OR

BRETHREN, in the primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that at the beginning of Lent, such persons as stood convicted of notorious sin, were put to open penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that others, admonished by their example, might be the more afraid to offend.

Instead whereof (until the said discipline may be restored again, which is much to be wished) it is thought good, that at this time, in the presence of you all, should be read the general sentences of God's cursing again st impenitent sinners, gathered out of the seven and twentieth chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of Scripture; and that ye should answer to every sentence, Amen: Tọ the intent, that being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners, ye may the rather be moved to earnest and true repentance: and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from such vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to be due.

CURSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten image, to worship it.

And the People shall answer and say, AMEN.

Minister. Cursed is he that curseth his father or mother. Answer, Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour's land mark. Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way. Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that perverteth the judgement of the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.

Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly.

Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife.

Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the innocent.

Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord.

Answ. Amen.

Min. Cursed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adulterers, covetous persons, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners. Answ. Amen.

Minister.

Now seeing that all they are accursed (as the prophet David beareth witness) who do err and go astray from the commandments of God, let us (remembering the dreadful judge ment hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing

and lamenting our sinful life, acknowledging and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the axe put unto the root of the trees; so that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: he shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire, and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink. For, lo, the Lord is come out of his place, to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to endure when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped upon themselves ; which despised the goodness, patience, and long-suffering of God, when he calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me (saith the Lord), but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord; but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock, when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of jus

tice.

O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels! Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime,

while the day of salvation lasteth for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light; that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment; and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; and though they be like purple, yet they shall be made white as wool. Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sins shall not be your destruction. Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done; make you new hearts and a new spirit: Wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel? seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: Turn ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have sinned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. For he was wounded for our offences, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners; assuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; seeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiv ing. This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand; and he will set us on his right hand, and give us

our

death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from his sin, and be saved; Mercifully forgive us trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into judgement with thy servants, who are vile earth, and miserable sinners; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our faults; and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the People say this that followeth, after the Minister.

TURN thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable,. O Lord, be favourable to thy people, who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying: For thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them; And let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great; and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us, Through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister alone shall say. THE Lord bless us, and keep us; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace now and for evermore. Amen.

These two following Prayers are to be also used in his Majesty's Navy every Day. O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds, until day and night come to an end; Be pleased to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection the Persons of us thy servants, and the Fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lord King GEORGE, and his dominions, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Island may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours; and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect.

PREVENT US, O 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.

Prayers to be used in Storms at Sea. O

MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, at whose command the winds blow, and lift up the waves of the sea, and who stillest the rage thereof; We thy creatures, but miserable sinners, do in this our great distress cry

unto thee for help: Save, Lord, or else we perish. We confess, when we have been safe, and seen all things quiet about us, we have forgot thee our God, and refused to hearken to the still voice of thy Word, and to obey thy commandments: But now we see how terrible thou art in all thy works of wonder; the great God to be feared above all: And therefore we adore thy Divine Majesty, acknowledging thy power, and imploring thy goodness. Help, Lord, and save us for thy mercies' sake in Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

Or this:

O MOST glorious and gracious Lord

God, who dwellest in heaven, but beholdest all things below; Look down, we beseech thee, and hear us, calling out of the depth of misery, and out of the jaws of this death, which is ready now to swallow us up: Save, Lord, or else we perish. The living, the living, shall praise thee. O send thy word of command to rebuke the raging winds, and the roaring sea; that we, being delivered from this distress, may live to serve thee, and to glorify thy name all the days of our life. Hear, Lord, and save us, for the infinite merits of our blessed Saviour, thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Prayer to be said before a Fight at Sea against an Enemy.

O MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, the Lord of hosts, that rulest and commandest all things; Thou sittest in the throne judging right; and therefore we make our address to thy Divine Majesty in this our necessity; that thou wouldest take the cause into thine own hand, and judge

between us and our enemies. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help me for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few.

O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance; but hear us thy poor servants begging mercy, and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldest be a defence unto us against the face of the enemy: Make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Short Prayers for single Persons, that cannot meet to join in Prayer with others, by reason of the Fight or Storm.

General Prayers.

LORD, be merciful to us sinners, and save us for thy mercies' sake.

Thou art the great God, that hast made and rulest all things: O deliver us for thy Name's sake.

Thou art the great God to be feared above all: O save us, that we may praise thee.

Special Prayers with respect to the Enemy. THOU, O Lord, art just and powerful: O defend our cause against the face of the enemy.

O God, thou art a strong tower of defence to all that flee unto thee: O save us from the violence of the enemy.

O Lord of hosts, fight for us; that we may glorify thee.

O suffer us not to sink under the weight of our sins, or the violence of the enemy.

O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Name's sake.

Short Prayers in respect of a Storm. THOU, O Lord, that stillest the raging of the sea; hear, hear us, and save us, that we perish not.

O blessed Saviour, that didst save thy disciples, ready to perish in a storm; hear us, and save us, we beseech thee.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, hear us.

O Christ, hear us.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.

OUR Father, &c. to For ever and ever. Amen.

When there shall be imminent danger, as many as can be spared from necessary service in the Ship, shall be called together, and make an humble Confession of their Sins to God: In which every one ought seriously to reflect upon those particular Sins of which his conscience shall accuse him; saying as followeth :

The Confession.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we from time to time most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And be heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest, if there be any in the

Ship, pronounce this Absolution. ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them which 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.