A Prayer for the Clergy and People.
Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels: Send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ.Amen.
A Prayer of Saint Chrysostom.
Almighty God, 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 servants, 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.
2Corinthiansxiii.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.Amen.
Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer throughout the Year.
Upon these Feasts; Christmas-day,theEpiphany,SaintMatthias, Easter-day, Ascension-day, Whitsunday,SaintJohn Baptist,SaintJames,SaintBartholomew,SaintMatthew,SaintSimonand SaintJude,SaintAndrew,and uponTrinity Sunday,shall be sung or said at Morning Prayer, instead of the Apostles Creed, this Confession of our Christian Faith, commonly called the Creed of Saint Athanasius, by the Minister and people standing.
Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith, except every one do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God inTrinity, and Trinity in Unity;
Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and theHoly Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and theHoly Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy GhostLord.
And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion: to say there be threeGods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved: must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is that we believe and confess: that our LordJesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: andMan of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God, and perfect Man: of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to theFather, as touching his Manhood.
Who although he be God and Man: yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether, not by confusion of Substance: but by unity ofPerson.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty: from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith: which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.
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.
Here followeth the Litany, or General Supplication, to be sung or said after Morning Prayer, upon Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at other times when it shall be commanded by the Ordinary.
|The Litany may be said on the days appointed for its use, either | after Morning Prayer, or before the Holy Communion, or at other | times; and its use may be dispensed with on Christmas-day, | Easter-day, and Whitsunday, with the sanction of the Bishop. | |When the Litany is said before a celebration of Holy Communion | it shall be permissible to omit from the Litany theLord's | Prayerand all that is set down after it except the prayer | calledA Prayer of St ChrysostomandThe grace of, &c. | |When the Litany is said at any other time it shall be | permissible to omit from it all that follows theLord's | Prayer,and to use one or more of the Occasional Prayers or | thePrayer of St Chrysostom,withThe grace of, &c.
O God the Father of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
God the Father of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences 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.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and mischief; from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From fornication, and all other deadly sin; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and Commandment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity andCircumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By thine Agony and bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our wealth; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement,
Good Lord, deliver us.
We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God: and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holiness of life, thy ServantGEORGE, our most gracious King and Governor,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith, fear, and love, and that he may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper, giving him the victory over all his enemies,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and preserve our gracious QueenMary,Alexandrathe Queen Mother,EdwardPrince of Wales, and all the Royal Family,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
| That it may please thee to send forth labourers into thy harvest, | |We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. | | That it may please thee to bless and prosper thy servants who | labour for the conversion of the heathen, and of all who know | not the truth, | |We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
| That it may please thee to direct and prosper the Consultations | of the High * Court of Parliament to the honour of thy Name, and | the welfare of thy people, | |We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. | | [Margin Note:] * During the Session of Parliament.
That it may please thee to bless and keep the [Judges and] Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
| That it may please thee to bless and keep the King's forces by | sea and land, and to shield them in all dangers and adversities, | |We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; and to comfort and help the weak-hearted; and to raise up them that fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve all that travel by land or by water, all women labouring of child, all sick persons, and young children; and to shew thy pity upon all prisoners and captives,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children, and widows, and all that are desolate and oppressed,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgive our enemies persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy Word,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God: we beseech thee to hear us.
Son of God: we beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God: that takest away the sins of the world;
Grant us thy peace.
O Lamb of God: that takest away the sins of the world;
Have mercy upon us.
O Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Then shall the Priest, and the people with him, say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Priest. O Lord, deal not with us after our sins.
Answer. Neither reward us after our iniquities.
Let us pray.
O God, merciful Father, that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful: Mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils, which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us, be brought to nought, and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Name's sake.
O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them.
Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour.
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.
From our enemies defend us, O Christ.
Graciously look upon our afflictions.
Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts.
Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people.
Favourably with mercy hear our prayers.
O Son of David, have mercy upon us.
Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ.
Graciously hear us, Christ; graciously hear us, Lord Christ.
Priest. O Lord, let thy mercy be shewed upon us;
Answer. As we do put our trust in thee.
Let us pray.
We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy Name turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
A Prayer of Saint Chrysostom.
Almighty God, 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 servants, 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.
2Corinthians xiii.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.Amen.
Here endeth the Litany.
Upon several occasions, to be used before the final Prayers of the Litany, or of Morning and Evening Prayer.
For Rain.
O God, heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to all them that seek thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to thy honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For fair Weather.
