exhort you in the name of God to remember the profession which you made vnto God in your baptisme And forasmuch as after this life there is a count to be giuen vnto the righteous Iudge of whom all must bee iudged without respect of persons I require you to examine your selfe and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your selfe for your own faults you may finde mercy at our heauenly Fathers hand for Christes sake and not to bee accused and condemned in that fearefull iudgement Therefore I shall shortly rehearse the Articles of our faith that you may know whether you doe beleeue as a Christian man should or no. Here the Minister shal rehearse the Articles of the faith saying thus Doest thou beleeue in God the Father almightie c. As it is in Baptisme Then shall the Minister examine whether he be in charitie with all the worlde exhorting him to forgiue from the bottome of his heart all persons that haue offended him and if he haue offended other to aske them forgiuenesse and where he hath done iniury or wrong to any man that he make amends to the vttermost of his power And if he haue not afore disposed his goods let him then make his will and also declare his debts what he oweth and what is owing vnto him for discharging of his conscience and quietnesse of his Executors But men must bee oft admonished that they set an order for their temporall goods and landes when they be in health These words before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his prayer as he shall see cause The Minister may not forget nor omit to mooue the sicke person and that most earnestly to liberalitie toward the poore Here shall the sicke person make a speciall confession if he feele his conscience troubled with any weightie matter After which confession the Priest shal absolue him after this sort OUr Lord Iesus Christ who hath left power to his Church to absolue all sinners which truely repent and beleeue in him of his great mercie forgiue thee thine offences and by his authoritie committed to mee I absolue thee from all thy sinnes in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen And then the Priest shall say the Collect following ¶ Let vs pray O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies doest so put away the sunnes of those which truely repent that thou remembrest them no more open thine eye of mercie vpon this thy seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renew in him most louing Father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the deuill or by his owne carnall will and frailenesse preserue continue this sicke member in the vnitie of the Church consider his contcition accept his teares asswage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as hee putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto his his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merites of thy most dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ Amen Then shall the Priest say this Psalme IN thee O Lord haue I put my trust let me neuer be put to confusion but rid me and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse In ce Domine speraui Psal 71. encline thiue eare vnto me and saue me Be thou my strong hold wherevnto I may alway resort thou hast promised to helpe me for thou art my house of defence my castle Deliuer me O my God out of the hand of the vngodly out of the hand of the vnrighteous and cruell man For thou O Lord God art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth Through thee haue I beene holden vp euer since I was borne thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe my praise shal alway be of thee I am become as it were a monster vnto many but my sure trust is in thee O let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long Cast me not away in the time of age forsake me not when my strength faileth me For mine enemies speake against me they that lay waite for my soule take their counsell together saying God hath forsaken him persecute him and take him for there is none to deliuer him Go not far frō me O God my God haste thee to helpe me .. Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soule let them bee couered with shame and dishonour that seeke to doe me euill As for me I will patiently abide alway and will praise thee more and more My mouth shall daily speake of thy righteousnesse and saluation for I know no end thereof I will goe forth to the strength of the Lord God and will make mention of thy righteousnesse onely Thou O God hast taught mee from my youth vp vntill now therefore will I tell of thy wondrous workes Forsake me not O God in mine old age when I am gray headed vntill I haue shewed thy strength vnto this generation and thy power to all them that are yet for to come Thy righteousnes O God is very high and great things are they that thou hast done O God who is like vnto thee O what great troubles and aduersities hast thou shewed me and yet diddest thou turne and refresh me yea broughtest me from the deepe of the earth againe Thou hast brought me to great honour and comforted me on euery side Therefore wil I praise thee and thy faithfulnes O God playing vpon an instrument of musicke vnto thee will I sing vpon the Harpe O thou holy one of Israel My lppes will be faine when I sing vnto thee and so will my soule whom thou hast deliuered My tongue also shall talke of thy righteousnes all the day long for they are confounded and brought vnto shame that seeke to doe me euill Glorie he to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Adding this O Sauiour of the world saue vs which by thy crosse and precious blood hast redeemed vs helpe vs wee beseech thee O God Then shall the Minister say THe Almightie Lord which is a most strong towre to al them that put their trust in him to whom all things in heauen in earth and vnder the earth do bow and obey be now and euermore thy defence and make thee know and feele that there is none other name vnder heauen giuen to man in whom and through whome thou mayest receiue health and saluation but onely the name of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen The Communion of the sicke FOrasmuch as all mortall men bee subiect to many sudden perils Diseases and sicknesses and euer vncertaine what time they shall depart out of this life therefore to the intent they may bee alwayes in a readinesse to die whensoeuer it shall please Almightie God to call them the
