Question.
What is your Name?
Answer.N. orNN.
Question. Who gave you this Name?
Answer. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
Question. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you?
Answer. They did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all the articles of the Christian faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.
Question. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe, and to do, as they have promised for thee?
Answer. Yes verily: and by God's help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he hath called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same unto my life's end.
Catechist.
Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief.
Answer.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
Question. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief?
Answer. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me, and all the world.
Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind.
Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me, and all the elect people of God.
Question.
You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you, that you should keep God's Commandments. Tell me how many there be?
Answer. Ten.
Question. Which be they?
Answer.
The same which God spake in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, saying, I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
I. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them. For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandments.
III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his Name in vain.
IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt do no murder.
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.
Question.
What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments?
Answer. I learn two things: my duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.
Question. What is thy duty towards God?
Answer. My duty towards God is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him, with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.
Question. What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do unto me: To love, honour, and succour my father and mother: To honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him: To submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: To order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: To hurt nobody by word nor deed: To be true and just in all my dealing: To bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering: To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity: Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to do my duty in that state of life, unto which it shall please God to call me.
Catechist.
My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace; which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer.
Answer.
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.
Question. What desirest thou of God in this Prayer?
Answer. I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to send his grace unto me, and to all people, that we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we ought to do. And I pray unto God, that he will send us all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies; and that he will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins; and that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily; and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness, and from our ghostly enemy, and from everlasting death. And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness, through our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore I say, Amen, So be it.
Question.
How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?
Answer. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Question. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament?
Answer. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.
Question. How many parts are there in a Sacrament?
Answer. Two: the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace.
Question. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism?
Answer. Water: wherein the person is baptized, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Question. What is the inward and spiritual grace?
Answer. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.
Question. What is required of persons to be baptized?
Answer. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin: and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God, made to them in that Sacrament.
Question. Why then are infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them?
Answer. Because they promise them both by their sureties: which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform.
Question. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained?
Answer. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby.
Question. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper?
Answer. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received.
Question. What is the inward part, or thing signified?
Answer. The Body and Blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.
Question. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby?
Answer. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine.
Question. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?
Answer. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.
The Curate of every Parish shall diligently upon Sundays and Holy-days, after the second Lesson at Evening Prayer, openly in the Church instruct and examine so many Children of his Parish sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism.
And all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Dames, shall cause their Children, Servants, and Prentices,(which have not learned their Catechism,)to come to the Church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear and be ordered by the Curate, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn.
So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say, in their mother tongue, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and also can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism; they shall be brought to the Bishop: And every one shall have a Godfather, or a Godmother, as a witness of their Confirmation.
And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for Children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Curate of every Parish shall either bring or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his Parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed. And, if the Bishop approve of them, he shall confirm, them in manner following.
Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Bishop; he(or some other Minister appointed by him)shall read this Preface following.
To the end that Confirmation maybe ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed; to the end that children being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, they may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that by the grace of God they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they by their own confession have assented unto.
Then shall the Bishop say,
Do ye here, in the presence of God, and of this Congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in your name at your Baptism; ratifying and confirming the same in your own persons, and acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things, which your Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for you?
And every one shall audibly answer,
I do.
The Bishop.
Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
Answer. Who hath made heaven and earth.
Bishop. Blessed be the Name of the Lord;
Answer. Henceforth world without end.
Bishop. Lord, hear our prayers.
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.
Bishop.
Let us pray.
Almighty and ever-living God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins: Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever.Amen.
Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall lay his hand upon the head of every one severally, saying,
Defend, O Lord, this thy Child [orthis thy Servant] with thy heavenly grace, thathemay continue thine for ever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit, more and more, untilhecome unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.
Then shall the Bishop say,
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy spirit.
And(all kneeling down)the Bishop shall add,
Let us pray.
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.
And this Collect.
Almighty and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end.Amen.
O almighty Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen.
Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus,
The Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the HolyGhost, be upon you, and remain with you, for ever.Amen.