O almighty Lord God, who for the sin of man didst once drown all the world, except eight persons, and afterward of thy great mercy didst promise never to destroy it so again: We humbly beseech thee, that although we for our iniquities have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather, as that we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season; and learn both by thy punishment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
In the time of Dearth and Famine.
O God, heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the rain doth fall, the earth is fruitful, beasts increase, and fishes do multiply: Behold, we beseech thee, the afflictions of thy people; and grant that the scarcity and dearth, which we do now most justly suffer for our iniquity, may through thy goodness be mercifully turned into cheapness and plenty; for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, now and for ever.Amen.
Or this.
O God, merciful Father, who, in the time of Elisha the prophet, didst suddenly in Samaria turn great scarcity and dearth into plenty and cheapness: Have mercy upon us, that we, who are now for our sins punished with like adversity, may likewise find a seasonable relief: Increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; and grant that we, receiving thy bountiful liberality, may use the same to thy glory, the relief of those that are needy, and our own comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
In the time of War and Tumults.
O almighty God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent: Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
In the time of any common Plague or Sickness.
O almighty God, who in thy wrath didst send a plague upon thine own people in the wilderness, for their obstinate rebellion against Moses and Aaron; and also, in the time of king David, didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand, and yet remembering thy mercy didst save the rest: Have pity upon us miserable sinners, who now are visited with great sickness and mortality; that like as thou didst then accept of an atonement, and didst command the destroying Angel to cease from punishing, so it may now please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sickness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
In the Ember Weeks, to be said every day, for those that are to be admitted into Holy Orders.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son: Mercifully look upon the same, and at this time so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Or this.
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
A Prayer that may be said after any of the former.
O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate.Amen.
A Prayer for the High Court of Parliament, to be read during their Session.
Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Kingdom in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament, under our most religious and gracious King at this time assembled: That thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and his Dominions; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour.Amen.
A Collect or Prayer for all Conditions of men, to be used at such times when the Litany is not appointed to be said.
O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of the Catholic Church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those, who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; [especially * those for whom our prayers are desired;] 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 his sake.Amen.
[Margin note:] * This to be said when any desire the Prayers of the Congregation.
| ADDITIONAL PRAYERS UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS | |Before any or each of these prayers may be said, Let us pray | for———,or other like words. | |At the New Year. | | O immortal Lord God, who inhabitest eternity, and hast brought | us, thine unworthy servants, to the beginning of another year: | Pardon, we most humbly beseech thee, our transgressions in the | past, and graciously abide with us all the days of our life; | guard and direct us in all trials and temptations, that by thy | blessing we may grow in grace as we grow in years, and at the | last may finish our course with joy; through Jesus Christ our | Lord.Amen. | |On New Year's Day. | | O Saviour of the world, who as on this day wast called JESUS, | according to the word of the Angel: Fulfil unto us, we beseech | thee, the gracious promise of that holy Name, and, of thy great | mercy, save thy people from their sins; who with the Father and | the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God, world without end. |Amen. | | PRAYERS WHICH MAY BE SAID ON ROGATION DAYS. | [These prayers may be used also at other times.] | |For fruitful seasons. | | Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, in whom we live and | move and have our being, who makest the sun to rise on the evil | and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust; | We beseech thee at this time favourably to behold thy people | who call upon thee, and to send thine abundant blessing upon | the earth that it may bring forth its fruits in due season, | and that we, being filled with thy bounty, may ever more give | thanks unto thee, the giver of all good; through Jesus Christ | our Lord.Amen. | | O almighty God, who hast created the earth for man, and man for | thy glory: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and | be mindful of thy covenant; that both the earth may yield her | increase, and the good seed of thy word may bring forth | abundantly, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ | our Lord.Amen. | |For a blessing on Fisheries. | | O Almighty God, who madest the sea, and gavest all that moveth | therein for the use of man: Bestow thy blessing, we beseech | thee, on the harvest of the waters that it may be abundant in | its season; protect from every peril of the deep all fishermen | and mariners, and grant that they may with thankful hearts | acknowledge thee, who art Lord of the sea and of the dry land; | through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For a blessing on Local Industries. | | O almighty Father, who through thy Son Jesus Christ hast | consecrated labour to the blessing of mankind: Prosper, we pray | thee, the industries of this place; defend those who are engaged | therein from all perils, and grant that they may rejoice in the | fruits of thy bounty, and bless thee for thy