through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. ¶ THE THANKSGIVING OF WOMEN AFTER CHILDBIRTH, Commonly called, The Churching of Women. The Woman shall come into the Church, and there shall kneel down in some convenient place, nigh unto the place where the Lord's Table standeth; and the Presbyter, standing by her, shall say these words, or such like, as the case shall require. FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to give you safe deliverance, and hath preserved you in the great danger of Childbirth; ye shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God and pray. Then shall the Presbyter say this Psalm following. Or else Psalm the 27th. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. OUR Father, which art in heaven, &c. And lead us not into temptation. Answer. But deliver us from evil. Amen. Presbyter. O Lord, save this woman thy servant : Let us pray. O ALMIGHTY God, which hast delivered this woman thy servant from the great pain and peril of childbirth: Grant, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, that she, through thy help, may both faithfully live and walk in her vocation according to thy will in this life present, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Woman that cometh to give her thanks, it is convenient that she receive the holy Communion, if there be any at that time. A COMMINATION AGAINST SINNERS, With certain Prayers to be used divers times in the year, and especially on the First Day of Lent, commonly called Ash Wednesday. After Morning Prayer the People being called together by the ringing of a bell, and assembled in the Church, the English Litany shall be said after the accustomed manner; which ended, the Presbyter shall go into the pulpit, and say thus, the people sitting and attending with reverence. BRETHREN, in the primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that at the beginning of Lent such persons as were notorious sinners were put to open penance, and did humbly submit themselves to undergo punishment in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that others, admonished by their example, might be the more afraid to offend. In the stead whereof, until the said discipline may be restored again, (which thing is much to be wished,) it is thought good that at this time in your presence should be read the general sentences of God's cursing against impenitent sinners, gathered out of the 27th chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of Scripture, and that ye should answer to every sentence, Amen; to the intent that you, being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners, may the rather be called to earnest and true repentance, and may walk more warily in these dangerous days, fleeing from such vices, for the which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to be due. CURSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place to worship it. Deut. xxvii. 15. And the people shall answer and say, Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that curseth his father and mother. Deut. xxvii. 16; Prov. xx. 20. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that removeth away the mark of his neighbour's land. Deut. xxvii. 17. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way. Deut. xxvii. 18. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that in judgment hindereth, stoppeth, or perverteth the right of the stranger, of them that be fatherless, and of widows. Deut. xxvii. 19. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. Deut. xxvii. 24. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that lieth with his neighLev. xx. 10. bour's wife. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the soul of innocent blood. Answer. Amen. Deut. xxvii. 25. Presbyter. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord. Jer. xvii. 5. Answer. Amen. Presbyter. Cursed are the unmerciful, the fornicators and adulterers, and the covetous persons, the worshippers of images, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners. Matt. xxv. 41; 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10; Gal. v. 19, 20, 21; Psal. xv. 3. Answer. Amen. Presbyter, Now seeing that all they be accursed, (as the prophet David beareth witness, Psal. cxix.) which do err and go astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment |