• FRINCETOrJ U. J. .i 
 
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TRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 The Forms of Public Devotion, 
 
 INSTITCTED BY 
 
 CALVIN, JOHN KNOXj MARTIN BUCER, MICRONIUS. 
 
 ADOPTED AND USED IN 
 
 Various Branches of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 NEWLY COLLECTED ANT) COLLATED. 
 
 New York : 
 charles scribner, 145 nassau street. 
 
 1856. 
 
In compliance with current 
 copyright law, LBS Archival 
 
 Products produced this 
 
 replacement volume on paper 
 
 that meets the ANSI Standard 
 
 Z39.48-1984 to replace the 
 
 irreparably deteriorated 
 
 original. 
 
 1992 
 
 (00) 
 
^^i 
 
 In adducing these Forms of Worship, set forth by the Reformers 
 at an early period in the history of the Presbyterian Church, it is de- 
 signed to 'solicit a critical examination of them on the part of indivi- 
 duals to -whose notice this Collection may come. The want of a 
 Formulary of Public Services, for the optional use and study of the 
 Clergy, as well as for the assistance of Congregations in localities 
 where the stated Ministry of the Gospel is not enjoyed, has been 
 both felt and expressed ; and the present Compilation has no other 
 purpose than to promote and facilitate the preparation of such a 
 work, based as it must be upon the old materials, with additions and 
 modifications to be suggested by brethren of experience. Accordingly, 
 this Compilation is sent forth for gratuitous circulation, among a 
 limited number of those who are supposed to feel interest in the ob- 
 ject ; whilst it is withheld from general publicity, in order that such 
 "emendations as shall appear demanded, may be privately obtained. 
 Tlie free communication of any suggestions of this nature, is respect- 
 fully and earnestly requested," from each of those who shall receive 
 this pamphlet. 
 
 In the preparation of this work, the entire literature of the subject 
 has been studied, beginning with Calvin's " Preces Ecclesiastic.e," 
 the title of which "has been adopted, and proceeding through the 
 several formularies founded upon that admirable basis: those, namely^ 
 of the Churches of Geneva, France, Scotland, Holland, the Palatinate, 
 Germany, Hungary, French Switzerland, and the Valleys of Pied- 
 mont. Many of the Forms here given are common to all of these 
 rituals, whose affinity of course is strongly marked. Reference to the 
 authorship of each will be found in the text or in the notes appended. 
 
 Large use has been made of Richard Baxter's" Reformed Liturgy'' — 
 a work which has never been sanctionedby ecclesiastical adoption, yet 
 well deserves the careful study of every minister. The remarkable 
 volume issued in the year 1545, under the direction of Archbishop 
 Herman of Cologne, has also been consulted— a production of which 
 Martin Bucer, the learned disciple of Calvin, was the principal author. 
 Both of these liturgical performances may be justly viewed as Pres- 
 byterian by their origin. 
 
 ' The plan of the present work embraces, in addition to these General 
 Forms of celebrating the Public Ordinances of Religion, a collection 
 of Occasional and Special Prayers, derived from the same sources. 
 To avoid an extension that would render the expense of printing too 
 great, this part has been withheld for the time being. 
 

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 «'•* 
 
 THE 
 
 ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Morning of the Lord's Day. 
 
 Preface. 
 
 Thus saitli the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth 
 is my footstool : where is the house that ve build unto me ? and 
 where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine 
 hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: 
 but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of 
 a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 
 
 Or one of ihefoUowing sentences : 
 
 Thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, 
 whose name is Holy : I dwell in the high and holy place, with 
 him also that is of "a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the 
 spirit of the humble, and the heart of the contrite ones. 
 
 Thus saith the Lord, The sons of the stranger, that join 
 themselves to the Lord, even them will I bring to my holy 
 mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their 
 burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine 
 altar : for mi'ne house shall be called an house of prayer for all 
 people. 
 
 Thus saith the Lord, In all places where I record my name 
 I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ hath said. Where two or three are 
 gathered tO£rether in mv name, there am I in the midst of 
 
6 PRECES ECCLESIASTICE. 
 
 them: and whatsoever ye sliall ask in my name, that will 
 [do. 
 
 Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, 
 which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself, now 
 to appear in the presence of God for us. 
 
 Invitation. 
 
 Having therefore this promise, dearly beloved, let us draw 
 near with a true heart, in fall assurance of faith, and make 
 known our requests unto God. 
 
 Or: 
 
 Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, 
 that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of 
 need. 
 
 THE OPEXIXG PRAYER. 
 
 Invocation and Confession of Sins. 
 
 Almighty God ! who hast promised to be present with Thy 
 people, and to grant their requests in the name of Thy well- 
 beloved Son : look down, we beseech Thee, upon us, and for 
 the sake of Him who is our only Saviour and Mediator with 
 Thee, fulfil Thy promise in our behalf: that our thoughts 
 being lifted up, and our desires drawn forth unto Thee, we 
 may seek Thee acceptably this day : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Redeemer. 
 
 Eternal God ! we acknowledge and confess before Thy sove- 
 reign Majesty that we are miserable sinners, conceived and 
 born in guilt, prone to evil, unable of ourselves to do any 
 good. We have broken Thy laws in thought, word, and deed, 
 deserving most justly Thy wrath and condemnation. But we 
 repent and are sorry for our offences ; we humble ourselves at 
 Thy throne, and beseech Thee to regard us in Thy great com- 
 passion. Have mercy upon us, God ! Father of Mercies, for 
 the sake of the holy life and sufferings of Thy dear Son our 
 Saviour, Jesus Christ. Pardon all our sins, blot out our trans- 
 gressions, renew us wholly, and grant us the continual help of 
 Thy Holy Spirit. May He deliver us more and more froni the 
 power of sin, that we may present ourselves living sacrifices 
 unto Thee, and serve Thee without fear all our days, to the 
 honour of Thy Name and our salvation : Through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord and Sayiour, Amen. Calvin. 
 
THE MORNING SERVICE. 
 
 Eternal, Almighty, and Most Gracious God ! Heaven is 
 Thy throne and earth is Thy footstool : holv and reverend is 
 Thj Name. "We sinners are bold, through our blessed Mediator, 
 to present ourselves and our supplications before Thee. Eeceive 
 us graciously, help us by Thy Spirit, let Thy fear be upon us, 
 let Thy word come unto us in power and be received in love ; 
 cause us to be fervent in prayer, and joyful in thy praises, and 
 to serve Thee this day without distraction, that we may find it 
 good for us to draw near unto Thee. Baxter. 
 
 Most Holy God ! who art of purer eyes than to behold ini- 
 quity, who condemnest the ungodly, impenitent, and unbeliev- 
 ing, but hast promised mercy through Jesus Christ unto all 
 that repent and believe in Him : We confess that we were 
 conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, and 
 have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Thou 
 hast revealed unto us Thy wonderful love in Christ, and offered 
 us pardon and salvation in Him : but we have resisted Thy 
 Spirit, and neglected so great salvation : we have run into 
 temptations ; and the sin we should have hated we have com- 
 mitted in Thy sight, both secretly and openly, ignorantly and 
 carelessly, rashly and presumptuously, against Thy promises, 
 Thy mercies, and Thy judgments. Our transgressions are 
 multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us ; if Thou 
 deal with us as we deserve. Thou wilt cast us away froijj Thy 
 sight. Have mercy upon us, O God ! be reconciled unto us, and 
 let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins. Take 
 us for Thy children, and give us the Spirit of Thy Son. Oh ! 
 make Thy face to shine upon Thy servants ; save us from our 
 sins, and from the wrath to come; make us a peculiar people 
 to Thee, zealous of Thy praise. We ask it in the name of 
 our blessed and only Kedeemer. Amen. Baxtek. 
 
 III. 
 
 Most Gracious God, our Heavenly Father ! in whom dwell- 
 eth all fulness of light and wisdom : Hluminate our minds by 
 Thy Spirit, in the true understanding of Thy Word, and the 
 right worship of Thy name ; dispel the darkness of our cor- 
 rupt nature, and dispose us to commune with Thee through 
 the Spirit of grace and supplication. Help us to put our 
 whole trust in Him alone by whose merits we approach Thee ; 
 and since Thou art pleased for His sake to number us among 
 Thy people, make us able and willing to pay Thee acceptable 
 worship, as children to our Father, and obedient servants to 
 our King. Calve.-. 
 
8 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 We are not worthy, Lord ! to come into Thy presence by 
 reason of our manifold offences. For we were conceived m 
 sin, and in iniquity was every one of us born. All the days 
 of our life we have continued to follow the corruption of our 
 fleshly nature. If Thou, Lord, shouldst enter into judgment 
 with Thy servants, just occasion hast Thou to punish not only 
 this our mortal flesh, but our bodies and souls for ever. i3ut 
 Thou Lord ! art a merciful God, a loving and favourable 
 Father, to all that unfeignedly turn unto Thee from their sins 
 Wherefore we most humbly beseech Thee, for the sake of 
 Christ, Thy Son, shew Thy mercy upon us. Forgive us all 
 our offences. Endue us with Thine Holy Spirit. Sanctify us 
 wholly ; and grant us grace, that in ^ the days of our lives 
 Ster, we may studf to serve and please Thee, m word and 
 in deed, through our only Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 
 Amen. ^°^ 
 
 IV. 
 