loving-kindness, | through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For the Conversion of the Jews. | | [A prayer of Bishop Wilson.] | | O God, the God of Abraham, look upon thine everlasting covenant, | and cause the captivity of Judah and Israel to return. They are | thy people; O be thou their Saviour, that all who love Jerusalem | and mourn for her may rejoice with her; for Jesus Christ's sake, | their Saviour and ours.Amen. | |For the Conversion of Mohammedans, and all who know not Christ. | | Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in thy goodness hast caused | the light of the Gospel to shine in our land; Extend thy mercy, | we beseech thee, to the nations of the world that still walk in | darkness. Enlighten the Moslems with the knowledge of thy truth; | and grant that the Gospel of salvation may be made known in all | lands, that the heart of the peoples may be turned unto thee, | through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For the Conversion of the Heathen. | | O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell | on all the face of the earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to | preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh: | Grant that the people who sit in darkness and the shadow of death | may feel after thee and find thee; and hasten, O Lord, the | fulfilment of thy promise to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, | through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | | O God of all the nations of the earth, remember the multitudes | of the heathen, who, though created in thine image, are ignorant | of thy love, and, according to the propitiation of thy Son Jesus | Christ, grant that by the prayers and labours of thy holy Church | they may be delivered from all superstition and unbelief, and | brought to worship thee; through him whom thou hast sent to be | our Salvation, the Resurrection and the Life of all the faithful, | the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For Missionaries in Distant Lands. | | O God our Saviour, who willest that all men should be saved and | come to the knowledge of the truth; Prosper, we pray thee, our | brethren who labour in distant lands, [especially those for whom | our prayers are desired]. Protect them in all perils by land and | sea; support them in loneliness and in the hour of trial; give | them grace to bear faithful witness unto thee; and endue them with | burning zeal and love, that they may turn many to righteousness, | and finally obtain a crown of glory; through Jesus Christ our | Lord.Amen. | |For Home Missions. | | O Lord Jesus Christ, thou good Shepherd of the sheep, who didst | come to seek and to save that which was lost; We beseech thee to | be present in thy power with the Missions of thy Church in this | our land. Shew forth thy compassion to the helpless, enlighten | the ignorant, succour those in peril, and bring home the wanderers | in safety to thy fold; who livest and reignest with the Father | and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.Amen. | |For the Church. | | O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favourably | on thy whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; and by | the tranquil operation of thy perpetual providence carry out | the work of man's salvation, and let the whole world feel and | see that things which were cast down are being raised up, and | things which had grown old are being made new, and all things | are returning to perfection through him from whom they took | their origin, even Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For the Unity of Christendom. | | O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst say unto thine apostles, Peace I | leave with you, my peace I give unto you; Regard not our sins, | but the faith of thy Church, and grant unto all Christian | people that peace and unity which is agreeable to thy will; | who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, | one God, world without end.Amen. | |The prayer for Unity in the Accession Service may also be used. | |For Fair Weather. | |For use at times when the prayer for Fair Weather in the Book|of Common Prayer seems less suitable. | | Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who art the author and giver | of all good things; Look, we beseech thee, in thy loving-kindness | upon us thine unworthy servants, and grant to us at this time | such fair weather that we may receive the fruits of the earth | in their season, to our comfort and the glory of thy holy Name; | through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate.Amen. | |For Synods of the Church, Provincial or Diocesan. | |To be said on the Sunday and following days immediately|preceding the meeting of the Synod, and on the morning of each | day while the Synod is in session. | | O eternal God, the fountain of all wisdom, who didst send thy | Holy Spirit to lead the disciples into all the truth; Vouchsafe | that he being present with thy servants, the Bishops [or| Bishop] and Presbyters about to assemble [ornow assembled] | in the Synod of this province [ordiocese], may so rule their | hearts and guide their counsels that in all things they may seek | only thy glory and the good of thy holy Church; through Jesus | Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For the Representative and Consultative Church Councils. | |To be said on the Sunday preceding the meeting, and daily during|the session. | | Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh wisdom and | understanding; Be present, we humbly beseech thee, with thy | servants about to deliberate [orassembled to deliberate] in | Council upon those things that make for the maintenance, | well-being, and extension of thy holy Church; and grant that | they, seeking only thy honour and glory, may be guided in all | their consultations to perceive the more excellent way, and may | have grace and strength to follow the same; through Jesus Christ | our Lord.Amen. | |During the vacancy of a Bishopric in the Scottish Church, |to be said up to the day of the election. | | Almighty God, the giver of every good gift, bestow at this time, | we humbly beseech thee, thine especial blessing upon the | Presbyters and Lay-electors of the diocese of———[orof | this diocese] about to assemble for the election of a Bishop; | and grant unto them in their deliberations the spirit of wisdom | and understanding, that by thee they may be guided to the choice | of a chief pastor who shall minister before