And there shall none be admitted to the holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.
| AN ALTERNATIVE ORDER FOR THE | |MINISTRATION OF CONFIRMATION | |AS CANONICALLY SANCTIONED IN THE SCOTTISH CHURCH | | |The circumstances of this Church requiring on many occasions | such modifications of the Order of Confirmation as may render | it appropriate to candidates who had not godfathers and | godmothers at their baptism, the Bishop may substitute for the | Preface in the Order of Confirmation in the Book of Common | Prayer a suitable address, and may substitute for the question | Do ye here, etc., the three following questions: | | Dost thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp | and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, | and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow | nor be led by them? | |Answer. I do. | | Dost thou believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven | and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord? And that he | was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; that he | suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; | that he descended into hell, and the third day did rise again from | the dead; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right | hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come to | judge the quick and the dead? | | And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic | Church; the Communion of Saints; the Forgiveness of sins; the | Resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting? | |Answer. I do. | | Dost thou promise that thou wilt endeavour to keep God's holy | will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of thy | life? | |Answer. I do. | |The Bishop. | | Our help is in the Name of the Lord; | |Answer. Who hath made heaven and earth. | |Bishop. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; | |Answer. Henceforth world without end. | |Bishop. Lord, hear our prayers. | |Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. | |Bishop. | | Let us pray. | | Almighty and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate | these thy servants by Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given | unto them forgiveness of all their sins: Strengthen them, we | beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and | daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit | of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and ghostly | strength; the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill | them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. |Amen. | |Then all of them in order kneeling before the Bishop, he shall | lay his hand upon the head of every one severally. | |The Bishop, when administering Confirmation, may at his | discretion, with concurrence of the Clergyman, use the | following form in addition to that prescribed in the Book | of Common Prayer: | |N. I sign thee with the sign of the cross [here the Bishop | shall sign the person with the sign of the cross on the | forehead] and I lay my hands [orhand] upon thee, in the | Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. | | Defend, O Lord, this thy Child [orthis thy Servant] with thy | heavenly grace, thathemay continue thine for ever; and daily | increase in thy Holy Spirit, more and more, untilhecome | unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen. | |Then shall the Bishop say, | | The Lord be with you. | |Answer. And with thy spirit. | |And(all kneeling down)the Bishop shall add, | | Let us pray. | | 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. | |And this Collect. | | Almighty and everliving God, who makest us both to will and | to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine | Majesty: We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy | servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we | have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy | favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, | we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be | with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of | thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; | through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost | liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end.Amen. | | O almighty Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech | thee, to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and | bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy | commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both | here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through | our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen. | |Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus, | | The Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy | Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you, for ever.Amen.
First, the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in the Church three several Sundays, during the time of Morning Service, or of Evening Service, (if there be no Morning Service,)immediately after the second Lesson; the Curate saying after the accustomed manner, I publish the Banns of Marriage betweenN. of andN. ofโโโ. If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second,orthird] time of asking.
And if the persons that are to be married dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked, from the Curate of the other Parish.
At the day and time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church with their friends and neighbours: and there standing together, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, the Priest shall say,
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprized, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.
Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.
Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can shew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.
|The Clergyman may at his discretion shorten the prefatory|address by reading it thus: | | Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of | God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this | man and this woman in holy Matrimony: which is an honourable | estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, | signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ | and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified | with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of | Galilee; and is commended in Holy Writ to be honourable among all | men; and therefore is not by any to be taken in hand, unadvisedly, | lightly or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, | soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the chief causes | for which Matrimony was ordained. | | It was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will | of God, and that children might be brought up in the fear and | nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy Name. | | It was also ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort | that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and | adversity. | | Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be | joined. Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they | may not lawfully be joined together, let him now declare it.
And also, speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say,
I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.
At which day of Marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony, by God's law, or the laws of this Realm; and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the parties; or else put in a caution(to the full value of such charges as the persons to be married do thereby sustain)to prove his allegation: then the solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried.
If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the man,
N. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?
The man shall answer,
I will.
Then shall the Priest say unto the woman,
N. Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?