concerning the saide seruice shall at the costes and charges of the Parishioners of euery parish and Cathedrall Church bee attayned and gotten before the feast of the said Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist next following and that all such Parish and Cathedrall Churches or other places where the saide bookes shall be attained and gotten before the saide feast of the Natiuite of S. Iohn Baptist shall within three weekes nert after the said bookes so attained and gotten vse the said seruice and put the same in vre according to this Act. And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaide that nopetson or persons shall be at any time hereafter impeached or otherwise molested of or for any of the offences aboue mentioned hereafter to bee committed or done contrary to this Act vnlesse he or they so offending be thereof indited at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Iustices of Oier and Determiner or Iustices of Assise next after any offence committed or done contrary to the tenor of this Act Prouided alwayes and bee it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all and singular Lords of the parliament for the third offence aboue mentioned shal be tried by their peeres Prouided also and be it ordeined and enacted by the authority aforesaid that the Maior of London and all other Maiors Bailifs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Cownes corporate within this Realine Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assise do not commonly repaire shal haue full power authoritie by vertue of this Acte to inquire heare and determine the offences abouesaid and euery of them yeerely within fifteene dayes after the feastes of Easter and S. Michael the Archangel in like maner and forme as Iustices of Assise and Oyer and Determiner may doe Prouided alwayes and be it ordeined and enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all and singular Archbishops and Brishops and euery of their Chancellors Commitraries Archdeacons and other Ordimaries hauing any peculiar Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction shall haue full power and authoritie by vertue of this Acte as well to inquire in their visitation synodes or elsewhere within their iurisdiction at any other time and place to take accusations and informations of all and euery the things aboue mentionned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of their iurisdiction and authoritie and to punish the fame by admonition excommunication sequessration or depriuation or other Censures processes in like forme as hereofore hath bene vsed in like cases by the Queenes Ecclesiasticall lawes Prouided alwayes and be it enaeted that whatfsoeuer petson offending in the premises shal for the offence first receiue punishment of the Ordinarie hauing a testimoniall thereof vnder the said Ordinaries seale shal not for the same offence eftsoones bee conuicted before the Iustice and likewise receining for the said first offence punishment by the Iustices he shal not for the same offence eftsoones receiue punishment of the Ordinarte any thing couteined in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided alwayes be it enacted that such ornaments of the Church and of the ministers thereof shal be reteined and be in vse as was in this Church of England by the authoritie of parliament in the second yeere of the reigne of king Edward the sirth vntill other order shall bee therein taken by authority of the Queenes Maiestie with the aduise of her Commissioners appointed and authorised vnder the great seale of England for causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitane of this Realme And also that if there shall happen any contempt or irreuerence to be vsed in the Ceremonies or rites of the Church by the misusing of the orders appointed in this booke the Queenes maiesty may by the like aduise of the saide Commissioners or Metropolitane ordaine and publish such further Ceremonies or rites as may be most for the aduancement of Gods glory the edisying of his Church and the due reuerence of Christes holy mysteries and Sacraments And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all lawes statutes and ordinances where in or where by any other seruice administration of Sacraments or Common prayer is limited established or set foorth to be vsed within this Realme or any other the Queenes dominions and countreys shall from henceforth vtterly be voyde and of none effect The Preface THere was neuer any thing by the wit of man so well deuised or so sure established which in continuance of time hath not bin corrupted as among other things it may plainly appeare by the cōmon prayers in the Church commonly called Diuine Seruice The first originall and ground whereof if a man woulde search out by the ancient Fathers hee shall find that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great aduancement of godlinesse For they soordered the matter that all the whole Bible or the greatest part thereof should be read ouer once euery yeere entending thereby that the Clergie and specially such as were ministers of the Congregation should by often reading and meditation of Gods word be stirred vp to godlinesse themselues and be more able to exhort other by wholesome doctrine and to confute them that were aduersarics to the trueth And further that the people by dayly hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church should continually profite more more in the knowledge of God and be the more inslamed with the loue of his true religion But these many yeres passed this godly and decent order of the ancient Fathers hath bene so altered broken neglected by planting in vncertaine stories Legends Responds Verses vaine Repetitions Cōmemorations and Synodalles that commonly when any booke of the Bible was begun before three or foure chapters were read out all the rest were vnread And in this sort the booke of Esay was begun in Aduent and the booke of Genesis in Septuagesima but they were onely begun and neuer read through After like sort were other bookes of holy Scripture vsed And moreouer whereas Saint Paul would haue such language spoken to the people in the Church as they might vnderstand and haue profit by hearing the same the seruice in this Church of England these many yeres hath bin read in Latine to the people which they vnderstood not so that they haue heard with their cares only and their heart spirit and mind haue not bene edif ied thereby And furthermore not with slanding that the ancient Fathers haue deuided the Psalmes into seuen portions wherof euery one was called a Nocturne now of late time a few of them haue bene dayly sayd and oft repeated and the rest vtterly omitted Moreouer the number and hardnesse of the rules called the Pie and the manisold changings of the seruice was the cause that to turne the booke onely was so hard and intricate a matter that many times there was more businesse to find out what should be read then to reade it when it was found out