thee to the glory | of thy holy Name, the good government of the flock committed to | him, and the welfare of thy whole Church; through Jesus Christ | our Lord.Amen. | |During the vacancy of a Pastoral Charge. | | O God, who knowest the needs of thy people in every place; Look | graciously at this time on this church and congregation; and | give to them a faithful pastor, who may serve before thee in | all diligence and lowliness of heart, and, by thy blessing, | bring many souls to the joys of thine eternal kingdom; through | Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |This prayer may also be used at meetings of Patrons during a|vacancy. | |For those about to be confirmed. | | O God, who through the teaching of thy Son Jesus Christ didst | prepare the disciples for the coming of the Comforter; Make | ready, we beseech thee, the hearts and minds of thy servants | who at this time are seeking the gifts of the Holy Ghost through | the laying on of hands, that, drawing near with penitent and | faithful hearts, they may be filled with the power of his divine | presence, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For Festivals of Church Choirs. | | O God, in whose Temple at Jerusalem were appointed singers and | those skilled in instruments of music to set forth thy praises; | Be present, we beseech thee, with us thy servants, and grant | that in this our service we may worship thee in spirit and in | truth, and at last be found meet to glorify thy Name in thy | Temple which is on high; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | | O Lord God Almighty, whose glory the Cherubim, and Seraphim, | and all the host of heaven, with ceaseless voice proclaim; We | beseech thee to look graciously from thy dwelling-place upon | us, thy humble servants, and in thy mercy vouchsafe to accept | our unworthy prayers and praises; for the sake of our only | Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For Primary Schools. | | O heavenly Father, whose blessed Son hath said, Suffer the | little children to come unto me; Prosper with thy blessing the | work of all who labour for the instruction and up-bringing of | the young in virtue and true godliness; grant that as the minds | of thy children are enlightened with knowledge, so their hearts | may be daily drawn to the love of thee and of thy only Son, our | Saviour. And this we beg for the sake of the same Jesus Christ | our Lord.Amen. | |For Universities, Colleges, Schools, and other places of|learning. | | Almighty God, of whose only gift cometh wisdom and understanding; | We beseech thee with thy gracious favour to behold our | universities, colleges, and schools, that the confines of | knowledge may be ever enlarged, and all good learning flourish | and abound; bless all who teach and all who learn; and grant | that both teachers and learners in humility of heart may look | ever upward unto thee, who art the fountain of all wisdom; | through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with | thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world | without end.Amen. | |For Theological Colleges. | | O God who, through thy Holy Spirit, dost illuminate the minds | and sanctify the lives of those whom thou dost call to the | work of pastors and teachers; Look with thy favour upon all | colleges for the instruction and discipline of those who are | to serve in the sacred ministry of thy Church; bless those who | teach and those who learn, that they may apply themselves with | such diligence to the knowledge which is able to make men wise | unto salvation, and submit themselves with such ready obedience | to the law of thy Son our Saviour, that they may fulfil their | ministry with joy; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. |Amen. | |For the supply of Candidates for the Ministry of the Church. | | O Lord Jesus Christ, whose servants Simon Peter and Andrew his | brother did at thy word straightway leave their nets to become | fishers of men; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to | those whom thou dost call to the sacred ministry of thy Church, | that they may hear thy voice, and with glad hearts obey thy | call; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy | Spirit, one God, world without end.Amen. | |For the Forces of the King, in his Navy and Army. | | O Lord God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty | arm to strengthen and protect the sailors and soldiers of our | King in every peril, both of sea and land; shelter them in the | day of battle, and in the time of peace keep them safe from all | evil; endue them ever with loyalty and courage; and grant that | in all things they may serve as seeing thee who art invisible; | through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |During a Parliamentary election. | | Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Kingdom in | general, so especially for those who at this time are called to | elect representatives to serve in the High Court of Parliament; | Grant that all things may be so ordered and settled by their | endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and | happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be | established among us for all generations. These and all other | necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly | beg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ our most blessed | Lord and Saviour.Amen. | |During Municipal and other elections. | | Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom; Guide and direct, we | humbly beseech thee, the minds of all those who are called at | this time to make choice of fit persons to serve in the———. | Grant that in the exercise of their choice they may promote thy | glory and the welfare of this city [ortownorcountyor| parish]. And this we beg for the sake of our Lord and Saviour | Jesus Christ.Amen. | |For Hospitals for the Sick. | | Almighty God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ went about doing | good, and healing all manner of sickness and disease among the | people: Continue, we beseech thee, his gracious work among us | in the hospitals and infirmaries of our land; console and heal | the sufferers; grant to the physicians and surgeons wisdom and | skill, and to the nurses diligence and patience; prosper their | work, O Lord, and vouchsafe thy blessing to all who give of | their substance for its maintenance; through the same Jesus | Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For the recovery of a sick person. | | Almighty and immortal God, giver of life and health; We beseech | thee to hear our prayers for thy servantN., for whom we | implore thy mercy, that by thy blessing uponhimand upon | those who minister tohimof thy healing gifts,hemay be | restored, if it be thy gracious will, to health of body and | mind, and give thanks to thee in thy holy Church; through | Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For Workmen and the Employers of Labour. | | O God, who in thy providence hast appointed to every man his | work; Assuage, we humbly beseech thee, all strife and contention | between those who are engaged in the labours of industry and | those who employ their labour; deliver both masters and workmen | from all greed and covetousness; and grant that they, seeking | only that which is just and equal, may live and work together in | brotherly union and concord, to their own well-being, and the | prosperity of this realm; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For brethren and friends in other lands. | | Almighty Father, who art present in thy power in every place; | Give ear in thy loving-kindness to the supplications which we | offer unto thee on behalf of our brethren and friends in distant | lands; may thy mighty hand shield and protect them from all | evil; may thy Holy Spirit guide them in the right way and bless | their going out and their coming in; and grant that, being united | by our fellowship with thee, we may all at the last be gathered | in the home which is above; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |For those who travel by sea. | | O Almighty God, whose way is in the sea, and whose paths are in | the great waters; Be present, we beseech thee, with our brethren | in the manifold dangers of the deep; protect them from all its | perils; prosper them in their course; and bring them in safety | to the haven where they would be, with a grateful sense of thy | mercies; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. | |Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. | | Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart | hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after | they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and | felicity; We praise and magnify thy holy Name for all thy | servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear; | and we most humbly beseech thee that, at the day of the general | resurrection, we, and all they who are of the mystical body of | thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most | joyful voice, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom | prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, | O merciful Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only | Mediator and Advocate.Amen. | | O almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a | voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who die | in the Lord: Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in | Jesus, the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good work | which thou didst begin in them may be perfected unto the day of | Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, vouchsafe | that we, who now serve thee here on earth, may at the last, | together with them, be found meet to be partakers of the | inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of the same | thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.Amen.
A General Thanksgiving.
Almighty God, 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; [ *particularly to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] 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 by our Lord Jesus Christ, 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 shew 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, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end.Amen.
[Margin Note:] * This to be said when any that have been prayed for desire to return praise.
For Rain.
O God our heavenly Father, who by thy gracious providence dost cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man: We give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased thee, in our great necessity, to send us at the last a joyful rain upon thine inheritance, and to refresh it when it was dry, to the great comfort of us thy unworthy servants, and to the glory of thy holy Name; through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For fair Weather.
O Lord God, who hast justly humbled us by thy late plague of immoderate rain and waters, and in thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather: We praise and glorify thy holy Name for this thy mercy, and will always declare thy loving-kindness from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For Plenty.
O most merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into cheapness and plenty: We give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For Peace and Deliverance from our Enemies.
O almighty God, who art a strong tower of defence unto thy servants against the face of their enemies: We yield thee praise and thanksgiving for our deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed: We acknowledge it thy goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them; beseeching thee still to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For restoring Public Peace at Home.
O eternal God, our heavenly Father, who alone makest men to be of one mind in a house, and stillest the outrage of a violent and unruly people: We bless thy holy Name, that it hath pleased thee to appease the seditious tumults which have been lately raised up amongst us: most humbly beseeching thee to grant to all of us grace, that we may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy commandments; and leading a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, may continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies towards us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
For Deliverance from the Plague, or other common Sickness.
O Lord God, who hast wounded us for our sins, and consumed us for our transgressions, by thy late heavy and dreadful visitation; and now, in the midst of judgement remembering mercy, hast redeemed our souls from the jaws of death: We offer unto thy fatherly goodness ourselves, our souls and bodies which thou hast delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto thee, always praising and magnifying thy mercies in the midst of thy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Or this.