 Eternal and Invisible God ! Infinite in power, wisdom, and 
 croodness, dwelling in the light which no man can approach, 
 ?et dwellincr also with the humble and contrite, and taking 
 pleasure in Thy people: Thou hast consecrated for usane^y 
 and livincr way, that with boldness we may enter into the holi- 
 est by the blood of Jesus. Behold us at Thy footstool De- 
 spise us not, though unworthy; put Thy fear into our hearts, 
 that with reverence we may serve Thee ; write Thy laws m 
 our minds, and let us all be taught of Thee So may the words 
 of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable 
 in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Kedeemer. Baxter. 
 
 Almicrhty, Everlasting God ! Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ !° Creator of all things, Judge of all men! We_ ac- 
 knowledge and lament in Thy sight, that we were conceived 
 and born in sin, prone to evil, and unfit for any good. We 
 have broken Thy holy laws, times and ways without number, 
 by contempt of Thee and Thy Word, by distrust of Thy graje, 
 and vain confidence in ourselves and the world, by thoughts 
 and works grievously offending Thy holy Majesty, and sm- 
 nincr acrainst our neighbour. Thus have we buried ourselves 
 mor°e and more deeply in spiritual death. But we do earnestly 
 repent, and are sorry for these our misdoings. Have niercy 
 upon us, most Gracious and Merciful Father, for the sake ot 
 Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Forgive us all that is past 
 Grant us and increase within us Thine Holy Spirit ; who shall 
 teach us penitently to acknowledge our sins, and being touched 
 with lively sorrow, by true faith to obtain remission of them 
 in Christ. So that daily dying unto sin, in newness of life 
 
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THE MORNING SERVICE. 9 
 
 we may serve and please Thee, to the glory of Tiiv name and 
 the edification of Thy Church: Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. " Bi-cek. 
 
 27im viay be read The Commandmexts, recorded in Exodiis, chapter XX. verse 1 
 to 17 : Instead of which sometimes TuE Beatitudes, from the Gos2yel of St. Mat- 
 thew, chapter V., verse 1 to 10. 
 
 Then follows the singing of a Psalm or Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving. 
 Next the Reading of Sckiptuhe, out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 Then let the minister say : 
 Let US pray. 
 
 THE GENERAL PRAYER. 
 Beginning luith the prayer of Our Lord. 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Here may be introduced whatever special matter of prayer sliall be thought appro- 
 priate, suited to the tfieme of discourse or the occasion; concluding lOiih one of these 
 following forms of 
 
 Supplication and Intercession. 
 
 Heavenly Father, who hast bidden us pray for all in author- 
 ity among men : Bless, we intreat Thee, all rulers and magis- 
 trates to whom Thou hast committed power ; and especially 
 Thy servant, the President of the United States, our govern- 
 ors, legislators, and judges. May it please Thee to grant them 
 the daily increase of Thy good Spirit, that Avith true faith ac- 
 knowledging Christ Thy Son to be King of kings and Lord of 
 lords, they may seek to honour Thee and exalt Thy rule. May 
 they wisely govern those who are the sheep of Thy pasture 
 and the creatures of Thy hand ; so that as avcII here as 
 throughout all the world. Thy people being kept in peace and 
 quiet may serve Thee without fear. Be pleased, O Merciful 
 God ! to look favourabl}^ upon our country. Grant unto her 
 prosperity and peace ; the permanence of her free institutions ; 
 the stability of her union ] the successful growth of her agri- 
 culture, commerce, and manufactures. Let the sanctifying 
 
10 PRECE3 ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 leaven of Thy Gospel pervade all our people : for we have no 
 Kino- but Tiiee, O God! and righteousness alone exalteth a 
 nation. 
 
 Almighty Saviour ! We pray for all Pastors and Ministers 
 of thv Church, intrusted by Thee with the care of souls and 
 the preaching of Thy Word. Guide them ever by Thy Spirit, 
 and keep them faithful in their sacred charge. Give grace to 
 all Missionaries of th^ Cross, that by their means Thy wander- 
 ing sheep mav be gathered in and made subject to the Shep- 
 lierd and Bishop of their souls. Deliver Thy Church from 
 heresv and false doctrine: and unite Thy people with one 
 accord in the faith and practice of the Gospel. 
 
 Father of Mercies ! We pray for every class and condition 
 of our fellow-men. Thou that wouldst be acknowledged as 
 the Saviour of all mankind, in the redemption wrought by 
 Thy Son, Jesus Christ : grant that such as are yet strangers to 
 Thee, and captives to ignorance and error, may be led by the 
 enlightening of Thy Spirit and Thy Word, into the right way 
 oT salvation. Strengthen those already visited with _ Thy 
 grace, that they may daily grow in godliness, being enriched 
 with every spiritual gift. So hasten the time when all Thy 
 creatures upon the earth, with one heart and one voice, shall 
 fear and praise Thee, giving honour and worship toTliy Christ, 
 our Lord, Lawgiver, and King. 
 
 God of all Comfort ! We commend to Thee those whom 
 Thou art pleased to chasten with any cross or tribulation ; all 
 peo]Dle aftlicted with pestilence, war, or famine ; all persons 
 oppressed with poverty, sickness, distress of body or grief of 
 mind. May it please Thee to manifest unto them Thy fatherly 
 kindness in all their afflictions, to the end that in their hearts 
 thev may turn unto Thee, and being converted, receive perfect 
 consolation, and deliverance from all their woes. 
 
 Finally, O God our Father ! Grant also unto us here gather- 
 ed in the"'name of Thy Holy Child Jesus, to hear His Word, [and 
 to celebrate His Supper,] that we may rightly perceive our 
 lost estate by nature, and the condemnation we have deserved 
 by disobedient lives. And conscious that in ourselves there 
 dVelleth no good thing, and that flesh and blood can not in- 
 herit Thy kingdom, may we with our whole affections give 
 ourselves up in firm trust to Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, 
 our only Saviour and Redeemer : that He, dwelling in us, may 
 mortifvall remaining sin, rene'^ang us for that better life where 
 we shall mairnifv Thy blessed Name ever, world without end. 
 
 Calvix. 
 
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THE MORNING SERVICE. 11 
 
 The Creed. 
 
 Lord, increase our faith, 
 
 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 Marv, suffered 
 under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; He de- 
 scended into hell ;* the third day He rose again 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 Holv 
 Catholic Church, the communion of saints'; the forgiveness of 
 sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. 
 Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 Almighty God ! who by Thine holy Apostle hast taught us 
 to make our prayers and supplications for all men : We be- 
 seech Thee to lead such as are yet in the captivity of ignorance 
 and error, to the pure understanding of Thine heavenly truth ; 
 so that all mankind, with one consent, may learn to Vorship 
 Thee their only God and Saviour. Give grace to all pastors 
 and ministers of Thy holy Word, to whom Thou hast commit- 
 ted the charge of Thy chosen people, that in life and doctrine 
 they may be found faithful, setting only before them Thy glory ; 
 and may all poor sheep that wander and go astray, by them be 
 gathered and brought home to Thy fold. 
 
 Be pleased graciously to preserve and govern all Christian 
 Churches throughout the earth, in unity of Ttrue faith, and in 
 godliness of life. Let Thy kingdom daily increase, and that of 
 Satan be destroyed ; till Thy kingdom be perfected, when Thou 
 shalt be all in all. 
 
 "We pray for these United States ; God bless our people ; 
 keep them under Th}^ holy protection ; prosper them in their 
 agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and literature ; and let 
 their civil and religious rights be preserved inviolate to the latest 
 posterity. 
 
 And because the hearts of rulers are in Thine hand, we 
 beseech Thee to guide and govern all those to whom Thou 
 hast committed the sword. Especially, Lord ! according to 
 our bounden duty7"^ve intreat Thee to bless the President, his 
 councillors, and all others in authority in this land. Let Thy 
 fatherly favour so preserve them, let Thine Holy Spirit so direct 
 
 * i. e., Continued in the state of the dead, and under the power of death, until 
 the third daj*. 
 
12 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 their minds, that they may execute their office to the mainte- 
 nance of pure rehgion, and the punishment of evil-doers, 
 according to the precise rule of Thine holy Word. 
 
 And for that we be all members of the mystical body of 
 Christ Jesus, we make our requests unto Thee, O heavenly 
 Father ! for such as are afflicted with any kind of cross or 
 tribulation, as war, plague, famine, povert}^, sickness, or any 
 other kind of Thy chastisements, whether it be grief of body 
 or unquietness of mind : That it would please TEee to give 
 them patience and constancy, till Thou send them full deliver- 
 ance out of all their woes. 
 
 And finally, O Lord God, Most Merciful Father ! We be- 
 seech Thee to shew Thy great mercies upon those our brethren 
 who may be persecuted, cast into prison, and condemned to 
 death, for the testimony of Thy Truth : and though they be 
 utterly destitute of all man's aid, yet let Thy sweet comfort 
 never depart ; but so inflame their hearts with Thine Holy 
 Spirit, that they may boldly and cheerfully abide such trial as 
 Thy godly wisdom shall appoint. And may all Thy afflicted 
 people so serve and follow Thee, that at length, as well by 
 their death as by their life, the kingdom of Thy Son Jesus 
 Christ may increase and shine throughout the world. 
 
 These graces, Heavenly Father ! and all others that Thou 
 knowest to be expedient for us, and for all mankind, we ask 
 in the name of our Sovereign Master, Christ Jesus, Thy well- 
 beloved Son ; and for His sake also, we beseech Thee to grant 
 us perfect continuance in the lively faith of Thy Universal 
 Church, Avhereof we make our confession, saying : 
 
 I believe in God, etc. Knox. 
 
 m. 
 
 Most Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity ! Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghost ! Three Persons and one God ; our Creator, 
 Eedeemer, and Sanctifier ; our Lord, our Governor, and Fa- 
 ther ! Hear us, and have mercy upon us ! 
 
