commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

¶ A General Thanksgiving.

FATHER of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but, above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Promise of the Lord.

FATHER in heaven, who hast given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests; fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy ser

vants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

THE grace of our Father in heaven, the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

End of Morning Prayer.

¶ Matins and Vespers, or Morning and Evening Services, are to be commenced by an appropriate voluntary, or sacred instrumental music.

4

Vespers,

OR THE

ORDER FOR EVENING PRAYER.

T The Minister shall begin the Evening Prayer, by reading one or more of the following sentences of Scripture:

THE

'HE LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20. From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal. i. 11.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Ps. xix. 14.

When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27.

I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Ps. li. 3.

Hide thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities. Ps. li. 9.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps. li. 17.

Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. Joel ii. 13.

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness. Dan. ix. 9.

Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii. 2.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him; Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke xv. 18, 19.

¶ Then the Minister shall say:

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of our heavenly Father, but confess them 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.

GREAT 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.

T The Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins; to be made by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling.

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