We humbly acknowledge before thee, O most merciful Father, that all the punishments which are threatened in thy law might justly have fallen upon us, by reason of our manifold transgressions and hardness of heart: Yet seeing it hath pleased thee of thy tender mercy, upon our weak and unworthy humiliation, to assuage the contagious sickness wherewith we lately have been sore afflicted, and to restore the voice of joy and health into our dwellings: We offer unto thy Divine Majesty the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, lauding and magnifying thy glorious Name for such thy preservation and providence over us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
| THE BIDDING PRAYER | | | Let us pray for Christ's Holy Catholic Church throughout the | world, especially for the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland; | for all Christian Sovereigns, Princes and Governors, particularly | our Sovereign Lord KingGEORGE, over all estates of men in | these his dominions supreme; for our gracious QueenMary, | forAlexandrathe Queen Mother, forEdwardPrince of Wales, | and all the Royal Family; for the ministers of God's holy Word | and Sacraments, especially forN. Bishop of this diocese and | all he clergy of the same; for the great Council of the nation | [now in Parliament assembled], for the Nobility, Judges, and | Magistrates of the realm, * especially for the [Lord] Provost | and Magistrates of this ancient [and royal] city [or burgh]: | that all these in their several callings may serve truly and | faithfully to the glory of God and the edifying and well | governing of his people, remembering always the strict and | solemn account which they must give before the judgement seat | of Christ. And for all other subjects of this realm, let us pray | that they may live in the true faith and fear of God, in dutiful | obedience to the King and brotherly charity one to another. And | that there may never be wanting a supply of fit persons to serve | God in Church and State, let us pray for a blessing on our | universities [especially on . . . . . ], and on all colleges | and schools, especially on the Theological College of our | Church, that in these and in all places set apart for God's | honour and service true religion and sound learning may ever | flourish and abound. [+ And let us give thanks to Almighty God | for all his servants, both living and departed, who have given | of their substance or service towards the founding, building, | maintenance, and adornment of this church ++ and especially are | we bound to remember . . . . . ] | | Finally, let us praise God for those who are departed out of | this life in the faith of Christ, and let us pray unto him that | we may be made partakers with them in the glorious resurrection | unto life everlasting. All which things let us humbly ask in | the words which Christ himself hath taught us, saying: | | Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom | come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us | this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we | forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into | temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, | the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. | | [Margin Notes:] * to be used in cities and burghs. | | + to be used at Dedication Festivals or Commemorations of | benefactors. | | ++orinstitutionorcollege.
Note that the Collect appointed for every Sunday, or for any Holy-day that hath a Vigil or Eve, shall be said at the Evening Service next before.
|Before the Collect of the day may be saidLet us pray.
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever.Amen.
This Collect is to be repeated every day with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas Eve.
THE EPISTLE. Rom. xiii. 8.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxi. 1.
When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them; and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple; and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen.
THE EPISTLE. Rom. xv. 4.
Whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy Name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxi. 25.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled: heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.
O Lord Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.Amen.
THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor. iv. 1.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgement: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.
THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xi. 2.
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? a prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
| ADVENT EMBER DAYS | |The second Ember Collect in the Book of Common Prayer may be|used with the Collect of the day.
O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end.Amen.
THE EPISTLE. Philip, iv. 4.
Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
THE GOSPEL. St John i. 19.
This is the record of John, when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not: he it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
December25.
Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end.Amen.
THE EPISTLE. Hebr. i. 1.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish, but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
THE GOSPEL. St John i. 1.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begottenof the Father) full of grace and truth.
|If there be two or more celebrations of the Holy Communion in|any church on Christmas-day, the following Epistle and Gospel|may be used at one of them. | | THE EPISTLE. Titus ii. 11. | | The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all | men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, | we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present | world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing | of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself | for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify | unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. | | THE GOSPEL. St Luke ii. 1. | | It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree | from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And | this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) | And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And | Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, | into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, | (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed | with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it | was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished | that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn | son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a | manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there | were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping | watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord | came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: | and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear | not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which | shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the | city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this | shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in | swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was | with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, | and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, | good will toward men. | |OrSt Matth. i. 18. | | The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother | Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was | found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, | being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, | was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these | things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a | dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto | thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the | Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call | his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. | (Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was | spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin | shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they | shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God | with us.) Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel | of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew | her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he | called his name JESUS. | |An Additional Collect for Christmastide. | | O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the | birth of thy only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that as we joyfully | receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence | behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and | reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without | end.Amen. | |The Collect, Epistle, and Gospel for Christmas-day may be used|for six days after, unless another Collect, Epistle, and|Gospel are provided.