 O Lord our Saviour ! God and man ; Who, having assumed 
 our nature, by Thy sufferings, death, and burial, wast made a 
 ransom to take away the sins of the world ; who, being raised 
 from the dead, ascended and glorified, art made -Head over 
 all things to the Church : We beseech Thee to hear us, and 
 have mercy upon us. Make sure to us our calling and election, 
 our unfeigned faith and repentance ; that being justified and 
 made the sons of God, we may have peace with Him as our 
 reconciled God and Fathe;-. 
 
 Let Thy Holy Spirit sanctify us, and dwell in our hearts, 
 
n 
 
 i 
 
 fy\A^ 
 
THE MORNING SERVICE. 13 
 
 and cause us to deny ourselves, and to give ourselves entirely 
 to Thee. 
 
 As the world was created for Thy glory, let Thy name be 
 glorified throughout the world. Let self-love, and pride, and 
 vain-glory be destroyed. Make us to love Thee, fear Thee, and 
 trust in Thee with all our hearts, and to live to Thee. 
 
 Let all mankind subject themselves to Thee, their King. 
 Let the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the 
 Lord, and of His Christ. Let atheists, idolators, Mohammed- 
 ans, Jews, and all ungodly people be converted. Send forth 
 meet laborers into the harvest, preserve and bless them in 
 their work, and let the Gospel be preached throughout all the 
 world. 
 
 Unite all Christians in Jesus Christ, the true and only uni- 
 versal Head, in the true Christian and Catholic faith and love. 
 Cast out heresies and corruptions, heal divisions, let the strong 
 receive the weak, and bear their infirmities. 
 
 Have mercy upon our rulers ; let them fear Thee, and be 
 eusamples of- piety and temperance, haters of injustice, covet- 
 ousness and pride, and defenders of the innocent. Let every 
 soul be subject to the higher powers, and not resist ; let them 
 obey all in authority, not only for wrath, but for conscience' 
 sake. 
 
 Give all Thy Churches able, holy, faithful pastors, that may 
 soundly and diligentlj^ preach Thy Word, and guide Thy flock 
 in ways of righteousness and peace. 
 
 Keep us from atheism, idolatry, and rebellion against Thee ; 
 from infidelity, ungodliness, and sensuality ; from security, 
 presumption, and despair. 
 
 Keep us from murder and violence, and hurtful, passionate 
 words and actions. Keep us from fornication and all unclean- 
 ness ; from stealing; from perverting justice ; from false wit- 
 ness and deceit ; from slander^ uncharitable censure. Keep 
 us from coveting any thing that is our neighbours'. Cause 
 us to love Christ in His members with a pure and fervent 
 love ; to love our enemies, and to do good to all. 
 
 Give us needful sustenance, and contentment therewith. 
 Bless our labours, and the fruits of the earth in their season ; 
 and give us such temperate weather as may tend thereunto. 
 Deliver us and all Thy servants from sickness, want, or other 
 distresses, that would hinder us from Thy service. When we 
 sin, restore us by true repentance and faith in Christ. May we 
 loathe ourselves'for our transgressions ; forgive them all, and 
 accept us in Thy well-beloved Son. Save us from the punish- 
 ment that our sins deserve, and teach us heartily to forgive 
 others. Convert our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and 
 
li PRECES ECCLESIASTIC..E. 
 
 forgive them. Cause us to watcli against temptation, to resist 
 and overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Deliver us 
 and all Thy people from the enmity and rage of Satan ; and 
 preserve us to Thy heavenly Kingdom. 
 
 For Thou only art the Universal King ; all power is Thine in 
 heaven and earth ; of Thee, and through Thee, and to Thee, 
 are all things ; and the glory shall be Thine for ever. Amen. 
 
 Baxter. 
 
 I believe in God, etc. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Lord our God, who hast commanded us to make prayers 
 and supplications for all men, we present ourselves before Thy 
 throne to offer up our requests in behalf of all classes and con- 
 ditions of our race. Thou, Lord, who art the Maker and Father 
 of mankind, we beseecB~Thee for the peace of the whole world, 
 and the salvation of all people. Deliver from their blindness 
 the heathen, Moha mmedans, and all unbelievers ; and vouch- 
 safe according to T*hy promises to procur e the conversion ^f 
 Thine ancient people the Jews : that all nations may know and 
 worship Thee, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. King 
 of kings, Lord of lords, we pray to Thee for all rulers and 
 other persons in offices of dignity and trust. Give the know- 
 ledge of Thyself to such as have it not : and impart Thy grace 
 to them that know Thee, that they may use their authority to 
 the furtherance of Thy glory. Especially we pray for the 
 President of the United States, for our governors, and for all 
 our magistrates. Grant unto them long life and prosperity, 
 good counsel and success. Bless the people of this common- 
 wealth in all their interests, civil and religious. Diffuse among 
 them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of 
 knowledge and the fear of Thy Name : that order and harmony 
 may prevail, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 
 in all godliness and honesty. 
 
 "We present to Thee, Lord, our prayers for the necessities 
 of Thy holy Church, spread abroad throughout the earth. Be 
 pleased to protect, increase, and sanctify it more and more. 
 Deliver the churches that are persecuted. Eemove the errors, 
 scandals, and divisions that distract Christendom, and unite all 
 Christians by the bonds of truth, piety, and peace. Grant 
 especially Thy blessings upon the churches of this land, and 
 the churches in this place : bless the families composing them : 
 cause righteousness, and all holy virtues, to flourish in our 
 midst. 
 
 ^^~~We pray Thee, God, for all the pastors of Thy Church ; 
 sanctify them, illuminate them, and augm ent in them the gifts 
 needful for the promotion of Thy kingdom, and the salvation 
 
ot^. 
 
 ' qJa^ > 
 
 1i/( 0-t^ 15^Xir^l/y^ /^ L>^U^ 1^ U^ <V^ 
 
THE MORXING SERVICE. • 15 
 
 of souls intrusted to their care. Raise up everywhere, and 
 especially among ourselves, faithful, zealous, humble ministers, 
 lovers of truth and of peace. And to this end impart Thv 
 grace and Thy fear unto all that are preparing to serve Thee in 
 the ministry of Thy "Word. 
 
 God of Mercy, have pity upon the nations that are afilicted 
 by war. or any other scoursre ; and upon all persons who are 
 in any kind of suffering. We commend to Thee the widows, 
 the orphans, the poor, the strangers, the friendless ; those that 
 are journeying : those that endure persecution for Thy Gospel : 
 all persons distressed or diseased in mind ; the infirm, the sick, 
 the dying : and especially our brethren who are members of 
 this church [and who desire our prayers]. Assist them all in 
 their several necessities, whether of body or of soul ; and give 
 them a happy issue out of all their troubles. 
 
 Lord, we beseech Thee for all Thy children : for all that 
 seek Thee in sincerity of heart, and labour to promote their 
 own salvation and that of their fellow-men : for all that arc 
 engaged in works of piety, and enterprises for the extension of 
 Thy Kingdom. Confirm those that are weak in the Faith : 
 and to all that are yet in their sins, under condemnation of 
 Thy law, give true repentance and conversioii unto Thee.^ 
 
 Look favourably upon this cornmunity. Grant us always 
 that which may be needful for our sustenance : and enable us 
 to serve Thee "^fith sobriety, thankfulness, and love. Deliver 
 us from our sins ; preserve us from wicked thoughts, from un- 
 belief, hypocrisy, and whatever is opposed to Thy holy wil;. 
 O Merciful God. prevent us ever by Thy grace, and guide us 
 continually by Thy Spirit ; put in our minds right purposes 
 and pure desires, perfect submission to Thy providence, fer- 
 vent love to Thee, and charity that shall incline us to love and 
 edify one another. Detach our hearts from this world of van- 
 ity, and help us to raise them to heaven, where our treasure 
 is. So that li^'ing in watchfulness and prayer, in temperance 
 and holiness, we may pass our days in Thy peace, waiting for 
 the glorious appearing of our Lord : that when He shall come 
 to judge the world, we may stand in Thy presence without 
 shame. 
 
 Give ear, Lord, unto the voice of those who have now 
 offered their prayers unto Thee : reject not the unworthy sup- 
 plications of Thy servants ; but grant us the blessings we have 
 asked, and all other things that are necessary for us. in the 
 name of Jesus Christ our Lord : unto whom, with the Father, 
 and the Holy Ghost, be honour and praise for ever. Amen. 
 
 Xeuchatel LrruKGY. 
 
 Lord I increase our faith. 
 
 1 believe in God, etc. 
 
16 PRECE3 ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 After this prayer, let a hymn be sung before the 
 SERMON. 
 
 At the conclusion of which another hymn, and then one of the following prayers, or to 
 the like effect 
 
 THE CLOSING PRAYER- 
 ThanJcsgivmg. 
 
 Honour and praise be given to Thee, Lord God Almighty, 
 our Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier! for all Thy mercies and lov- 
 ing-kindnesses shewed unto us Thy people. We praise Thee 
 for the goodness that freely chose us to salvation before the 
 world began. We thank Thee for creating us after Thine own 
 image ; for redeeming us when we were lost, with the precious 
 blood of Christ ; for sanctifving us mth Thy Spirit in the rev- 
 elation and knowledge of Thy Word ; for Thy help and suc- 
 cour in our necessities. Thy fatherly comfort in our tribulations ; 
 for saving us in dangers of body and soul, and giving us_ so 
 large a time of repentance. These benefits, O most Merciful 
 Fafher ! we acknowledge to have received of Thine only good- 
 ness ; and so do we implore Thy grace continually to augment 
 our thankfulness toward Thee, kindling our hearts with pure 
 and fervent love. Suffer us not in vain to receive Thy Word ; 
 but graciously assist us always, in heart, word, and deed, to 
 sanctify and worship Thy holy Name. 
 
 And now unto the Father, unto the Son, and unto the Holy 
 Ghost, one God, be ascribed in the Church all honour and glory, 
 might, majesty, and dominion, henceforth and for ever. Amen. 
 
 ELkox. 
 
 II. 
 
 Most Glorious God ! Accept, through Thy beloved Son, our 
 thanksgivings for Thy unspeakable love and goodness. Thou 
 art the Father of Mercies and the God of all Consolation, full 
 of compassion, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. For 
 Thy glory Thou didst create us after Thine image ; and when 
 we forsook Thee, Thou didst not leave us in the hands of death, 
 but didst so love the world as to give Thy Son to be our Sav- 
 iour. We thank Thee for His death, that saveth us from 
 death, and for His life, that opened us the way to life. We 
 thank Thee for the new and better Covenant ; for Thy great 
 and precious promises ; that Thou hast given us eternal life in 
 Christ ; that we have the clear and sure revelation of Thy will 
 in the holv Scriptures ; that Thou bast founded Thy Church 
 upon Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ • himself being the 
 
THE ilORXIXG SERVICE. IJ 
 
 head corner-stone. _ We thank Thee that Thou hast commu- 
 nicated to Thv mmisters the Word of reconcihation ; that by 
 them ihou hast opened our eyes, and turned us from darkne^^ 
 unto hght : that Thou hast adopted us to be Thy sons, and 
 jomt-heirs with Christ, and made us His members, and c^iven 
 us His Spirit. All Thy paths, Lord! are mercy and truth 
 to such as keep Thy coyenant. Oh! continue Thy loyino- 
 kindness unto us, that we may rejoice and be c^lad in Thee all 
 our days Guide us by Thy counsel and afterward receiye us 
 to Thy glory; where, with all the blessed host of heaven we 
 may behold, admire, and perfectly and joyfully praise Thee 
 our most glorious Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctitier, for ever 
 and ever. Amen, 
 
 Baxter. 
 
 ni. 
 
 O Lord our God, we lift up our hearts unto Thee, in grate- 
 ful acknowledgment of all Thy mercies and benefits to us 
 W e praise Thee as the source of all blessings, full of compas- 
 T^ m? goodness unto the children of men. We thank Thee 
 that Thou hast formed us reasonable creatures, capable of 
 knowing and serving Thee. We bless Thee for Thy preserv- 
 ing care over us, and for all our temporal enjoyments Above 
 a 1 we praise Thee, most Merciful Father, for Thv spiritual 
 blessmg^s in Christ Jesus; for the Holy Spirit, and His influ- 
 ences : for the Covenant of Grace, and all the precious pro- 
 mises thereof; for Thy Word, for the Gospel ministry, and all 
 ihme ordinances. For these benefits we bless Thee,' God 
 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; our Creator Ee- 
 deemer, and Sanctifier. And now, Lord, we commit ourselves 
 to Ihee we hope m Thy mercies, and we wait for Thy salva- 
 tion. Accept our worship, and forgive our sins, in the name 
 ot our crucified and exalted Eedeemer, Jesus Chri-^t • unto 
 whom, with the Father, and the Spirit of all Grace, be ascribed 
 glory, honour, dominion, and praise, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 DiEECTOEY Retiset, 1787. 
 IV. 
 
 God ! Thy glory is great in all Thy Churches, and the 
 praises of Thy Kame resound amons the assemblies of Thv 
 saints. We thy servants would humble ourselves before Thee 
 and worship Thine infinite Majesty. We celebrate Thy ^vil 
 dom, power, and goodness, that shine forth in the works of 
 creation and redemption through Jesus Christ our Lord. We 
 bless Thee for all temporal and spiritual good that we contin- 
 ually receive at Thy bountiful hands. But more especially 
 with all Thy people assembled this day, we praise Thee that 
 2 
 
18 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Thou didst send into the world Thv Son to save us: and hav- 
 ino- delivered Him up for our offences, didst raise him again 
 for our justification; and through His glorious resurrection 
 hast given us the blessed hope of everlasting life. Lord ! 
 may these our thanksgivings come up with acceptance before 
 Thy throne. Make us worthy at the last day to have part in 
 the*^ resurrection of the just, and the glory of the kingdom of 
 heaven : whither Jesus the Forerunner hath for us entered ; 
 where now He lives and reigns, and is worshipped and glorified, 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, God blessed for ever. Amen. 
 
 Frexch t Waldexsu^- LrnjBGiEs. 
 
 Benedictw7i. 
 
 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : 
 
 The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious 
 unto thee : 
 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee 
 peace. Amen. 
 
 Or: 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 
 Amen. 
 
THE ilORNIXG SERVICE. 19 
 
 The COMilAXDMENTS, 
 To he read after die Opening Prayer in iJie Morning Service. 
 
 KB.— That the Law of God may be heard by the people with pront, the ministtr 
 should always read tt i;i a spirit of reference and devotion : and ft juay be proper to 
 pau.se arter ^ach precept, to allow the offering up of a silent petition for graciand 
 forgiveness, which the people should be recommended to do. grace ana 
 
 I. 
 
 And God spake all these words, saving. I am the Lord thv 
 G-od, which have brought thee out of the land of Ecrypt out 
 of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other°sods be- 
 fore me. ° 
 
 II- 
 Thou shalt not make unto thee anv graven iraao-e. or anv 
 likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that 'is in the 
 earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou 
 shalt not bow down thvself to them, nor serve them : for I 
 the Lord thv God am a jealous God, %'isiting the iniquitv of 
 the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth venera- 
 tion of them that hate me ; and shewing mere v unto thousands 
 of them that love me, and keep mv commandments. 
 
 III. 
 
 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thv God in vain, 
 for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh ffis name 
 m vain. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Eemember the Sabbath-dav, to keep it holv. Six days shalt 
 thou labour, and do all thv work : but the seventh dav is the 
 Sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any 
 work, thou, nor thy sou, nor thy daughter, thv man-serv- 
 ant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thv stranger that 
 IS withm thy gates : for in six davs the Lord made heaven and 
 earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh 
 day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-dav, and hal- 
 lowed it. 
 
 Honour thy father and thy mother : that thv davs may be 
 long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 
 
20 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Thou shalt not kill. 
 
 VII. 
 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thou shalt not steal. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 
 
 X. 
 
 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not 
 covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid- 
 servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy 
 neighbour's. 
 
 Response. 
 
 Which may he suiig hy the choir and congregation. 
 
 1 Kings vin., 57, 58 
 
 The Lord our God be with us : let Him not leave us nor for- 
 sake us : that He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in 
 all His ways, and to keep His commandments. 
 
 Or, Hebrews vin., 10. 12. 
 
 Lord, put Thy laws into our mind, and write them in our 
 hearts : be merciful to our unrighteousness, and our iniquities 
 remember no more. 
 
THE MORNING SERVICE. 21 
 
 The Beatitudes, 
 To he sometimes read in place of the Commandments. 
 
 K B. — It is proper that each of the^e Beatitudes befolhioed by the congregation with 
 a silent petition for grace to inherit the bkssing. 
 
 I. 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ bath said, Blessed are the poor iu 
 spirit : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 II. 
 Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted. 
 
 Ill, 
 Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. 
 
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteous- 
 ness : for they shall be filled. 
 
 V. 
 
 Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. 
 
 VI. 
 Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Blessed are the peace-makers : for they shall be called the 
 children of God. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' 
 sake : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 Iiesjwnse, 
 
 Which may be sung by the choir and congregation. 
 
 Psalm lxvii., 1. 
 
 God be merciful unto us, and bless us ; and cause His face 
 to shine upon us. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 Evening of the Lord's Day. 
 
 Or, on an Evening in the Week. 
 
 [TJie Presbyterian Formularies of Worship impose no special order for the second 
 service on the Lord^s Day. The original practice of those Divines who framed them 
 was to devote that service to the catechetical instruction of the young : a practice en- 
 tirely consonant with the importance always attached by the Church to that duty. 
 Hence the Minister was left to entire freedom of selection or composition for the after- 
 noon service of the Lord's Day : as well a? for whatever occasional services might be 
 celebrated upon week-days. The following forms were given for voluntary lise.] 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 To this may he added one of these sentences : 
 
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, 
 be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord, my Strength and my Ee- 
 deemer. 
 
 send out Thy light and Thy truth : let them lead me ; 
 let them_ bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles : 
 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding 
 
 joy- 
 
 1 will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh 
 my help : my help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven 
 and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : He that 
 keepeth thee will not slumber : behold. He that keepeth Israel 
 shall neither slumber nor sleep. 
 
THE EVENING SERVICE. 23 
 
 Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, Thou that dwellest in the 
 heavens ! Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand 
 of their masters, and as the €3^68 of a maiden i;nto the hand of 
 her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until 
 that He have mercy upon us. 
 
 Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to ap- 
 proach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts : we shall 
 be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy 
 holy temple. 
 
 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, 
 which by night stand in the house of the Lord : lift up your 
 hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord,' that 
 made heaven and earth, bless thee out of Zion. 
 
 ThenfoUoios the singing of a Psalm or Hxmn of Praise or Thanksgiving. 
 
 Next the ReadesG of Sceiptuke o^it of the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 After wJiichtheGEyrEUAL Prayee, which may le' extemporaneous,' or else selected from 
 the foliowing forms. 
 
