pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy Fatherly goodness, all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions: and this we beg in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶ A General Thanksgiving. ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but, above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us a due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Then shall follow a Hymn. Then the Sermon. After the Sermon, oral Prayer may be offered, or this Praye may be read. ¶ Prayer of St. Chrysostom. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace a ou this time, with one accord to make common supplications unto thee; and dost promis that when two or three are gathered together in th Name, thou will grant their requests; fulfil now O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them; granting u in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in th world to come life everlasting. Amen. ¶ Then shall be sung an Anthem or Doxology. Then the Benediction shall be said, the Choir responding "AMEN." 2 Cor. xiii. 14. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and th love of God, and the fellowship of the Hol Ghost be with us all evermore. Amen. THE ORDER FOR EVENING PRAYER, Ов VESPERS. The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer by reading one or more of the following sentences; all standing. THE HE Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20. From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. Mal. i. 11. Give ear to my words, O God, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray. Ps. v. 1, 2. Let our prayers be set forth in his sight as incense and the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Ps. cxli. 2. : God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Pet. v. 6, 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. Is. lv. 7. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him: Father I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke. xv. 18, 19. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John i. 8, 9. Here a Psalm may be sung, or a Hymn unannounced. DEARLY EARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which as the soul. are requisite and necessary, as well for the body Wherefore I Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying: A general Confession, to be said by the whole congregation, after the Minister. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. Then shall be read or sung one of the following Psalms, or a select Psalm. Τ BONUM EST CONFITERI. Psalm xcii. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest ; To tell of thy loving kindness early in the morning, and of thy truth in the night season; Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp. |