ness 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 with me

TA 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

Spare thou those, O
Restore thou those

upon us miserable offenders. God, who confess their faults. who are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in 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.

The People shall answer here, and at the end of every Prayer, Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say this Prayer.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live; pardon and absolve all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe the holy Gospel. We beseech thee to grant us true repentance, and thy Holy Spirit; that those things may please thee 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 thine eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or this.

MOST mighty God and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from his sin and be saved; mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive iniquity. Spare us, therefore, good Lord; enter not into judgment with thy servants, who have sinned against thee; but so turn thine anger from us, who acknowledge our unworthiness, and repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister shall say the Lord's Prayer; the

People 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.

O

praise.

¶ Then likewise he shall say,

LORD, open thou our lips;

Answ. And our mouth shall show forth thy

¶ Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say, Min. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God;

Answ. Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

Min. Praise ye the Lord.

Answ. The Lord's name be praised.

¶ Then shall be read, by the Minister and People, alternately, the Psalms for the Day, or a Selection from the Psalms, at the discretion of the Minister. And at the close of the Psalms shall be repeated the following Doxology.

NOW

[OW unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God;

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Then shall the Minister read the FIRST LESSON, from the Old Testament; and at the end of it he shall say, Here endeth the First Lesson. Then shall be sung, or else said, by the Minister and People, alternately, the song of the Virgin Mary, as followeth.

MY

Magnificat. ST. LUKE I. 46.

Y soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.

For he who is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him, throughout all generations.

He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat; and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He, remembering his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Or else this Psalm.

Cantate Domino. PSALM XCVIII.

SING 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 shown 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.

Then shall the Minister read the SECOND LESSON, from the New Testament, and at the end of it he shall say, Here endeth the Second Lesson. Then shall be sung or else said, by the Minister and People, alternately, the song of Simeon as followeth.

Nunc dimittis. ST. LUKE II. 29.

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;