IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) 1.0 I.I |^|28 Hi m m us us 1. ,_ M 2.2 IM 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 < 6" — ► V] <^ o h /a w <% .<'V ;> .^ '■/A '^ '"^S^ '"f 7 Kiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Ad i M,DCCC,LXIV. 1'1U.> IJljIJ 15 I x.lxlV^^Ti Ad «V XXri-l- JT XJiV, Extract from the Minutes of the Council of St. FauVs Evangelical Lutheran Church, held at Bridgewaterr Lunenburg Cotinty, iV. S., on 2nd January, 1864. " Whereas we, the Council of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, feel the necessity of having a Liturgy of our Church suit- able for a British Congregation, " Therefore Eesolved,— That we empower the Pastors of the English Congregations ii- Lunenburg County to Edit and publish a British edition of the Book of Common Prayer for the Lutheran Church ; said book including a copy of our Articles of Faith, a» found in the ' Unaltered Augsburg Confesf>ion,' and a collection of Hymns from the General Synod Hymn Book." D.F.HUTCHINSON, President of Council, INTRODUCTION, «V REV. D. F. HUTCHINSON, A. M. I^VEUY voar's experience convinces us of the importance of \ a Br)ok of Common Prayer for puV.lic worsliip. We can Sianily sams was part of the Jewish ^^^^tiiaiy service and many <^^^ ihem were prepared for special occasions ot worship, ooiomon s bSi^i'ul pJayfr at the dedication of the ^'V,-P ^^i^^e'^JSMr^ and so also was the song of Moses vvliich he ^"^^^l^^^^,^^^'^ Moses Israel sang responsively. And God umself spake ""^o Mo^f s^ saying, " Hpeak unto Aaron and unto his «?"^' ^^^ 'If ' .^" the Lord ve shall blels the children of Israel, sapng unto thtm,th^ been expressly prepared for the occasion. Christian dis- x\or vvas the'order of divine service changed n the ^t^'^^^^f J^^^^ pensation : for when the di^ci^pleso Jesus apphed to him^^^^^^ mation upon this subject, and said 'Lord t«;^^'^ '^l^^ P^J^^^ ^^av also taught his disciples," Jesus said uuto t lem ^^h^'^yf/t^;^^^ sav, Our Father which art m heaven.' -Luke ^'- ^',r, ^o^^nd in taiiiht them a collect which every ^ff^''}]'%:;^^.,Zll^^^^^ the Jewish prayer book.-//om'« Intro. ^« '^S^^fl.V^^f To understand this correctly it is necessary t« „^"«7, ^^A^ V^^^^ pies had reference to J- -11 km>wn c^^^^^^^^^ pe m 2 oT^d IV. ns . INTIJODUCTIOX. ,](,hn alMO taught his disciples." From il.in wt h'iW'u that St, Jolui tlje Baptist had already givon hlw followers a form ot prayer, hut for reasons to he seen liereaftcr, Jesus had not ifiven any spe- cial new form unto his disciples ; for this Is the only sense in which we can undej-stand the passa-e, it beini? evident that Jesus Imd lauLdit his disciples, long before this period, he nature auul value of Draver. The inquiry, therefore, must have had retcreiu'e to a lorm <,f words as an aid to their devotion, and wluch John had already i/iven to his disciples. Xow if forms of prayer were not of rtivuu- appointment this would have been a very proper occasion for our I (,rd to have condemned them. He eertamly would have reproved his discinles for making such a request, and have censured his ser- vant John for departing from the true spirit of prayer in teaclilng his followers such useless formality. But instead (.t this Jesus re- fers them to their own prayer book as a sulticient reason why he had not given them a form heretofore, simply because they hsjcl a good form already, a form which he had repeatedly used in then- hearing in the Synagogue and in the Temple. He had only there- fore to reter them to their own prayer book, which he does in hi» rer*ponse to their inquiry. When ye pray, say, Our Father whicii art in Heaven. „ ^ ,, , ,. „.. Nor was this the only instance ot our Lord's approlvition ot forms of prayer: for in the sacred garden " he went away, and pray- ed, and spak^' the same words."— Mark xiv. 39. The prayer was '• O ray Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done," and this same prayer he repeated three times, thus sanctioning the practice of his (..'hurch in all ages ; in repeating the same prayers, whenever they approach him in the sanctuary. On the cross he said " My God, my Ood, why hast thou forsaken me," which praver he found in the Jewish prayer book, and was composed by King l)avid, as we find it recorded in the 22nd Psalm, and which had been ottered up to (Jod by millions who were tlioi in heaven. Again, when he was on the cross he said, " Father into thy hands I commend my spirit," and this very prayer was also taken'from the prayer book, and to this day is tound in the oth verse of the 31st Psalm. He also chanted the fJreot Hallel as the Jews called it, at the last supper— Mat. xxvi. 3(). So that nothing can be stronger than the prooi that our blessiul Lord not only sanc- tioned but absolutelv instituted a form of prayer for his Church. The early discipU^s, we are told, followed the example of their Lord in re'lation to the liturgy: for we luid a form of prayer record- ed in the 4th (chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. It was offered up on the return of St. Peter and St. John from the Jewish council, when in the Christian asstanblv "they reported all that the Chief Priests and Elders had said unto them." We are told, *' when they heard that, thev lifted up their voice with one accord" and isaid, " O Lord thou art the God who di fn^nmhiitutii. ilip nvewent little volume is issu< •d aw an aid to the devotions of the faithful. THE ORDER FOR ^fvOTlNING AND EVENING PRAYER, Tinun(;HOi;T the year. ■ 4 « , rpiIE Lord is in his lioly terni.U'. let all the earth keep X silence before him. When the wicked man turneth away from his wicked- ness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he sliall save his soul alive. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto hioij Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ^rid am no more worthy to be called thy son. Then shall the Minister say ; DEARLY beloved in the Lord, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness ; assuring us if we say w^ have no sins we deceive ourselves and the truth is not iji us : but if we confess our sins, Gc/d is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- nesl : wherefore, let me beseech you to accompany m(? with a pure heart, and humble voice, to the throne >f the heavenly grace, saying : nf A general ConfcsHon to be said of the whole Congregation afier the Minister. 4 LMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have err- j\. ed. and stray^^ from thy ways like lost sheep. W^ have followed too much the devices ami desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy law^. We have left undone those things which we ought to h*ve done ; And we have done those tilings which we ought no^ to have done ; And there is no health in us. But thou, Q Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake ; That we uuiy liGreafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy name. Amen. G PHAYEKS. •n The Ahsointion or liemmHion of sins, to be pronounced by the Afinister nlovc ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wlio desiretli not the death of a sinner, hut ratlier that he n>ay turn from ids wickedness and live ; and hatli o-iven power, and eoniniandnient to Ins Ministers, to de- ehire and ])ron()unee to his people, hein.t-- penitent, the Ahudution and Hetnission of their sins: He pardoneth anduhsolveth all tlieni that truly repent, and unfeignedly helieve his holy (Tosi)el. Wherefore let us heseech him to grant us true repentance, and his holy Sj)irit, that those things mav please him, which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may he pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; tlirough Jesus Christ (mr Lord. AW Father which art in heaven, Hnllowed he thy O Name. Tliv kingdom come. Tliy will he done on earth. As it is in heaven, (iive us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lend us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom. The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. O Lord, open thou our lips. Peo. And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Min. O God, make speed to save us. Peo. O Lord, make haste to hel]) us. Mia. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost. Peo. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. Mill. Praise ye the Lord. Peo, The Lord's Name be praised. IT TJim shall be sung a Hymn, offer which the Ten Command- ments shall be rehearsed. Then may be said the following by the Minister and people. Vcnite, exultemus Domino. OCOME, let us sing unto the Lord : let us heartily re- joice in the strength of our salvation. us ■.■mr-% 4-l-» TT I 1 11 !,11C111«.0- giving: and shew ourselves glad in him w^ith Psalms. PRAYERS. ' Mm. For' the Lord is a great God : and a great. King above all gods. Peo. In his hands nre all the corners of the earth : and the strengtli of the hills is his also. Min. The sea is his, and he made it : and his hands prepared the dry land. Peo. O come, let us worship, and fall down : and kneel before the Lord our Maker. Min. For he is the Lord our God : and we are the peo- ple of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Peo. 1 o-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts : as in the provocation, and as in the day of tempt- ation in tlie wilderness ; Min. When your fathers tempted me : proved me, and saw my works. Peo. Forty years long was I grieved with this genera- tion, and said : It is a people that do err in their hearts, fcf they have not known my ways. Mill. Unto whom I sware in my -.vrath: that they should not enter into my rest. Peo. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost ; Min. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. Ha Or— Te Deum Laudamus. ' XTTE praise thee O God : we acknowledge thee to be Vf the Lord. Peo. All the earth doth worship thee : the Father ever- lasting. Min. To thee all Angels cry aloud : the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. Peo. To thee Cherubin and Seraphin : contmually do cry, ilfin. Holy, Holy, Holy : Lord God of Sabaoth ; Peo. Heaven and eartli are full of th<^ majesty : of Thy Glory. Min. The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee. Peo. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee. -t«). J*HAYEKS. Min. The noble army of Martyrs : praise tliee. . Feo. The holy Church throuj^^hout all the world : dotii acknowledge thee ; Min. The Father : of an infinite Majesty ; Peo. Thine honourable, true : and only Son ; Min. Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter. Peo. Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ. Min. Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father. Peo. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man : thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. Mm. When thou liadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all bplievers. Peo. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the Glory of the Father. Min. We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge. ' - . Peo. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thoii hast redeemed with thy precious blood. • j Min. Make them to be numbered with thy saints : in glory everlasting. 4.'^; , ,. , . Peo. O Lord, save thy p^b^le; and bless thit^ heritage. Min. Govern th^: and lift them up forevef; ,3;; Peo. Dav by dajf: we magnify thee ; Min. And we worship thy^jgie : ever world without Peo. Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day withotit sin. Min. O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upoft us. Peo. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us : as our trust is in thee. Mi7i. O Lord, in thee have I trusted : let me never b© confounded. B IT Then ahaU be sung an Hymn. Benedictus— For Advent. LP:SSED be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited, and redeemed his people ; I'eo. ii.nu nam riiisuii up » linjjiity ccurtvtiv/u x,ji ».--^ • in the house of his servant David ; PUAYKKS. 9 Min. Ah lie spake by the mouth of liis holy Prophets : wliich have been since the world began ; Peo. Tiiat we should be saved from our enemies : and from the hands of all that hate us ; Min. To perform tiie mercy promised to our fore- father* : and to remember his holy Covenant ; Peo. To perform the oath which he sware to our fore- father Abraham : that he would give us ; Min. That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies : might serve him without fear ; Peo. In holiness and righteousness before him : all the days of our life. Min. And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. Peo. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people : for the remission of their sins, Min. Through the tender mercy of our God : whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us : Peo. To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death : and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Min. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost ; Peo. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. J ubilate Deo. o song. PE joyful in the Lord, all ye lands : serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a Peo. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God : it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves ; we are his j^eople, and the sheep of his pasture. Min. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him and speak good of his Name. Peo. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting : and his truth endureth from generation to generation. Min. Glory be to the Father, &c. Peo. As it was in the beginning, &c. Amen. w 10 PRAYERS. I BELIEVE in God the Father Ahnighty, Maker m heaven and earth : ^ i ^^-i And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, \\ ho was conceived hy the Holv Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pihite, was crucified, dead, and buried, He descended into hell ; The third day he rose aeain from the dead; He ascended into heaven. And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the doad 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. Min. The Lord be with you. Peo. And with thy spirit. Min. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us. Feo. And grant us thy salvation. Mi7i. O Lord, save the Queen. Feo. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Min. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness. Peo. And make' thy chosen people joyful. Min. O liord, save thy people. Peo. And bless thine inheritance. jtfiVi. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Peo. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou. O God. Min. O God, make clean our hearts within us. Peo. And take not thy holy Spirit from us. OGOP, who art the author of peace and lover of con- cord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom ; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies ; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through tiie might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. o For Morning Prayer, Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning ot PRAYERS. 11 this day ; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power ; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that which is righteous in 'thy sight ; throujrh Jesus Christ our Lord. For Evening Prayer. LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, OLord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night ; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. For the Queen's most excellent Majesty. OLORD our heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings and Lord of lords, the only ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon iiarth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady Queen VIC- TORIA; and so replenish her with the grace ot thy Holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way; Endue her plenteously with heavenly gitta; grant her in heahh and wealth long to live ; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies ; and finally after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Araen. For the Royal Family. ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Albert Edward Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all tne Royal Fam^ ily ; Endow them with thy holy Spirit. ; enrich them with thy heavenly grace ; prosper them with all happiness ; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Pastors and People. A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest I\ i_ ci..„j A — „^ ii«^rxn rkii*« Pofitnrs. and all U.JL great marveis ; ouuu ^auiTu v^^jx^-^z -.,,= - — ^— -, — congregations committed to their charge, the healthtui 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 honor of our Advocate and Media- tor, Je8U8 Christ. Amen. 12 PRAYERS. For all sorts. ALMIGHTY God. who hast given us grace at this time with one acjcord to make our common supplications unto thee ; anJ dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their re- quest; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may he most expedient for them : grant- ing us in this world knowledge of Ihy truth, and \r the world to come life everlasting. Amen. For li of Dvi'rth otnl Foitiinc. OGOI), jjeavenly Father, whose gift it is, that the rain doth fall, the earth is tVuitful. beasts increase, and fishes do multiply : liehold, we beseech thee, the afflictions of thy i>eople; 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 Mdiou) with thtfe and the Jloly Ghost be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. I1 PRAYERS. 13 In the time of War and Tumults. ALMIGHTY (xod. King- of all Kinijs, and Governour of all things, whose power no creature is able to re- sist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to tliem that truly repent ; Save and de- liver us, we hnnil)ly beseech thee, from the hands of our I'nemies : abnte their pride, asswapfe tlieir malice, and confound their devices ; that we, hvuvj; armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to priority thoe. who art tlie only o-iver of all victory; througli the nu^rits of thy only Scm, our Lord. Amen. In the time of any Common Plague or Sicknei^ii. 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 re- membering rhy mercy didst save the rest; Have pity up- on us miserable sinners. Avho now are visited with great sickness and mortality ; that like as thou didst then ac- cept 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 sick- ness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Lieutena/nt Governor. ALMIGHTY God, from whom all power is derived, we humbly beseech thee to bless thy servant the Lieutenant Governor of this Province, and grant that he uiav use the Sword which our Sovereign Lady the Queen hath committed into his liand, with justice and mercy according to thy blessed will for the protection of this peo]>le, and tlie true religion established among us : En- lighten him with thy grace, preserve him w.th thy provi- dence, and encompass him with thy favor. Bless, we 1 1. ii Ai 1.^1,^ /~i^x..»,y.il #U».r»r»f 4li«i»» nnnsnltn- iJCSCceii ini'V, im; wiiuic v v/usivii, viii-^v.i. -. i.v - tions to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the honor of Her Sacred Maj*^ :ty, and the safety and welfare of this Province : Grant this, O Merciful Father, for Jesus Christ his sake, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 14 PRAYERS. The Legislature of the Province. MOST Gracious God, we humbly beseech Thee, as for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- Uind, and Her Majesty's other Dominions in general, so especially for this Province; and particularly for the Lieutenant-Governor, the Council and Assembly, under our most gracious and religious Queen, in their Legisla- tive capacity at this time assembled : that thou wouldst 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 this Province ; 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 tor 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. All Conditions of Men. OGOD 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 heaUh unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of the Holy Church Universal ; that it may be so guided and govern- ed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call them- selves 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 way afflict- ed, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate ; {^especially those for whom out 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 afflic- tions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen. ♦ This to be said when any desire the Prayers of the Congrega- tion. PRAYERS. 15 r« A General Thanksgiving. ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine un- worthy servants do give thee most humble andh-arty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us, ^d to all men ; \*particvlarly to those who desire now to offer vp their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies ■vouchsafed vnto 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 ot 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 unfeignediy 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 belore thee in holiness and righteousness all our days ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Lrhost be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. * This iH to be said when any that have been prayed for desire to return praise. For Rain. OGOD our heavenly fathe-, who by thy gracioUvS pro- vidence 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 aioyfulrain 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. 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 dehver- a,T.no fr..m fhnsQ aront and aDParent dangers wherewith we were compassed: We acknowledge it thy Goodness that we were not delivered over as a prey unto them : be- seeching thee still to continue such thy mercies towards us, that all the world may know that thoij art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 XntAYERS. For fair iveatlier. OLOUD GoJ, wlio hast justly humbled us by thy late plague of immoderate rain and w^ter, and in our mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this sea- sonable 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 genera- tion; througli Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Plenty. OMOST merciful Father, who of tiiy gracious good- ness 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 lis, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ame;i. Restorivg 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 sedi- tious 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 olier unto thee our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies toM^ards us ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Deliverance from the Plague^ or other common Sickness, OLORD 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 good- ness ourselves, our souls and bodies which thou hast de- livered, 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. PRAYERS. 