of this Realme safely maintained and last of all all estates and people thereof in true obedience and charitie vnited and knit together Grant this O God for thy onely Sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The third Collect. PReuent vs O Lorde in all our doing with thy most Gracious favour and further vs with thy continuall helpe that in all our woorkes begunne continued and ended in thee wee may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtaine Euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Then shall follow the Benediction as thus THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 13 and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all euermore Amen The order where Morning and Euening Prayer shall be vsed and said THE morning and Euening Prayer shal be vsed in the accustomed place of the Church Chappell or Chancell except it shall be otherwise determined by the Ordinary of the place And the chancels shall remaine as they haue done in times past And here is to be noted that the Minister at the time of the Communion and at all other times in his ministration shall vse such ornaments in the Church as were in vse by authoritie of Parliament in the second yeere of the raigne of King Edward the sixt according to the Acte of Parliament set in the beginning of this Booke An order for Morning prayer daily throughout the yeere At the beginning both of Morning prayer and like wise of Euening prayer the Minister shall reade with a lowd voyce some one of these sentences of the Scriptures that follow And then he shall say that which is written after the said sentences AT what time soeuer a sinner doeth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of this heart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance saith the Lord. Eze. xviij I doe knowe mine owne wickednesse and my sinne is alway against me Psal Lj. Turne thy face away from our sinnes O Lord and blot out all our offences Psal Lj. A sorrowfull spirit is a sacrifice to God despise not O Lord humble and contrite hearts Psal Lj. Rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God because hee is gentle and mercifull he is pacient and of much mercy and such a one that is sory for your afflictions Ioel ij To thee O Lord God belongeth mercy and forgiuenesse Danâ—x for we haue gone away from thee and haue not hearkned to thy voyce whereby wee might walke in thy Lawes which thou hast appointed for vs. Correct vs O Lord and yet in thy iudgement not in thy fury lest we should be consumed and brought to nothing 〈◊〉 x. Amend your liues for the kingdome of God is at hand Maâ—h iij. I will go to my father and say to him Father I huve sinned against heaven and against thee I am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Luke xv Enter not into Iudgement with thy seruants O Lord for no flesh is righteous in thy sight Psal exliij If wee say that we haue no sinne wee deceiue our selues and there is no trueth in vs. i. Iohn j. DEarely beloued brethren the scripture mooueth vs in sundry places to acknowledge and confesse our manifolde sinnes and wickednes and that wee should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of Almighty God our heauenly Father but confesse them with an humble lowly penitent and obedient heart to the ende that wee may obtaine forgiuenesse of the same vy his infinite goodnesse and mercy And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sinnes before God yet ought wee most chiefly so to doe when wee assemble and meete together to render thankes for the great benefits that we haue received at his hands to set foorth his most worthy prayse to heare his most holy word and to aske those things which be requisite and necessary aswell for the body as the soule Wherefore I pray and beseech you as many as be here present to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voyce vnto the Throne of the heauenly grace saying after me A generall confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister kneeling ALmighty and most mercifull Father wee have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheepe wee haue followed too much the deuices and desires of our owne hearts we have offended against thy holy Lawes we have left vndone those things which wee ought to have done and we haue done those things which wee ought not to haue done and there is no health in vs but thou O Lord haue mercy upon vs miserable offenders spare thou them O God which confesse their faults restore thou them that be penitent according to thy promises vnto mankinde in Christ Iesu our Lord and graunt O most mercifull Father for his sake that we may hereafter liue a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy holy Name Amen The absolution or remission of sinnes to be pronounced by the Minister alone ALmighty God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that hee may turne from his wickednesse and liue and hath giuen power and commandement to his Ministers to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent the absolution and remission of their sinnes hee pardoneth and absolueth all them which truely repent and vnfainedly beleeue his holy Gospel Wherefore we beseech him to graunt vs true repentance and his holy spirit that those things may please him which wee doe at this present and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last wee may come to his eternallioy through Iesus Christ our Lord. The people shall answere Amen Then shall the Minister begin the Lords prayer with a lowd voyce OUr Father which art in heaven halowed ve thy Name Thy kingdom come Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Give vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse vs. And leade vs not into temptation But deliver vs from evil Amen Then likewise he shall say O Lord open thou our lips Answere And our mouth shall shew foorth thy prayse Priest O God make speed to save vs. Answere O Lord make haste to helpe vs. Priest Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. As it was in the beginning is now c. Prayse ye the Lord. Then shall be said or sung this Psalme following O Come let vs sing unto the Lord let vs heartily reioyce in the strength of our salution Veniâ—e exul 〈◊〉 Let vs come before his presence with thankesgiuing and shew our selves glad in him with Psalmes For the Lord is a great God and a great King avoue all gods In his hand are all the corners of the earth and the strength of the hilles is