DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, before the face of almighty God our heavenly Father, with a lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same by his infinite goodness and mercy. And as we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God, so ought we to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits 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 are requisite and necessary as well for the body as the soul. 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 after me: 1 A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister; all kneeling or standing. 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, repentant sinners. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind by Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy name. Amen. I The following Prayer to be said by the Minister alone; he and the Congregation kneeling or standing. ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; purify the thoughts of our hearts, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. At the end of this and all other Prayers, the word Amen is to be said by the Clerk and the Congregation. To be said by the Congregation after the Minister; al' kneeling or standing. OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will de done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. I Then shall the Minister say, Answ. The LORD's name be praised. Raise up our hearts unto thee, O God! Answ. And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise. ¶ Here all stand up. ¶ Then shall be read part of the xcvth Psalm, or the cth Psalm, except on Easter-Day, when a proper Anthem is appointed. At the end of each, one of the Doxologies that follow is to be used. N.B. The Psalms universally, and the Hymns between the Lessons, are to be read in alternate verses by the Minister and People; all standing. Psalm Psalm xcv. O COME, let us sing unto the LORD; let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. 2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and shew our joy before him with psalms. 3. For the LORD is the great God; and the great King above all gods. 4. In his hand are all the depths of the earth; and the strength of the hills is his also. 5. The sea is his, for he made it; and his hands formed the dry land. 6. O come, let us worship, and bow down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7. For he is our God, and we are the people of his care. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God; Answ. Be honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Or, Amen. Glory be to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God; Answ. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Or Or this Psalm. OBE joyful in the LORD, all ye lands: serve the LORD with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. 2. Acknowledge that the LORD is God: he hath made us, and we are his; his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 3. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name. 4. For the LORD is gracious; his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to generation. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God; Answ. Be honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen. Or, Glory be to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God; Answ. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. To be used on Easter-Day, instead of the foregoing. CHRIST our passover is slain for us. Therefore let us keep the feast; not |