APPENDIX. 595 they labour in vainthat build it, &e. Glory be to the Father, as it was in the beginning, &c." Whichbeing said, the priest standing, touches or lays his hand on the stone all the while the mason is placing it with the mortar, and says, " In the faith ofJesus Christ, we place this chief stone in the foundation in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that true faith may flourish here, and the fear of God, and the love of the brethren, &c." Speaking this, he makes a cross at each name in the trinity. Then the priest sprinkles holy water upon the stone saying, "Thou shalt sprinkle me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter thansnow." Then the li. Psalm is read. Then again, "Glory to the Father, &c." And if-the foundations are laid open, he sprinkles holy water upon them all ; but if they are not opened, he walks round the place designed for the foundation of the church, and begins to sprinkle, saying these words, and the clerks following, "O howdreadful isthis place ! This is none other but the house ofGod : This is the gate ofheaven." Then the lxxxvii. Psalm is read, "His foundation is in the holy moun- tains, &c." while he is sprinkling all the foundation, and the others repeat- ingas a reponse, " O how dreadful is this place, &c." After all this, be adds at last, "Let us pray." "Almighty and merciful God, who has given to thy priests such grace above other men, that whatsoever is perfectly and worthily done by them in thy name shall be believed to be done by thee : We pray thine infinite mercy that thou wouldst visit what the visit, that thouwouldst blesswhat we bless,--and atour entrance here, as mean aswe are let devils fly, and the angel of peace enter, by the merits of thy saints, through Christ our Lord," Amen. And with another short prayer the cere- mony is ended. After all this isdone, and many other ceremonieswhich the priest performs towards blessing the church, and the walls of it when they arebuilt, it is purified sufficiently to admit mass to be said in it : Yet still the consecration of the church is reserved for the bishop himself, at a proper Season. pp2
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