Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][ocr errors]

THE DIVINE SERVICE.

+

NOTES.

This book is chiefly intended for those who are receiving the Holy Communion, but any one present without receiving may use it, omitting the portions marked with a line in the margin.

The Service from the Book of Common Prayer is printed in large type at the top of the following pages. In the pauses and intervals of the service, the notes and private prayers given in the lower part of the pages may be read. These ought also to be studied at home before the book is used in church.

The Communion Service in the Church of England was in Latin till the year 1548. In that year the Communion of the people, and in the next year the whole Service, was put into English. The First English Prayer-Book of 1549 is referred to in some of the notes to this book.

B

THE DIVINE SERVICE.

The Table, at the Communion-time, having a fair white linen cloth upon it, shall stand in the Body of the Church, or in the Chancel, where Morning and Evening Prayer are appointed to be said. And the Priest standing at the North-side of the Table shall say the Lord's Prayer, with the Collect following, the people kneeling.

OUR

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 trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

IN

PRIVATE PRAYERS.

As soon as you come into church kneel down and say :

the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

WE

E wait for thy loving-kindness, O GOD, in the midst of thy temple. Amen.

COME, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,

And lighten with celestial fire.

Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy Blessed Unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love;
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace;
Keep far our foes, give peace at home:
Where Thou art guide no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And Thee, of both, to be but One;
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

ALMIGHTY FATHER, behold I, an unworthy sinner, presume to appear before Thee to join in offering up to Thee this great Act of Worship, through our High Priest, Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE DIVINE SERVICE.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts be open,

all desires known, and from whom no secrets are

hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest, turning to the people, rehearse distinctly all the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and the people still kneeling shall, after every Commandment, ask God mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to keep the same for the time to come, as followeth.

PRIVATE PRAYERS.

I do this in remembrance of his death, and in union with that Sacrifice which He offered upon the Cross, and which He still presents before thy mercy-seat on high.

I do this, firstly, for thine honour and glory, to the praise of thy Holy Name, and in adoration of thy Divine Majesty.

I do this, secondly, in thanksgiving for the Death and Passion of thy dear Son, and for all the blessings which I have received from Thee, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory.

I do this, thirdly, for the pardon and remission of all my sins, and of the sins of those dear to me, through the precious Blood here pleaded before Thee.

I do this, lastly, for all needful blessings and graces, both for myself and for all others for whom I ought to pray (especially for ), and for the whole mystical body of Christ, that those who serve Thee on earth may finish their course with joy, and that those in paradise may advance in perfectness and grace, till we all come to the glory of thy kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CLEANSE our consciences, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by thy

visitation, that thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, when He cometh, may find in us a dwelling-place prepared for Himself; through the same, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, ever one GOD, world without end. Amen.

BEHOLD, O GOD, I come as a sick man to the Physician of

the soul. I come as one unclean to the Fountain of mercy. I come as a blind man to the Light of eternal brightness. I come, poor and needy, to the Lord of all things. I come, hungry, to the Bread of heaven; and, thirsty, to the Water of

GOD

THE DIVINE SERVICE.

Minister.

YOD spake these words, and said; I am the Lord thy GOD: Thou shalt have none other gods but Me. People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy GoD am a jealous GOD, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and show mercy unto thousands in them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

People. Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Minister. 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.

PRIVATE PRAYERS.

Life. I pray Thee, therefore, heavenly Father, through the grace of this blessed Sacrament, to heal the sickness of my soul, to cleanse my defilement, to enlighten my darkness, to enrich my poverty, to supply my need, to satisfy my hunger, to refresh me in my thirst, that worthily receiving my dear Lord, I may possess all things in Him, and may abide for ever in thy Love; through the same Lord, Jesus Christ my Saviour. Amen. In the Prayer-Book of 1549 it was ordered that when the Priest had said the Lord's Prayer and the Collect of Preparation, he should say a Psalm appointed for the Introit." It is more usual now to

66

sing a hymn at the beginning of the Service; but it seems fitting that this Service should have its proper Psalms, as the other daily offices have; and therefore it seems preferable to sing the Introit Psalm rather than a hymn. The Psalm formerly appointed for the Introit on Sundays and Holy Days may be found by reference to the Table of Collects, &c., at the end of the Service in this book.

If we have made a careful self-examination before coming to the service, the reading of the Ten Commandments will now recall our sins to our minds, and we can renew our penitence for them while we call upon GOD for his mercy.

« AnteriorContinua »