hath done, and still doeth, for the children of men! Praised be the Lord daily; even the Lord that helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us. And blessed be the name of his Majesty forever; and let every one of us say, Amen, Amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. A Form of Prayer FOR THE VISITATION OF PRISONERS. ¶ And when notice is given to the Minister that a prisoner is confined for some great or capital crime, he shall visit him; and when he cometh into the place where the prisoner is, he shall say, kneeling down," REMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Answer. Spare us, good Lord. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, who art in heaven, &c. Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us; Answer. And grant us thy salvation. Minister. Turn thy face from our sins; Answer. And blot out all our iniquities. Minister. Send us help from thy holy place; Answer. And let the sighing of the prisoners come before thee. THE COLLECT. GRANT, we beseech thee, heavenly Father, that we who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. GOD, who sparest when we deserve punishment, and rememberest mercy; we humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness to comfort and succor all those who are under reproach and misery in the house of bondage; correct them not in thine anger, neither chasten them in thy sore displeasure. Give them a right understanding of themselves, and of thy promises; that they may neither cast away their confidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but in thee. Relieve the distressed, protect the innocent, and awaken the guilty; and forasmuch as thou alone bringest light out of darkness, and good out of evil, grant that the pains and punishments which these thy servants endure, through their bodily confinement, may tend to setting free their souls from the chains of sin, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. T Then shall the Minister exhort the prisoner or prisoners after this form, or other like: DEARLY beloved, know this, that your Heavenly Father, whose never-failing providence governeth all things, hath so wisely and mer cifully ordered the course of this world, that his judgments are often sent as fatherly corrections to us; and if with due submission and resignation to his holy will we receive the same, they will work together for our good. It is your part and duty, therefore, to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, to acknowledge the righteousness of his judgments, and to endeavor, that, by his grace, this present visitation may lead you to a sincere and hearty repentance. The way and means thereto is, to examine your life and conversation by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever you shall perceive yourself to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourself to your heavenly and gracious Father, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if you shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against your neighbors; then to reconcile yourself to them, being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your power, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand. And to this true repentance and change of mind you must add a lively and steadfast faith, and dependence upon the merits of the death of Christ, with an entire resignation of yourself to the will of God. Ex cept you repent and believe, we can give you no hope of salvation. But if you do sincerely repent and believe, your heavenly, forgiving Father hath declared, though your sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; though your wickednesses have gone over your head, yet shall they not be your destruction. We exhort you therefore in the name of that Father, and of his dear Son Jesus Christ our Saviour, and as you tender your own salvation, to take good heed of these things in time, while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh when no man can work. While you have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light, that you be not cast into outer darkness; that you may not knock, when the door shall be shut; and cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice. Now you are the object of God's mercy, if by repentance and true faith you turn unto him; but if you neglect these things, you will be the object of his justice and vengeance. Now you may claim the merits of Christ; but if you die in your sins, his sufferings will tend to your greater condemnation. T Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world, and further admonish him particularly concerning the crimes wherewith he is charged and exhort him, if he have any scruples, that he would declare the same, and prepare himself for the Holy Communion, against the time that it may be proper to administer it to him. |