The woman shall answer,
I will.
Then shall the Minister say,
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner.
The Minister, receiving the woman at her father's or friend's hands, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth.
IN. take theeN. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.
Then shall they loose their hands; and the woman, with her right hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister,
IN. take theeN. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.
Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman a ring, laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the Priest, taking the ring, shall deliver it unto the man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand. And the man holding the ring there, and taught by the Priest, shall say,
With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then the man leaving the ring upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down, and the Minister shall say,
Let us pray.
O eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and say,
Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
Then shall the Minister speak unto the people.
Foreasmuch asN. andN. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Amen.
And the Minister shall add this Blessing.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.
Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's Table, shall say or sing this Psalm following.
Beati omnes. Psalm cxxviii.
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: and walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.
Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine: upon the walls of thy house;
Thy children like the olive branches: round about thy table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed: that feareth the Lord.
The Lord from out of Sion shall so bless thee: that thou shalt seeJerusalem in prosperity all thy life long;
Yea, that thou shalt see thy children's children: and peace uponIsrael.
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.
Or this Psalm.
Deus miser eatur. Psalm lxvii.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us: and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us:
That thy way may be known upon earth: thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee.
O let the nations rejoice and be glad: for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase: and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
God shall bless us: and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
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.
The Psalm ended, and the man and the woman kneeling before the Lord's Table, the Priest standing at the Table, and turning his face towards them, shall say,
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us.
Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.
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.
Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;
Answer. Who put their trust in thee.
Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;
Answer. And evermore defend them.
Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength;
Answer. From the face of their enemy.
Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.
Minister.
O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the woman is past child-bearing.
O merciful Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased: We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
|Or this prayer following may be used. | | O almighty God, Creator of mankind, who only art the well-spring | of life: Bestow upon these thy servants, if it be thy will, the | gift and heritage of children; and grant that they may see their | children brought up in thy faith and fear to the honour and glory | of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
O God, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Then shall the Priest say,
Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives end.Amen.
After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of man and wife, the Minister shall read as followeth.
All ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.
Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men; Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself.
Likewise the same Saint Paul, writing to the Colossians, speaketh thus to all men that are married; Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Hear also what Saint Peter, the Apostle of Christ, who was himself a married man, saith unto them that are married; Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge; giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.
Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband toward the wife. Now likewise, ye wives, hear and learn your duties toward your husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture.
Saint Paul, in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephesians, teacheth you thus; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. And again he saith, Let the wife see that she reverence her husband.
And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint Paul giveth you this short lesson; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Saint Peter also doth instruct you very well, thus saying; Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
|The concluding address may be omitted, and unless the holy Communionimmediately follow, the congregation may be dismissed witha Benediction.
It is convenient that the new-married persons should receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage.
When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say,
Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.
When he cometh into the sick man's presence he shall say, kneeling down,
Remember not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers: 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.
Then the Minister shall say,
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
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.
Minister. O Lord, save thy servant;
Answer. Which puttethhistrust in thee.
Minister. Sendhimhelp from thy holy place;
Answer. And evermore mightily defendhim.
Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage ofhim;
Answer. Nor the wicked approach to hurthim.
Minister. Be untohim, O Lord, a strong tower;
Answer. From the face ofhisenemy.
Minister. O Lord, hear our prayers.
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.
Minister.
O Lord, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look uponhimwith the eyes of thy mercy, givehimcomfort and sure confidence in thee, defendhimfrom the danger of the enemy, and keephimin perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Hear us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction tohim; that the sense ofhisweakness may add strength tohisfaith, and seriousness tohisrepentance: that, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restorehimtohisformer health,hemay lead the residue ofhislife in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else givehimgrace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended,hemay dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like.
Dearly beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience, for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life.
If the person visited be very sick, then the Curate may end his exhortation in this place, or else proceed.
Take therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord: For (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth chapter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, goodbrother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's correction, whensoever by any manner of adversity it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses. For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain; he entered not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Now therefore, taking your sickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you, in the name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged without respect of persons, I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgement. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith, that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no.
Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, saying thus,
Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?
And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?
And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?
The sick person shall answer,
All this I stedfastly believe.
Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world; exhorting him to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all persons that have offended him; and if he have offended any other, to ask them forgiveness; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his power. And if he have not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him; for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates whilst they are in health.
These words before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his Prayer, as he shall see cause.
The Minister should not omit earnestly to move such sick persons as are of ability to be liberal to the poor.
Here shall the sick person be moved to make a special confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which confession, the Priest shall absolve him(if he humbly and heartily desire it)after this sort.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
And then the Priest shall say the Collect following.
Let us pray.
O most merciful God, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more: Open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew inhim(most loving Father) whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or byhisown carnal will and frailness; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church; considerhiscontrition, accepthistears, assuagehispain, as shall seem to thee most expedient forhim. And forasmuch asheputtethhisfull trust only in thy mercy, impute not untohim hisformer sins, but strengthenhimwith thy blessed Spirit; and, when thou art pleased to takehimhence, takehimunto thy favour, through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
Then shall the Minister say this Psalm.
In te, Domine, speravi. Psalm lxxi.
In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion: but rid me, and deliver me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alway resort: thou hast promised to help me; for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly: out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for: thou art my hope, even from my youth.
Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born: thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; my praise shall alway be of thee.
I am become as it were a monster unto many: but my sure trust is in thee.
O let my mouth be filled with thy praise: that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long.
Cast me not away in the time of age: forsake me not when my strength faileth me.
For mine enemies speak against me, and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying: God hath forsaken him, persecute him, and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
Go not far from me, O God: my God, haste thee to help me.
Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul: let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
As for me, I will patiently abide alway: and will praise thee more and more.
My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation: for I know no end thereof.
I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God: and will make mention of thy righteousness only.
Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now: therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.
Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed: until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, and great things are they that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee?
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.
Adding this.
O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us: Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
Then shall the Minister say,
The Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey, be now and evermore thy defence; and make thee know and feel, that there is none other Name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
And after that shall say,
Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore.Amen.
A Prayer for a sick Child.
O almighty God, and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death: Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy upon this child now lying upon the bed of sickness. Visithim, O Lord, with thy salvation; deliverhimin thy good appointed time fromhisbodily pain, and savehissoul for thy mercies sake: that, if it shall be thy pleasure to prolonghisdays here on earth,hemay live to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faithfully, and doing good inhisgeneration; or else receivehiminto those heavenly habitations, where the souls of them that sleep in the Lord Jesus enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies' sake, in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.Amen.
A Prayer for a sick person, when there appeareth small hope of recovery.
O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously uponhim, O Lord; and the more the outward man decayeth, strengthenhim, we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Givehimunfeigned repentance for all the errors ofhislife past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus; thathissins may be done away by thy mercy, andhispardon sealed in heaven, beforehego hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word impossible with thee; and that, if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raisehimup, and granthima longer continuance amongst us: Yet, forasmuch as in all appearance the time ofhisdissolution draweth near, so fit and preparehim, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that afterhisdeparture hence in peace, and in thy favour,hissoul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour.Amen.
A commendatory Prayer for a sick person at the point of departure.
O almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons: We humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, our dearbrother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee that it may be precious in thy sight. Wash it, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without spot before thee. And teach us who survive, in this and other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain our own condition is; and so to number our days, that we may seriously apply our hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may in the end bring us to life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thine only Son our Lord.Amen.
A Prayer for persons troubled in mind or in conscience.
O blessed Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts: We beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things againsthim, and makesthimto possesshisformer iniquities; thy wrath lieth hard uponhim, andhissoul is full of trouble: But, O merciful God, who hast written thy holy Word for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures, might have hope; givehima right understanding ofhimself, and of thy threats and promises; thathemay neither cast awayhisconfidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Givehimstrength against allhistemptations, and heal allhisdistempers. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure; but makehimto hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliverhimfrom fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy countenance uponhim, and givehimpeace, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
|A Prayer 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.