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 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 A General Confession. To be said by the whole Congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling. 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; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. 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. The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins. To be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. The People shall answer here, and at the end of every Prayer, Amen. ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer; the People still kneeling, and repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who 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. Then likewise he shall say, O Lord, open thou our lips. Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Minister. Praise ye the Lord. Answer. The Lord's Name be praised. Then shall follow a Portion of the Psalms, as they are appointed, or one of the Selections, as they are set forth by this Church, with the Doxology, as in the Morning Service. Then shall be read the first Lesson, according to the Table or Calendar. After which shall be said or sung the following Psalm, except when it is read in the ordinary course of the Psalms, on the nineteenth day of the month. Cantate Domino. Psalm xcviii. OSING unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, hath he gotten himself the victory. The LORD declared his salvation; his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel; and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the LORD upon the harp; sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also and shawms, O show yourselves joyful before the LORD the King. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is ; the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Or this. Bonum est confiteri. Psalm xcii. TT 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. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy ☐☐ glad throu works; and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands. Then a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed. And after that, shall be sung or said this Psalm, except on the twelfth day of the month. GOD be merciful unto us and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad; for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nation's upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase ; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the world shall fear him. PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy Name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; Who forgiveth all thy sin, and healeth all thine infirmities; Who saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness. O praise the LORD, ye Angels of his, ye that excel in strength; ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word. O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye servants of his that do his pleasure. O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion; praise thou the LORD, Omy soul. Then shall be said the Apostles' Creed by the Minister and the People, standing. And any Churches may omit the words, He descended into hell, or may, instead of them, use the words, He went into the place of departed spirits, which are considered as words of the same meaning in the Creed. I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell, The third day he rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen. Or this. I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible : And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten |