THE BOOK OF
AND ADMINISTRATION OF
AND OTHER
RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH,
ACCORDING TO THE USE OF
IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
TOGETHER WITH
THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID.
PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS,
AND SOLD BY THOMAS NELSON AND SONS,
NEW YORK.
CERTIFICATE.
I DO hereby certify that this Edition of the Common Prayer Book, Articles, Offices, &c., having been compared and corrected by the Standard Book by a Presbyter duly appointed, as the Canon directs, is permitted to be published accordingly.
HORATIO POTTER.
Bishop of New York.
July, 1876.
The second copy of the 1789 Book of Common Prayer used in preparing these texts has the following:
I CERTIFY that this edition of the Common Prayer Book, the Articles, Offices, Psalms in Metre, selected from the Psalms of David, and Hymns, has been compared with, and corrected by, the Standard Book, by a Presbyter appointed by me for the purpose. And the same is permitted to be published, as an edition so comapred and corrected, as the Canon directs.
JONA. M. WAINWRIGHT,
Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of New York
MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK, 1854.
John W Amerman, Printer, 47 Cedar-street, N. Y.
1. THE Ratification of the Book of Common Prayer.
2. The Preface.
3. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read
4. The Order how the rest of the Holy Scripture is appointed to be read.
5. Table of Lessons of Holy Scripture to be read at Morning and Evening Prayer
throughout the Year.
6. The Calendar.
7. Tables and Rules for the Moveable and Immoveable Feasts, together with the Days of
Fasting and Abstinence throughout the Year.
8. Tables for finding the Holydays.
9. The Order for Daily Morning Prayer.
10. The Order for Daily Evening Prayer.
11. The Litany.
12. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions, to be used before the two final
Prayers of Morning and Evening Service.
13. The Collects Epistles, aud Gospels, to be used throughout the Year.
14. The Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
15. The Ministration of Public Baptism of Infants, to be used in the Church.
16. The Ministration of Private Baptism of Children, in Houses.
17. The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of Riper Years, and able to answer for
themselves.
18. A Catechism; that is to say an Instruction to he learned by every Person before he be
brought to be confirmed by the Bishop.
19. The Order of Confirmation, or Laying on of Hands upon those that are baptized, and
come to years of Discretion.
20. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony.
21. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick.
22. The Communion of the Sick.
23. The Order for the Burial of the Dead.
24. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child birth, commonly called, The Churching of
Women.
25. Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea.
26. A Form of Prayer for the Visitation of Prisoners.
27. A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the Fruits of the earth, and
all the other Blessings of his merciful Providence.
28. Forms of Prayer to he used in Families.
29: Selections of Psalms, to he used instead of the Psalms for the Day, at the discretion
of the Minister.
30. The Psalter, or Psalms of David.
THE RATIFICATION OF
By the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this Sixteenth Day of October, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
THIS Convention having, in their present Session, set
forth A Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and
Ceremonies of the Church, do hereby establish the said Book: And they declare it to be the
Liturgy of this Church: And require that it be received as such by all the members of the
same: And this Book shall be in use from and after the First Day of October, in the Year
of our Lord onethousand seven hundred and ninety.
IT is a most invaluable part of that blessed liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free, that in his worship, different forms
and usages may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept
entire; and that, in every Church, what cannot be clearly determined to belong to Doctrine
must be referred to Discipline: and therefore, by common consent and authority, may be
altered, abridged, enlarged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most
convenient for the edification of the people, "according to the various exigencies of
times and occasions."
The Church of England, to which the Protestant Episcopal Church
in these States is indebted, under God, for her first foundation and a long continuance of
nursing care and protection, hath, in the Preface of her Book of Common Prayer, laid it
down as a rule, that "The particular forms of Divine Worship, and the Rites and
Ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifferent and
alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable that upon weighty and important
considerations, according to the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes
and alterations should be mede therein; as to those who are in places of authority should,
from time to time, seem either necessary or expedient."
The same Church bath not only in her Preface, but likewise in her
Articles and Homilies declared the necessity and expediency of occasional alterations and
amendments in her Forms of Public Worship; and we find accordingly, that, seeking to
"keep the happy mean between too much stiffness in refusing, and too much easiness in
admitting variations in things once advisedly established, she hath, in the reign of
several Princes since the first compiling of her Liturgy in the time of Edward the Sixth
upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto moving yielded to make such alterations
in some particulars, as in their respective times were thought convenient; yet so as that
the main body and essential parts of the same (as well in the chiefest materials as in the
frame and order thereof) have still been continued firm and unshaken.
Her general aim in these different reviews and alterations hath been,
as she farther declares in her said Preface "to do that which according to her best
understanding, might most tend to the preservation of peace and unity in the Church; the
procuring of reverence, and the excitmg of piety and devotion in the worship of God; and
finally the cutting off occasion, from them that seek occasion. Of cavil or quarrel
against her Liturgy." And although, according to her judgment, there be not "any
thing in it contrary to the Word of God or to sound doctrine, or which a godly man may not
with a good conscience use and submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible, if allowed
such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all human
writings;" yet upon the principles already laid down, it cannot but be supposed that
further alterations would in time be found expedient. Accordingly, a commission for a
review was issued in the year 1689: but this great and good work miscarried at that time;
and the Civil Authority has not since thought proper to revive it by any new commission.
But when in the course of Divine Providence, these. American States
became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical independence was
necessarily included; and the different religious denominations of Christians in these
States were left at full and equal liberty to model and organize their respective
Churches, and forms of worship, and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most
convenient for their future prosperity; consistently with the constitution and laws of
their country.
The attention of this Church was in the first place drawn to those
alterations in the Liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for our Civil Rulers, in
Consequence of the Revolution. And the principal care herein was to make them conformable
to what ought to be the proper end of all such prayers, namely, that "Rulers may have
grace, wisdom, and understanding to execute justice, and to maintain truth;" and that
the people "may lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty."
But while these alterations were in review before the Convention,
they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occasion which was offered to
them (uninfluenced and unrestrained by any worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further
review of the Public Service, and to establish such other alterations and amendments
therein as might be deemed expedient.
It seems unnecessary to enumerate all the different alterations and
amend-ments. They will appear, and it is to be hoped, the reasons of them also, upon a
comparison of this with the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. In which it
will also appear that this Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of
England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local
circumstances require.
And now, this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is hoped
the whole will be received and examined by every true member of our Church. and every
sincere Christian, with a meek, candid, and charitable frame of mind; without prejudice or
prepossessions; seriously considering what Christianity is, and what the truths of the
Gospel are; and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing every
endeavour for promulgating them to mankind, in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and
majestic manner, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour.
¶ The Minister shall begin the MORNING PRAYER, by reading one or more of the
following Sentences of Scripture.
THE Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.
From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my
Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto
my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD
of hosts. Mal. I. 11.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm xix. 14, 15.
When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath
committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek.
xviii. 27.
I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Psalm
li. 3.
Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities Psalm
li 9
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart
O God thou wilt not despise. Psalm ii 17
Rend your heart and not your garments and turn unto the LORD your God
for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of
the evil Joel ii 13
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have
rebelled against him, neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in his
laws which he set before us Dan ix. 9, 10.
O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou
bring me to nothing. Jer. x. 24, Psalm vi. 1.
Repent ye; for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii.
2.
I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I
have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St.
Luke xv. 18, 19.
Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight
shall no man living be justified. Psalm cxliii. 2.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John I. 8, 9.
¶ Then the Minister shall say,
DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying--
A General Confession.
¶ To be said by the whole congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed f rom thy ways like lost sheep We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou O Lord have mercy upon us, miserable offenders Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
The Declaration of Absolution, Or Remission Of Sins.
¶ To be said by the Priest alone, standing; the People still kneeling.
ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
¶ The People shall answer
here, and at the end of every Prayer, Amen.
¶ Or this.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ Then the Minister shall kneel, and say the Lord's Prayer; the people still kneeling and repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in divine service.
OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
¶ Then likewise he shall say,
O Lord, open thou our lips.
Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise..
¶ Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,
Glory be to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen*.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Answer. The Lord's Name be praised.
* "Amen" added in 1871; in some books from 1845.
¶ Then shall be said or sang the following Anthem; except on those days for which other Anthems are appointed; and except also, when it is used in the course of the Psalms, on the nineteenth day of the month.
Venite, exultemus Domino.
O COME, let us sing unto the LORD; let us
heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and show ourselves glad in
him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God; a great King above all gods.
In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills
is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it, and his hands prepared the dry land.
O come let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our
Maker.
For he is the Lord our God and we are the people his pasture and the sheep of
his hand.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth stand in
awe of him.