17 For Good Friday, B1.EIS8E1) Saviour: we bow our soula; l)efoVe tliee, to give glory to the Lamb that was shiin to redeem us^. We give thee'thankfs, O thou, lioly spotless Son of God. for ail that thou iiast endured for us in body and in soul. Thou didst come into the world lo save sinners. Thou didst eome unto thine own, and thine own received thee not. The i)e()ple of Israel despised and rejected thee ; the Scribes and Pharisees blasi>hemed thee; the Sadducee* mocked ihee : the high priest of the council unjustly con- demned thee : the heathen governor delivered thee into the hands of the unrighteous. 'Jliough the Son of God. thou wast scourged, and beaten, and spit upon. Thy disciples forsook thee : Judas l)etiayed thee : Peter denied thee : and the sins of the whole world conspired and rose up aga.nst thee : and thou didst bear all. For this we thank thee. Lord Jesus. BLESSKl) Saviour! thou didst reward hatred with love, and cruelty witli compassion. Thou didst not swerve from fulfilling the purpose of thy grace, for all the malice and craft of thine enemies. Thou didst wil- lingly deliver up thyself to scorn and reproach : and as a lamb led to the slaughter didst silently submit. With .sorrowful compassion didst tliou look upon him who de- nied thee. With meekness didst Ihou yield to them that would crucify thee, that thy blood might avail for their redemption. ' And even on the cross, thou didst open the gates of paradise to a dying malefactor, and spend thy last breath in praying for thy persecutors and murderers . For this we thank thee, Lord Jesus. AD( )ll A BLE Son of God 1 thou didst not lightly re- gard the sin of the world. Thou hadst no pleasure in wickedness. Thou didst neither overlook nor excuse iniquity. Thou didst concur in the wrath of (rod upon all transgression. Thou didst take the curse of sin upon thyself, and receive it into thine own bosom. Thou didst endure all the agony due unto it in thine ^unspeakable sufferings. Thou hast borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows I For this ive thank thee. Lord Jesus. 18 PKAYERS. THOU didst suflfer thyself to be bound, that we might be free : accused, tliat wo might be made righteous ; reviled, that we might come to honor. Thou didst wear the crown of thorns, that we might receive the crown of righteousness; didst receive upon thee the robe ot mockery, that we might be arrayed in the robes of salva- tion; and didst bow thy head in death, that we might be recovered w life and peace ! For this xve thank thee. Lord Jesus. GRACIOUS Redeemer ! the sin that brought thee to the Cross dwelleth also in us. All we like sheep have gone astray. In our f.esh dwelleth no good thing. The folly of those who esteemed thee not, the hatred ot those who persecuted thee, the unbelief of those who would not have thee to rule over them, the unrighteous- ness of those who gave thee to be crucified, the covet- ousness of him who betrayed thee, and the weakness ot him who denied thee, all are very deeply rooted in our hearts, and have quite too much swayed our lives. With shame and deep contrition we confess that we have grievouslv sinned against thee, and that it was our sins, even ours, which brought thee to the cross, and cost thee 8o much agony \ thou Lamb of God that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on ks! By thy love unto death, even the death of the cross ; By the terrors that encompassed thy soul ; , By the sufferings which thou didst endure in thy body ; , By the bitter agony of thy death ; Have me^ry on iis^ O Lord. Jesue^ ETERNAL and compassionate High Priest, for the sake of thy most holy sacrifice, forgive us our sins r Wash us thoroughly from all our imcfennness ! Let the ^..^«v.^«v-kK^nTi/>TT KiffoT cii-rfbrTruyQ ninvf* lis t^^ linfeifTM- j^ ^j^j^.jj^jj ,, .{^ ^ ,,j %llj »-lHvi .-•!.• ....... .1... r^ -l- -„ i_ ed repentance ! Let the vision of thy cross and passion bring us to abhor and tremble at sin I Let the assurance of thy compassion, and forgiving love be ours this day. PRAYERS. 19 that we may be tilltui with grutoful aftection, and hence- forward live only to thy praise. Vnd unto Him that loved us, and washed us trom our sins in his own blood, be glory and dominion tor ever and ever. Amen. For Kanter. 4 LL 8k)rv be to thee. O God, who art from everlasting A to everlastintt . F^raise and honor be to thee, the God ;^nd Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for this the day which thou b.ast nuule for us. that we nnght ;-^.l«ice m it •ind be dad. ThauUs and praises be to thei^ that thy be- loved son appeared amonii men. not only to take away sin bv the offeriuiA of himself, but that he might also brmg light* and immortality to H-ht. and open the doors of heaven to all believers. Thanks and praise be to thee, that thou didst not suffer thy Holy One to see eorruption nor leave his soul in hell, but hast fulfilled thme ancient promise in his triumphant resurrection from the dead. Thanks and praise be to thee, that thou hast thus estab- lished the innocence of Josus. approved his claims, de- clared his divinity, manifested his glory h^kI an«^^ him with the oil of gladness above Ins fellows, givmg him powe^ as the Captain of Salvation, to bring many sons unto glory. OGOD fovKive, wc beseech thee, the sins and errors bv wliu-h te have made ourselves «n,»-orthy of such unspeakable kindness and compassion Enl'f««" «• eveLrf ouv nnderstandins that we u.ay know wOmt is the hone of our callins?. Helii us to rejoice with the whole eart th"t precious (iospcl wlii.h dissipates our doubts, n s ourHs into .huhalss. and opens *- us an a W dant entrance into the kingdom ot glory. Grant, »hi st wc nraise thee for the death and resurrection of Jesu.s. Z.™ nav be also quickened together ^tth h.man.l . ibred to walk iu newness of life. Exulting lu the bless- ;.;; V.Ve thus ..egotlcnmay we 1-rify ourselves e^ he is THire. humblv seeking alter tho^u u.tn^. ;^.- -- - 'hove and laving up for ourselves treasures in heaven. WhVii temptations alsail us. and we are m danger ol sin- 20 PRAYEKS. ^f. ninK against thee ; when our faith would grow weak, and our love become cold, do thou make us steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in the work ol the Lord. Amidst all the sufferings of this period of probation may we be refreshed by the delightful and consoling convic- tion, that through them our Father is preparing his chil- dren for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. May all the joys with which thou crownest us in this life be made lovelier and stronger by the blissful thought that they are but the foretaste of greater joys to come. When we mourn at the graves of tliose whom we had loved, may our hearts find comfort in the promise that them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. And when we ourselves shall be called out of this world, may our departing spirits abundantly enjoy that assured hope by which it was said, '^ I know that my Redeemer hveth : O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy vic- tory' Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ ! " OTHOU God of peace and consolation, hear our prayer. Lift thou the light of thy countenance upon all who on this day of rejoicing are burdened with sorrows and care : upon all who are oppressed by their fellow-men : upon all who suffer for the sake of truth and conscience : upon all who are surrounded by temptations to sin : upon all who are ready to despair of thy grace : upon all who are sick, or tempted by the fear of death : upon all who stand at the entrance of the dark valley. May Christ be in them all the hope of glory that the trial of their faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, may be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And now unto thee, who canst keep us from falling, and hast laid up for all thy faithful servants immortal joys, be blessing, honor and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. THE LITANT. 21 THE LITANY. OGOD the Father, of heaven : have mercy upon ui miserable sinners. God the Father, of Heaven : have mercy upon us mx- '''o^^!^'^\Ti^r.. Redeemer of the world : have mercy unon us miserable sinners. God the Son, Redeemer of the world : have mercy upon '"(To^TS^H:^^ Ghost, proceeding trom the Father and the Son : have mercy upon us miserable ^^J}^Jt; , God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Faihei ana ihf Son ' have mercy vpon us miserable sinners. hoiy, blessed,\nd glorious Trinity three Persona and one God : have mercy upon us miserable sinners. holy blessed, and glorious Trinity three Persons and one God : have mercy upon us miserable ^'^f/^^^^' .. Remember not, Lord, our ofifences, nor ^^^^ offences oi our forefathers; neither take thou ^^"g^^^^^;^^ .^^^^Ci spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us forever. Spare vf>, good Lord. From all evil and mischief, from sin; fr««^.^^^^^^^^^^^ assaults of the devil; from ihy wrath, and from everlast ing damnation, ^ , . Good Lord, deliver us. Fn>rn all blindness of heart; from pride vam-f^ry, and hypocrisy ; from envy, hatred, ar.d malice, and all un- charitableness, Good Lord, deliver us. , ^. „, From fornication, and all other deadly s^m ; and trom all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Good Lord, deliver vs. From Hghtning and tempest; fr^^^^^ and famine ', from buttle ana n.v..«.. i* au^ death, , , 7- Good Lord, deliver us. 22 THE LITANY. From all sedition, privy consi,iruey. and rebclli(m; ^ 1 ftlw,. doctrine heresv and schism : trom hardnc8s ^!h::. t,lclnt:;:^t ;>f .l,v word .«.. f.,n.,m.„a.nont, Good Lord, deliver i«. ^ ., , ,„ Hv th,. nivsterv of thv holv lufaiiiation ; by t i.v holy ^^UiW* ana\nreumc.isi..n: by thy Bap.i^n.. Fa.„„K. "nd emp a ion. ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ rfeMm- ifs. Hv thino \Konv and bloody Sweat: by thy Cross and Patwn by tfw im-dous Death and Burial; by thy Blori- rrZurr^ctionand Aso.-n.sion. and by the eommg ot ihe Holy Ghost, , , , • Good Lord, ddiver us. In all time of our tribulation ; in all time ot our wealth ; hi the hour of death, and in the day ot .judgment. Good Lord, ddirer h.<. We sinners do beseech tliee to hear us. O Lord God; anKTrl^iV please thee t<> rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the njjht way *. , ^ , We beseech thee to hear us. good Lord. That it may please thee to kee}» and strengthen m the true wo Ih ppin|4 of thee, in righteousness and hohness ot Utfetthy Servant VICTOIUA,. our most gracious Queen and Governour ; , We beseech thee io hear ns. good Lotd. l^hat it mav please thee to rule her heart m thy taith, fear and h've. and that she may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory : We beseech thee to hear trs, good Lord. That it mav please thee to be her defender and keeper, giving her the victory over all her inemies : We beseech thee to hear ns. good Lord. That it mav please thee to bless and preserve Albert J^2ardl Scl of Wales the Pri^.-^ss of Wales, and all the Rovai Family: ' We beseech thee to hear us, good Lmd. ThRt it mav please thee to illuminate all Pastors with • ..JA'nlSe^and understanding of thy AVord ; and that both bv their preaching and shew it accoi •dingl>' We beseech thee, to hear w.«», f) good L Ot'i THE LITANY 23 n^hat it may please thoe to endue the Lords of the CcnmcU ami* an the Nobility, with grace, wisdom and understanding; , » r j Wt heseedi thee, to hear us. good Lord. That it uiav please thee to bless and keep the MagiH- trates giving theni graee to execute justice, and to mam- lain tru i , ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^,f ;, ^^.^ . That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people , We heseech Ihee to hear us, good Lord. That it nuxy please thee to give to all nations unity, i)eace, and concord; i r j We heseech thee to hear us, good Lot d. ^rhat it mav please thee to give us aii heart to love and drea^Hhee and diligently to live after thy commandments ; We heseech thee to hear us, good Lo7d. That it may please thee togtve to all thy people in- crease c>f grace to hear meekly thy Word and to receive k w^th pufe affection, and to bring Ibrth the fruits of the ^"" ' We beseech ihee to hear lis, good Lord. That it may pU-ase tl.oe to bring into the way ot truth all such as have erred, and are deceived; We beseech thee to hear us, good Loid. That it mav please thee to strengthen such as do stand , 1 tf .nmfort nnd help the weak-hearted ; and to raise Tp the.X"llU and iinally to beat down Satan under our teet ; ^^ ^^^^_ ^^^ g^ ^^^^. That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, „n t5!'t are in danger, necessity, and tnbuUtu.„; That it^r^tsS rfr^e^llt^lt travel h^ all urisoners and captives; , r ,? all Pn^on , ^, ^^ ,,j„,. „s, good Lord That it mav please thee to defend, and provide for, the tUtLrtsV^^d'ren, and widows, and all that are desolate and oppres^ecU ^^^^^_ ^^_^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^„,,^. • 24 THE LITANY. KU Thnt it may please thee to have mercy upon all men; We beseech ihee in hear an. good Lord. That it may please thee to forfrive our enemies, perhe- eutors, and -ilanderers, and to turn their hej.rts; We heseerh ihee to hear as, good Lord, That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of rhe eartli, so as in due time we may enjov them : Wf he>-ei-i'h ihee to hear f.s, good fjord. That it may ])lease thee to jrive ns true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negliaences, and ignorances; and to endue us with tin* u:ra('e of thv Molv Spiiit to amend our lives according to thv liolv Word ; Wf hrseerh thee to hfi(rr ifs, gootf fjord. Son of (Jod : we heseech thee to hear ns. Son of God : iff heneerh thee to hear //.s. O Laiub of (jod : that takest away the sins of the world: Grant ns tht/ p^ac^. O Landi of (lod : that takest away the sins of the world: flare na^rrg upon ^<>\ O Christ, hear us. Christ, h^ar us. Lord, have mercy u^ion us. Tjord. liar*' nifrcy upon nn. Christ, have nuMcty upon >is. Christ, havf nifrry noon ns. , Lord, have mercy ui)on us. Lord, havf mercy upon n>\ o UR Father, which art in heaven. Hallowed he thy Name. Thy kinu'dom come. Thy will be done in earth. As it is in heaven, (iive us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into tempta- tion; Rut deliver us from evil. Amen. Min. () Lord, deal not with us after our sins. Peo. Neither rvward us aftei- our iniquities. F^et us pray. ither. that de a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sor- (\ (iOT), merciful Father, that despisest not the sighinj>" ../ of IHE LITANY. 25 rowt\il ; Mercitiilly assist our prayers that we make before theejn all <>nr troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us: and graciously hear us, that tliose evils, which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh a,gainst us, be brouglit to noui^ht : and by the providence" of thy goodness they may be di^:p-rsed ; that we thy ser- vants, being iiurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unlo thee in thy holy Church: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, arise, hfln t/s. and (lelivfr us for thy Nome's sokf. 0(tO1). we have lieard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble Avorks that thou didst in tb.eir days, and in the old times before them. Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour. Glory be to the Ff»ther. and to the Son': and to the Holy (xhost; Peo. As it was in the beginning, is now. and ever shall be : world without end. xVmen. From our enemies defend us, O Christ. Grarionsly look upon our atjlidions. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts. MercifuUti forffirt^ the sins of thy people. Favourably with mercy hear our prayers. O So?i of Da rid. hare merry upon us. Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, Christ. Grariously hear us, O Christ: graciously hear us, Lord Christ. Min. () Lord, let thy mercy be shewed upon us : Peo. As we do ])ut our trust in thee. Tiet us pray. Xl/^K humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to T T look upon our infirmities: and for the glory of thy Name turn from us all those evils that we most righteous- ly hav«,' de.^tTved; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and eoniideiice in tliv mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of liv- ing, to thy bonour and glory: through our only Mediator and Advocate. Jesus Christ our TiOrd. Amen. »r 26 rpilE gract 1 THE COLLECTS, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, Hiid the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Anieu. k h THE COLLECTS. THE FIKST HI N DAY IN ADVKNT. 4 LMIGHTY God, givQ us grace that we may cast A. awav the works of darkness, and put upon us the iirmour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Ghrist came to visit us in great hu- mility ; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Ame;i. . , lo The Epistle, llomauh xiil. 8-14. The Gospel, Matt. xxi. l-li. SECOND SUNDAY TT^ ADVENT. BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning ; Grant that we may in such wis^ hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly di- gest 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 Je»us Christ. Amen. The Epistle, Romans xv. 4-13. The Gospel, Luke xxi. 25-33. THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. 0L< )R1) Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thv 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 Eather and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. Iv. 1-5. The Oo(*p«l, Bt. Matth. xL 2-10. THE COLLECTS. 27 FOURTH SUNDAY IN A1>VKNT. Ol^ORl), raise up, (we pray thee) thy power, and come jtmong 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 de- liver us ; through die satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen. The Epistle, Phil. iv. 4-7. T\w Gospel, St. John 1. K>-28. i CHRISTMAS DAY. 4 LMKtHTY God, who hast given us thy only begotten J\. Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin ; Grant that we being regener- yte and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit ; through the satne our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle, Heb. i. 1-12. The Gowpe!, St. John i. 1-14. SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS. 4 LMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotieii u\. Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time! to be born of a pure Virgin ; Grant that we being regene- rate, 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. Gal. Iv. 1-7. The G-ospel, St. Matth. i. 18-25. THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 4 LMIGHTY (xod, who madest thy blesfed Son to be J\. circumcised, and obedient to the law for man ; Grant us the true Circumcision of the Spirit; that, our liearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we niay in all things obey iliy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Romans iv. 8-14. The Gospel, St. Luke ii. 16-21. 28 THE COLLECTS. thp: epiphany. OGOD, who by the loading of a star didst manifest thy onlv begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant, that \ve, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fniilion of thy glorious Godhead: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Rpistle, Kplies. iii. 1-12. The Gospel, St. Matth. ii. 1-12. THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. OLORD. we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee ; and grant that thev may both perceive and know what things thev ought to do. 'and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; tlirough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Romans xii. 1-5. The Ciospel, St. Luke ii. 41-o2. THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth ; Mercifully hear the sup- plications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life : through Jesus (lirist our Lord. Amen. the Epistle, Romans xii. 6-16. The Gospel, St. John ii. 1-11. THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look J\. upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and ne- cessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Romans xii. 16-21. The Gospel, St. Matth. viii. 1-13. THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. OGOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and curry u^ through all temptations ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Euistle. Romans xiii. 1-7. The Gospel, St. Matth. riii. 23-34. o 'the FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY. LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true religion ; thatjthey THK COLLECTS. 29 who do lean only upon the ho})e of thy lieavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power ; llirough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Col. iil. 12-17. The Uospel, St. Mattl). xili. 24-30. THE SIXTH 8UNDAV AFTER THE EPirUAXY. OGOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify our- selves, even as he is pure ; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, () Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, M'orld without end. Amen. The Epistle, 1 St. John iii. 1-8. The Gos^pel, St. MaUh. xxiv. 23-31. THE SUNDAY CALLED SEPTUAOESIMA. OLOliD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people ; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy >same; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. ix. 24-27. The Gospel, St. Matth. xx. 1-16. THE SUNDAY CALLED SEXAGESIMA. OLORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do ; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 2 Cor. xi. 19-31. The Gospel, St. Luke viil. 4-13. THE SUNDAY CALLED QUINQUAGESIMA. OLORD, who hast taught us that all oi^r doings with- out charity are nothing worth ; Send thy Holy Ghost^ and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of cha- rity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, wit'/out which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee : Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. xiii. 1-13. The Gospel, St. Luke xviil. 31-4;^. m THK COLLECTS, ASH- W E I )N KS DA V. A LMKtHTY and everla.stinK (iod, who luite^t nothinfi A^ that thou hast made, and dost forsive the sins of a)! them that are penitcmt ; Create and niak<^ in n.- new and contrite hearts, that we wortliily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, pt'rfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Kpistle, Joel ii. 12-17. Tho Uospol, 8t. Mntth. vi. 16-21. THE FlTiST SU>I>AV IN F.ENT. OLORl). who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights ; Oive us gi-ace to use such abstinence, that, our Hesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God. world without end. Anu^n. The KpiHtle, 2 Cor. vL 1-10. The (Gospel, tllp:< T.' 81 THE FIFTir SrrNDAV IN LENT. XVTE beseech thee, Ahiii^hty (rod, mercifully to look T T upon thv people; that by thy great .uoorlness thev may be p:overnecl and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; throuprh Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The P^pistlo, Hob. ix. ll-lo. '| h,. r^ospel, St. Jolm viii. 46-59. THE 8UNDAY NEXT FJEFOKE EASTER. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, oi' thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent tliy Son, our Savi- our Jesus Christ, to lake upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind shoidd follow thp example of his great humility; Mercifully grnnt, tliat wo may both tl)llow^ the example'of his patience, .wA also be made partakers of his resurrection ; through the sanio Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Phil. ii. .5-11. The Gosijel, 8t. Malth. xxvii. 1. aOOD FRIDAY. 4 LMKiFlTY God. we beseech thee graciously to be- ./JL hold this tliy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross, wdu> now liveth and reigneth wdth thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God. world without end. Aufen. Tlie J^Mstle, ITeb. x. 1--2.5. The Gospel, i^t. John xix. 1-37. EASTER SUNDAY. 4 LMIGHTY God, who tbrough thine only begotten -x^. Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life ; VVe humbly beseech thee, that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual bel}> we may bring the same to good effect ;'^ through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livetli and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Anien. The Epistle, OoUos. iii. 1-7. The Gospel, f^t. John xx. 1-10. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Ai.iMlGHTY Father, who hast given tliine only Son lo die for our sins, and to rise again for our justifica- tion ; (irant us so to put aAvay the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may ahvay serve thee in pureness of mmt m i 32 THE OOl.LECTS. living and truth; tlirougli the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our J^ord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 John v. 4-12. The (iof^pel, St. John xx. lM-23. SECOND SINDAY AFTKU KAWTKlt. ALMIGHTY God who liast given thine only son to be unto us l>oth a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of Godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life ; through the .same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Peter ii. 19-25. The Uospel, St. John x. 11-lft. THIRD ST ND.VY AKTKR KASTEK. ALMIGHTY God who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may re- turn into the way of righteousness : Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowshi}) of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such tilings as are agree- able to the same ; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Peter ii. 11-17. The Gospel, St. John xvi. 16-22. FOTTRTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. O ALMIGHTY God, avIio alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men ; Grant unto r-hy people, that they may love the thing which thou com- mandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so among the manifold changes of the w^orld our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, St. James i. 17-21 , The Gospel, St. John xvi. 5-14. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EAKTEK. OJjOKD, from whom all good things do come ; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspira- tion we niav fhmk tliose thini^s that be good, and bv ihv merciful guiding may perform the sanje : through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Epistle, fit. James i. 22-27. Tlie Gospel, St. John, xvi. 23-33. our THK COLLECTS. 33 ii THE ASCENSION DAY. ('I RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as JC we do believe thy only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens ; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and Avith him continual- ly dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. The Epistle, Acts i. 1-11. The Gospel, St. Mark, xvi. 14-20. SUNDAY AFTER THE ASCENSION DAY. OGOD the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ witli great triumph unto thy king- dom in heaven ; We beseech thee leave us not comfort- less ; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. The Epistle, 1 St. Peter iv. 7-11. The Gospel, St. John xv. 28 to xvi. 4, WHIT- SUNDAY. GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit ; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort ; through the merits of Christ Jestls our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. » The Epistle, Acts ii. 1-11. The Gospel, St. John xiv. 15-31. TRINITY SUNDAY. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity ; We beseech thee, that thou wouldest keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen. The Ej>i8tle, Rev. iv. 1-11. The Gospel, St. John iii. 1-15. o FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because 3 vV THE COLLECTS. through tho weakness of our mortal nftiurc we can do no good thing without thee, grunt us the help of thy grac^, ^at in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in "Will and deed ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The IJpiiBtle, 1 et. John iv. 7-21. The Gospel, St. Luke xvl. 19-31. SECOND SUKTPAY AFTUU TRINITY. OLORD, who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast fear and Ipve; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perj>etual fear and love of thy holy Name ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 St. John iii. 1.3-24. Tlie G08i>el, St, Luke xiv. 16-24. TIIIKD SUNDAY AFTIIR TKINITY. LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us ; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray ; may by thy n)i«/lity aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and advers^ities ; through Jesus Christ Q.ur Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 St. Peter v. 5-11. The Gospel, St. Luke xv. 1-10. FOUPvTH SUNDAY AFTp:jl TRINITY. GOOD Lord, the prot.eCtor of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, hothipg is holy ; In- crease and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things teni- poral, that we finally lose not the things eternai : ftrailt this, heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Rpmang viii. 18-23. The Gospel, St. Luke vi, 36-42, FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. GRANT, Lotd, we beseech thee, that the course of this world mav be so peaceably ordered by thy go- vernance, that thy Chiirch may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epitrtle, 1 St. Peter iii. 8-15. The Gospel, St. Luke v. i-11. o SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. GOD who hast prepared for them that love thee sucl| good things as pass man'c understanding 5 Pour into IHE COIJ.ECTS. 35 mir hearts such love toward thee, tliat we, loving thee 3ib()ve all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, The Epistle, Romans vK 3-11. The Gospel, St. MatUi. v. 20-2e. SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITt. LOl^l) of all power and might, who art the autlior and giver of all gpod things ; <3 raft in our hearts the love -of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nouri-sh, us with all gpodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same ', through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epiistle, itomans xi. 1^23. The Gospel, St. Mnrk viii. 1-9. EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. OGOD, whose never-tailing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth ; We humbjy beseech thee to put away from us\all hurtful things, and to give us those things which, be profitable for as; through Jesus C'hrist our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Romans viii, 12-17. The Gk>spel, St. Matth. vii. 15-21, NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. /^ RANT to US, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to * JT think and do always such things as be rightlul ; that M-e, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. x. M3, The Gospel, St. Luke. xvi. 1-9. TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 1ET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers lJ of thy humble servants ; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. xii. 1-11. The Gospel, St. Luke xix, 41-47. ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. OGOD, who declarest thy almighty power most chiefly in shewing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running the way of thy commandments, may obtain thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, 1 Cor. xv. Ml, The Gospel, St. Luke x\ili. 9-14. !^ 3G THE COLLECTS. I -1- ^Tn TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. ALMIGHTY" and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve : Pour down upon us the abundanee of thy mercy ; forgiving us those things whereof our consciences are afraid, and giving us those good things which we arc not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. lite EplHtle, 2 Cor. fii. 4-9. The Gospel, St. Mark \il. 31-37. THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it Cometh that thy faithful people da unto thee true and laudable service ; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faitrnully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises ; through the me- rits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Gal.Mii. 1(3-22. 'J'lu; (Jospel, St. Luke x. 23-37. FOURTEENTH ST'NDVY' AFTER TRINITY. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the in- crease of faith, hope and charity ; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Gal. vi. 11-16. The Gospel, 8t. Luke. xvii. 11-19. FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Gal. vi. 11-18. The Gospel, St. Matt. vi. 24-34. SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. OLORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church ; and, because it cannot con- tinue in safety without tiiy saccoar, preserve it ever iiioro by thy help and goodness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Ephcs. iii. lU-21. The Gospel, St. Luke, vii. 11-17. THK COLLECTS. *jfr :5 m am 8EVENTKENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. LORD, we pray thee that thy gnvre may always prevent ami follow us, ami make us continually to be given to all good works ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Kpbe.s. iv. 1-6. The OoBpel, Bt. Luke xiv. 1-11, EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to with- stand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the el, 8t. Matt. xxii. 1-14. TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faith- ful people pardon and peace, that they maybe cleims- ed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Ephes. vi. 10-20. The Q ospel, 8t. John iv. 46-54. TWBNTIT-SECONI) SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness-, that through thy pro- tection it ma^"" he free from, all adversities, and devoutly ^ivento serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Phil. i. 3-11. The Gospel, St. Matt. xvhi. 21-3^- 38 THE COLLECTS. Hi" H TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTICR TRINTTT. OGOD, our refuge and strength, who art the authv/r of all godliness J Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and gi-ant that those things wliich we ask faithfully we may o-btain effectually ; tlirough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, J^ih iff. 17-21. The Oospel, St, Matt. xxli. 15-22. TWENTY-FOURTH S^UNDAY .tFTKR TRINITY. OLORl), we beseech thee, absolve thy people fronu their offences ; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered iVom the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed ; Grant this, O heavenly Father,, for Jesus Christ's sake, ow blessed Lord and Saviour. Amerr. The Epdstre, Col. i. 3:^12'. The eospel, St. Matt. ir. 18-26, TWENTY-FIFTH Sl^NDAY AFTER TRINITY, STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lortl, the wills of thy faitliful people; ^hat they, plenteously l>rLnging forth the fruits of good works, nisay of thfje be pl*enteously re- warded ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Tlie Epistle, Jer. xxifi. 5-8. The G-ospel, St. John \i. 5-14. THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. WE beseech thee, O Lord, poiitr thy grace into our hearts ;; that as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesias Christ by the message of an angel, so by Ms cr'>ss and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Isaiah viLlO-16,. The Gospel, St. Luke, i,.2t5-4i9^ "*»' BAPTISM. 39 THE MINISTRATION OY BAPTISM TO INFANTS, §1. It shall be loft discretionary with the Parents to become respon- Hlble for their Cliiiaren, or to choose (Avhat are usually caUed) Godfathers and Godmothers. §2. After theOhild, or Children, to be Baptized, fihall have been pre- sented, the Minister shall use one of the following Forms. I. FOKM. DEARLY BELOVED, forasmuch as all men are con- ceived and born in sin ; and our Saviour Christ saith. None can enter into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated and born anew of Water and the Holy Ghost; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that, of his bounteous mercy he will gi-ant to this child that which by nature he cannot have ; that he may be baptized with Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made a living member of the same, then shall the Minister say, Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead; we call upon thee for this child, that he, cx)ming to thy holy baptism, may receive remission of sin, by spirit- ual regeneration. Receive him, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying. Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : So give now unto us who ask ; let us who seek, find r open the gate unto us who knock ; that this infant may eiijoy the everlasting benediction of thy j^^avenly wasliing. and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord.— Amen. Hear the words of the Gospel, written by Saint M:?.rk, in the tenth Chapter, at tiie tbirteenth Verse : 40 BAI»'riSM. rpHET brougiit yonng- ehiiaren to Christ, tliat he shoiihi X touch them; and his disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much dis- pleased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you. Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Then shall the Minifiter lay his rij^ht hand upon the head of the Child, and repeat the Lord's Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, &c. The Minister shall then demand of the Parents, or Sponsors, as follows : 7 1 » Will you commend this child, by fervent prayer, to the guardian care and Providence of Jesus Christ'/ Will you live a Christian life, and therebv set an example, that he may be strengthened and built up in his faith ? AVill you be careful to have him instructed in the Holv Ten Commandments of God, the Articles of the Christian Faith, the Doctrine of the holy Sacraments, and whatso- ever more imy be required, for his salvation ? Answ. — Yes. Bo you, in the name of this child, renounce the devil and all his works ; the vain pomp and glory of this world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful de- sires of the flesh, so that you will not follow nor be led by them ? Answ. — I renounce them all. Do you believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostle's Creed? Answ. — I do. And, is it your desire to have this cMc? baptized in this faith i Answ. — This is my desire. While the Sponsors prepare the Child for Baptism, the Minister anaii repeat the following identcnco from the fourth Chief Head of l.utner'H Catechisni: mmitMtt>mammmMm BA1»TISM. 41 Baptism is not more water, but water connected with tlie word of God, and united with the divine Command- ment. Then shall the Minister say, Name this chUd.— Then Baptizing: N. I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of tlie Son, and of the Holy Gliost. Amen. Then may the following Ejaculation be offered: The Lord, who liatli now received you into his cove- nant, preserve you in his kingdom unto life everlasting. Amen. If convenient, a portion of a Hymn may then he snng. ^ 111 concluding this Sacrament, the Minister may use the follow- ing, or Horoe otlier Prayer: "YI^E give thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, y T that it hatli pleased thee to regenerate this child with tliy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy church, And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish tlie whole body of sin ; and that as Jlc is made paHalter of his resurrection ; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy church, he may be an inheriter of thine everlasting Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Tlie i^eace of God, which passeth understanding, be with you and this child, now and forever. Amen. 42 BAPTISM. THE MINISTRATION OF BAPTISM TO SUCH AS ARE OF RIPER YEARS. DEARLY BELOVED ! our bles'^ed Saviour came into the world to seok and to save sinners. To this end, he was not only himself engaged in jmblishing the saving principles of liis holy religion, but also commissioned and sent fortli his Apostles for the same purpose. " All power," said he, ''is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, thei-efore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, ajid of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." In obedience to this direction, liis disciples preached the gospel in various parts of the earth; and as many as exercised "repentance towards God, and faith in his Son," were baptized and received as members into his church. They entered into a new and peculiar relation with God. They promised to abandon their prejudices, their sinful habits, their idol- atry, their superstitions, and to worship the true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to be guided by the precepts of his gospel. Whereupon, they received the comfortable assurance, that God's grace, pardon for sin, adoption into his family, And the inheritance of eternal life, should be theirs, while, by the aid of the Divine Spirit, they should continue faithful in their engagements. In baptism, a solemn covenant is therefore made with God. He, who receives this ordinance, obligates himself to renounce all evil, and to live a holy and virtuous life. He engages to love and to adore God as his Father, filial- ly to trust him, and willingly to render obedience to his word. He promises to accept the Lord Jesus, as the Son of God, to acquiesce in him as his only Redeemer and Saviour, to acknowledge his doctrines until death, and, with upriglitness of heart, to obey his connnandments, and follow his examples. He also promises, not to resist the operations of the Holy Spirit, but faithfully to apply them to the improvement of his mind and understanding. i »«H«.Tla»v.»-._..„,.»^. . „. BAITISM. 4'S Wherefore, he receives tlte cheering- promise, that, like a child under the protection of an affectionate father, God will love and receive him into his ^artMan care and Providence ; Christ, his Friend and Redeemer, acknow- ledge, and, TMth his blood, cleanse and purify him from all his sms, and the Divine Spirit govei'n, stride, and make him happy. These are undeniably tlie ffrciitest benefits, which w^e as men, are capable of receiving; and the same you shal! now receive m baptism, provided you have flilly and sin- cerely resolved to devote yoTirsetf to the service of Al- mighty God. I ask you, therefore, in the presence of these witnesses, and before that august Being ^vho searchefcb the heart, Q. Do you solemnly renounce the dominion of sin* and the vanities of the world ? A. I renounce them alf. Q. Do you believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth ; And in Jesus Christ his onTv Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, f>uftered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried ; He descene Communion of Saints ; The Forgiveness of sms ; The itrfurrection of the body, And the life everlast- ing? A. I do. Q, Will you endeavor, by the help of God, to live in conformity with this doctrine of Jesus, and to adorn the same w^ith a pure and holy life ? A. that is my deiijire. , T,^® P^'.^?<>" <^o.^ baptized, kneeH)igr, tTie Minister shair Prav: .,v.v.,t,. TTiiij Tj-1 mtixvuL lujiiig;^ t?ii K}i lianas.) ALMIGHTY God, faithful Father in Christ our Lord ; thou hast heard the solemn vows now made by thi9 thy servant. O receive him into thy covenant of graces 44 BAPTISM, and grant him a part in all the blessingrs which Jes'..i» Christ, thy dear Son, procured by his doctrines and ex- amples, by his sutferings and death. Amen. Upon this your profession and promise, I bapti?:e thee, (N.) in the Name of the Fatlier, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, The blood of Jesus cleanse you from all your sins, and the Spirit of God lead and din^ct you into all his truths. Let ns pray. ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesiifi Christ, and the Author of all spiritual graces ; we offer unto thee our united thanks, that, this thy servant., now being bom again of vater and the Holy Spirit, is made an heir in thy kingdom, and a partaker of those heavenly blessings, which our great Mediator Jesus Christ, procured by his obedience and death. Accept, we beseech thee, this evidence of his obedience to thy will, and this manifestation of his desire to become acceptable in thy sight. And being now adopted as thine own child, let all his former sins be washed away. — Pour out upon him thy Holy Spirit, and assist hiW' to accom- plish his sacrc% and against departing from that covenant of grace which he hath now made with thee. Assist him to j)e fervent in spirit, re- joicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, blessing those M^ho persecute him, rejoicing with them that rejoice, and weeping with them that weep. And, experiencing that the yoke of Christ is easy, and liis burden light, and blessed with a large measure of that consolation and cheerfulness which flow from the disco- veries, the cross, and tlie resurrection of his Lord, may rf..»-..-f,.-1if«»..Ml.l».„„i.»^.„ mmtn BAPTI8M. 45 he prove faithful unto deatli, and finally, through thy grace, receive the crown of life. And low unto thee, who art able to keep us from fall- ing, and to present us faultless before the presence of thy glory with exceeding joy, be glory and majesty, do- minion and power, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen. Now go hence, beloved brother; believe, live, and bear as a Christian. Live to the glory of him who gave you life, who is the Author of your temporal satisfactions and comforts,' and the only source of your spiritual enjoyments and liope. And being now baptized into the Lord Jesus and his death, as he died and rose again for us, so should you die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness, con- stantly mortitying all evil and corrupt affections, and daily walking in newness of life ; ever remembering that Christ suffered that you miglit rejoice, and died that you might live. And looking habitually for his second com- ing, be constant in the true foith, that, when he shall ap- pear, you may be presented faultless before him, and receive the crown of glory that never fadeth. The Lord bless you, and keep you : the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you : the Lord lift up bis countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. Iff 4& €ONFmMATK)N, CATECHISING AND THE OH PER OF CONFIRMATION, Aa thi« Ifl one of the moKt important Offices in the Church, It therefore desorven veiy special attention. The most essential mat- ters herein to be observe«:\ are tlie following. I. OF IKSTKL'CTIO??. 1. The persojis to be instructed ought, at least, to be fourteen years oUL 2. Thoy should necessarily be able to read. The fundamental doctrines to be inculcated, are: The doctrine of God in general. The doctrine of the Fall and Depravity of man. The doctrine of Christ and Redemption. The necessity and manner of Conversion:-— Repentance, Faith, Sanctincation, The doctrine of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The doctrine of man's future state: — Deatli, Resurrection, Judg- ment, Rewards. 3. Those who can read, ought to commit the Catechism to me- mory, as far as practicable. 4. The Minister shall catechise on the different orders of grace in our Catechism, till he shall have reason to believe that the Catechu- mens ha^e formed correct conceptions of the dirterent points of doctrine. 5. He ought, however, to be careful, not only to expound to hla pupils the sacred truths of religion ; but also to impress their hearts and minds with a due sense of piety and godliness. To this end, prayers and exhortations, directed to persons indi- vidually, are frequently very seasonable, II. OF PUBLIC EXAMINATION. This should be performed, 1. Publicly, in presence of the congregation, 2. Introduced with an appropriate Address to the assembly present. ^ '^' y i?^^ number of Catechumens be great, they may be divided into different classes j each class then evincing -what they had learned, by plain and audible answers. 4. The examination ought to continue at least an hour. ITT. OF CONSECRATION OR CONFIRMATION. 1. This should likewise be performed in the presence of the con- gregation. 2. Commencing with a suitable hymn and prayer. 3. The Candidates for the Order shall be placed before the Altar In the same niannor they appeared during their examination, CONFUiJMATIOX. 47 4. Then »tliall the Minister deliver a short Address, flrst to the parent;^* and guardians of those to be confirtncd ; and, then to the Oatechunaens, reminding them of what they had been taught in their Catecljisms, and the importance of their present m^dertaking. 5. The Mhiister then, humbly kneeling with them, shall Invoke the blessings of the Lord upon the flock eommitted to his charge, and commend them to the guardia,ii care and protection of their heavenly Father. '6. After rising, (and the Candidates having taken l^heir seats) he shall call two, or more, byname, requiring tliem to come befoyo him, and then shall he soleijinly propose to them the followipg im- portant Questions» " ' ^ Q. Do you, in the presence of God and this congrega- tion, renounce the devil and all his works, so that you will not follow ijor be led by tliem ? A. I renounce them jxil. Q. Do you now confirm and ratify the solemn promises made at your, baptism, renewing, and assuming flie s.ame for yourselves ? A. I do. Q. Do you acknowledge, that you trijly and sincerely believe the doctjipes (you were taijght in your Cate- chisms) as declared in the sacred writings '* Qod? -4. I believe them all. Q, And wijl you, by the help of God, ever adl^ere to those doctrines; live in obecUencp to the order of the Christian chprcb, and continue faithful thereto until death? A, By the help of God, The Catechumens then kneeling, the Minister shall lay his hand on the head of each, and accompany this act with one of the fob lowing Prayers : l>efend, Lord, this thy servant, and keep him thine forever, and grant that he may be renewed day by day to love thee more till he come to, thine everlasting kiiigdom, through Jesus Christ our liOrd, Amen. Or : May Almighty God, the Father of mercies, ever mul- tiply unto you his grace and peace. May he enable you, by his Holy Spirit, to become true followers of his Son ; defend you in every time of danger ; preserve you faitli- i I 48 CONFIRMATION. fully unto the end ; and bring you to the liapinncss of his heavenly kingdom. Amen. After tliey rise, the Minister shall give his right hand to each of them, saying, Upon the voluntary professions and promises which you have now made, we receive you as members of the Church of 'Christ, and give you the right hand of bro- therly fellowship and love ; authorizing you to join us in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and to participate in all our spiritual privileges, so long as your deportment shall correspond with your present engagements. Havhig thus proceeded with each Section, the Minister shall again address the Congregation, the ParcntH, and lastly, those contirnied ; and then conclude with a prayer like the following: Most gracious God ! we adore thine unspeakable good- ness in preserving and blessing this portion of the church of thy Son, and in adding to it from time to time. O grant, that Cliristian truth and piety may continually flourish amongst us, that we may maintain the honor of our religion by purity of mind and righteousness of life. Diffiise in every hea^ i: that most excellent gift of charity, the bond of perfectness ; and help us to live in peace, that thou God of peace mayest be with us. Preserve us from giving oftence, or an occasion for falling to any. Excite us to assist, console, and strengthen one another, and to travel tt^ether to the lieavenly land as brothers and sisters in the Lord. And when thou shalt be pleased to call us from thy church on earth, vouchsafe to unite us with all thy faithful and obedient servants in heaven. — Hear our prayers, we beseech thee, most merciful Fa- ther, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. A portion of a suitable Hymn may then he sung, and the congre* gatiou dismissed witli the usual blessing. *-m^>'>^--^'r" ¥. mn mi COMMUNION. 49 ORDER OF THE SERVICE PREPARATORY TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. $1. The Lord's Supper should, ordinarily, be administered on Christ- mas, Easter, and Pentecost, and even oftener in the year, if neces- Bity require it. §2. The day for celebrating this Ordinance shall be announced from the Pulpit at least one or two weeks previous thereto ; and an Ad- dress delivered, and the time for registering the names of Commu- nicants designated, $3. The Minister shall keep .a register of those who commune. And if, while receiving the names, he discover any, who shall be found living in open vice, or in strife and contention with his neighbors, so that the congregation be thereby offended, he shall reprove him; and if he himself shall not be able to prevail in this matter, he may call to his assistance the Council of the Church. On the day preceding the Communion, those who design to be- come Communicants shall meet in the Church, at the hour appoint- ed by the Minister, and then shall the following order be observed: 1. A hymn on Repentance, or any other adapted to the occasion. 2. After singing, the Minister shall aeliver a Discourse on the na- ture and necessity of Repentance, or any other subject that he may deem suitable. 3. After which, he shall use one of the following Forms. I. FORM. I ask you, my friends, before Almighty God, and upon the evidence of your ovm consciences, whether you really feel, lament, and acknowledge, that you are sin- ners ; that, by omitting to do good, and actually doing evil, you have offended against your righteous Law-giver and Judge, and rendered yourselves obnoxious to his dis- pleasure ? If this be the sincere and humble confession of your hearts, make it manifest with your lips, by saying *'Yes." Answ. Yes. I ask you, whether you firmly believe, that Jesu« Christ came into the world to save sinners, and that all those who sincerely accept and obey his gospel, do re- ceive the forgiveriess of their sins, and eternal life ? Are 50 COMMUNION. you truly desirous to be delivered from your transgTcs- sions ; and have you an earnest solicitude to partake of God*s mercy to the penitent and faithful ? Answ. Yes. 1 ask you, whether you are fully resolved to submit yourselves in future to the gracious direction of the Di- vine Spirit, so that you may no more purposely offend, but be enabled to hate and avoid all manner of evil, to walk circumspectly before God, and to follow after holi- ness ? If this be your upright intention and purpose, announce it in the presence of God, and of each other, by saying "Yes." Answ. Yes. Then may ho said the following form of ConfesBion, either by the Minister, or a private Member of the Church, I, a poor and miserable sinner, confess unto God, the righteous Judge, and the Searcher of all hearts, that I, «,las ! have committed manifold and grievous sins ; not only by outward gross transgressions, but exceedingly more, with inate blindness, unbelief, doubting, despon- •dency, impatience, pride, sinful self-love, evil desires, covetousness, malice, hatred, and envy; also, many other evil propensities, known to my Lord and God, but which I, alas ! cannot so fully discern. But now I grieve, and am heartily sorrowful for my offences, and therefore de- sire grace and pardon from God, through his beloved Son Jesus Christ ; resolving faithfully, not only from hence- forth, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, to forsake my evil thoughts and habits, and to follow after holiness of heart and life ; but also, with other Christians, to feast aipon the food of the most precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the strengthening of my faith, the renewing of my obedience to God, and the perfecting of the love I owe to my neighbor. Amen. O God ! the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us ! O God ! the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy UpUU U.D i OGod! the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us, and grant us thy peace ! Amen. COmtUKION. 51 Almighty God, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live having given commandment to his ministers to declare to all, who are truly penitent, the absolution of their sins ; I, a Minister of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, pronounce to you, who, in your hearts, believe in the Divine Redoomer, and fully purpose a life of obedience and piety, the forgiveness of your sins, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.— Also assuring you, that while you thus hunger and thirst after righteousness, you shall be satisfied, arrl have cause to rejoice in the God of your salvation. Me IS the Lord God, merciful and gracious; his covenant stands sure forever. To call in question the fulfillment «f his promises, would be ingratitude and impiety. The Spirit ^of Christ is not the spirit of bondage and fear, but the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.— But unto those who are impenitent, and either liv^ in the open violation of God's holy commandments, or hypo- critically put on the form of godliness, my duty requires me to state, in the most explicit terms, that all their con- fessions and promises are unavailing, and that they shall be unable to escape from the wrath to come, unless they be renewed in their mimls and lives, while the day of grace is prolonged. May God have mercy upon them, pardon and deliver them from all their sins, confirm and strengthen them in all goodness, and finally bring them to everlasting Ufe, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, i Mi I.. Pi I'll II. FOKM. APDRESS, OR EXHORTATION, IMaiEDIATELT SUCCEEDING SERMON. ELOVED in the Lord I— We have assembled, on this occasion, to prepare for a worthy partaking of the B JLii ililS ^nd, we have just heard what qualifications we should possess, in order to receive the benefits and blessings of .this Divine institution. 52 COMMUNION. "With ioyftilness of heart, I shall now declare to yott the com'forts of the gospel, if you have conformed to a proper state of mind, possess a penitent and contrite hearty humbly confess your sins to God, and sincerely desire his pardoning grace, through Christ. Therefore, render unto God all honor, and confess, O Lord ! I have sinned. I have, by actually doing evil, and omitting to do good, offended thee, my kind and benevolent Father in heaven, and have forfeited my heirship. This godly sorrow will work a repentance to salvation, not to be re- pented of. Though we find no comfort in the whole world, vet we shall find grace and redemption with the Lord ; for he is the Mediator between God and man, and the Redeemer of all. In him we may seek our refuge, and with contentment repose on him ; for he will bear us out safely, if we, with filial trust and confidence, cry unto ' him, O Father ! cover my sins with the atoning blood of Jesus. This faithful Advocate with the Father, will im- pute to us his righteousness, and then shall our bones rejoice that were broken, for the Lord is not willing t it any should perish. Let us then bring such a belie\ ig and upright heart unto the Lord this day ! O that each among us might now render unto him such an one ! for such sacrifices alone are pleasing and acceptable in his sight: for the sacrifices pleasing to God, are a broken heart and contrite spirit. Each pray from his heart with Jacob of old, " Lord, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Then shall we certainly conquer ; then shall the God of Israel hear our prayers, and we return justifi- ed into our house. Blessed then shall our condition be, when the Lord shall have verified the promise l\e gave to his servants — '* Whose, sins ye remit, shall be remitted." Hence, also I, by virtue of my office, and this charge, shall now declare to you the blessings of the gospel. But let us first bow our knees, and, with humble and penitent hearts, confess our sins unto the heavenly throne of e?race= sayinff, Soly, holy, holy art thou. Lord God Almiglity, the merciful Ruler, the righteous Judge of all thine intelligent creatures in heaven and on earth! Thou dwellest in light unto which no man can approach, and canst not COMMUNION. 53 look wi-th pleasure upon sin. We confess unto thee, the Searcher of all hearts, that we are justly chargeable with numerous transgressions and omissions of duty. We acknowledge, with sorrow and repentance, that we have been unmindful of thy goodness, and disobedient to thy laws, that we have cherished evil dispositions, inordinate affections, and sinful passions ; and that we have rendered ourselves obnoxious to thy displeasure, and deserving of the punishments due to the guilty. O Lord, righteous- ness belongeth unto thee ; but unto us, shame and confu- sion of face. Our only hope is in thy tender mercy ; and we praise thee, that thou hast graciously revealed to us thy readiness to receive into thy favor all who cease to do evil and learn to do well. In the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent into the world to save us from our sins and miseri-es, we imploie the forgiveness of all our offences ; seriously renouncing whatever i» contrary to thy will, and sincerely resolving to follow after holiness of heart and life. Vouchsafe to direct and assist us by thy Spirit, in carrying these purposes into effect. And grant, O thou God of comparsion, that our hearts may be established in- the love and fear of thee, in a cheering sense of thy goodness, and in a joyful hope of everlasting life and happiness, through the mediation of our crucified and exalted Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. Then shall the Minister say, These, my friends, are the sentiments, dispositi. and feelings which God requires of us on our part, in order that we may be made partakers of his grace. — Wherefore, examine yourselves, in his presence, and see whether you are really in possession of these necessary qualifications; and answer me the following questions agreeably to the feelings and dictates of your hearts, and assign to yourselves tlie comforts of the forgiveness of your sins, as declared in the sacred word of God. 1. Do you acknowledge and confess, that you are sin- ners by nature, and that, in numberless instances, you have transgressed the laws of God, and rendered your- selves unworthy of his grace ? Answ. — Yef * 5^ COMattJNION. 2. Do you' jPfeel sorrowful and contrite for the indny of^ fences you have conittlitted against God, your Lawgiver and: Judge, who is not only holy and righteous, but also mertiiful and long-suffering ; and who. to the present mo- ment, hath not withheld frOm you the least of his bless- ings ? Answ. — Yes. 3. Do you, in your hearts, believe that Jesus Clirisft came into the world, and that all those, who believe in his name, shall receive forgiveness of their sins ? and do you place your sole hope for pardon and remission, in his precious atonement? Answ. — Yes. 4. And lastly, are you fiilly resolved, in future^ to bring: forth fruits meet for repentance, and, under the influence of the Divine Spirit, seriously to attend to the improve- ment of your hearts aiid lives ? Answ.. — Yes.. Heoce the Lord hath taken away all your sins ; for he- is compassionate, and ready to pardon, if we but seek hid grace according to the order he hath given us. ^ llBto you, therefore, who have sincerely confessed yoUi?- siiis, mourned for them^ believe in Jesus Christ, and are- fully resolved to live pure and holy lives ; I, A Minister- of our Lord Jesus Christ, pronounce and declare the for- giveness of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of tlie Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amien* But urito those, who are impenitent, and to hypocrites^ as well as to public transgressors ; I denoimce from the- ■vfbrd of God, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, that, not- withstanding their professions and promises, God hatb Dfot remitted, but retained their sins ; and unless they re- |)ent and be renewed in their minds and lives, they cai^ cherish no hope of pardon ; but are exposed to the Wrath atid indignation of the holy and righteous Judge of the- q[ulck and dead. May Almighty God, who is eyer ready nnd" wilfitig to^ extend riiercy to the penitent, therefore, have compassiots Upon them, deliver them froni their 6ins, confirm them i*t all goodness, and finally bring them to eternal life, Wxio^ Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COMMUNION. 55 11 THE ORDER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. DEARLY beloved: with reverence and hnmility we appear in the presence of Almighty God, to celebrate tiie glorious ordinance, which our blessed Saviour insti- tuted for the benefit of his Redeemed, shortly before Ida painful sufferings and death. At this table Jesus Christ will refresh us with the treasures of his grace, if we come to Mm with believing and well prepared hearts. Here the eternal Son of God is present, who, out of love, left the courts of heaven, came to our earth, was not ashamed to be our brother, and after having purged our sins, through sufferings and death, triumphantly returned to his eternal abode, where he was crowned with glory and honour, at the right hand of the Majesty on high. The Lord of glory is willing to be united with us in this holy ordinance. He giveth to us, under the broken bread, his holy body, which was crucified for us ; and under the cup of blessing, his precious blood, which was shed for the sins of the world. Mysterious and incomprehensible as tills may be, nevertheless, with the strongest assurance^ we can depend on the declarations and promises of our Almighty Redeemer, who is able to do exceedingly above all we can ask, or understand. Let us, therefore, draw nigh unto his table, with full assurance, that, by these pledges of his grace, he will bestow upon us all the benefits of his redemption — the forgiveness of sins, the heirship of God, spiritual life, and hope of eternal glory. But let us also comply with that holy command he gave, saying, '' Do this in remembrance of me." " As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." With grateful hearts, let us, therefore, remember the ignominious sufferings and pain- full death, by which the magnanimous Friend of Man, Je- sus Christ, atoned for our sins. Behold him in the garden at the mount of Olivet, trembling and agroni^ing, sweating drops of blood, and wrestling with the powers of death ! Beliold him delivered by one of his deciples into the hand* of his enemies ! With what composure and magnanimity 5« COMMUNION. did he subject himself to the counsel of his heavenly Fa- ther, and bear all the cruel treatments of his enemies, who sentenced him to die I Behold the Son of God, conducted like a Lamb to the slaughter ! No earthly spirit can com- prehend what the Redeemer suffered in this hour of pain and distress. There was he suspended upon Golgatha, like an accursed one, with pierced hands and feet, like a malefactor. He, the most Holy, the most guiltless I — There, cried He, with a terrified soul, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ! " Finally, he re- signeth, He, the righteous, the beloved, and compassion- ate Saviour of man, under inexpressible tortures, liis suf- fering soul into the hands of his heavenly Father. Thus he bowed his head and expired. PRAYER. OMOST precious Redeemer ! all this hast thou suffer- ed for us ; our sins which thou didst bear, were the cause of thine inexpressible tortures and painful death. — It was pure love and unmerited grace that moved thee, Eternal High Priest ! to sacrifice thyself for us, on the shameful tree! What return of gratitude can we, de- pendent creatures, ever make for this thy unparalelled love I We voluntarily and joyfully present and devote to thee, our souls and bodies as holy, reasonable, and living sacrifices. Thy sufferings and death, shall ever excite us to hate and forsake sin, to love thee with an eternal love, to render constant obedience, yea, to swear eternal allegiance to thee. This resolution we again renew this day, while partaking of this feast of love. Thine exalted example shall ever be the rale and guide of our lives ; we, like thee, will love all men, pardon our enemies, and bear our crosses patiently ; we will serve thee in Jghteousness and true holiness : accept our present imperfect thanks, till, in yonder glory, we shall praise and extol thy bound- less love with giOriued lips. Permit us also now, richly to taste and experience thy precious friendship, and to re- ceive, for our eternal salvation, thy holy body, which was crucified for us, and thy precious blood, which was shed for our sins. Amen. COMMUNION. 57 According to our Saviour's charge and example, let us now consecrate the elements of bread and wine, for this ordinance. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ** Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night in which he was betrayed, took bread ; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it unto his disciples, saying, take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do tliis in re* membrance of me, And at the same time, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it them, saying, drink ye all of this ; this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you and for many for the remis- sion of sins. Do this, as often as ye drink it, in remem- brance of me." Having thus consecrated the Elements, the Minister, turning to the people, may say. *' Come unto me, all ye that travel, and are heavy la- den, and I will refresh you." " And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous , and he is the propiti- ation for our sins." Thus encouraged ; in the name of Christ our common and only Master, I say to all who own him as their Sa- viour, and resolve to be his faithful subjects : draw nigh, and enjoy the blessings of this feast of love. When the Minister presents the bread to the communicants, ho shall say, Take-, and eat-, this is the Body of your Lord .Jesus Christ, which is given for you into death ; this strengthen and pre- serve you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen. When the Minister delivers the cup to the communicants ho shall m COMMUNION. Take, and drink, this i& the Blood of your Saviour, Jesus Christ, which is shed for you and for many for the remis- sion of your sins ; this strengthen and preserve you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen. The custom of singing, during tho administration, may either h« jietained or omitted. When all have communed, the Minister shall conclude with the ibllowing, or some other prayer: Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy nan^e. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits : who forgiveth all their iniqtii- lies, and healeth all thy diseases. G-lory, honour, praise, and adoration be unto thee, Lord Jesus, our Redeemer ! for the manifold displays of thine inexpressible love to us deeply fallen children of men. — Though thou art, over all, God, blessed, forever, yet thou ha«t condescended so low, as to take upon thee, the form' of a servant, and to be made in the likeness of man ; and, in this thy humble state, hast submitted to toils and labours, pains and sufferings, which no human mind can comprehend, no tongue express, and for which we can never be sufficiently grateful. In the garden of Get' se- mane, thou didst, in our behalf, drink the bitter cup of thy heavenly father, sweat drops of blood, and wrestle with the powers of death. Thou didst voluntarily surren- der to thy unjust Judges ; bear the cruel treatment of the band of soldiers; suffer thy head to be crowned with thorns, to be smitten with a reed ; and finally thy hands and feet to be pierced on the shameful tree. O Divine Mediator! how great were thy sufferings to deliver us from the punishments of sin ! How incomprehensible is thy love ; how adorable thy zeal for our salvation ! How ehall we compensate the mercy, the goodness, the fidelity thou hast shown to us ? Arise, praise him ! adore him> ye Redeemed I declare his meritorious death with glad- ness of heart! Lamb of G^d! that takcth away the sins of the world, we thank thee that thou hast died for us. — Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows ; through him we have peace and salvation. Bless to our 80uls the participation of this holy supper. Increase in COMMUNION* mt us the love we owe to thee and our brethren, and animate us to the obedience we owe to God and his Gospel. Give unto our hearts the earnest of thy Holy Spirit ; assure us of the treasures of thy grace; make us, by the partaking of this blessed feast, one body with thee, that we may dwell in thee, and thou in usj and so endue us witli thy grace, that, while we abide here below, we may con- stantly devote ourselves to thy service. We adore thee, O thou Son of tlie Most High, who hast redeemed us with thy blood, and made us kings and priest* unto God ; and who art seated on thy throne, in glory and majesty, forever and ever. Amen* 60 MATRIMONY. THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. When the PersoiiS to be married shall have assembled with their friends, the Minister shall address them, saying, DEARLY Beloved, we are gathered together in the presence of Ahnighty God, and these present wit- nesses, to join together this man and this woman in the holy estate of Matrimony ; which is an honoruablo estate instituted of God himself, and commended by St. Paul to be honourable amongst all men, in which estate these two persons present are come to be joined. Therefore, if any person can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold Ms peace. And also, speakmg to the persons who are to be married, he may flay, I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of Judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impedi- ment, why you may not be lawfully united in Matrimony, ye do now confess it For be ye well assured, that, if any persons are joined together otherwise than God's Word allows, their marriage is not lawfuL If no impediment be alleged the Minister shall ask the Man: N. Will you have this woman to your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and health ; and forsaking all others, keep you only unto her^ so long as ye both shall live? Answ. Yes. N. Will you have this man to your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimony ? Will you love him, comfort him honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health ; and forsaking all others, keep you only unto him, so long and forfcli sliaU live? Answ. Yes- ai h a; o: g SI tl a n t^ a tl P V d li 1] MATRIMONY. 01 Tlien the Minister, joining their right hands together, shall «ay: Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as N. and N. have consented together in. holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company ; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Let us pray. O Eternal God, Creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life ; send thy blessings upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name ; that as Isaac and Kebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant be- twixt them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy holy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BLESSING. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve and keep you. The Lord merciful with his fa- vor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual bene- diction and grace ; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlast- ing. Amen. 62 INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. FORM FOR THE INAUGURATION OF THE RULING OFFICEES OF A CONGREGATION. BELOVED Brethren : Ye were elected by the members of this Congregation as ruling officers of the same. — And, whereas, these your brethren confide in you, that you will faithfully, and according to their wishes, and as Christian rulers are bound to do, discharge the several functions of the offices to wliich you were chosen ; hear, therefore, the duties, which, by the help of God, you are to observe. I. The duties devolving upon the Elders of the Congrega- tion, are these : (1.) They shall be constant in the exercise of true piety and godliness, that the congregation may thereby be edi- fied and established in all virtue. (2.) If debts should be remaining, they shall endeavor, as much as possible, to diminish, and as soon as conve- nient, to discharge them, to the best advantage of the con- gregation. (3.) They shall visit the schools occasionally, and see that Christian order be preserved in them, and that the children be rightly instructed. (4.) If strife and contention unhappily prevail, they shall be particularly solicitous to bring about as speedy a reconciliation of the contending parties as possible. (5.) They shall endeavor to restore such as are over- taken in a fault, in the spirit of meekness ; to admonish and warn open offenders ; and, if necessary, to reprove them with the utmost seriousness, with a view to recover them from tlie error of their ways. (6.) They shall carefully superintend the accounts of all the receipts and expenditures, occurring in the congre- gation. And finally shall employ all proper means for ad- vancing the pros])erity and welfare of the Church, and the diffusion of the divine word. II. The duties of the Wardens : (1.) They shall lead pious and exemplary lives before the congregation. INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. 63 (2.) They shall take care, that all things pertaining to the service of God's house, be conducted decently and or- derly ; and during the administration of holy ordinances, sliall render all such assistance as may be required. (3.) They shall receive the alms, and remit them to the treasurer, whenever he shall require them for the benefit of the congregation. (4.) They shall be careful, that those laboring in the gospel, be provided for according to their several wants and neoessities, agreeable to Christ's own charge and command. And lastly, shall use all necessary care and diligence, to promote the prosperity and welfare of the Redeemer's kingdom, and to preserve, in purity and sin- cerity his holy and blessed word. The Officers elect standing before the altar, the Minister shoU say, These, my Brethren, are the chief duties which you have •been chosen to fulfil. That the congregation may be cer- tified of your willingness to discharge them, I ask you in the presence of God and your follow- worshippers, Whe- ther you feel persuaded that it is a duty incumbent upon you to render these services to the church? — and whether you are determined to administer its government accord- ing to the rules of its constitution, and the spirit and pre- cepts of the gbspel? If this be your conviction, and de- termination, please to announce it by answering "Yes.' »» Upon this your promise, I do hereby pronounce you to be invested with tlie offices to which you have been elect- ed, and give you, in the name of the congregation, the right hand of Cluistian fellowship and love. May Al- mighty God grant you the aid of his Holy Spirit ; may he support you in the execution of all your good endeavors ; may he animate you faithfully to labor for the welfare of this congregation, and so replenish you with his grace, that you may joyfully discharge the duties of your offices. And be ye then assured, that the Aiiwise and faithful God, who suff'ereth no good act to pass unrewarded, will also bless and reward you for these your labors, and prosper you in time and eternity. 64 INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS. Let us pray. Almighty God our heavenly Father I we offer unto thee our united and thankful acknowledgments, that thou hast been pleased to introduce, to extend and support the ICingdom of thy Son Christ Jesus on earth, and that the gates of hell have not been able to prevail against it. "We praise thee, that we, whose ancestors were far off, have been brought to the glorious light of thy gospel. We praise thee for the ministry of reconciliation, for the or- dinances of thy house, for the comfort, joy, and improve- ment, which thou hast been pleased to bestow upon us in the exercise of public worship. And we beseech thee, O thou God of all grace ! to continue to us these inestima- ble privileges, and to help us to make a wise and constant use of them. Grant, that thy word may be preached among us in its purity ; and that all thy people may be disposed to hear it with attention, to receive it with affec- tion, and to bring forth abundantly the fruits of righteous- ness. Forbid that any root of bitterness should spring up to trouble us. Enable us whenever we assemble in this house of prayer, to meet together with one accord, to praise thee with gladness and singleness of heart, and to continue steadfastly in brotherly fellowship. If any of us are held in the bonds of iniquity : we pray thee, O Lord, to break the fetters of sin, and to set the prisoners free. If any of us are penitent for their errors and transgres- , sions : we pray thee to perfect and console them. If any of us are sincerely devoted to thee : we pray thee to make them faithful, and to fill them with peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Instruct and guide our youth in the path of innocence, that, as they grow in stature, they may grow in grace and in favour with thee and with men ; and let the hoary head be found in the ways of righteousness. We implore thy blessing, especially, for thy servants, who have been called, in thy Providence, to direct the concerns of this part of thy church. Give them, we be- seech thee, a large measure of the Spirit of thy Son, the spirit of understanding and wisdom, the spirit of piety and virtue, the sj)irit of benevolence and charity. Re- plenish them with an' enlightened and active zeal for the INSTALLATION OP OFFICERS. es happiness of their brethren. Assist them to discharge their obligations with alacrity, patience and firmness; and let all their consultations, influenced and governed by Christian love, tend to thy glory and the happiness of thy people. Help them to shine as lights before men, to be exemplary in their families, exemplary in their public walk and conversation, exemplary in their observance of religious duties, exemplary in the performance of every Christian office. While they study to approve themselves to thee, may they be honoured and esteemed by those for whom they labour, and rejoice in the assurance that their work is not in vain in the Lord. And finally grant that they, and we all, being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, may become an holy temple unto thee. Hear us, O God, of thine infinite mercy, in these our petitions, which wt offer up in the name of thy Son ; and thine be all the glory and praise now and evermore. — Amen. After this prayer, the Minister shall turn to those, whose term of •ervice is expired, and say, Worthy Brethren : Your terra of service is now expired, and a sense of gratitude moves me to tender you, in the name of the congregation, the most grateful acknowledg- ments for the fidelity, zeal, and attention you manifested in the discharge of the several duties of your offices dur- ing said term. That the God of grace and the Father of all goodness, may bless, prosper, and greatly reward you for the same, in time and eternity, is the prayer of your ministering servant and the congregation present. 5 66 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. I. FORM. MAN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower ; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death : of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased ? Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts: Shut not thy merciful ears to our prayers : but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O lioly and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death to fall from thee. Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust : — looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall raise his followers to the participation of his own happiness and glory in heaven. The following, or some other hymn may be sung: And must this body die ? This well-wrought frame decay ? And must these active limbs of mine Lie mould'ring in the clay ! iiij RcuecniCr, lives, And ever from the skies LpokvS downj and watches all my dust, T^ill he shall bid me rise. BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 61 Array'd in glorious grace, Shall all his servants shine ; And fashion'd like their ris'n head Be heav'nly and divine* These lively hopes we owe To Jesus' dying love : may we bless his grace, below^ And sing his grace above ! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God» and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all ever- more. Amen. II. FORM. $1. The Corpse being placed before the door at the house of the de- ceased, the Minister may say, I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. (John xi. 25-26.) We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lotd hath taken away ; blessed be tho Name of the Lord. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ; even so saith the Spirit ; for they rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them. If it be a Child, the Minister may say, When infant children leave this worlds They enter joys by tongues untold, Where they shall ever rest. The Father there, on high. To whom, they quickly fly, ViTill safely keep and make them bless*d. If it be customary to sing at the house of the deceased, the MJnli- ter, after, singing a portion of a hymn, shall say, 68 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. Let us now convey the corpse of our deceased to the place of interment, under deep consideration of our own mortality. $2. At the grave the Minister shall say, As for man, his days are as grass : as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteous- ness unto children's children ; to such as keep his cove- nant, and to those that remember his commands, to do them. (Psalm ciii. 15.) The dust shall return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Eccl. xii. 7.) $8. When the Corpse is laid into the earth, the Minister shall say. Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brothery we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust: looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead ; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glo- rious body ; according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. $4. If the funeral discourse is to be delivered at the grave, let it now be delivered. And then the following or some other Prayer may be used. Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those whp depart hence in the Lord; and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are deliyered from the burthen of the hesh, are in joy and felicity : we give thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants, who, having finished JbJieir course in faith, do now rest \ 11. BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 69 from their labors. And we beseech thee, that we, with all who have loved and served thee, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thine everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. most merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die ; who also hath taught us by his holy Apostle St. Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him : we humbly beseech thee, Father, to raise us up from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness ; that, when we shall depart from this life, we may rest in him ; and that, at the general resurrection at the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that bless- ing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, sn\ ing. Come ye blessed chil- dren of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginnin^j^ of the world. Grant this, we be- seech thee, merciful Father, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. Eternal and unchangable God, by whose providence we have been called to witness thi« instance of mortality, and in whose hand is the life of every human being : en- able us, we beseech thee, to lay to heart the serious les- sons, which are now addressed to us . Teach us so to number our days, that we may apply ourselves unto wis- dom, set our affections upon the things which are above, perform without delay the great work which thou hast given us to do, live by the faith of thy Son, and habitu^ ally look forward to his second coming. Comfort and support the spirits of thy servants, who mourn over this afflicting dispensation. Let their hearts be stayed upon thee, and rejoice in the precious discoveries of thy word. And let them find by their own experience, that all things work together for good to them that love thee. — Amen. While the Earth shall be cast upon the Body, a portion of a hymn •»»'"V ■■"' •^•-i'3S> ii-iuvx rrrii'.-st vu-.' t.-z-j-^i z-^yi-ij .,.,.-,. . .. — congregation dismissed with the following blessing: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all ever- more. Amen. i THE AUGSBURGH CONFESSION OB THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF PROTESTANTS, UNALTERED ; AS THE SAME WAS BEAD B£iX)B£ AND DELIVERED TO THE EMPEROR CHARLES V., of Germany, June 25, 1530. PREFACE. N: 'S, The scarcity of copies of the Augsburgh Confession, and the desire expressed by many to possess this noble memorial, illumined by an ardent faith of the Gospel truths, has called forth the publication of the following unaltered edition, in the English language. It will be seen on comparing it with the original German copies, that nothing has been altered. The Preface addressed to the Emperor, Charles V. has been omitted, partly on account of its length, and partly be- cause it is unimportant to the English reader, and a short sketch of its contents and purpose has been here substituted. The few additional notes were annexed to the later German copies, in order that the uninitiated reader might become better acquainted with the men . and subjects treated of in the work itself, and thus to facilitate the understanding of the same. " Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering ; for he is faithful that promised."-*- Heb. X. 13. In order to rebut the slanders and calumnies of the Papists against the Protestants of Germany, and to publish to Europe the doctrines «f the reformers, Luther and Melancthon, with the aid of the prin- cipal loaders of the Reformation, drew up the following twenty- eight Articles, twenty-one of which set forth the opinions of the Protestants, and the other seven the errors and superstitions of the Church of Rome. They were principally dictated by Luther and drawn up by Melancthon ; and were afterwards offered to the Diet of Augsburgh. " Charles V. arrived at Augsburgh on the 15th of June, 1530, and on the twentieth day of the same month the Diet was opened. As it was unanimously agreed that the affairs of religion «hould ^e brought upon the carpet before the deliberations relating to the intended war with the Turks, the Protestant members of this great assembly, received from the Emperor a formal permission to present to the" Diet, on the 25th of June, an account of their religious principles and tenets. In consequence of this. Christian Bayer, Chancellor of Saxony, read, in the German language, in presence of the Emperor and the assembled princes, the famous Confession which has been since distinguished by the denomination of the Con- fession of Augsburgh. The princes heard it with the deepest atten- tion and recollection of mind ; it confirmed some in the principles they had embraced, surprised others ; and many, who, before this time had little or no idea of the religious sentiments of Luther, were now not only convinced of their innocence, but were, moreover, de- lighted with their purity and simplicity." This Confession was af- terwards dieoeminated throughout Europe, and has been translated from the Latin orisinaU which was prepared at the same time with the German, into die llebrew, Greek, Spanish, Belgic, Italian, Sla- vonic, French, and English languages. In preparing the present version, reference has been had to a copy of the same, found in Page's Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles ; but as that copy was made from the Latin and abbreviated, it was found necessary Mi PREFACE. to adhere more strictly to the German edition, and every word and sentence in the first twenty-one Articles was therefore, as near aa possible, restored as there expressed. The last six or seven Article* not being considered strictly doctrinal, but merely explaining the reasons for differing from the Popish Chiarch, were copied in a con- densed form from the before-mentioned work, and afterwards sub- mitted to several learned divines, who were conversant with th« same. This Confession, which is justly styled the mother symbol of the reformation, has been adopted by the major part of Protestant Europe, and we hope we may add, of America ; it has for about three centuries past been the standing symbol of Lutheranlsm ia the following kingdoms: — Germany, including Prussia, part of Hungary, small part of France 17,000,000 Denmark, in which the King must profess the Augsburgh Confession , 1,000,000 Norway, including Iceland, 746,000 Sweden, 2,800,000 Lapland and Finland also contam numerous churches of the Augsburgh Confession. The United Brethren or Moravians, though peculiar in their Church government, have always retained the Augsburgh Confession as their symbol, and still adhere to it more strictly than most other portions of the Lutheran Church. The whole number of Christians in Europe who profess the Augsburgh Confessioa has been rated by good authors at 27,000,000.. i:il h < i[ !; 3^iijgski|0h (jDnf^asion. AETICLES OF FAITH AND DOCTRINE, ARTICLE I. OF GOD, THE MOST HOLY T1RINITY. Omi churches with one accord teach, agreeably to the Council of Nice,* that there is only one Divine Being, which is called, and verily is, God, but that there are three persons in this Divine Being, equally powerful, equally eternal, God the Father, God the Son, and God he Holy Ghost, who are one Divine Being, eternal, in- corporeal, indevisible, infinite in power, wisdom and good- ness, one Creator and Preserver of all visible and invisi- ble things. And the term person is not to be understood to signify a part or quality of sometliing else, but that which exists of itself, as also the Fathers have made use of this term on this subjects On that account Ave condemn all heretical opinions, which are contrary to this Article, viz. : those of the Ma- nichaeansjf who have adopted two gods, a bad and a good * The Council of Nice was held A. D. 325» It was the particular business of this Council to establish the doctrine, that the Son is equal with the Father. t The Manichaeans, thus called from their leader. Manes, who lived about A» D., 240, assert, that there are two co-eternal original beings, of which the one is good and the other evil. These two bc- ir^s, they said, were constantly in strife with one another. There- fore the good being had begotten Christ, in order that he veiled in a pbantom, might assist the souls enclosed in the bodies. 74 AUGSBUKGII CONFESSION. one. Likewise those of the Valentinians,* Arians,t Eu- noniiansjj Mahomedans,§ and the like, also those of the ancient and modern Samosatenes,|| who believe in only- one person, and in their subtle sciolism assert, that the Word and the Holy Ghost are not distinct persons, but that the Word signifies the vocal word, and that the Holy Spirit means created motion in the creature. ARTICLE 11. OF ORIGINAL SIN. (NATURAL DEPRAVITY.) Our churches likewise teach, tnat since the fall of Adam all men wlio are naturally born, are begotten and born in ein ; that is, that they are from the first moment of their existence full of evil desires and propensities, and can have no true fear of God, no true faith in God, of their own accord ; and that this inherent disease and natural depra- vity is really sin, and still condemns and causes eternal death to all those who are not bcrn again by baptism and the Holy Ghost. Hence, we condemn the Pelagians % and others, who * The Valentinians, so called from Valentinus, otherwise distin- gtiished with the more general cognomen of G-nostics, who origi- nated about the middle of the second century. Their gloomy doc- trines spake of an original Father, who, after many ages of eternity, had created his only begotten, the understanding, (sense, intellect.) t The Arians had their name from Arius, iu Alexandria, who died in the year 336. They taught, that the 8on of God was a cre- ated being, but the first and noblest among all created beings. They denied that he was eternal and omniscient. They believed that the Holy Ghost was created by the Son, and subordinate to him. X Eunomius, the founder of this suet, died A. D. 394, > e of the worst Arians. He taught that the Son was entirely anotiier being than the Father, and the Holy Ghost entirely another being than the Son. It is saird that he re-baptized all those of his converts who were baptized in tiie name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He wrote a work opposed to the doctrine or the Trinity and the deity of Christ. ^ The Mahomedans teach that there is but one God, who has no son. II Paul of Saraosata, the founder of this sect, distinctly denied that there were three persons in the Godhead. ir PtlayiMS, a Britisri monlc, lived towards the end of the fourih, and at the commencement of the fifth century. He taught that there was no original sin, that man had a free will to do good or evil, that man possessed the power to be virtuous, and could, with the assistance of God, become entirely freed fiom sin. Augustinua was one of nis most powerful opponents. AUGSBUKGII CONFESSION. 75 deny that original corniption is sin, and who, to the dis- paragement of the merits and sufferings of Christ, allege that man, by his natural abilities, may be justified before God. ARTICLE III. OP CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND HIS MEDIATORIAL WORK. Further, we teach, that tlie Word, tliat is, the Son of God, assumed human nature, was born of the' blessed Vir- gin Mary, so that the two natures, human and divine, inseparably united in one person, constitute one Christ, who is true God and man, was really born, did truly suf- fer, was crucified, died, and was buried, that he might be a sacrifice, not alone for original sin, but also for all the other actual sins of men, and thus did actually propitiate the wrath of God. Eurther* that this same Christ de- scended into hell and truly arose on the third day ; and then ascended to heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father, that he may perpetually reign over all crea- tures, and may sanctify all those who believe in him, through the Holy Spirit ; who governs, consoles, quickens ,* strengthens, defends and protects them against the devil and the power of sin. And finally, that the same Christ will return again visibly, to judge the quick and the dead, according to the apostolic Creed.* ARTICLE IV. OF JUSTIFICATION. *Our churches further teach, that man cannot obtain forgiveness of sin, and be justified before God by his own strength, merits or works ; but that he obtains the forgive- ness of sins, and is justified before God, through grace, for Christ's sake, by faith; if he believes that Christ suf- fered for him, and that his sins are remitted for Christ's- sake, who made satisfaction for our transgressions by his death. Tliis faith God imputes to us as righteousness, as I'aul says,— Rom. iii. 4. * ,* 'l^he so-ca/lled Apostolic Creed, is a short summary of the doc- trines of fyth, and is to be found In our Catechisms ; it had its ori- gin in the first centuries of the Ohristian Church. 76 AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. ARTICLE V. OF THE MINISTERIAL OF. . ■ In order that we may obtain tliis faith, God has insti- tuted the ministerial office, whose members are to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments ; for through the instrumentality of the Word and the sacraments, God gives to us his Holy Spirit, who in his own time and place, produces faith in those that hear the Gospel, which teaches, that if we believe these things, we have a merci- ful God, through the merits of Christ, and not on account of any merit in ourselves. This condemns the Anabaptists * and others, who teach that the Holy Spirit comes upon men by their own prepa- ration, thoughts and works, without the external word of the Gospel. ARTICLE VI. OF GOOD WORKS. We also teacli that such faith should bring forth good fruits and good works, and that it is necessary to do all manner of good works, as God has commanded, for God's sake ; but not as though we put any confidence in those works, or that we can thereby earn grace or favor in the eight of God ; for we receive the forgiveness of sins and justification through faith in Christ, as Christ himself saith, Luke xvii. 10: "When ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say. We are unprofit- able servants." Thus also do the fathers of the Church teach. For Ambrosius * saith, "Thus it hath been or- dained by God, that whoso believeth in Christ shall be * Anabaptists, i.e., snch as baptize only grown persons, were al- ready In existence in early times. The Anabaptists here meant, originated A. D. 1512. The principal originators were Storch, Stub- ner, Oellarius, and Munzer. They taught that every Christian was entitled to preach and to administer the sacraments, that there was no original sin, and that men had a free will in spiritual matters.— There Is a distinction to be made between these and the Auabap- tiets who now exist in Holland, England, and tlie United States. t Ambrosius, Archbishop of Mailand, died A. D. 307. A man of considerable not« in the Church, even still In later centuries. |t AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. 77 saved, and not through works, but alone through faith without merit, he shall have forgiveness of sins." ' ARTICLE VII. OP THE CHURCH OF CHIIIST. We likewise teach, that there will always be and remain one holy Christian Church, which is the congregation of all those saints, among whom the Gospel is taught in pu- rity, and the holy sacraments are administered according to the precepts of the Gospel. Eor it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian Church, that the Gospel is therein preached in harmony with, and according to its true intent and meaning, and that the sacraments are ad- ministered in consonance with the Word of God. Nor is it necessary to the true unity of the Christian Church that uniform traditions, rites and ceremonies, of human ap- pointment, should every where be observed. As Paul says, Eph. iv. 4, 5 : '< One body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." ARTICLE VIII. OF HYPOCRITES AND WICKED TEACHERS. Further, although the Christian Church is really nothing else than the congregation of true believers and saints, yet, as in this life there are many hypocrites and wicked men mingled with them, it is nevertheless lawful for us also to receive the sacraments, when administered by un- converted men, agreeably to the declaration of our Sa- viour, that the " Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat," &c. On this account are condemned the Donatists* and all such as teach otherwise. ARTICLE IX. OF BAPTISM. Concerning baptism we teach, that it is a necessary * The Donatifits, a very numerous and powerful sect of Chris- tians, lived In Africa, in the fourth century ; they laid a great stress upon the true ordination and the unsullied characters of their priests and bishops. An unbelieving bishop, they said, could not aamlnlster the sacrament with blessing and effect. 78 AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. ordinance ; that through the same grace is offered, and that it ought also to be administered to children, who are thereby dedicated to God, and received into his favour. Therefore the doctrine of the Anabaptists is rejected; who say, that infant baptism is not correct. ARTICLE X, OF THE lord's SUPPER. Concerning the Lord's Supper, we teach as follows :— that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in the sacrament, in the form of bread and wine, and there dis- tributed and received. Therefore the opposite doctrine is rejected. ARTICLE XI. OF CONFESSION. In regard to confession, we teach, that private absolu- tion ought to be retained in the churches, and should not be rejected entirely; although it is not necessary to enumerate all our particular sins and transgressions, as this would be impossible : Psalms, xix. 12 : " Who can understand his errors ? " ARTICLE XII. OF REPENTANCE. Concerning repentance we teach, that those who have sinned after their baptism, may at any time obtain for- giveness of their sins, whenever they repent; that the Church should not refuse to grant absolution to such as manifest repentance. And that genuine and true repen- tance, properly speaking, consists in having regret and sorrow, or fear, on account of one's sins, and still thereby having faith in the Gospel and the absolution, that the sins will be forgiven, and that grace through Christ is acquired, which faith comforteth and pacifieth the heart again. That afterwards improvement of conduct should follow^ and former sins be abstained from. For these should be the fruits of repentance, as John saith, Matt. iii. 8, *' Bring forth fruits meet for repentance." AUGSBUUGH CONFESSION. 79 Herewith the doctrines of all snch who assert, tha* those who have once been justificti or .anctioned, cannot backslide or fall off, is condeno led. On the other hand, also, is h re ^ ondemned, that the Novatians * refused absolution tt ■ t se who had sinned after baptism. In like manner, ai.-.u, is condemned, the doctrine of those who assert, that forgiveness of sin is not obtained through faith, buL liirough our own good works. ARTICLE XIII. OF THE USE OF THE SACRAMENTS. Concerning the use of the sacraments we teach, that they were not merely instituted to be signs by which the Christian might outwardly be recognised, but that they are signs and testimonies of the will of God towards us, thereby to excite and confirm our faith, for which account they also demand faith, and then only are they rightly used, when they are received in faith, and when our faith is thereby strengthened and confirmed. ARTICLE XIV. OF CHURCH ORDERS. Concerning Church orders we teach, that no person ought publicly to teach or preach in tlie Church, or to administer the sacraments, without a regular call. ARTICLE XV. OF RELIGIOUS RITES AND CEREMONIES. Concerning ecclesiastical rites and ceremonies we teach, that those may be kept and performed which can be attended to without sin, and which promote peace and good order in the Church, such as certain holy days, fes- tivals, &c. Concerning matters of this kind, however, caution should be observed, lest the consciences of men be burdened, as though such observances were necessary to salvation. Moreover-, we teach^ that liunian trndition- * The founder of this sect was NcwaMan, who lived in tlie middle of the third century and who introduced a very ascetic and strict Church discipline. nfr m AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. ary observances, instituted with a view to appease God, to merit his favour, and make satisfaction for sins, are contrary to the Gospel and doctrine of faith. Wherefore vows and traditionary observances concerning meats, days, &c., instituted to merit grace, and make satisfaction, for sins, are useless, and contrary to the Gospel, ARTICLE XVL OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS. In regard to political affiiirs our churches teach, that legitimate political enactments are good and wise arrange- ments of God; that it is lawful for Christians to hold civil offices ; to pronounce judgment, and decide cases, according to the 'judicial and other existing laws ; to in- flict just punishment ; wage just wars, and serve in them ; to make lawful contracts; hold property; make oaths, when required by the magistrate ; to marry and be mar- ried. This condemns what the Anabaptists teach, who interdict to Christians the performance of these civil duties. This also condemns those who make evangelical perfection to consist not in the fear of God, and in faith, but in the abandonment of all civil duties. For the Gos- pel does not teach an outward, formal, temporal, but an inward, unceasing, active righteousness of heart, and does not reject the duties of civil and domestic life, but directs them to be observed as of Divine appointment, and per- formed in the spirit of Christian benevolence. Hence Christians ought necessarily to yield obedience to the civil officers and laws of the land; unless they should command something sinful ; in which case it is a duty to obey God ratlier than man. (Acts v. 29.) ARTICLE XVII. OF Christ's return to judGxMEnt. Wo also teach, that our Lord Jesus Christ will at the judgment day return to judge the world, that he will raise up all the dead, and give unto the faithful and elect life everlasting and endless joys, but that the ungodly and devils shall be condemned into hell and everlasting umoiiiilvxlli. AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. 6i 5as0 God, sins, are Vherefore ig meats, -tisfaction. L acli, that J arrange- s to hold de cases, s ; to in- in them ; ke oaths, be mar- ach, who lese civil angelical in faith, the Gos- l, hut an and does Lit directs and per- Hence ^e to the y should \ duty to 11 at the will raise elect life odly and erlasting Hereby the doctrines of the Anabaptists, who teach that the devils and condemned men sliall not suffer ever- lastin:^ pains and torments, is rejected. In the like man- ner are also rejected some of the Jewish notions, which are also now circulated, that, namely, prior to the resur- rection of the dead, the saints and pious will establish a separate temporal government, and all the wicked be ex- terminated. AKTICLE XVIII. OF FUEE WILL. Concerning free will our churches teach, that man i.; a measure has a free will, to live to all appearance honour- ably, anl to choose among tiiose things which his reason comprehendeth; but that without grace, assistance, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, he has not tho power to become ])leasii]g in the sight (»f God, or heartily to fear or to believe in God, or to cast out the innate evil pro- pensity from his heart; but that this is effected through . the Holy Spirit, given l)y means of the Word of God; for St. Paul saith, (1 Cor. ii. 14,) '^The naturalman receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God," &c. And in order that it may be known, that nothing new is pretended in this doctrine, we here introduce the very words of Augustin,* who, in his third book of the Hypognosticon, wrote as follows concerning free will ; *'We confess that there is in all mankind a free will. For they all have a natural innate understajiding and rea- son, not as if they could work out anything in matters pertaining to God, as for instance, to love or fear God witii all their hearts, but merel.y in temporal actions of tlu'ir present life have they free will t(i> choose good or evil. By good works I nifMU that which nature accom- plishes : as. for instance, to work upon the field or not, to eat, to drink, to visit a friend or not, to dress or un- dress, to build, marry a wife, to pursue a trade, and the like, to do anything useful and good, but which cannot * Augustinus bishop of Hcppon, in Africa, lived A. D., 3')4 to 43D. A very deep thinker and pious father of the Chinvh was held in high repute in after years, and Luther iu particular had a areat estimation for his view's. - . . 'I .'5 1.11 82 ADGSBURGH CONFESSION. subsist without God, nay, rather, they are of, and o^o their being to him. On the other hand, man can also undertake evil of his own choice, viz : bow down before an idol, commit murder, &c. ARTICLE XIX. OF THE CAUSE OF SIN. Of the cause of sin, we teach, that although God, the Almighty, hath created and preserveth the whole uni- versal nature, nevertheless the perverted will worketh sin in all evil doers and despisers of God, even as the will of the devil and all ungodly men is shaped, which, as soon as Divina aid is withdrawn, turneth from God unto evil, as Christ saith, John viii. 14, " When the devil speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own," &c. ARTICLE XX. OF FAITH AND GOOD WORKS. Our writers are falsely accused of prohibiting good works. Their publications on the ten commandments and other similar subjects, shew, that they gave good instruct tions and exhortations concerning all the various Chris- tian and social stations and duties, on which points for- merly very little was taught ; but it was the practice to urge in almost every sermon the necessity of puerile and useless works, such as certain rosaries, worship of saints, monastic vows, pilgrimages, stated fasts, holy days, bro- therhoods, &c. These useless works are now not held in such estimation as formerly. Moreover they have now learned to make mention of faith, about which in former times entire silence was observed. They now teach that we are not justified before God by works alone, but join faith in Christ thereto, and say, faith and works justify us be- fore God ; which doctrine imparts more consolation than mere confidence in good works. Inasmuch then as the doctrine concerning faith, which is the principal article in the Church, has so long been neglected, and' as the doc- trine of works hath alone been preached in all the churches, our writers have therefore given the following instructions on tliis point : — AUGSBtTRGH CONFESSION. ^S ad ovro an also before od, the )le uni- keth sin i will of as soon to evil, aeaketh ig good nts and nstruc- I Chris- its for- 3tice to "ile and ' saints, 7Sy bro- held in ve now former that we in faith us be- 3n than as the tide in le doc- Rll the llowincr Firstly, that our works cannot reconcile us with God and acquire for us grace, but that this is solely attained by faith, if we believe that our sins are remitted to us for Christ's sake ; who is the only Mediator to reconcile us with the Father. Now, whosoever thinketh to effect this through good works, and thereby to merit grace, he des« piseth Christ, and seeketh a way of his own to God the Father, contrary to the Gospel. This doctrine concern- ing faith is clearly and explicitly treated of by St. Paul in many places, but more particularly, Ephesians ii. 8, 9 : *• Ye are saved by grace, through faith ; and that not of yourselves ; it is the gift of God ; not of works, lest any man should boast," &c. And that no novel explanation is hereby intended, can be shown by referring to St. Augus- tin, who treateth at large upon this subject, and in like manner teacheth, that we attain grace and become justi- fied before God through faith in Christ and not through works,--as his whole work, *'De Spiritu et Littera," clearly shows. Although this doctrine is despised by the ignorant, the consciences of the pious and timid find it 9, source of much consolation ; for they cannot attain tran- quility and peace in any works, but in faith alone, wheii they entertain the confident belief, that for Christ's sake they have a merciful God, as St. Paul saith, Rom. v. 1 : " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This consolation was formerly not rendered prominent in sermons, but the consciences of alarmed einners were driven to works of their own seeking, and thus manifold works vere resorted to. Some followed the dictates of conscience into monasteries rnd cloisters, hoping thereby to obtain Divine favor by a mcr a^^tic life ; others have in- Tented different kinds of works, to merit grace and to atone for their sins. Many of these have discovered that they could not gain per.r l^i that way. There was, there- fore, the greatest necessity that this doctrine of faith iu Christ should be earnestly and diligently preached, in order that we may know that God's grace is obtained, without any merit of our own, solely through faith in the Sa^viour. It is to be observed here, that a mer» mstoric&I belief I I, 91 AUGSBTIRGH CONFESSICi juch as wicked men and devils have, is not here meant, T?vho also believe in the history of the sufferings of Christ, and in his resurrection from the dead; but that genuine faith is here meant, which causeth us to believe that we can obtain; grace and forgiveness of sins through Christ, ftnd whicli giveth us the confidence that through Christ we have a merciful God, wlio also givetli us the assurance -to know God, to call upon Him, and to have liiiii always in i^membrance, so that the believer is not without God, as are the Gentiles. For the ungodly and the children of Satan do not believe in this article of the forgiveness of sin, therefore they are enemies of God, cannot cull upon =Him, nor do they hope to receive any good from Him. Now, as has been here shown, the Scriptures testify con- cerning faith, and do not distort faith into such a know- ledge, which the ungodly and devils can also obtain or have,— as is expressed, Heb. xi. Faith is not merely to have a knowledge of history, but to have a sure confidence in God that we shall receive his promises. And St. Au- gustin also reminds us, that by the word faith in Scrip- ture, we are to understand a ccynfidcnce in God, that he is gracious unto us, not merely the knowledge of the facts, •—for also the ungodly and evii-doers know this. We also teach, that the performance of good works is necessary, not that we should put any confidence in them, thereby to merit grace, but that we do tliem because God Jias commj^nded ns, and to his praise. Pardon of sins and .Dl* grace are obtained only by faith. And because the ^Holy Spirit is received by faith, the heart of man is there- :by renovated to be enabled to do good works. For as long as the heart is not renewed by the Holy Spirit, it is too feeble and frail, and too much under th? infiucnee of the power of Satan, who leadeth poor frail human nature into many sins and snares. This we daily see in the ac- tions of the worldly-wise, who; have resolved to live cir- cumspect and unblameable lives, have nevertheless not ♦performed their intentions, but have fallen into many gross and offensive depravities. Such is the imbecility of man, when he undertakes to govern himself by his own Strength without faith and the Holy Spirit. From all tWs meant, Christ, genuine that we Christ, Christ mrance always lit God, dren of ness of II upon n Him. ty con- know- tain or rely to fidence it. Au- Scrip- t he is 3 facts, orks is rthem, se God ins and ise the there- For as t, it is mee of nature the ac- ire cir- ps not many iJity of is own ill tWa i^ cen-* ATJGSBtJRG H CONFESSTGW .. 85} ^re for the prohibition of good works, ought much rather to he applauded for teaching the manner in.whieh truly pood works can be performed. For without faith, and, without! Christ, human nature is incapalle of truly doing good works, of calling upon God, of having patience in suffer- ings, of loving Ids neighbor, of executing conscientiously othces or trusts, of being obedient, or of shunning evil lusts. Such exalted and righteous works cannot be per- formed without the assistance of Christ, as He himself saith, (John xv. 5.) " without me ye can do notJiing," &c. / iv f ICLE XXI. OB* THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS. Concerning the invocation of saints our churches teach, that the saints ought to be held in remembrance, in order to strengthen our faith ; when we behold how grace was given to tliem, and how they were assisted and strength- ened through foith ; and also, that their good works may be to us an example to each one according to his callirg or station in life; likewise even your imperial majesty may imitate the example of Datid, in carrying on war to expel tlie Turks from our country, for both are kind's, bound to protect and shield their suhiects. But the sa-' cred volume does not teach us to invoke saints, or to seek aid from them, for there is only one Mediator and Propi- tiator between God and man, namelv, Christ Jesus, (I lim. 11.) Avho is the only Saviour, high priest, mercy seat, and intercessor with God for us, (Koni. viii.) And he only hath said, that he will hear our prayers. This is also tlie higllesf and best worship of God, according to the Scriptures, that we heirtily call upon and seek^as- sistance from this same Christ Jesus in all our necessities- a.nd tri lis, (1 John ii. 1.) '• If any man sin, we have an- advocate with the Father, Jesus Clixi^t, the righteous." ' This is the substance of the doctrines which are nre ach- ed and taught in our churches, for the" rightful Christian instruction and comfort of the conscience^ and for the improvement and edification of believers. Inasmucb^ tlM*n, as we would not expose oup own. souls and con- m : fi u AUGSBURGH CONPESSIOX. iciences to the greatest danger before God, by misusing and abusing the Divine name or word, nor transmit or trimsplant upon our children and followers any other doc- trine than is consonant with the pure Divine Word and Christian truth; and furthermore, as this doctrine is clearly based upon the Holy Scriptures, and as it appears from the writings of the Fathers of the Churcli, is not even contrary to the tenets of the universal Christian Church, nor even the Roman Catholic, therefore we think our opponents cannot be at variance with us on account Of the foregoing articles. Therefore, those who take upon themselves to single us out as heretics, and to con- demn and shun us, act very uncharitably, hasty, and con- trary to Christian unity aud charity, and without a lawful or Scriptural reason ; for the variance is mainly on ac- count of some traditions and abuses. If, then, there can be found no false positions or deficiencies in our cardinal points, and if this confession is of a Divine and Christian stamp, then ought the bishops to moderate their deport- ment towards us, even though there be found among us a traditionary deficiency; a^lthough we hope to show by plausible grounds and reasons, why some traditions and abuses have been abolished among us. Points upon which there is diversity of opinion, and a recapittdation of abuses which have been abolished or changed. Whereas, then, there is nothing contained in the arti- cles of Faith of our Church, which is inconsistent with Scripture or the universal Church, but merely some abuses have been abolished and corrected, which in times past have crept into, and some of wliich have been intro- duced by force into the Roman Catholic Church ; there- fore it is necessarv that we should give an account of them, and assign tne reasons which induced us to admit the alterations, in order that your imperial majesty may perceive that nothing was done in an unchristian or pre- siuMptuOUs m^mnerf but that w^ wer@ compelled to aauiib AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. 87 %ese alterations by the Word of God, which is justly to be held in higher regard than any customs of the Church. ARTICLE XXII. OP COMMUNION IN BOTH KINDS. In our churche.-^, communion is administered to the laity in both kinds:, because we regard this as a manifest command and precept of Christ, Matt. xxvi. 27. *' Drink ye all of it." In this passage Christ teaches, in the plain- est terms, that they should all drink out of the cup. And in order that no one may be able to cavil at these words, and explain them as referring to the clergy alone, Paul informs us, that the entire church at Corinth received the sacrament in both kinds, 1 Cor. xi. 26. And this cus- tom was retained in the Church, as is proved by history and the writings of the Fathers. Cyprian* frequently mentions the fact, that in his day the cup was given to the laity. St. Jeromef also says, the priests who admin- ister the sacrament, dispense the blood of Christ to the people. And Pope GelasiusJ himself commanded, that the sacrament should not be divided. (Distinct. 2. de Consecrat. cap. Comperimus) There is no canon extant, which commands that one kind alone should be received. Nor can it be ascertained when, or by whom, the custom of receiving bread alone was introduced, although Car- dinal Cusanus mentions the time when it was approved. Now it is evident such a custom, introduced contrary to the Divine command, and also in opposition to the ancient canons, is wrong. It was, therefore, improper to coerce and oppress the conscience of those who wished to re- ceive the sacrament, agreeably to the appointment of Christ, and compel them to violate the institution of our Lord. And inasmuch as the dividing of the sacrament is contrary to its institution by Christ, the host is not car- ried about in procession amongst us. * Bishop of Carthage ; died A. D. 258 as a martyr. Most of the Fathers of the Church celebrate his memory with great pomp. Ho was a very pious and zealous mac. t A celebrated Latin Father of the Church, who deserves great credit for his exposition of the Holy Scriptures. Died A. D. 420. t Died A. D. 496. Is J li'ii 83 AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. I ARTICLE XXIII, THE CELIBACY OF TIIK PRIESTS. There has been general complaint among persons of every rank on account of the scandalous licentiousness find lawless lives of the priests; who were guilty of lewd- ness, and whose excesses hnd risen to the'higliest pilch. In order to put an end to such odious conduct, to adul- tery, and other lewd practices, several of our ministers have entered the matrimonial state. They tliemselves declare, that in taking this step tluy were inthienced by the dictates of eonseience, and a sacred regard for the holy volume, wliich expressly informs ns, that marriage •was apj}()intcd of God to ])revent licentiousness: as Paul says, (1 Cor. vii. 2) "To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife." Ai;.iin, '' It is better to marry than to burn;" (1 Cor. vii. D.) and according to the de- claration of Christ, that not all men can receive this word. (Matt. xix. 12.) In this passage Christ himself, who well knew what was in mnn, declares that il-w per- sons are qualified to live in. celibacy : for '' God created ns male and female," (Gen. i. 27.) *^And experience has abundantly proved how vain is the attempt to alter the nature or meliorate the character of God's creatures by mere human purposes or vows, withont a peculiar gift oV grace of (jod. It is notorious tiiat the etfort has been l)rejudicial to purity of morals; and in how many cases it has occasioned distress of mind, and the most terrific ap- 5)rehensi()ns of conscience, is known by tlie confessions of numerous individuals. Since, then, tire word and law of God cannot be altered by human vows or enactments, the priests f )r this and other reasons have entered into the conjugal state. It is moreover evident from the tes- timony of histi- -y and the writings of the Fathers, that it was customa.; in f )rmer ages 'for priests and deacons to be married. Hence the injunction of Paul to Timothy, (1 Tim. iii. 2.) " A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wifer It is but four hundred years since the clergy in Germany were compelled by force to aban- don the matrimdriial life, and submit to a vow of celib- -iv^ , A..X., ov ijtiiciAiij itiiu ic.-iuiatwiy uiu laey resist xdib AUGSBURGn COlfFE^SlCN. 8!) sons of ousness )f lewd- t pitch, to adul- inistcTS Msclves H't'tl by for the larriiige IS Paul t every miirry the de- ve tins limself, ■w per- croated lee lias iter the ires bv gift oi* s been L'ases it ific ap- .\ssions md law tinents, 2(\ into lie tes- thiit it ;ons to raothy, 'ss, the 8 since i aban- ' celib- .aS lixiS tyranny, that the archbishop of Mnyence, who published ' this papal edict, was well nigh losing his life in a com- motion excited by the measure. And in so precipitate and arbitrary a manner was that decree executed, that ' tlie pope not only prohibited all future marriage of the priests, but e>en cruelly rent asunder the social tics (f those who had long been living in the bonds of lawful wedlock, thus violating alike not only the laws of God, and the natural and civil rights of the citizen, but even' the canons which the popes themselves made, and the decrees of the nost celebrated ('(.uncils! It is the deliberate arm well-known opinion of many distinguislii'd. pious, and judicious nu n, that this com- pulsory celibaey and prohibition of matrimony, (which God himself instituted and h.ft optional.) has been pro- ductive of no good, but is the prolific source of numer- ous and abominable viees. Yea, even (me of the popes, Pius 11., himself declared, as bistory informs us, that though there may be several reasons why the marriage of priests should be prohibited, there are many more and weightier ones why it should not. And doubtless this was the deliberate declaration of Pius, who was a sensi- ble and wise man. We would therefore confidently trust, tliat your majes- ty, as a Christian Emperor, will graciously retiect that in these latter days, to which reference is made in the sacred- volume, the world has become still more degenerate, and mankind more IVail and liable to temptation. It will be well to beware, lest, by tlie prohibition of marriage, licentiousness and vice l)e promoted in the German States. For on tliis subject no man crin devise better or nu)re salutary biws tban those enacted by God, who himself instituted marriage for the promotion Of vir- tue amongst men. The ancient canons also enjoin that' the rigour of human enactments nmst on some subjects' be accomodated to the infirmities of human nature, in or to avoid greater evils, ^^uch a course would in this case be necessary and Christian, for what injury could result to the Church, from the marriage of the clergy, and others who are to serve in the Church ? yea, it is probable that tlie Church will be but imperfectly sup- ■I m \ ^4 1^- 90 AUOSBURGH CONFESSION. 1,1 plied with ministers, should this rigorous prohibition of marriage be continued. If, therefore, it is evident from the Divine word and command, that matrimony is lawful in ministers, and his- tory teaches that their practice formerly was conformed to this precept ; if it is evident that the vow of celibacy has been productive of the most scandalous and unchris- tian conduct, of adultery, unheard-of licentiousness, and other abominable crimes, among the clerg}^ as some of the dignitaries at Rome have themselves often confessed and lamented, it is a lamentable thing that the Christian estate of matrimony has not only been presumptuously forbidden, but in some places speedy punishment been inflicted as though it were a heinous crime ! Matrimony is moreover declared a lawful and honour- able estate, by the laws of your imperial majesty, and by the code of every empire in which justice and law pre- vailed. Of late, however, innocent subjects, and especi- ally ministers, are cruelly tormented on account of their marriage. Nor is such conduct a violation of the Divine laws alone ; it is equally opposed to the canons of the Church. The apostle Paul denominates that a doctrine of devils which forbids marriage, (1 Tim. iv. 1-3.) And Christ says, (John viii. 44.) "The devil is a murderer from the beginning." For that may well be regarded as a doctrine of devils which forbids marriage and enforces the prohibition by the shedding of blood. But as no human law can abrogate or change a com- mand of God, neither can any vo\vs produce this effect. Therefore Cyprian also admonishes, that if any woman do not observe the vow of chastity, it is better for her to be married: (Lib. i.) and all the canons observe more lenity and justice toward those who assumed the vow of celibacy in youth, as is generally the case with priests and monks. ARTICLE XXIV. OF THE MASS. Our churches are falsely accused that they have abo- lished the mass ; * for it is well known that the mass is *The word mass Is here taken in the same sense as the celebra' iida of tuc Loru'w Supper. AITGSBURGH CONFESSION. 91 celebrated among us with greater devotion and serious- ness than it is among our opponents. So also are our people often and diligently instructed concerning the holy sacrament, why it was instituted, and for what purpose it is to be celebrated, viz. to comfort alarmed consciences ; whereby the people are drawn to the communion and mass. Furthermore, we also give instruction concerning false doctrines of the sacrament. Nor lias any percept- ible change in the public ceremonies of the mass taken place, except that German hynmis are interspersed with the Latin songs, (to instruct and exercise the people,) in- asmuch as all ceremonies should tend to instruct the in- experienced in that which it is necessary they should know of Christ. But as the mass .vas evidently formerly much abused in various ways, so as even to make mer- chandise of the same, therefore such abuse has often heretofore been rebuked by learned and pious men. Therefore when our pastors have preached on this sub- ject, and when the priests have been admonished of the threats, which should reasonably cause every Christian to consider, viz. that whosoever unworthily partakes of the sacrament, shall be guilty of the body and blood of Christ; then those money-masses, (which were formerly enforced upon the people for the sake of the revenue aris- ing therefrom,) have entirely ceased in our churches. So also has the monstrous false doctrine been condemned, that Christ by his death had atoned only for original sin, and that he had instituted the mass as a sacrifice for the actual sins of men ; and thus has the mass been perverted into an oblation for the living and the dead, to take away sin and to reconcile God. Out of this a controversy hath arisen, whether a mass, held for a multitude, had the same efficacy as if held for a single person. So it hap- pened that such multitudes of masses were celebrated, thinking thereby to obtain from God whatever was want- ed, and thus the wholesome faith in Christ and right wor- ship of God hath been neglected. On this account it was important to give instruction on this subject, (as undoubtedly it was very necessary,) so that all might know how the sacrament would be rightly ; and the Scriptures testify in laany places, uuEuc Uhki :<^. IMAGE EV^LUATtON TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^5 us |2| 1^ UD .2.5 iin 2.2 2.0 R 11.6 <^ /i "c-^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 145S0 (716) 872-4503 V iV # ;i7 si^ ^\ 6^ V m AtGEBTTRGn CONrESSrOW; that there is no other sacrifice for orif^inal nor for actual' sins than alone by the death of Ctirist. For thus it is; 'w'ritten in the Hebrews ; " That Christ offered himself upi once for all', and thereby atoned for all them that arei sanctified." It is an unheard of novelty, to teach in tho; Church, that Chii-t's death atoned only for original fin, and not also for other actual sins. Therefore it is 1 oped that it will be clear, that such error has not been unjudiy condemned. S3can:11y, St. Paul teaches, th?.t we mxy attain graci9 and fivour in the sight of God through f.iith, and not by works. This abuse of the mass is evidently opposed to this doctrine, if we expect thereby to obtain grace. Now it is well known, that the mass has been so distorted, as that the priests promised and expected to obtain for them- selves, for others, and also for the w^hole world, both quick and dead, the remission of sins, grace, and all other good gifts from God. Thirdly, this holy sacrament was not instituted, thereby to produce a sacrifice for sin, (for the sacrifice has already been made.) but that our faith might thereby bo aroused, and that the consciences of those who feel that unto them grace and forgiveness of sins from Christ hath been given, maybe comforted. Tlierefore this sacrament demands faith, and without faith it is a useless ceremony. Whereas, then, the mass is not a sacrifice for others, quick or dead, to take away their sins, but was intended a? a communion, AViierein the priest and others receive the sacramynt for tliemselves; therefore it has been so arfanii'ed among us, that on holy days, (and at other sea- sons when there are communieaats,) iha missis celebrat* ed, and unto those who desire it the sacrament is admi- rristered. Tims the mass is held among us in Its proper u?6, as it was observed in the Church in olden times, as we can prove by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xi. 21-34. So also- from; the writings of the Fathers ; for St. Chrysostom ♦• speaketh thereof, "that the priest standeth daily at the altar, and some he calls to communion, and others he ""T^lshop of Confttamtittople, died A. D. 407, celebrated for hii; apiritual eloq^^<;ac©. I AtTGSBURGH CONFESSION. 93 keeps away.' And it appears by the old canons, that some one priest did celebrate the mass, and from him all the other priests and deacons received the body of the Lord; for so arc the words of the canon of Mce, Let deacons m order after the priests receive communion irom the bishop or priest. Forasmuch, then, as no novelty has been introduced which was not in the Church in ancient times, and as no perceptible change has been made in the public use of the mass, except that the other unnecessary masFes, (perhaps introduced by abuse, besides the regular parish, masses,) have hean abolished ; therefore this manner of holding masses should not be condemned as unchristian and here- tical; for in times past it was not customary, in large -churches, where a irreat multitude were assembled, to celebrate the mass daily, as the Tripartite History, * Lib, IX. cap. 38, testifies, that in Alexandria it was customary on Wednesdays and Fridays to read and explain the Scnptui-es, and also to keep all other divine assemblages, without the mass. ARTICLE XXV. OF CONFESSION. Confession is not done away in our churches; for the custom IS observed amonp: us, not to administer the sacra- ment to any who have not first been examined and absolv- ed. And the people arc most diii^rently instructed, how cotnforting the words of forgiveness are, how highly this remission is to be prized, for it is not the words of the person who speaketh the absolution, but the Word of .God, which forgiveth the sins, inasmuch as the same is spcikcn by the command of the Lord, and in his stead. Of this command, and this power of the keys, hew com- forting and how necessary it is unto alarmed ccnstiences, we diligently teach; so also, hew that Gcd demands not even less faith for these words cf forgiveness and grace, •* A Clniroh hi.«.tor.v of the sixth century. Theodrnis, clork in a Church in Constantinople, mwde an extract cf the Church Histcry of SocrateB, Sozomenus .dd Theodorus, aud tLis extract was caUed. ilutoria TrijparUta. i'fl ^1 " ■ W l Cafc i !0" p i»Mrt « « ' «w* 94 AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. than if His voice resounded to us from Heaven, cheerful- ly to comfort and assure us, that we shall obtain forgive- ness of sins through such faith. This very necessary in- struction the priests formerly neglected entirely; although they taught much about confession, which tended only to torture the consciences with tedious narratives of sin, of sa- tisfaction for sins, of indulgences, of pilgrimages, and the like. And many of our adversaries admit, that the doc- trine of Christian penance is more diligently treated of and taught by us than it was formerly. Concerning confession we teach, that no one shall be forced to enu- merate special sins; for that would be impossible, as the Psalmist says: "Who can understand his errors ? and Jeremiah saith : " The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." Poor frail human na- ture is so deeply rooted in an, that it cannot see or acknowledge the same ; for if we should only receive par- don for those sins which we can enumerate, it would avail us but little. Therefore it is not necessary to urge the people to enumerate their sins. For so also md the Fathers direct, as may be shown from Distinct 1, de Pa- mtentia * where the words of Chrysostom are quoted : " I say not to thee that thou show thyself openly, nor accuse thyself before others, but I wish thee to obey the prophet, who saith, * Declare thyself before God ; ' therefore con- fess thy sins, with prayer, unto God the true judge. Lay open thy sins not with the tongue, but with the memory of thy conscience." Here we see clearly, that Chrysos- tom does not urge the enumeration of sins. The Glossa in Decretis de Pmnetentia Distinct. 4, also teaches, that, confession is not commanded in the Scriptures, but that it was instituted by the Church. Nevertheless our churches teach, that confession is to be retained on account of the absolution, (remission of sin,) which is the chief point and the most important part thereof, for the consolation of alarmed consciences, and for some other reasons. ♦ These, and the succeeding citations are to be found ^n the col- lection on Church decrees, called Jwi Canonicuni, AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. ARTICLE XXVI. OF DIVERSITY OP MEATS. 95 The doctrine was formerly inculcated, that the diversi- ty of meats and other human traditions were useful, in order to merit grace and make satisfaction for sin.— Hence new fasts, new ceremonies, and new orders, were daily invented, and strenuously insisted on as ne- cessary parts of worship, the neglect of which was attended with heinous guilt. Thus occasion was given to many scandalous corruptions in the Church. In the first place, the grace of Christ and the doctrines con- cerning faith are thereby obscured. Yet these doctrines are inculcated in the Gospel with great solemnity, the merits of Christ are represented as of the utmost impor- tance, and faith in the Redeemer is placed far above all human merits. Hence the apostle Paul inveighs bitterly against the observance of e Mosaic ritual and human traditions, in order to teach us that we acquire righteous- ness and grace not by our own works, but by faith in Christ. This doctrine was, however, entirely obscured by the notion that grace must be merited by legal observ- ances, fasts, diversities of meats, habits, &c. Secondly, such traditions were calculated to obscure the Divine law ; for these traditions are elevated far above the Word of God. No one was regarded as leading a Christian life who did not observe these holy days, and pray, and fast, and dress, in this peculiar manner. Truly good works were regarded as mere worldly matter, such as fulfilling the duties of our calling, the labors of a father to support his family and educate them in the fear of the Lord, that mothers should take charge of their children, that the go* vernment should rule the country, &c. Such works which God has commanded, were pronounced worldly and imperfect, but these traditions had the credit of being the only holy and perfect works. For these reasons, to the making of such traditions there was no end. Thirdly^ these traditions became extremely burdensome to the consciences of men. Por it was not possible to observe them all, and yet the people were taught to regard them as necessary parts of worship. Gerson asserts that many :il m r 96 AUQSBURGH CONFJESSION. |! t f It i were thus driven to despair, and some put an end to their own existence, because they heard of no consolation in the grace of Christ. How m'lch the consciences of men were perplexed on these subjects, is evident from the writings of those divines (summistis) who undertook to CD'.npile these traditions, anl p>)int out whit was just and , proper. So complicated an un.lertakin; did they find it, that in the memtimj the salutary dj'Jtrincs of the Gospel on mire inip:)rtant subject-;, such as faitliand consolation in affliction, anil others of like import, wore totally neg- lected. Accordhi^^iy many pious men of those times com- plained that tliese tradiiions served only to excite conten- tion, and prevent devout souls from attaining the true knowledge of Clirist. Gerson and several others uttered bitter complahits on this subject. And Augustin also complains tbat the consciences of men ought not to be burdened with these numerous and useless traditions. — Oar divines were therefore compelled by necessity, and not by contempt of their spiritual superiors, to correct the erroneous views which had grown out of the misappre- hension of these traditions. For the Gospel absolutely requires that the doctrine of faith be steadily inculcated in the churches ; but this doctrine cannot be rightly un- derstood by those whe expect to merit grace by works of their own appointment. We therefore teach, that the ob- servance of these humin traditions cannot merit g ace, or atone for sins, or reoncile us unto God; and ought there- fore not to be rep.'esenied as a necessary part f C iristian duty. The proofs of this position are deriveu from Scrip- ture. Christ excuses his apostles for not observing the traditions, saying, " In vain do they worship me, te ichin^ , for doctrines tie commandments of men." As He c ills this a vain service, it cannot be a necessary one. And - again, '' Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man," (Mitt. xv. 3. 9, 11.) Again Paul says,^ " Tiie klaglom of God is not meat and d/ink," (Uom. xiv. 17.) *'Ljt no man therelo e judge you in meat or in d iiik, ' (Col. ii. 16.) Peter says, " Wiiy tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the, disciples which neither our fa- thers nor we were .able to bear? But we believe that V thx:ough the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. w« shall be P AUGSBURGH CONFESSION. 97 to their 1 in the )f men ora the ook to List and find it, Gospel ohxtion \y neg- 3S com- mon ten- le true uttered In also : to be ions. — y, and •ect the sappre- olutely uleated itly un- orks of the ob- ace, or t there- iris tian Sc:ip- .n ,„ HYMNS. 137 M. Through life's bewilder'd way, Her hand unerring leads ; And o'er the path her heav'nly ray A cheering lustre sheds. When reason, tir'd anc blind, Sinks helpless and afraid, Thou blest supporter of the mind, How pow'rful is thine aid ! O let me feel thy pow'r. And find thy sweet relief, To brighten ev'ry gloomy hour, And soften ev'ry grief. M. 373 Christ precious, CM. HOW sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear I It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear. 2 It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the trc ubled breast ; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest. 3 By him my pray'rs acceptance gain, Although with sin defil'd ; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own'd a child. 4 Weak is the effort of my heart. And cold my warmest thought ; But when I see thee as thou art, I'll praise thee as I ought. 6 Till then, I would thy love proclaim With ev'ry fleeting breath ; And may the music of thy name Refresh my soul in death. 384 Union with Chr 'st. L. M, T THIRST, thou woundtd Lamb of God, To dwell within thy wounds ; tlien pain Is sweet, and life or deatli is gain. I 138 HYMNS. 2 Take my poor heart, and let it be For ever clos'd to a-11 but thee ! Seal thou my breast, and let me wear That pledge o^ love for ever there. 8 How blest are they who still abide Close sheltered in thy bleeding s^de ! ^ Who thence their life and strength derive And by thee move and in thee live. ' 4 What are our works but sin and death, Till thou thy quick'ning Spirit breathe ? Thou giv'st the pow'r, the grace to move, O wondrous grace I O boundless love ! 5 How can it be thou heav'nly King, That thou shouldst us to glory brmg, Make slaves the pa ners of thy throne, Deck'd with a neverrfading crown? 6 Ah! Lord, enlarge our scanty thought; To know the wonders thou hast wrought, Unloose our stammering tongues to tell Thy love immense, unsearchable I 508 The baptism of children. LOKD ! what our ears have heard, Our eyes delighted trace. Thy love in long succession shown To ev'ry faithful race. 2 Our children thou dost claim, And mark them out for thine : Ten thousand blessings to thy name For goodness so divine ! 3 Thy cov'nant may they keep. And bless the happy bands Which closer still engage our hearts To honor thy commands. ,4 . How great thy mercies. Lord ! Ury-ur V^iontpoiiR 18 thv gracc. Which, in the promise of thy love, Includes our rising race. " S. M. HYMNS. 139 "' 609 . M. 6 Our offspring, still thy care, Shall own their father's God, To latest times thy blessings share, And sound thy praise abroad. Jesus invites us to bring our children* SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand, With all engaging charms ! Hark ! how he calls the tender lambs, And takes them in his arms ! 2 "Permit them to approach, (he cries,) Nor scorn their humble name ; It was to save such souls as these, The Lord of angels came.*' 3 We bring them, Lord, with grateful hearts, And yield them up to thee ; Joyful that we ourselves are thine, Thine let our offspring be ! 4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear ; Ye children seek his face ; And fly, with transport, to receive The gospel of his grace. 5 If orphans they are left behind, Thy care, God ! we trust ; And let thy promise cheer our hearts, If weeping o'er their dust. 510 CM, B Children brought to Christ. EHOLD what condescending love Jesus on earth displays ! To babes and sucklings he extends The riches of his grace. He still the ancient promise keeps. To our forefathers giv'n ; Young children in his arms he takes, And calls them hfeirs of heav'n. " Permit them to approach,"" he cries, " Nor scoi*n their humble name ; For 'twas to save such souls as these, Th6 Lord of angels Came.' CM. » l) 140 liYivrNS. 4 We bring them, Lord, with thankful hearts, And yield them up to thee ; Joyful that we ourselves are thine, Thine may our offspring be. B Kindly receive this tender branch, And form his soul for God ; Baptize him with thy Spirit, Lord, And wash him with thy blood. 730 The resurrection of the just. C. M. HOW long shall death, the tyrant, reign, And triumph o*er the just. While the rich blood of martyrs slain Lies mingled with the dust ? 2 Lo ! I behold the scatter'd shades ! The dawn of heav'n appears : The sweet, immortal morning spreads Its blushes round the spheres. 3 I hear the voice, *' Ye dead, arise," And lo ! the graves obey : And waking saints with joyful eyes Salute th' expected day. 4 They leave the dust, and on the wing Rise to the midway air ; In shining garments meet their King, And bow before him there. 6 may our humble spirits stand Among them cloth'd in white ! The meanest place at his right hand Is infinite delight. 733 Judgment. L. M. HOW great, how terrible that God Who shakes creation with his word I He speaks, and earth's foundations shake And all the wheels of nature break. 2 Where now, O where shall sinners seek For shelter in the general wreck? Shall falling rocks be o'er them thrown ? See rocks, like snow, dissolving down I ■■ . M. i. M. 740 748 HTMKS. But saints, undaunted and serene, Your eyes shall view the dreadful scene ! Your Saviour lives, the worlds expire, And earth and skies dissolve in fire. Jesus, the helpless sinner's friend, To thee my all I dare commend ; Thou canst preserve my feeble soul, When lightnings blaze from pole to pole. The glory of Christ in Heaven. OTHE delights, the heavenly joys, The glories of the place Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams Of his o'erflowing grace ! 2 Sweet majesty and awful love Sit smiling on his brow. And all the glorious ranks above At humble distance bow. 3 Archangels sound his lofty praise Througli ev'ry heav'nly street, And lay their higliost honors down Submissive at hi feet. 4 This is the man, th' exalted man Whom we unseen adore ; But when our eyes behold his face, Our hearts shall love him more. 6 Lord how our souls are all on fire To see thy bless'd abode ! Our tongues rejoice in tunes of praise To our incarnate God. 6 And whilst our faith enjoys the sight We long to leave our clay, And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord, To bear our souls away. Ul CM. Heaven. IGH in yonder realms of light Dwell the raptur'd saints above. Far beyond our feeble sight, Happy iu Immanuel's love ! H P. M. 7s, 142 HTMKS. 2 Pilgrims in this vale of tears, Once they knew, like us belov. Gloomy doubts, distressing fears, Torturing pain, and heavy woe. 3 But, these days of weeping o'er. Past this scene of toil and pain, They shall feel distress no_ more, Never — never weep again. 4 'Mid the chorus of the skies, . 'Mid th' angelic lyres above, Hark— their songs melodious rise, Songs of praise to Jesus' love ! 6 Happy spirits I ye are fled Where no grief can entrance find : LuU'd to rest the aching head, Sooth'd the anguish of the mind I 6 Ev'ry tear is wip'd away— Sighs no n^re shall heave the breast; Night is lost in endless day — Sorrow — in eternal rest ! 751 The final doom of the wicked. AND will the Judge descend? And must the dead arise ? And not a single soul escape His all-discerning eyes ? 2 And from his righteous lips Shall this dread sentence sound ; And, through the num'rous guilty throng, Spread black despair around? 3. *' Depart from me, accurs'd, To everlasting flame, . ; For rebel-ahgels first prepaid' Where mercy never came." 4. How long will my heart endure The terrors of that day^ When earth and heav'n before his face S. M. xXSl/UiUBii Vi, aii.l.i.l.lZi. C4TTCIJ- 6 But ere that trumpet shakes The mansions of the dead, M. Hark fxorr the g6spel*s cheering sound What joyful tidings spread ! Ye siniiers. seek hi^ grace Whose wrath ye cannot bear ; riy to the shelter of the cross, And find salvation there. So shall that curse remove By which the P.aviour bled ; And the lr;.-.t vrful day shall pour His blessing^ on your head. 143 For the Queen. I' ORB of heav'n and earth and ocean, J Hear us from thy bright abode, While our hearts with deep devotion, Own their great and gracious God ; Now wHh joy we come before thee. Seek thy face, thy mercies sing ; Lord of life and light and glory, Guard thy church, and guide our Queen 2 Health and every needful blessing Are thy bounteous gifts alone : Comfort undeserv'd possessing. Here we bend before thy throne ; Young and old do now before thee Their united tribute bring ; Lord of life, and light, and glory, Shield our land, and save our Queen. 8's 7's P.M. For the Fifth of November, ^ SOUND the loud timbrel o'er Egypt's dark sea, Jehovah hath triumph'd, his people are free; Sing for the pride of the tyrant is broken ; ; His chariot and horsemen all splendid and brave. How vain was their boasting ; the Lord had but spoken, And chariots and horsemen are sunk in the wave. Sound, &c. ^ S Praise to the Conqueror, praise to the Lord; His word was our arrow— his breath was our sword; 144 HYMNS. Who shaU return to tell Egypt the story Of those she sent forth in the hour of her pride ! The Lord hath look'd out from his pilhir of glory, And all her brave thousands are dash'd m the tide. Sound, &c. Triumph of Messiah, P.M. SHOUT the glad tidings, exultingly sing; Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is king! Zion, the marvellous story be telling, ^_, , The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth I ' The brightest archangel in glory excelling. He stoops to redeem thee, he reigns upon earth. Shout the glad tidings, &c. 2 Tell how he cometh ; from nation to nation, The heart-cheering news let the earth echo round ; How free to the faithful he offers salvation, How his people with joy everlasting are crowned. Shout the glad tidings^ &c. 3 Mortals, your homage he gratefully bringing, And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise ; Ye angels the glad halelujahs be singing ; One chorus resound through the earth and the skies. Shout the glad tidings, &c. 762 765 DOXOLOGIES. TO Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom we adore, Be everlasting honors paid, Hencefortli, for evermore. FATHER, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou the God whom we adore, May -we all thy love inherit, Ti^ fliino imficrp lis restOFG : Vast Etern^ Praises to thee evermore. C. M. P.M.