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236 V. THE REFORMATION (A.D. 15201592).
that the words "
afterwards do what is aforesaid
"
are a
reference to the absolution of children with laying on of
hands, after their first confession, which had been pre
viously described (Kyrko-ordning : Om Hemligh Scriff-
termdl, pp. 66-7).
Here we have the germ of an evangelical rite of con
firmation, such as the course of the Reformation in Sweden
would naturally have developed, and did in fact develop
in the Nova Ordinantia of 1575. The service there set
forth was in full accord with the principles of Laurentius
(Kyrko-ordningar, etc., I., 226-9). No mention was made
in it of chrism. It was to be administered by the bishop, on
his visitation, or his deputy. It was very simple, con
sisting of a rather long but edifying prayer that the
children might be strengthened and receive the graces of
the Holy Spirit, followed by a laying on of hands and
blessing as follows :
11
God strengthen thee with the Holy Spirit in a right
faith, in knowledge of the Gospel and obedience to it, to a
Christian life, to the honour of God, to salvation for thy
self, and to a good example and benefit to others, through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Then followed a hymn.
We shall see in the next lecture (vi., 10) that Arch
bishop Laurelius continued to use this form of 1575 and
that Matthiae introduced another similar to it, probably
under the advice of Comenius. I believe, indeed, that the
rite was never wholly dropped in Sweden :
although, un
fortunately, no reference was made to it in the Church Law
of 1686, and the form at last prescribed in 1811 was not
as good as that of the early precedents.
Dr. Ekdahl draws attention to the thoroughly Lutheran
character of this form and its likeness in particular to that
in the Waldeck Church Order of I556.
46
To add a few more words about the book of 1571.
46
Om Con/., p. 94. Anyone who compares the German
prayer, on p. 44 (from the Brunswick-Wolfenbiittel K.O. of
1589) with the Swedish on p. 93 will see that they must have a
common origin.
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