L.IBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of California. 
 
 Mrs. SARAH P. WALSWORTH. 
 
 Received October, 1894. 
 Accessions No. S^S^/S^, Class No. 
 
 mm 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/bookofpublicprayOOpresricli 
 
' BOOK OF PUBLIC PRAYER, 
 
 COMPILED FEOM THE 
 
 AUTHORIZED FORMULARIES OF WORSHIP 
 
 PKESBYTEKIAN CHURCH, 
 
 AS PREPARED BY THE REFORMER 
 
 CALVm, OCX, BUCER. AND OTHERS. 
 
 WITH SUPPLEMENTARY FORMS. 
 
 nSITBIlSITT 
 
 NE 
 
 ORK 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CHARLES SCRIBNER, 
 
 3T7 & 3T9 BROADWAY. 
 
 1857. 
 
Tn 
 
 J to Act of Congress, 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern 
 District of New York. 
 
 8TBRE0TTPED BY PRINTED BY 
 
 THOMAa B. SUITH, B. Cbaighbad, 
 
 IkU Beekman Street. 53 Yesey St. 
 
 jl^ 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 *-*-¥ 
 
 * PAOK 
 
 Introduction ix. 
 
 A Table of Portions op Holt Scripture 25 
 
 The Order of Divine Service on the Lord's Day 2*1 
 
 Morning Service 29 
 
 Other Forms for the Morning Service 43 
 
 Evening Service 64 
 
 Other Forms for the Evening Service 13 
 
 The Manner of Celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord's 
 
 Supper 8t 
 
 Other Forms for the Celebration of the same 105 
 
 The Form of Administering the Sacrament of Baptism. 129 
 
 Other Forms of Administering the same 141 
 
 The Form of Administering the Sacrament of Baptism to 
 
 Adult Persons 160 
 
 The Form for the Admission of Baptized Persons to the Table 
 
 of the Lord 164 
 
 Occasional Offices 173 
 
 The Order of Service for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and 
 Prayer 175 
 
 ♦ • --i^ 
 
iv Contents. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 The Order of Service for a Day of Public Thanksgiving 184 
 
 The Office for the Confirmation of Marrriage 191 
 
 The Burial of the Dead 19*7 
 
 Public Discipline, Ordinatiok, etc 215 
 
 The Form of Public Excommunication 21*7 
 
 The Form of Public Repentance 221 
 
 The Form for Ordaining Elders and Deacons 225 
 
 The Form for Ordaining Ministers of the "Word of God 234 
 
 The Form for the Installation of a Pastor 248 
 
 The Office for the Dedication of a Church 253 
 
 Scriptural and other Occasional Praters 259 
 
 Scriptural Prayers 261 
 
 A Comprehensive Prayer, chiefly in the Words of Scripture. 218 
 
 Sundry Occasional Prayers 295 
 
 The Morning Prayer 295 
 
 The Evening Prayer. 297 
 
 A Short Prayer for all Men 298 
 
 A Prayer for Pardon and Help 299 
 
 A Prayer in Time of Discord 300 
 
 A Prayer at the Opening of a Church Court 301 
 
 A Prayer for Sick Persons 302 
 
 The same 303 
 
 For a Sick Child 305 
 
 For a Person under Affliction 306 
 
 For Rain 306 
 
 For Fair Weather 307 
 
 For Peace ,, 308 
 
 In Time of Pestilence 308 
 
 For the Absent from Home 309 
 
 A Thanksgiving for Ram 309 
 
 A Thanksgiving for Fair Weather 310 
 
r 
 
 ^^ Contents. v 
 
 PAGB 
 
 A Thanksgiving for Harvest 310 
 
 A Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Pestilence 311 
 
 A Thanksgiving for a Safe Return Home 312 
 
 A Prayer to be used at Sea 312 
 
 A Prayer for the President of the United States, and all in 
 
 Civil Authority 314 
 
 The Collects 315 
 
 Appendix — ^Notes 349 
 
 ^. 
 

 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 npHE chief purposes contemplated in the present publica- 
 tion, are briefly as follows : 
 
 1. To furnish Ministers of the Gospel, and those who, 
 in Theological Seminaries, are preparing for the Ministry, 
 with models of Public Devotion, approved and recom- 
 mended by the Church, that may facilitate that study of 
 " the best writers on the subject," which is enjoined by the 
 Directory of Worship, upon all who lead in the public 
 oflSces of religion. 
 
 2. To provide laymen, who, in remote and destitute 
 settlements, may be called upon, in the absence of Minis- 
 ters, to conduct religious exercises, with such aids as they 
 naturally require. 
 
 3. To supply a deficiency long felt and frequently ac- 
 knowledged, in the case of Chaplains in the Army and 
 Navy, and persons officiating from time to time on board 
 the vessels of our merchant service ; many of whom, for 
 want of such assistance as this volume is designed to 
 afford, have been led to adopt forms of worship peculiar 
 to other denominations. 
 
viii Advertisement. 
 
 4. It is also believed, that the wide circulation of such 
 a Book of Public Devotions, among the laity of the Church, 
 would tend to promote a deeper interest in the services of 
 the Sanctuary, and a more correct appreciation of the 
 dignity and value of the ministrations of God's House, 
 than at present prevail. 
 
 On the other hand, it need scarcely be added, that no 
 thought is entertained of seeking for this or any other 
 Form of Worship an adoption by ecclesiastical courts, that 
 would impose it upon the churches for compulsory ob- 
 servance. The authorship of these forms, and the frequent 
 sanction bestowed upon them in former times by the 
 Church, sufficiently authorize that free consultation and 
 voluntary use, which are all that is expected or desired in 
 their behalf. 
 
 
^'.4: 
 
 /^:^" 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 rriHE Churclies of the Reformed or Presbyterian family, 
 while giving less prominence to the subject of ritual- 
 ism than some other Protestant denominations, have never 
 been justly open to the charge of neglecting the decency 
 and order of God's House. In their Liturgies, and Di- 
 rectories of Worship, they have at all times made full 
 provision for the due performance of public religious 
 rites. It is true that the formularies prepared with this 
 view, have constituted a class by themselves, with char- 
 acteristics entirely their own. On this account, they have 
 been generally overlooked by those who have searched 
 for any thing like the ancient and prescriptive rituals 
 that exist in the prelatic Churches. 
 
 The peculiarities that so distinguish the Presbyterian 
 Liturgies, relate to their structure, derivation, and mode 
 of observance. The rituals of the Lutheran and Ang- 
 lican Churches consist of materials that claim a remote 
 antiquity, having been handed down through Roman 
 and Oriental channels, from a period prior to the Ref- 
 ormation. But the Reformed worship, in connection 
 with that doctrinal system to which it is allied, is con- 
 
 1* ^ 
 
X Introduction. 
 
 structed upon elements purely Scriptural ; and so far as 
 it is of human composition, asserts for itself no authorship 
 more ancient than that of the Divines of the Sixteenth Cen- 
 tury. The former, to some extent, follow the complicated 
 and involved aiTangement of the medijeval type ; while 
 the latter is distinguished by a natural and logical 
 order, and extreme simplicity of style. And lastly, these 
 forms of service differ from such as are more ceremonial 
 and more ancient, by the fact that they are not set 
 forth for constant repetition; but leave to the oflBciating 
 minister a wide freedom of omission or interpolation, 
 according to the exigencies of the occasion; and bind 
 him only to a general conformity with the method laid 
 down. 
 
 That these peculiarities characterize, almost without 
 exception, the numerous formularies of worship existing 
 in the vai-ious branches of the Presbyterian Church, 
 would be unaccountable but for the fact of their com- 
 mon origin. The master-mind to whom that Church is 
 indebted for the new statement of her apostolic discip- 
 line and doctrine, elaborated also a pattern of public 
 prayer for the celebration of ecclesiastical ordinances, 
 closely framed upon the teachings of that Divine Rule, 
 whence he derived every other part of the grand 
 system to which his name has been affixed. The Di- 
 vines of other Reformed countries appear, without ma- 
 terial deviation, to have copied the forms of worship 
 established at Geneva by Calvin. 
 
 The Reformed worship was inaugurated at Geneva in 
 
Introduction, 
 
 XI 
 
 the year 1535, wten the reformer Farel introduced the 
 Protestant doctrines into the pulpit of the cathedral of 
 that city, and began to celebrate the ordinances of re- 
 ligion in the vulgar tongue. It was more properly, how- 
 ever, in the year 1543, that Calvin, upon his return from 
 Strasburg, commenced the use of a Hturgy, which he 
 had prepared during his banishment, and which was 
 now set forth as the general order of Divine service. 
 From that time to the present, it has continued in con- 
 stant observance, and though unfortunately subjected to 
 some modifications, suiting it to the loose doctrines 
 which of late years have been preached in the pulpit 
 of Calvin, that liturgy may now be heard substantially 
 the same in all the churches of the city and canton of 
 Geneva. 
 
 The Reformed Churches of France received, in the year 
 1559, not only the Confession of Faith, and the Form of 
 Discipline, which at their solicitation had been drawn up 
 for them by the great theologian of Geneva, but also the 
 Form of Church Prayers and Administration of Sacra- 
 ments, prepared by him. These were forthwith adopted 
 by enactment of the National Synod, and made binding 
 upon all the ministers of the Reform in France. Can- 
 didates for the sacred oflfice were required to give their 
 signature to an engagement of adherence to this estab- 
 lished order. And in the subsequent conventions of 
 that highest ecclesiastical body, until dissolved one hun- 
 dred years after by the persecuting government, pro- 
 vision continued to be made for the careful and univer- 
 
xii Introduction. 
 
 sal maintenance of that form of worship which had 
 been found so conducive to the edification and comfort 
 of believers. 
 
 The Waldenses of Piedmont, representing a race that 
 for centuries had contended for the apostolic faith and 
 discipline, sent, in the sixteenth century, their delegates 
 to the newly-Eeformed Churches of Switzerland, for the 
 purpose of ascertaining more definitely the nature of their 
 movement, and giving their adhesion to an evangelical 
 system of truth. These primitive Christians accepted as 
 their own the Confession of Faith established by Calvin ; 
 and they likewise adopted the Reformed Liturgy, which 
 they have continued to use down to the present day. 
 "Within a few years, to render more perfect the uniformity 
 of their worship, they have re-moulded the four or five 
 slightly-differing formularies in vogue among them, as 
 received from other Presbyterian Churches, and have set 
 forth a revised ritual, under the title of " The Liturgy of 
 the Evangelical Church of the Valleys.-" 
 
 In Holland, as early as 1566, the Liturgy of Calvin, 
 after various modifications, came into general use. It 
 was in 16*74, however, that a decree of the Synod of 
 Holland and Zealand established it as the universal order 
 of worship. Though differing more than any other of the 
 Reformed rituals from the original, this liturgy will yet 
 be seen, by its general structure and pervading ideas, to 
 belong to the same category, and derive its characteristic 
 features from the same source. It has been in prevalent 
 use, since its promulgation, among all the Churches of 
 
Introduction. xiii 
 
 the Netherlands. The forms for the ordinary services of 
 worship have in part become obsolete ; but the more 
 essential oflSces of Communion, Baptism, and Ordination, 
 are still celebrated both in the mother country and in her 
 colonial possessions of South Africa and the East Indies, 
 as well as in the United States. 
 
 The German Reformed Churches of the Palatinate pro- 
 mulgated, in the year 1563, that admirable system of doc- 
 trine which has been called, from the city where it was 
 prepared, the "Heidelberg Catechism." At the same 
 period the Divines of that city introduced the Reformed 
 worship, corresponding substantially with the forms of the 
 Walloon and other Calvinistic Churches. The variation 
 from the Genevan ritual is but slight. 
 
 The Evangelical Churches in the French-speaking can- 
 tons of Switzerland have adopted, with various alterations, 
 the Liturgy of Geneva. The most interesting aspect un- 
 der which this ritual has been presented among those 
 Churches, is the very beautiful formulary prepared in the 
 early part of the last century, for the Church of Neuchatel. 
 Founded upon the old established service-book of Calvin, 
 it embodies many remarkable improvements, conceived in 
 the purest devotional spirit, and arranged with marked 
 discrimination. This formulary has been partially made 
 known in America, by means of a very imperfect transla- 
 tion, now used at the Huguenot Church in Charleston, 
 South Carohna. It is not generally known, however, that 
 this excellent work was the production of the famous John 
 Frederic Ostervald, the learned and pious theologian of 
 
xiv Introduction. 
 
 Neuchatel, the translator and commentator of th« French 
 Bible. Published first in 1713, this liturgy has been in 
 use ever since, among the churches of that canton of 
 Switzerland. • , 
 
 We come now to speak of the action of that Church 
 from which, more immediately, our own branch of Presby- 
 terianism has sprung, with reference to a provision for the 
 public ordinances of religion. It was in 1659 that John 
 Kjiox, returning from an exile spent chiefly in the city 
 of Geneva, at the feet of his friend and teacher, Calvin, 
 brought with him to Scotland a version of the Genevan 
 Liturgy. He had already been in the habit of using it 
 as the order of worship among the English congregations 
 in that city. This form of service he at once submitted 
 to the General Assembly for adoption ; and, by order of 
 that supreme ecclesiastical authority, it was commanded 
 to be printed, being "thought necessary and profitable 
 for the Church." In 1660 it was directed that "the 
 Sacraments should be administered" after the " Book of 
 our Common Order ;" and again, that " a uniform order . 
 should be kept in the ministration of the sacraments, &c., 
 according to the Kirk of Geneva." The formulary thus 
 adopted, continued in more or less extensive use until the 
 period of the Assembly of Divines, who met at West- 
 minster in the year 1643, for the purpose of preparing a 
 common Confession of Faith, Order of Discipline, and 
 Form of Worship for the Churches of Great Britain. 
 
 The enactments of the Church of Scotland, during the 
 period of her freedom from the yoke of Prelacy, were 
 
Introduction. 
 
 XV 
 
 very explicit in relation to lier adopted and prescribed 
 forms of worship. We find tliem referred to, again and 
 again, in the proceedings of the General Assemblies. It 
 was ordered that no alterations or additions be made in 
 the established forms ; that readers be required to confine 
 themselves to the appointed modes of prayer ; that minis- 
 ters pro\dde themselves with that Order in prayer and ad- 
 ministration of sacraments. The same formulary was, in 
 1567, by order of the Assembly, translated into Gaelic, 
 for the use of the northern Churches. In 1620, a Scottish 
 clergyman speaks of it as the only " warrantable form 
 directed or approven by the Kirk," and habitually used. 
 It is stated by a contemporary writer, that as late as 1648, 
 the Knoxian Liturgy continued to be the common ritual 
 of the Church. 
 
 The laws of the Church of Scotland, on this subject, 
 have never been repealed ; nor has any rejection of this 
 ancient Presbyterian Liturgy occurred in her legislation. 
 It has never, indeed, appeared that there even existed a dis- 
 position to cast aside these forms, of which various editions 
 were published — ^undoubtedly in accordance with the de- 
 mands of the Church — down to the very year in which 
 the Assembly at Westminster commenced its sittings. 
 
 It may seem to militate against this view of the high 
 esteem in which, thus far, the Book of Common Order was 
 held, that the Westminster Assembly should have pro- 
 mulgated a new form of worship, which at once superseded 
 the use of the older one. But, taking into consideration 
 the project with which the transactions of that body were 
 
xvi Introduction. 
 
 Gonnected, it is easy to conceive that this change should 
 have been made, and concurred in by the Church of Scot- 
 land, in hope of the benefits of an extensive agreement and 
 conformity, to be realized upon the adoption of an entirely 
 new platform. This project of a " Uniformity in Rehgion" 
 was divulged in the Solemn League and Covenant, agreed 
 upon in 1543 by commissioners of the Church of Scot- 
 land, and by the Parliament and the Assembly of Divines 
 in England, and afterward subscribed by great numbers 
 of the people of both countries. One of the articles of that 
 document binds the subscribers to " endeavour to bring 
 the Churches of God, in the three kingdoms, to the nearest 
 conjunction and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, 
 form of Church government, directory for worship, and 
 catechising." 
 
 A little before the meeting of the Assembly, in 1641, the 
 Scottish Book of Common Order was reprinted at London, 
 in abridged form, and " presented to the most high court 
 of Parliament." A second edition of this work appeared 
 duiing the session of that body, in 1643, with a similar 
 dedication. There can be little doubt that these reprints 
 were procured with a view to the adoption of the Scottish 
 formulary by Parliament, as the established order of wor- 
 ship under the new state of things. Such probably was 
 also the design of " The new Book of Scotland," issued in 
 1644 ; another synopsis of Knox's Liturgy. And al- 
 though, from the fact that the records of the Assembly 
 have been destroyed, it is difficult to trace the influences 
 that may have operated in the preparation of the new 
 
Introduction. xvii 
 
 Directory, there are plentiful evidences in that work itself, 
 that the old liturgy was not ignored or rejected by its 
 framers ; nay, that it was to be, to some extent at least, 
 incorporated with the Assembly's book. We find pas- 
 sages where even the language of Knox's ritual is pre- 
 served ; while the method is almost always the same.* 
 
 Here the record of Presbyterian usage, in the matter of 
 written forms of worship, must end. From the statements 
 that have been made, it will be seen, that this historic 
 testimony of the Church stands unmistakably in favor of 
 a discretionary use of the " best helps" that can be ob- 
 tained for the performance of Divine services. At the 
 time of the Keformation, each of the various national 
 branches of Presbyterianism adopted a liturgy. To this 
 fact, there is not a solitary exception. And further, with 
 but one exception, each of the national Presbyterian 
 Churches of Europe has retained, down to the present 
 day, with greater or less modification, its particular lit- 
 urgy. The Church of Scotland, which for a hundred 
 years had preserved these written forms, finally laid them 
 aside, not of her own choice and preference, but in con- 
 cession to a plan of uniformity with other Churches, in the 
 use of a common Directory for Worship. 
 
 The adoption of a liturgy is peculiarly consonant 
 with the spirit and usage of the Presbyterian Church. 
 That a body, characterized by strict and scrupulous ad- 
 herence to established formulas of doctrine and discipline, 
 should make full provision for the proper celebration of 
 * See Appendix. 
 
xviii Introduction. 
 
 worship, appears most suitable and natural. And although, 
 in the Church of Scotland, bitter enmity to forms of 
 prayer has long existed, arising out of arbitrary attempts 
 to enforce an obnoxious Hturgy, in times of civil commo- 
 tion, there has never been a single enactment of our 
 Church to forbid or condemn the introduction or revival of 
 this her former practice. It is a fact of no little meaning, 
 that when the Presbyterian Church in this country was 
 organized on a national basis, there was a proposal, on 
 the part of influential Divines, to introduce a discretionary 
 form of public prayer. Such a form was prepared, print- 
 ed, and presented for approval to the Synod, by a com- 
 mittee duly appointed, and was advocated by some of the 
 most distinguished ministers of the period, among others, 
 by the late venerable Ashbel Green, D.D. In the present 
 volume, some extracts from that work will be found. 
 
 We pass from this survey of the history of the Re- 
 formed Liturgies, to a brief examination of their sti'ucture. 
 Modelled after no complicated forms produced by slow 
 accumulation in previous ages, this order of worship is at 
 once distinguished for the simphcity and the logical per- 
 fection of its arrangement. A sentence of Invocation, upon 
 the utterance of which the people rise, begins the ordinary 
 service of the Lord's Day. The Law is then rehearsed ; 
 and the worshipper, having heard its requirements, is in- 
 vited to draw near, and acknowledge his sins before God. 
 Then the Gospel declaration of forgiveness is announced, 
 for the comfort of the contrite believer. This penitential 
 oflSce is preliminary and preparatory to the act of Praise 
 
Introduction. xix 
 
 and Adoration, whicli is performed by the entire congrega- 
 tion, in the choral singing of the Psalm. Next, the Scrip- 
 tures are read,* out of both Testaments ; after which, the 
 minister offers up a prayer for illumination in the study of 
 God's Word. To this he adds any special supplication, 
 growing out of the subject of discourse, or otherwise appro- 
 priate, concluding with a general Thanksgiving and the 
 Lord's Prayer. The Sermon (preceded by a hymn) stands 
 in connection with the reading of Scripture, of which it is 
 properly an exposition ; and with the prayer for illumina- 
 tion, which has reference to this exercise of meditation 
 upon the "Word of God. It is followed by the Prayer of 
 Intercession, the highest act of the believer's worship, 
 and that in which, so to speak, he ventures nearest to the 
 Throne of Grace. This, with the Creed and Benediction, 
 closes the ordinary service, when the Lord's Supper is not 
 celebrated. Thus, entering the Divine Presence with invoca- 
 tion, hearkening to the commandments of the Law, joining 
 in the confession* of sins, and receiving the Gospel assur- 
 
 * In the Genevan Liturgy, this reading of Scripture forms an 
 introductory part of Divine Service, and precedes the Law and con- 
 fession of sins. But that arrangement, it was justly remarked by the 
 Divines of Neuchatel, in their admirable revision of the old Liturgy, 
 was open to practical objections, and was a deviation from the 
 known custom of the Primitive Church, where the reading of Scrip- 
 ture was always closely followed by the preaching. " It is by these 
 reasons that the leaders of the churches of this State have thought 
 themselves indispensably obliged to restore the reading of the "Word 
 of God in their service." We may add, that all the Eeformed 
 Churches of Great Britain and this country, have, in this respect, 
 improved upon the Genevan practice ; for the reading of Scripture 
 couatitutea with tliem a central fea^i3i^;gfjDlvine worship. 
 
 'Oc^ TE 
 
XX Introduction. 
 
 ance of forgiveness : the believer has been prepared to 
 offer up the sacrifice of song ; " My lips shall utter praise, 
 when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes." Next, implor- 
 ing Divine help in the study of the Word, he listens to its 
 announcement ; and then, approaching with enlarged de- 
 sires the mercy-seat, he urges his requests in behalf of the 
 Universal Church, and of all mankind ; and finally, joins in 
 that common profession of belief, whereby the Church of 
 all ages declares her oneness in the faith of the Gospel. 
 
 But the cumulative order of this service would be mani- 
 festly incomplete, without some reference to the Sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper. That ordinance, in the Primitive 
 Church, was undoubtedly celebrated upon every Lord's 
 Day ; and whatever oflfices of praise and prayer accom- 
 panied it, had in view this celebration as the chief part 
 of Divine service. In the Reformed Worship, not less 
 distinctly than elsewhere, we find the allusion to this fact 
 preserved. The Intercessory Prayer that succeeds the 
 Sermon, is designed to be followed immediately by the 
 Exhortation before the Communion ; and in contemplation 
 of this crowning ordinance, remembrance is made in that 
 prayer of all the scattered members of the body of Christ. 
 This was customary among the early Christians : who, in 
 their weekly observance of the sacred Feast, offered up like 
 supplications for the necessities of the Church, and for 
 all mankind. The analogy to this custom is maintained 
 in our service, not only by the location of the Intercessory 
 Prayer, in which the ordinary service culminates, but also 
 by a particular clause inserted in the last petition. Nor is 
 
Introduction. xxi 
 
 it less observable in the tenderness and fervency of that 
 prayer, increasing with each request presented, for the 
 several classes of men, for the ministry and the Church, 
 tor those in affliction, for persecuted Christians ; and end- 
 ing with a subdued acknowledgment of guilt, and pro- 
 fession of surrender to the service of God. It is well 
 known that our Reformers, while acquiescing in the prac- 
 tice of celebrating the Lord's Supper only at intervals 
 of several months, regarded this as a defect of the times, 
 and strongly recommended a return to the primitive usage 
 of frequent communion. 
 
 Considering, therefore, the Communion as the natural 
 and necessary consummation of the Order of Divine Wor- 
 ship, we proceed to a brief analysis of that Office. It 
 begins with a prayer, which indeed is only a conclusion 
 to the General Intercession, but which may properly be 
 separated from it by the singing of a sacramental hymn. 
 Then the words of the Institution are read, from 1 Co- 
 rinthians, xi. ; and a short address is made, setting forth 
 the nature of the ordinance, and inviting to participation. 
 Proceeding from this preparatory service to the adminis- 
 tration, the minister offers up the Consecrating Prayer, 
 and utters the sacramental words, while breaking the 
 bread and pouring out the wine. In the distribution of 
 the Elements, appropriate sentences of Scripture are re- 
 peated ; and, after the Thanksgiving, an offering of alms 
 for the poor is made, when the service ends with a hymn 
 and the Benediction.* 
 
 * The hymn universally sung in the continental Churches, on this 
 occasion, is a paraphrase of the song of Simeon, Luke, ii. 29-32. 
 
xadi Introduction. 
 
 We can not more fitly end this examination of the 
 Keformed service, than in the words of Calvin, as trans- 
 lated by his disciple, John Knox : " If so be that any 
 would marvel why we follow rather this order than any 
 other, in the administration of this Sacrament, let him 
 diligently consider that, first of all, we utterly renounce 
 the error of the Papists. Secondly, we restore unto the 
 Sacrament its own substance, and to Christ "His proper 
 place. And as for the words of the Lord's Supper, we 
 rehearse them, not because they should change the sub- 
 stance of the bread or wine, or that the repetition 
 thereof, with the intent of the sacrificer, should make the 
 Sacrament (as the Papists falsely believe) ; but they are 
 read and pronounced to teach us how to behave ourselves 
 in that action ; and that Christ might witness unto our 
 faith, as it were, with His own mouth, that He hath or- 
 dained these signs to our spiritual use and comfort. Wa 
 do first, therefore, examine ourselves, according to St. 
 Paul's rule, and prepare our minds, that we may be wor- 
 thy partakers of so high mysteries. Then, taking bread, 
 we give thanks, break, and distribute it, as Christ our 
 Saviour hath taught us. Finally, the administration ended, 
 we give thanks again, according to His example. So 
 that without His Word and warrant, there is nothing in 
 this holy action attempted." 
 
 The present work is a compilation from the Liturgies 
 which were prepared by Calvin, Knox, Bucer, and other 
 Divines of the Reformed Church, and which have been 
 
Introduction. xxiii 
 
 adopted in the various branches of that Church on the 
 continent of Europe, and in Great Britain. The Liturgy 
 of Calvin, being the original formulary upon which all the 
 others were draughted, is taken as the basis for the ordi- 
 nary services of Divine Worship and the Administration of 
 the Sacraments. Selections from other forms are ap- 
 pended to each of these OfiBces, for alternate use or occa- 
 sional substitution. The Directory of Worship of the 
 Presbyterian Church is quoted wherever appropriate, for 
 the exhibition of the manner of performing these services ; 
 and the more essential parts are given in full, designated 
 by marks of quotation. A collection of Scriptural prayers, 
 and of prayers from other sources, adapted to special occa- 
 sions, concludes the work. The attempt has thus been 
 made to place within the reach of the ministers and laity 
 of the Presbyterian Church a complete arrangement of the 
 various forms of worship instituted by her authority, for 
 the proper discharge of the solemn duties of the sanctuary. 
 
■il^j 
 
-m'. 
 
 A TABLE 
 
 PORTIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 
 
 TO BE READ IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 Heading of the "Word in the Congregation, being part of the Public Worship 
 of God, wherein we acknowledge our dependence upon Him and subjection to 
 Him, and one means sanctified by Him for the edifying of His people, is to be 
 performed by the Pastor and teacher. 
 
 How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the Min- 
 ister ; but it is convenient that ordinarily one chapter of each Testament be 
 read at every meeting; and sometimes more, where the chapters be short, or 
 the coherence of matter requireth it. 
 
 It is requisite that all the Canonical Books be read over in order, that the 
 people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the Scriptures : and 
 ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on one Lord's Day, 
 it is to begin the next. 
 
 Directory for Worship, ly the Westminster Dimnes : § 2. 
 
 The following order has been prepared to facilitate selection. 
 
 MOENING SeKVIOE. 
 
 EvENiNO Service. 
 
 Sun- 
 days. 
 
 First Portion. 
 
 Second. 
 
 First Portion. 
 
 
 Second. 
 
 lGen.i. 
 
 John i. 1-18. 
 
 Isa. i. 1-20. 
 
 Acts 
 
 ii. 1-21. 
 
 2 
 
 ii. 
 
 Luke i. 26-56. 
 
 ii. 
 
 
 ii. 22-47. 
 
 8 
 
 iii. 
 
 Matt. i. 
 
 V. 1-17. 
 
 
 Vi. 
 
 4 
 
 vi. 
 
 T.nke ii. 1-20. 
 
 vi. 
 
 
 ix. 1-22, 
 
 5 
 
 vii. 
 
 Matt ii. 
 
 vii. 10-26. 
 
 
 xi. 1-18. 
 
 6 
 
 vUi. 
 
 John 1. 19-51. 
 
 ix. 
 
 
 xvi. 14-40. 
 
 7 
 
 ix. 1-19. 
 
 Matt. iv. 
 
 xi. 
 
 
 xxvi. 
 
 8 
 
 xii. 
 
 John iii. 1-21. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Rora. 
 
 i. 1-25. 
 
 9 
 
 xxii. 
 
 John iv. 1-26. 
 
 xxvi. 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 10 
 
 xxviii. 
 
 Luke iv. 16-37. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 11 
 
 xxxvii. l-li8. 
 
 Luke V. 1-26. 
 
 xxxviii. 
 
 
 vi. 
 
 12 
 
 xlii. 1-28. 
 
 John V. 19-47. 
 
 xl. 
 
 
 vU. 
 
 18 
 
 xliii. 
 
 Matt. xii. 1-21. 
 
 xli. 
 
 
 tiU. 
 
26 
 
 A TABLE. 
 
 Morning Sekvice. 
 
 Evening Sekvicb. 
 
 ^^^- First Portion. Second. 
 
 First Portion. 
 
 Second. 
 
 14Gen.xlv. 
 
 Matt. V. 1-20. 
 
 Isa. 
 
 xlii. 
 
 Eom. 
 
 xii. 
 
 15 xlvi. 1-7; 
 
 Matt. vi. 1-18. 
 
 
 xliii. 
 
 
 XV. 1-13. 
 
 28-34; and 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 xlvii. 1-12. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 xlviii. 
 
 Matt. vi. 19-34. 
 
 
 xliv. 
 
 ICor. 
 
 i. 1-25. 
 
 17 xlix. 
 
 Matt. vii. 
 
 
 xiv. 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 18 Ex. ii. 
 
 Matt. xi. 
 
 
 xlviii. 
 
 
 iii. 
 
 19 iii. 
 
 Matt. xii. 1-21. 
 
 
 xlix. 
 
 
 xii. 
 
 20 V. 
 
 Matt. xiii. 1-30. 
 
 
 li. 
 
 
 xiii. 
 
 21 xiL 1-86. 
 
 Matt. xiii. 33-58. 
 
 
 Iii. 
 
 
 xiv. 1-20. 
 
 22 xiv. 
 
 Matt. ix. 18-38. 
 
 
 lui. 
 
 
 XV. 1-20. 
 
 28 XV. 
 
 Matt. X. 1-20. 
 
 
 liv. 
 
 
 XV. 21-58. 
 
 24 xvi. 1-19. 
 
 Matt. xiv. 14-36. 
 
 
 Iv. 
 
 2 Cor. 
 
 iv. 
 
 25 xl. 17-38. 
 
 John vi. 35-59. 
 
 
 Mii. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 26 Deuti. 19-46. 
 
 Matt. xvi. 
 
 
 lix. 
 
 
 vi 
 
 27 iv. 28-40. 
 
 Matt. xvii. 1-21. 
 
 
 Ix. 
 
 Gal. 
 
 iii. 
 
 28 ix. 
 
 Matt, xviii. 1-20. 
 
 
 Ixi. 
 
 Eph. 
 
 i. 
 
 29 xviii. 
 
 Lulie X. 1-24. 
 
 
 Ixii. 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 80 xxxiii. 
 
 John vii. 14-31. 
 
 
 Ixiii. 
 
 
 iii. 
 
 81Josli.iii. 
 
 John vii. 32-52. 
 
 
 Ixiv. 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 82 vli. 
 
 Luke X. 25-42. 
 
 
 Ixv. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 88 xxiv. 1-25, 
 
 . Luke xi. 1-13. 
 
 Jer. 
 
 xiv. 7-22. 
 
 Philip 
 
 . ii. 1-18. 
 
 84Judg.ii. 
 
 Luke xii. 1-21. 
 
 
 xvii. 5-27. 
 
 Col. 
 
 iii. 
 
 85 Ruth i. 
 
 Luke xii. 22-48. 
 
 
 xxxi. 1-20. 
 
 IThes 
 
 . V. 
 
 861Sam.iii. 
 
 John ix. 1-25. 
 
 
 xxxiii. 1-16. 
 
 2 Thes 
 
 . ii. 
 
 87 xii. 
 
 John X. 1-18. 
 
 Lam. 
 
 iii. 22-59. 
 
 Heb. 
 
 i. 
 
 88 XV. i-28. 
 
 John xi. 19-46. 
 
 Ezek 
 
 . i. 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 89 xvi. 1-13. 
 
 John xii. 12-36. 
 
 
 X. 
 
 
 iii. 
 
 40 2S&m.vii. 
 
 John xiii. 
 
 
 xxxiii. 1-20. 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 41 xii. 1-23. 
 
 John xiv. 
 
 
 xxxiv. 11-31 
 
 _, 
 
 X. 
 
 42 1 Ki. iii. 1-15. 
 
 John XV. 
 
 
 xxxvii. 1-14 
 
 ;, 
 
 xi. 
 
 43 vi. 11-38. 
 
 John xvi. 
 
 
 xliii. 1-12. 
 
 
 xii. 
 
 44 ix. 1-14. 
 
 John xvii. 
 
 
 xlvii. 1-12. 
 
 James 
 
 ii. 
 
 45 xvii. 
 
 John xviii. 1-27. 
 
 Dan. 
 
 iii. 
 
 IPet. 
 
 ii. 
 
 46 xviii. 17-46.Luke xxiii. 1-25. 
 
 
 vi. 
 
 1 John 
 
 V. 
 
 47 xix. 
 
 Luke xxiii. 26-49. 
 
 
 ix. 
 
 Revel 
 
 , i. 
 
 '48 2Ki.ii. 
 
 John xix. 25-42. 
 
 Amos V. 1-15. 
 
 
 iii. 
 
 49 V. 1-19. 
 
 John XX. 1-18. 
 
 Mic. 
 
 iv. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 502Ch. xxxvi. l-21.Luke xxiv. 13-35. 
 
 
 vi. 
 
 
 xix. 
 
 61 Neh. viii. 
 
 John XX. 19-31. 
 
 Hab. 
 
 iii. 
 
 
 XX. 
 
 52 Job 1. 
 
 John xxi. 
 
 Zech 
 
 . xiii. 
 
 
 xxi. 
 
 53 xlii. 
 
 Acts i. 1-14. 
 
 Mai. 
 
 iii. 
 
 
 xxil. 
 
THE ._ ^'W- 
 
 ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE 
 
 FOR . ■ 
 
 THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
ALMIGHTY GOD, who of Thy 
 great mercy hast gathered us 
 into Thy visible Church : Grant that 
 ■we may not swerve from the purity 
 of Thy worship ; hut so honour Thee 
 both in spirit and in outward forms, 
 that Thy Name in us may be glorified, 
 and we be indeed the members of 
 Thine Only-begotten Son. And as 
 He hath sanctified Himself for our 
 Bakes, may we through His Spirit be 
 made partakers of the same sanctifi- 
 eation : Until at length He shall bring 
 us into His heavenly Kingdom, which 
 He hath purchased for us with His 
 own blood. Amen. 
 
 Calvin. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE 
 
 ON 
 
 THE MORNING OF THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 The congregation being assembled, let the Minister begin with one or more 
 
 of these sentences of -0 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 
 /^UR help is in the Name of the Lord, who made 
 
 ^^ heaven and earth. 
 
 Let the words of my mouthy and the meditation of 
 my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord, my 
 Strength and my Redeemer. 
 
 send out Thy light and Thy truth : let them lead 
 me : let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to 
 Thy tabernacles: then will I go unto the altar of 
 God, unto God my exceeding joy. 
 
 1 will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence 
 Cometh my help : my help cometh from the Lord, 
 which made heaven and earth. 
 
30 Order op Divine Service 
 
 Then let him rehearse the Ten Commandments of 
 THE LAW. 
 
 A ND God spake all these words, saying, I am the 
 -^^ Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of 
 the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 
 
 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 
 
 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 
 or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 
 or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water 
 under the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself to 
 them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a 
 jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon 
 the children unto the third and fourth generation of 
 them that hate me ; and showing mercy unto thousands 
 of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 
 
 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God 
 in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that 
 taketh His Name in vain. 
 
 Kemember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six 
 days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work : but the 
 seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it 
 thou shalt not dp any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy 
 daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor 
 
MORNIN^G OF THE LoRD's DaY. 31 
 
 thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates : 
 for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the 
 sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh 
 day : wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and 
 , hallowed it. 
 
 Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy days 
 may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God 
 giveth thee. 
 
 Thou shalt not kill. 
 
 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 Thou shalt not steal. 
 
 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neigh- 
 bour. ' 
 
 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou 
 shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man- 
 servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, 
 nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 
 
 TTEAR also the Summary of the Law by our Lord 
 -*-^ Jesus Christ. 
 
 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
 heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 
 This is the first and great commandment. And the 
 second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour 
 
32 Or DEE OF Divine Service. 
 
 as thyself. On these two commandments hang all 
 the Law and the Prophets. 
 
 RESPONSE, 
 
 To be said or sung by the congregation. 
 
 THE Lord our God be with us : let Him not leave 
 us nor forsake us : that He may incline our hearts 
 unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His 
 commandments. 
 
 invitat:ion. 
 
 Then let the Minister say: 
 
 IF we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
 and the truth is not in us. 
 And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. 
 
 Let us therefore draw near with an humble and 
 penitent heart, and acknowledge our sins before God. 
 
 confession of sin. 
 
 A LMIGHTY and Everlasting God ! we acknowledge 
 -^-*- and confess, before Thy holy Majesty, that we 
 are poor, miserable sinners, conceived and born in in- 
 iquity, prone to evil, unable of ourselves to do any 
 good ; and that by continual transgression of Thy holy 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 33 
 
 commandments, we have incurred Thy righteous sen- 
 tence of condemnation and death. But, Lord! we 
 do repent, and are sorry for our offences ; we condemn 
 ourselves and our iniquities, with true penitence, be- 
 seeching Thee by Thy grace to help our infirmities. 
 Have mercy upon us, God ! Father of mercies ! for 
 the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Blot out our sins; pardon all our transgressions; 
 and increase daily within us the gifts of Thy Holy 
 Spirit : to the end that we, acknowledging with all our 
 hearts our own unrighteousness, may be touched with 
 lively sorrow; and being dead unto sin, may bring 
 forth those fruits of righteousness and holiness, which 
 are well-pleasing unto Thee : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. 
 
 Here, and at the end of all other prayers, let the congregation say. Amen. 
 Then let the Minister add: 
 
 TTEAR now the gracious words of our Lord Jesus 
 -*--*- Christ, unto all that truly repent and turn to 
 Him: 
 
 God so loved the world, that He gave His Only- 
 Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should 
 
 not perish, but have everlasting life. 
 
 2* 
 
34 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 Come unto me, all je that labour, and are heavy 
 laden, and I will give you rest. 
 
 Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. 
 
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accep- 
 tation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 
 sinners. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you 
 all. Amen. 
 
 [Here may follow the reading of a selection from the Psalms, by the Minister 
 and congregation alternately, where such is the practice.] 
 
 Then the singing of a 
 
 PSALM, 
 
 or Hymn, of Praise and Thanksgiving. " The whole congregation should bo 
 famished with books, and ought to join in this part of service." Next the 
 
 out of the Old and New Testaments. "How large a portion shall be read at 
 once, is left to the wisdom of the Minister : but it is convenient that ordinarily 
 one chapter of each Testament be read at every meeting; and sometimes 
 more, when the chapters are short, or the coherence of matter requireth it." 
 [See the Table of Portions of Scripture to be read in Public Worship.] 
 " The Minister may, when he thinks it expedient, expound any part of what 
 is read: always having regard to the time, that neither reading, singing, pray- 
 ing, preaching, nor any other ordinance, be disproportionate the one to the 
 other, nor the whole rendered too short or too tedious." 
 
 Then let the Minister offer up a prayer of 
 SUPPLICATION AND THANKSGIVING. 
 
 11 /TOST Gracious God, our Heavenly Father ! in 
 -^^-*- whom alone dwelleth all the fulness of light and 
 
.Morning of the Lord's Day. 35 
 
 wisdom : Illumine our minds, we beseech Thee, by Thy 
 Holy Spirit, in the true understanding of Thy Word. 
 Give us grace to receive it with reverence and humility 
 unfeigned. May it lead us to put our whole trust in 
 Thee alone : and so to serve and honour Thee, that we 
 may glorify Thy Name, and edify our neighbours by 
 our godly example. And since Thou art pleased 
 to number us among Thy people, enable and dispose 
 us to pay Thee the love and homage that we owe, as 
 children to our Father, and as servants to our Lord. 
 
 Here may be introduced whatever special matter of prayer shall be thought 
 appropriate, whether extemporaneous, or selected from the occasional prayers; 
 concluding with a general thanksgiving. 
 
 TTONOUR and praise be given to Thee, Lord God 
 -^-^ Almighty, for all Thy mercy and loving-kindness 
 shown unto us Thy people. We bless Thee for the 
 goodness that freely chose us to salvation before the 
 world began. We thank Thee for creating us after 
 Thine own image; for redeeming us, when we were 
 lost, with the precious blood of Christ ; for sanctifying 
 us by Thy Spirit in the revelation and knowledge of 
 Thy Word ; for Thy help and succour in our necessities^ 
 Thy fatherly comfort in our tribulations ; for saving 
 
36 Order OF Divine Service. ^ 
 
 us in dangers of body and soul, and giving us so large 
 a time of repentance. These benefits, most Mer- 
 ciful Father! we acknowledge to have received of 
 Thy goodness alone ; and so do we implore Thy grace 
 continually to augment our thankfulness toward Thee, 
 kindling our hearts with pure and fervent love. Suffer 
 us not to receive Thy Word in vain ; but graciously 
 assist us always, in heart, word, and deed, to sanctify 
 and worship Thy holy Name : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Then let the Mioister and people say together 
 THE lord's prayer. 
 
 /^UR Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy 
 ^^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but de- 
 liver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and 
 the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen, 
 
 After this prayer, let a Hymn be sung before the 
 SERMON. 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 37 
 
 At the conclusion of wMch the following prayer, or to the like effect. 
 INTERCESSION. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father ! Thou 
 ■^^ hast promised to grant the requests of those 
 who approach Thee in the Name of Thy well-beloved 
 Son; by whom also we are taught to assemble 
 in His Name, assured that He will be present in 
 our midst, and, by His intercession, obtain for us 
 all things that we shall agree on earth to ask Thee. 
 Wherefore, most gracious Father ! trusting in Thy 
 blessed promise, we draw near unto Thee through 
 Him; and earnestly pray Thee, for His sake, that 
 Thou wilt of Thine infinite goodness freely pardon 
 our offences ; and so attract and elevate our thoughts 
 and desires unto Thyself, that we may with one 
 heart call upon Thee for those things which are 
 agreeable to Thy just and righteous will. o... .. 
 
 f\ GOD ! who hast bidden us pray for those in au- 
 -^ thority among men : Bless, we entreat Thee, all 
 rulers and magistrates, unto whom Thou hast commit- 
 ted the administration of justice ; and especially Thy 
 servants who bear rule in this land. *May it please 
 Thee daily to increase within them Thy good Spirit : 
 
38 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 that with true faith acknowledging Jesus Christ Thy 
 Son our Lord to be King of kings, and Lord of lords, 
 unto whom Thou hast given all power in heaven and 
 on earth, they may seek to honour Thee, and exalt Thy 
 rule in their dominions ; and so govern their subjects, 
 who are the creatures of Thy hand, and the sheep of 
 Thy pasture, that as well here as throughout all the 
 earth, Thy people being kept in peace and quiet, may 
 serve Thee in all godliness and honesty 
 
 A LMIGHT Y Saviour I We pray for all those whom 
 -^^ Thou hast appointed Pastors of Thy flock, and 
 intrusted with the care of souls, and the dispensing of 
 Thy holy Gospel. Guide them by Thy Spirit, that 
 they may be found faithful Ministers of Thy glory. 
 Let them ever hold this end in view : that all poor, 
 wandering sheep may be gathered in, and made subject 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ, the chief Shepherd and 
 >Bishop of souls ; to the end that they may daily ad- 
 vance and grow up in Him, unto all righteousness and 
 holiness. Deliver Thy Churches from corrupt and 
 false teachers, who seek only their own glory and 
 gain. 
 
