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 sin 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 thanksgiving; 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 the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his glorious kingdom: unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen. Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Priest and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the Litany) shall say this salm. HAVI Psalm li. AVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness; and cleanse me from my sin; For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness; and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But, lo! thou requirest truth in the inward parts; and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.] -Hyssop is an herb very generally known, of which there are two sorts, the garden and the mountain hyssop. It was used by the Hebrews in purification instead of a sprinkler, and the Psalmist here alludes to the purification of lepers; when they dipped a bunch composed of hyssop, the branches of cedar, and red wool, in water mingled with the blood of a bird, and with it sprinkled the leper.-See Lev. xiv. 4, &c. Hyssop was also dipped in the blood of the Paschal lamb when the lintel and side posts were sprinkled.-See Exod. xii. 22. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face away from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again; and stablish me with thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord; and my mouth shall show thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. O be favorable and gracious unto Sion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. 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. O Lord, save thy servants; That put their trust in thee. Minister. Send unto them help from above. And evermore mightily defend them. Help us, O God our Saviour. And, for the glory of thy Name, deliver us; be merciful to us sin ners, for thy Name's sake. O Lord, hear our prayer; And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. Let us pray. O Lord, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all who confess their thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved ; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Ο Most mighty God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn. from his sin, and be saved; mercifully forgive us our 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 judgment 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 URN 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 thymercy 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, T 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. THE PSALMS OF DAVID. cise :: FERS DAY. SING PRAYER. ESSED is the man that hath not de scornful 2 Ent lis delight is in the law o the Lord in his law will he exer day and night. 3 he shall be like a tree planted by the water...me, that will bring forth his fruit in due seas S leaf also she's wither; and look, whatdoeth, it Prosper. As for the unge, it is not so with them, but they are like the cof, which the wind scatteretl away from the face the earth. 6 Therefore, ungodly shall not be able to stand in the jument: neither the sinners in the congregation the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; all the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalia ii. do the heathen so furiously rage together ? hy do the people imagine a vain thing? gs of the earth stand up, and the rulers ton her ring the Lord, and agains d. |