 Almighty God, Most Merciful Father ! We do not present 
 ourselves before Thy Majesty trusting in our own merits or 
 worthiness, but in Thy manifold mercies. Thou hast promised 
 to hear our prayers and to grant our requests, in the Name of 
 Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord : Who also hath com- 
 manded us to assemble in His Name, with full assurance that 
 He will be with us, and, as our Mediator and Advocate, obtain 
 all things expedient for our good. Therefore we beseech Thee, 
 Most Merciful Father ! turn Thy loving countenance toward 
 us; impute not unto us our manifold offences, whereby we 
 justly deserve Thy wrath ; but rather receive us to Thy mercy 
 for Jesus Christ's sake. Accept His death and passion for all 
 our trespasses. In Him alone Thou art well-pleased; and 
 through Him Thou canst not be offended with us. And hav- 
 ing of Thy compassion chosen us to be heirs with Him of that 
 immortal Kingdom prepared for us before the foundation of the 
 world : We beseech Thee to increase our faith and knowledge, 
 and to lighten our hearts with Thine Holy Spirit ; that we 
 may live in godly conversation, and integrity of life. 
 
 And because Thou hast bidden us pray for one another, we 
 make request, Lord! not only for ourselves, and others whom 
 Thou hast called to the apprehension of Thy will, but for all 
 people and nations of the world. As they know by Thy won- 
 derful works that Thou art God over all, so by Thy Holy 
 Spirit may they learn to believe in Christ, their only Saviour and 
 
24 PRECE3 ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Redeemer. But since thej can not believe except they hear, 
 nor hear but by preaching, and none can preach except they 
 be sent : Raise up, O Lord ! faithful distributors of Thy Mys- 
 teries, who, setting aside all worldly considerations, may both 
 in their life and in their doctrine seek only Thy glory. Main- 
 tain Thy cause against all opposition ; and strengthen all Thy 
 servants: let not our sins and wickedness prove a hindrance to 
 the spread of Thy Truth : but speedily, Lord ! regard the 
 afflictions of Thy" Church ; and make haste to save us. Arise, 
 Lord ! and let Thine enemies be ashamed ; let them flee 
 from Thy presence that hate Thy holy Name ; let the groans of 
 the prisoners come up before Thee ; and preserve by Thy power 
 such as are appointed to die. Let not Thine enemies tri- 
 umph to the end : but let them understand that against Thee 
 they fight ; behold and defend the vine that Thy right hand 
 hath planted ; and let all nations see the glory of Thine 
 Anointed, Let Thy mighty hand and outstretched arm be ever 
 our defence ; Thy mercy and loving-kindness in Christ our 
 salvation ; Thy true ancl holy Word our instruction ; Thy 
 grace and Holy Spirit our consolation, unto the end. Grant 
 these our requests, O Father ! and all other things needful for 
 us and Thy whole Church; according to Thy promise in 
 Jesus Christ our Lord : In whose Xame we beseech Thee as He 
 hath taught us, saying : Our Father, etc. Ejjox. 
 
 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father ! We invoke Thy 
 Name, and beseech Thee to turn away Thy face from our man- 
 ifold sins and transgressions, whereby we have not ceased to 
 draw Thine anger upon us. And because we are most un- 
 worthy to appear before Thy sovereign Majesty, be pleased to 
 regard us only in Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ ; accept- 
 ing the merits of his death in satisfaction for all our offences, 
 that by His atonement we may become well-pleasing in Thy 
 sight. Pour upon us Thy Holy Spirit, illuminating our 
 minds in the true understanding of Thy Word ; and bestow 
 upon us grace, that receiving Thy Truth into our hearts with 
 humility and fear, we may be led to put all our trust in Thee 
 only, and live in Thy service and worship, to the glory of Thy 
 liol'y Name. These benefits we ask, not only for ourselves, but 
 also for all people and nations on the earth. Bring back, 
 Lord, into the right way of salvation, all poor captives of 
 Ignorance and false doctrine. Raise up true and faithful min- 
 isters of the Word, who shall seek not their own ease and am- 
 bition, but the exaltation of Thy Name and the safety of Thy 
 flock. Remove and destrov all sects, heresies, and errors, 
 
THE EVENING SERVICE. 25 
 
 which are the nurseries of strife and dissension in Thj Chnrcli • 
 and may all Thy peoi)le be of one mind, and live in'brotherly 
 union. Eule Thou and govern with Thy Spirit all kin^rs, 
 prmces, and magistrates, who hold the administration of tlie 
 sword ; that their dominion be exercised not in avarice, cruel- 
 ty, and oppression, or any other evil and inordinate afll>ction, 
 but m all justice and uprightness. May we also, living under 
 them, pay them due lionour and reverence, and lead quiet and 
 peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty. Comfort all dis- 
 tressed and afflicted persons, Avhom Thou dost visit with any 
 kind of cross or tribulation ; the nations whom Thou dost 
 chasten with war, pestilence, famine, or any other plague- 
 and all men Avhom Thou dost afflict with poverty, imprfson- 
 ment, sickness, banishment, or any other distress of body or 
 infirmity of mind. Give them firm patience under their trials 
 and speedily bring them out of their afflictions. Confirm and 
 strengthen all Thy faithful children, who in any place are suf- 
 fering persecution for the testimony of Thy heavenly Truth. 
 Give them stedfast constancy; console them; suffer not the 
 rage of rapacious wolves to prevail against them ; but enable 
 them to glorify Thy Name, as well in life as in death. Pre- 
 serve and defend all Thy Churches which at this day are labour- 
 ing and fighting for the testimony of Thv blessed Name. Defeat 
 and overturn all the counsels of their enemies, their machina- 
 tions and devices. So may Thy glory be revealed, and the 
 Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ more and more increased 
 and promoted. All this we ask of Thee, as our Soverei'rn 
 Lord and Master hath taught us to pray : Our Father, etc.*^ 
 
 Calvin. 
 III. 
 {Paraphrase^ upon the Lord's Prayer.) 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven ! We draw near to Thee 
 with assured confidence through Thy beloved Son ; earnestly 
 beseeching that Thy great and holy Name be glorified in every 
 place. Extend Thy dominion over all the earth : leading Thy 
 people by the sceptre of Thy Word, and the power of Thy 
 Spirit : and confounding all Thine enemies by the might of 
 Thy justice and Thy truth. Be pleased to rule over and con- 
 duct us ; that we may daily learn more and more to submit 
 ourselves to Thy Majesty, as our Govfernor and King. Destroy 
 every power and principality opposed to Thy glorv, until 
 Thy Kingdom be perfectly established, and Thou "appear 
 for judgment in the person of Thy Son. Great God ! make 
 us able and willing to render Thee true and perfect obedience 
 on earth, as do Thy heavenly augels, that seek only to exe- 
 
26 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 cute Thy commands. Thus may Thy will without coutradic- 
 tion be fulfilled ; and all men submit to Thee, renouncing their 
 own purposes, and all the affections of the flesh. 
 
 Grant also, good Lord ! that we, walking in the fear and love 
 of Thy holy Name, may through Thy goodness be nourished 
 day by day ; and receive at Thy hands all things expedient 
 and necessary for us, that we may use Thy gifts in quietness 
 and peace. And observing Thy care of us, may we better 
 acknowledge Thee to be our Father, expect all benefits at Thy 
 hands only ; and withdrawing our confidence from creatures, 
 place it wholly in Thy favour and Thy love. 
 
 And because in this mortal life we are so feeble, so sinful, so 
 prone to wander from the right wa}^ and do so continually 
 come short of our duty : "We beseech Thee, Lord ! forgive our 
 faults, by which we have deserved Thy chastisement ; deliver us 
 from that everlasting death unto which we are justly exposed ; 
 impute not unto us the evil that dwells within us ; and even 
 so may we, according to Thy command, forgive the trespasses 
 of others against us, and do good unto our enemies, rather 
 than seek their hurt. 
 
 Finally, Lord ! be pleased to uphold us henceforth by 
 Thy power, lest we fall through the weakness of the flesh. 
 And since of ourselves we are frail, and beset with foes, 
 the world, the flesh, and the devil, that cease not to war 
 against us : Be pleased to fortify us with Thy Spirit, and arm 
 us with Thy grace ; may we withstand all manner of tempt- 
 ation, and gain full victory in our spiritual warfare ; so that 
 at last we may triumph eternally in Thy Kingdom, with our 
 Sovereign Head and Captain Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen. 
 
 Caltc.-. 
 
 God the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon us. 
 
 O God the Son, Eedeemer of the world, have mercy 
 upon us. 
 
 O God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us. 
 
 Be merciful unto us and spare us, Lord. 
 
 Be merciful unto us and deliver us, Lord. 
 
 From all sin, from all error, from all evil, from the wiles of 
 the devil, deliver us, Lord. 
 
 From dying suddenly and unprepared ; from pestilence and 
 famine, from war and slaughter, from sedition and conspiracy, 
 from lightning and tempest, from everlasting death, deliver us, 
 Lord. 
 
 By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, by Thy holy Na- 
 tivity, by Thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptations, deliver us, 
 Lord. 
 
THE MOniTUr G SERVICE. 27 
 
 By Thine Agony and bloody Sweat, by Thy Cross and Pas- 
 sion, by Thy Death and Burial," by Thy Resurrection and Ascen- 
 sion, by the coming of the Holy'Ghost the Comforter : deliver 
 us, Lord. 
 
 In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our felicity, in 
 the hour of death, in the day of judgment : deliver us, O Lord. 
 
 We sinners beseech Thee to hear us. 
 
 That it may please Thee to rule and govern Thy holy Church 
 Universal. 
 
 That it may please Thee to preserve in soundness of word 
 and holiness of life, all pastors and ministers of Thy Church. 
 
 That it may please Thee to remove all sects and scandals. 
 
 That it may please Thee to bring back into the way of truth 
 all such as wander and have been led astray. 
 
 That it may please Thee to ijrush Satan under our feet. 
 
 That it may please Thee to send forth faithful labourers into 
 Thy harvest. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant the increase of Thy Word 
 and the fruit of Thy Spirit unto all that hear. 
 
 That it may please Thee to raise the fallen, and strengthen 
 those that stand. 
 
 That it may please Thee to console the weak-hearted, and 
 succour the tempted. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give peace and concord unto all 
 rulers and governors. 
 
 _ That it may please Thee to guide and protect our chief ma- 
 gistrate with all his couQCJllors. 
 
 That it may please Thee to bless and preserve our people, 
 and all in authority among us. 
 
 That it may please Thee to look upon the afflicted, and those 
 that are in danger ; and to comfort them. 
 
 That it may please Thee to succour all women in the perils 
 of child-birth. 
 
 That it may please Thee to cherish and protect young child- 
 ren, and sick persons. 
 
 Th^itjnay please Thee to defend and suitably provide for 
 th^orphans and widows. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant freedom unto captives. 
 
 That it may please Thee to have mercy upon all men. 
 
 That it may please Thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, 
 and slanderers, and to convert them. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give and preserve the fruits of 
 the earth. 
 
 That it may please Thee to grant all these our requests. 
 
 We beseech Thee to hear us. 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have 
 mercy upon us. 
 
28 PRECES ECCLESIASTIC.^E, 
 
 Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant 
 us peace. 
 
 Lord, deal not with us according to our sins, neither reward 
 us according to our iniquities. 
 
 O God, Merciful Father, who despisest not the groans of the 
 contrite, nor rcjcctest the desire of the sorrowful : Be favoura- 
 ble to our prayers,, which, in our afflictions that continually op- 
 press us, we pour out before Thee ; and graciously hear them ; 
 that those things which the craft of the devil or of man worketh 
 against us, may be brought to nought, and by the counsel of 
 Thy goodness be scattered ; that being hurt by no persecutions, 
 we may ever give thanks unto Thee in Thy hol}^ Church : 
 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and 
 all just works proceed: Give unto Thy servants that peace 
 which the world can not give ; that both our hearts may be 
 set to obey Th}- commandments, and also that we, being de- 
 fended from the fear of our enemies, may by Thy protection 
 pass our time in rest and quietness : Through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. BucEE. 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 After this Prayer a Hymn shall be sung before the 
 
 Sermon. 
 
 Aft^r which another Hymn ; and then the 
 
 Closing Prayer. 
 I. 
 
 "We most humbly beseech Thee, O Father of Mercy, for 
 Jesus Christ Thy Son's sake, that as Thou hast caused the 
 light of Thy Word clearly to shine among us, and hast plainly 
 instructed us by the external Ministry in the right way of sal- 
 vation : So it may please Thee inwardly to move our dull 
 hearts; and by the power of Thy Holy 'Spirit to write and 
 seal in them that holy fear and reverence which Thou requirest 
 of Thy chosen. Grant us faithful obedience to Thy holy 
 will, together with the sense that our sins are fully purged and 
 freely remitted, by that One Sacrifice which alone is accepta- 
 ble to Thee ; the obedience, death, and mediation of Thy Son 
 
THE EVEXIXG SERVICE. 
 
 our sovereign Lord, our on] v Shepherd and High Priest, Jesus 
 Christ ; to Whom with Thee and with the Rolj Ghost, be all 
 honour and glorj, world without end. Amen. Kxox. 
 
 Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee that the good seed 
 of Thy "Word, now sown among us, may take such deep root, 
 that neither the burning heat of afiliction shall cause it to wither, 
 nor the cares of this world shall choke it ; but that as seed 
 sown in good ground, it may bring forth fruit to Thy praise. 
 And because for our infirmity we can do nothing without Thy 
 help, and Thou knowest how many and sore temptations sur- 
 round us : Let Thy strength, O Lord, sustain our weakness ; 
 let Thy grace defend us from all assaults of evil ; increase our 
 faith, that we may never swerve from Thy commandment; 
 augment in us hope and love ; and may no hardness of heart, 
 no hypocrisy, no lusts of the flesh, no enticements of the world, 
 draw our hearts away from Thine obedience. Grant this, 
 Father, we beseech Thee, for the sake of our Advocate and 
 Eedeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. kxox 
 
 III. 
 
 God, who dost instruct us by Thy Holy Scriptures, we 
 beseech Thee by Thy grace to enlighten our nainds and cleanse 
 our hearts ; that having read, heard, and meditated ujion them, 
 we may rightly understand and heartily embrace the things 
 Thou hast revealed therein. Give efficacy to the preaching 
 of the Gospel, that through the operation of the Holy Ghost, 
 this holy seed may be received into our hearts as into good 
 ground ; and that we may not only hear Thy Word but keep 
 it, living in conformity with Thy precepts ; so that we finally 
 attain everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. Wau)exsl\>,- Litukgt. 
 
 IV. 
 
 O Heavenly Father ! Thy Word is perfect, converting the 
 
 soul ; a sure testimon}-, making wise the simple ; enlightening 
 the eyes of the blind ; and a powerful mean of salvation for 
 all them that believe. Help us, Thine unworthy servants, 
 whether we teach, or whether we be taught, to learn of Thee. 
 We are blind by nature, wholy incapable of doing any good ; 
 and Thou wilt Kelp none but them that are of a broken and 
 contrite heart. We beseech Thee to enlighten our understand- 
 ing with Thy Holy Spirit, and give us a meek heart, free from 
 all haughtiness and carnal knowledge ; that we, hearing Thy 
 
30 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Word, may rightly understand it, and rule our lives accord- 
 ingly. Be graciously pleased to convert all those who still 
 stray from Thy truth ; that we, together with them, may unan- 
 imously serve Thee in holiness and righteousness all the days 
 of our life. "We ask all things for the sake of Jesus Christ 
 our Lord : To Whom with Thee and" the Holy Ghost, be all 
 honour and praise evermore. Amen. 
 
 Retormeb Dxjtch Litukgt. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 
 Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 MANNER OF CELEBRATING 
 
 THE 
 
 Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The sen-ice may be introduced by the singing of a Sacramental Eymn, foUoxced by 
 these prayers. 
 
 The Lordh Prayer. 
 
 Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. 
 Thv kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, q.s it is in 
 heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive ns 
 our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Most Gracious God ! whose well-beloved Son hath once offered 
 up His body and blood upon the Cross for the remission of our 
 sins, and doth vouchsafe them for our meat and drink unto 
 life eternal : Grant us grace, with sincere hearts and fervent 
 desires, to accept this great blessing at Thy hands. Mav we 
 by lively faith partake of His body and blood, yea, of Him- 
 self, true God and man, that only bread from "heaven, that 
 giveth life unto our souls. Suffer us no more to live unto 
 ourselves, according to a corrupt and sinful nature : but may 
 He live in us, and lead us to the life that is holy, blessed, and 
 unchangeable for ever. Thus may we be partakers of the new 
 and everlasting Testament, which is the Covenant of grace. 
 And thus assure us of Thy willingness ever to be our gracious 
 
32 PKECES ECCLESIASTICJE. 
 
 Father ; not imputing to us our sins, but as Thy beloved heirs 
 and children, providing us ^Yith all things needful for our good, 
 that both by our works and words we may magnify Thy 
 Name. Fit us, heavenly Father ! at this time so to cele- 
 brate the blessed remembrance of Thj^ beloved Son. Enable 
 us profitably to contemplate His love, and shew forth the ben- 
 fits of His death ; That receiving fresh increase of strength in 
 Thy faith and in all good works, we may with more confidence 
 call Thee our Father, and evermore rejoice in Thee: Through 
 Jesus Christ our Eedeemer. Amen. 
 
 Let us now make profession of our faith in the doctrine of 
 the Christian religion, wherein we do all purpose, by the grace 
 of God, to live and to die. 
 
 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 again 
 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. 
 
 Then follows the Exhortation ; prefaced with the words of the institution, from 1 Cor- 
 inthians, XL 23-30. 
 
 Uxhortation. 
 
 Attend to the words of the institution of the Holy Supper 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they are delivered by the Apostle 
 Paul. 
 
 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered 
 unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He 
 was betrayed, took bread : and when He had given thanks. He 
 brake it, and said. Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken 
 for you : this do in remembrance of me. After the same man- 
 ner also, He took the cup, when He had supped, saying. This 
 cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye 
 drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this 
 bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He 
 come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink 
 this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body 
 and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and 
 
SACRAMENT OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. 33 
 
 go let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he 
 that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
 damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 
 
 We have heard, brethren, in what manner our Lord cele- 
 brated the Supper among His disciples ; whence we see that 
 those who are not of the company of the faithful, may not 
 approach it. Wherefore, in obedience to this rule, in the 
 Name and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I warn 
 all idolaters, blasphemers, despisers of God, heretics, all that 
 are rebellious against fathers and mothers, all that are seditious, 
 contentious, injurious, and all that lead corrupt and wicked 
 lives : that they abstain from this Table, lest they pollute the 
 sacred food which our Lord giveth only to His faithful serv- 
 ants. Let each of you then, according to St, Paul's exhorta- 
 tion, examine and prove his own conscience, to know whether 
 he have true repentance, and sorrow for his sins ; whether he 
 desires henceforth to lead a holy and godly life; above all 
 things, whether he puts his whole trust in God's mercy, and 
 seeks his whole salvation in Jesus Christ; and renouncing all 
 enmity and malice, doth truly and honestly purpose to live in 
 harmony and brotherly love with his neighbour. 
 