M' 
 
 Morning of the Loed's Day. 39 
 
 OST gracious God, Father of mercies ! We pray for 
 all mankind : that as Thou wouldst be acknow- 
 ledged as the Saviour of the world, in the redemption 
 wrought by Thy Son Jesus Christ, all those who are 
 yet strangers to Him, in darkness and captivity to 
 ignorance and error, may be led by the enlightening 
 of Thy Spirit, and the preaching of Thy Gospel, into 
 the way of salvation : which is, to know Thee, the 
 only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast 
 sent. Grant also that those already visited with 
 Thy grace may continually grow in all goodness, 
 being enriched with Thy spiritual benedictions: to 
 the end that we all, with one heart and one mouth, 
 may worship Thee, giving homage and praise to Thy 
 Christ, our Lord, Lawgiver, and King. 
 
 r\ GOD of all Comfort ! We commend to Thee those 
 ^ whom Thou art pleased to chasten with any cross 
 or tribulation ; all people visited with pestilence, war, 
 or famine ; all persons afflicted with poverty, imprison- 
 ment, sickness, banishment, or other distress of body 
 or trouble of mind : that it may please Thee to show 
 them Thy fatherly kindness, chastening them for their 
 profit, to the end that with their whole hearts they 
 
40 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 may turn unto Thee, and being converted, receive 
 perfect consolation, and deliverance from all their woes. 
 
 A ND especially we commend to Thee our brethren, 
 -^■*- who, being persecuted by the enemies of Thy 
 Gospel, are deprived of the pasture of life, and the 
 privilege of publicly calling upon Thy Name : That 
 it may please Thee, Father of mercies ! to strengthen 
 them by the grace of Thy Spirit, so that they may 
 not faint, nor fall away, but may continue stedfast 
 in Thy sacred calling. Succour them, help them, 
 even as Thou knowest their need; console them in 
 their trials, preserve them in Thy safe keeping, against 
 the malice of their foes ; and augment in them all the 
 gifts of Thy Spirit : that as well in life as in death 
 they may glorify Thee. 
 
 "TIINALLY, God our Father ! Grant also unto us 
 -*- who are here assembled in the Name of Thy 
 Holy Child Jesus, to hear His Word [and to celebrate 
 His Supper] , that we may truly and unfeignedly ac- 
 knowledge our lost estate by nature, and the con- 
 demnation we deserve by disobedient lives. And 
 conscious that in us there dwelleth no good, and that 
 
Morning of the Lord s Day. 41 
 
 our flesh and blood cannot inherit Thy kingdom^ may 
 we with entire confidence and pure affection give 
 ourselves^ up to Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord 
 and only Saviour and Redeemer : that He, dwelling 
 in us, may mortify all remaining sin, renewing us for 
 that better life, where we shall perfectly praise and 
 magnify Thy great and holy Name, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 Then let the Minister and people say together 
 THE CREED. 
 
 T ORD, increase our faith. 
 
 -^ I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker 
 of heaven and earth : and in Jesus Christ His only 
 Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy 
 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary ; suffered under Pon- 
 tius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he de- 
 scended into hell;* the third day He rose again 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 dead. 1 
 believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church, 
 the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the 
 
 • t. c, Continued in the state of the dead, and under the power of death, 
 until the third day. 
 
42 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. 
 Amen. 
 
 Then let a Hymn be sung, after which (when the Lord's Supper is not to be 
 administered), the congregation shall be dismissed with the 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 nnHE Lord bless thee, and keep thee : 
 -^ The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and 
 be gracious unto thee : 
 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and 
 give thee peace. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be 
 •with you all. Amen. 
 
OTHER FORMS 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 MORNING SERVICE ON THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 THE BEATITUDES, 
 
 To be sometimes read in place of the Law. 
 
 /^UR Lord Jesus Christ hath said, Blessed are the 
 ^ poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be 
 comforted. 
 
 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the 
 earth. 
 
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness : for they shall be filled. 
 
 Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain 
 mercy. 
 
 Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see 
 God. 
 
 Blessed are the peace-makers : for they shall be 
 called the children of God. 
 
44 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 Blessed are they which are persecuted for right- 
 eousness' sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 RESPONSE. 
 
 r^ OD be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause 
 ^^ His face to shine upon us. 
 
 To be sometimes read in place of tlie Law. 
 
 TTEAR the words of our Lord Jesus Christ : 
 -*--'- Except your righteousness shall exceed the 
 righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in 
 no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is 
 merciful. 
 
 Love your enemies ; do good to them which hate 
 you ; bless them that curse you ; and pray for them 
 which despitefully use you. 
 
 When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know 
 what thy right hand doeth ; that thine alms may be in 
 secret : and thy Father, which seeth in secret. Him- 
 self shall reward thee openly. 
 
 And when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and 
 when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 45 
 
 which is in secret : and thy Father, which seeth in ae- 
 cret, shall reward thee openly. 
 
 When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy 
 face ; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto 
 thy Father which is in secret : and thy Father, which 
 seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 
 
 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 
 where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
 break through and steal : 
 
 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
 where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where 
 thieves do not break through nor steal. For where 
 your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 
 
 Take no thought, saying. What shall we eat? 
 or. What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall 
 we be clothed ? For your heavenly Father knoweth 
 that ye have need of all these things. 
 
 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His 
 righteousness ; and all these things shall be added 
 unto you. 
 
 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged ; condemn 
 not, and ye shall not be condemned ; forgive, and ye 
 shall be forgiven ; give, and it shall be given unto 
 you. 
 
46 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
 find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 
 
 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men 
 should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is 
 the Law and the Prophets. 
 
 RESPONSE. 
 
 npHOU art my portion, Lord : I have said that I 
 -■- would keep Thy words. 
 
 confession of sin. 
 
 I. 
 
 {Invitation :) After those days, saith the Lord, I 
 will put My laws into their mind, and write them in 
 their hearts : and their sins and their iniquities will 
 I remember no more. 
 
 Having therefore this promise, dearly beloved, let 
 us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of 
 faith, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help 
 in time of need. 
 
 M 
 
 OST Holy God ! who art of purer eyes than to 
 behold iniquity, who condemnest the ungodly. 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 47 
 
 impenitent, and unbelieving, but hast promised mercy 
 through Jesus Christ unto all that repent and believe 
 in Him : "We confess that we were conceived in sin, 
 and are by nature children of wrath, and have all 
 sinned and come short of Thy glory. Thou hast re- 
 vealed unto us Thy wonderful love in Christ, and of- 
 fered us pardon and salvation in Him : but we have 
 resisted Thy Spirit, and neglected so great salvation ; 
 we have run into temptations ; and the sin we should 
 have hated, we have committed in Thy sight, both se- 
 cretly and openly, ignorantly and carelessly, rashly 
 and presumptuously, against Thy promises. Thy mer- 
 cies, and Thy judgments. Our transgressions are 
 multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us ; 
 if Thou deal with us as we deserve. Thou wilt cast us 
 away from Thy sight. Have mercy upon us, God ! 
 be reconciled unto us, and let the blood of Jesus 
 Christ cleanse us from all our sins. Take us for Thy 
 children, and give us the Spirit of Thy Son. Oh ! 
 make Thy face to shine upon Thy servants ; save us 
 from our sins, and from the wrath to come ; make us 
 a peculiar people unto Thee, zealous of Thy praise. 
 We ask it in the Name of our blessed and only Re- 
 deemer. Amen. 
 
48 Order of Divine Service. * 
 
 II. 
 
 {Invitation :) If we confess our sins, He is faith- 
 ful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us 
 from all unrighteousness. 
 
 Let us therefore draw near with an humble and 
 penitent heart, and acknowledge our sins before God. 
 
 "TTfE are not worthy, Lord! to come into Thy 
 ' ^ presence, by reason of our manifold offences. 
 For we were conceived in sin, and in iniquity was 
 every one of us born. All the days of our life' we 
 have continued to follow the corruption of our fleshly 
 nature. If Thou, Lord, shouldst enter into judgment 
 with Thy servants, just occasion hast Thou to punish 
 not only this our mortal flesh, but our bodies and souls 
 for ever. But Thou, Lord ! art a merciful God, a 
 loving and favourable Father, to all that unfeignedly 
 turn unto Thee from their sins. Wherefore we most 
 humbly beseech Thee, for the sake of Christ, Thy 
 Son, show Thy mercy upon us. Forgive us all our 
 offences. Endue us with Thy Holy Spirit. Sanctify 
 us wholly ; and grant us Thy grace, that in all the 
 days of our lives hereafter, we may study to serve and 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 49 
 
 please Thee, in word and in deed, through our only 
 Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 III. 
 
 {Invitation ;) Beloved, the Scriptures declare. He 
 that covereth his sins shall not prosper ; but whoso 
 confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 
 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of 
 grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to 
 help in time of need. > - 
 
 A LMIGHTY, Everlasting God I Father of our 
 -^ Lord Jesus Christ! Creator of all things, 
 Judge of all men ! We acknowledge and lament in 
 Thy sight, that we were conceived and born in sin, and 
 are prone to evil, and unfit for any good. We have 
 broken Thy holy law, times and ways without num- 
 ber, by contempt of Thee and Thy Word, by distrust 
 of Thy grace, and vain confidence in ourselves and in 
 the world, by thoughts and works grievously ofiending 
 Thy holy Majesty, and sinning against our neighbour. 
 Thus have we buried ourselves more and more deeply 
 in spiritual death. But we do earnestly repent, and 
 
 are sorry for these our misdoings. Have mercy upon 
 
 3^ 
 
50 Ordee of Divine Service. 
 
 us, most Gracious and Merciful Father, for the sake 
 of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Forgive us all 
 that is past. Grant us and increase within us Thy 
 Holy Spirit : who shall teach us penitently to ac- 
 knowledge our sins, and being touched with lively sor- 
 row, by true faith to obtain remis&ion of them in 
 Christ. So that daily dying unto sin, in newness of 
 life we may serve and please Thee, to the glory of 
 Thy Name and the edification of Thy Church : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 T. 
 
 11 /TOST Glorious God! Accept, through Thy be- 
 -^'-*- loved Son, our thanksgiving for Thine unspeak- 
 able love and goodness. Thou art the Father of 
 Mercies and the God of all Consolation, full of com- 
 passion, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. 
 For Thy glory Thou didst create us after Thine 
 image ; and when we forsook Thee, Thou didst not 
 leave us in the hands of death, but didst so love the 
 world as to give Thy Son to be our Saviour. We 
 thank Thee for His death, that saveth us from death. 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 61" 
 
 and for His life, that opened unto us the way to life. We 
 thank Thee for the new and better Covenant ; for Thy 
 great and precious promises ; that Thou hast given us 
 eternal life in Christ ; that we have the clear and sure 
 revelation of Thy will in the Holy Scriptures ; that 
 Thou hast founded Thy Church upon Apostles and 
 Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner- 
 stone. We thank Thee that Thou hast communicated 
 to Thy ministers the Word of reconciliation ; that by 
 them Thou hast opened our eyes, and turned us from 
 darkness unto light ; that Thou hast adopted us to be 
 Thy sons, and joint-heirs with Christ, and made us 
 His members, and given us His Spirit. All Thy 
 paths, Lord ! are mercy and truth to such as keep 
 Thy covenant. Oh ! continue Thy loving-kindness 
 unto us, that we may rejoice and be glad in Thee all 
 our days. Guide us by Thy counsel, and afterward 
 receive us to Thy glory : where, with all the blessed 
 host of heaven, we may behold, admire, and perfectly 
 and joyfully praise Thee, our most glorious Creator, 
 Redeemer, and Sanctifier, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
52 Okder of Divine Service. 
 
 II. 
 r\ LORD our God, we lift up our hearts unto Thee, 
 ^ in grateful acknowledgment of all Thy mercies. 
 We praise Thee as the source of all blessing, full of 
 compassion and goodness unto the children of men. 
 We thank Thee that Thou hast formed us reasonable 
 creatures, capable of knowing and serving Thee. We 
 bless Thee for Thy preserving care over us, and for 
 all our temporal enjoyments. Above all we praise 
 Thee, most Merciful Father, for Thy spiritual 
 blessings in Christ Jesus ; for the Holy Spirit and His 
 influences ; for the Covenant of Grace and all the 
 precious promises thereof; for Thy Word, for the 
 Gospel ministry, and all Thine ordmances. For these 
 benefits we bless Thee, God, the Father, the Son, 
 and the Holy Ghost; our Creator, Redeemer, and 
 Sanctifier. And now, Lord, we commit ourselves to 
 Thee ; we hope in Thy mercies, and we wait for Thy 
 salvation. Accept our worship, and forgive our sins, 
 in the Name of our crucified and exalted Redeemer, 
 Jesus Christ : unto whom, with the Father and the 
 Spirit of all Grace, be ascribed glory, honour, domin- 
 ion, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 53 
 
 -\ . 
 
 HI. 
 r\ GOD ! Thy glory is great in all the Churches, 
 ^^ and the praises of Thy Name resound in the as- 
 semblies»of Thy saints. We thy servants would hum- 
 ble ourselves before Thee. "We worship Thine infinite 
 Majesty. We celebrate Thy wisdom, power, and 
 goodness, that shine forth in the works of creation 
 and redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord. We 
 bless Thee for all temporal and spiritual good that we 
 continually receive at Thy bountiful hands. But 
 more especially, with all Thy people assembled this 
 day, we praise Thee that Thou didst send into the 
 world Thy Son to save us ; and having delivered Him 
 up for our offences, didst raise Him again for our 
 justification ; and through His glorious resurrection 
 hast given us the blessed hope of everlasting life. 
 Lord ! may these our thanksgivings come up with 
 acceptance before Thy throne. Make us worthy at 
 the last day to have part in the resurrection of the 
 lust, and the glory of the kingdom of heaven : whither 
 Jesus the Forerunner is for us entered ; where now 
 He lives and reigns, and is worshipped and glorified, 
 with Thee and the Hply Ghost, God blessed for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
54 Order of Divine Service, 
 intercession. 
 
 ' -if, ■ .1. 
 
 A LMIGHTY and most merciful Father,, who by 
 -^^ Thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make 
 our prayers and supplications for all men : We 
 beseech Thee to lead such as are yet ignorant, from 
 error to the pure understanding of Thy truth ; so that 
 all mankind may learn, with one consent, to worship 
 Thee their only God and Saviour. Give grace to all 
 pastors and ministers of Thy holy Word, unto whom 
 Thou hast committed the charge of Thy chosen 
 people, that they may both in life and doctrine be 
 found faithful, setting only before them Thy glory ; 
 and that by them all poor sheep that wander and go 
 astray may be gathered and brought home to Thy fold. 
 And because the hearts of rulers are in Thy hand, 
 we beseech Thee to guide and govern all those unto 
 whom Thou hast committed the sword. Especially, 
 Lord I according to our bounden duty, we entreat 
 Thee to bless those in authority in this land. Let 
 Thy fatherly favour so preserve them, let Thy Holy 
 Spirit so direct their minds, that they, may execute 
 their office to the maintenance of pure religion, and 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 55 
 
 the punishment of evil-doers, according to the precise 
 rule of Th J holy Word. 
 
 And for that we be all members of the mystical 
 Body of Christ Jesus, we make our requests unto 
 Thee, heavenly Father ! for such as are afflicted 
 with any cross or tribulation, as war, plague, famine, 
 poverty, sickness, or any other kind of Thy chastise- 
 ments, whether it be grief of body or unquietness of 
 mind : that it may please Thee to give them patience 
 and constancy, until Thou send them full deliverance 
 out of all their woes. 
 
 And finally, Lord ! we most humbly beseech 
 Thee to show Thy great mercies upon those our breth- 
 ren, who may be persecuted, cast into prison, and 
 condemned to death, for the testimony of Thy Truth : 
 and though they be utterly destitute of all man's aid, 
 yet let Thy sweet comfort never depart from them ; 
 but so inflame their hearts with Thy Holy Spirit, 
 that they may boldly and cheerfully abide such trial 
 as Thy godly wisdom shall appoint. And may all 
 Thine afflicted people so serve and follow Thee, that 
 at length, as well by their death as by their life, the 
 kingdom of Thy Son Jesus Christ may increase 
 and shine throughout the world. 
 
56 Order OF Divine Service. 
 
 These graces, heavenly Father ! and all others 
 that Thou knowest to be expedient for us, and for all 
 mankind, we ask in the Name of our Sovereign Mas- 
 ter, Christ Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son : and for His 
 sake also, we beseech Thee to grant us perfect con- 
 tinuance in the lively faith of Thy Universal Church, 
 whereof we make our confession, saying : 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
 II. 
 r\ MOST Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity! 
 ^ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! Three Persons 
 and one God ; our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier ; 
 our Lord, our Governor, and Father ! hear us, and 
 have mercy upon us ! 
 
 Lord our Saviour I God and man ; Who, having 
 assumed our nature, by Thy sufferings, death, and 
 burial, wast made a ransom to take away the sins of 
 the world ; who, being raised from the dead, ascended 
 and glorified, art made Head over all things to the 
 Church : We beseech Thee to hear us, and have 
 mercy upon us. Make sure to us our calling and 
 election, our unfeigned faith and repentance ,• that 
 being justified and made the sons of God, we may 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 57 
 
 liave peace with Him as our reconciled God and 
 Father: 
 
 Let Thy Holy Spirit sanctify us, and dwell in our 
 hearts, and cause us to deny ourselves, and to give 
 ourselves entirely to Thee. 
 
 As the world was created for Thy glory, let Thy 
 Name be glorified throughout the world. Let self- 
 love, and pride, and vain-glory be destroyed. Make 
 us to love Thee, fear Thee, and trust in Thee with all 
 our hearts, and live to Thee. 
 
 Let all mankind subject themselves to Thee, their 
 King. Let the kingdoms of the world become the 
 kingdoms of the Lord, and of His Christ. Let 
 atheists, idolaters, Mohammedans, Jews, and all un- 
 godly people be converted. Send forth meet labourers 
 into the harvest, preserve and bless them in their 
 work, and let the Gospel be preached throughout all 
 the world. 
 
 Unite all Christians in Jesus Christ, the true and 
 only universal Head, in the true Christian and 
 Catholic faith and love. Cast out heresies and cor- 
 ruptions, heal divisions, let the strong receive the 
 weak, and bear their infirmities. 
 
 Have mercy upon our rulers ; let them fear Thee, 
 3* 
 
58 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 and be ensamples of piety and temperance, haters of 
 injustice, covetousness, and pride, and defenders of the 
 innocent. Let every soul be subject to the higher 
 powers, and not resist ; let them obey all in authority, 
 not only for wrath, but for conscience' sake. 
 
 Give all Thy Churches able, holy, faithful Pastors, 
 that may soundly and diligently preach Thy Word, 
 and guide Thy flock in ways of righteousness and 
 peace. 
 
 Keep us from atheism, idolatry, and rebellion 
 against Thee ; from infidelity, ungodliness, and sen- 
 suality ; from security, presumption, and despair. 
 
 Keep us from murder and violence, and hurtful, 
 passionate words and actions. Keep us from all un- 
 cleanness ; from injustice, false witness, and deceit ; 
 from slander and uncharitable censure. Keep us from 
 coveting any thing that is our neighbour's. Cause 
 us to love Christ in His members with a pure and 
 fervent love ; to love our enemies, and to do good to 
 all. 
 
 Give us needful sustenance, and contentment there- 
 with. Bless our labours, and the fruits of the earth 
 in their season ; and send us such temperate weather 
 as may tend thereunto. Deliver all Thy servants 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 59 
 
 from sickness, want, or other distresses, that would 
 hinder them from Thy service. When we sin, restore 
 us by true repentance and faith in Christ. May we 
 loathe ourselves for our transgressions ; forgive them 
 all, and accept us in Thy well-beloved Son. Save us 
 from the punishment that our sins deserve. Convert 
 our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers. Cause us 
 to watch against temptation, to resist and overcome 
 the world, the flesh, and the devil. Defend us and 
 all Thy people from the enmity and rage of Satan ; 
 and preserve us to Thy heavenly Kingdom. 
 
 For Thou only art the Universal King ; all power 
 is Thine in heaven and in earth ; of Thee, and 
 through Thee, and to Thee are all things ; and the 
 glory shall be Thine for ever. Amen. 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
 ^ III. 
 f\ LORD our God, who hast commanded us to make 
 ^ prayers and supplications for all men : We pre- 
 sent ourselves before Thy throne to offer up our re- 
 quests in behalf of all classes and conditions of our 
 race. Thou, Lord, who art the Maker and Father of 
 mankind, we beseech Thee for the peace of the whole 
 
60 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 world, and the salvation of all people. Deliver from 
 their blindness the heathen, Mohammedans, and all 
 unbelievers ; and vouchsafe, according to Thj promises, 
 to procure the conversion of Thine ancient people, the 
 Jews : that all nations may know and worship Thee, 
 and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. King of 
 kings, Lord of lords, we pray Thee for all rulers and 
 other persons in offices of dignity and trust. Give the 
 knowledge of Thyself to such as have it not : and im- 
 part Thy grace to them that know Thee, that they 
 may use their authority to the furtherance of Thy 
 glory. Especially we pray for those who are set in 
 authority over us. Grant them long life and pros- 
 perity, wise counsel and good success. Bless the 
 people of this commonwealth in all their interests, 
 civil and religious. Diffuse among them the spirit of 
 wisdom and understanding, the spirit of knowledge 
 and the fear of Thy Name : that order and harmony 
 may prevail, and that we may lead a quiet and peace- 
 able hfe in all godliness and honesty. 
 
 We present to thee, Lord, our prayers for the 
 necessities of Thy holy Church spread abroad through- 
 out the earth. Be pleased to protect, enlarge, and 
 ^ eanctify it more and more. Deliver the churches that 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 61 
 
 are persecuted. Remove the errors, scandals, and di- 
 visions that distract Christendom, and unite all Chris- 
 tians by the bonds of truth, of godliness, and of peace. 
 Grant especially Thy blessings upon the churches of 
 this land, and the churches in this place : bless the 
 famihes composing them : cause righteousness, and all 
 holy virtues, to flourish in our midst. - 
 
 We pray Thee, God, for all the pastors of Thy 
 Church ; sanctify them, enlighten them, and aug- 
 ment in them the gifts needful for the ^promotion of 
 Thy kingdom, and the salvation of souls intrusted to 
 their care. Raise up everywhere, and especially 
 among ourselves, faithful, zealous, humble ministers, 
 lovers of truth and of peace. And to this end 'impart 
 Thy grace and Thy fear unto all that are preparing to 
 serve Thee in the ministry of Thy Word. 
 
 God of Mercy, have pity on the nations that are 
 afflicted by war, or any other scourge ; and upon all 
 persons in any kind of suffering. We commend to 
 Thy goodness the widows, the orphans, the poor, the 
 strangers, the friendless ; those that are journeying ; 
 those that endure persecution for Thy Gospel; all 
 persons distressed or diseased in mind; the infirm, 
 the sick, the dying ; and especially our brethren who 
 
62 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 are members of this church [and who desire our 
 prayers]. Assist them in their several necessities, 
 whether of body or Of soul ; and give them a happy 
 issue out of all their troubles. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee for all Thy children : for all 
 that seek Thee in sincerity of heart, and labour to 
 promote their own salvation and that of : their fellow- 
 men ; for all that are engaged in works of piety, and 
 enterprises for the advancement of Thy Kingdom. 
 Confirm those that are weak in the Faith ; and to all 
 that are yet in their sins, under condemnation of Thy 
 law, give true repentance and conversion unto Thee. 
 
 Look favourably upon this community. Grant us 
 always* that which may be needful for our sustenance ; 
 and enable us to serve Thee with sobriety, thankful- 
 ness, and love. Deliver us from our sins ; preserve 
 us from wicked thoughts, from unbelief, hypocrisy, 
 and whatever is opposed to Thy holy will. Merci- 
 f\il God, prevent us ever by Thy grace, and further 
 us continually by Thy Spirit ; put in our minds right 
 purposes and pure desires, perfect submission to Thy 
 providence, fervent love to Thee, and charity that 
 shall incline us to love and edify one another. De- 
 tach our hearts from this world of vanity, and help us 
 
Morning of the Lord's Day. 63 
 
 to raise them unto heaven, where our treasure is. So 
 that living in watchfulness and prayer, we may spend 
 our days in Thy peace, looking for the glorious ap- 
 pearing of our Lord: that when He shall come to 
 judge the world, we may stand in Thy presence with- 
 out shame. 
 
 Give ear, Lord, unto the voice of those who have 
 now offered up their prayers unto Thee : reject not the 
 unworthy supplications of Thy servants ; but grant us 
 the blessings we have asked, and all other things ne- 
 cessary for us, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord : 
 unto whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be 
 honour and praise for ever. Amen. 
 
 Lord ! increase our faith. 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE 
 
 ON 
 
 THE EVENING OF THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 The congregation being assembled, let the Minister begin with the reading 
 of one of these passages of Scripture, or some other, containing a promise of 
 the Divine presence. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 rpHUS saith the High and Lofty One that in- 
 -■- habiteth eternity, whose name is Holy : I dwell 
 in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a 
 contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the 
 humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 
 
 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith 
 God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ; on my 
 servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out, in 
 those days,^of my Spirit : and it shall come to pass, 
 that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, 
 shall be saved. 
 
 Where two or three are gathered together in My 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 65 
 
 name, saith the Lord, there am I in the midst of 
 them; and whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, 
 that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in 
 the Son. 
 
 Christ is not entered into the holy places made 
 with hands, which are the figures of the true ; but 
 into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of 
 God for us. 
 
 Then let Mm add this 
 INVITATION. 
 
 TTAVING therefore this promise, dearly beloved, 
 -'-'- let us draw near with a true heart, in full 
 assurance of £iith, and make known our requests 
 unto God. 
 
 Or this: 
 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of 
 grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to 
 help in time of need. 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God! who hast promised to be prc- 
 -^ sent with Thy people, and to grant their re- 
 quests in the Name of Thy well-beloved Son, regard 
 us, we humbly beseech Thee, with Thy favour, and for 
 
66 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 the sake of Him who is our onlj Saviour and Me- 
 diator with Thee, fulfil Thy promise in our behalf; 
 that our thoughts being lifted up, and our desires 
 drawn forth unto Thee, we may render Thee acceptable 
 worship : Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Then let the Minister ajid people say together 
 THE lord's prayer. 
 
 r\UR FATHER which art in heaven. Hallowed 
 ^ be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will 
 be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us day 
 by day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, 
 as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is 
 the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 [Here may follow the reading of a selection from the Psalms, by the Minister 
 and congregation alternately, where such is the practice.] 
 
 Then the singing of a . , 
 
 PSALM, 
 
 Or Hymn, of Praise and Thanksgiving. 
 Next the 
 
 READING OF HOLY SCRIPTURE 
 
 out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 [See the Tahle of Portions of Scripture to be read in Public Worship.] 
 Then the following prayer: 
 
Evening of the Loed's Day. 67 
 
 the litany. 
 r\ GOD the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon 
 ^ us. 
 
 God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy 
 upon us. 
 
 God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us. 
 
 Be merciful unto us, and spare us, Lord. 
 
 Be merciful unto us, and deliver us, Lord. 
 
 Erom all sin, from all error, from all evil, from the 
 wiles of the devil : deliver us, Lord. 
 
 From dying suddenly and unprepared ; from pesti- 
 lence and famine, from war and slaughter, from sedi- 
 tion and conspiracy, from lightning and tempest, 
 from everlasting death : deliver us, Lord. 
 
 By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, by Thy 
 holy Nativity, by Thy Baptism, Fasting, and Tempta- 
 tions : deliver us, Lord. 
 
 By Thine Agony and bloody Sweat, by Thy Cross 
 and Passion, by Thy Death and Burial, by Thy 
 Resurrection and Ascension, by the coming of the 
 Holy Ghost the Comforter : deliver us, Lord. 
 
 In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our 
 felicity, in the hour of death, in the day of judgment : 
 deliver us, Lord. 
 
68 Ordek of Divine Service. 
 
 We sinners beseech Thee to hear us : 
 
 That it may please Thee to, rule and govern Thy 
 holy Church Universal. 
 
 That it may please Thee to preserve in soundness 
 of word and holiness of life, all pastors and ministers 
 of Thy Church. 
 
 That it may please Thee to remove all sects and 
 scandals. 
 
 That it may please Thee to bring back into the 
 way of truth all such as wander and have been led 
 astray. 
 
 That it may please Thee to crush Satan under our 
 feet. 
 
 That it may please Thee to send forth faithful 
 labourers into Thy harvest. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant the increase of 
 Thy Word and the fruit of Thy Spirit unto all that 
 hear. 
 
 That it may please Thee to raise the fallen, and 
 strengthen those that stand. 
 
 That it may please Thee to console the weak-heart- 
 ed, and succour the tempted. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give peace and concord 
 unto all rulers and governors. 
 
Evening of the Lokd's Day. 69 
 
 That it may please Thee to guide and protect our 
 chief magistrate, with all his counsellors. 
 
 That it may please Thee to bless and preserve our 
 people, and all in authority among us. 
 
 That it may please Thee to look upon the afflicted, 
 and those that are in danger ; and to comfort them. 
 
 That it may please Thee to succour all women in 
 the perils of child-birth. 
 
 That it may please Thee to cherish and protect 
 young children, and sick persons. 
 
 That it may please Thee to defend and suitably 
 provide for the orphans and widows. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant freedom unto 
 captives. 
 
 That it may please Thee to have mercy upon all men. 
 
 That it may please Thee to forgive our enemies, 
 persecutors, and slanderers, and to convert them. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give and preserve the 
 fruits of the earth. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant all these our 
 requests. 
 
 We beseech Thee to hear us. 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the 
 world, have mercy upon us. 
 
70 -Order or Divine Service. 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the 
 world, grant us peace. ' ; 
 
 Lord, deal not with us according to our sins, neither 
 reward us according to our iniquities. 
 
 O Ood, Merciful Father, who despisest not the 
 groans of the contrite, nor rejectest the desire of the 
 sorrowful: Be favourable to our prayers, which, in 
 our afflictions that continually oppress us, we pour 
 out before Th^e; and graciously hear them; that 
 those things which the craft of the devil or of man 
 worketh against us, may be brought to nought, and 
 by the counsel of Thy goodness be scattered ; that 
 being hurt by no persecutions, we may ever give 
 thanks unto Thee in Thy holy Church : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 God, from whom all holy desires, all good coun- 
 sels, and all just works proceed : Give unto Thy serv- 
 ants that peace which the world can not give ; that 
 both our hearts may be set to obey Thy command- 
 ments, and also that we, being defended from the fear 
 of our enemies, may, by Thy protection, pass our 
 time in rest and quietness : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 71 
 
 After this prayer, let a hymn be sung before the 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 At the conclusion of which, the following prayer, or the like in effect. 
 
 Cl^OSINa PRAYER. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, we humbly beseech Thee that 
 ■^■*- the good seed of Thj Word, now sown among 
 us, may take such deep root, that neither the burning 
 heat of affliction may cause it to wither, nor the cares 
 of this world choke it, but that, as seed sown in good 
 ground, it may bring forth fruit to Thy praise. And 
 because for our infirmity we can do nothing without 
 Thy help, and Thou knowest how many and sore 
 temptations surround us : Let Thy strength, Lord, 
 sustain our weakness ; let Thy grace defend us from 
 all assaults of evil ; increase our faith, that we may 
 never swerve from Thy commandment ; augment in 
 us hope and love ; and may no hardness of heart, no 
 hypocrisy, no lusts of the flesh, no enticements of the 
 world, cause us to wander from Thy ways. Grant 
 this, Lord, for the sake of our Advocate and Re- 
 deemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Tlien let a hymn be sung, after which the congregation shall bo dismissed 
 with the 
 
72 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 rpHE grace of the Lord Jesus Christj and the love 
 -■- of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
 »- 
 
OTHER FORMS 
 
 EVENING SERVICE ON THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 I. 
 
 r\ ETERNAL, Almighty, and most Gracious God ! 
 ^^ Heaven is Thy throne, and earth is Thy foot- 
 stool : holy and reverend is Thy Name. We sinners 
 are bold, through our blessed Mediator, to present 
 ourselves and our supplications before Thee. Receive 
 us graciously, help us by Thy Spirit, let Thy fear be 
 upon us, let Thy Word come unto us in power, and be 
 received in" love ; cause us to be fervent in prayer, 
 and joyful in Thy praises, and to serve Thee this day 
 without distraction, that we may find it good for us to 
 draw near unto Thee : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 II. 
 Tj^TERNAL and Invisible God I Infinite in power, 
 -'-^ wisdom, and goodness, dwelling in the light 
 

 
 74 Ordek of Divine Service. ^i^^ 
 
 which no man can approach, yet dwelling also with 
 the humble and contrite, and taking pleasure in Thy 
 people : Thou hast consecrated for us a new and liv- 
 ing way, that with boldness we may enter into the 
 holiest by the blood of Jesus. Behold us at Thy 
 footstool. Despise us not, though unworthy ; put 
 Thy fear into our hearts, that with reverence we may 
 serve Thee ; write Thy laws in our minds, and let us 
 all be taught of Thee. So may the words of our 
 mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable 
 in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 Instead of the Litany. 
 I. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, Most Merciful Father ! We do 
 -^^ not present ourselves before Thy Majesty trust- 
 ing in our own merits or worthiness, but in Thy mani- 
 fold mercies. Thou hast promised to hear our prayers 
 and to grant our requests, in the Name of Thy beloved 
 Son Jesus Christ our Lord : Who also hath com- 
 manded us to assemble in His Name, with full assur- 
 ance that He will be with us, and, as our Mediator 
 
1^ 
 
 ** Evening of the Lord's Day. 75 
 
 and Advocate, obtain all things expedient for our 
 good. Therefore we beseech Thee, Most Merciful 
 Father ! turn Thy loving countenance toward us ; im- 
 pute not unto us our manifold offences, whereby we 
 justly deserve Thy wrath ; but rather receive us to 
 Thy mercy for Jesus Christ's sake. Accept His 
 death and passion for all our trespasses. In Him 
 alone Thou art well-pleased ; and through Him Thou 
 canst not be offended with us. And having of Thy 
 compassion chosen us to be heirs with Him of that im- 
 mortal Kingdom prepared for us before the foundation 
 of the world : We beseech Thee to increase our faith 
 and knowledge, and to lighten our hearts with Thine 
 Holy Spirit ; that we may live in godly conversation, 
 and integrity of life. 
 
 And because Thou hast bidden us pray for one an- 
 other, we make request, Lord ! not only for our- 
 selves, and others whom Thou hast called to the ap- 
 prehension of Thy will, but for all people and nations 
 of the world. As they know by Thy wonderful works 
 that Thou art God over all, so by Thy Holy Spirit 
 may they learn to believe in Christ, their only Sa- 
 viour and Redeemer. But since they cannot believe 
 except they hear, nor hear but by preaching, and 
 
76 Ordek of Divine Service. 
 
 none can preach except they be sent : Raise up, 
 Lord ! faithful distributors of Thy Mysteries, who, 
 setting aside all worldly considerations, may both in 
 their life and in their doctrine seek only Thy glory. 
 Maintain Thy cause against all opposition ; and 
 strengthen all Thy servants : let not our sins and 
 wickedness prove a hindrance to the spread of Thy 
 Truth ; but speedily, Lord ! regard the afflictions 
 of Thy Church ; and make haste to save us. Arise, 
 Lord ! and let Thine enemies be ashamed ; let them 
 flee from Thy presence that hate Thy holy Name ; let 
 the groans of the prisoners come up before Thee ; and 
 preserve by Thy power such as are appointed to die. 
 Let not Thy foes triumph to the end ; but let them 
 understand that against Thee they fight ; behold and 
 defend the vine that Thy right hand hath planted ; 
 and let all nations see the glory of Thine Anointed. 
 Let Thy mighty hand and outstretched arm be ever 
 our defence ; Thy mercy and loving-kindness in Christ 
 our salvation ; Thy true and holy Word our instruc- 
 tion ; Thy grace and Holy Spirit our consolation, unto 
 the end. Grant these our requests, Father ! and 
 all other things needful for us and Thy whole Church; 
 according to Thy promise in Jesus Christ our Lord : 
 
21 
 
 Evening of the Lords Day. 77 
 
 unto whonij with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all 
 honour and glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 A LMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father ! We in- 
 ■^^ voke Thy Name, and beseech Thee to turn 
 away Thy face from our manifold sins and transgres- 
 sions, whereby we have not ceased to draw Thine an- 
 ger upon us. And because we are most unworthy to 
 appear before Thy sovereign Majesty, be pleased to 
 regard us only in Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ ; 
 accepting the merits of His death in satisfaction for all 
 our offences, that by His atonement we may become 
 well-pleasing in Thy sight. Pour upon us Thy Holy 
 Spirit, illuminating our minds in the true understand- 
 ing of Thy Word ; and bestow upon us grace, that re- 
 ceiving Thy Truth into our hearts with humility and 
 fear, we may be led to put all our trust in Thee only, 
 and live in Thy service and worship, to the glory of 
 Thy holy Name. These benefits we ask, not only for 
 ourselves, but also for all people and nations on the 
 earth. Bring back, Lord, into the right way of 
 salvation, all poor captives of ignorance and false doc- 
 trine. Raise up true and faithful ministers of the 
 
78 Order of DivineService. 
 
 Wordj who shall seek not their own ease and ambition, 
 but the exaltation of Th j Name, and the safety of Thy 
 flock. Remove and scatter all sects, heresies, and 
 errors, which are the nurseries of strife and dissension 
 in Thy Church ; and may all Thy people be of one 
 mind, and live in brotherly union. Rule Thou and 
 govern with Thy Spirit all kings, princes, and magis- 
 trates, who hold the administration of the sword ; that 
 their dominion may be exercised, not in avarice, cruelty, 
 and oppression, or any other evil and inordinate affection, 
 but in all justice and uprightness. May we also, liv- 
 ing under them, pay them due honour and reverence, 
 and lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and 
 honesty. Comfort all distressed and afflicted persons, 
 whom Thou dost visit with any kind of cross or tribu- 
 lation ; the nations whom Thou dost chasten with war, 
 pestilence, famine, or any other plague ; and all men 
 whom Thou dost afflict with poverty, imprisonment, 
 sickness, banishment, or any other distress of body or 
 infirmity of mind. Grant them firm patience under 
 their trials, and speedily bring them out of their afflic- 
 tions. Confirm and strengthen all Thy faithful chil- 
 dren, who in any place are suffering persecution for 
 the testimony of Thy heavenly Truth. Give them 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 79 
 
 stedfast constancy ; console them ; suffer not the rage 
 of rapacious wolves to prevail against them ; but en- 
 able them to glorify Thy Name, as well in life as in 
 death. Preserve and defend all Thy Churches which 
 at this day are labouring and fighting for the testimony 
 of Thy blessed Name. Defeat and overturn all the 
 counsels of their enemies, their machinations and de- 
 vices. So may Thy glory be revealed, and the King- 
 dom of our Lord Jesus Christ more and more in- 
 creased and promoted. All this we ask of Thee in the 
 name of our Sovereign Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 
 Amen. 
 
 III. 
 
 (Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer.) 
 
 /^UR Father which art in heaven ! We draw near to 
 ^ Thee with assured confidence through Thy be- 
 loved Son ; earnestly beseeching that Thy great and 
 holy Name may be glorified in every place. Extend Thy 
 dominion over all the earth : leading Thy people by 
 the sceptre of Thy Word, and the power of Thy 
 Spirit : and confounding all Thine enemies by the 
 might of Thy justice and Thy truth. Be pleased to 
 rule over and conduct us ; that we may daily learn 
 more and more to submit ourselves to Thy Majesty, as 
 
80 Oeder of Divine Service. 
 
 our Governor and King. Destroy every power and 
 principality opposed to Thy glory, until Thy Kingdom 
 be perfectly established, and Thou appear for judg- 
 ment in the person of Thy Son. Great God ! make 
 us able and willing to render Thee true and perfect 
 obedience on earth, as do Thy heavenly angels, that 
 seek only to execute Thy commands. Thus may Thy 
 will without contradiction be fulfilled ; and all men 
 submit to Thee, renouncing their own purposes, and 
 all the affections of the flesh. 
 
 Grant also, good Lord ! that we, walking in the 
 fear and love of Thy holy Name, may through Thy 
 goodness be nourished day by day ; and receive at Thy 
 hands all things expedient and necessary for us, that 
 we may use Thy gifts in quietness and peace. And 
 observing Thy care of us, may we better acknowledge 
 Thee to be our Father, expect all benefits at Thy 
 hands only ; and withdrawing our confidence from 
 creatures, place it wholly in Thy favour and Thy 
 love. . - - 
 
 And l>ecause in this mortal life we are prone to 
 wander from the right way, and do continually come 
 short of our duty : We beseech Thee, Lord ! forgive 
 our faults, by which we have deserved Thy chastise- 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 81 
 
 ment; deliver us from that everlasting death unto 
 which we are justly exposed ; impute not unto us the 
 evil that dwells within us : and even so may we, ac- 
 cording to Thj command, forgive the trespasses of 
 others, and do good unto our enemies, rather than 
 seek their hurt. 
 
 Finally, Lord ! Vouchsafe to uphold us hence- 
 forth by Thy power, lest we fall through the weakness 
 of the flesh. And since of ourselves we are frail, and 
 beset with foes, the world, the flesh, and the devil, 
 that cease not to war against us : Be pleased to fortify 
 us with Thy Spirit, and arm us with Thy grace ; may 
 we withstand all manner of temptation, and gain full 
 victory in our spiritual warfare ; so that at last we 
 may triumph eternally in Thy Kingdom, with our 
 Sovereign Head and Captain, Jesus Christ Thy Son. 
 Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 r\ LORD our God, Father Everlasting and full of 
 
 ^^ compassion ! Hear from the heavens our prayers 
 
 and supplications, which we pour forth before Thy 
 
 throne. In the multitude of Thy mercies Thou hast 
 
 not only created us reasonable creatures, but also of 
 
 Thine inestimable goodness Thou hast sent the great 
 
 4* 
 
82 Oeder of Divine Service. 
 
 Angel of the Covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, to re- 
 deem us. Bj Him Thy wrath is taken away, the 
 Law is satisfied, the power of death, of hell, and of 
 Satan is broken. Behold, when we lay in the shadow 
 of death, in fearful darkness of the soul. Thou madest 
 the light of Thy Gospel to shine upon us, showing us 
 the way to life everlasting. With these spiritual 
 benefits, it hath pleased Thee to continue temporal 
 blessings. Thou hast been our hope, our fortress, ajid 
 our God. Thou hast covered us with Thy feathers, 
 and under Thy wings Thou hast made us to trust. 
 Grant us, Merciful Father, thankful hearts for 
 these Thy manifold favours. Open our mouths to 
 sound forth Thy praise, and ofier the sacrifice of 
 thanksgiving, wherein Thou dost delight. And we 
 most humbly beseech Thee, give us unfeigned repent- 
 ance for our past unthankfulness to Thee ; create in 
 us new hearts, work in us sorrow for our sins, and 
 hatred of the same, and a hearty love unto Thy right- 
 eousness : that we, being not conformed unto this 
 wicked world, but making Thy will the order of our 
 life, may ofier ourselves up a living sacrifice unto 
 Thee, consecrating to Thy glory both body and soul, 
 with all our powers. 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 83 
 
 Preserve us, good Lord, from the thraldom of sin 
 and the bondage of unbelief Continue the light of 
 Thy glorious Gospel among us. Purge our land of all 
 violence, uncleanness, oppression, and every other evil 
 that defiles Thine inheritance. Arm us Thy servants 
 with Thy power, to strive against Satan, the flesh, and 
 the world, and all things that would beguile us from 
 our allegiance unto Thee : That, walking in Thy 
 paths, and obeying Thy blessed ordinances, we may 
 end our lives to the honour of Thy Name, and attain 
 that immortality and crown of glory laid up for Thine 
 elect in Jesus Christ, the God of immortality and the 
 King of glory. Amen. 
 
 CLOSING PRAYER. 
 I. 
 
 TT7"E most humbly beseech Thee, Father of Mercy, 
 ' ^ for Jesus Christ Thy Son's sake, that as Thou 
 hast caused the light of Thy Word clearly to shine 
 among us, and hast plainly instructed us by the exter- 
 nal Ministry in the right way of salvation : So it may 
 please Thee inwardly to move our dull hearts ; and by 
 the power of Thy Holy Spirit to write and seal in 
 them that holy fear and reverence which Thou requir- 
 
84 Order of Divine Service. 
 
 est of Thy chosen. Grant us faithful obedience to Thy 
 holy will, together with the sense that our sins are 
 fully purged and freely remitted, by that One Sacrifice 
 which alone is acceptable to Thee ; the obedience, 
 death, and mediation of Thy Son, our sovereign Lord, 
 our only Shepherd and High Priest, Jesus Christ ; to 
 whom with Thee and with the Holy Ghost, be all hon- 
 our and glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 f\ GOD, who hast given us Thy Holy Scriptures for 
 ^ our instruction, we beseech Thee by Thy grace 
 to enlighten our minds and cleanse our hearts ; that 
 we, having read, heard, and meditated upon them, may 
 rightly understand and heartily embrace the things 
 Thou hast revealed. Give efficacy to the preaching of 
 the Gospel, that through the operation of the Holy 
 Ghost, this good seed may be received into our hearts 
 as into good ground ; and that we may not only hear 
 Thy Word but keep it, living in conformity with Thy 
 precepts ; so that we may finally attain everlasting 
 salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
Evening of the Lord's Day. 85 
 
 III. 
 r\ HEAVENLY Father ! Thy Word is perfect, con- 
 ^-^ verting the soul ; a sure testimony, making wise 
 the simple ; enlightening the ejes of the blind ; and 
 a powerful mean of salvation for all that believe. 
 Help us, Thine unworthy servants, whether we teach, 
 or whether we be taught, to learn of Thee. We are 
 blind by nature, wholly incapable of doing any good ; 
 and Thou wilt help none but those that are of a broken 
 and contrite heart. We beseech Thee to enlighten 
 our understanding with Thy Holy Spirit, and give us 
 a meek heart, free from all haughtiness and carnal 
 knowledge ; that, hearing Thy Word, we may rightly 
 understand it, and rule our lives accordingly. Be 
 graciously pleased to convert all those who yet stray 
 from Thy truth ; that we, together with them, may 
 unanimously serve Thee in holiness and righteousness 
 all the days of our life. We ask all things for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ our Lord : To whom, with Thee 
 and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and praise ever- 
 more. Amen. 
 
>J-- 
 
THE 
 
 MANNER OF CELEBRATING 
 
 THE SACRAMENT OP 
 
 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
m 
 
THE 
 
 MANNER OF CELEBRATING 
 
 THE SACRAMENT OP 
 
 THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 "The Communion, or Supper of the Lord, is to be celebrated frequently; 
 but how often, may be determined by the Minister and Eldership of each con- 
 gregation, as they may judge most for edification. 
 
 " The ignorant and scandalous are not to be admitted to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 " It is proper that public notice should be given to the congregation, at least 
 the Sabbath before the administration of this ordinance, and that either then, 
 or on some day of the week, the people should be instructed in its nature, and 
 a due preparation for it ; that all may come in a suitable manner to this holy 
 feast." 
 
 The service may be introduced by the singing of a Sacramental Hymn, fol- 
 lowed by this prayer : 
 
 • INVOCATION. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God ! whose well-beloved Son hath 
 -^ once offered up His body and blood on the 
 Cross for the remission of our sins, and now vouch- 
 safes them for our meat and drink unto life eternal : 
 Grant us grace with pure hearts and fervent desires 
 to accept this great blessing at Thy hands. May we 
 by lively faith partake of His body and blood, yea, of 
 Himself, true God and man, that only bread from 
 
90 The Mannee of Celebeating 
 
 heaven, that giveth life unto our souls. Suffer us no 
 longer to live unto ourselves, according to the inclina- 
 tions of a corrupt and sinful nature ; but may He live 
 in us, and lead us to the life that is holy, blessed, and 
 unchangeable for ever. Thus may we be partakers of 
 the new and everlasting Testament, which is the 
 Covenant of grace. And thus assure us of Thy wil- 
 lingness ever to be our gracious Father ; not imputing 
 to us our sins, but as Thy beloved heirs and children, 
 providing us with all things needful for our good, 
 that both by our works and words we may magnify 
 Thy Name. Fit us, heavenly Father ! at this time 
 so to celebrate the blessed remembrance of Thy 
 beloved Son. .Enable us profitably to contemplate 
 His love, and show forth the benefits of His death ; 
 that receiving fresh increase of strength in Thy 
 faith, and in all good works, we may with greater con- 
 fidence call Thee our Father, and evermore rejoice 
 in Thee : Through Jesus Christ our Kedeemer. 
 Amen. 
 
 the creed. 
 
 To be said by the Minister and People. 
 
 T ET us now make profession of our faith in the 
 -*^ doctrine of the Christian religion, wherein we 
 
The Lord's Supper. 91 
 
 do all purpose, hj the grace of God, to live and to 
 die. 
 
 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of 
 heaven and earth : and in Jesus Christ His only Son 
 our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
 born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius 
 Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended 
 into hell ; the third day He rose again from the dead ; 
 He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right 
 hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence He 
 shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe 
 in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church, the 
 Communion of Saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the 
 resurrection of the body ; and the life everlasting. 
 Amen. 
 
 " Then the Minister shall show that this is an ordinance of Christ ; by read- 
 ing the words of institution, either from one of the evangelists, or from 1 Cor. 
 xi. ; which as to him may appear expedient he may explain and apply : that it 
 Is to be observed in remembrance of Christ, to show forth His death till lie 
 come; that it is of inestimable benefit, to strengthen His people against sin; 
 to support them under troubles ; to encourage and quicken them in duty ; to 
 inspire them with love and zeal ; to increase their faith and holy resolution ; 
 and to beget peace of conscience, and comfortable hopes of eternal life. 
 
 " He is to warn the profane, the ignorant, scandalous, and those that secretly 
 indulge themselves in any known sin, not to approach the Holy Table. On 
 the other hand, he shall invite to this Holy Table such as, sensible of their lost 
 and helpless state by sin, depend upon the Atonement of Christ for pardon 
 and acceptance with God ; such as, being Instructed in the Gospel doctrine, 
 have a competent knowledge to discern the Lord's Body, and such as desire to 
 renounce their sins, and are determined to lead a holy and godly life." 
 
92 The Manner of Celebrating 
 
 THE WORDS OF THE INSTITUTION. 
 
 A TTEND to the words of the institution of the 
 -^■^ Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, as thej 
 
 .^rv are delivered by the Apostle Paul. 
 
 ^^ For I have received of the Lord that which also 
 I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus, the 
 same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: 
 and when He had given thanks, He brake it, a,nd said, 
 Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken for you : 
 this do in remembrance of me. After the same man- 
 ner also. He took the cup, when He had supped, say- 
 ing, This cup is the new testament in my blood : this 
 do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 
 For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
 ye do show the Lord's death till He come. Where- 
 fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this 
 cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the 
 body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine 
 himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of 
 that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unwor- 
 thily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not 
 discerning the Lord's body. 
 
The Lord's Supper. 93 
 
 the exhortation. 
 
 "ITrE have heard, brethren, after what manner our 
 ^ ' Lord celebrated the Supper among His disci- 
 ples ; and have seen that those who are not of the 
 company of the faithful, may not approach this feast. 
 Wherefore, in compliance with this rule, in the Name 
 and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I warn 
 all idolaters, blasphemers, despisers of God, heretics, 
 all that are rebellious, seditious, contentious, injurious, 
 and all that lead corrupt and wicked lives, to abstain 
 from this Table, lest they pollute the sacred food 
 which our Lord gives only to His people. Let each 
 of you, then, according to St. Paul's exhortation, 
 examine and prove his own conscience, to know 
 whether he have true repentance, and sorrow for his 
 sins ; whether he desires to lead henceforth a holy and 
 godly life ,• above all, whether he puts his whole trust 
 in the mercy of God, and seeks his whole salvation in 
 Jesus Christ ; and renouncing all enmity and malice, 
 doth truly and honestly purpose to live in harmony 
 and brotherly love with his neighbour. 
 
 If we have this testimony in our hearts before God, 
 we may not doubt that He adopts us for His children, 
 
94 The Manner of Celebrating 
 
 and that our Lord Jesus addresseth to us His word, 
 admitting us to this Table, and presenting us with 
 this holy Sacrament, which He designs for His fol- 
 lowers alone. And although we may be conscious 
 of many infirmities and miseries in ourselves, as 
 namely, that we have not perfect faith, and that 
 we have not given ourselves to serve God with such 
 zeal as we are bound to do, but have daily to battle 
 with the lusts of our flesh : Yet, since the Lord hath 
 been graciously pleased to print His Gospel upon our 
 hearts, and hath enabled us to resist unbelief; and 
 hath given us an earnest desire to renounce our own 
 thoughts, and follow His righteousness and His holy 
 commandments : Therefore we rest assured, that 
 these remaining sins and imperfections do not prevent 
 us from being received of God, and made worthy 
 partakers of this spiritual food. For we do not 
 come to this Supper to testify hereby that we are 
 perfect and righteous in ourselves : but, on the con- 
 trary, seeking our life in Jesus Christ, we acknowl- 
 edge that we lie in the midst of death. Let us, then, 
 regard this Sacrament as a medicine for those who are 
 spiritually diseased ; and consider, that all the worthiness 
 our Lord requires, is, that we truly know ourselves, 
 
The Lord's Supper. 95 
 
 be sorry for our sins, and find our pleasure, joy, and 
 satisfaction in Him above. 
 
 First, tben, we should believe this promise, which 
 Christ, who is Infallible Truth, has pronounced with 
 His own lips : That He is truly willing to make us 
 partakers of His own body and blood, in order that 
 we may wholly possess Him, that He may live in us, 
 and we in Him. And although you see here only the 
 Bread and Wine, doubt not that He will accomplish 
 spiritually in your souls all that He outwardly ex- 
 hibits by these visible signs : He will manifest Him- 
 self to be the heavenly Bread, to feed and nourish 
 you unto eternal life. Be not unthankful for the in- 
 finite goodness of your Lord, who displays at this 
 Table the riches of His love, to distribute them among 
 you. For, in giving Himself to us, He testifies that 
 all He has is ours. Let us also receive this Sacra- 
 ment as a pledge, that the virtue of His death and 
 passion is imputed unto us for righteousness ; even as 
 though we had suffered in our own persons the pen- 
 alty of our guilt. Let no man perversely draw back, 
 when Jesus gently invites him by His Word. But, 
 considering the dignity of His precious gift, let us 
 present ourselves to Him with fervent zeal, that He 
 
96 The Manner of Celebrating 
 
 may make us capable of receiving His proffered 
 grace. 
 
 And noAV to this end lift up your minds and hearts 
 on high, where Christ abideth in the glory of His 
 Father, whence we expect His coming at our redemp- 
 tion, Dwell not on these earthly and corruptible ele- 
 ments, which we see present to our eyes, and feel with 
 our hands, to seek Him in them, as though He were 
 enclosed in the bread or in the wine. Be satisfied to 
 have this bread and this wine for witnesses and signs ; 
 seeking spiritually the truth where God's Word hath 
 promised that we shall find it. For then only shall 
 our souls be disposed to receive food and life from His 
 substance, when they shall be thus raised above all 
 worldly things, even unto heaven, and enter into the 
 kingdom of God, where He dwells. 
 
 "The table on -which the elements are placed being decently covered, the 
 bread in convenient dishes, and the wine in cups, and the commnnicants or- 
 derly and gravely sitting around the table, (or in their seats before it,) in the 
 presence of the Minister : let him set the elements apart, by prayer and thanks- 
 giving." 
 
 THE CONSECRATING PRAYER. 
 
 T ORD God! Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 
 -*-^ Thou who art infinite goodness, and perfect love ! 
 We bring to Thee the sacrifice of our praise, and the 
 
The Lord's Supper. 97 
 
 offering of our thanks, for Thine inestimable gift in 
 sending Thy Son into the world ; for delivering Him 
 up to die for us all ; and for inviting us to participate 
 in the fruits of His atonement, at the Table of this 
 holy feast. Lord ! what are we, to receive such price- 
 less benefits at Thy hand ? or how shall we worthily 
 show forth our gratitude to Thee ? The heavens and 
 the earth, Lord! are full of the tokens of Thy 
 bounty : but especially dost Thou manifest Thy love, 
 in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
 Accept, Lord our God ! the homage of Thine ador- 
 ing people. And grant that we, partaking of this 
 holy Sacrament, to which we are welcomed by Thy 
 grace, may now join ourselves by the bonds of living 
 faith and true holiness to our Saviour : so that we may 
 not henceforth live unto ourselves, but that He may 
 live in us, and lead us to that blessed life that shall have 
 no end. ,. . 
 
 Father of Mercies ! who didst not spare Thine only- 
 begotten Son, but deliveredst Him to death for us all ; 
 and hast brought us into fellowship with Him, that we 
 might obtain everlasting life : We Thy servants, with a 
 lively sense of Thy precious gift, do now consecrate our- 
 selves entirely unto Thee. We present to Thee our 
 
98 The Mannek of Celebrating 
 
 bodies, and our souls, in a living and holy sacrifice. And 
 since Thou hast loved us so much, we acknowledge 
 ourselves constrained to love one another. Impress 
 our hearts, God ! with these holy inclinations : that 
 so celebrating the remembrance of Thy dear Son, our 
 faith may grow strong, our charity increase, our sanc- 
 tification advance and be made complete, until we be 
 meet for the inheritance of Thy saints in light ever- 
 lasting. Hear us, Father of Mercies ! we ask all 
 in the Name of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ our 
 Lord : unto whom, as unto Thee, and the Holy Ghost, 
 one God, be honour, praise, and glory, now, henceforth, 
 and for ever. Amen. 
 
 " The Bread and Wine being tlins set apart by prayer and thanksgiving, the 
 Minister is to take the Bread and break it, in the view of the people, saying: 
 
 /^UR Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in which 
 ^^ He was betrayed, having taken bread, and 
 blessed and broken it, gave it to His disciples ; as I, 
 ministering in His Name, give this bread unto you : 
 saying, \here the bread is to he distributed,'] Take, 
 eat : this is My body, which is broken for you : this 
 do in remembrance of Me. 
 
 " After having given the Broad, he shall take the Cup, and say: 
 
The Lord's Supper. 99 
 
 A FTER the same manner our Saviour also took the 
 -^■^ cup; and' having given thanks, as hath been 
 done in His Name, He gave it to the disciples ; say- 
 ing, \Jiere the cup is to be given,^ This cup is the new 
 testament in My blood, which is shed for many, for 
 the remission of sins : drink ye all of it. For as often 
 as ye eat this bread, -and drink this cup, ye do show 
 the Lord's death till He come. 
 
 " The Minister himself is to communicate, at such time as may appear to him 
 most convenient." 
 
 SENTENCES, 
 
 Which may be repeated by the Minister, at intervals of silence, during the 
 participation. 
 
 rpHE Bread which we break, is the communion of 
 J- the Body of Christ. 
 
 I am the Bread of life, saith Jesus : he that cometh 
 to Me shall never hunger ; and he that bclieveth on 
 Me shall never thirst. 
 
 The Son of Man came, to give His life a ransom for 
 many. 
 
 He was wounded for our transgressions, He was 
 bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our 
 peace was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are 
 healed. 
 
100 The Manner of Celebrating 
 
 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He 
 opened not His mouth. 
 
 Surely !He hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
 sorrows. 
 
 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
 sin of the world. 
 
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
 tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save 
 sinners ; of whom I am the chief 
 
 Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy 
 laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon 
 you, and learn of Him : for He is meek and lowly in 
 heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
 
 And now, little children, abide in Him ; that when 
 He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be 
 ashamed at His coming. 
 
 rpHE Cup of Blessing which we bless, is the commu- 
 -^ nion of the Blood of Christ. 
 
 I am the Vine, saith Jesus, ye ' are the branches ; 
 abide in Me and I in you. 
 
 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay 
 down his life for his friends : ye are My friends, if ye 
 do whatsoever I command you. 
 
The Lord's Supper. 101 
 
 God so loved the world, that He gave His onlj- 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should 
 not perish, but have everlasting life. 
 
 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He 
 laid down His life for us : and we ought to lay down 
 our lives for the brethren. ^ 
 
 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be- 
 stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of 
 God. 
 
 We know that when He shall appear, we shall be 
 like Him : for we shall see Him as He is. 
 
 It is a faithful saying, If we be dead with Him, we 
 shall also live with Him : if we suffer, we shall also 
 reign with Him. 
 
 Fear not, little flock : it is your Father's good 
 pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 
 
 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have en- 
 tered into the heart of men, the things which God 
 hath prepared for them that love Him. 
 
 Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, 
 and will not tarry. Even so, come. Lord Jesus. 
 
 " Then tlio Minister is to pray and give thanks to God. 
 
102 The Mannek of Celebeating 
 
 THANKSGIVINa. 
 
 TJEAVENLY Father! we give Thee immortal 
 -*-^ praise and thanks, that upon us poor sinners 
 Thou hast conferred so rich a benefit, as to bring us 
 into the communion of Thy Son Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Him having delivered up to death for us, 
 Thou hast given for our food and nourishment unto 
 eternal life. Now also grant us grace, that we* may 
 never be unmindful of these things ; but carrying them 
 about engraven on our hearts, may advance and grow 
 in that faith which is effectual unto every good work. 
 Thus may the rest of our lives be ordered and followed 
 out to Thy glory, and the good of our fellow-men : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord : "Who with Thee, 
 Father ! and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth in 
 the unity of the Godhead, world without end. Amen. 
 
 " The collection for tlie poor, and to defray tlie expense of the elements, may 
 be made after this ; or at such other time as may seem meet to the eldership." 
 
 sentences, 
 
 Which may be read during the collection for the poor. 
 
 ■p EMEMBER the words of the Lord Jesus, how He 
 -*-^ said. It is more blessed to give than to receive. 
 Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, 
 
The Lokd's Supper. 103 
 
 though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, 
 that ye through His poverty might be rich. 
 
 To do good and to communicate forget not : for with 
 such sacrifices God is well pleased. 
 
 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, 
 so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity : for 
 God loveth a cheerful giver. 
 
 If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted accord- 
 ing to that a man hath, and not according to that he 
 hath not. 
 
 Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He 
 said, Ye have the poor with you always, and when- 
 soever ye will ye may do them good. 
 
 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good 
 unto all men, especially unto them who are of the 
 Household of Faith. 
 
 For the administration of this service not only sup- 
 plieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by 
 many thanksgivings unto God. 
 
 God is not unrighteous to forget your work and la- 
 bour of love, which ye have showed toward His 
 Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and 
 do minister. 
 
 Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. 
 
104 The Lord's Supper. 
 
 "Now let a Psalm or nymn be sung, and the congregation dismissed, with 
 the following, or some other Gospel" 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 1VT0 W the God of Peace, that brought again from 
 -^^ the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
 of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
 covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do 
 His Tvill, working in you that which is well-pleasing 
 in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be 
 glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
OTHER FORMS 
 
 CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 EXHORTATION. 
 
 "TvEARLY BELOVED in the Lord, forasmuch as 
 -*-^ we are now assembled to celebrate the holy 
 Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour 
 Christ, let us consider these words of St. Paul, how 
 he exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine 
 themselves, before they presume to eat of that bread, 
 and to drink of that cup. For, as the benefit is great, 
 if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we re- 
 ceive that holy sacrament, for then we spiritually eat 
 the flesh of Christ, and drink His blood ; then we 
 dwell in Christ, and Christ in us; we be one with 
 Christ, and Christ with us : So is the danger great if 
 we receive the same unworthily; for then we be 
 guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour ; 
 
106 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 we eat and drink our own condemnation, not discern- 
 ing the Lord's body; we kindle God's wrath against 
 us, and provoke His punishment upon us. 
 
 And, therefore, in the Name, and by the authority 
 of the Eternal God, and of His Son Jesus Christ, I 
 separate from this Table all blasphemers of God, all 
 idolaters, all that be in malice or envy, all persons 
 disobedient to father or mother, and finally all such as 
 live a life directly fighting against the will ^f God : 
 charging them, as they will answer in the presence of 
 Him who is the righteous Judge, that they presume 
 not to profane this most holy Table. 
 
 And yet this I pronounce not to exclude any peni- 
 tent person, how grievous soever his sins before have 
 been, so that he feel in his heart unfeigned repentance 
 for the same : but only such as continue in sin with- 
 out repentance. Neither yet is this pronounced 
 against such as aspire to a greater perfection than 
 they can in this present life attain. For, albeit we 
 feel in ourselves much frailty and wretchedness, as 
 that we have not faith so perfect and constant as we 
 ought, being many times ready to distrust God's 
 goodness, through our corrupt nature ; and also that 
 we are not so thoroughly given to serve God, neither 
 
The Lord's Supper. 107 
 
 have we so fervent a zeal to set forth His glory, as our 
 duty requireth ; feeling still such rebellion in our- 
 selves, that we have need daily to fight against the 
 lusts of the flesh : yet, nevertheless, seeing that our 
 Lord hath dealt thus mercifully with us, that He hath 
 printed His Gospel in our hearts, so that we are pre- 
 served from falling into despair and unbelief; and 
 seeing that He hath endued us with a will and desire 
 to renounce and withstand our own affections, with a 
 longing for His righteousness, and the keeping of His 
 commandments : We may be now right well assured, 
 that these failures and manifold imperfections shall be 
 no such hiDdrance against us, as that He should not 
 accept us, and count us worthy to come to His spirit- 
 ual Table. For the end of our coming is not to pro- 
 test that we are just and upright in our lives ; but 
 contrariwise, we come to seek our life and perfection 
 in Jesus Christ ; acknowledging in the meantime that 
 of ourselves we are children of wrath and condem- 
 nation. 
 
 Let us then consider this Sacrament as a precious 
 medicine for all poor sick creatures, a comfortable help 
 for weak souls ; and that our Lord requireth no other 
 worthiness on our part, than this : that we unfeignedly 
 
108 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 acknowledge our sinfulness and imperfection. Then 
 to the end that we may be worthy partakers of His 
 merits and most comfortable benefits, which is the 
 true eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood, 
 let us not suffer our minds to wander about the con- 
 sideration of these earthly and corruptible things, 
 which we see present to our eyes and feel with our 
 hands ; to seek Christ bodily present in them, as if 
 He were enclosed in the bread and wine, or as if these 
 elements were turned and ghanged into the substance 
 of His flesh and blood. But as the only way to dis- 
 pose our souls to receive nourishment, relief, and 
 quickening by His substance, let us lift up our minds 
 by faith above all things worldly and sensible, and 
 thereby enter into heaven, that we may find and re- 
 ceive Christ where He dwelleth undoubtedly, very 
 God and very man, in the incomprehensible glory of 
 His Father : to Whom be all praise, honour, and 
 glory, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
 CONSECRATING PRAYER. 
 
 r\ FATHER of Mercy, and God of all consola- 
 ^^ tion ! Thou whom all creatures acknowledge 
 and confess as Governor and Lord : It becomes us, 
 
The Lord's Supper. 109 
 
 the workmanship of Thy hands, at all times to 
 reverence and magnify Thy holy Majesty : for that 
 Thou hast created us in Thine image ; but chiefly 
 that Thou hast delivered us from everlasting death 
 and condemnation, whereunto we were drawn by 
 means of sin : from the bondage whereof neither man 
 nor angel was able to set us free. And we do 
 praise Thee, Lord I that rich in mercy, and in- 
 finite in goodness. Thou has provided our redemption 
 to stand in Thine only and well-beloved Son : Whom 
 of very love Thou didst give to be made man like 
 unto us in all things, sin excepted ; in His body to 
 receive the punishment of our transgression : by His 
 death to make satisfaction to Thy justice ; and through 
 His resurrection to destroy him that was the author 
 of death, and so to bring again life to the world, from 
 which the whole ofispring of Adam most justly was 
 exiled. 
 
 Lord I we acknowledge that no creature is able 
 to comprehend the length and breadth, the depth and 
 height, of that Thy most excellent love : which moved 
 Thee to show mercy where none was deserved; to 
 promise and give life where death hath gotten the 
 victory ; to receive us again into Thy favour, when we 
 
110 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 could do nothing but rebel against Thy law. I^ord ! 
 the blind dulness of our corrupt nature will not suffer 
 us sufficiently to weigh these Thy most ample benefits. 
 Yet, nevertheless, at the command of Jesus Christ 
 our Lord, we present ourselves at this His Table, 
 which He hath left to be used in remembrance of His 
 death, until His coming again : to dedicate ourselves 
 unto His service, renewing our vows, and engaging 
 henceforth to obey His will ; to declare and witness 
 before the world, that by Him alone Thou dost ac- 
 knowledge us Thy children ; that by Him alone we 
 have access to Thy throne of grace; that by Him 
 alone we are brought into His spiritual Kingdom, to 
 eat and drink at His Table ; with Whom we have our 
 conversation even now in heaven ; and by Whom our 
 bodies shall be raised up again from the dust, and 
 shall be placed with Him in that endless joy, which 
 Thou, Father of Mercy ! hadst prepared for Thine 
 elect before the foundation of the world was laid. 
 And these most inestimable benefits, we acknowledge 
 to have received of Thy free mercy and grace, by 
 Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord : 
 for the which, therefore, we. Thy congregation, moved 
 by Thy Holy Spirit, will render all thanks, praise, and 
 glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
The Loed's Supper. Ill 
 
 : THANKSGIVING. 
 
 11 /TOST Merciful Father ! we render Thee all praise, 
 •^^-*- thanks, and glory, for that it hath pleased Thee, 
 of Thy great mercies, to grant us, miserable sinners, 
 so excellent a gift, as to receive nis into the fellowship 
 and company of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord : 
 Whom Thou hast delivered to death for us, and given 
 as our needful food and nourishment unto everlasting 
 life. And now we beseech Thee also. Heavenly 
 Father ! to grant our prayer, that Thou wilt never 
 suffer us to forget these worthy benefits ; but rather 
 imprint and fasten them surely in our hearts, that we 
 may grow and increase daily more and more in that 
 true faith, which is continually exercised in all man- 
 ner of good works. Confirm us, Lord ! that we 
 may stand immoveable in the profession of Thy Name, 
 to the advancement of Thy glory, who art God over 
 all things, blessed for ever. So be it. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 EXHORTATION. 
 
 'TT'OU are invited hither, dear Brethren, to be guests 
 
 -*- at this holy Table, by the Lord's command ; to 
 
 receive the greatest mercy, and to perform the greatest 
 
112 OtherFormsof Celebrating 
 
 duty. On Christ's part all things are made ready. 
 The feast is prepared for you, even for you that by sin 
 have deserved to be cast out of the presence of the 
 Lord ; for you that have so oft neglected and abused 
 mercy : a feast of the body and blood of Christ, free to 
 you, but dear to Him. You were lost, and in the way 
 to be lost for ever ; when by the greatest miracle of 
 condescending love. He sought and saved you. You 
 were dead in sin, condemned by the law, the slaves of 
 Satan; there wanted nothing but the executing stroke 
 of justice to have sent you into endless misery : when 
 our Kedeemer pitied you in your blood, and shed His 
 own to wash and heal you. He suffered who was of- 
 fended, that the offender might not suffer. He cried 
 out on the cross, My God, my God, why hast Thou 
 forsaken me ? that we, who had deserved it, might not 
 be everlastingly forsaken. He died, that we might 
 live. 0, how should this mercy of redemption affect 
 you ! See here Christ dying, in this holy representa- 
 tion ! Behold the sacrificed Lamb of God, that taketh 
 away the sin of the world. It is His will to be thus 
 frequently crucified before our eyes. 0, how should 
 we be covered with shame, and loathe ourselves, who 
 have both procured the death of Christ by sin, and sin- 
 
The Lord's Supper. 113 
 
 ned against it. And how should we all be filled with 
 joy, who have such mysteries of mercy opened, and so 
 great salvation freely offered to us. 0, then, hate sin. 
 0, love this Saviour. See that you come not hither with- 
 out a desire to be more holy ; nor with a purpose to go 
 on in wilful sin. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. 
 But if you heartily repent, and consent to the cove- 
 nant, come, and welcome. We have commission from 
 Christ to tell you that you are welcome. Let no 
 trembling, contrite soul draw back, that is willing to be 
 Christ's, upon His covenant terms : but believe that 
 Christ is much inore willing to be yours. He was first 
 willing, and therefore died for you, and made the cove- 
 nant of grace, and sent to invite and importune you to 
 consent, and stayed for you so long, and gave you your 
 repentance, your willingness, and desire. Question not 
 then His willingness, if you are willing : it is Satan 
 and unbelief that would have you question it, to the 
 injury both of Christ and you. Come near, observe, 
 believe, and wonder at the riches of His love and grace : 
 for He hath Himself invited you to see and taste, that 
 you might wonder. You are sinners : but He inviteth 
 you to receive a renewed, sealed pardon of your sins, 
 and promises to give you more of His Spirit to overcome 
 
114 Othee Fokms of Celebrating 
 
 them. See here His broken body and His blood, the tes- 
 timonies of His willingness. Thus hath He sealed the 
 covenant, which pardoneth all your sins, and secureth 
 to you your reconciliation with God, and your adop- 
 tion, and your right to everlasting blessedness. Deny 
 not your consent, but heartily give up yourselves to 
 Christ : and then doubt not that your scarlet, crimson 
 sins shall be made as white as wool or snow. Object 
 not the number or greatness of them against His grace : 
 there is none too great for Him to pardon to penitent 
 believers. But strive you then for great loathing of 
 your sins, and greater love to such a God, and greater 
 thanks to such a Saviour. Unfeignedly say, I am 
 willing, Lord, to be wholly Thine : and then believ- 
 ingly take Christ, and pardon, and life, as given you 
 by His own appointment in the sealed covenant. And 
 remember that He is coming. He is coming with 
 thousands of His mighty angels, to execute judgment 
 on the ungodly ; but to be glorified in His saints, and 
 admired in all that do believe. And then we shall 
 have greater things than these. Then shall you see 
 all the promises fulfilled, which now are sealed to you, 
 on which He causeth you to trust. Eevive now your 
 love to one another, and forgive those that have 
 
' ■ The Lord's Supper. 115 
 
 wronged yoUj and delight in the communion of saints : 
 and then you shall be admitted into the Church tri- 
 umphant, where, with perfect saints, you shall per- 
 fectly rejoice, and love and praise the Lord for ever. 
 Receive now a crucified Christ here represented, and 
 be content to take up your cross, and follow Him. 
 And then you shall reign with a glorified Christ, in 
 the blessed vision and fruition of that God, to whom 
 by Christ you are now reconciled. Let faith and love 
 be working upon these things, whilst you are at this 
 holy Table. 
 
 CONSECRATING PRAYER. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, Thou art the Creator and the 
 ■^^ Lord of all things. Thou art the sovereign Maj- 
 esty whom we have ofiended. Thou art our most lov- 
 ing and merciful Father, who hast given Thy Son to 
 reconcile us to Thyself: who hath ratified the new 
 testament and covenant of grace with His most precious 
 blood ; and hath instituted this holy Sacrament to be 
 celebrated in remembrance of Him till His coming. 
 Sanctify these Thy creatures of bread and wine, which 
 according to Thy institution and command we set apart 
 
116 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 to this holy use, that they may be sacramentally the 
 body and blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 Most merciful Saviour, as Thou hast loved us to 
 the death, and suffered for our sins, the just for the 
 unjust, and hast instituted this holy ordinance to be 
 used in remembrance of Thee till Thy coming : We 
 beseech Thee, by Thine intercession with the Father, 
 through the sacrifice of Thy body and blood, give us 
 the pardon of our sins, and Thy quickening Spirit, 
 without which the flesh will profit us nothing. Re- 
 concile us to the Father ; nourish us as Thy members 
 to everlasting life. 
 
 Most Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and 
 the Son ; by whom Christ was conceived ; by whom 
 the prophets and apostles were inspired, and the minis- 
 ters of Christ are qualified and called ; Thou that 
 dwellest and workest in all the members of Christ, 
 whom thou sanetifiest to the image and for the service 
 of their Head, and comfortest that they may show forth 
 His praise : Illuminate us, that by faith we may see 
 Him who is here represented to us. Soften our 
 hearts, and humble us for our sins. Sanctify and 
 quicken us, that we may relish the spiritual food, and 
 feed on it to our nourishment and growth in grace. 
 
The Lord's Supper. 117 
 
 Shed abroad the love of God upon our hearts, and 
 draw them out in love to Him. Fill us with thank- 
 fulness and holy joy, and with love to one another. 
 Comfort us bj witnessing that we are the children of 
 God. Confirm us for new obedience. Be Thou the earn- 
 est of our inheritance, and seal us unto everlasting life. 
 - Accept us, Lord ! who resign ourselves unto 
 Thee as Thine own ; and with our thanks and praise, 
 present ourselves a living sacrifice, to be acceptable 
 through Christ, useful for Thine honour, through 
 time, and through eternity. Being made free from 
 sin, and become Thy servants, let us have our fruit 
 unto holiness, and the end everlasting life : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 11 /TOST Glorious God, how wonderful Thy power 
 -^^-^ and wisdom. Thy holiness and justice, Thy 
 love and mercy, in this work of redemption, by the 
 incarnation, life, death, resurrection, intercession, and 
 dominion of Thy Son ! No wisdom or power in 
 heaven' or earth could have delivered us but Thine. 
 The angels desire to look into this mystery : the 
 heavenly host do celebrate it with praises, saying, 
 
118 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good 
 will toward men. The whole creation shall proclaim 
 Thy praises : Blessing, honour, glory, and power, be 
 unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 
 Lamb forever and ever. Worthy is the Lamb that 
 was slain, to receive power, and honour, and glory: 
 for. He hath redeemed us to God by His blood, and 
 made us kings and priests unto our God. And hast 
 Thou indeed forgiven us so great a debt, by so pre- 
 cious a ransom ? Wilt Thou indeed give us to reign 
 with Christ in glory, and see Thy face, and love TJiee, 
 and be loved of Thee for ever ? Yea, Lord ! Thou 
 hast forgiven us, and wilt glorify us ; for Thou art 
 faithful that hast promised. set our affections on 
 the things above : let our conversation be in heaven, 
 from whence we expect our Saviour to come and 
 change us into the likeness of His glory. Then will 
 we perfectly praise and worthily magnify Thee for 
 ever, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : to whom be 
 glory. Amen. 
 
 ' ':.':■ ; • III- ■■■• ^ •■ '■ , ■ ■' ' 
 
 EXHORTATION. 
 
 THAT we may now celebrate the Supper of the 
 Lord to our comfort, it is necessary, first, that 
 
The Lokd's Suppee. 119 
 
 every one consider by himself his sins, and the curse 
 due to him for them: to the end that he may abhor 
 and humble himself before God ; considering that the 
 wrath of God against sin is so great, that rather than 
 it should go unpunished, He hath punished the same 
 in His beloved Son Jesus Christ, with the bitter and 
 shameful death of the cross. 
 
 Secondly, Let every one examine his own heart, 
 whether he doth believe this faithful promise of God : 
 that all his sins are forgiven him, only for the sake 
 of the passion and death of Jesus Christ ; and that 
 the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed and 
 freely given to him as his own ; yea, so perfectly, as 
 if he had in his own person satisfied for all his sins, 
 and fulfilled all righteousness. 
 
 Thirdly, Let every one examine his own conscience, 
 whether he hath resolved henceforth to show true 
 thankfulness to God in his whole life, and to walk 
 uprightly before Him : and also whether he hath laid 
 aside unfeignedly all enmity, hatred, and envy, and 
 doth firmly resolve henceforward to walk in true love 
 and peace with his neighbour. 
 
 All those who are thus disposed, God will certainly 
 receive in mercy, and count them worthy partakers at 
 
120 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 the table of His Son Jesus Christ. On the contrary, 
 those who do not feel this testimony in their hearts, 
 eat and drink judgment to themselves. Therefore, we 
 also, according to the command of Christ and the 
 Apostle Paul, admonish all those who know them- 
 selves to be defiled with the following sins, to keep 
 themselves from the Table of the Lord ; and declare 
 to them that they have no part in the Kingdom of 
 Christ. Such as are idolaters ; all those who use or 
 confide in any form of divination ; all despisers of God 
 and of His Word, and of the holy Sacraments; all 
 profane or false swearers; contentious persons, and 
 those that live in hatred and envy against their neigh- 
 bours; all unclean persons, drunkards, thieves, liars, 
 slanderers, covetous ; and all who lead ofiensive lives. 
 These, while they continue in such sins, shall abstain 
 from this meat which Christ hath ordained only for 
 the faithful ; lest their judgment and condemnation be 
 made the heavier. 
 
 But this is not designed, dearly beloved brethren 
 and sisters in the Lord, to deject the contrite hearts of 
 the faithful ; as if none might come to this Supper, but 
 such as are without sin. For we do not come to this 
 Supper to testify thereby that we are perfect and right- 
 
The Lokd's Suppek. 121 
 
 eous in ourselves : but, on the contrary, since we are 
 seeking our life out of ourselves, in Jesus Christ, we 
 acknowledge by this very service that we lie in the 
 midst of death. Therefore, notwithstanding we still 
 find many short-comings and miseries in ourselves : as 
 namely, that we have not perfect faith ; and that we do 
 not give ourselves to serve God with that zeal as we 
 are bound ; but have daily to strive with the weakness 
 of our faith, and the evil lusts of our own flesh: 
 yet since, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, we 
 are sorry for these weaknesses, and earnestly de- 
 sirous to fight against our unbelief, and to live ac- 
 cording to all the commandments of God : Therefore 
 we rest assured, that no sin or infirmity which still 
 against our will remaineth in us, can hinder us from 
 being received of God in mercy, and thus made wor- 
 thy partakers of this heavenly meat and drink. 
 
 Let us now also consider to what end the Lord hath 
 instituted His Supper : namely, That we do it in 
 remembrance of Him. Now after this manner are we 
 to remember Ilim in it. First, We must be confi- 
 dently persuaded in our hearts, that our Lord Jesus 
 Christ was sent of the Father into the world ; He 
 assumed our flesh and blood ; He bore for us the wrath 
 
122 Other Forms of Celebrating 
 
 of God, under which we should have perished ever- 
 lastingly, from the beginning of His incarnation to the 
 end of His life upon earth ; especially when the weight 
 of our sins and of the wrath of God pressed out of 
 Him the bloody sweat in the garden, where He was 
 bound that our bonds might be loosed. Afterwards 
 He suffered innumerable revilings, that we might 
 never come to shame. In His innocence He was con- 
 demned to death, that we might be acquitted at the 
 judgment-seat of God. Yea, He suffered His blessed 
 body to be nailed on the Cross, that He might fasten 
 thereon that handwriting of our sins. He hath also 
 taken upon Himself the curse due to us, that He 
 might fill us with His blessings ; and humbled Him- 
 self unto the deepest reproach and pains of hell, in 
 body and in soul, on the tree of the Cross, when He 
 cried with a loud voice. My God, my God, why hast 
 Thou forsaken me : that we might be made nigh unto 
 God, and never be forsaken of Him. And finally He 
 confirmed with His death, and the shedding of His 
 blood, the new and eternal testament, that covenant of 
 grace and reconciliation ; when He said, It is finished. 
 And that we might firmly believe that we belong to 
 this covenant of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ hath 
 
The Lord's Supper. 123 
 
 ordained this Holy Supper, and said, This do in re- 
 membrance of Me : That is, as often as ye eat of 
 this bread, and drink of this cup, ye shall thereby, as 
 by a sure memorial and pledge, be admonished and 
 assured of this my hearty love and faithfulness toward 
 you. That whereas you should otherwise have suffered 
 eternal death. I have given my body to the death of 
 the Cross, and have shed my blood for you, and with 
 my crucified body and shed blood do nourish your 
 hungry and thirsty souls to everlasting life, as surely 
 as this bread is broken before your eyes, and this eup 
 is given to you, and you eat and drink the same with 
 your mouth, in remembrance of Me. 
 
 From this institution of the Holy Supper of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, we see that He directs our faith 
 and trust to His perfect sacrifice, once offered on the 
 Cross, as to the only ground of our salvation ; wherein 
 He is become to our hungry and thirsty souls the 
 true meat and drink of life eternal. For, by His 
 death He hath taken away the cause of our eternal 
 death and misery ; namely, sin : and obtained for us 
 the life-giving Spirit; that we by the same, which 
 dwelleth in Christ as in the Head, and in us as in His 
 members, might have true communion with Him, and 
 
124 0th EK FOEMS OF C.ELEBEATING 
 
 be made partakers of all His blessings, of life eternal, 
 righteousness, and glory. And, furthermore, that we 
 bj the same Spirit may also be united as members of 
 one Body in true brotherly love ; as the holy Apostle 
 saith. For we being many are one bread and one body : 
 for we are all partakers of that one bread. For as 
 out of many grains one meal is ground and one bread 
 baked ; and out of many berries being pressed to- 
 gether one wine floweth and mixeth itself together : so 
 all we, who by a true faith are engrafted into Christ, 
 shall through brotherly love be one body, for the sake 
 of Christ our beloved Saviour, who hath first so ex- 
 ceedingly loved us. And this we shall show not only 
 in word, but also in very deed. 
 
 Hereto assist us the Almighty God and Father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit. Amen. 
 
 That we may obtain all this, let us humble our- 
 selves before God, and with true faith implore His 
 
 CONSECRATING PRATER. 
 
 /^ MOST Merciful God and Father! we beseech 
 ^-^ Thee that in this Supper, by which we celebrate 
 the glorious remembrance of the bitter death of Thy 
 beloved Son Jesus Christ, Thou wilt so work in our 
 
The Lord's Supper. 125 
 
 hearts bj Thy Holy Spirit, that with true confidence 
 we may more and more give ourselves up unto Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ ; that our burdened and fainting 
 hearts may, through the power of the Holy Ghost, be 
 fed and comforted with His true body and blood, yea, 
 with Him, true God and man, that only heavenly 
 Bread. And may we no longer live in our sins, but 
 He in us and we in Him ; and thus be true partakers 
 of the new and everlasting covenant of grace. May 
 we not doubt that Thou wilt for ever be our gracious 
 Father, never more imputing our sins unto us ; and 
 providing us, as Thy beloved children and heirs, with 
 all things necessary as well for the body as the soul. 
 Grant us also Thy grace, that we may cheerfully take 
 upon us our cross, deny ourselves, confess our Saviour, 
 and in all tribulations with uplifted heads expect our 
 Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, where He will make 
 our mortal bodies like unto His most glorious body, 
 and take us to be for ever with Himself. 
 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 Strengthen us also by this holy Supper in the 
 Catholic undoubted Christian Faith, whereof we make 
 confession with our mouths and hearts, saying : 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
126 Othek Forms of Celebrating 
 
 rpHAT we may now be fed with the true heavenly 
 -■- Bread, Christ Jesus, let us not cleave with our 
 hearts to the external bread and wine, but let us lift 
 them up on high, where Christ Jesus is our Advocate, 
 at the right hand of His heavenly Father ; whither all 
 the articles of our faith lead us : not doubting that 
 through the working of the Holy Ghost, we shall be 
 fed and refreshed in our souls with His body and 
 blood, as surely as we receive the holy bread and wiiie 
 in remembrance of Him. 
 
 After the Communion, the Minister shall say : 
 
 "RELOYED in the Lord, since the Lord hath now 
 -*-^ fed our souls at His Table, let us therefore jointly 
 praise His holy Name with thanksgiving, and every 
 one say in his heart thus : 
 
 Bless th€ Lord, my soul : and all that is within 
 me, bless His holy Name. 
 
 Bless the Lord, my soul : and forget not all His 
 benefits. ' "- ' • 
 
 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities : who healeth all 
 thy diseases. • ' 
 
 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction : who 
 crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies. 
 
The Lokd's Suppek. 127 
 
 The Lord is merciful and gracious : slow to anger, 
 and plenteous in mercy. 
 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor re- 
 warded us according to our iniquities. 
 
 For as the heaven is high above the earth : so great 
 is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 
 
 As far as the east is from the west : so far hath 
 He removed our transgressions from us. 
 
 Like as a father pitieth his children : so the Lord 
 pitieth them that fear Him. 
 
 Who hath not spared His own Son, but delivered 
 Him up for us all : and given us all things with 
 Him. 
 
 Therefore God commendeth His love towards us : 
 in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for 
 us. 
 
 Much more then, being now justified by His blood : 
 we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 
 
 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled 
 to God by the death of His Son : much more, being 
 reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 
 
 Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the 
 praises of the Lord: from this time forth for ever- 
 more. Amen. 
 
128 The Lord's Supper. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. • v ' 
 
 Let every one say with an attentive heart : 
 
 f\ ALMIGHTY, Merciful God and Father, with our 
 ^ whole hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast of 
 Thy boundless mercy given us Thine only-begotten 
 Son, to be our Mediator, and the sacrifice for our sins, 
 and our meat and drink unto life eternal. We bless 
 Thee that Thou givest us lively faith, whereby we are 
 made partakers of such Thy benefits : and hast been 
 pleased that Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ should or- 
 dain His holy Supper for the confirmation of the same. 
 Grant then, we beseech Thee, faithful God and 
 Father, that through the working of Thy Holy Spirit, 
 this remembrance made of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and this showing forth of His death, may tend to the 
 daily increase of our faith and saving fellowship with 
 Him : unto Whom, as unto Thee, Father ! and the 
 Holy Ghost, be honour and praise for ever. Amen. - 
 
THE FORM 
 
 OF ADMINISTERINa 
 
 THE SACRAMENT OP BAPTISM 
 
THE FORM 
 
 OF ADMINISTERING 
 
 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM 
 
 " Baptism is not to be unnecessarily delayed ; nor to be administered, in any 
 case, by any private person : but by a Minister of Christ, called to be a steward 
 of the Mysteries of God. 
 
 '•' It is usually to be administered In tbe Cburcb, in the presence of tbe con- 
 gregation; and it is convenient that it be performed immediately after 
 sermon. 
 
 " After previous notice is given to the Minister, the child to be baptized is 
 to be presented, by one or both of the parents, signifying their desire that the 
 child may be baptized. 
 
 " Before Baptism, let the Minister use some words of instruction, respecting 
 the institution, nature, use, and ends of this ordinance ; showing 
 
 " ' That it is instituted by Christ ; that it is a seal of the righteousness of 
 faith ; that the seed of the faithful have no less a right to this ordinance, under 
 the Gospel, than the seed of Abraham to circumcision, under the Old Testa- 
 ment ; that Christ commanded all nations to be baptized ; that He blessed 
 little children, declaring that of such is the kingdom of heaven; that children 
 are federally holy, and therefore ought to be baptized ; that we are, by nature, 
 sinful, guilty, and polluted, and have need of cleansing by the blood of Christ, 
 and by the sanctifying influences of the Spirit of God.' ".. 
 
 
 
 UR help is in the Name of the Lord, who made 
 heaven and earth. Amen. 
 
 Do you present this child to be baptized ? 
 Answer : We do. 
 
132 The Form of Administering 
 
 /^UE. Lord showeth us in what poverty and misery 
 ^-^ we all are born, wlien He saith that we must be 
 born again. For if a renewal of our nature be neces- 
 sary, in order that we may enter the Kingdom of God : 
 This signifies that it is originally guilty and depraved. 
 Thus He teacheth us that we must humble ourselves, 
 and become displeased with ourselves ; and thus He 
 prepares us to desire and seek His grace : whereby all 
 our depravity and the guilt of our former nature shall be 
 done away. For we are not capable of receiving that 
 grace, unless we be first emptied of all confidence in 
 our own strength, righteousness, and wisdom, even so 
 as to condemn all that is in ourselves. 
 
 Now, when our Lord hath shown us our misery, He 
 doth likewise comfort us by His merciful assurance: 
 promising to regenerate us by His Holy Spirit in a 
 new life, that shall be to us as it were an entrance 
 into His Kingdom. This regeneration consists of two 
 parts : First, That we renounce ourselves, not follow- 
 ing our own reason, pleasure, and will ; but bringing 
 into subjection our understanding and afiections to the 
 wisdom and righteousness of Ood ; and mortifying all 
 that is of us and of our flesh. And secondly. That 
 we follow God's light, obeying and delighting our- 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 133 
 
 selves in His. good pleasure, as He manifests it by His 
 Word, and leads us to it by His Spirit. The fulfil- 
 ment of both these parts is to be found in our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; Whose passion and death are of such 
 power, that, participating in them, we become as it were 
 buried unto sin, that our carnal lusts may be morti- 
 fied and slain. So too by the power of His resurrec- 
 tion, we are raised to newness of life in God, by so 
 much as His Spirit conducts and governs us, to work 
 in us the things that are well-pleasing to Him. But 
 the first and principal point of our salvation is, that 
 by His mercy He remits to us all our offences, not im- 
 puting them unto us, but destroying even the re- 
 membrance of them, that they come not into account 
 at His judgment. 
 
 These benefits are conferred when God is pleased to 
 incorporate us into His Church by Baptism. For in 
 this Sacrament He testifies to us the remission of our 
 sins. And for this cause He ordained the sign of 
 water, figuring to us that as by this element the stains 
 of the body are cleansed, so He is willing to wash and 
 purify our souls, that no spot may any longer appear 
 upon them. Here also He doth represent to us our 
 regeneration ; which, as we have said, consists in the 
 
134 The Form of Administering 
 
 mortifying of our flesh, and the spiritual life, which 
 He produces in us. Thus we receive in Baptism a 
 twofold benefit from our God ; provided that we de- 
 stroy not the virtue of this sacrament by our ingrati- 
 tude : to wit, We have here a sure pledge that God is 
 willing to be our propitiated Father, not imputing to 
 us our sins and offences ; and secondly, that He will 
 assist us by His Holy Spirit, to fight against the devil, 
 sin, and the lusts of our flesh, even so as to gain the 
 victory over them, and to live in the liberty of His king- 
 dom, which is a kingdom of righteousness and peace. 
 Since, therefore, these two things are accomplished in 
 us by the grace of Christ, it follows that the virtue 
 and the substance of Baptism are both included in 
 Him. And in fact we have no other cleansing than 
 by His blood ; and we have no other renewal than by 
 His death and resurrection ; and the same blessings 
 that He communicates to us by His Word, He also 
 distributes to us by His Sacraments. 
 
 But our gracious God is not content to have adopted 
 us for His children, and received us into the com- 
 munion of His Church : He hath chosen more fully to 
 extend His goodness over us ; promising that He will 
 be our God, and the God of our seed, unto a thousand 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 135 
 
 generations. And although the children of believers 
 belong to the corrupt race of Adam, He nevertheless 
 fails not to accept them by virtue of this Covenant, 
 and adopt them into the number of His People. 
 Hence from the beginning He chose that in His 
 Church the children should receive the sign of cir- 
 cumcision, whereby He then represented all that to- 
 day is manifested in Baptism. And as He command- 
 ed that they should be circumcised, so He adopted 
 them for His children, and called Himself their Ood, 
 as He was the God of their fathers. 
 
 Now, therefore, since our Lord Jesus came down to 
 earth, not to diminish the grace of God His Father, 
 but so to enlarge the Covenant of salvation which then 
 was confined to the people of the Jews, as to include 
 the whole world : there can be no doubt that our chil- 
 dren are the heirs of that life which He hath promised 
 to grant. And for this cause St. Paul hath said, that 
 they are sanctified of God from the womb, that they 
 may be distinguished from the children of heathen and 
 unbelievers. And therefore our Lord Jesus Christ 
 received the children that were brought to Him, as it 
 is written in the Gospel : ^ 
 
136 The Form ofAdministering 
 
 rpHEN were there brought unto Him little children, 
 -*- that He should put His hands on them, and pray : 
 and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said. Suf- 
 fer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto 
 Me ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Since then He declares that the kingdom of heaven 
 belongs unto them ; since He layeth His hands upon 
 them, and commendeth them to God His Father : He 
 doth sufficiently teach us, that we must not exclude 
 them from His Church. Therefore, in pursuance of 
 this rule, we shall receive this child into His Church, 
 to the end that he moj be made partaker of the bless- 
 ings which God hath promised to the faithful. And 
 first of all we shrill present him to God by our prayers, 
 humbly saying with all our hearts thus : 
 
 " Then the Minister is to pray for a blessing to attend this ordinance." 
 PRAYER. 
 
 T ORD God, Eternal and Almighty Father ! since it 
 -^ hath pleased Thee of Thine infinite mercy to 
 promise, that Thou wilt be a God to us and to our chil- 
 dren : We pray Thee to confirm this grace unto the 
 child here present, begotten and born of parents whom 
 Thou hast called into Thy Church. And even as he 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 137 
 
 is offered and consecrated unto Thee by us, so wilt 
 Thou receive him into Thy holy protection, declaring 
 Thyself to be his God and Saviour, forgiving him the 
 original sin whereof the whole race of Adam is guilty, 
 and sanctifying him, by Thy Holy Spirit : that when 
 he shall come to years of discretion, he may know and 
 worship Thee as his only God, and glorify Thee 
 throughout all his life. And to obtain such mercies, 
 wilt Thou be pleased to incorporate him into the fel- 
 lowship of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he may have a 
 part in all His benefits, as a member of His Body. 
 Grant, Father of Mercies, that the Baptism we confer 
 upon him according to Thine Ordinance, may produce 
 its fruit, and manifest its power, even as Thou hast 
 declared in the Gospel of Thy Son : Who hath taught 
 us to say : 
 
 r\UR Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy 
 " Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but 
 deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and 
 the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
138 The Form of Administering 
 
 ' The Minister is also to exhort the oarents to the careful performance of 
 theii.* duty: requiring, 
 
 A S this child is to be received into the fellowship of 
 -^^ the Christian Church, you do promise, when he 
 is come to years of discretion, to instruct him in the 
 doctrine embraced by God's People, and summarily 
 comprehended in our common Confession of Faith, to 
 wit: 
 
 I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of 
 heaven and earth : and in Jesus Christ His only Son, 
 our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born 
 of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was 
 crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended into hell ; 
 the third day He rose again from th€ dead ; He as- 
 cended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of 
 God the Father Almighty ; from thence He shall come 
 to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the 
 Holy Ghost ; the holy Catholic Church, the Commu- 
 nion of Saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrec- 
 tion of the body ; and the life everlasting. Amen. 
 
 You promise that you will teach this child to read 
 the Word of God. You will instruct Aim in the prin- 
 ciples of our holy Religion, as contained in the Scrip- 
 tures of the Old and New Testaments. You will teach 
 
The Sacramentof Baptism. 139 
 
 him to repeat the Catechisnij the Apostles' Creed, and 
 the Lord's Prayer. You will praj with and for this 
 child ; you will set an example of piety and godliness 
 before him ; and endeavour, by all the means of God's 
 appointment, to bring him^ up in the nurture and ad- 
 monition of the Lord. 
 
 " These premises being made, the child shall be named; and the Minister 
 calling Mm by Ms name, shall say : 
 
 I 
 
 BAPTIZE thee in the Name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 "As he pronounces these words, he is to baptize the child with water, by 
 pouring or sprinkling on the face of the child, without adding any other cere- 
 mony : and the whole shall be concluded with prayer." 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 TTfE lift up our eyes unto Thee, most Holy and 
 * ' Merciful Father ! Who not only dost bless us 
 with the common benefits bestowed upon mankind, but 
 also dost lavish the precious and wonderful gifts of 
 Thy Gospel upon us : and we give Thee most humble 
 thanks for Thine infinite goodness : that Thou hast 
 numbered us among Thy Saints, and of Thy free grace 
 hast called our children unto Thee ; marking them 
 with this Sacrament, as a singular badge and token 
 
140 The Sacrament of Baptism. 
 
 of Thy love. Wherefore, most loving Father ! though 
 we deserve not so great a benefit, we beseech Thee 
 for Christ's sake to confirm Thy favour more and 
 more towards us : and take into Thy tuition and de- 
 fence, this child, whom we ofier and present unto Thee 
 with our common supplications. Suffer him never to 
 fall into ingratitude, and to lose the force of Baptism ; 
 but may he perceive Thee continually to be his Mer- 
 ciful Father, through Thy Holy Spirit working in 
 his heart ; by whose divine power he may so prevail 
 against Satan, that in the end obtaining the victory, 
 he inay be exalted into the liberty of Thy Kingdom: 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
OTHER FORMS 
 
 FOB triIB ADMINISTERING OF 
 
 THE SACEAMENT OF BAPTISM 
 
 ^ «»■»». ». 
 
 I. 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 r ET US consider, dearly beloved, how Almighty God 
 -^ hath not only made us His children by adoption, 
 receiving us into the fellowship of His Church : but 
 also hath promised that He will be our God. and the 
 God of our children, unto a thousand generations. 
 Which promise, confirmed to His People in the Old 
 Testament by the Sacrament of Circumcision, He 
 hath renewed to us in His New Testament by the 
 Sacrament of Baptism : giving us thereby to know, 
 that our infants belong to Him by covenant, and there- 
 fore ought not to be deprived of those holy signs and 
 badges, whereby His children are known from un- 
 believers. 
 
 Neither is it requisite that all those who receive this 
 
142 Othee Forms of Administering 
 
 Sacrament should have the use of understanding and 
 faith : but chiefly that they be contained under the 
 name of God's People, so that remission of sins in the 
 blood of Christ Jesus doth pertain unto them by the 
 promise of God. This is most evident from the words 
 of St. Paul, who pronounces the children begotten 
 and born, either of the parents being faithful, to be 
 clean and holy. Also our Saviour Christ admitteth 
 children to His presence, embracing and blessing 
 them. Which testimonies of the Holy Ghost assure 
 us, that infants are of the number of God's People, 
 and that remission of sins doth also belong to them in 
 Christ. • Therefore they can not without injury be 
 debarred from the common sign of God's children. 
 
 Further, it is evident that Baptism was ordained to 
 be ministered in the element of water, to teach us 
 that, like as water outwardly doth wash away the filth 
 of the body, so inwardly doth the virtue of Christ's 
 blood cleanse our souls from that corruption wherewith 
 by nature we were infected ; whose venomous dregs, 
 although they continue in this our flesh, yet by the 
 merits of His death are not imputed unto us, because 
 the righteousness of Jesus Christ is made ours by Bap- 
 tism. Not that we deem any such virtue or power to 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 143 
 
 be included in the visible water, or outward action; 
 for many have been baptized, and yet never inwardly 
 cleansed : But that our Saviour Christ, who command- 
 ed Baptism to be ministered, will, by the power of 
 His Holy Spirit, effectually work in the hearts of 
 His Elect, in time convenient, all that is meant and 
 signified by the same. And this the Scripture calls 
 our regeneration ; which consists chiefly in these two 
 points : mortification, that is to say a resisting of the 
 rebellious lusts of the flesh ; and newness of life, 
 whereby we continually strive to walk in the pureness 
 and perfection wherewith we are clad in Baptism. 
 
 And although in the journey of this life we are as- 
 sailed with many foes, yet do we not fight without 
 fruit. For this constant battle which we wage against 
 sin, death, and hell, is a most infallible argument that 
 God the Father, mindful of His promise made unto 
 us in Christ Jesus, doth not only give us desire and 
 courage to resist them, but also assurance to overcome. 
 Wherefore, dearly deloved, it is not only necessary 
 that we be once baptized, but also it profiteth much to 
 be often present at this ministration ; that being put 
 in mind of the league and covenant made between God 
 and us, that He will be our God, and we His People, 
 
144 Other Poems of Administeking 
 
 He our Father, and we His childreiij we may have 
 occasion to try as well our past lives as our present 
 conversation; and to prove ourselves, whether we 
 stand fast in the faith of God's Elect, or have strayed 
 from Him through unbelief and ungodly lives. If our 
 consciences do thus accuse us, yet by hearing the lov- 
 ing promises of our heavenly Father, who calls all 
 men to mercy by repentance, we may henceforth walk 
 more warily in our vocation. Moreover, ye that be 
 fathers and mothers, should take peculiar comfort in 
 seeing your children thus received into the bosom of 
 Christ's Congregation: whereby you are admonished 
 to nourish and bring up the children of God's favour 
 and mercy, over whom His fatherly providence con- 
 tinually watches. 
 
 And as this ought greatly to rejoice you, knowing 
 that nothing can happen unto them without His good 
 pleasure, so should it make you diligent and careful to 
 nurture and instruct them in the true knowledge and 
 fear of God. Wherein if ye be negligent, ye do not 
 only injure your own children, hiding from them the 
 good will and pleasure of Almighty God their Father : 
 but also you heap upon yourselves judgment, in suffer- 
 ing His children, bought with the blood of His dear 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 145 
 
 Son, so treacherously for lack of knowledge to turn 
 away from Him. Hence it is your duty with all dili- 
 gence to provide that your children, in due time, be 
 instructed in all knowledge necessary for a true Chris- 
 tian: chiefly that they be taught to rest upon the 
 righteousness of Christ Jesus alone, and to abhor and 
 flee all superstition and idolatry. And now to the 
 intent that we may be assured that you, the parents 
 of this child, consent to the performance of all this : 
 Declare here, before the face of God's Congregation, 
 the sum of that Faith wherein ye believe, and will in- 
 struct your child. 
 
 Then the father, or in his absence the godfather, shall rehearse the articles 
 of his faith, as follows : 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 A LMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who of Thine 
 ■^^ infinite mercy and goodness hast promised unto 
 us that Thou wilt be not only our God, but also the 
 God and Father of our children : We beseech Thee, 
 that having called us to be partakers of this Thy great 
 mercy, in the fellowship of faith, it may please Thee 
 to sanctify with Thy Holy Spirit, and to receive into 
 
146 Other Forms of Administering 
 
 the number of Thy children this infant, whom we 
 shall baptize according to Thy Word : That Ae, com- 
 ing to perfect age. may confess Thee the only true 
 God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent ; and 
 may so serve Him, and be profitable unto His Church, 
 in the whole course of his life, that this life ended, he 
 may be brought, as a lively member of His body, unto 
 the full fruition of Thy joys in the heavens : where 
 Thy Son, our Saviour Christ, reigneth with Thee and 
 the Holy Ghost, world without end. And in His 
 Name we pray, as He hath taught us, saying : 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 The administration of the ordinance as in the preceding form. 
 
 II. 
 ADDRESS. • 
 
 T)APTISM is an holy Sacrament instituted by 
 -*-^ Christ : in which a person professing the Chris- 
 tian Faith, or the infant of such, is baptized with water 
 into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
 the Holy Ghost : in signification and solemnization of 
 the holy covenant in which as a believer, or the seed 
 of believers, he giveth up himself, or is by the parent 
 given up, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 147 
 
 to believe in, love, and fear this blessed Trinity, against 
 the flesh, the devil, and the world. Thus he is sol- 
 emnly entered a visible member of Christ and His 
 Church, a child of God, and an heir of heaven. How 
 great now is this mercy, and how great the duty^that 
 is before you ! Is it a small mercy ^ for this child to 
 be accepted into the covenant of God, and washed from 
 his original sin in the blood of Christ — which is sig- 
 nified and sealed by this sacramental washing in water : 
 ■ — to be accepted as a member of Christ and of His 
 Church, where He vouchsafes His protection and pro- 
 vision, and the means and Spirit of grace, and the re- 
 newed pardon of sin upon repentance ? The diity on 
 your part is, first, to see that you are stedfast in the 
 faith and covenant of Christ ; that you perish not 
 yourself; that your child is indeed the child of a be- 
 liever : And then, you are believingly and thankfully 
 to dedicate your child to God, and to enter him into 
 the covenant in which you stand. And you must 
 know that your faith, and consent, and dedication, will 
 suffice for your children no longer than until they 
 come to age themselves : and then they must own 
 their baptismal covenant, and personally renew it, and 
 consent and give themselves up to God, or else they 
 
148 Other Forms of Administering 
 
 will not be owned bj Christ. You must therefore ac- 
 quaint them with the doctrine of the Gospel as they 
 grow up, and with the covenant now made : and bring 
 them up in the fear of the Lord. And when they are 
 actually penitent believers, they must present them- 
 selves to the Pastors of the Church, to be approved 
 and received into the communion of the adult believers. 
 
 The Minister shall here say to the Parent, and the Parent answer, as fol- 
 loweth: 
 
 A ND now, because these promises are made only to 
 '^■*- the faithful and to their seed, and because no 
 man can sincerely dedicate his child to that God in 
 whom he believeth not himself: I therefore require 
 you to make profession of your own faith. 
 
 Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker 
 of heaven and earth : And in Jesus Christ His only 
 Son our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
 born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pont' us Pi- 
 late, was crucified, dead, and buried ; He descended 
 into hell ; the third day He rose again 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 dead ? 
 
 Do you believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy 
 

 The Sacrament of Baptism. 149 
 
 Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints ; the for- 
 giveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body, and 
 the life everlasting ? 
 
 Answer : All this I unfeignedly believe. 
 
 Do you repent of your sins, and renounce the flesh, 
 the devil, and the world, and consent to the Covenant 
 of Grace, giving up yourself to God the Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghost, as your Creator and reconciled Fa- 
 ther, your Redeemer and your Sanctifier ? 
 
 Answer: I do. 
 
 Do you here solemnly promise, that, if God con- 
 tinue this child with you till he be capable of instruc- 
 tion, you will faithfully endeavour to acquaint him with 
 the covenant in which he was here engaged by you, 
 and to instruct and exhort him that he perform this 
 covenant as he looks for the blessings upon it, or to 
 escape the curses and wrath of God ; that he renounce 
 the flesh, the world, and the devil, and live not after 
 them ; and that he believe in this one God in three 
 Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, his Creator, 
 
150 Other Foems of Administering 
 
 Redeemer, and Sanctifier; that he resign himself to 
 Him as his absolute owner, and obey Him as his su- 
 preme Governor, and love Him as his most gracious 
 Father, hoping to enjoy Him as His felicity in end- 
 less glory ? 
 
 Answer : I will faithfully endeavour it. 
 
 Will you to this end faithfully endeavour to cause 
 him to learn the articles of the Christian Faith, the 
 Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments ; and to 
 read and hear the Holy Scriptures, and to attend on 
 the public Preaching of God's Word ? Will you en- 
 deavour by your own teaching, and example, and re- 
 straint, to keep him from wickedness, and train him 
 up in a holy life ? - 
 
 Answer : I w^ill faithfully endeavour it, by the help 
 of God. 
 
 Then let the Minister pray thus : 
 
 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 MOST Merciful Father ! by the first Adam sin 
 entered into the world, and death by sin; and 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 151 
 
 we are all by nature children of wrath. But Thou 
 hast given Thy only Son to be the seed of the woman, 
 the Saviour of the world, the Captain of our salvation ; 
 to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and to wash 
 us in His bloody and reconcile us unto Thee, and to 
 renew us by the Holy Ghost, and to bruise Satan 
 under our feet. In Him Thou hast established the 
 Covenant of Grace, and hast appointed this holy Sacra- 
 ment of Baptism for our solemn entrance into the 
 bonds of the Covenant, and instating us in the bless- 
 ings of it, which Thou extendest to the faithful and 
 their seed. We dedicate and offer this child to Thee, 
 to be received into Thy Covenant and Thy Church. 
 We beseech Thee to accept him as a member of Thy 
 Son, and wash him in His blood from the guilt of sin, 
 as the flesh is washed by this water. Be reconciled to 
 him, and take him for Thy child. Kenew him in the 
 image of Thy Son ; make him a fellow-citizen with the 
 Saints, and of Thy household. Protect him and pro- 
 vide for him as Thine own^ and finally preserve him to 
 Thy heavenly Kingdom : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall ask of the parent the name of the child to bo bap- 
 tized ; and naming him, shall say : 
 
152 Other Forms OF Administering 
 
 T BAPTIZE thee in the Name of the Father, and of 
 -^ . the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 And lie shall thus declare : 
 
 / 
 
 rpmS child is now received by Christ's appointment 
 -*- into His Church, and solemnly entered into the 
 holy Covenant ; and engaged, if he lives to the use 
 of reason, to rise with Christ to newness of life, being 
 buried with Him by Baptism ; and to bear His Cross, 
 and confess Christ crucified, and manfully to fight 
 under His banner against the flesh, the devil, and the 
 world, and to continue His faithful soldier and servant 
 to the death, that he may receive the crown of life. 
 
 Then he shall give thanks and pray. 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 "TTfE give Thee thanks. Most Merciful Father! 
 * ^ that when we had broken Thy law, and were 
 condemned by it, Thou didst give us a Saviour, and 
 eternal life in Him ; and hast extended Thy Covenant 
 of Grace to believers and to their seed ; and hast now 
 received this child into Thy Covenant and Thy Church, 
 as a member of Christ, by this Sacrament of regenera- 
 tion. We beseech Thee, let him grow up in holiness ; 
 and when he comes to years of discretion, let Thy 
 
The Sackament of Baptism. 153 
 
 Spirit reveal unto him the mysteries of the Gospel, 
 and the riches of Thy love in Jesus Christ ; and cause 
 him to renew and perform the covenant that he hath 
 now made, and to resign himself, and all that he hath, 
 entirely unto Thee his Lord, to be subject and obe- 
 dient to Thee his Governor, and to love Thee his 
 Father, with all his heart, and soul, and might. May 
 he ever adhere unto Thee, and delight in Thee, as the 
 portion of his 'soul; desiring and hoping to enjoy 
 Thee in everlasting glory. Save him from the lusts 
 and allurements of the flesh ; the temptations of the 
 devil ; the pleasure, profit, and honour of the world ; 
 from all the corruptions of his own heart, and all the 
 hurtful violence of his foes. Keep him in communion 
 with Thy saints, in the love and use of Thy Word and 
 worship. May he deny himself and take up his cross, 
 and follow Christ, the Captain of his salvation, and be 
 faithful unto the death, and then receive the crown of 
 life, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 III. 
 
 address. 
 rpHE principal parts of the doctrine of Holy Bap- 
 -^ tism are these three : first, That we with our 
 
154 Other Forms of Administering 
 
 children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore 
 are children of wrath ; insomuch that we can not enter 
 into the Kingdom of God, except we are horn again : 
 which is signified by the application of water in the 
 Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. Secondly, Holy Baptism witnesseth and seal- 
 eth unto us the washing away of our sins through 
 Jesus Christ. For when we are baptized in the Name 
 of the Father : God the Father sealeth unto us that 
 He doth make an eternal Covenant of Grace with us, 
 and adopts us for His children and heirs. And when 
 we are baptized in the Name of the Son : God the 
 Son sealeth unto us that He doth wash us in His 
 blood from all our sins ; so that we are accounted 
 righteous before God. And, in like manner, when we 
 are baptized in the Name of the Holy Ghost : God 
 the Holy Ghost assures us that He will dwell in us, 
 and apply that which we have in Christ, namely, the 
 washing away of our sins, and the daily renewing of 
 our lives, till we shall finally be presented without 
 spot or wrinkle among the Elect in life eternal. 
 Thirdly, Whereas in all covenants there are contained 
 two parts, therefore are we through Baptism obliged 
 unto new obedience : namely, that we cleave to this 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 155 
 
 one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; that we for- 
 sake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a 
 new and holy life. 
 
 And if we sometimes through weakness fall into 
 sin, we must not therefore despair of God's mercy, nor 
 continue in sin, since Baptism is a seal and undoubted 
 testimony, that we have an eternal Covenant of Grace 
 with God. 
 
 And although our young children do not understand 
 these things, they are not therefore to be excluded 
 from Baptism. For as they are without their knowl- 
 edge partakers of the condemnation in Adam, so are 
 they again received unto grace in Christ. For God 
 said unto Abraham, the father of all the faithful, and 
 therefore unto us and our children, I will establish 
 My Covenant between Me and thee, and thy seed after 
 thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant ; 
 to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 
 This is confirmed by the Apostle Peter, saying. For 
 the promise is unto you, and to your children. There- 
 fore God formerly commanded them to be circumcised, 
 which was a seal of the covenant, and of the righteous- 
 ness of faith. And therefore Christ also embraced 
 them, laid His hands upon them, and blessed them, 
 
156 Other Forms of Administering 
 
 Forasmuch then as Baptism is come in the place of 
 Circumcision, infants are to be baptized, as heirs of the 
 Kingdom of God, and of His Covenant. And parents 
 are in duty bound, further to instruct their children 
 herein, when they shall have arrived at years of dis- 
 cretion. That therefore this holy Ordinance of God 
 may be administered to His glory, to our comfort, and 
 to the edification of His Church : let us call upon His 
 Holy Name. 
 
 prayer. 
 f\ ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, we beseech Thee 
 ^^ that Thou wilt be pleased of Thine infinite 
 mercy graciously to look upon these children ; and in- 
 corporate them by Thy Holy Spirit into Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ : that they may be buried with Him unto 
 His death, and be raised with Him in newness of life ; 
 that they may daily follow Him, joyfully bearing their 
 cross, and cleave unto Him in true faith, firm hope, 
 and ardent love ; that they may with a comfortable 
 sense of Thy favour leave this life, which is nothing 
 but a continual death; and at the last day appear 
 without terror before the judgment-seat of Christ Thy 
 Son : Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with Thee 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 157 
 
 and the Holy Ghost, one only God, lives and reigns 
 for ever. Amen. 
 
 To the Parents, and those who come with them to Baptism. 
 
 "QELOVED in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have 
 -*-^ heard that Baptism is an Ordinance of God, to 
 seal unto us and to our seed His covenant. Therefore 
 it must be used for that end, and not out of custom or 
 superstition. That it may then be manifest that you 
 are thus minded, you are to answer sincerely to these 
 questions : 
 
 First, Do you acknowledge that, although our chil- 
 dren are conceived and born in sin, and therefore un- 
 der condemnation : yet they are sanctified* in Christ, 
 and therefore, as members of His Church, ought to be 
 baptized? 
 
 Secondly, Do you acknowledge the doctrine which 
 is contained in the Old and New Testaments, and in 
 the articles of the Christian faith, and which is taught 
 here in this Christian Church, to be the true and com- 
 plete doctrine of salvation ? 
 
 * My children, Ezek. xvi. 21. They are holy, 1 Cor. vli. 14, jA 
 
158 Other Forms of Administering 
 
 • Thirdly, Do you promise and intend to see these 
 children, when come to years of discretion, instructed 
 and brought up in the aforesaid doctrine, to the utmost 
 of your power ? . 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 I 
 
 Then the Minister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say : 
 
 I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and 
 •5 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God and Mefciful Father, we thank 
 -^ and praise Thee that Thou hast promised to for- 
 give us and our children all our sins, through the 
 blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ ; and to re- 
 ceive us through the Holy Ghost as members of Thy 
 Son, and to adopt us as Thy children. We bless and 
 praise Thee that Thou hast sealed and confirmed these 
 promises unto us by Holy Baptism. We beseech 
 Thee, through the same Son of Thy love, tjiat Thou 
 wilt be pleased always to govern these baptized chil- 
 dren by Thy Holy Spirit ; that they may be piously 
 brought up, in the nurture and admonition of the 
 
The Sacrament of Baptism. 159 
 
 Lord ; that they then may acknowledge Thy fatherly 
 goodness and mercy, which Thou hast shown to them 
 and to us ; and live in all righteousness under our only 
 Teacher, King, and High Priest, Jesus Christ; and 
 manfully fight and overcome sin, the devil, and his 
 whole dominion : to the end that they may eternally 
 praise and magnify Thee, and Thy Son Jesus Christ, 
 together with the Holy Ghost, the one only true God. 
 Amen. 
 

 THE FORM 
 
 OF ADMINISTEEINa 
 
 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM 
 TO ADTJLT PERSONS. 
 
 After repeating the first two paragraphs of the preceding office, the Minis- 
 ter proceeds thus : 
 
 TTOWEVER children of Christian parents, although 
 -*-^ they understand not this mystery, must be bap- 
 tized, by virtue of the Covenant: yet it is not lawful 
 to baptize those who are come to years of discretion, 
 except they first be sensible of their sins, and make 
 confession both of their repentance and of their faith in 
 Christ. For this cause our Lord Jesus Christ com- 
 manded His disciples to teach all nations, and then to 
 baptize them, in the Name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; adding this promise, He 
 that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Accord- 
 ingly, the Apostles baptized none who were of years 
 of discretion, but such as made confession of their faith 
 
Baptism of Adult Persons. 161 
 
 and repentance. Therefore it is not lawful now to 
 baptize any adult persons, but those who have been 
 taught the mysteries of Holy Baptism, and are able 
 to give an account of their faith by the confession of 
 the mouth. 
 
 Since then, you, N., are desirous of this holy sacra- 
 ment, as a seal of your engrafting into the Church of 
 God ; that it may appear that you do not only receive 
 the Christian Religion, of which you now make con- 
 fession, but do, through the grace of God, intend and 
 purpose to lead a life according to the same ; you are 
 sincerely to give answer before God and His Church : 
 
 Dost thou believe in the one only true God, distinct 
 in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; Who 
 hath made heaven and earth, and all that in them is, 
 of nothing, and still maintains and governs them, inso- 
 much that nothing comes to pass, either in heaven or 
 on earth, without His divine will ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Dost thou acknowledge that thou art conceived and 
 born in sin, and therefore art a child of wrath, by na- 
 ture wholly incapable of doing any good, and prone to 
 all evil ; and that thou hast frequently, both in thought, 
 
162 Baptismof 
 
 word, and deed, transgressed the commandments of 
 the Lord; and art thou heartily sorrj. for these sins ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Dost thou believe that Christ, Who is the true and 
 eternal God, and very Man, is given thee of God to 
 be thy Saviour ; and that thou dost receive by this 
 faith remission of sins in His blood ; and that thou art 
 made by the power of the Holy Ghost a member of 
 Jesus Christ and of His Church ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 ^^•"TTost thou assent to all the articles of the Christian 
 Religion, as they are here taught in this Christian 
 Church, according to the Word of God ; and purpose 
 stedfastly to continue in the same to the end of thy 
 life ; and also dost thou reject all heresies and schisms, 
 repugnant to this doctrine]^ and promise to persevere 
 in the communion of our Christian Church, not only 
 in the hearing of the Word, but also in the use of the 
 Lord's Supper ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
*' Adult Persons/ 163 
 
 Hast thou taken a firm resolution always to lead a 
 Christian life ; to forsake the world and its evil lusts, 
 as becometh the members of Christ and of His 
 Church ; and to submit thyself to all Christian ad- 
 monitions ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 The good and gracious God mercifully grant His 
 grace and blessing to this thy purpose, through Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say : 
 
 N., I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and 
 of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOE 
 
 THE ADMISSION OF BAPTIZED PERSONS 
 TO THE TABLE OF THE LOED. 
 
 At the Service preparatory to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 " Children born within the pale of the visible Church, and dedicated to God 
 in Baptism, are under the inspection and government of the Church; and are 
 to be taught to read and repeat the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and the 
 Lord's Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and 
 to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, 
 if they be free from scandal, appear sober and steady, and to have sufficient 
 knowledge to discern the Lord's Body, they ought to be informed it is their 
 duty and their privilege to come to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 " The years of discretion in young Christians can not be precisely fixed. 
 This must be left to the prudence of the Eldership. The officers of the Church 
 are the judges of the qualifications of those to be admitted to sealing ordi- 
 nances ; and of the time when it is proper to admit young Christians to them. 
 
 " Those who are to be admitted to sealing ordinances, shall be examined as 
 to their knowledge and piely." 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 
 /^UR help is in the Name of the Lord, who made 
 
 heaven and earth. Amen. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 rpHUS saith the Lord that made thee, and formed 
 -*- thee from the womb, which will help thee, Fear 
 
Admission of Baptized Persons. 165 
 
 not, Jacob, my servant, and thou Jesurun, whom 
 I have chosen. For I will pour water on him that is 
 thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground : I will pour 
 my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine 
 offspring; and they shall spring up as among the 
 grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, 
 I am the Lord's; and another shall subscribe with 
 his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the 
 name of Israel. 
 
 ADDRESS TO THE CONGREGATION. 
 
 "QRETHREN, we are here met for the admission of 
 ■^ these young persons, who have been examined as 
 to their knowledge and piety, to the Table of the Lord. 
 They will publicly ratify in your hearing the engage- 
 ments of their Baptism, and be received to the full par- 
 ticipation of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace. 
 
 This occasion is one of solemn interest for each of 
 them : and such also let it be for each of you. Let 
 your thoughts revert to the vows that you have taken, 
 and the privileges that you have enjoyed, in the com- 
 munion and fellowship of Christ and of His Body the 
 Church. To this end let us with one accord seek the 
 blessing of the Spirit of God. 
 
166 Admission of Baptized Peksons 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 A LMIGHTY and most Merciful God ! We give 
 ■^-^ Thee hearty thanks, that Thou hast called us to 
 the knowledge of Thyself, in Jesus Christ our Lord ; 
 and hast vouchsafed to make us partakers of the great 
 and precious promises of Thy holy Word. We praise 
 Thee for the certain assurance, that these promises are 
 unto us, and to our children^ and to all that are afar 
 off, even as many as Thy grace shall call. Merciful 
 God, we have believed the witness of Thy Word. We 
 have dedicated these children from their infancy to 
 Thee. We have sought for them admission to Thy 
 Church by Holy Baptism. We have taught them Thy 
 saving Truth ; and now that they have reached years 
 of discretion, we come with them, to witness their will- 
 ing renewal of the sacred vows that bind them to Thy 
 Covenant. Lord, we beseech Thee, help them at this 
 solemn hour. Work in them both to will and to do of 
 Thy good pleasure. Make them sincere in repentance, 
 strong in faith, stedfast in hope, and fervent in charity. 
 Receive them into the communion of Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ; and enable them to persevere unto 
 the end, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Amen. 
 
To THE Lord's Table. 167 
 
 . Then the Minister, addressing the Candidates, says : 
 
 "\rOU that desire to be admitted to the Table of the 
 -*- Lord, are you so fully persuaded of the truths 
 of the Gospel in which you have been taught, that 
 you are ready to suflfer all things, sooner than re- 
 nounce the profession you now make ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Have you examined your own hearts, and are you 
 determined to forsake sin, and to order your lives in 
 obedience to God's law ? 
 
 Ans7ver. Yes. 
 
 Do you promise that, for the strengthening of your 
 faith and piety, you will give yourselves to careful 
 study and meditation upon the Word of God, and to 
 prayer ; to a regular attendance upon the assemblies 
 of His People; and to all other means that Prov- 
 idence shall furnish, for the advancement of your 
 salvation ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Do you then sincerely and with your whole hearts 
 
168 Admission of Baptized Persons 
 
 confirm and ratify the vows of your Baptism, that 
 bind you to renounce the world with all its vanities, 
 to resist your evil passions, to consecrate yourselves 
 to God, your Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier ; and to 
 live in temperance, righteousness, and holiness all your 
 days ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Then the Minister says : 
 
 TN view of these promises, I admit you to the Table 
 -■- of the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, that 
 you may enjoy all the privileges of the Covenant of 
 Grace. 
 
 May you be deeply sensible of the importance and 
 the solemnity of the engagement that you have now 
 entered upon, and retain the impression of it through- 
 out your lives. Remember that it is to God, your 
 Maker, your Redeemer, and your Judge, that these 
 promises have been made ; and that upon the care you 
 take to fulfil them, will depend your eternal blessed- 
 ness. Walk worthily, then, of your high vocation. 
 Let the light of your good works shine before men. 
 Labour to perfect holiness, in the fear of the Lord. 
 Seek daily the strength of God. Nourish your souls 
 
To THE Lord's Table. 169 
 
 with His Word. Be watchful unto prayer. Flee 
 youthful snares, that would lead you away from Him. 
 Thus devoting yourselves to God from youth, you 
 will be so accustomed to His service, that His yoke 
 will seem to you easy, and His burden light, and 
 your joy will be found in doing His blessed will. God 
 on His part will bless you; He will give you His 
 peace, that passeth all understanding. The eye of the 
 Lord will be upon you, and His ears will be open to 
 your prayers ; the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse 
 you from all sin. Be fearful of nothing; because 
 greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the 
 world. His strength will be made perfect in your 
 weakness ; you will be able to do all things through 
 Christ who strengtheneth you. In the hour of death, 
 you will be sustained by the hope of a joyful resur- 
 rection, and having here below your fruit unto holi- 
 ness, you shall have the end everlasting life. 
 
 Then the Minister, addressing the whole congregation, says : 
 
 A ND you. Brethren, who now witness the entrance 
 -^-^ of these baptized persons upon a connection yet 
 more close and intimate with yourselves, let your af- 
 fection toward them, and your earnest solicitude for 
 
170 Admission of Baptized Persons 
 
 their welfare, be henceforth redoubled. And let us all 
 with one accord, as members of one Body, unite in 
 fervent prayer, that God may pour down His grace 
 upon us, and guide by His Holy Spirit into His per- 
 fect way. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 The Candidates kneeling. 
 
 r\ LORD our God, who hast chosen to Thyself a 
 ^-^ Church on earth, and who hast promised to 
 preserve it unto the end of the world, and finally raise 
 it unto Thy glory: Look down in Thy goodness upon 
 these baptized persons now prostrate before Thee, who 
 have been solemnly admitted to the fiill communion 
 and fellowship of Thy Church. Thou hadst already 
 called them, by the promises of Thy Covenant, which 
 are made unto us and unto our children ; and granted 
 them the seal of this privilege of Christian birth, in 
 the ordinance of Baptism. But since the weakness 
 of their infancy prevented the personal and voluntary 
 dedication of themselves, they come now to confirm 
 the vows of obedience that were taken for them, to 
 consecrate themselves entirely to Thy service, and to 
 beseech Thee that Thou wilt graciously regard them 
 
To THE Lokd's Table. 171 
 
 as Thy children. They have been taught, God, to 
 know Thee, their Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier. 
 They are persuaded that there is salvation in none 
 other, and they desire to have part in the benefits 
 of the sacrifice of Christ, and His efficacious interces- 
 sion. Accept, Lord, these purposes of their hearts, 
 and receive them into the communion of Thy Son. 
 May they love Thy truth, and ever seek to know it 
 more thoroughly, and to profess it more consistently, 
 unto the end of their lives. May they withstand all 
 evil, renounce the world, its vanities and delusions, 
 and live as the heirs and citizens of heaven. May 
 the. Sacrament of which they shall partake be accom- 
 panied with a fresh outpouring of Thy grace upon 
 them. Take possession of their hearts by Thy Holy 
 Spirit; and at last receive them with us into Thy 
 heavenly habitations, through our Great Redeemer and 
 Advocate, Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen. 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 rpHE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the 
 -■- Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and 
 remain with you always. Amen. 
 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
 
 DATS OP PASTING AND THANKSGIVING. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF SERVICE 
 
 DAY OP HUMILIATION, FASTING, AND PRAYER. 
 
 " Public notice is to be given a convenient time before the day of Fasting or 
 Thanksgiving comes, that persons may so order their temporal affairs, that they 
 may properly attend to the duties thereof. 
 
 "There shall be public worship upon all such days: and let the prayers, 
 psalms, portions of Scripture to be read, and sermons, be all in a special man- 
 ner adapted to the occasion. 
 
 " On Fast-days let the Minister point out the authority and providences call- 
 ing to the observation thereof; and let him spend a more than usual portion 
 of time in solemn prayer, particular confession of sin, especially of the sins of 
 the day and place, with their aggravations, which have brought down the 
 judgments of heaven. And let the whole day be spent in deep humiliation 
 and mourning before God." 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TT7HEREWITH shall I come before the Lord, and 
 * * bow myself before the high God ? Shall I 
 come before Him with burnt-offerings, with calves of 
 a year old ? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands 
 of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil ? Shall 
 I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of 
 
176 Order of Service 
 
 my body for the sin of my soul ? He hath showed 
 thee, man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord 
 require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, 
 and to walk humbly with thy God ? 
 
 OPENING PRAYER. 
 
 f\ LORD, Thy mercy is without measure, and the 
 ^^ truth of Thy promise abideth for ever. Un- 
 worthy are we that Thou shouldst look upon us ; but 
 Thou hast promised to show Thy compassion toward 
 the most grievous offenders, whensoever they repent ; 
 and by the mouth of Thy dear Son our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to give Thy Holy Spirit unto such as humbly 
 call upon Thee. In boldness of this promise, we most 
 fervently beseech Thee, Father of Mercies, that it 
 may please Thee to work in our stubborn hearts an 
 unfeigned sorrow for our offences, a feeling of Thy 
 grace and mercy, and an earnest desire for that right- 
 eousness in which we are bound continually to walk. 
 But because neither we nor our prayers can stand be- 
 fore Thee, we fly to the obedience and perfect right- 
 eousness of Jesus Christ our only Mediator : in whom, 
 and by whom, we ask of Thee not only the remission 
 of our sins, and the help of Thy Spirit, but all things 
 
- For A Public Fast. 177 
 
 also that Thy wisdom knoweth to be expedient for us, ,^ 
 and for Thy Church Universal. Amen. 
 
 To be said by the Minister and People. 
 
 /^UR Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 ^^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but de- 
 liver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and the 
 power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Here may be sung a penitential Psalm. 
 
 Then follows the reading of Scripture, out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 The following are appropriate selections : 
 
 Isaiah 1. 10-27. St. Matthew iii. 1-12. 
 
 Isaiah Iviii. Hebrews iii. 
 
 Jeremiah vii. 1-20. St. Matthew xxi. 28^6. 
 
 Psalm li. St. Luke xiii. 23-35. 
 
 Ezekiel xviii. 20-82. St. Luke xviii. 1-14. 
 
 Daniel ix. 1-19. St. Luke xv. 11-32. 
 
 Next the 
 
 GENERAL PRAYER. 
 
 f\ ALMIGHTY, Most Just, and Merciful God ! we 
 
 acknowledge ourselves unworthy to lift up our 
 
 8* 
 
178 Order of Service 
 
 eyes unto heaven, as we present ourselves before Thee. 
 For our consciences accuse us, and our sins reprove 
 us ; and we know that Thou, who art a righteous Judge, 
 must needs punish them that transgress Thy law. 
 Lord ! when we look back and examine our whole life, 
 we find nothing in ourselves that deserveth any other 
 reward than eternal condemnation. But since, of 
 Thine unspeakable mercy, Thou hast commanded us in 
 all our necessities to call upon Thee ; and hast also 
 promised that Thou wilt hear our prayers, not for any 
 merit of our own, for we have none, but for the merits 
 of Thy Son, whom Thou hast ordained to be our only 
 Mediator and Intercessor : Therefore we lay aside all 
 confidence in man, and flee to the throne of Thy 
 mercy, by the intercession of Thy only Son our Saviour, 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 O Lord ! we lament and bewail our past unthank- 
 fulness towards Thee. We remember that besides those 
 benefits of Thine which we enjoy in common with all 
 men as Thy creatures. Thou hast bestowed upon us 
 many special blessings, of which we are not able in 
 heart to conceive the value, much less in words worthily 
 to express it. Thou hast called us to the knowledge 
 of Thy Gospel. Thou hast released us from the hard 
 
For A Public Fast. 179 
 
 servitude of Satan. Thou hast delivered us from idol- 
 atry, and hast brought us into the clear and comfort- 
 able light of Thy blessed Word. But we, unmindful 
 of these Thy benefits, have neglected Thy command- 
 ments, have abused the knowledge of Thy Gospel, have 
 followed our carnal liberty, have served our own lusts, 
 and through our sinful lives have failed sxiitably to 
 serve and honour Thee. 
 
 And now, Lord ! we do most humbly confess that 
 we have sinned, and have most grievously displeased 
 Thee. And if Thou, Lord ! provoked with our dis- 
 obedience, shouldst now deal with us as we have de- 
 served, there remaineth nothing to be looked for, but 
 continual plagues in this world, and hereafter eternal 
 death and condemnation, both of body and of soul. 
 For if we should excuse ourselves, our own consciences 
 would accuse us before Thee, and our own disobedience 
 and wickedness would bear witness against us. Yea, 
 although Thou shouldst punish us more grievously 
 still ; though Thou shouldst pour upon us all those 
 testimonies of Thy just wrath, which in time past Thou 
 pouredst on Thy chosen people, Israel : yet could we 
 not deny that we had justly deserved it. 
 
 But, O merciful Lord ! Thou art our God, and wo 
 
180 Order OF Sebv ICE 
 
 are Thine inheritance ; Thoa art our Creator, and we 
 the work of Thy hands ; Thou art our Shepherd, we 
 Thy flock ; Thou art our Redeemer, and we the people 
 whom Thou hast redeemed ; Thou art our Father, we 
 are Thy children. Lord ! be not wroth against us ; 
 punish us not in Thy sore displeasure. 
 
 Remember, Lord ! that Thy Name hath been 
 named upon us ; that we bear Thy seal, and the tokens 
 of Thy service. Perfect the work Thou hast begun in 
 us ; that all the world may know Thou art our God 
 and merciful Dehverer. Thou knowest that the dead 
 who are in their graves can not praise Thee ; but the 
 sorrowful spirit, the contrite heart, the conscience 
 broken with a sense of sin, and panting for Thy grace, 
 shall give Thee praise and glory. Thy people Israel 
 ofttimes offended Thee, and Thou didst justly afflict 
 them ; but as oft as they returned to Thee, Thou didst 
 receive them in mercy ; and though their sins were 
 never so great, yet didst Thou turn away Thy wrath, 
 and the punishment prepared for them : and that for 
 Thy Covenant's sake, which Thou madest with Thy 
 servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thou hast made 
 a better Covenant with us, heavenly Father ! a 
 Covenant on which we may lean as we appear before 
 
For A Public Fast. 181 
 
 Thee : through the mediation of Thy dear Son Jesus 
 Christ our Saviour, with whose most precious blood it 
 pleased Thee that this Covenant should be written, 
 sealed, and confirmed. 
 
 Wherefore, heavenly Father ! we now, casting 
 away all confidence in ourselves or any other creature, 
 do flee to this most holy Covenant and testament ; 
 wherein our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, once 
 offering Himself a sacrifice for us on the Cross, hath 
 reconciled us to Thee for ever. Look, therefore, 
 merciful God ! not upon the sins that we continually 
 commit, but upon our Mediator and Peacemaker, 
 Jesus Christ : that by His intercession Thy wrath may 
 be pacified, and we again by Thy fatherly countenance 
 relieved and comforted. Receive us also into Thy 
 heavenly defence, and govern us by Thy Holy Spirit. 
 Frame in us newness of life, wherein to laud and 
 magnify Thy blessed Name for ever, and to live every 
 one of us according to the several states of life where- 
 unto Thou hast ordained us. 
 
 And, heavenly Father ! although by reason of 
 our past sins, we are unworthy to crave any thing of 
 Thee : yet, because Thou hast commanded us to pray 
 for all men, we most humbly beseech Thee, save and 
 
182 Order OF Service 
 
 defend Thj holy Church. Be merciful to all com- 
 monwealths, countries, princes, and magistrates ; and 
 especially to this our land, and to its rulers and gov- 
 ernors. Increase the number of godly ministers. 
 Endue them with Thy grace, to be found faithful and 
 prudent in their office. "We commend also to Thy 
 fatherly mercy all that be in poverty, exile, im- 
 prisonment, sickness, or any kind of adversity; and 
 chiefly those whom Thy hand hath touched with 
 any dangerous sickness: which we beseech Thee, 
 Lord ! of Thy mercy, when Thy blessed will is, to 
 remove. And in the meantime grant us the grace 
 of true repentance, steadfast faith, and constant pa- 
 tience : that whether we live or die, we may always 
 continue Thine, and ever bless Thy holy Name, 
 and be brought to the fruition of Thy Godhead. 
 Grant these, and all our humble petitions, merciful 
 Father I for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 After thia Prayer a Hymn shall be sung before the 
 SERMON. 
 
 After which a Closing Prayer, as on pp. 71, 88-85 ; followed by a Hymn, 
 and the 
 
For a Public Fast. 183 
 
 benediction. 
 
 THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF SERVICE 
 
 DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING 
 
 " On days of Thanksgiving, the Minister is to give infoi-mation respecting the 
 authority and providences which call to the observance of them ; and to spend 
 a more than usual part of the time in the giving up of thanks, agreeably to the 
 occasion, and in singing psalms or hymns of praise. 
 
 " It is the duty of the people on these days to rejoice with holy gladness of 
 heart; but let trembling be so joined with our mirth, that no excess or un- 
 becoming levity be indulged." 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 r\ COME, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make 
 ^^ a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let 
 us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and 
 make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. 
 
 , come, let us worship and bow down : let us kneel 
 before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God ; and 
 we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of 
 His hand. 
 
Public Thanksgiving. 185 
 
 invocation. 
 A LMIGHTY God ! who hast promised to be pre- 
 •^-^ sent with Thy people, and to grant their re- 
 quests in the Name of Thy well-beloved Son : Look 
 down, we beseech Thee, upon us, who have assembled 
 at this time to offer unto Thee our thanksgiving and 
 praise ; and for the sake of Him who is our only 
 Saviour and Mediator with Thee, grant us the help 
 of Thy Holy Spirit : that our thoughts being lifted 
 up, and our desires drawn forth unto Thee, we may 
 render Thee an acceptable service, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 To be said by the Minister and People. 
 
 r^UR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 ^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but 
 deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and 
 the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Then follows the singing of a Psalm or Hymn of Thanksgiving. 
 
186 Order of Service 
 
 Next the reading of Scripture out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 The following are appropriate selections ; 
 
 t)eut. viii. Bom. xii. 
 
 Psalm civ. Philip, iv. 4r-20. 
 
 Psalm cvii. 1 Thess. v. 
 
 Next the 
 
 GENERAL THANKSGIVING. 
 
 GOD, infinite in wisdom, power, and goodness ! 
 
 
 
 We acknowledge Thee the Creator of all things 
 in the heavens above, in the earth beneath, and in 
 the paths of the sea. We adore Thee for the great- 
 ness and beauty of all Thy works. We adore Thy 
 loving-kindness, that Thou hast made them subservient 
 to the wants and happiness of Thy children. What 
 is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of 
 man that Thou visitest him ? Thou hast given him 
 dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls 
 of the air, and over every living thing that moveth 
 upon the earth. Thou hast given to him for meat 
 every moving thing that liveth, and every herb yield- 
 ing seed, and every fruit-tree yielding fruit after its 
 kind. Thou hast crowned us with mercy and loving- 
 kindness. 
 
 We praise Thee for Thy gracious promise of old, 
 
For Public Thanksgiving. 187 
 
 that "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, 
 and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day 
 and night, shall not cease. Thou visitest the earth, 
 and blessest it. Thou sendest the springs into the 
 valleys which run among the hills. Thou causest the 
 grass to grow for all cattle, and herb for the service 
 of man, that he may bring forth fruit out of the earth. 
 Thou makest the furrows of the field soft with show- 
 ers : Thou blessest the springing thereof The pas- 
 tures are clothed with flocks : the valleys also are 
 covered over with corn : they shout for joy. Thou 
 crownest the year with Thy goodness : Thy clouds 
 drop fatness : they drop upon the pastures of the wil- 
 derness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. 
 Lord ! how manifold are Thy works ! in wisdom hast 
 Thou made them all. 
 
 We praise Thee, Lord ! not only in the riches of 
 Thy bounty and compassion, but also in Thy righteous 
 judgments. Thou openest Thy hand, and we are 
 filled with good : Thou hidest Thy face, and we are 
 troubled. But we know that in Thy wrath Thou 
 rememberest mercy ; and we acknowledge Thy long- 
 suffering and Thy loving-kindness. Give us grace to 
 believe, that whom the Lord loveth He chastenethj 
 
188 Order of Service 
 
 and ever enable us to offer unto Thee, in spirit and in 
 truth, the prayer of Thy holy prophet : Although the 
 fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the 
 vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields 
 shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut off from 
 the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls : yet 
 we will rejoice in the Lord ; we will joy in the God 
 of our salvation. ^ 
 
 For ourselves and our country, Gracious God! 
 we thank Thee : that notwithstanding our manifold 
 transgressions of Thy holy laws, Thou hast continued 
 unto us Thy marvellous kindness: that Thou hast 
 given us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling 
 our hearts with food and gladness. These have been 
 witnesses of Thy great goodness, for they certify of 
 Thee that Thou art the living God. Teach us to be- 
 lieve with a strong faith that Thou art Lord of the 
 seasons : that Thou biddest the earth to bring forth, 
 and it obeyeth Thee. Accept our thanksgivings for 
 all the blessings of the year now drawing to a close : 
 fill our hearts with humility and love, with gratitude 
 and trust : continue Thy loving-kindness unto us, and 
 help us to show forth the fruits of grace, in a sincere 
 obedience to His will, through whom all blessings are 
 
For Public Thanksgiving. 189 
 
 vouchsafed, Thy Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 Amen. 
 
 < 
 
 After this Prayer a Hymn shall be sung before the 
 
 At the close of which may be used one of the forms of a General Prayer, as on 
 page 81-88. 
 
 Then a Hymn, and the 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 rpHE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 -*- of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
THE OFFICE 
 
 CONFIRMATION OP MARRIAGE 
 
 " Marriage must always be performed before a competent number of wit- 
 nesses ; and at any time, except on a day of public humiliation. And we ad- 
 vise that it be not on the Lord's day. And the Minister is to give a certificate 
 of the marriage when required. 
 
 " When the parties present themselves for marriage, the Minister is to ask 
 if there is any person present who knows any lawful reason why these persons 
 may not be joined together in the marriage relation, that they will now make 
 it known. 
 
 "No objections being made, he shall then proceed to give them some in- 
 structions from the Scriptures, respecting the institution and duties of this 
 office." 
 
 ri OD be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause 
 ^ His face to shine upon us, through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 "TN the Name of Almighty Grod, I demand of each 
 -■- of you here present, that if ye know any good 
 reason why these persons M., and N., should not be 
 joined in Marriage, ye do now declare the same, as 
 ye would answer before the Searcher of Hearts. 
 
192 Confirmation of 
 
 /^OD created man in His own image, and said, it 
 ^ is not good that man should be alone : I will 
 make a help meet for him. He brought unto the 
 man the woman whom He had made. And Adam 
 said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my 
 flesh. Therefore shall a man leave father and mother, 
 and cleave unto his wife : and they twain shall be one 
 
 Marriage, thus ordained of God in Eden, was con- 
 firmed at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, by the 
 gracious presence and miraculous blessing of our 
 divine Lord Jesus Christ : who also hath said, What 
 God hath joined together let not man put asunder. 
 Moreover, His Holy Apostle Paul has commended 
 unto the husband the example of Christ in loving 
 His Church, and unto the wife the willing subjection 
 of the Church unto Christ as her Head. Whence we 
 learn that Marriage is well-pleasing to God our 
 Saviour, and most honourable to all who maintain 
 therein a mutual love and unshaken fidelity. 
 
 I therefore, a minister of the blessed Gospel, charge 
 and entreat you both, to seek the help of God in all 
 your duties ; that His grace may make your union 
 fruitful of comfort in thia life, and a furtherance of 
 
Marriage. 19S 
 
 your everlasting salvation, to the glory of His holy 
 Name. 
 y Let us pray. 
 
 r\ MOST Holy and Most Merciful Lord God, we be- 
 ^^ seech Thee for these Thy servant and handmaid ; 
 that they may, with a reverent trust in Thee, enter into 
 the covenant of' marriage, as they now propose, and 
 truly keep all the vows which they are about to make 
 according to Thy Word. Grant this, our Father, 
 with the forgiveness of our sins, through Christ Thy 
 Son. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister shall bid the man and the woman to join their right hands : 
 which being done, he shall say to the man : 
 
 f / ~r\OST thou , take this woman , before God 
 
 ^ and these witnesses, to be thy wife ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 [/T\OST thou promise to love her, honour her, defend 
 ^ her, sustain and cherish her, in joy and in sor- 
 row, in health and in sickness, in prosperity and in 
 
 adversity ? Wilt thou be faithful to her in all things 
 9 
 
194 Confirmation of 
 
 <■' 
 1^ as becometh a good husband, and never forsake her so 
 
 / long as je both do live ? 
 •/ - ■.■ . 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 The Minister shall then say to the woman : 
 
 D 
 
 OST thou , take this man , before God 
 
 and these witnesses, to be thy husband ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 T\OST thou promise to love him, honour him, cher- 
 -*-^ ish and obey him, in joy and in sorrow, in 
 health and in sickness, in prosperity and in adversity ? 
 Wilt thou be faithful to him in all things as becometh 
 a good wife, and never forsake him so long as ye both 
 do live ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 [When a ring is used.] 
 
 To the man : 
 
 W 
 
 HAT pledge dost thou give that thou wilt per- 
 form these thy vows ? ^ 
 
 The man shows the ring. 
 
 To the woman: 
 
D 
 
 Marriage. 195 
 
 OST thou receive this ring in token of the same 
 on thy part ? 
 
 Then the man (the Minister guiding his hand) shall place the ring on the fourth 
 finger of her left hand. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say : 
 
 Let us pray,. 
 
 r\ GOD, our heavenly Father, Thou hast heard 
 ^ these promises of Thy servant and handmaid to 
 each other : Mercifully condescerid to unite their hearts 
 and lives by all the grace and true affection of a happy 
 marriage. May their love never know change, or 
 doubt, or decay. Replenish them with Thy Holy 
 Spirit, that they may piously live together according 
 to Thy divine will. May they be blessed in each 
 other, and both in the knowledge of Christ Thy Son, 
 and may they at last enter Thy blessed Kingdom : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister, taking their clasped hands between his, shall say: " . 
 
 IVTOW in the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 -'-^ Ghost, whose servant I am, I pronounce you 
 husband and wife. 
 
 The Lord bless you, and keep you. 
 
 The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be 
 gracious unto you. 
 
196 Marriage. 
 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and 
 give you peace. 
 
 Then, still holding their hands, the Minister shall say to the company of wit- 
 nesses : 
 
 TirHAT therefore God hath joined together, let not 
 man put asunder. 
 
 " Let the Minister keep a proper raster for the names of all persons whom 
 he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perusal of all whom it 
 may concern." 
 
THE 
 
 BURIAL OF THE DEAD 
 
 ^ «> ♦ #■ 
 
 THE SERVICE AT THE HOUSE. 
 
 One or more of wliicli may be read at discretion. 
 
 TT IS better to go to the house of mourning, than to 
 -^ go to the house of feasting : for that is the end 
 of all men ; and the living will lay it to his heart. 
 
 Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth 
 trouble spring out of the ground. See now, saith the 
 Lord, that I, even I am He, and there is no God with 
 Me. I kill, and I make alive ; I wound, and I heal ; 
 neither is there any that can deliver out of My 
 hand. 
 
 The Lord destroyeth the hope of man. The Lord 
 prevaileth against him, and he passeth. He changeth 
 his countenance, and sendeth him away. 
 
 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not con- 
 
198 Burial of the Dead. 
 
 sumed ; because His compassions fail not. Like as a 
 father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them 
 that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame ; He re- 
 membereth that we are dust. 
 
 Though He cause grief, yet will He have compas- 
 sion according to the multitude of His mercies. For 
 He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children 
 of men. 
 
 Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor 
 faint when thou art rebuked of Him : for whom the 
 Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son 
 whom He receiveth. Now no chastening for the pres- 
 ent seemeth to be joyous, but grievous : nevertheless 
 afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteous- 
 ness unto them which are exercised thereby. Where- 
 fore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble 
 knees. 
 
 For we have not an High Priest which can not be 
 touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was 
 in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
 that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in 
 time of need. 
 
 Leave thy fatherless children, saith the Lord; I 
 
Service at the House. i99 - 
 
 will preserve them alive ; and let thy widows trust in 
 Me. 
 
 A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the 
 widows, is God in His holy habitation. 
 
 When my father and my mother forsake me, then 
 the Lord will take me up. 
 
 For an Infant: 
 
 And David said, While the child was yet alive, I 
 fasted and wept : for I said. Who can tell whether God 
 will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 
 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast ? Can I 
 bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he 
 shall not return to me. 
 
 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away : 
 blessed be the Name of the Lord. 
 
 A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smok- 
 ing flax shall He not quench. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 prater. 
 f\ 1t0^ Merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus 
 ^ Christ, Who hath said. Blessed are they that 
 mourn, for they shall be comforted : Under the shadow 
 
200l Burial of the Dead. 
 
 of Thy judgments we come to Thee, and acknowledge 
 Thee to be the Lord alone. Thou hast entered this 
 house with Thy chastenings : Oh ! be Thou nigh in 
 Thy tender compassion to these afflicted ones. Bless 
 Thy sorrowing servants with Thy consolations, which 
 are neither few nor small. Convert them wholly to 
 Thyself, and fill their bleeding hearts with Thy love. 
 Make the night of their grief to be light by Thy grace. 
 Deliver us Thy servants, we pray Thee, from the 
 bondage of our sins, that we may be free from fear 
 of death^ and be ready at Thy coming. Yea, Lord ! 
 for Christ's sake, sanctify us by Thy Holy Spirit, that 
 whether we live, we may live unto the Lord, or whether 
 we die, we may die unto the Lord ; whether we live or 
 die, may we be the Lord's. Amen. 
 
 rpHE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you 
 -*- all. Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 SERVICE AT THE CHURCH 
 
 [If the service be performed in whole at the house, then a part of the follow- 
 ing may be used in connection with the preceding form.] 
 
 Upon entering the church, when all shall have taken the attitude of prayer, 
 let the Ninetieth Psalm be read as an 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 
 T ORD, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all 
 
 -^ generations. Before the mountains were brought 
 
 forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the 
 
 world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art 
 
 God. Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sajest, 
 
 Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in 
 
 Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as 
 
 a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as 
 
 with a flood ; they are as a sleep : in the morning they 
 
 are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it 
 
 flourisheth and groweth up ; in the evening it is cut 
 
 down, and withereth. For we are consumed by Thine 
 
 anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast 
 
 set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the 
 9* 
 
202 BUKIALOF THE DeAD. 
 
 light of Thy countenance. For all our days are 
 passed away in Thy wrath : we spend our years as a 
 tale that is told. The days of our years are three 
 score years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they 
 be four-score years, yet is their strength labour and 
 sorrow ; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who 
 knoweth the power of Thine anger ? even according to 
 Thy fear, so is Thy wrath. So teach us to number 
 our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 
 Eeturn, Lord ! how long ? and let it repent Thee 
 concerning Thy servants. satisfy us early with Thy 
 mercy ; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 
 Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast 
 afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 
 Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy 
 glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the 
 Lord our God be upon us ; and estabhsh Thou the 
 work of our hands upon us : yea, the work of our 
 hands establish Thou it. Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 Hero may be sung a Funeral Hymn. 
 
 Then let there bo read two portions of Scripture, from the Gospels and tho 
 Epistles. The following are suitable passages : 
 
 Hear the comfortable words of the Gospel of our 
 
Service at the Church. 203 
 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, as they are written in the 
 eleventh chapter of Saint John : 
 
 rpHEN said Mai-tha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst 
 -■- been here, my brother had not died. But I 
 know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of 
 God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her. 
 Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, 
 I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection 
 at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the Resur- 
 rection, and the Life : he that believeth on Me, though 
 he were dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth 
 and believeth in Me, shall never die. Believest thou 
 this ? She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord : I believe that 
 Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should 
 come into the world. 
 
 Or this: 
 
 Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, in 
 the fifth chapter of Saint John : 
 
 T7ERILY, verily, I say unto you. He that heareth 
 
 My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, 
 
 hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condem- 
 
 . '*'0 M 
 
204 BuRiALOF THE Dead. 
 
 nation ; but is passed from death unto life. Yerilj, 
 verilj, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now 
 is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of 
 God : and they that hear shall live. For as the 
 Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the 
 Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him 
 authority to execute judgment also, because He is the 
 Son of Man. Marvel not at this : for the hour is 
 coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall 
 hear His voice, and shall come forth ; they that have 
 done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they 
 that hate done evil, unto the resurrection of dam- 
 nation. 
 
 For an Infant: 
 
 Hear the comfortable words of our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ: 
 
 rpHEY brought young children to Him, that He 
 -■- should touch them : and His disciples rebuked 
 those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, 
 He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer 
 the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them 
 not ; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Verily I 
 say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the King- 
 
Service at the Church. 205 
 
 dom of God as a little child, he shall not enter 
 therein. 
 
 Or this: 
 
 rpAKE heed that ye despise not one of these little 
 -^ ones ; for I say unto you, That in heaven their 
 angels do always behold the face of My Father which 
 is in heaven. For the Son of Man is come to save 
 that which was lost. How think ye? If a man 
 have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, 
 doth He not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into 
 the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray ? 
 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he 
 rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and 
 nine which went not astray. Even so, it is not the 
 will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of 
 these little ones should perish. 
 
 Then let the second portion of Scripture be reaiil, from 1 Corinthians, xv. : 
 
 H^ar also what the Apostle Paul saith : 
 
 IVTOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 
 -'-* first-fruits of them that slept. For since by 
 man came death, by Man came also the Resurrection 
 of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in 
 
206 BUKIAL OF THE DeAD. 
 
 Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his 
 own order : Christ the first-fruits ; afterward they 
 that are Christ's, at His coming. — But some man will 
 say, How are the dead raised up ? and with what body 
 do they come ? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is 
 not quickened, except it die : and that which thou 
 sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but 
 bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other 
 grain : but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased 
 Him, and to every seed his own body. — So also is the 
 Resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, 
 it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dishonour, 
 it is raised in glory : it is sown in weakness, it is 
 raised in power : it is sown a natural body, it is raised 
 a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there 
 is a spiritual body. And so it is written. The first 
 man Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam 
 was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not 
 first which is spiritual, but that which is natural ; and 
 afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of 
 the earth, earthy : the second Man is the Lord from 
 heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are 
 earthy : and as is the heavenly, such are they also 
 that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image 
 
Service at the Church. 207 
 
 of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the 
 heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and 
 blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God : neither 
 doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show 
 you a mystery : We shall not all sleep, but we shall 
 all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an 
 eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, 
 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we 
 shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on 
 incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortal- 
 ity. So when this corruptible shall have put on incor- 
 ruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, 
 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writ- 
 ten. Death is swallowed up in victory. death, 
 where is thy sting ? grave, where is thy victory ? 
 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is 
 the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the 
 victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Or this, from Revelation xx. : 
 
 Hear also the Revelation of St. John : 
 
 A 
 
 ND I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat 
 . on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven 
 
208 Burial of the Dead. 
 
 fled away; and there was found no place for them. 
 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before 
 God ; and the books were opened : and another book 
 was opened, which is the Book of life : and the dead 
 were judged out of those things which were written in 
 the books, according to their works. And the sea 
 gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell 
 delivered up the dead which were jn them : and thej 
 were judged every man according to their works. 
 
 Or this, from Kevelation xxi. : 
 
 A ND I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the 
 -^ first heaven and the first earth were passed 
 away ; and there was no more sea. And I John saw 
 the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from 
 God. out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her 
 husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, 
 saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, 
 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His 
 People, and God Himself shall be with them, and be 
 their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from 
 their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither 
 sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more 
 pain : for the former things are passed away. 
 
BUEIAL OF THE DeAD. 209 
 
 Let us praj. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 r\ GOD, whose days are without end, and whose 
 ^ mercies can not be numbered : Make us, we be- 
 seech Thee, deeply sensible of the shortness and un- 
 certainty of human life ; and let Thy Holy Spirit lead 
 us through this vale of misery, in holiness and right- 
 eousness, all the days of our lives : that when we shall 
 have served Thee in our generation, we may be gath- 
 ered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good 
 conscience ; in the communion of the Christian Church ; 
 in the confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of 
 a reasonable, religious, and holy hope ; in favour with 
 Thee our God, and in perfect charity with the world : 
 all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 rpHE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 -*- of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 SERVICE AT THE GRAVE 
 
 II /TAN goeth to his long home, and the mourners go 
 -^^-*- about the streets. 
 
 "What man is he that liveth, and shall not see 
 death ? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the 
 grave ? 
 
 I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write : 
 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from 
 henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
 from their labours, and their works do follow them. 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath 
 begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrec- 
 tion of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance 
 incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 
 reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the powei 
 of God through faith unto salvation. 
 
Service at the Grave. 211 
 
 At the time of burial, the Minister stiall say : 
 
 rpHE dust returns to dust, and the spirit unto God 
 -*- who gave it : therefore do we now commit the 
 body of our departed brother to the earth \or deep] 
 until that hour when earth and sea shall give up their 
 dead, at the coming of our Lord Jesus" Christ to judge 
 the world. 
 Let us pray. 
 
 A LMIGHTY and Everlasting God! we Thine un- 
 ■^^ worthy servants beseech Thee for Christ's sake 
 to have mercy upon us. From the borders of the 
 grave we cry unto Thee ; for Christ's sake have mercy 
 upon us. It hath pleased Thee to call out of this 
 world the soul of our departed friend, whose body 
 we have now brought for his burial. We humbly en- 
 treat Thee that we may with true penitence of heart 
 receive the warning of Thy providence, and consider 
 that by reason of our guilt it is appointed unto us to 
 die, and that in a moment when we think not we may 
 appear before Thee. Yea, Lord, by reason of our 
 sins we lie in the midst of death. Spare us, Lord, 
 most pitiful and long-suffering Lord God, spare us 
 a little longer, that we may take refuge in Christ, 
 
212 Burial of the Dead. 
 
 abiding in Him, that when He shall appear we may 
 have confidence, and not be ashamed at His coming. 
 Merciful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 suffer none of us to live without godliness and die 
 without hope ; but constrain us mightily by Thy 
 love : that we,- being renewed by Thy grace, and 
 accepted through Christ's intercession, may walk be- 
 fore Thee in newness of life, and praise Thee for ever 
 among the Assembly of the Elect, where there shall 
 be no more death, and sorrow and sighing shall flee 
 away : which we implore for the sake of Him who has 
 taught us to say,. 
 
 /^UR Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 " Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but de- 
 liver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and the 
 power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 N 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 OW the God of Peace, that brought again from 
 the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
 
Service at the Grave. 213 
 
 of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
 covenant, make you perfect in every good work to 
 do His will, working in you that which is- well-pleas- 
 ing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
It^.* 
 
**#- 
 
 PUBLIC DISCIPLINE, ORDINATION, 
 
 &c., &c. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 PUBLIC EXCOMMUNICATION 
 
 "When any member has been adjudged to be cut off from the communion 
 of the Church, it is proper that the sentence be publicly pronounced against 
 him. 
 
 "The Minister shall give the church or congregation a short narrative of the 
 several steps which have been taken with respect to their offending brother, 
 and inform them that it has been found necessary to cut him off from the 
 communion; and shall in the presence of the church or congregation pro- 
 nounce this sentence, in the following, or like form, viz. : 
 
 " lie shall begin by showing the authority of the Church to cast out un- 
 worthy members, from Matt, xviii. 15-18 ; 1 Cor. v. 1-5 ; and shall briefly ex- 
 plain the nature, use, and consequences of this censure ; warning the people 
 to avoid all unnecessary intercourse with him who is cast out." 
 
 ADDKESS. 
 
 /^UR Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Lawgiver of 
 ^ the Church, hath commanded, that if a brother 
 trespass against us, we go and tell him his fault be- 
 tween us and him alone : and if he will not hear us, 
 that we then take with us one or two more, that in 
 the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may- 
 be established ; and if he shall neglect to hear them, 
 
 that we tell it to the church ; and if he neglect to 
 10 
 
218 The Form of 
 
 hear the Church, that he be to us as a heathen man, 
 and a publican. We are also directed, that we keep 
 not company, if any man that is called a. brother be a 
 fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a 
 drunkard, or an extortioner ; with such an one no not 
 Jto eat. And that we withdraw ourselves from every 
 brother that walketh disorderly, and note that man, 
 and have no company with him, that he may be 
 ashamed. According to these laws of Christ, we 
 have admonished this offending brother, who hath 
 greatly sinned against God, and grieved and injured 
 the Church ; we have earnestly prayed, and patiently 
 waited for his repentance : but we have not prevailed. 
 For after all) he continueth impenitent, and will not 
 be persuaded to confess and forsake his sin. 
 
 "Then shall the Minister say: 
 
 " Tl WHEREAS A. B. hath been, by sufficient proof, 
 * ' convicted of [here state the offence]^ and, 
 after much admonition and prayer, obstinately refuseth 
 to hear the Church, and hath manifested no evidence 
 of repentance : Therefore, in the Name and by the 
 authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pronounce him 
 to be excluded from the communion of the Church." 
 Further, we exhort you, beloved brethren, to keep 
 
Public Excommunication. 219 
 
 no company with him, that he may be ashamed; yet 
 count him not as an enemy, but at all times admonish 
 him as you would a brother. In the mean time let 
 every one take warning by this and such like examples, 
 to fear the^ Lord, and diligently take heed unto him- 
 self, if he thinketh he standeth, lest he fall : but 
 having true fellowship with the Father and His Son 
 Jesus Christ, together with all faithful Christians, re- 
 main stedfast therein to the end, and so obtain eternal 
 salvation. 
 
 '' After which, prayer shall be made that the blessing of God may follow His 
 ordinance, for the conviction and reformation of the excommunicated person, 
 and for the establishment of all true believers." 
 
 C1INCE then it is God that worketh in us, both to will 
 ^ and to do of His good pleasure, let us call upon 
 His holy Name, with confession of our sins, saying, 
 
 n RIGHTEOUS God and Merciful Father, we 
 ^^ bewail our sins before Thy high Majesty . and 
 acknowledge that we have deserved the grief and 
 sorrow caused unto us by the cutting off of this our 
 late fellow-member ; yea^ we all deserve, shouldst 
 Thou enter into judgment with us, by reason of our 
 great transgressions, to be cut off and banished from 
 Thy sight. But, Lord, Thou art merciful unto us 
 
220 Public Excommunication. 
 
 for Christ's sake : forgive us our trespasses, for we 
 heartily repent of them ; and daily work in our hearts 
 a greater measure of sorrow for them : that we, 
 fearing Thy judgments which Thou executest against 
 the stiff-necked, may endeavour to please Thee. Grant 
 us grace to avoid all pollution of the world, and those 
 who are cut off from the communion of the Church, 
 that we may not make ourselves partakers of their 
 sins : and that he who is excommunicated may become 
 ashamed of his sins. And since Thou desirest not 
 the death of a sinner, but that he may repent and live, 
 and the bosom of Thy Church is always open for those 
 who turn away from their wickedness, we therefore 
 humbly beseech Thee to kindle in our hearts a pious 
 zeal, that we may labour, with Christian admonitions 
 and examples, to bring again this excommunicated 
 person into the right way, together with all those who, 
 through unbelief or dissoluteness of life, go astray. 
 
 Give Thy blessing to our admonition, that we may 
 have reason to rejoice again in him for whom we now 
 mourn : and that Thy holy Name may be praised, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath thus taught 
 us to pray : 
 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
w 
 
 THE FORM 
 
 PUBLIC REPENTANCE. 
 
 " When any one who hath been excommunicated shall be so aflfected with 
 his state as to be brought to repentance, and to desire to be re-admitted to the 
 privileges of the Church, the Session, having obtained sufficient evidence of 
 his sincere penitence, shall, with the advice and concurrence of the Presby- 
 tery, restore him. In order to which, the Minister shall, on two Lord's days 
 previous thereto, inform the congregation of the measures which have been 
 taken with the excommunicated person, and of the resolution of the Session 
 to receive him again to the communion of the Church. 
 
 " On the day appointed for his restoration, when the other parts of divine 
 service are ended, before pronouncing the blessing, the Minister shall call upon 
 the excommunicated person, and propose to him, in the presence of the con- 
 gregation, the following questions : 
 
 " T^O you, from a deep sense of your great wicked- 
 -^ ness, freely confess your sin, in thus rebelling 
 against God, and in refusing to hear His Church : and 
 do you acknowledge that you have bee^ in justice and 
 mercy cut off from the communion of the saints ? 
 
 " Answer. I do. 
 
 '' Do you now voluntarily profess your sincere re- 
 pentance and deep contrition, for your sin and obsti- 
 
222 The Form of 
 
 nacy : and do you humbly ask the forgiveness of God, 
 and of His Church ? 
 
 ^^ Answer, I do. 
 
 '^^ Do you sincerely promise, through Divine grace, 
 to live in all humbleness of mind and circumspection ; 
 and to endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our 
 Saviour, by having your conversation as becometh the 
 Gospel? . , .. , . 
 
 ^' Answer. I do. 
 
 " Here the Minister shall give the penitent a suitable exhortation, addressing 
 him in the bowels of brotherly love, encouraging and comforting him." 
 
 "pE therefore assured in thy heart, my beloved 
 ■^ brother, that the Lord hath again received thee 
 in mercy. Be diligent henceforth to guard thyself, 
 that thou mayst not fall again into sin : love Christ, 
 for many sins are forgiven thee. 
 
 "Then he shall pronounce the sentence of restoration, in the following 
 ■words : 
 
 " TirHEREAS you, A. B., have been shut out from 
 ' ' th^ communion of the faithful, but have now 
 manifested such repentance as satisfies the Church t 
 In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by His 
 authority, I declare you absolved from the sentence 
 
Public Kepentance. 223 
 
 formerly denouneed against you ; and I do receive you 
 into the communion of the Church, that you may be 
 a partaker of all the benefits of the Lord Jesus, to 
 your eternal salvation. 
 
 "The -Nvliole shall be concluded with prayer." 
 
 \ ND you, beloved Christians, receive this your 
 ■^■*- brother with hearty affection ; count him no 
 longer as a stranger, but as a fellow-citizen- with the 
 saints, and of the household of God. And whereas 
 we can have no good of ourselves, let us praise and 
 magnify the Lord Almighty, and implore His mercy, 
 saying, 
 
 nRACIOUS God and Father, we thank Thee 
 ^ through Jesus Christ our Lord, that Thou hast 
 been pleased to give unto this our fellow-Christian re- 
 pentance unto life, and unto us occasion to rejoice in his 
 conversion. We beseech Thee, show him Thy mercy, 
 that he may become more and more assured of the re- 
 mission of his sins, and that he may receive from 
 thence inexpressible joy and delight, to serve Thee. 
 And whereas he hath heretofore by his sins offended 
 many, grant that he may, by his conversion, edify 
 
224 Public Eepentance. 
 
 many. May he stedfastly i^alk in Thy ways, unto the 
 end ; and may we learn from this example, that with 
 Thee is mercy, that Thou mayest be feared ; so that 
 we, counting him for our brother and fellow -heir of 
 eternal life, may unitedly serve Thee with filial fear 
 and obedience all the days of our life, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord, in whose Name we thus conclude our 
 prayer — Our Father, etc. 
 
.y 
 
 THE FORM 
 
 ORDAINING ELDERS AND DEACONS 
 
 If ordained separately, this form may be used as occasion shall require. 
 
 " When any person shall have been elected to either of these offices, and shall 
 
 have declared his willingness to accept thereof, he shall be set apart in the 
 
 following manner : 
 " After sermon, the Minister shall state, in a, concise manner, the warrant and 
 
 nature of the office of ruling Elder or Deacon, together with the character. 
 
 proper to be sustained and the duties to be fulfilled by the officer elect." 
 
 TIELOVED Christians, you know that we have sev- 
 ■^ eral times published unto you the names of our 
 brethren here present who are chosen to the office of 
 Elders and Deacons in this Church, that we might 
 know whether any person had aught to allege why 
 they should not be set apart to their respective offices. 
 And whereas no lawful objection hath been alleged 
 against them, we shall in the Name of the Lord pro- 
 ceed to induct them into the same. 
 
 But first we invite your attention to a short declar- 
 ation from the Word of God, concerning the office and 
 10* 
 
^ 
 
 226 Okdination of 
 
 duties of Elders and Deacons. The word Elder, 
 which is derived from the Old Testament, and signi- 
 fies a person who is placed in an honourable office of 
 government over others, is applied to two sorts of per- 
 sons who minister in the Church of Jesus Christ ; for 
 the Apostle saith : " Let the elders that rule well be 
 accounted worthy of double honour, especially they 
 who labour in the Word and doctrine." Hence it is 
 evident that there were two sorts of Elders in the 
 Apostolic Church : the former whereof did labour in 
 the Word and doctrine, and the latter did not. The 
 first were the Ministers of the Word, and Pastors, who 
 preached the Word and administered the Sacraments ; 
 but the others, though they did not labour in the 
 Word, yet served the Church by taking the oversight 
 thereof, and ruling the same with the Ministers of the 
 Word. For St. Paul, having spoken of the Ministry 
 of the Word of reconciliation, and also of the office of 
 distribution or Deaconship, speaketh afterwards par- 
 ticularly of this office, saying: "He that ruleth, let 
 him do it with diligence." In another place, he 
 counts " governments" among the gifts and offices 
 which God hath instituted in His Church. In like 
 manner we find the Apostle exhorting the Elders of 
 
Elders and Deacons. 227 
 
 the Church of Ephesus, to '' take heed unto them- 
 selves and to all the flock over the which the Holy 
 Ghost had made them overseers." 
 
 It is moreover proper that such officers should be 
 joined to the Ministers of the Word in the govern- 
 ment of the Church, that there may be no lording 
 over God's heritage ; which can sooner creep in when 
 the government is in the hands of one, or a very few. 
 And thus the Ministers of the Word, together with 
 the Elders, form an Assembly or Council of the 
 Church, representing the whole Body, to which Christ 
 alludes when He saith, ''Tell the Church;" which 
 can in no wise be understood of all and every member 
 of the Church in particular, but very properly of 
 those who govern the Church out of which they are 
 chosen. 
 
 Therefore, in the first place, the office of the Elders 
 is, together with the Ministers of the Word, to take 
 the episcopacy or oversight of the Church which is 
 committed to them. In the discharge of their duties, 
 they are to admit to its communion such as profess 
 faith in Christ and repentance for their sins ; diligent- 
 ly to look whether every one properly deports him- 
 self in his doctrine and life ; to admonish those who 
 
228 Ordinationof 
 
 behave disorderly ; to prevent as much as possible the 
 Sacrament from being profaned ; to exercise the dis- 
 cipline of the Church against such as offend ; and to 
 receive them again when penitent to the household of 
 faith. 
 
 Secondly, Since the Apostle enjoineth that all 
 things shall be done decently and in order, therefore it 
 is also the duty of the Elders to pay regard to all 
 Christian ordinances ; and in all things which relate 
 to the welfare of the Church, to assist the Ministers 
 of the Word with good counsel, to visit the sick, com- 
 fort the afflicted, and to be faithful advisers of all the 
 flock committed to their care. 
 
 Thirdly, It is their duty particularly to have regard 
 unto the doctrine and life of the Ministers of the 
 Word, that all things may be directed to the edifica- 
 tion of the Church ; and that no strange doctrine be 
 taught, according to that which we read where tlie 
 Apostle exhorteth the Elders to watch diligently 
 against the wolves who might come into the sheepfold 
 of Christ : for the performance of which the Elders 
 are in duty bound diligently to search the Word of 
 God, and continually to be meditating on the mysteries 
 of faith. 
 
Elders and Deacons. 229 
 
 , Concerning the Deacons : Of the origin and insti- 
 tution of their office we may read in the sixth chapter 
 of the Acts : where we find that the Apostles them- 
 selves did in the beginning serve the poor ; for at their 
 feet was brought the price of the things that were 
 sold, and distribution was made unto every man ac- 
 cording as he had need. But afterwards, when a mur- 
 muring arose, because the widows of the Grecians were 
 neglected in the daily ministration, men were chosen 
 by the advice of the Apostles, who should make the 
 service of the poor their peculiar business : to the end 
 that the Apostles might continually give themselves to 
 prayer, and to the Ministry of the Word. And this 
 has been continued from that time forward in the 
 Church ; as appears from Romans xii., where the 
 Apostle, speaking of this office, saith : "He that giv- 
 eth, let him do it with simplicity." And speaking of 
 "helps," he means those who are appointed in the 
 Church to help and assist the poor and indigent in 
 time of need. 
 
 From these passages we may easily gather what the 
 Deacons' office is. In the first place, it is their duty 
 to collect and preserve with the greatest fidelity and 
 diligence the alms which are given to the poor, and 
 
280 Ordination OF 
 
 that thej endeavour that sufficient means be provided 
 for the same. The second part of their office consists 
 in distribution : wherein not only is godlj discretion 
 required, to bestow the alms only on the proper ob- 
 jects of charity, but also cheerfulness and simplicity, 
 to assist the poor with becoming sympathy, hearty 
 affection, and also with comfortable words from Scrip- 
 ture^ — all which the Apostle requires when speaking 
 of the duties of this office. 
 
 To the end, therefore, beloved brethren , , 
 
 that every one may hear that you are willing to take 
 your respective offices upon you, ye shall answer to 
 the following questions : 
 
 " "TiO you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 
 •^^ Testaments to be the Word of God, the only 
 infallible rule of faith and practice ? 
 
 Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession 
 of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of 
 doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ? 
 
 Do you approve of the government and discipline 
 of the Presbyterian Church in these United States ? 
 
 Do you accept the office of ruling Elder [or 
 Deacon, as the case may be] in this congregation, 
 
Elders and Deacons. 231 
 
 and promise faithfully to perform all the duties 
 thereof? 
 
 Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and 
 purity of the Church ? 
 
 " The Elder or Deacon elect having answered these questions in the. aflBrma- 
 tive, the Minister shall address to the members of the Church the following 
 question : 
 
 '' "TiO you, the members of this Church, acknowledge 
 -^ and receive this brother as a ruling Elder [or 
 Deacon], and do you promise to yield him all that 
 honour, encouragement, and obedience, in the Lord, 
 to which his office, according to the Word of God, and 
 the constitution of this Church, entitles him ? 
 
 " The members of the Church having answered this question in the affirma- 
 tive, by holding up their right hands, the Minister shall proceed to set apart 
 the candidate, by prayer, to the office of ruling Elder, or Deacon, as the case 
 may be." 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 r\ LORD God, our Heavenly Father ! we thank 
 ^ Thee that it hath pleased Thee, for the better 
 edification of Thy Church, to ordain in it, besides the 
 Ministers of the Word, rulers and assistants, by 
 
232 Ordination of 
 
 whom Thy Church may be preserved in peace and 
 prosperity, and the indigent assisted ; and that Thou 
 hast at present granted us, in this place, men who 
 are of good report, and we hope endowed with Thy 
 Spirit. We beseech Thee, replenish them more and 
 more with such gifts as are necessary for them in 
 their ministration : with the gifts of wisdom, courage, 
 discretion, and benevolence; to the end that every 
 one may, in his respective office, acquit himself as is 
 becoming: The Elders, in taking diligent heed unto 
 the doctrine and conversation, in keeping out the 
 wolves from the sheep-fold of Thy beloved Son, and in 
 admonishing and reproving disorderly persons. In 
 like manner the Deacons, in carefully receiving, and 
 liberally and prudently distributing the alms to the 
 poor, and in comforting them with Thy holy Word. 
 Give grace both to the Elders and to the Deacons, 
 that they may persevere in their faithful labour, and 
 never become weary by reason of any trouble, pain, 
 or persecution of the world. Grant also Thy divine 
 grace to this people over whom they are placed, that 
 they may willingly submit themselves to the good ex- 
 hortations of the Elders, counting them worthy of 
 honour for their work's sake. Give also unto them 
 
Elders and Deacons. 233 
 
 liberal hearts toward the poor, and to the poor grateful 
 hearts toward those who help and serve them : to the 
 end that ever j one acquitting himself of his duty, Thy 
 holy Name may thereby be magnified, and the king- 
 dom of Thy Son Jesus Christ enlarged, in whose 
 Name we conclude our prayer. 
 
 To be said by tlie Minister and People. 
 
 /^UR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 ^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but de- 
 liver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and the 
 power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 " The Minister, having set apart the candidate by prayer, shall give to him 
 and to the congregation an exhortation suited to the occasion. if- 
 
 . " Where there is an existing Session, it is proper that the members of that 
 body, at the close of the service, and in the face of the congregation, take the 
 newly-ordaincd Elder by the hand, saying in words to this purpose : 
 
 "W 
 
 E give you the right hand of fellowship, to take 
 part of this office with us." 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOE OBDAININa 
 
 MINISTERS OF THE WORD OP GOD. 
 
 " The day appointed for Ordination being come, and the Presbytery con- 
 vened, a member of the Presbytery previously appointed to that duty shall 
 preach a sermon adapted to the occasion. The same, or another member ap- 
 pointed to preside, shall afterwards briefly recite from the pulpit, in the au- 
 dience of the people, the proceedings of the Presbytery preparatory to this 
 transaction : he shall point out the nature and importance of this ordinance, 
 and endeavour to impress the audience with a proper sense of the solemnity 
 of the transaction." 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 "nELOYED brethren, attend to a short declaration 
 -*-^ taken from the holy Scriptures, touching the 
 Ministry of reconciliation and the pastoral office. 
 ^ We are not to look for the origin of this office in 
 human appointment, but in God, our heavenly Father, 
 who, being willing to call and gather a Church from 
 among the corrupt race of men into life eternal, doth, 
 by a particular mark of His favour, use the ministry 
 of men therein. Accordingly, our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 shortly before His ascension to heaven, gave to His 
 Apostles the commission, "Go ye therefore and teach 
 
Ordination of Ministers. 235 
 
 all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : and lo I I am 
 with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'' 
 Therefore St. Paul saith that the Lord Jesus Christ 
 hath given ''some, Apostles; and some. Prophets; 
 and some, Evangelists ; and some, Pastors and Teach- 
 ers : for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of 
 the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ." 
 Thus we see that the Pastoral office is an institution 
 of Christ. 
 
 In the Ministry, thus divinely appointed, there is 
 no superiority of rank or diversity of order ; hut all 
 are possessed of the same authority, dignity, and 
 power : being equally clothed with the right of preach- 
 ing the Gospel, of administering the Sacraments and 
 discipline of Christ's house, and of ordaining others to 
 the same office. ^ 
 
 What this holy office of Pastor enjoins, may easily 
 be gathered from the very name itself : for, as it is 
 the duty of the shepherd to feed, guide, protect, and 
 rule the flock committed to his charge, so it is with 
 regard to these spiritual shepherds who are set over 
 the Church which God calleth unto salvation, and ac- 
 counts as sheep of His pasture. 
 
286 Ordination of 
 
 The pasture with which these sheep are fed is the 
 Preaching of the Gospel, accompanied with prayer and 
 the administration of the holy Sacraments. The same 
 Word of God is likewise the staff with which the flock 
 is guided and ruled. Therefore the ofiice of Pastors 
 and Ministers of God's Word is — 
 
 Fii^st. That they shall faithfully explain to their 
 flocks the Word of the Lord, revealed by the 
 writings of the Prophets and Apostles, and apply the 
 same to tho edification of the hearers : instructing, 
 admonishing, comforting, and reproving according to 
 every one's need, preaching repentance towards God, 
 and reconciliation to Him through faith in Christ; 
 and refuting from the holy Scriptures all schisms and 
 heresies which are repugnant to the pure doctrine. 
 All this is clearly signified to us in holy writ : for the 
 Apostle Paul saith that these '' labour in the word ;" 
 and elsewhere he teacheth that this must be done 
 " according to the measure," or rule, '' of faith." He 
 writes also that a Pastor must ''rightly divide the 
 Word of Truth." In another place he proposes him- 
 self as a pattern to Pastors, declaring that he hath 
 ''publicly, and from house to house, taught and testi- 
 fied repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord 
 
Ministers. 237 
 
 Jesus Christ." But particularly we have a clear 
 description of their office, where the Apostle thus 
 speaketh : '' And all things are of God, who hath re- 
 conciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given 
 to us the Ministry of reconciliation ; to wit, that God 
 was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not 
 imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath com- 
 mitted unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then 
 we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did 
 beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be 
 ye reconciled to God." 
 
 So also concerning the refutation of false doctrine, 
 the same Apostle saith, that a Minister must "hold 
 fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he 
 may be able by sound doctrine to exhort and to con- 
 vince the gainsayers." 
 
 Secondly. It is the office of the Ministers publicly 
 to call upon the Name of the Lord in behalf of the 
 whole Congregation. For that which, the Apostles say, 
 ' ' We ^ill give ourselves continually to prayer and to 
 the Ministry of the Word," is common to these Pas- 
 tors TNith the Apostles : to which St. Paul alluding 
 speaketh thus to Timothy : "I exhort therefore, that, 
 first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and 
 
238 Ordinationof 
 
 giving of thanks be made for all men ; for kings and„ 
 for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet 
 and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty 4 for 
 this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our 
 Saviour." 
 
 Thirdly. Their office is to administer the Sacra- 
 ments which the Lord hath instituted as seals of His 
 grace. As is evident from the command given by 
 Christ to the Apostles, and in them to all Pastors : 
 " Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Likewise the 
 Apostle, speaking of the institution of the Lord's 
 Supper, saith, " For I have received of the Lord that 
 which also I delivered unto you." 
 
 Finally. It is the duty of the Ministers of the 
 Word, together with the other Elders, to maintain the 
 discipline of the Church ; and to govern it in such 
 manner as the Lord hath ordained. For Christ hav- 
 ing spoken of the Christian discipline, says to His 
 Apostles: "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall 
 be bound in heaven." This is the reason why the 
 Pastors are in Scripture called " Stewards of God," 
 and " Bishops :" for they have the oversight of the 
 house of God, to the end that every thing may be 
 
Ministers. 239 
 
 done decently and in order ; and also have authority 
 to open and shut with the keys committed to them the 
 Kingdom of Heaven, according to the charge given 
 them by God. 
 
 From these things may be learned what a glorious 
 work the Ministerial office is ; yea, how highly neces- 
 sary it is for man's salvation : which is also the reason 
 why the Lord wills that such an office should always 
 remain. For Christ said, when He sent forth His 
 Apostles to officiate in this holy function, '' Lo ! I am 
 with you alway, even unto the end of the world;" 
 where we see His pleasure is, that this holy office 
 should always be maintained on earth. And therefore 
 St. Paul exhorteth Timothy, to "commit the things 
 that he had heard of him to faithful men who should 
 be able to teach others :" as he also, having ordained 
 Titus a Minister, further commanded him '' to ordain 
 Elders in every city." 
 
 Forasmuch therefore as we, for the maintaining of 
 this office in the Church of God, are now to ordain a 
 new Minister of the Word, and have sufficiently 
 spoken of the office of such persons, therefore you, 
 
 beloved brother , shall answer to the following 
 
 questions which shall be proposed to you, to the end 
 
240 Okdination OF 
 
 that it may appear to all here present that you are in- 
 clined to accept this oflSce as it has been described. 
 
 '' "TjO you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 
 ^^ Testaments to be the Word of God, the only 
 infallible rule of faith and practice ? 
 
 Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession 
 of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of 
 doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ? 
 
 Do you approve of the government and discipline 
 of the Presbyterian Church in these United States ? 
 
 Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the 
 Lord? 
 
 Have you been induced, as far as you know your 
 own heart, to seek the office of the holy Ministry from 
 love to God, and a sincere desire to promote His glory 
 in the Gospel of His Son ? 
 
 Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in main- 
 taining the truths of the Gospel, and the purity and 
 peace of the Church : whatever persecution or opposi- 
 tion may arise unto you on that account ? 
 
 Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the ex- 
 ercise of all private and personal duties, which become 
 you as a Christian and a Minister of the Gospel ; as 
 
Ministers. 241 
 
 "well as in all relative duties, and the public duties 
 of jour office : endeavouring to adorn the profession 
 of the Gospel b j your conversation ; and walking with 
 exemplary piety before the flock over which God shall 
 make you overseer ? 
 
 Are you now willing to take the charge of this con- 
 gregation, agreeably to your declaration at accepting 
 their call ? And do you promise to discharge the 
 duties of a Pastor to them, as God shall give you 
 strength ? ■ 
 
 " The Candidate having answered these questions in the affirmative, the Pre- 
 siding Minister shall propose to the people the following questions : 
 
 "D" 
 
 you, the people of this congregation, continue 
 
 to profess* your readiness to receive , 
 
 whom you have called to be your Minister ? 
 
 Do you promise to receive the Word of truth from 
 his mouth, with meekness and love ; and to submit to 
 him in the due exercise of discipline ? 
 
 Do you promise to encourage him in his arduous 
 labour, and to assist his endeavours for your instruc- 
 tion and spiritual edification ? 
 
 And do you engage to continue to him, while he is 
 your Pastor, that competent worldly maintenance 
 which you have promised ; and whatever else you may 
 
 n 
 
242 Ordination of 
 
 see needful for the honour of religion, and his comfort 
 among you ? 
 
 " The people having answered these questions in the affirmative, (by holding 
 up their right hands,) the Candidate shall kneel down in the most conve- 
 nient part of the church. Then the Presiding Minister shall, hy prayer, and 
 with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, according to the Apos- 
 tolic example, solemnly ordain him to the holy office of the Gospel Min- 
 istry. 
 
 *' As it is sometimes desirable and important that a candidate who has not re- 
 ceived a call to be the pastor of a particular congregation, should neverthe- 
 less be ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry, as an Evangelist to 
 preach the GoSpel, administer Sealing Ordinances, and organize churches, in 
 frontier or desolate settlements ; in this case, the last of the preceding ques- 
 tions [and the questions to the people] shall be omitted, and the following 
 used aS a substitute : viz., 
 
 *^ Are you now willing to undertake the work of an 
 Evangelist ; and do you promise to discharge the du- 
 ties which may be incumbent on you in this character, 
 as God shall give you strength ?" 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 %^ THE ORDAININa PRAYER. 
 
 r\ LORD, to Whom all power is given in heaven and 
 " in earth ! Thou art the Eternal Son of the Fa- 
 ther; Who hast so loved Thy Church, that to redeem 
 and purify it Thou didst humble Thyself to the death 
 of the Cross, and there shed Thy most innocent 
 blood. And to retain this Thy most excellent benefit 
 in memory. Thou hast appointed in Thy Church pas- 
 tors and teachers, to instruct, admonish, and comfort 
 
Ministers. 243 
 
 Thy people. Look upon us mercifully, Lord, Thou 
 only King, Teacher, and High Priest to Thine own 
 flock ; and send unto this Thy servant our brother, 
 whom in Thy Name we set apart and ordain, such a 
 portion of Thy Holy Spirit, that he may rightly di- 
 vide Thy Word, to the instruction of Thy flock, and 
 the overthrow of error and vice. Give unto him, 
 good Lord, Thy grace and wisdom, whereby the ene- 
 mies of Thy truth may be confounded, the blind and 
 ignorant edified, and Thy sheep fed in the wholesome 
 pastures of Thy most Holy "VYord. Multiply Thy 
 graces upon him. Illuminate him with Thy Holy 
 Spirit. Comfort and strengthen him in all virtue. 
 Govern and guide his ministry, to the praise of Thy 
 Holy Name, the promotion of Thy Kingdom, the com- 
 fort of Thy Church, and to the plain discharge of his 
 own conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus : To 
 Whom, with the Father and with the Holy Ghost, be 
 all honour, praise, and glory, now and ever. Amen. 
 
 «' Prayer being ended, he shall rise from his knees ; and the Minister who pre- 
 sides shall first, and afterward all the members of the Presbytery in their 
 order, take him by the right hand, saying, in words to this purpose, 
 
 "W 
 
 E give you the right hand of fellowship, to take 
 part of this ministry with us." 
 
244 Ordination of 
 
 •' After which the Minister presiding, or some other appointed for the purpose, 
 shall give a solemn charge in the Name of God to the newly-ordained 
 Bishop, and to the people, to persevere in the discha.'ge of their mutual 
 duties." 
 
 CHARGE TO THE NEWLY-ORDAINED MINISTER, AND 
 THE CONGREGATION. 
 
 rpAKE heed, therefore, beloved brother, and fellow- 
 -*- servant in Christ, unto thyself and to all the 
 flock, over the which the Holj Ghost hath made thee 
 overseer ; to feed the Church of God, which He hath 
 purchased with His own blood. Love Christ, and feed 
 His sheep, taking the oversight thereof not bj con- 
 straint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a 
 ready mind, neither as being lord over God's heritage, 
 but being an ensample to the flock. Be thou an ex- 
 ample of the believers, in word, in conversation, in 
 charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Give attend- 
 ance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect 
 not the gift that is in thee, meditate upon these things, 
 give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may 
 appear to all : take heed unto the doctrine, and con- 
 tinue stedfast therein. Bear patiently all sufierings 
 and oppressions, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ; for 
 in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them 
 that hear thee. And when the chief Shepherd shall 
 
Ministers. 24 -y 
 
 appear, thou shalt receive a crown of glory that fadeth 
 not away. 
 
 A ND you likewise, beloved Christians, receive this 
 -^^ your Minister in the Lord with all gladness, and 
 hold such in reputation. Remember that God Him- 
 self through Him speaketh unto you and beseecheth 
 you. Receive the Word, which he, according to the 
 Scripture, shall preach unto you, not as the word of 
 men, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God. Let 
 the feet of those that preach the Gospel of peace, and 
 bring glad tidings of good things, be beautiful and 
 pleasant unto you. Obey them that have the rule 
 over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for 
 your souls, as they that must give account, that they 
 may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is un- 
 profitable for you. If you do these things, it shall 
 come to pass, that the peace of God shall enter into 
 your houses, and that you who receive this man in the 
 name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward, 
 and through his preaching, believing in Christ, shall 
 through Christ inherit life eternal. 
 
 "Then the presiding Minister shall, by prayer, recommend both the newly- 
 ordained Minister and the congregation, to the grace of God, and His holy 
 keeping." 
 
 ♦ 
 
246 Ordination OF 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 ■jl /TERCIFUL Father, we thank Thee that it pleas- 
 -'-'-*- eth Thee, by the ministry of men, to gather a 
 Church to Thyself unto life eternal, from amongst the 
 children of men. We bless Thee for so graciously 
 providing the church in this place with a faithful 
 Minister. We beseech Thee to qualify him daily more 
 and more by Thy Holy Spirit, for the ministry to 
 which Thou hast ordained and called him. Enlighten 
 his understanding to comprehend Thy holy Word, and 
 give him utterance, that he may boldly open his 
 mouth, to make known and dispense the mysteries of 
 the Gospel. Endue him with wisdom and valour, to 
 rule the people aright over whom he is set, and to pre- 
 serve them in Christian peace, to the end that Thy 
 Church, under his administration and by his good ex- 
 ample, may increase in number and in virtue. Grant 
 him courage to bear the difficulties and troubles which 
 be may meet with in his ministry, that being strength- 
 ened by the comfort of Thy Spirit, he may remain 
 stedfast to the end, and be received with all faithful 
 servants into the joy of his Lord. Give Thy grace 
 also to this people and church, that they may becom- 
 
Ministers. 247 
 
 inglj deport themselves towards this their Minister ; 
 that they may acknowledge him to be sent of Thee ; 
 that they may receive his doctrine with all reverence, 
 and submit themselves to his exhortations : To the end 
 that they may by his Word, believing in Christ, be 
 made partakers of eternal life. Hear us, Father, 
 through Thy beloved Son, who hath thus taught us to 
 pray: , 
 
 THE lord's PRAYER; 
 
 To be said by the Minister and People. 
 
 /^UR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 ^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 
 our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but 
 deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, and 
 the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 " Finally, after singing a Psalm, lie shall dismiss the congregation with the 
 usual" 
 
 BLESSING. 
 
 rpHE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 -*- of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOE THE 
 
 INSTALLATION OF A PASTOR 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 "FIOR the advancement of His glory in the salvation 
 -*- of the children of men, it hath mercifully pleased 
 the great Head of the Church, not only to ordain the 
 Ministry of reconciliation, but to institute various 
 offices in His Church. Accordingly, the Apostle de- 
 clares that the Lord Jesus Christ hath given some, 
 " apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; 
 and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of 
 the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edify- 
 ing of the body of Christ." The offices thus enumer- 
 ated are both extraordinary and ordinary : The for- 
 mer have ceased, as the occasions Avhich called for 
 their services have passed; but the latter continue, 
 and will remain in the Church during the entire dis- 
 pensation of grace. These ordinary and perpetual 
 
Installation. 249 
 
 officers are teachers and bishops, or pastors. The pas- 
 toral office is the first in the Church both in dignity 
 and usefulness. It is constituted by the Head of the 
 Church, when one of His ministering servants is set 
 over a particular church or people as their spiritual 
 teacher, shepherd, and overseer. It belongs to his 
 office to pray for and with his people, as their mouth 
 unto God ; to read the sacred Scriptures publicly in 
 the sanctuary to the people ; to feed the flock com- 
 mitted to his charge with the pure Word of God ; to 
 dispense the holy Sacraments agreeably to the insti- 
 tution of Christ ; to maintain Christian discipline ; to 
 edify the congregation, and especially the youth, by 
 catechetical and biblical instruction ; to administer 
 comfort to the sick and afflicted ; to lead the inquiring 
 and troubled in mind to the Lord Jesus Christ : and 
 as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, to fulfil the 
 whole work of the Gospel ministry. 
 
 In the discharge of these duties, he is entitled to the 
 cordial co-operation of the people of his charge, and 
 more especially of the elders, deacons, and members 
 of the church. They should see that he is so sus- 
 tained as to be free from distracting, worldly cares ; 
 
 should cherish towards him all suitable respect; be 
 11* 
 
250 Installation. 
 
 bound to him in ardent affection; be tender of his 
 reputation; assistant to him in their counsels; wait 
 upon his ministry with punctuality and attention ; 
 commend him and his labours, by prayer, to the bless- 
 ing of the God of all grace : and, in every possible 
 manner, endeavour to be fellow-helpers with him in 
 saving souls and advancing the kingdom of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Thus, while the pastoral office requires on the part 
 of him who is honoured with it, all faithfulness, dili- 
 gence, care, and circumspection, it demands, on the 
 part of the people, all proper support, encouragement, 
 and obedience in the Lord towards him who is set 
 over them. These mutual duties are enjoined by the 
 Apostle when he exhorts : '' Obey them that have the 
 rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch 
 for your souls, as they that must give account, that 
 they may do it with joy and not with grief;" and 
 again, "We beseech you to know them which labour 
 among you, and are over you in the Lord, and to 
 esteem them very highly in love for their works' 
 
 Forasmuch, then, as you, beloved brother, have 
 been regularly called by the proper authorities to 
 
Installation. 251 
 
 take charge of this church, and you have signified 
 your acceptance of this call, we shall now, in the 
 Name of the Lord, propose to you the following 
 questions : 
 
 '' A RE you now willing to take the charge of this 
 ■^■^ congregation, as their pastor, agreeably to your 
 declaration at accepting their call ? 
 
 Do you conscientiously believe and declare, as far as 
 you know your own heart, that in taking upon you 
 this charge, you are influenced by a sincere desire to 
 promote the glory of God, and the good of His 
 Church? 
 
 Do you solemnly promise, that, by the assistance of 
 the grace of God, you will endeavour faithfully to dis- 
 charge all the duties of a pastor to this congregation ; 
 and will be careful to maintain a deportment in all 
 respects becoming a Minister of the Gospel of Christ, 
 agreeably to your Ordination engagements? 
 
 " To all these, having received satisfactory answers, the Presiding Minister 
 shall say : 
 
 G 
 
 CD, our heavenly Father, who hath called thee 
 to the office of the Ministry, and to take the 
 
252 Installation. 
 
 oversight of this church, enlighten thee with His 
 Holy Spirit, strengthen thee with His hand, and so 
 govern thee in thy Ministry, that thou mayest decently 
 and fruitfully walk therein, to the glory of His Name, 
 and to the advancement of the Kingdom of His Son 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 "Then he shall propose to the people the same or like questions as those di- 
 rected under the head of Ordination [page 245] ; which, having been also 
 satisfactorily answered, by holding up the right hand in testimony of assent, 
 he shall solemnly pronounce and declare the said Minister to be regularly 
 constituted the Pastor of that congregation. A charge shall then be given 
 to both parties, as directed in the case of Ordination ; and after prayer [as in 
 that form], and singing a Psalm adapted to the transaction, the congregation 
 Bhall be dismissed with the usual" 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 rpHE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 -*- of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
THE OFFICE 
 
 DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 npHUS saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, 
 -*- and the earth is My footstool : where is the 
 house that ye build unto Me ? and where is the place 
 of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand 
 made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord ; 
 but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor 
 and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word. 
 
 INVITATION. 
 
 TTAVING therefore this promise, dearly beloved, 
 '^-^ let us draw near with a true heart, in full assu- 
 rance of faith, and make known our requests unto 
 God. 
 
 INVOCATION. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, Who hast promised to be pre- 
 ■^^ sent with Thy people, and to grant their re- 
 
254 Dedication of 
 
 quests in the Name of Thj well-beloved Son : Look 
 down, we beseech Thee, upon us, and for the sake of 
 Him who is our only Saviour and Mediator with Thee, 
 fulfil Thy promise in our behalf : that our thoughts 
 being lifted up, and our desires drawn forth unto 
 Thee, we may seek Thee acceptably this day : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 To be said by the Minister and People. 
 
 /^UK Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy 
 ^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we for- 
 give our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, 
 but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the kingdom, 
 and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Then follows the singing of a Psalm, or Hymn of praise and thanksgiving. 
 
 Next the reading of Scripture out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 The following is an appropriate selection : 
 
 1 Kings, yiii. 22-63. Heb. x. 19-27. 
 
 After which the General Prayer, which may be extemporaneous, or selected 
 from the forms for Divine Service on the Lord's Day. 
 
 Then let there be sung a Hymn before the 
 
 SERMON. 
 
A Church. 255 
 
 At the close of which the Minister shall call upon the people to arise, and 
 dedicate their house to the Triune God. 
 
 . PRAYER OP DEDICATION. 
 
 TTOLY, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which is, 
 -'--^ and was, and is to come : the whole earth is full 
 of Thy glory ! Thine, Lord, is the greatness, and 
 the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the 
 majesty ; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth 
 is Thine. Now, therefore, we thank Thee, God, 
 and praise Thy glorious Name. 
 
 But who are we, that we should be able to offer so 
 willingly after this sort? For all things come of 
 Thee, and of Thine own do we give Thee. Lord 
 our God, all this store that we have prepared to build 
 Thee an house for Thy holy Name, cometh of Thy 
 hand and is all Thine own. 
 
 Now behold, Lord our God, and look unto this 
 place where we are gathered in Thy Name ; and have 
 respect to the prayer of Thy servants and to their sup- 
 plication, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer that 
 Thy servants pray before Thee this day, to take for 
 Thine own this house which we would give Thee ! 
 
 O Lord God, Who art from everlasting to everlast- 
 ing, and Whose kingdom is without end. Maker of 
 
256 Dedication OF 
 
 heaven and earth and sea^ and all that in them is ; 
 King of kings and Lord of lords, Lawgiver, Defender, 
 and Judge alone : to Thee we dedicate it. 
 
 Hoi J and blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost ; three Persons in one God : to Thee we dedi- 
 cate it. 
 
 Father of all who believe in Jesus, and God and 
 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, here meet Thou 
 with Thy children, teach them, strengthen them, and 
 bless them : to Thee we dedicate it. 
 
 Son of God, the Only-begotten of the Father, Head 
 over all things, the Lord our Righteousness, Saviour, 
 Shepherd, High Priest, and Advocate, here draw all 
 men unto Thee ; here sprinkle Thy ransomed ones 
 with Thine atoning blood ; here make Thy flock to lie 
 down in green pastures beside the living waters ; here 
 be Thou a shadow from the heat and a refuge from the 
 tempest ; and, while Thy people worship in the outer 
 sanctuary, pray for them within the Holiest of all : to 
 Thee we dedicate it. 
 
 Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the 
 Son, Who didst come down upon our Lord Jesus beside 
 Jordan, and upon the Church at the Pentecost, Who 
 takest up Thine abode in all behevers, Comforter, In- 
 
A Church. 257 
 
 spirer, Sanctifier, here display Thy power, succeed 
 Thy truth, give hope to the penitent and gladness to 
 the mourner. Subdue Thy foes, hallow Thy Church, 
 and accomplish all the glory of redemption : to Thee 
 we dedicate it. 
 
 Arise, Lord, into Thy rest. Thou and the ark of 
 Thy strength ! 
 
 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the 
 earth ? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens 
 cannot contain Thee ; how much less this house which 
 we have builded ? Yet dwellest Thou also with him 
 that is of a contrite and humble spirit. So be Thine 
 eyes opened toward this house night and day ; and to- 
 ward the place of which Thou hast said. My Name 
 shall be there ; and hearken Thou unto the supplica- 
 tion of Thy servants and of Thy people Israel when 
 they shall pray toward this place ; and hear Thou in 
 heaven. Thy dwelling-place ; and when Thou hearest, 
 forgive. Dwell Thou with us in Thy tabernacle, while 
 we are yet in the wilderness ; then take us up to Thy 
 house in heaven, that we may dwell with Thee for 
 ever. 
 
 Give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest 
 
25S Dedication of a Church. 
 
 Joseph like a flock : Thou that dwellest between the 
 cherubim, shine forth. 
 
 How dreadful is this place ! This is none other but 
 the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven ! 
 
SCRIPTURAL 
 
 AND OTHER 
 
 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS 
 
SCRIPTURAL PRAYERS. 
 
 B 
 
 I. 
 
 CONFESSION. 
 
 E merciful unto us, Lord, for we cry unto Thee. 
 If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, 
 Lord, who shall stand ? But there is forgiveness with 
 Thee, that Thou majest be feared. Show us Thy 
 mercy, Lord, and grant us Thy salvation. Enter 
 not into judgment with Thy servants, for in Thy sight 
 shall no man living be justified. We acknowledge, 
 Lord, our wickedness. We have sinned, we have com- 
 mitted iniquity, we have done wickedly, from our 
 youth even unto this day. Our transgressions are 
 multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us. 
 But with Thee there is mercy, and plenteous redemp- 
 tion. Remember not the sins of our youth, nor our 
 transgressions : according to Thy mercy remember 
 Thou us, for Thy goodness' sake, Lord. Cause us 
 to hear Thy loving-kindness ; cause us to know the 
 
262 ScRiPTUKAL Prayers. 
 
 way wherein we should walk. Teach us to do Thy 
 will : for Thou art our God. Hear Thou from heaven 
 Thy dwelling-place^ and when ThoTj hearest, forgive ! 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 The Same. 
 r\ LORD, we do not present our supplications before 
 ^ Thee for our righteousness, but for Thy great 
 mercies. To Thee belong mercies and forgivenesses, 
 though we have rebelled against Thee, neither have 
 we obeyed Thy voice, to walk in Thy laws. We have 
 sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done 
 wickedly, and have rebelled, by departing from Thy 
 precepts, and from Thy judgments. Lord, right- 
 eousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion 
 of face. Now therefore, God, incline Thine ear, 
 and hear ; open Thine eyes, and behold. Remember 
 not against us former iniquities : let Thy tender mer- 
 cies speedily prevent us. Lord, hear! Lord, 
 forgive ! Help us, God of our salvation, for the 
 glory of Thy Name ; and deliver and purge away our 
 sins, for Thy Name's sake : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 263 
 
 The Same. 
 
 HAVE mercy upon us, God, according to Thy 
 loving-kindness ; according unto the multitude of 
 Thy tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. Wash 
 us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from 
 our sin. For we acknowledge our transgressions : 
 against Thee, Thee only have we sinned. Create in us 
 a clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within 
 us. Cast us not away from Thy presence ; and take 
 not Thy Holy Spirit from us. Restore unto us the 
 joy of Thy salvation, and uphold us with Thy free 
 Spirit. Then will we teach transgressors Thy ways ; 
 and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Lord, 
 open Thou our lips ; and our mouth shall show forth 
 Thy praise : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 II. 
 
 ADORATION. 
 
 "pLESSED be Thou, Lord our God, for ever and 
 -*-^ ever ; and blessed be Thy glorious Name, which 
 is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou, even 
 Thou, art Lord alone : Thou hast made heaven, the 
 heaven of heavens, with all their host ; the earth, 
 
264 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 and all things that are therein ; the seas, and all that 
 is therein ; and Thou preservest them all ; and the 
 host of heaven worshippeth Thee. Lord of Hosts, 
 God of Israel, that dwellest hetween the cherubim: 
 Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the king- 
 doms of the earth. There is no god like unto Thee 
 in the heaven, nor in the earth : which keepest coven- 
 ant, and ^howest mercy unto Thy servants, that walk 
 before Thee with all their hearts.. Thou art a God 
 ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, 
 and of great kindness. 
 
 The Same. 
 "pLESSED be Thou, Lord God of Israel, our 
 -*-^ Father, for ever. Thine, God, is the great- 
 ness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, 
 and the majesty : for all that is in the heaven and in 
 the earth is Thine : Thine is the kingdom, Lord, 
 and Thou art exalted as Head above all. Both riches 
 and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over 
 all ; and in Thine hand is power and might, and in 
 Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength 
 unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee, 
 and praise Thy glorious Name. 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 265 
 
 The Same. 
 TTOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which 
 -■--*- was, and is, and is to come ! Thou art wor- 
 thy, Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: 
 for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure 
 they are and were created. 
 
 Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God 
 Almighty ; just and true are Thy ways. Thou King 
 of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, Lord, and 
 glorify Thy Name ? For Thou only art holy. For 
 all nations shall come and worship before Thee. 
 
 III. 
 
 THANKSGIVINa. 
 
 "DLESSED be Thou, God and Father of our 
 -^ Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast blessed us with 
 all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ : 
 according as Thou hast chosen us in Him before the 
 foundation of the world, that we should be holy and 
 without blame before Thee in love : and hast pre- 
 destinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus 
 Christ to Thyself, according to the good pleasure of 
 Thy will. We praise the glory of Thy grace, wherein 
 
 Thou hast made us accepted in the Beloved. We 
 12 
 
266 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 bless Thee that in Him we have redemption through 
 His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the 
 riches of Thy grace. We bless Thee for making 
 known unto us the mystery of Thy will : that in the 
 dispensation of the fulness of times. Thou mightest 
 gather together in one all things in Christ, both which 
 are in heaven and which are on earth, even in Him. 
 And we give thanks unto Thee, Lord ! for the faith 
 and love of all Thy saints : beseeching Thee that they, 
 having heard the Gospel of their salvation, and trusted 
 in Christ, may be sealed with that Holy Spirit of 
 Promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until 
 the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the 
 praise of Thy glory. 
 
 The Same. 
 "HLESSED be Thou, God and Father of our 
 -^ Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to Thine 
 abundant mercy hast begotten us again unto a lively 
 hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 
 dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, 
 and that fadeth not away ; reserved in heaven for us, 
 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto 
 salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 267 
 
 IV. 
 
 SUPPLICATION. 
 A Prayer for Wisdom. 
 r\ GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of 
 ^^ Grlorj, give unto us the Spirit of wisdom and 
 revelation in the knowledge of Him : that the eyes 
 of our understanding may be enlightened; that we 
 may know what is the hope of His callings and what 
 the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the 
 saints; and what the exceeding greatness of Thy 
 power to US-ward who believe, according to its mighty 
 working in Christ, when Thou didst raise Him from 
 the dead, and settest Him at Thine own right hand in 
 the heavenly places, far above all principality, and 
 power, and might, and dominion, and every name that 
 is named, not only in this world, but also in that which 
 is to come : and hast put all things under His feet, 
 and gavest Him to be the Head over all things to the 
 Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that 
 fiUeth all in all. 
 
 
 
 Par Sjjiritual Strength. 
 FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom 
 the whole Family in heaven and earth is named : 
 
268 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 We bow our knees unto Thee, beseeching Thee that 
 Thou wouldst grant us, according to the riches of 
 Thy glory, to be strengthened with might by Thy Spirit 
 in the inner man : That Christ may dwell in our 
 hearts by faith ; that we, being rooted and grounded 
 in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, 
 what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, 
 and to know the love of Christ, that passeth knowl- 
 edge ; that we may be filled with all the fulness of 
 God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding 
 abundantly above all that we ask or think, according 
 to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory 
 in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 For a Good Judgment. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, we pray Thee, that the love of 
 -^•*- all Thy People may abound yet more and more, 
 in knowledge and in all judgment : that they may ap- 
 prove things that are excellent ; that they may be 
 sincere and without ofience till the day of Christ; 
 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are 
 by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 269 
 
 For Assurance. 
 r\ RANT, Almighty God, that the hearts of Thy 
 ^ People may be comforted, being knit together in 
 love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of un- 
 derstanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of 
 God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in Whom are 
 hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 
 
 For Hope. 
 
 r\ GOD of Hope, fill us with all joy and peace in 
 ^-^ believing, that we may abound in hope, through 
 the power of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 For Faith and Charity. 
 r\ GOD, we render thanks unto Thee for the faith 
 ^ and charity of Thy People, and for all tjie joy 
 wherewith we joy for their sakes before Thee. And 
 we pray Thee to perfect that which is lacking in their 
 faith. Make them to increase and abound in love one 
 toward another, and toward all men : to the end that 
 Thou mayest stablish their hearts unblameable in holi- 
 ness before God, even our Father, at the coming of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Thou 
 
270 Scriptural Praters. 
 
 very God of peace, sanctify them wholly ; and may 
 their whole spirit and soul and body be preserved 
 blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ : 
 To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 For Grace to do Good Works, 
 r\ GOD of Peace, that broughtest again from the 
 ^ dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 
 sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, 
 make us perfect in every good work to do Thy will, 
 working in us that which is well-pleasing in Thy 
 sight, through Jesus Christ : To Whom be glory for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 For Perseverance. 
 r\ OD of all Grace, Who hast called us unto Thine 
 ^ eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that w^e have 
 suffered a while, make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, 
 settle us ; that God in all things may be glorified 
 through Jesus Christ : To Whom be praise and domi- 
 nion for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 
 
 For Unity. 
 GOD of Patience and Consolation, grant us to be 
 like-minded one toward another according to 
 
ScRiPTUEAL Prayers. 271 
 
 Jesus Christ : that we may with one mind and one 
 mouth glorify Thee, even the Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 For Increase of Grace. 
 A LMIGHTY God, we thank Thee for Thy grace 
 -^-*- which is given us by Christ Jesus : beseeching 
 Thee that in every thing we may be enriched by Him, 
 in all utterance and in all knowledge, so that we come 
 behind in no gift : waiting for the revelation of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall also confirm us unto the 
 end, that we may be blameless in that day. Thou art 
 faithful, God, by Whom we were called unto the 
 fellowship of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord : To 
 Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 For Deliverance from Sin. 
 
 r\ GOD, we thank Thee that we, who were the ser- 
 ^^ vants of sin, have obeyed from the heart that 
 form of doctrine which was delivered us : and being 
 now made free from sin, and become servants to God, 
 may we have our fruit uiito holiness, and the end 
 everlasting life : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
272 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 For Patience. 
 TvIRECT our hearts, Lord, into the love of God, 
 •^ and into the patience of Christ. 
 
 
 
 For Peace. 
 LORD of Peace, give us peace always by all 
 
 means. 
 
 For Stedfastness. 
 r\ GOD, Who hast from the beginning chosen us to 
 ^^ salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, 
 and belief of the truth : Grant us grace to stand fast, 
 and hold the traditions which we have been taught, to 
 the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and God, even our Father, Who 
 Thyself hast loved us, and hast given us everlasting 
 consolation, and good hope through grace : Comfort 
 our hearts, and stablish us in every good word and 
 work : that we may stand perfect and complete in all 
 the will of God. 
 
 ? 
 
 For Sanctification. 
 OUCHSAFE, our God, we pray Thee, to count 
 us worthy of Thy calling, and fulfil all the 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 273 
 
 good pleasure of Thj goodness, and the work of faith 
 with power : that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 may be glorified in us, and we in Him, according to 
 the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 For Spiritual Comfort. 
 "DLESSED be Thou, God, even the Father of our 
 -^ Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and 
 the God of all comfort, Who comfortest us in all our 
 
 tribulation, that we maybe able to comfort them which 
 are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our- 
 selves are comforted of Thee. And as the sufferings 
 of Christ abound in us, so may our consolation also 
 abound by Christ : that as we are partakers of the 
 sufferings^ so we may be also of the consolation. De- 
 liver us, God, in Whom we trust, and grant us the 
 testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and 
 godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by Thy 
 grace, we may have our conversation in the world. 
 Thanks be unto Thee, God, Who always causest us 
 to triumph in Christ, and makest manifest the savour 
 of Thy knowledge by us in every place. 
 
 12* 
 
274 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 V. 
 
 INTERCESSION. 
 
 For the Universal Church, 
 r\ GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we 
 ^ give Thee thanks for all Thy saints our faithful 
 brethren in Christ : desiring that thej might be filled 
 with the knowledge of Thy will, in all wisdom and 
 spiritual understanding ; that they might walk worthy 
 of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every 
 good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 
 Strengthen them with all might, according to Thy 
 glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering 
 with joyfulness. May they ever give thanks unto 
 Thee, Father, Who hast made us meet to be par- 
 takers of the inheritance of the saints in light ; Who 
 hast delivered us from the power of darkness, and hast 
 translated us into the kingdom of Thy dear Son : 
 in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even 
 the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 For all Classes of Men. 
 r\ GOD our Saviour, who wouldest have all men to 
 ^^ be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the 
 truth : Let Thy way be known upon the earth, Thy 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 275 
 
 saving health unto all nations. Let the kingdoms of 
 this world become the kingdoms of the Lord and of 
 His Christ. We pray for kings, and for all that are 
 in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable 
 life in all godliness and honesty. And we beseech 
 Thee for Thy servants, who in every place make mani- 
 fest the savour of Thy knowledge, preaching among 
 the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ. Supply 
 them with Thy Spirit ; open unto them doors of utter- 
 ance, to make known the mystery of the Gospel ; de- 
 liver them from unreasonable and wicked men ; and 
 may the Word of the Lord every where have free 
 course and be glorified, even as it is with us. Lord 
 of the harvest, send forth labourers into Thy har- 
 vest. 
 
 VI. 
 ASCRIPTIONS OP PRAISE. 
 
 1VT0W to God only Wise be glory through Jesus 
 -^^ Christ for ever. Amen. 
 
 Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, 
 the only Wise God, be honour and glory for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 Now to the blesged and only Potentate, the King of 
 kings, and Lord of lords : Who only hath immortal- 
 
276 Scriptural Prayers. 
 
 itjr, dwelling in the light which no man can approach 
 unto ; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see : To Him 
 be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 
 
 Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, 
 and to present us faultless before the presence of His 
 glory with exceeding joy : To the only Wise God our 
 Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
 both now and ever. Amen. 
 
 Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all 
 things : To Whom be glory for ever. Amen* 
 
 Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto 
 the Lord our God. 
 
 To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 To Him be glory, both now and for ever. Amen. 
 
 Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our 
 sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and 
 priests unto God and His Father : To Him be glory 
 and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, 
 and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and 
 glory, and blessing. Amen. 
 
 Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, 
 and honour, and power, and mightj^be unto our God, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
Scriptural Prayers. 277 
 
 ■ Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be 
 unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 
 Lamb for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, 
 and unto the Lamb. 
 
 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
COMPREHENSIVE PRAYER 
 
 IN THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 ADORATION. 
 
 r\ GOD, Thou art our God. early will we seek 
 ^ Thee ; our God, and we will praise Thee ; our 
 fathers' God, and we will exalt Thee. Thou art very 
 great, clothed with honour and majesty. Thou cover- 
 est Thyself with light as with a garment ; and in Thee 
 is no darkness at all. 
 
 Thou art God Thyself alone ; and, besides Thee, 
 there is none else. The heavens declare Thy glory, 
 and the firmament showeth forth Thy handy work. 
 The invisible things of God, from the creation of the 
 world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things 
 that are made, even Thine eternal power and God-head. 
 
 Thou art transcendently great in all Thy perfec- 
 tions. Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, 
 
A Comprehensive Prayer. 279 
 
 doing wonders. Who, in the heavens, can be compared 
 unto the Lord ? Who, among the sons of the mighty, 
 can be likened unto Thee, Lord God of hosts ? As 
 the heavens are high above the earth, so are Thy 
 thoughts above our thoughts, and Thy ways above our 
 ways. All nations, before Thee, are as the drop of a 
 bucket, or the small dust of the balance ; and Thou 
 takest up the isles as a very little thing : they are as 
 nothing, and counted to Thee as less than nothing, and 
 as vanity. 
 
 Thou art the eternal, immortal, and unchangeable 
 God. Before the mountains were brought forth, or 
 ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from 
 everlasting to everlasting Thou art God, the same yes- 
 terday, to-day, and for ever. 
 
 Thou art the omnipresent God. None can hide 
 himself in secret places, that Thou canst not see 
 him, for Thou fillest heaven and earth with Thy 
 presence. 
 
 Thou art the omniscient Jehovah. All things are 
 naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom 
 we have to do. Thou understandest our thoughts afar 
 off: there is not a word in our tongue, but lo 1 
 Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. 
 
280 A Comprehensive Prayer. 
 
 Thy wisdom is unsearchable. Thine understanding, 
 Lord, is infinite. Thou tellest the number of the 
 stars, and callest them all by their names. Thou art 
 wonderful in council, excellent in working, wise in 
 heart, and mighty in strength. the depth of the 
 wisdom and knowledge of God ! how unsearchable are 
 His judgments, and His ways past finding out ! 
 
 Thy sovereignty is incontestable. Thou dost ac- 
 cording to Thy will, in the armies of heaven, and 
 among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay 
 Thy hand, or say unto Thee, What doest Thou ? 
 
 .Thy power is irresistible. We know, God, that 
 Thou canst do every thing. All power is Thine, both 
 in heaven and in earth : Thou killest, and Thou makest 
 alive : Thou woundest, and Thou healest : and there 
 is none that can deliver out of Thy hand. 
 
 Thou art a God of unspotted purity and perfect 
 rectitude. Thou art holy, Thou that inhabitest the 
 praises of Israel. Holy and reverend is Thy Name ; 
 and we give thanks at the remembrance of Thy holi- 
 ness. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity ; 
 neither shall evil dwell with Thee. 
 
 Thy justice is inflexible, Thy truth inviolable, and 
 the treasures of Thy goodness inexhaustible. Thou 
 
Adoration. 281 
 
 art righteous, Lord, in all Thy ways, and holy in all 
 Thy works. Thy righteousness is as the great moun- 
 tains : all Thy ways are truth and judgment. Thou 
 art good, and Thy mercy endureth for ever. Thy lov- 
 ing kindness is great towards us, and Thy truth en- 
 dureth to all generations. Thou hast proclaimed Thy 
 Name, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 
 slow to anger, abundant in goodness and truth, keep- 
 ing mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgres- 
 sion, and sin. 
 
 These, Lord, are but part of Thy ways ; for who 
 by searching can find out God ? who can find out the 
 Almighty to perfection ? 
 
 We praise Thee as a God of inefiable glory. Thou 
 hast prepared Thy throne in the heavens ; and the 
 Seraphim veil their faces before Thee. Thou makest 
 Thine angels spirits, and Thy ministers a flame of fire : 
 Thousand thousands minister unto Thee, and ten 
 thousand times ten thousand stand before Thee. Thou 
 art worthy, Lord, to receive blessing, and honour, 
 and glory, and power ; for Thou hast created all 
 things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were creat- 
 ed. The earth is full of Thy riches ; Thy kingdom 
 ruleth over all : a sparrow falls not to the ground 
 
282 A Comprehensive Prayer. 
 
 without our Father ; and the hairs of our head are all 
 numbered. 
 
 Thou madest man at first out of the dust of the 
 ground, and didst breathe into him the breath of life, 
 and he became a living soul. Thou hast made of one 
 blood all the nations of men, for to dwell on all the 
 face of the earth, and hast determined the times be- 
 fore appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. 
 
 We adore Thee, as the one living and true God, 
 the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. We give 
 honour to the Son as to the Father ; and to the Com- 
 forter, the Holy Spirit, who is sent to teach us all 
 things, and to bring all things to our remembrance. 
 We praise Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the 
 Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier. Thou 
 hast made us, and not we ourselves ; and therefore we 
 are not our own, but Thine, Thy people, and the 
 sheep of Thy pasture. In Thee we live, and move, 
 and have our being. Thou hast redeemed us from 
 evil. We are bought with a price. It is of Thy 
 mercy that we are not consumed, even because Thy 
 compassions fail not. Thou hast appointed us a High 
 Priest, in Whose Name we may come boldly to the 
 throne of grace. We make mention of the righteous- 
 ness of Christ, and of His only. 
 
Confession. 283 
 
 confession. 
 11 /TOST merciful God, we come unto Thee, in hum- 
 -^^-*- ble dependence. upon Bis atonement and inter- 
 cession, and confess our sins, which are many and 
 great. Against Thee, Thee only, have we sinned, 
 God: and to us belongeth shame and confusion of 
 face. Behold, we are vile; what shall we answer 
 Thee ? We will lay our hand upon our mouth. Thou 
 puttest no trust in Thy saints ; yea, the heavens are 
 not clean in Thy sight. How much more abominable 
 and filthy is man, who drinketh iniquity like water ? 
 "We have ruined ourselves : but in Thee is our help. 
 If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who 
 should stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, 
 that Thou mayest be feared : with Thee there is mer- 
 cy : yea, with our God there is plenteous redemption. 
 Lord, Thou madest man upright, but he hath 
 sought out many inventions. Our first parents re- 
 belled against Thee ; and we are transgressors from 
 the womb. "We are a seed of evil doers. "We have 
 dealt very treacherously. By one man's disobedience, 
 many were made sinners. By one man sin entered 
 into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed 
 upon all men, for that all have sinned. Behold, we 
 
284 A COMPEEHENSIVE PHAYEK. 
 
 were shapen in iniquity. We are by nature children 
 of wrath, even as others. All flesh have corrupted 
 their way ; we are all gone aside ; we are altogether 
 become filthy ; there is none righteous ; there is none 
 that doeth good ; no, not one. 
 
 Our understandings are darkened by reason of sin ; 
 our wills are stubborn and perverse ; and our affections 
 are alienated from Thee. We are wise to do evil, but 
 to good we have no knowledge. Our neck hath been 
 an iron sinew ; and we have made our hearts as the 
 adamant. We have followed after vanities, and for- 
 saken our mercies. We have set our affections on 
 things beneath; and our hearts have departed from 
 the living God. We are prone to evil as the sparks 
 fly upward. Our hearts are deceitful above all things, 
 and desperately wicked. Lord, we lament our ir- 
 regular appetites, and inordinate passions. We bewail 
 our pride, our carnality, and worldly-mindedness. Our 
 sins are attended with exceedingly great aggravations. 
 We have sinned against the clearest light, the tender- 
 est love, and the most faithful warnings of God, of 
 parents, of ministers, and of our own consciences. 
 And now, Lord, what shall we say ? For we have 
 forsaken Thy commandments : we have sinned, 
 
Supplication. 285 
 
 what shall we do unto Thee, Thou Preserver of 
 men? 
 
 Glory, glorj to Thy Name in the highest, that 
 there is any hope for the lost and sinful children of 
 men; that Thou hast entertained purposes of mercy 
 towards any of the guilty race ; that the joyful sound 
 of peace and reconciliation with God hath reached our 
 ears. We thank Thee that Thou hast so loved the 
 world as to give Thine Only Begotten Son, that who- 
 soever believeth in Him should not perish, but have 
 everlasting life. 
 
 SUPPLICATION. 
 
 TN the all-prevailing Name of Jesus of Nazareth, a 
 -*- Name with which Thou art ever well pleased, we 
 present our prayers and supplications to Thee. And 
 now, Lord, what wait we for ? Our eyes are unto Thee, 
 and our hope is in Thee, through Christ Jesus our 
 Redeemer. Deliver us from all our transgressions ; 
 and, God, be merciful to us sinners. Wash us 
 thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our 
 sin. For vfe acknowledge our transgressions : and our 
 sin is ever before us. Justify us freely by Thy grace, 
 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our 
 Lord. 
 
286 A Comprehensive Prayer 
 
 Create in us a clean heart, God, and renew a 
 right spirit within us. Work in us the work of faith 
 with power. Dispose us to a godly sorrow for our 
 sins, and give us repentance unto life. Shed abroad 
 Thy love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto 
 us. Teach us Thy statutes, and give us understand- 
 ing that we may know Thy testimonies. May we 
 know God and Jesus Christ, whom to know is eternal 
 life. Put Thy fear, Lord, into our hearts, that we 
 may never depart from Thy law. Hide pride from 
 our eyes, and clothe us with humility. Enable us to 
 put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 
 God of peace, let not anger dwell in our bosoms. Fill 
 us with charity and brotherly love, that we may keep 
 the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. May 
 our consciences be always tender. May we abstain 
 from all appearance of evil. Incline us to content- 
 ment with the allotments of Thy providence ; and 
 form us to submission and resignation to Thy will. 
 May we ever possess our souls in patience ; and feel 
 a holy indifference to all the objects of time and 
 sense. Lord, furnish us with hope, which maketh 
 not ashamed ; that living hope, which is as an anchor 
 to the soul, both sure and stedfast. 
 
Supplication. 287 
 
 Enable us, Lord, to be circumspect in all our 
 conversation, watching over our thoughts, our lips, 
 and our lives. May the grace of God teach us, that 
 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live 
 soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world : 
 looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appear- 
 ing of that great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; 
 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us 
 from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar 
 people, zealous of good works. Lord, quicken us in 
 the ways of righteousness. Let us ever practise the 
 things which are honest in the sight of all men. 
 May we be diligent in every duty, performing it with 
 a ready mind and with joy and gladness of heart. 
 May we have grace always to live in the exercise of 
 devotion and piety towards God ; of truth, charity, 
 and righteousness towards men ; and to maintain 
 chastity, temperance, and sobriety towards ourselves. 
 Grant that we may increase in all godliness ; that we 
 may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 Lord, Who art the confidence of all the ends of 
 the earth, preserve us from temptation ; support us 
 under afflictions ; comfort us in sorrows ; make us use- 
 
288 A Comprehensive Prayer. 
 
 ful in life, and prepare us for death : And when we 
 have done serving Thee here below, admit us, we 
 beseech Thee, to that state of rest and perfection 
 which Thou hast reserved for Thy people in the 
 heavenly world. 
 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 A ND now, Lord our God, we desire to lift up our 
 ■^^ hearts to Thee, in a grateful acknowledgement 
 of all Thy mercies and benefits to us. We praise 
 Thee, as the King of kings and Lord of lords, full of 
 compassion and goodness to the children of men. 
 We thank Thee that Thou hast formed us reasonable 
 creatures, capable of knowing, serving, and enjoying 
 Thee. We bless Thee for Thy preserving care ; for 
 our lives, our health, our food and raiment ; for our 
 friends, our comforts, and all our temporal enjoy- 
 ments. Above all, we praise Thee, most merciful 
 Father, for spiritual blessings in heavenly places in 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 We thank Thee, Lord, for the early intimations 
 of good-will to fallen men ; that the seed of the wo- 
 man should bruise the serpent's head. We adore 
 Thee for the wonderful and mysterious incarnation of 
 
• * Thanksgiving. 289 
 
 Thine Only-begotten Son. We praise Thee, that 
 when the fulness of time was come, Thou didst send 
 forth Thy Son, made of a woman, made under the 
 law, to redeem them that were under the law, that 
 we might receive the adoption of sons. We thank 
 Thee for His gracious undertaking ; for His exem- 
 plary life ; His soul-saving doctrines ; for the stu- 
 pendous miracles whereby He confirmed His divine 
 mission ; and, in a special manner, for His meritorious 
 death and sufferings. We bless Thee that He was 
 delivered for our offences, and rose again for our 
 justification ; that He hath ascended to His Father 
 and our Father, to His God and our God ; and that 
 He ever liveth to make intercession for us. 
 
 We thank Thee, Lord God of grace, for the 
 Holy Spirit, and for His sanctifying and comforting 
 influences upon the souls of men ; for the Covenant 
 of grace and all the precious promises thereof; for 
 Thy Word ; for the Gospel Ministry, and the insti- 
 tution of all Thine Ordinances ; for Sabbaths ; and 
 for Sanctuary blessings. We praise Thee for the 
 striving of Thy Spirit, and for the remonstrances and 
 admonitions of our consciences ; for enlightening, re- 
 newing, justifying, adopting, and sanctifying grace ; 
 13 
 
290 A COMPKEHENSIVE PrAYER. 
 
 for sweet communion with Thee in Thine ordinances ; 
 for gracious answers to Our prayers ; for succour in 
 temptations ; for support under troubles ; and for the 
 joyful hopes of a glorious immortality. 
 
 INTERCESSION. 
 
 IVTOW, Thou Most High, when we pray unto 
 -*-' Thee, we would remember and make supplication 
 for all the children of men. Extend, we beseech Thee, 
 Thy mercy to a guilty world ; and let all the ends of 
 the earth see the salvation of our God. Let Thy Gos- 
 pel be preached unto every creature ; and add unto 
 Thy Church daily such as shall be saved. Give unto 
 Thy Son the heathen for His inheritance, and the 
 uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. 
 Lord, gather into the Gospel Church Thine ancient 
 people the Jews : hasten the latter-day glory : accom- 
 plish all the purposes of Thy grace : remove every 
 thing which is a let or hindrance to the advancement 
 of the Redeemer's Kingdom : take away all error and 
 idolatry, anti-christian superstition, and Mohammedan 
 delusion. 
 
 We pray for Thy blessing upon Thy Church Uni- 
 versal, and upon every branch of it in particular, 
 
Intercession. 291 
 
 Lord, pitj any part of Thy Church that may be 
 suffering affliction or persecution. Let not the rod 
 of the wicked rest upon the lot of the righteous ; 
 strengthen the faith and patience of Thy suffering 
 saints, that they may hope and quietly wait for the 
 salvation of the Lord. Pour out Thy Spirit upon all 
 Thy Churches ; revive Thy work in the midst of the 
 years ; cause pure and undefiled religion universally 
 to prevail ; arise, have mercy upon Zion, and let the 
 time to favour her, yea, the set time, come. 
 
 Heavenly Father, do Thou bless all the Ministers 
 of Thy Gospel ; purify the sons of Levi, and make 
 those holy who bear the vessels of the Lord \ make 
 them burning and shining lights in Thy golden candle- 
 sticks ; and may they turn many to righteousness, and 
 shine as stars in the firmament of glory for ever and ever. 
 
 Lord, we pray for Thy special favour to Thy 
 Churches in this land. Be very gracious to all the 
 Congregations and Ministers of this Church. Bless 
 our Presbyteries, our Synods, and our General Coun- 
 cil. May their deliberations at all times have a happy 
 tendency to promote true religion, and to advance 
 more and more the interests of the Redeemer's King- 
 dom. Make all our people holy in their lives, and 
 
292 A Comprehensive Prayer. 
 
 godlj in their conversation. May they be an orna- 
 ment to their profession ; and may our Church be a 
 praise in the land. 
 
 Thou, who art King among the nations, visit all 
 the nations and kingdoms of the earth with Thy good- 
 ness, Thy mercy, and Thy salvation. Deal favourably, 
 Lord, with the land in which we live. Thou 
 hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, 
 be not as a stranger in our land, and as a way-faring 
 man, that tumeth aside to tarry for a night. Make 
 this Emmanuel's land. May it be a valley of vision, 
 a land wherein truth, peace, and righteousness shall 
 always dwell. 
 
 Give, Lord, we entreat Thee, prosperity to the 
 inhabitants of this country, in their husbandry, their 
 trades, and their merchandize. Make not our heaven 
 brass, nor our earth iron ; but grant us, we pray Thee, 
 rain in due season; and reserve unto us the appointed 
 weeks of harvest. Let our land yield her increase, 
 and our trees their fruit. Abundantly bless our pro- 
 vision, and satisfy our poor with bread. Lord, 
 bless all in authority over us, supreme and subordinate. 
 Counsel our counsellors, and teach our senators wis- 
 dom. Make our officers peace, and our exactors right- 
 
Intercession. 293 
 
 eousness. May all our magistrates and rulers rule 
 in the fear of God, be able men, men of truth, fearing 
 God, and hating covetousness. May judgment run 
 down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. 
 
 Lord, we pray for all schools, colleges, and other 
 seminaries of learning. From these fountains may 
 streams issue, which shall make glad the city of our 
 God. Bless all teachers in them ; and may the youth 
 be trained up in the fear of the Lord. 
 
 Most gracious God, we beseech Thee to extend com- 
 passion to the sons and daughters of affliction. Heal 
 the sick ; ease the pained ; support the distressed ; 
 succour the tempted ; comfort mourners ; restore to 
 their right mind those who are deprived of the use of 
 their reason ,• be the God of the widow, the father of 
 the fatherless, and the orphan's stay. 
 
 And now, Lord, our God, we commit ourselves 
 unto Thee ; we hope in Thy mercies ; and we wait for 
 Thy salvation. Pardon the iniquity of our holy 
 things. We ask and offer all, in the Name of our 
 once crucified, but now exalted Redeemer, the Lord 
 Jesus Christ: to Whom, with the Father, and the 
 Spirit of all grace, be ascribed glory, honour, do- 
 minion, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen'. 
 
SUNDRY OCCASIONAL PRATERS. 
 
 THE MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the 
 morning ; for in Thee do I trust. 
 
 Cause me to know the ivay tvherein I should 
 walk ; for I lift up my soid unto Thee. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, our Father and Preserver ! we 
 ■^■*- give Thee thanks that of Thy goodness Thou hast 
 watched over us the past night, and brought us to this 
 day. And we beseech Thee, strengthen and guard us 
 by Thy Spirit, that we may spend it wholly in Thy 
 service, aiming at Thy glory, and the salvation of our 
 fellow-men. And even as Thou sheddest now the 
 beams of the sun upon the earth to give light unto 
 our bodies, so illumine our souls with the brightness 
 of Thy Spirit, to guide us in the paths of Thine obe- 
 
296 Sundry Occasional Peayers. 
 
 dience. May all our purpose be this daj to honour 
 and serve Thee ; may we look for all prosperity to Thy 
 blessing only, and seek no object but such as may be 
 well-pleasing in Thy sight. Enable us, Lord! while 
 we labour for the body, and the life that now is, ever 
 to look beyond unto that heavenly life which Thou hast 
 promised Thy children. Defend us in soul and body 
 from all harm. Guard us against all assaults of the 
 devil, and deliver us from any dangers that may beset 
 us. And seeing it is a small thing to have begun 
 well, except we also persevere, take us, Lord ! into 
 Thy good keeping this day, and all our days ; con- 
 tinue and increase Thy grace within us, until we shall 
 be perfectly united in the glory of Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, who shall 
 replenish our souls with His eternal light and gladness. 
 And that we may obtain all these blessings, be pleased 
 to cast out of Thy remembrance all our past offences, 
 anii of Thy boundless mercy forgive them ; as Thou 
 hast promised unto those who call upon Thee in sin- 
 cerity and truth. Hear us, God, our Father and 
 Redeemer ! Through Jesus Christ our Lord : In 
 Whose Name we pray, as He hath taught us, saying 
 — Our Father, etc. 
 
Evening Prayer. 297 
 
 the evening prayer. 
 
 Consider and hear me^ O Lord my God ; lighten 
 mine eyes^ lest I sleep the sleep of death. 
 
 I will both lay me down in peace^ and steep ; for 
 Thou, Lord^ only makest me dwell in safety. 
 
 r\ MERCIFUL God! Eternal Light, shining in 
 ^-^ darkness, Thou that dispellest the night of sin, 
 and all blindness of heart : Since Thou hast appointed 
 the night for rest, and the day for labour ; we beseech 
 Thee, grant that our bodies may rest in peace and 
 quietness, that afterward they may be able to endure 
 the labour they must bear. Temper our sleep, that it 
 may be pure and peaceful ; that we may remain spot- 
 less both in body and soul ; yea, that our Sleep itself 
 may be to Thy glory. Enlighten the eyes of our un- 
 derstanding, that we may not sleep in death ; but 
 always look for deliverance from this misery. Defend 
 us against all assaults of the devil, and take us into 
 Thy holy protection. And although we have not 
 passed this day without greatly sinning against Thee, 
 we beseech Thee to hide our sins with Thy mercy, as 
 Thou hidest all things on earth with the darkness of 
 
 the night, that we may never be cast out from Thy 
 13* 
 
298 SuNDKY Occasional Pkayers. 
 
 presence. Relieve and comfort all those ^wlio are 
 afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord; Who hath taught 
 us to pray — Our Father, etc. 
 
 A SHORT PRAYER, 
 
 That All Men may live uprightly in their Callings. 
 
 T ORD God Almighty, Merciful and Pure, be pleased 
 -^ in favour to consider the weakness of man : and 
 so sanctify us with Thy grace, that we may all con- 
 fess our sins, and cry to Thee for pardon ; all acknowl- 
 edge our weakness, and cry to Thee for strength ; all 
 see our ignorance, and come to Thee for knowledge 
 how to behave ourselves in this mortal life in our sev^ 
 eral callings : That thereby both Thou mayest be glo- 
 rified, our brethren comforted, and ourselves relieved : 
 that when we shall be called by Thee to render an ac- 
 count of our stewardships, we may be able to stand 
 before Thee acquitted from all that either sin, the 
 devil, or our corrupt flesh may charge us with : not 
 through our own deservings, which in our best en- 
 deavours are evil evermore ; but in the merits of Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
For Pardon and Help. 299 
 
 a prayer for pardon and help. 
 
 r\ MOST Merciful Saviour ! Who by Thy life and 
 ^^ atoning death didst reconcile man with God ; the 
 only hope of the despairing, and help of them that are 
 warred against ; the ready defence of all that fly to 
 Thee, the refuge of all Thy People : Abhor not us, 
 who by wicked works, words, and deeds, have rendered 
 ourselves utterly vile in Thy sight : but kindly pity 
 us, sinners, and prodigal children, and receive our 
 prayers, though offered to Thee by polluted lips. Open 
 unto us, gracious Lord, Thy tender mercies ; and 
 passing by our numberless offences, turn us to repent- 
 ance, and make us tried doers of Thy precepts. Be 
 also present with us always in Thy merciful compas- 
 sion : both in this life, as a constant protector and aid, 
 warding off every assault of our enemies, and leading 
 us unto salvation ; and in the time of our departure, 
 caring for our helpless souls, and driving far from 
 them all dark visions of fear and fright ; and in the 
 awful day of judgment, delivering us from everlasting 
 punishment, and making us heirs of Thine unspeakable 
 glory. This, Lord, we ask through Thy mediation 
 and intercession : to Whom, with the Father and the 
 
300 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 Holy Ghost, be all honour, glory, and dominion. 
 Amen. 
 
 a prayer in time of discord. 
 
 II /TOST Gracious Lord, we humbly beseech Thee to 
 ITX grant us hearts mindful of Thy past mercies 
 toward this nation. Suffer us never to fall into un- 
 thankfulness and forgetfulness of Thy benefits publicly 
 received. Be pleased to continue Thy fatherly guid- 
 ance and direction of our ways. Dissipate the coun- 
 sels of such as labour to stir up the hearts of this peo- 
 ple against one another : let their malicious practices 
 be for their own confusion ; and grant Thou of Thy 
 mercy that love, concord, and tranquillity may con- 
 tinue and increase among the inhabitants of this land, 
 even until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ : by 
 Whose glorious Gospel Thou dost call us to unity, 
 peace, and Christian harmony, the full perfection 
 whereof we shall possess in Thy Kingdom : where all 
 offences shall be removed, all iniquity suppressed, and 
 Thy chosen ones fully endued with that perfect glory 
 in which our Lord Jesus now reigneth ; Unto Whom, 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and 
 glory evermore. Amen, 
 
Opening of a Church Court. 301 
 
 A PRAYER AT THE OPENING OF A CHURCH COURT. 
 
 Tj^TERNAL God ! Who of Thine infinite goodness 
 -*-^ hast chosen unto Thyself a Church from the 
 foundation of the world, we bless Thee for Thy 
 fatherly love and care, in ruling, defending, and guid- 
 ing Thy People in the knowledge of Thy blessed will. 
 Give now, Lord, unto us who are here gathered in 
 Thy Name, such a measure of Thy Holy Spirit, that 
 we may see and ask of Thee those things that shall 
 be expedient for Thy glory and the safety of Thy flock. 
 Impart Thy grace, that we may stedfastly agree in 
 the unity of the true doctrine ; preserve us from all 
 error ; and lead us into all purity of life, that we may 
 not dishonour Thy holy Gospel. Remove from us 
 all misapprehensions and vain desires ; and grant that 
 Thy holy Word may be the only guide and rule of 
 all our consultations ; that they may tend to the glory 
 of Thy Name, the edification of Thy Church, and 
 the discharge of our own conscience. Grant this, 
 Father ! for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and 
 Redeemer : To Whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
 be all honour and praise, now and ever. Amen. 
 
302 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 a prayer eor sick persons. 
 r\ ALMIGHTY, Eternal, Righteous God, and Mer- 
 ^ ciful Father, Thou who art Lord of life and 
 death, and without whose will nothing is done in 
 heaven, nor on earth : Although we are not worthy to 
 call upon Thy Name, nor to hope that Thou wilt hear 
 us, when we consider how we have hitherto employed 
 our time : We beseech Thee, that Thou wilt be pleased 
 of Thy mercy to look upon us in the face of Jesus 
 Christ, who hath taken all our infirmities on Him. We 
 acknowledge that we are utterly incapable of any good, 
 and prone to all evil, wherefore we have justly merited 
 this punishment, yea, have deserved much more. But, 
 Lord, Thou knowest that we are Thy people, and 
 Thou art our God : we have no other refuge than in 
 Thy mercy, which Thou hast never withheld from 
 any one who turned himself to Thee. Therefore we 
 beseech Thee not to impute our sins unto us, but ac- 
 count the wisdom, righteousness, and holiness of Jesus 
 Christ unto us, that we may in Him be able to stand 
 before Thee. Deliver us for His sake from these 
 sufferings, that the wicked may not think that Thou 
 hast forsaken us. And if it be Thy pleasure longer 
 thus to try us, give us strength and patience to bear 
 
ForSickPersons. 303 
 
 all suffering according to Thy will, and let all turn ac- 
 cording to Thy wisdom to our profit. Kather chasten 
 us here, than hereafter, to be lost with a sinful world. 
 Grant that we may die to this world, and all earthly 
 things, and that we may daily more and more be re- 
 newed after the image of Jesus Christ. Suffer us 
 not by any means to be separated from Thy love ; but 
 draw us daily nearer and nearer unto Thee, that we 
 may attain unto the end of our calling with joy;, that 
 we may die, rise again, and live with Christ in eternity. 
 We also believe that Thou wilt hear us through Jesus 
 Christ, who hath taught us to pray — Our Father, etc. 
 Strengthen us also in the true Faith, which we 
 believe in our hearts, and profess with our mouths — I 
 believe in God^ etc. 
 
 The Same. 
 "HTERNAL, Merciful God and Father, the eternal 
 -^ salvation of the living, and the everlasting life 
 of the dying ; seeing that Thou hast death and life in 
 Thy hand alone, and takest such, care of us continually, 
 that neither health nor sickness, nor any good or evil 
 can befall us, nay, not a hair can fall from our head, 
 without Thy will : and since Thou dost order all 
 
304 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 things for the good of Thy People : We beseech Thee, 
 grant us the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, to teach us 
 rightly to acknowledge our misery, and patiently to 
 beai' Thy chastenings, which we have deserved ten 
 thousand times more severe. We know that they are 
 not the evidences of Thy wrath, but of Thy fatherly 
 love towards us, that we should not be condemned 
 with the world. Lord, increase our faith in Thine 
 infinite mercy, that we may be more and more united 
 to Christ, as members to their spiritual Head, to whom 
 Thou wilt make us conformable in sufierings and in 
 glory. Lighten the cross, so that our weakness may 
 be able to bear it. We submit ourselves entirely to 
 Thy holy will, whether Thou art pleased to continue 
 our souls longer in these tabernacles, or take them into 
 eternal life ; since we belong to Christ, and therefore 
 shall not perish. We would willingly leave this weak 
 body in hope of a blessed resurrection, when it shall 
 be restored to us much more glorious. Grant us to 
 experience the blessed comforts of the remission of 
 sins, and of justification through Christ, that we by 
 that shield may overcome all the assaults of Satan. 
 May His innocent blood wash away all the stain and 
 uncleanness of our sins, and His righteousness answer 
 
-ForaSickChild. 305 
 
 for our unrighteousness in Thy last judgment. Arm 
 us with faith and hope, that we may not be ashamed 
 nor confounded by the terrors of death. But when our 
 bodily eyes are closing in darkness, may the eyes of 
 our souls be directed towards Thee : and when Thou 
 shalt have deprived us of the use of our tongues, may 
 our hearts never cease to call upon Thee. Lord, 
 into Thy hands we commit our souls : forsake us not 
 in our last extremity ; and that only for the sake of 
 Jesus Christ: Who hath taught us to pray — Our 
 Father, etc. 
 
 FOR A SICK CHILD. 
 
 r\ ALMIGHTY and most Merciful Father! in 
 ^ Whose hands are the issues of life and death : 
 ,Look down, we beseech Thee, in compassion, upon the 
 sick child for whom our prayers are desired. If it 
 be Thy good pleasure, deliver him from his bodily 
 sickness, prolong his days upon the earth, enable him 
 to live in Thy fear and to Thy glory, and visit him 
 with Thy salvation. But if it be Thy will, gracious 
 God! to take his soul at this time out of the world, 
 receive him, we pray Thee, into those heavenly 
 habitations, where the spirits of all who are in Christ 
 
306 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 enjoy perpetual repose and blessedness. Grant this, 
 G Lord ! for the love of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 FOR A PERSON UNDER AFFLICTION. 
 
 r\ MEECIFUL God and heavenly Father! Who 
 " hast taught us in Thy holy Word that Thou 
 dost not willingly afflict the children of men : Look 
 with pity, we beseech Thee, upon the sorrows of Thy 
 servant, for whom our prayers are desired. In Thy 
 wisdom, Thou hast visited him with trouble, and hast 
 brought distress upon his soul. Remember him, 
 Lord ! in mercy : sanctify Thy fatherly correction to 
 him ; endue his soul with patience under his affliction, 
 and with resignation to Thy blessed will. Comfort 
 him. with a sense of Thy goodness, and give him^ 
 peace ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 FOR RAIN. 
 
 f\ GOD, Creator and Governor, Who preservest man 
 ^ and beast, look, we beseech Thee, on our dry, 
 thirsty land ; water it abundantly from Thy river 
 which is full of water, and let Thy paths drop fatness, 
 that the springing of the earth maybe blessed, the 
 
ForFairWeather. 307 
 
 fruits thereof be perfect and plentiful, and the year 
 crowned with Thy goodness. Spare us, Lord, in 
 Thy mercy, and cause Thy people to rejoice because of 
 Thy bounty. Shed forth Thy Holy Spirit on Thy 
 Churches, that Thy heritage may be confirmed and 
 Thy word be fruitful abundantly, for the glory of Thy 
 holy Name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 FOR FAIR WEATHER. 
 
 r\ GOD of love and compassion. Who of old didst set 
 ^-^ Thy bow in the cloud for a token of a covenant 
 between Thee and the earth, we humble ourselves be- 
 fore Thee on account of our sins, and acknowledge Thy 
 chastisement to be just. Yet spare us, Lord. Stay 
 the excess of rain, and cause Thy sun to shine, that, 
 the hope of harvest being fulfilled, our barns may be 
 stored with Thy bounty, and our souls rejoice in Thee. 
 Above all. Lord, grant that the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness may arise upon us with healing in His wings, and 
 Thy people, walking all the day in the light of Thy 
 countenance, in Thy righteousness may be exalted. 
 Do this, Father of mercies, for the sake of Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
308 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 FOR peace. 
 
 f\ GOD of peace, Who didst send unto us messages 
 ^^ of peace by Thj Son, the Prince of peace, and 
 commandest us to be at peace with all men, we entreat 
 Thee to save us from quarrel, bloodshed, and war. 
 . Still the tumult of the people as Thou dost the raging 
 of the sea.^ Disappoint the devices of the wicked, 
 and bring their machinations to naught. Fill our 
 hearts and the hearts of all men with Thy love, that 
 so we may dwell in safety under the wings of Thy 
 Holy Spirit, and have peace with God through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 IN TIME OF PESTILENCE. 
 
 r\ GOD, we are consumed by Thine anger, and by 
 ^-^ Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast seen that 
 our iniquities are great, and Thou hast sent the angel 
 . of death to smite us sorely. Oh, vex us no more in 
 Thy displeasure, but by Thy Holy Spirit turn our 
 hearts and the hearts of all our people to Thy right- 
 eous ways, that so Thou may est repent Thee of the 
 evil, and our lives may be prolonged for the honour of 
 
 * In time of war may be here inserted : 
 
 Give us not over into the hands of our enemies, but defend us^and grant ua 
 the victory, which is in Thine hand. 
 
For the Absentfrom Home. 309 
 
 Thy blessed Name. Yet, Lord, whatsoever Thou hast 
 in store for u& of good or of evil, give us grace to trust 
 our souls in Thy keeping, and to praise Thee with hu- 
 mility and with fear, that, whether we live or die, we 
 may be Thine, and at last find an abundant entrance 
 into life eternal, through Him who died for us and 
 rose again. Amen. 
 
 FOR the absent FROM HOME. 
 
 r\ GOD, Who art everywhere present, ruling the sea 
 ^^ and the land, we entreat Thee for [him, her, or 
 those,] now absent from us. Rescue them from peril, 
 from sickness, from sin, and from death. Cover them 
 as with a shield, and sanctify their experience of Thy 
 mercy to their eternal profit and joy. In due time 
 restore them to their homes, and keep them and us 
 through the journey of this life, that we all may reach 
 our Father's house in peace, through His grace Who 
 hath opened the kingdom of heaven to all that believe 
 on His holy Name. Amen. 
 
 ¥ 
 
 A THANKSGIVING FOR RAIN. 
 
 E thank Thee, God, in Whose hand are all 
 things, that Thou hast heard our prayers, and 
 
 '■' 'of iim 
 
 # 
 
810 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 hast sent us abundant rain. Continue, Lord, to shed 
 down the riches of Thy bounty, that our valleys may 
 be covered with corn, and the pastures rejoice. Grant 
 also, for Thy Name's sake, that our grateful hearts, 
 ever mindful of Thy love, may evermore praise Thee 
 with holy gratitude, reverence, and obedience, for Je- 
 sus Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 a thanksgiving for fAir weather. 
 f\ GRACIOUS and most compassionate Lord God, 
 ^ we have humbled ourselves under Thy righteous 
 pleasure, and trembled under Thine afflictive will. 
 Thou hast restored unto us the light of hope, and stayed 
 the overflowing of rain. Thy sunshine is upon the 
 earth, and the world is full of Thy healthful light. 
 Perfect that which Thou hast most mercifully pre- 
 served^ and let th« fields yield their increase. Shine 
 within our hearts, that we may show forth the fruits 
 of a Christian, faithful, and contented life, through Him 
 whom Thou lovest. Amen. 
 
 
 
 A THANKSGIVING FOR HARVEST. 
 
 GOD, Who hast said that whatsoever a man sow- 
 eth he shall also reap, we heartily thank Thee fox 
 
Thanksgiving for Deliverance. 311 
 
 Thy blessing on the labours of the husbandmenj and 
 that a good harvest has been gathered. May we who 
 live by Thy bounty, live to Thy praise, and our souls 
 be preserved from pride or forgetfulness of Thee, who 
 feedest Thy children with- the finest of the wheat. 
 Remember the poor, and cause us to remember them. 
 Speedily gather to Thyself a harvest of praise from all 
 nations and all the earth, that the good seed of the 
 Word sown in Thy Name may bear fruit abundantly 
 to Thine eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 A THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM PESTI- 
 LENCE. 
 
 TjlATHER of Mercies, Who desirest not the death of 
 -*- the sinner, we thank Thee most humbly and 
 heartily that Thou hast been pleased of Thine infinite 
 compassion to hear our prayers, and favourably to regard 
 Thy suppliant and sorrowing people. Thou hast with- 
 drawn from the midst of us the desolating plague. 
 Oh, that we which remain alive may present unto 
 Thee our whole bodies as a continual thank-ofiering, 
 which is our reasonable service. Remember Thy 
 ptomise unto the widow and the orphan, bind up the 
 
312 SuiTDRY Occasional Prayers. 
 
 broken in heart, and comfort all that mourn, for the 
 sake of Him who died for us and rose again. Amen. 
 
 a thanksgiving for a safe return home. 
 "TTTE thank Thee, God of our mercies, that Thou 
 ' ' hast restored our brother to kis home safe from 
 the perils of the way. The earth is Thine ; the sea 
 also is Thine : and Thou hast not suffered him to per- 
 ish in a strange land nor to sink in the mighty waters. 
 May the goodness of God lead him to a more hearty 
 repentance, and his soul ever rejoice in Thee until he 
 reaches our Father's house, where there is fulness of 
 joy in Thine eternal presence, through Christ our Re- 
 deemer. Amen. 
 
 A PRAYER TO BE USED AT SEA. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, Who alone 
 -^^ commandest the winds and the waves, and they 
 obey Thee : we Thine unworthy and sinful creatures, 
 separated upon the sea from the dwellings of men, 
 would humbly address to Thee our prayers. We 
 confess our manifold transgressions and wickedness ; 
 and implore Thy merey and forgiving grace through 
 ' Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. We worship 
 
Prayers to be used at Sea. 313 
 
 Thee, God ; and beholding Thy works and Thy 
 wonders m the deep, magnify and exalt Thy great and 
 holy Name : and ascribe unto Thee all dominion and 
 majesty and glory for ever and ever. May Thy fear 
 ever fall upon us, Lord, and Thine excellence make 
 us suitably afraid. We give thanks unto Thee for Thy 
 goodness and loving-kindness to us, notwithstanding 
 our guilt, and the magnitude of our sins : and would 
 call upon our souls to bless and praise Thy holy Name, 
 for Thine upholding mercy and preserving care. 
 Vouchsafe unto us, Lord^ the continued defences and 
 blessings of Thy Providence. Spare us Thy just judg- 
 ments ; shield us from dangers seen and unseen : 
 prosper us on our way, and bring us to our destined 
 haven. Above all, grant unto us, heavenly Father, 
 the abundant influence of Thy Holy Spirit, to enlighten 
 our minds in the knowledge of Thy Truth, to purify 
 our hearts from indwelling sin, and to work in us both 
 to will and to do of Thy good pleasure. Grant unto 
 us repentance and the remission of sin, and that faith 
 which is the gift of God : that we may bring forth 
 unto Thee, in our hearts and lives, the peaceable fruits 
 of righteousness. Forbid, Lord our God, that we 
 
 should make shipwreck of the soul ; but being guided 
 14 
 
314 Sundry Occasional Prayers. 
 
 and guarded by Thy good Spirit, may we finish the 
 voyage of life in safety, and find entrance at last into 
 the haven of eternal rest, through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord : To Whom, with Thee the Father, and the Holy 
 Ghost, be glory everlasting. Amen. 
 
 ■-, ■ ':,- u' ■ •■'■ :^'^ ■ . ' ' ■ , 
 
 A PRAYER FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
 STATES, AND ALL IN CIVIL AUTHORITY. 
 
 r\ LORD, our Heavenly Father, the high and mighty 
 ^^ Ruler of the universe. Who dost from Thy throne 
 behold all the dwellers upon earth : most heartily we 
 beseech Thee, with Thy favour to behold and bless 
 Thy servant, the President of the United States, and 
 all others in authority ; and so replenish them with 
 the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may always in- 
 cline to Thy will, and walk in Thy way. Endue them 
 plenteously with heavenly gifts ; grant them in health 
 and prosperity long to live ; and finally, after this life, 
 to attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
THE COLLECTS, 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast 
 away the works of darkness, and put upon us the 
 armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in 
 which Thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us with 
 great humility : that in the last day, when He shall 
 come again in His glorious Majesty to judge both the 
 quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, 
 through Him who liveth and reigneth with Thee and 
 the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. 
 
 BLESSEP Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scrip- 
 tures to be written for our learning : Grant that 
 we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and 
 inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of 
 Thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast 
 the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast 
 given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 
 
 LORD Jesus Christ, who at Thy first ^coming 
 didst send Thy .messenger to prepare Thy way 
 
316 The Collects. 
 
 before Thee : Grant that the ministers and stewards of 
 Tliy 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 peo- 
 ple in Thy sight; who livest and reignest . with the 
 Father and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world with- 
 out end. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, who hast given us cause of perpetual joy 
 by the coming of Thy Son our Saviour among 
 us : Raise up Thy power, we pray Thee, and possess 
 us with a mighty sense of Thy wonderful love ; that 
 whereas through the cares of this life we are sorely let 
 and hindered in running the race that is set before us, 
 we may be careful for nothing, but thankfully com- 
 mending ourselves in every thing to Thy bountiful 
 grace and mercy, the peace of Thee our God, which 
 passeth all understanding, may keep our hearts and 
 minds, through the satisfaction of Thy Son our Lord, 
 to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour 
 a,nd glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us Thine Only- 
 begotten Son, the brightness of Thy glory, and 
 the express image of Thy person, to take our nature 
 upon Him, and to be born of a pure Virgin : Grant 
 
The Collects. 317 
 
 that we, being regenerate, and made Thy children by 
 adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy 
 Spirit ; till Christ be perfectly formed in us, and we 
 be made partakers of a Divine nature, through the 
 same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth 
 with Thee and the same Spirit, ever One God, world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
 GRANT, Lord, that in all our sufferings here 
 upon earth for the testimony of Thy Truth, we 
 may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold 
 the glory that shall be revealed ; and, being filled with 
 the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our per- 
 secutors, by the example of Thy first martyr, Saint 
 Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee, 
 blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God, 
 to succour all those that suffer for Thee, our only Me- 
 diator and Advocate. Amen. 
 
 MERCIFUL God, who art light, and in whom is no 
 darkness at all : Enlighten our minds, we most 
 humbly beseech Thee, with such a full understanding 
 of the doctrine taught by Thy blessed Apostle and 
 Evangelist John, that we, walking in the truth in all 
 purity and holiness of life, may have fellowship with 
 Thee and Thy Son Jesus Christ : by whose blood being 
 
318 The Collects 
 
 
 ,'lp cleansed from all our sins, we may at length attain to 
 everlasting life ; through the same our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 OMOST Blessed God, who having sent Thy Son 
 in our nature, didst preserve Him in His in- 
 fancy from the malice of Herod, by whom many other 
 children were slain : Grant that in all dangers and ad- 
 versities we may put our whole trust and confidence 
 in Thee ; and do Thou by Thy good providence pre- 
 serve us from the rage of unreasonable and wicked 
 men, or strengthen us by patient sufferings to glorify 
 Thy holy Name ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast given Thine Only be- 
 gotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and 
 be born of a pure Virgin : Grant that we, being re- 
 generate, and made Thy children by adoption and 
 grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit, 
 which we beseech Thee to send forth more and more 
 into our hearts, as a testimony of Thy fatherly love 
 unto us, and to fill us with fervent love towards Thee : 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who madest Thy Blessed Son to 
 be circumcised, and obedient to the law for 
 
The Collects. 319 
 
 man : Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit ; 
 that our hearts, and all our memberSj being mortified 
 from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things 
 obey Thy holy will, and obtain the remission of our 
 sins, and the righteousness which is by the faith of 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, who by the leading of a star didst mani- 
 fest Thine Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, 
 and guide them to the place where He lay : Mercifully 
 grant that we, to whom Thou hast revealed Him more 
 clearly by *lhe light of Thy glorious Gospel, may make 
 such progress in faith and holiness, and be so entirely 
 led and governed by Thy Spirit, that we may be 
 brought after this life into that blessed place where He 
 now is, and there have the fruition of Thy glorious 
 presence for ever and ever, through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, whose infinite mercies in our blessed Sav- 
 iour encourage us to call upon Thee: We 
 beseech Thee graciously to hear us ; and grant that 
 we may both perceive and know what is Thy good, 
 and acceptable, and perfect will revealed to us, and 
 also have grace and power so faithfully to fulfil the 
 same, that we may present ourselves a living sacrifice, 
 
320 The Collects. 
 
 holy and acceptable unto Thee, through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGtHTY and Everlasting God, who dost govern 
 all things in heaven and earth : Mercifully hear 
 the supplications of Thy people ; and so rule and guide 
 us, that we may do our duties faithfully in our several 
 places and relations ; constantly abhorring that which 
 is evil, and cleaving to that which is good; being 
 fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, 
 patient in tribula,tion, and continuing instant in 
 prayer ; so that we may enjoy Thy peace all the days 
 of our life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, mercifully look 
 upon our infirmities, and endue us with the 
 spirit of meekness and patience ; that no evil we suffer 
 from others may move us to do evil unto them, but 
 that we may overcome them by doing them good ; and 
 if it be possible, as much as lieth in us, live peaceably 
 with all men. And in all our dangers and adver- 
 sities, stretch forth Thy hand to help and defend us ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst 
 of so many and great temptations and dangers, 
 that by reason of the frailty of our nature in many 
 
The Collects. 321 
 
 things we offend all : Grant to - us such strength and 
 protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry 
 us through all temptations ; that, being faithful unto 
 Thee, rendering unto all their due, and doing that 
 which is good, we may be graciously accepted of Thee ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amex. 
 
 OLORD, we beseech Thee to keep Thy Church 
 and household continually in Thy true religion ; 
 and to stir up every member of the same to adorn 
 Thy holy profession, by putting on bowels of mercy, 
 kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffer- 
 ing ; that, resting only upon the hope of Thy heavenly 
 grace, and doing all in the Name of our blessed 
 Saviour, we may evermore be defended by Thy 
 mighty power, giving thanks unto Thee ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 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 ourselves, 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,^ Father, 
 14* 
 
322 TheCollects. 
 
 and Thee, Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth, 
 ever One God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, we beseech Thee favourably to hear the 
 prayers of Thy People ; that we, who by Thy 
 grace are called to the course of a Christian life, may 
 be temperate in all things : and so run the race that 
 is set before us, as to obtain that incorruptible crown 
 which Thou hast promised to them that love Thee ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, who seest that we put not our trust in 
 anything that we do : Mercifully grant that by 
 Thy power we may be defended against all adver- 
 sities ; or so mightily aided by Thy grace, that we 
 may not faint under them ; but having heard Thy 
 holy Word with honest and good hearts, we may keep 
 it, and bring forth fruit with patience, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, who hast taught us that all our doings 
 without charity are nothing worth: Send Thy 
 Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most ex- 
 cellent gift of charity, which is humble, meek, kind, 
 
The Collects. 323 
 
 long-suffering and patient, the very bond of peace and 
 of all virtues : Grant this for Thine Only Son Jesus 
 Christ's sake. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who hatest 
 nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive 
 the sins of all them that are penitent : Create and 
 make in us new and contrite hearts ; that we, truly 
 lamenting our sins, with unfeigned sorrow and abhor- 
 rence, and acknowledging our wretchedness with sin- 
 cere resolution of amendment of life, may obtain of 
 Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and for- 
 giveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, who for our sakes didst fast forty days 
 and forty nights, and vanquish all the tempta- 
 tions of the devil by which our first parents were over- 
 come : Grant that we may not receive the grace of 
 God in vain, but use such abstinence, that our flesh 
 being subdued to the spirit, no desire of pleasure, 
 glory, or worldly advantage may tempt us from our 
 duty ; but that we may ever obey Thy godly motions, 
 in righteousness and true happiness, to Thine honour 
 and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father 
 and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. 
 Amen, 
 
324 The Collects. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power 
 of ourselves to help ourselves : Keep us both out- 
 wardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls ; that 
 we may be defended from all adversities which may 
 happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which 
 may assault and hurt the soul ; and as we have re- 
 ceived how we ought to walk and please Thee, so may 
 we abound more and more; through our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 ¥E beseech Thee, Almighty God, look down upon 
 the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and 
 as Thou hast enlightened us with the knowledge of 
 Thy truth, so enable us to walk as children of the 
 light, and to have no fellowship with the unfruitful 
 works of darkness ; that bringing forth the fruits of 
 the Spirit, in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, 
 we may be ever under Thy Divine protection ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast made a covenant of 
 unspeakable grace and mercy with us in Christ 
 Jesus, and conveyed to us therein an heavenly inherit- 
 ance upon sincere obedience to His commands, which 
 is our reasonable service : Grant that we may evermore 
 rejoice in Thee, and walk worthy of our holy calling ; 
 through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 325 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast sent Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ to be an High Priest of good things to 
 come, and bj His own blood to enter in once into the 
 holy place, having obtained an eternal redemption for 
 us : Mercifully look upon Thy people ; that by the same 
 blood of our Saviour, who through the Eternal Spirit 
 offered Himself without spot unto Thee, our consciences 
 may be purged from dead works, to serve Thee the 
 living God, that we may receive the promise of eternal 
 inheritance ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who of Thy ten- 
 der love towards mankind hast sent Thy Son, 
 our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh, 
 and that in the form of a servant, and to suffer death, 
 even the death of the Cross, for our redemption, and 
 that we should follow the example of His great hu- 
 mility, patience, and obedience : Merciftilly grant that 
 this mind may be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, 
 that we may both follow the example of His humble 
 obedience and patient suffering, and also be made par- 
 takers of His glorious resurrection, to live with Thee 
 for ever. Grant this for the sake of Thy Son our 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, the Father of Mercies, we be- 
 seech Thee graciously to hear the prayers of 
 
326 The Collects. 
 
 Thy Church, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was 
 content to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of 
 wicked men, and to suffer death upon the Cross ; and, 
 according to that new covenant, which He sealed there 
 with His precious blood, put Thy laws into all our 
 hearts, and write them in our minds ; and then remem- 
 ber our sins and iniquities no more ; for the sake of 
 Him, who when He had offered one sacrifice for sin, 
 for ever sat down on Thy right hand, and now liveth 
 and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One 
 God, world without end. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, by whose Spirit 
 the whole body of the Church is governed and 
 sanctified : Receive our supplications and prayers, 
 which we offer before Thee for all estates of men in 
 Thy holy Church ; that all the members of the same, 
 drawing near unto Thee with a true heart and in full 
 assurance of faith, having their souls and bodies puri- 
 fied from all uncleanness, may hold fast the profession 
 of their faith without wavering ; and in their vocation 
 and ministry truly and godlily serve Thee, through our 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and 
 hatest nothing that Thou hast made, nor would- 
 est the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be 
 
The Collects. 327 
 
 converted and live : Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, 
 Infidels, and Heretics ; make known Thy blessed 
 Gospel unto them ; take from them all ignorance, 
 hardness of heart, and contempt of Thy Word ; -work 
 a lively faith in them; and so bring them home, blessed 
 Lopil, to Thy flock, that they may be saved among the 
 remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold 
 under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth 
 and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 BLESSED Lord, whose only Son our Saviour Jesus 
 Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the just 
 for the unjust, that He might bring us to Thee our 
 God : We beseech Thee, that as we are baptized into 
 His death, so by continually mortifying our corrupt 
 affections we may be biiried with Him ; and at last 
 through the grave, and gate of death, pass to our joy- 
 ful resurrection : For His* merits, who died, and was 
 buried, and rose again. Thy Son Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who by the resurrection of Thine 
 Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome 
 death, and opened to us the gate of everlasting life : 
 We humbly beseech Thee, that as by Thy special grace 
 preventing us. Thou dost put into our minds good de- 
 
328 TheCollects. 
 
 sires, so by Thy continual help we may stedfastly set 
 our hearts upon those things which are above : that 
 when Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, we may 
 also appear with Him in glory, where He now liveth 
 and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One 
 God, world without end. Amen. ' ^ ' 
 
 ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given Thine only Son 
 to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justi- 
 fication : Increase and strengthen our faith in Thee, 
 and in Thy Son whom Thou hast sent ; that so be- 
 lieving in Him, we may overcome the world, and at- 
 tain unto eternal life : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 A LMIGHTY God, who hast given Thine only Son 
 -TL to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an 
 example of godly life : Give us grace that we may 
 always most thankfully receive that His most inesti- 
 mable benefit ; and also daily endeavour to follow the 
 blessed steps of His most holy life : that dying unto 
 sin, and living unto righteousness, we may at last ob- 
 tain eternal life : Through the same Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that be in 
 error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that 
 
The Collects. a29 
 
 the J may return into the way of righteousness : Grant 
 unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of 
 Christ's religion, that as strangers and pilgrims they 
 may abstain from fleshly lusts, and follow all such 
 things as are agreeable to their holy profession; 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the 
 unruly wills and affections of sinful men : Gf'ant 
 unto us Thy people, that we may love the j;hings which 
 Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost 
 promise; that so, among the sundry aud manifold 
 changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be 
 fixed, where true joys are to be found : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast blessed the earth, that 
 it should be fruitful, and bring forth every 
 thing that is necessary for the life of man, and hast 
 commanded us to work with quietness, and eat our 
 own bread : Bless us in all our labours, and grant us 
 such seasonable weather that we may gather ir^ the 
 fruits of the earth, and ever rejoice in Thy goodness, 
 to the praise of Thy holy Name : Through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 
 
 GOD, the King of Glory, who hast exalted Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ with great triumph into the 
 
330 The^Collects. 
 
 kingdom of heaven : Grant, we beseech Thee, that we 
 ma J also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with 
 Him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth, with 
 Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, the King of Glory, who hast exalted Thine 
 only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto 
 Thy Kingdom in heaven, and yet didst not leave 
 Thine Apostles comfortless : "Vouchsafe, we beseech 
 T'hee, to give us Thy Holy Spirit to guide and com- 
 fort us ; that, being sober, and watching unto prayer, 
 and above all things having fervent charity among 
 ourselves, we may be exalted into 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. Amen. , 
 
 ETERNAL God, who, according to Thy faithful 
 promise, didst send the Holy Ghost on the day 
 of Pentecost : Grant us by the same Spirit to have 
 a right judgment in all things, and evermore to re- 
 joice in His holy comfort : Through the merits of 
 Christ Je^us our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth 
 with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 331 
 
 HOLY, holj, holy, Lord God Almighty ! Thou art 
 worthy to receive glory, and honour, and power : 
 for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure 
 they are and were created. Blessed be Thy Divine 
 Majesty, who hast given us Thy servants grace, by 
 the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory 
 of the eternal Trinity, and to worship one God, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "We beseech Thee 
 that Thou wouldst keep us stedfast in this faith, and 
 in holiness of life ; and give us grace to walk worthy 
 of Thee : Who livest and reignest ever one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, the strength of all them that put their 
 trust in Thee, mercifully accept our prayers ; 
 and because through the weakness of our mortal na- 
 ture we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us 
 the help of Thy grace : that we, stedfastly believing 
 in Thy Son Jesus Christ, and loving one another as 
 He hath given us commandment, may please Thee 
 both in will and deed : through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. ^ 
 
 OLORD, who never failest to help and govern 
 those whom Thou dost bring up in Thy stedfast 
 fear and love : Keep us, we beseech Thee, under the 
 protection of Thy good providence, and make us to 
 
332 The Collects. 
 
 have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name: 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD of all grace, v^ho hast called us into Thine 
 eternal glory by Christ Jesus: We beseech 
 Thee mercifully to hear the prayers, which with 
 hearty desires we make unto Thee ; and grant that 
 we, being clothed with humility, and casting all our 
 care on Thee, may be sober and vigilant, and continu- 
 ing stedfast in the faith, may resist all the temptations 
 of the devil, and at length obtain the crown of life ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OCrGD, who hast taught us that the sufferings of 
 this present time are not worthy to be compared 
 with the glory that shall be revealed in us : Increase 
 and multiply upon us Thy mercy ; that Thou being 
 pur ruler and guide, we may so pass through things 
 temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. 
 Grant this, G Heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OLGRD, whose eyes are over the righteous, and 
 Thine ears open to their prayers : We most 
 humbly beseech Thee to make us all of one mind, hav- 
 ing compassion one of another, loving as brethren, 
 being pitiful and courteous, eschewing all evil in word 
 
The Collects. 333 
 
 and deed, and doing good, seeking peace with all men ; 
 so that we may attain that peace which passeth all 
 understanding ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 
 
 GOD, who hast prepared for them that love Thee 
 such good things as pass man's understanding : 
 Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, 
 loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy 
 promises, which exceed all that we can desire ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 LORD of all power and might, who art the Author 
 and Giver of all good things : Graft in our hearts 
 the love of Thy Name ; increase in us true religion ; 
 nourish us with all goodness ; and of Thy great mercy 
 keep us in the same ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 MOST Gracious God, who hast given us the spirit 
 of adoption, whereby we call Thee our Father : 
 Grant that we, mortifying the deeds of the body, and 
 being led by Thy Holy Spirit, may live as becomes 
 Thy children, and joint heirs with Christ ; and finally 
 be glorified together with Him :- Who liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
334 The Collects. 
 
 M 
 
 OGOD, who hast in Thy Holy Word set before us 
 Thy righteous judgments upon Thine ancient 
 people the Jews, for our admonition and example: 
 Preserve us by Thy grace from all those sins by which 
 they provoked Thy wrath against them ; and never 
 suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but 
 make a way for us to escape the temptation, or enable 
 us to bear it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 OGrOD, who wast pleased to bestow grea,t diversity 
 of spiritual gifts for the first planting of Thy 
 Church : We beseech Thee still to pour out such a 
 ^measure of Thy Holy Spirit upon every member of the 
 same, as may be for the profit and edification of the 
 whole Body, united together in love by one and the 
 same Spirit : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, who hast brought life and immortality to 
 light by the Gospel, and hast begotten us again to 
 a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 
 the dead : Make us stedfast and immoveable in this 
 faith, always abounding in the work of the Lord : Who 
 died for our sins, and rose again, and now liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
*• 
 
 '' The Collects. 335 
 
 OMOST Merciful Father, who bjthe glorious min- 
 istration of the Spirit hast given us a clear reve- 
 lation of Thj will in the Gospel of Thj Son : We be- 
 seech Thee to enlighten our minds, that we may rightly 
 understand it and duly value it, and frame our lives 
 according to it, to Thine honour and glory : Through 
 Jesas Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ETERNAL Ood, who hast called all nations to be 
 one by faith in Christ Jesus : Grant that we who 
 are baptized into Him may so faithfully serve Thee in 
 this life, that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly 
 promises : Through the merits of Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. . . ' 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, we beseech Thee, 
 enable us more and more to mortify the flesh, 
 with the affections and lusts thereof, and to bring forth 
 the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffer- 
 ing, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance ; 
 that we, loving what Thou dost command, may obtain 
 that which Thou dost promise : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 A1M1GB.TY God, who having made Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ perfect through suffering, hast called us 
 to be His disciples and followers : Endue us, we be- 
 
336 The Collects. 
 
 seech Thee, with the same Spirit which was in Him; 
 that we, being crucified to the world, may patiently 
 bear the cross ; and being renewed in our natures in 
 righteousness and true holiness, and walking according 
 to this rule, peace and mercy may be upon us : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, the Father of all, who art above all, through 
 all, and in us all : Grant, we pray Thee, that 
 Thy grace may always prevent and follow us, that we 
 may walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are 
 called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suf- 
 fering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to 
 keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace : 
 that, being continually given to all good works, we 
 may finally attain everlasting joy and felicity : Through 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, who hast enriched us with the knowledge 
 of Thy holy Gospel : Grant us grace, we beseech 
 Thee, so to wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ to judge the world in righteousness, that we may 
 withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
 the devil, and with such pure hearts follow Thee the 
 only true God, that we may l)e confirmed unto the 
 end, and be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 337 
 
 OGOD, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able 
 to please Thee : Mercifully grant, that Thy Holy- 
 Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, and 
 renew us in the spirit of our mind : that putting away 
 all bitterness and wrath, anger and malice, and every 
 other evil affection, and being kind one to another, 
 tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as Thou, 
 God, for Christ's sake hast forgiven us, we may com- 
 fortably look with an assured hope for the day of re- 
 demption from all evils, unto eternal life : Through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 MERCIFUL God, who according to Thy divine 
 power hast given us all things pertaining to life 
 and godliness : Make us strong in the Lord, in the 
 power of His might : that putting on the whole armour 
 of God, we may be able to resist all the temptations 
 of the devil, praying to Thee always with fervent 
 prayer, and watching thereunto with all perseverance : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, who hast set before us many and great ex- 
 amples of a holy and heavenly life : Assist us 
 by Thy grace to be followers of them, as they were of 
 Christ ; that we may not mind earthly things, but 
 having our conversation in heaven, may look for the 
 
 Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ, to change our vile 
 
 15 
 
338 The Collects. 
 
 bodies, and fashion them like unto His glorious Body, 
 in which He liveth and reigneth with Thee and the 
 Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. 
 Amen. 
 
 ETERNAL God, who art faithful and true, and 
 according to Thy gracious promises hast raised 
 up a glorious Deliverer to us, who is the Lord our 
 Righteousness : We beseech Thee to stir up the wills 
 of Thy faithful people ; that, bringing forth plenteously 
 the fruit of good works, they may be a people prepared 
 for the Lord. And we pray Thee, hasten His king- 
 dom, when He shall reign, and prosper, and execute 
 judgment and justice in all the earth. Grant this for 
 Thine infinite mercies' sake in Jesus Christ : To 
 Whom, with Thee, Father, and the Holy Ghost, be 
 praise eternal. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto 
 Thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily 
 obeyed the calling of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and fol- 
 lowed Him without delay : grant unto us all, that we, 
 being called by Thy holy Word, may forthwith give 
 up ourselves obediently to fulfil Thy holy command- 
 ments, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
"^The Collects. 339 
 
 ALMIGHTY and ever liviDg God, who, for the 
 greater confirmation of the faith, didst suffer 
 Thy holj Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in Thy Son's 
 resurrection : Grant us so perfectly, and without any 
 doubt, to believe in Thy Son Jesus Christ, that our 
 faith in Thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, 
 Lord, through the same Jesus Christ ; to Whom, 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and 
 glory, now and for evermore. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, who through the preaching of the blessed 
 Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the 
 Gospel to shine throughout the world : Grant, we be- 
 seech Thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion 
 in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness 
 unto Thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine 
 which he taught, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and ever living God, we humbly be- 
 seech Thy Majesty, that as Thine Only-begotten 
 Son was presented in the Temple in substance of our 
 flesh, so we may be presented unto Thee with pure 
 and clean hearts, by the same Thy Son Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who into the place of the 
 traitor Judas, didst choose Thy faithful servant 
 
340 The Collects. 
 
 Matthias, to be of the number of the twelve Apostles : 
 Grant that Thj Church, being always preserved from 
 false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful 
 and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 VE beseech Thee, Lord, pour Thy grace into 
 our hearts ; that as we have known the incar- 
 nation of Thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an 
 angel, so by His cross and passion we may be brought 
 unto the glory of His resurrection, through the same 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed Thy holy 
 Church with the heavenly doctrine of Thine 
 Evangelist Mark : give us grace, that being not like 
 children carried away with every blast of vain doc- 
 trine, we may be established in the truth of Thy holy 
 Gospel, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, whom truly to know is ever- 
 lasting life : Grant us perfectly to know Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life ; 
 that following the steps- of Thy holy Apostles, Philip 
 and James, we may stedfastly walk in the way that 
 leadeth to eternal life, through the same Thy Son 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 341 
 
 OLORD God Almighty, who didst endue Thy 
 holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the 
 Holy Ghost : leave us not, we beseech Thee, destitute 
 of Thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them 
 alway to Thine honour and glory, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence Thy servant 
 John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to 
 prepare the way of Thy Son our Saviour, by preach- 
 ing repentance : make us so ' to follow his doctrine 
 and holy life, that we may truly repent according to 
 his preaching ; and after his example constantly 
 speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently 
 suffer for the truth's sake, through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who, by Thy Son Jesus Christ, 
 didst give to Thine Apostle Saint Peter many 
 excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed^ 
 Thy flock : make, we beseech Thee, all Bishops and 
 Pastors diligently to preach Thy holy Word, and the 
 people diligently to follow the same, that they may re- 
 ceive the crown of everlasting glory : Through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
342 The Collects. 
 
 GRANT, Merciful God, that as Thy holy Apostle 
 James, leaving his father and all that he had, 
 without delay was obedient unto the calling of Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ, and followed Him : so we, forsaking 
 all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore 
 ready to follow Thy holy commandments as he did, and 
 with him to lay down our lives for the testimony of 
 Thy Truth : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who didst give 
 to Bartholomew and the other Apostles grace 
 truly to believe and to preach Thy "Word, and power 
 to confirm it with many signs and wonders : Grant, we 
 beseech Thee, unto Thy Church, to love that Word 
 which they believed ; and both to preach and receive 
 the same : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who by Thy blessed Son didst 
 call Matthew from the receipt of custom, to be an 
 Apostle and Evangelist : Grant us grace to forsake all 
 covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches ; and to 
 follow the same Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 
 
 EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and 
 constituted the services of Angels and men in a 
 
The Collects. 343 
 
 wonderful order : Mercifullj.grant, that as Thy holy 
 Angels al way do Thee service in heaven, so by Thine 
 appointment they may succour and defend us on earth : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire Luke the 
 Evangelist to write in order the Gospel of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ : Grant that we, being instructed 
 in the certainty thereof, may most surely believe it, 
 and conform ourselves to the holy precepts and exam- 
 ples of our blessed Lord and Saviour, who liveth and 
 reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast built Thy Church 
 upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, 
 Jesus Christ Himself being the head Corner-stone : 
 Grant us to be so joined together in unity of spirit by 
 their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple 
 acceptable unto Thee : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together Thine 
 elect in one communion and fellowship, in the 
 mystical Body of Thy Son Christ our Lord : Grant us 
 grace so to follow Thy blessed Saints in all virtuous 
 and godly living, that we may come to those unspeak- 
 
344 The Collects. 
 
 able joys which Thou hast prepared for those that un- 
 feigned! j love Thee : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 ASSIST us mercifully, Lord, in these our sup- 
 plications and prayers ; and dispose the way of 
 Thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting 
 salvation : that among all the changes and chances of 
 this mortal life, they may ever be defended by Thy 
 most gracious and ready help : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the 
 words which we have heard this day with our 
 outward ears, may, through Thy grace, be so grafted 
 inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in 
 us the fruit of good living ; to the honour and praise 
 of Thy Name : Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 DIRECT us, Lord, in all our doings, with Thy 
 most gracious favour, and further us with Thy 
 continual help : that in all our works begun, continued, 
 and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy holy Name ; 
 and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 345 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who 
 knowest our necessities before we ask, and our 
 ignorance in asking : We beseech Thee to have com- 
 passion upon our infirmities ; and those things which 
 for our unwortbiness we dare not, and for our blindness 
 we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the worthiness 
 of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the 
 petitions of those that ask in Thy Son's Name : 
 We beseech Thee mercifully to incline Thine ear to 
 us who have now made our prayers and supplications 
 unto Thee ; and grant that those things which we have 
 faithfully asked according to Thy will, may effectually 
 be obtained ; to the relief of our necessity, and to the 
 setting forth of Thy glory : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the Faithful, 
 visit, we pray Thee, this congregation with Thy 
 love and favour ; enlighten their minds more and 
 more with the light of the everlasting Gospel ; graft 
 in their hearts a love of the truth ; increase in them 
 true religion ; nourish them with all goodness ; and 
 of Thy great mercy keep them in the same, blessed 
 Spirit : Whom, with the Father and the Son together,* 
 15* 
 
346 The Collects. 
 
 we worship and glorify as Ono God, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 .0 
 
 ALMIGHTY God, who hast built Thy Church 
 upon the foundation of the Apostles and Proph- 
 ets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Corner-stone : 
 Grant that, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all 
 Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, 
 and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy 
 temple acceptable unto Thee. And especially to this 
 congregation present give the abundance of Thy grace ; 
 that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of 
 Thy holy Apostolic Church, and with one mouth may 
 profess the faith once delivered to the Saints. De- 
 fend them from the sins of heresy and schism ; let 
 not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, nor the 
 hand of the ungodly to cast them down. And grant 
 that the course of this world may be so peaceably or- 
 dered by Thy governance, that Thy Church may joy- 
 fully serve Thee in all godly quietness : that so they 
 may walk in th« ways of truth and peace, and at last 
 be numbered with Thy Saints in glory everlasting: 
 Through Thy merits, blessed Jesus, Thou gracious 
 Bishop and Shepherd of our souls. Who art, with the 
 Father and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
The Collects. 347 
 
 GRANT, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy 
 faithful people, pardon and peace; that they 
 may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee 
 with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 OGOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all 
 things both in heaven and earth : we humbly 
 beseech Thee to put away from us all hurtful things, 
 and to give us those things which are profitable for us, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 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 abundance of Thy mercy, for- 
 giving us those things whereof our conscience is. afraid, 
 and giving us those good things which we are not wor- 
 thy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of 
 Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen. 
 
 OLORD, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity 
 cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because 
 it cannot continue in safety without Thy succour, 
 preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
348 TheCollects. 
 
 LORD, we pray Thee, that Thy grace may always 
 prevent and follow us ; and make us continually 
 to be given to all good works, through Jesus Christ 
 
 our Lord. Amen. 
 
 •■-• 
 
 LORD, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household the 
 Church in continual godliness ; that, through 
 Thy protection, it may be free from all adversities, 
 and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to 
 the glory of Thy Name, through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 OGOD, our refuge and strength, who art the 
 author of all godliness : be ready, we beseech 
 Thee, to hear the devout prayers of Thy Church ; and 
 grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we 
 may obtain effectually, through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 ALMIGrHTY God, who hast given us grace at this 
 time with one accord to make our common sup- 
 plications unto Thee ; and dost promise that when two 
 or three are gathered together in Thy Name, Thou 
 wilt grant their requests : Fulfil now, Lord, the de- 
 sires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most 
 expedient for them ; granting us in this world knowl- 
 edge of Thy Truth, and in the world to come life ever- 
 lasting. Amen. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 NOTE, INTRODUCTION, Page xviL 
 
 As it is of some consequence to show that Knox's Liturgy held 
 its place in the esteem of the Church down to the time of adopting 
 the "Westminster Directory, we give a few of the parallel passages 
 referred to in the text, indicating the frequent and special use that 
 was made of that Liturgy in the Assembly's production. 
 
 From the Thanksgiving after Baptism : 
 
 Knox's Litubgy. 
 
 . . . We give Thee most humble 
 thanks for Thine infinite goodness, 
 ■which hast 7}ot only numbered us 
 amongst Thy saints, but also of Thy 
 free mercy dost call our children unto 
 Thee, marking them with this Sacra- 
 ment, as a singular token and seal 
 of Thy love. . . . 
 
 . . . That Thou wilt confirm this 
 Thy favour more omoL more towards 
 us, and take this infant into TJvy 
 twition and defence. . . . 
 
 DlEECTORY. 
 
 . . . Acknowledging with all thank- 
 fulness . . . that He is good and gra- 
 cious, Tiot only that He nvmbereth us 
 among If is saints, but is pleased also 
 to bestow upon our children this sin- 
 gular token and badge of His love 
 in Christ. . . . 
 
 . . . and daily confirm more and 
 more this His unspeakable famour : 
 that He would receive the infant now 
 baptized . . . into His fatherly tuition 
 and defence. ... 
 
 From the Exhortation at the Lord's Supper : 
 
 ... I separate from this Table all 
 blasphemers, etc. . . . charging them 
 . . . that they presume not to profane 
 this most holy Table. 
 
 . . . Neither yet is this pronounced 
 against such as aspire to a greater 
 perfection than they can in this pre' 
 sent life attain. 
 
 ... He is in the name of Christ . . . 
 to warn all such . . . that they pre- 
 su7ne not to come to that holy Table. 
 
 . . . Invite all that desire to reach 
 out ymto a greater progress in grace 
 than they can yet attain unto. . . . 
 
350 Appendix. 
 
 From the Consecratmg Prayer : 
 
 Knox's Litttegt. Dibectoey. 
 
 . . . From the bondage whereof . . . From which neither mem or 
 
 neither man nor angel was able to angel was able to deliver tis. . . . 
 make us free. . . . 
 
 ... To declare and witness before ... To profess that there la none 
 
 the world, that by Him alone we ha/ve other name under heaven by which 
 
 recevoed liberty and life ; . . . that we can be saved, but the name of 
 
 by Him alone we have entrance to Jesus Christ ; by whom alone we re- 
 
 the throne of Thy grace; that by ceive liberty and life, have access to 
 
 Sim alone we are possessed in our the throne of grace, are admitted to 
 
 spiritual kingdom, to eat cmd drink eat and drink at His own Table, 
 
 at His Table, etc etc. 
 
 THE TABLE OF PORTIONS OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 The orderly reading of Scripture in the public services of the 
 Sanctuary, has always been enjoined and pract'Ised among the Re- 
 formed Churches. Not only one portion or chapter from each Tes- 
 tament, as prescribed by the "Westminster Directory of "Worship, 
 but generally several chapters, are appointed in the French, Swiss, 
 and "Waldensian Churches, for the ordinary service of the Lord's 
 Day. These lessons are read, not by the officiating ministers, but 
 by a clerk, immediately before the commencement of the public 
 prayers ; and the reading is always concluded with the Ten Com- 
 mandments. The early editions of the Scottish Liturgy, or Book 
 of Common Order, contain this direction : " Upon the days ap- 
 pointed for the preaching of the Word, when a convenient number 
 of the Congregation have come together, that they may make fruit 
 of their presence till the assembly be full, one, appointed by the El- 
 dership, shall read some chapters of the Canonical Books of Scrip- 
 ture, singing Psalms between at his discretion : and this reading to 
 be in order, as the books and chapters follow, that so from time to 
 time the Holy Scriptures may be read through. But upon special 
 occasion, special chapters may be appointed." The same provision, 
 in words very similar, was made a century later by the Divines of 
 Westminster : who, however, judiciously transferred this part of 
 divine worship to a more central location in the service. In the 
 selection of portions of Scripture here given, it is not contemplated 
 
Appendix. 351 
 
 that any should strictly confine themselves to a consecutive course 
 of reading, as it will frequently appear advisable to select passages 
 more suitable to the time or theme of discourse. But, on ordinary 
 occasions, this, or some similar order, will be found convenient and 
 profitable. 
 
 THE ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE ON THE LORD'S DAT. 
 
 Morning Service. The first of the Opening Sentences consti- 
 tutes the invariable exordium of all the Reformed liturgies. Other 
 sentences have been added, with a view to variety. 
 
 The Invitation, which is here put in Scriptural words, reads in 
 the Calvinistic formularies, thus : " Brethren, let each of you present 
 himself lefore the Lord, to make an humble confession of his sins, 
 following in heart these words. ''^ 
 
 The Confession of Sin, composed by Calvin, occupies this place 
 in all the Reformed liturgies, and the variations are but slight and 
 merely verbal. 
 
 The Declaration of Forgiveness, in the form of a recital of Gos- 
 pel assurances of pardon to the penitent, was used by the early 
 Reformed churches in France and elsewhere, at the express recom- 
 mendation of Calvin; who, however, for reasons thus stated by 
 him, did not introduce this feature into the liturgy of Geneva. 
 "There is none of us," says he, "but must acknowledge it to be 
 very useful that, after the general confession, some striking prom- 
 ise of Scripture should follow, whereby sinners might be raised to 
 hopes of pardon and reconciliation. And I would have introduced 
 this custom from the beginning; but some fearing that the novelty 
 of it would give ofience, I was over easy in yielding to them." 
 The custom was, however, adopted in the church of Strasburg, 
 from whose liturgy, prepared under Calvin's auspices, it was imi- 
 tated, together with the preceding Sentences, Invitation, and Con- 
 fession, by the compilers of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 The Supplication is Calvin's Prayer before Sermon; and the 
 Thanksgiving which follows it, is by Knox. With this latter ex- 
 ception, all the forms of this Morning Service are from the liturgy 
 of the Genevan Reformer. 
 
352 Appendix. '- 
 
 Other Forms, for the Morning Service. The Beatitudes, and 
 the Summary of our Lord's Precepts, are here given as appropriate 
 for occasional use instead of the Decalogue. The succeeding forms 
 for the Confession of Sin, are those of Baxter, Knox, and Bucer. 
 Of the forms of Thanksgiving, the first is from Baxter, the second 
 from the American revision of the Directory of Worship (a. d. 
 11 SI), and the thu-d from the Liturgy of the Waldensian Church. 
 The forms of Intercession are those of Knox, Baxter, and the Liturgy 
 of Neuchatel (prepared by the Reformed theologian Ostervald). 
 
 Evening Service. The Presbyterian formularies of worship 
 impose no special order for the second service on the Lord's Day. 
 That service was originally devoted to the catechetical instruction. 
 of the young ; and the Minister in conducting it was left to entire 
 freedom of selection or composition. The prayers here furnished 
 are taken from the various Reformed liturgies. The Invocation ia 
 Calvin's. The Litany, though modelled upon the ancient litanies, 
 was prepared, as it here stands, by the Reformer Bucer, from whose 
 " Reformation of Doctrine and "Worship" it is translated. From this 
 form the Litany of the English Prayer-Book is mainly borrowed. 
 The Closing Prayer is by Knox. 
 
 Other Forms, for the Evening Service. Baxter is the author 
 of both the alternate forms of Invocation here given. It is from 
 the Reformed liturgy prepared by that divine, that the several 
 prayers attributed to him in this volume are taken. The General 
 Prayers which follow, are respectively by Knox and Calvin ; the 
 first and fourth b^ the former, the second and third by the lat- 
 ter. Of the Closing Prayers, one is from Knox's Liturgy, another 
 from the Waldensian, and a third from the Reformed Dutch 
 liturgy. 
 
 THE MANNER OF CELEBRATING THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 This form of service, established by Calvin, is substantially the 
 same with that used at the present day in all the continental 
 branches of the Reformed Church. The Consecrating Prayer is 
 taken from the present Liturgy of Geneva. The directions for the 
 administration are quoted from the Directory of Worship of the 
 Presbyterian Church. The sentences of Scripture to be repeated 
 
Appendix. t»^ 353 
 
 during the participation, are such as it is customary to pronounce 
 on that occasion, in the French and Swiss Churches. 
 
 Of the other forms for this Celebration, the first is from Knox's 
 liturgy, the second from Baxter's, and the third from the liturgy 
 of the Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 THE FORM OF ADMIXISTERIKG BAPTISM. 
 
 This is Calvin's formulary, completed by the insertion of the 
 questions and covenant engagements required by the Directory of 
 "Worship ; and by the addition of the closing Thanksgiving, which 
 was composed by Knox. 
 
 The other forms of administering this Ordinance, are Knox's, 
 Baxter's, and that of the Reformed Dutch Church. From the last 
 source is also taken the succeeding Form of Baptizing Adult 
 Persons. 
 
 The Form of Admitting Baptized Persons to the Lord's Table, is 
 from the Waldensian Liturgy ; the Preface being added from Is. xliv. 
 The Benediction, as here given, occurs in the Neuchatel service for 
 the same occasion. It forms part of the ordinary form of blessing 
 appointed in the Book of Common Prayer ; but is original with Bu- 
 cer, in his " Reformation," etc. 
 
 The Reformed Churches recognize no mode of admission to church 
 membership, other than by the administration of baptism. In the 
 case of adults who have received that rite in infancy, the confirma- 
 tion of their baptismal vows is ordinarily performed in public before 
 the congregation. 
 
 OCCASIONAL OFFICES. 
 
 Order of Service for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and 
 Prayer. The directions as to this service are quoted, as in all other 
 instances so marked, from the Directory of Worship of the Presby- 
 terian Church, The selection of Scripture forming the Preface, is 
 taken from the French and Genevan Liturgies. The passages indi- 
 cated for the First and Second Readings, are those given in the 
 Waldensian Liturgy for the same occasion. A selection somewhat 
 
354 Appendix. 
 
 similar occurs in John Knox's service. The Opening Prayer is 
 abridged from Knox's " Treatise of Easting," drawn up at the re- 
 quest of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1565, 
 and published with authority. This Treatise, which contains forms 
 for the observance of a special season of humihation throughout the 
 land, was in the Assembly of 1569 ratified for all future appoint- 
 ments of a similar nature ; and ministers were enjoined " To use the 
 Exercise accustomed in the Kirk of the first institution. Moreover, 
 that all Superintendents and Commissioners of provinces shall here- 
 after institute and use the same Order of Easting, as oft as just oc- 
 casion shall serve and shall seem meet by their godly wisdom, 
 without any farther appointment by the G-eneral Assembly."* 
 
 The beautiful form of a General Prayer here introduced, was com- 
 posed by Calvin for the Church of Geneva, in the year 1541 ; " when 
 Germany was infested both with war and pestilence." '^ Frceca- 
 iiones quibus in Us uterentur, conscripsi^ — Calv. Ejp. Perhaps no 
 part of the Calvinistic ritual has obtained a wider currency. Knox 
 transferred it to tlie Book of Common Order. The Puritan Prayer- 
 Book published at London about the year 1570, appoints it to be 
 used on a day set apart for Common Prayer. The Middleburgh 
 Liturgy of 1602 presents the same form unaltered. Archbishop 
 Grindal adopted it as a form of Prayer and Easting for the Church 
 of England in 1563. The several Erench and Swiss formularies 
 contain it under its appropriate head ; and the Reformed Dutch lit- 
 urgy, by a strange misplacement, has it as a " Prayer on the Lord's 
 Day after sermon." "We have adopted Grindal's translation, sup- 
 plying from the original a few omissions. 
 
 Order of Service for a Day of Thanksgiving. The prayer 
 here given is extracted from the American edition of the Liturgy of 
 Neuchatel, as adopted in the Huguenot Church at Charleston, S. C. 
 
 THE OEEICE EOR THE CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 This form, chiefly compiled from tRe ancient Reformed offices, is 
 that prepared by the Rev. Dr. Bethune, of Brooklyn, N. Y., for 
 the revised liturgy of the Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 * Book of the Universal Kirk of Scotland: Edinburgh, 1839, p. 116. 
 
Appendix. 355 
 
 THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 The early practice of the Church of Scotland, with respect to the 
 Burial of the Dead, has been variously stated. The impression 
 seems to prevail, that all external ceremonies were positively for- 
 bidden after the Reformation, whether at the church before burial, 
 or at the grave. In fact, the First Book of Discipline, a. d. 1560, 
 declares, " We think it most expedient that the dead be conveyed 
 to the place of burial with some honest company of the Kirk, 
 without either singing or reading ; yea, without any kind of cere- 
 mony heretofore used, other than that the dead be committed to 
 the grave with such gravity and sobriety, as those that be present 
 may seem to fear the judgment of God, and to hate sin, which is 
 the cause of death."* 
 
 But the Book of Common Order, already pubhshed four years 
 earlier, and then in force, as it continued to be for a century later, 
 had, on the contrary, prescribed, that after the burial, " The Minis- 
 ter, if he be present and required, goeth to the church, if it be not 
 far off, and maketh some comfortable exhortation to the people 
 touching death and resurrection, "f 
 
 Among the papers published by the "Wodrow Society, in the first 
 volume of their Miscellany, is " The Form and Manner of Burial 
 used in the Kirk of Montrose." This interesting document was 
 found written on the fly-leaves of a manuscript copy of the Regiam 
 Majestatem, which had been transcribed by John Bannatyne, in 
 1620. The form of burial is without date ; but from the mention 
 of " Minister or i?ea(Zer," it was evidently in use before the year 
 1581, when the office of Reader was superseded by act of General 
 Assembly. 
 
 This order of service is very simple. It is prefaced thus : *' The 
 body being reverently brought to the grave, accompanied with the 
 congregation, the Minister or Reader shall say as follows.":}: Then 
 a long address, beginning, " Dearly 'beloved, when we look upon 
 this dead corpse here present, with consideration that the like sen- 
 tence of death is pronounced of God upon all flesh, it ought and 
 should imprint in our minds the knowledge of our sinfulness : for, 
 if we were without sin, death should have no power over us." The 
 
 ♦ Dunlop's Collection of Confessions, vol. ii. p. 597. 
 
 t Id., vol ii. p. 468. 4^ "We have modernized tlie spelling. 
 
356 Appendix. * 
 
 exhortation is closed with a prayer, introduced in these words* 
 " This being done, the Minister shall pray in effect as follows." 
 The prayer is almost identical with that of the English Burial Ser- 
 vice, introduced at the time of the revision in 1552, and beginning, 
 "Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart 
 from this life in the faith of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ," etc. 
 
 This ancient service closes with a remarkable Funeral Hymn ; 
 one of those spuitual songs which are attributed to John Wedder- 
 burn of Dundee and his brothers, and which are said to have great- 
 ly assisted in advancing the Reformation. It begins — 
 
 " Our brother late we put in grave, 
 And no doubt thereof bat* we have ; 
 But he shall rise at Doomesday, 
 And shall immortal live for aye."f 
 
 ' The Liturgies of the Reformed Churches on the Continent, sup- 
 ply us with few examples of a service for Burial. The danger of 
 superstitious observances, at the period when those formularies 
 were compiled, deterred Calvin and others from furnishing any 
 prescribed order. It has always been customary to consecrate the 
 last offices at the grave with prayer : but for even this, the French 
 liturgy gives no form. 
 
 Martin Bucer was the author of a service for the Burial of the 
 Dead, which is to be found in Herman's Reformation of Cologne. 
 This service the English Reformers partly followed. The selections 
 of Scripture, from St. John xi,, Psalm xc, and 1 Cor. xv., are there 
 indicated. But Bucer's form possesses a merit of adaptation which 
 is wanting to that of the Anglican Church ; for, in addition to the 
 services for adults, there is an " Alia Goncio in Funere Adolescentis, 
 vel AdolescentulcBy The Anglican words of sepulture are taken 
 from Bucer's " Postquam sic visum est Omnipotenti Deo, ut hunc 
 fratrem nostrum pro su4 misericordi^ ex hoc mundo sublatum ad 
 se reciperet," etc. 
 
 The present Form of Burial is borrowed from the revision of the 
 Reformed Dutch liturgy, prepared by a committee under appoint- 
 ment of the General Synod. The selection of Scripture is the best 
 that we have seen. Three services are provided for : a short one 
 
 * Grief. (?) 
 
 t Miscellany of the Wodrow Society, Edinburgh, 1844, vol. i. pp. 291-SOO. 
 
Appendix. 357 
 
 at the house, a principal one at the church, and a form of inter- 
 ment. The several portions of Scripture provided, are appropriate 
 to various ages and circumstances. The prayer concluding the 
 service at the church, is from Jeremy Taylor ; it has been intro- 
 duced into the American edition of the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 PUBLIC DISCIPLINE, ORDINATION, ETC. 
 
 The Forms of Public Discipline. The manner of proceeding 
 with persons subject to ecclesiastical discipline is here detailed, as 
 prescribed by the Directory of Worship; and the form of public 
 excommunication is quoted from the same authority. The address 
 is from Knox's Book of Common Order, and the prayers from the 
 Reformed Dutch liturgy. 
 
 The Forms of Ordination are compiled from the Directory and 
 the Reformed Dutch liturgy ; with the exception of the Ordaining 
 Prayer, page 242, extracted from " The Form and Order of the 
 Election of the Superintendent ; which may serve in Electing of all 
 other Ministers ; at Edinburg, the 9th of March, 1569: John Knox 
 being Moderator." 
 
 SCRIPTURAL AND OTHER OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 
 
 Scriptural Prayers. Nothmg can be more commendable than 
 the use of Scripture language in prayer ; but that use should be 
 reverent and judicious. The violent disseverance of passages of 
 Holy Writ from their proper connection ; their forced application 
 to irrelevant topics ; the confusion of Oriental metaphors and 
 poetic allusions : are defects too obvious for indication, yet apparent 
 to a very wide extent in the " unwritten liturgy" of our pulpits. 
 The language of the New Testament is in general much more suited 
 to appropriation for the purposes of public devotion, than that of the 
 poetic portions of the Old. In those passages of the Epistles, more 
 particularly, where the inspired writer expresses with distinctness 
 the subject of his own supplications, we are furnished with ma- 
 terial that may very properly be restored, from the form of narra- 
 tive, to that of direct address, and so employed in our own devo- 
 
358 Appendix. 
 
 tions. In fact, by a combination of such passages, along with 
 that divine prayer left us by our Lord, we possess an Inspired Lit- 
 urgy, conceived, " not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, 
 but which the Holy Ghost teacheth:" a liturgy incomparably com- 
 plete and beautiful. It is, therefore, just matter of surprise, that such 
 a use of Scripture petitions, in their natural sequence and designed 
 application, should not have been recommended, in preference to 
 an artificial " method of prayer" which has the sanction of such high 
 names as Henry and Doddridge, and which consists in the agglom- 
 eration of a vast number of distinct jjassages, brought into strange 
 juxtaposition, in utter disregard of all the unities, and in utter vio- 
 lation of all rules of taste. 
 
 The Scriptural Prayers here given are chiefly from those pas- 
 sages in the Apostolic writings, where an address to the Throne of 
 Grace is expressed ; the only change being in substituting, as the 
 object addressed, the second person for the third. The exceptions 
 are, the forms of Confession, taken from the penitential Psalms, and 
 from the prayer of Daniel ; and the forms of Adoration, being con- 
 structed of passages that occur in Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, and the 
 Revelations. 
 
 A Comprehensive Prater, chiefly in the words of Scripture. 
 This form of Adoration, Confession, Supplication, Thanksgiving, 
 and Intercession, is quoted in full from the Draught of the Direc- 
 tory of Worship of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, 
 prepared in the year 1787 by a committee under appointment of 
 the Synod. This Draught, though printed, and strongly recom- 
 mended for adoption, was not accepted. It was drawn up by the 
 Rev. Drs. John Rodgers, and Alexander Mac Whorter, and the 
 Rev. Messrs. Alexander Miller and James "Wilson ; and was ad- 
 vocated, among others, by the late venerable Ashbel Green, D.D. 
 While preserving the title of a Directory, this was, in fact, for sub- 
 stance and form, a discretionary liturgy, akin to those existing in 
 the Continental Churches. 
 
 Sundry Occasional Prayers. The Morning and Evening 
 Prayers are those of Calvin. These are succeeded by a short but 
 most beautiful prayer for all men, extracted from John Norden'g 
 "Progress of Piety," A. D. 1596. The prayer for Pardon and Help 
 is translated from a service-book of the Greek Church. Following 
 
Appendix 359 
 
 are a number of prayers suited to various occasions, taken from the 
 proposed revision of the Reformed Dutch liturgy. The prayer 
 "to be used at Sea," has been prepared for this work by the Rev. 
 C. S. Stewart, U. S. N". Appended is the prayer for civil authorities, 
 from the Protestant Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 The Collects are short prayers, adapted to particular occasions, 
 and designed to be introduced as may seem convenient, into the 
 public services of the Church. Many of these prayers are of very- 
 early origin ; some of them dating as far back as the year of our Lord 
 590, others still older, to the year 494 ; and a few have been traced 
 to the year 483. The Collects here given are taken from the 
 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, as revised 
 in 1689 by the Royal Commissioners appointed in the reign of 
 William and Mary. This revision was never completed, and in- 
 deed the results of it have but lately become public. Tillotson, 
 Patrick, Stillingfleet, Tenison, and other eminent divines of the 
 day, took a prominent part in the debates. 
 
 The Revised Liturgy of 1689, from which these Collects are 
 taken, was prepared with a view to the satisfaction of the non- 
 conformists, and the reconciling, as much as possible, of all differ- 
 ences between them and the Church of England. To this end, the 
 objections and demands which at various times had been offered by 
 opponents of the Prayer-Book, were collected, and made the basis 
 of a careful revision. It had been a special matter of complaint, 
 in reference to the Collects, that many of them were too brief^ and 
 not sufficiently scriptural, as to thought and expression. In these 
 respects, as in others, the Commissioners sought to amend the 
 various parts of the Liturgy ; and so liberal and judicious was the 
 course pursued by them, that the eminent nonconformist Calamy 
 gave it as his opinion,' that their scheme would have brought into 
 the Church of England two thirds of the Dissenters. The cer- 
 tainty, however, that these changes, though approved by the 
 Court, and by a majority of the bishops, would be rejected by the 
 lower house of Convocation, prevented an actual adoption of the 
 reforms contemplated by the Royal Commission ; and their work 
 remained under seal at Lambeth Palace, until, by order of the 
 House of Commons, in 1854, it was published. 
 
360 
 
 Appendix. 
 
 These Ee vised Collects have, therefore, a definite claim upon our 
 regard, as prepared by some of the most pious and enlightened of 
 the English divines, in express agreement with the views and re- 
 quests of their nonconformist brethren. It would seem most fit- 
 ting, that, after more than a century and a hal^ these prayers 
 should be incorporated with a collection of the forms of worship 
 that are peculiar to the Presbyterian Churches. 
 
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