church, by the Word, from him?

Ans. I do.

And dost thou determine, from this day forward, faithfully to teach and preach the doctrines of this Church, (according to what thou hast now declared) maintain its ordinances, and order thy life accordingly, through the divine assistance of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

Ans. I do.

Then shall the minister say:

The LORD bless thee, and enable thee so to do faithfully.

The minister shall now lay his right hand upon the head of the person to be ordained; at the same time reading the following consecration from the Word:

Jesus said unto his disciples, Peace be unto you! As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you; And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost." John xx. 21, 22.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark xvi. 15, 16.

"The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye, therefore, the LORD of the harvest, that he would send forth more labourers into his harvest. Go YOUR WAYS, behold I send you forth as lambs amongst wolves: He that heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." Luke x. 2, 3, 16.