 If we have this testimony in our hearts before God, we may 
 not doubt that He adopts us for His children, and that our 
 Lord Jesus addresseth to us His word, admitting us to His 
 Table, and presenting us with this holy Sacrament, which He 
 bestows upon His followers. And notwithstanding that we feel 
 many infirmities and miseries in ourselves, as namely, that we 
 have not perfect faith, and that we have not given ourselves to 
 serve God with such zeal as we are bound to do, but have 
 daily to battle with the lusts of our flesh : Yet since the Lord 
 hath been graciously pleased to print His Gospel upon our 
 hearts, and hath enabled us to withstand all unbelief; and hath 
 given us this earnest desire to renounce our own thoughts 
 and follow His righteousness and His holy commandments: 
 Therefore we rest assured, that remaining sins and imperfec- 
 tions do not prevent us from being received of God, and made 
 worthy partakers of this spiritual food. For we come not 
 to this Supper to testify hereby that we are perfect and right- 
 eous in ourselves: but on the contrary, seeking our life in 
 Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that we lie in the midst of death. 
 Let us then look upon this Sacrament as a medicine for those 
 who are spiritually sick ; and consider that all the worthiness 
 our Lord requires, is that we truly know ourselves, be sorry 
 for our sins, and find our pleasure, joy, and satisfaction in Him 
 above. 
 First, then, we must believe these promises that Jesus Christ, 
 3 
 
84 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 who is Infallible Truth, hath pronounced with His own lips : 
 That He is truly willing to make us partakers of His body and 
 of His blood, in order that we may wholly possess Him, that 
 He may live in us, and we in Him. And although we see 
 here only the Bread and Wine, let us not doubt that He will 
 accomplish spiritually in our souls all that He outwardly ex- 
 hibits by these visible signs : He will shew Himself to be the 
 heavenly Bread, to feed and nourish us unto life eternal. Let 
 us not be unthankful to the infinite goodness of our Lord, who 
 displays all His riches at this Table, to distribute them among 
 us. For in giving Himself to us. He testifies that all He hath 
 is ours. Also let us receive this Sacrament as a pledge, that 
 the virtue of His death and passion is imputed unto us for 
 righteousness ; even as though we had suffered in our own 
 persons. Let no man perversely draw back, when Jesus doth 
 gently invite him by His Word. But considering the dignity 
 of His precious gift, let us present ourselves to Him with an 
 ardent zeal, that He may make us capable of receiving it. 
 
 And now to this end lift up your minds and hearts on high, 
 where Christ abideth in the glory of His Father, whence we 
 expect His coming at our redemption. Dwell not on these 
 earthly and corruptible elements, which we see present to our 
 eyes, and feel with our hands, to seek Him in them, as though 
 He were inclosed in the bread or in the wine. Be satisfied to 
 have this bread and this wine for witnesses and signs ; seeking 
 spiritually the truth where God's Word hath promised that we 
 shall find it. For then only shall our souls be disposed to re- 
 ceive food and life from His substance, when they shall thus be 
 lifted above all worldly things, even unto heaven, and enter 
 into the kingdom of God, where He dwells. 
 
 The Consecrating Prayer. 
 
 Lord God ! The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thou 
 that art infinite goodness and perfect love ! We bring Thee 
 the sacrifice of our praise and the offering up of our thanks, 
 for Thine inestimable gift in sending Thy Son into the world ; 
 for delivering Him up to die for us all ; and for inviting us to par- 
 ticipate in the fruits of His atonement, at the Table of this holy 
 feast. Lord ! what are we, to receive such priceless benefits at 
 Thy hand ? or how shall we worthily shew forth our gratitude 
 to Thee ? The heavens and the earth, Lord ! are full of the 
 tokens of Thy bounty : but especially dost Thou manifest Thy 
 love, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ac- 
 cept, Lord our God ! the homage of Thine adoring people. 
 And grant that we, partaking of this holy Sacrament, to which 
 we are welcomed by Thy grace, may now join ourselves by the 
 
SACRAirE^T OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 35 
 
 bonds of living faith and true holiness to our Saviour : so that 
 we shall not henceforth live unto ourselves, but that He may 
 live in us, to lead us to that blessed life that shall have no 
 end. 
 
 Father of Mercies ! who didst not spare Thine only-begotten 
 Son, but deliveredst Him to death for us all ; and hast brought 
 us into His fellowship that we may obtain everlasting life : We 
 Thy servants, with a lively sense of Thy precious gift, do now 
 consecrate ourselves entirely unto Thee. We present to Thee 
 our bodies, and our souls, in a living/ and holy sacrifice. And 
 since Thou hast loved us so much, we acknowledge ourselves 
 constrained to love one another. Impress our hearts, O God I 
 with these holy inclinations : that so celebrating the remem- 
 brance of Thy dear bon, our faith may grow strong, our char- 
 ity increase, our sanctification advance and be made complete, 
 until we be meet for the inheritance of Thy saints in light 
 everlasting. Hear us, Father of Mercies ! we ask all in the 
 Name of Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord : unto 
 Whom, as unto Thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God, be hon- 
 our, praise, and glory, now, henceforth, and for ever. Amen. 
 
 Tlien the Minister is to take the Bread and break it, in the view of the people, saying : 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, having taken bread, and blessed and broken it, gave 
 it to His disciples ; as I, ministering in His Name, give this 
 bread unto you : saying, \_here the bread is to be distributed,'] Take, 
 eat : this is My body, which is broken for you : this do in 
 remembrance of Me. 
 
 After having given the Bread, he shaU take the Cup, and say : i 
 
 After the same manner our Sa\dour also took the cup ; and 
 having given thanks, as hath been done in His Name, He gave 
 it to the disciples ; saying, [Aere the cup is to be given,] This cup 
 is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for many, for 
 the remission of sins : drink ye all of it. For as often as ye 
 eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death 
 till He come. 
 
 The Minister himself is to communicate, at such tima as may appear to him most con- 
 venietU. 
 
 Then let an eucharistic hymn be sung. 
 
 The collection for the poor may be made after this. 
 
 Then the Minister w to pray, and give thanks to God. 
 
36 PEECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 Heavenly Father I we give Thee immortal praise and thanks 
 that upon us poor sinners Thou hast conferred so rich a bene- 
 fit, as to bring us into the communion of Thy Son Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Him having delivered up to death for us, Thou 
 hast given for our food and nourishment unto eternal life. 
 Now also grant us grace, that we may never be unmindful of 
 these things ; but carrying them about engraven on our hearts, 
 may we advance and grow in that faith which is effectual unto 
 every good work. Thus may the rest of our lives be ordered 
 and followed out to Thy glory and the good of our fellow- 
 men : Through Jesus Christ our Lord : Who with Thee, 
 Father ! and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth in the unity 
 of the Godhead, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the 
 blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every 
 good work to do His will, working in you that which is well- 
 pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ ; to "Whom be glory 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 [From Calvin, with the exception/! of the Consecrating Prayer from 
 the Liturgy of Greneva ; and the' Manner of setting apart the Ele- 
 ments, from the Directory of Worship.] 
 
 IL 
 
 The service may begin with the singing of a hymn, followed Jy the Lord's Prayer, 
 Invocation, and Creed, as in the first Form. 
 
 Exhortation. 
 
 Let us mark, dear brethren, how Jesus Christ did ordain 
 unto us His Holy Supper, according as St. Paul maketh re- 
 hearsal in the eleventh chapter of the First Epistle to the Co- 
 rinthians, saying : 
 
 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered 
 unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He 
 was betrayed, took bread : and when He had given thanks, He 
 brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is broken 
 for you : this do in remembrance of me. After the same man- 
 ner also, He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This 
 cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as 
 ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER, 37 
 
 this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till 
 He come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink 
 this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body 
 and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and 
 so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he 
 that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
 damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 
 
 Dearly beloved in the Lord, forasmuch as we are now assem- 
 bled to celebrate the holy Communion of the body and blood 
 of our Saviour Christ, let us consider these words of St. Paul, 
 how he exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine 
 themselves, before they presume to eat of that bread, and to 
 drink of that cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true 
 penitent heart and lively faith we receive that laoly sacrament, 
 for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and drink His 
 blood: then we dwell in Christ, and Christ in us ; we be one 
 with Christ, and Christ with us : — So is the danger great if we 
 receive the same unworthily ; for then we be guilty of the body 
 and blood of Christ our Saviour ; we eat and drink our own 
 condemnation, not discerning the Lord's body; we kindle 
 God's wrath against us, and provoke His punishment upon us. 
 And therefore, in the Name and by the authority of the 
 Eternal God, and of His Son Jesus Christ, I separate from this 
 Table all blasphemers of God, all idolaters, all that be in malice 
 or envy, all persons disobedient to father or mother, and finally 
 all such as live a life directly fightijig against the will of God : 
 charging them, as they will answer in the presence of Him who 
 is the righteous Judge, that they presume not to profane this 
 most holy Table. 
 