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; and with righteousness to
judge the world and the people with his truth
¶ Then shall follow a Portion of the Psalms, as they are appointed, or one of the Selections of the Psalms set forth by this Church. And at the end of every Psalm, and likewise at the end of the Venite, Benedicite, Jubilate Benedictus, Cantate Domino, Bonum est confiteri, Deus miseratur, Benedic, anima mea MAY be said or sung the Gloria Patri; and at the end of the whole Portion, or Selection of Psalms for the day SHALL be said or sung the Gloria Patri, or else the Gloria in escelsis, which followeth.
Gloria in excelsis
GLORY be to God on high and on
earth peace, good will towards men We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee we
glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God heavenly King, God
the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of
the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest
away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the
world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have
mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the
Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
¶ Then shall be read the
first Lesson, according to the Table or Calendar.
¶ After which shall be said or sung the following hymn.
¶ Note, That before every Lesson, the Minister shall say Here beginneth such a Chapter, or verse of such a Chapter, of such a Book: and after every Lesson, Here endeth the first, or the second Lesson.
Te Deum laudamus.
WE praise thee, O God; we
acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee, all Angels cry aloud; the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee, Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy Glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee;
The Father, of an infinite Majesty;
Thine adorable, true, and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst humble thyself to be
born of a Virgin.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom
of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the Glory of the
Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy
precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting.
O Lord save thy people and bless thine heritage.
Govern them and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
O Lord let thy mercy be upon us as our trust is in thee.
O Lord in thee have I trusted let me never be confounded.
¶ Or this Canticle.
Benedicite omnia opera Domine
O ALL ye Works of the Lord bless
ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Waters that be above the firmament bless ye the Lord; praise him, and
magnify him for ever.
O all ye Powers of the Lord bless ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Sun and Moon bless ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Showers and Dew bless ye the Lord; praise him and magnify him for
ever
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him
for ever.
O let the Earth bless the Lord; yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O all ye Green Things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and
magnify him for ever.
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord; praise him,
and magnify him for ever.
O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him
for ever.
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify him for
ever.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and
magnify him for ever.
O ye holy and humble Men of Heart, bless ye the Lord; praise him, and magnify
him for ever.
¶ Then shall be read, in
like manner, the second Lesson, taken out of the New Testament according to the Table or
Calendar.
¶ And after that, the following Psalm.
Jubilate Deo. Psalm c.
O BE joyful in the Lord, all ye
lands; serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.
Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with
praise; be thankful unto him and speak good of his Name.
For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth
from generation to generation.
¶ Or this Hymn.
Benedictus. St. Luke I. 68.
BLESSED be the Lord God of Israel
for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, in the house of his servant
David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world
began;
That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate
us.
¶ Then shall be said the Apostles' Creed by the Minister and the People, standing. And any Churches may omit the words, He descended into hell, or may, instead of them, use the words, He went into the place of departed spirits, which are considered as words of the same meaning in the Creed.
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 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.
¶ Or this.
I BELIEVE in one God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and
invisible:
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of
His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very
God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By Whom all things
were made: Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was
incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified
also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day
He rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into Heaven, And sitteth
on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge
both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life Who
proceedeth from the Father and the Son Who with the Father and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe
one Catholick and Apostolick Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of
sins: And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come.
Amen.
¶ And after that, these Prayers following, all devoutly kneeling; the Minister first pronouncing,
The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.
O Lord show thy mercy upon us.
Answer. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O God make clean our hearts within us.
Answer. And take not thy holy Spirit from us.
¶ Then shall follow the Collect for the day except when the Communion Service is read; and then the Collect for the day shall be omitted here.
A Collect for Peace
O GOD who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we, surely trusting in thy defence may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for Grace
O LORD our heavenly Father Almighty and everlasting God who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings being ordered by thy governance may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for the President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority.
O 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 incline 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 following Prayers are to be omitted here when the Litany is read.
A Prayer for the Clergy and People.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for all Conditions of Men.
O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life. Finally we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind body or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities giving them patience under their sufferings and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
A General Thanksgiving
ALMIGHTY God Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life, but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee give us that due sense of all thy mercies that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful and that we show forth thy praise not only with our lips but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supcations unto thee; and dost promise that when two three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
2 Cor. xiii. 14.
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Here endeth the Order of Morning Prayer.
Return to the Book of Common Prayer Home Page.
Updated: 15 Oct., 1997.
Comments, corrections, etc., to: Charles Wohlers