 And yet this I pronounce not to exclude any penitent per- 
 son, how grievous soever his sins before have been, so that he 
 feel in his heart unfeigned repentance for the same : but only 
 such as continue in sin without repentance. Neither yet is 
 this pronounced against such as aspire to a greater perfection 
 than they can in this present life attain. For albeit we feel in 
 ourselves much frailty and wretchedness, so that we have not 
 faith so perfect and constant as we ought, being many times 
 ready to distrust God's goodness, through our corrupt nature ; 
 and also that we are not so thoroughly given to serve God, nei- 
 ther have so fervent a zeal to set forth His glory as our duty re- 
 quireth ; feeling still such rebellion in ourselves, that we have 
 need daily to fight against the lusts of our flesh : — Yet never- 
 theless seeing that our Lord hath dealt thus mercifully with us, 
 that He hath printed His Gospel in our hearts, so that we are 
 preserved from falling into despair and unbelief; and seeing 
 that He hath endued us with a will and desire to renounce and 
 
38 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 withstand our own affections, with a longing for His righteous- 
 ness and the keeping of His commandments : We may be now 
 right well assured, that these failures and manifold imperfections 
 shall be no such hindrance against us, as that He should not 
 accept us, and count us worthy to come to His spiritual Table. 
 For the end of our coming is not to protest that we are just 
 and upright in our lives ; but contrariwise, we come to seek our 
 life and perfection in Jesus Christ ; acknowledging in the mean- 
 time that we of ourselves are children of wrath and condem- 
 nation. 
 
 Let us then consider this Sacrament as a precious medicine 
 for all poor sick creatures, a comfortable help to weak souls ; 
 and that our Lord requireth no other worthiness on our part, ' 
 than this : that we unfeignedly acknowledge our sinfulness and 
 imperfection. Then to the end that we may be worthy par- 
 takers of His merits and most comfortable benefits, which is 
 the true eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood, let us 
 not suffer our minds to wander about the consideration of these 
 earthly and corruptible things, which we see present to our 
 eyes and feel with our hands ; to seek Christ bodily present in 
 them, as if He were enclosed in the bread and wine, or as if 
 these elements were turned and changed into the substance of 
 His flesh and blood. But as the only way to dispose our 
 souls to receive nourishment, relief, and quickening of His 
 substance, let us lift up our minds by faith above all things 
 worldly and sensible, and thereby enter into heaven, that we 
 may find and receive Christ where He dwelleth undoubtedly, 
 very God and very man, in the incomprehensible glory of His 
 Father : to Whom be all praise, honour, and glory, now and 
 ever. ,Ameij. 
 
 The Consecrating Prayer. 
 
 O Father of Mercy, and God of iv'i consolation ! Thou 
 whom all creatures acknowledge and confess as Governor and 
 Lord : It becomes us, the workmanship of Thine hands, at all 
 times to reverence and magnify Thy holy Majesty ; For that 
 Thou hast created us in Thine image ; but chiefly that Thou 
 hast delivered us from everlasting death and condemnation, 
 whereunto we were drawn by means of sin : from the bondage 
 whereof neither man nor angel was able to make us free. And 
 we do praise Thee, Lord 1 that rich in mercy and infinite in 
 goodness, Thou hast provided our redemption to stand in Thine 
 only and well-beloved Son : Whom of very love Thou didst 
 give to be made man like unto us in all things, sin excepted ; 
 in His body to receive the punishment of our transgression ; 
 by His death to make satisfaction to Thy justice ; and through 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD"s SUPPER. 89 
 
 His resurrection to destroy him that was the author of death, 
 and so to bring again hfe to the world, from which the whole 
 offspring of Adam most justly was exiled, 
 
 Lord ! we acknowledge that no creature is able to compre- 
 hend the length and breadth, the depth and height, of that 
 Thy most excellent love ; which moved Thee to shew mercy 
 where none was deserved; to promise and give life where 
 death had gotten the victory: to receive us again in Thy 
 favour, when we could do nothing but rebel against Thv law. 
 Lord ! the blind dulness of our corrupt nature will not suf- 
 fer us sufficiently to weigh these Thy most ample benefits. 
 Yet nevertheless, at the command of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 we present ourselves at this His Table, which He hath left to 
 be used in remembrance of His death, until His coming again: 
 to dedicate ourselves unto His service, renewing our vows, 
 and engaging henceforth to obey His will ; to declare and wit- 
 ness before the world, that by Him alone Thou dost acknow- 
 ledge us Thy children ; that by Him alone we have access to 
 Thy throne of grace ; that by Him alone we are brought into 
 His spiritual Kingdom, to eat and drink at His Table ; with 
 whom we have our conversation even now in heaven ; and by 
 whom our bodies shall be raised up again from the dust, and 
 shall be placed with Him in that endless jov, which Thou. 
 Father of Mercy 1 hadst prepared for Thine elect before the 
 foundation of the world was laid. And these most inestima- 
 ble benefits, we acknowledge to have received of Thv free 
 mercy and grace, by Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Chri'st our 
 Lord : for the which therefore we Thy congregation, moved by 
 Thine Holy Spirit, render all thanks,'praise, and glory, for ever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 Thtn the Minister is to take the Bread, and break it, in the view of the people, saying : 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, having taken bread, and blessed and broken it, gave 
 it to His disciples ; as I, ministering in His Name, give this 
 bread unto you : saying, J^]i£iUhehr^ isiabe^distrihutecL] Take, 
 eat ; this is My body, which is broken for you : this do in re- 
 membrance of Me. 
 
 After having given the Bread, he shall take the Cup, and say: 
 
 After the same manner our Saviour also took the cup ; and 
 having given thanks, as hath been done in His Name, He gave 
 it to the disciples ; saying. {Jiere the cup is io be given,'] This cup 
 is the new testament in My ^lood, which is shed for many, for 
 the remission of sins : drink ye all of it. For as often as ye 
 
40 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death 
 till He come. 
 
 The Minister himself i$ to communicate, at such time as may appear to him most con- 
 venient. 
 
 Then let an eucharistic hymn be sung. 
 
 The collection for the poor may be made after this. 
 
 Then the Minister is to pray, and give thanks to God. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 Most Merciful Father ! we render Thee all praise, thanks, 
 and glory, for that it hath pleased Thee, of Thy great mercies, 
 to grant us miserable sinners so excellent a gift, as to receive 
 us into the fellowship and company of Thy dear Son Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ; whom Thou hast delivered to death for us, 
 and given as our needful food and nourishment unto everlast- 
 ing life. And now we beseech Thee also. Heavenly Father ! 
 to grant our prayer, that Thou wilt never suffer us to forget 
 these worthy benefits; but rather imprint and fasten them 
 surely in our hearts, that we may grow and increase daily more 
 and more in that true faith, which is continually exercised in 
 all manner of good works. Confirm us, Lord ! that we may 
 stand immoveable in the profession of Thy Name, to the ad- 
 vancement of Thy glory, who art God over all things, blessed 
 for ever. So be it. Amen. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the 
 blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every 
 good work to do His will, working in you that which is well- 
 pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be 
 glory for ever and ever. Amen. Ks-ox. 
 
 ni. 
 
 The service may begin with the singing of a Hymn, followed by the Lord's Prayer, 
 Invocation, and Creed, as in the first Form. 
 
 Exhortation. 
 
 Hear what the Apostle Paul saith : For I have received of 
 the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. That the Lord 
 Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread : 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 41 
 
 and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, 
 eat ; this is mj body, which is broken for you : this do in re- 
 membrance of me. After the same manner also, He took the 
 cup, when He had supped, saying. This cup is the new testa- 
 ment in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remem- 
 brance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 
 this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come. Where- 
 fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the 
 Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the 
 Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of 
 that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and 
 drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, 
 not discerning the Lord's body. 
 
 You are invited hither, dear brethren, to be guests at this 
 holy Table, by the Lord's command, to receive the greatest 
 mercy, and to perform the greatest duty. On Christ's part all 
 things are made ready. The feast is prepared for you, even 
 for you that by sin have deserved to be cast out of the presence 
 of the Lord ; for you that have so oft neglected and abused 
 mercv : a feast of the body and blood of Christ, free to you, 
 but (fear to Him. You were lost, and in -the way to be lost for 
 ever ; when by the greatest miracle of condescending love, He 
 sought and saved you. You were dead in sin, condemned by 
 the law, the slaves of Satan; there wanted nothing but the 
 executing stroke of justice to have sent you into endless mise- 
 ry: when our Redeemer pitied you in your blood, and shed His 
 own to wash and heal you. He suffered who was offended, 
 that the offender might not suffer. He cried out on the cross, 
 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? that we, who 
 had deserved it, might not be everlastingly forsaken. He 
 died, that we might live. 0, how should this mercy of re- 
 demption affect you ! See here Christ dying in this holy re- 
 presentation ! Behold the sacrificed Lamb of God, that taketh 
 away the sins of the world. It is His will to be thus frequently 
 crucified before our eyes. O, how should we be covered witn 
 shame, and loathe ourselves, who have both procured the 
 death of Christ by sin, and sinned against it. And how should 
 we all be filled with joy, who have such mysteries of mercy 
 opened, and so great salvation freely offered to us. 0, hate 
 sin. 0, love this Saviour. See that you come not hither with- 
 out a desire to be more holy ; nor with a purpose to go on in 
 wilfulr sin. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. But If you 
 heartily repent, and consent to the covenant, come, and wel- 
 come. We have commission from Christ to tell you that you 
 are welcome. Let no trembling, contrite soul draw back, that 
 is willing to be Christ's upon His covenant terms :' but believe 
 
42 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 that Christ is much more willing to be yours. He was 
 first willing, and therefore died for you, and made the cove- 
 nant of grace, and sent to invite and importune you to consent, 
 and stayed for you so long, and gave you your repentance, 
 your willingness, and desire. Question not then His willing- 
 ness, if you are willing : it is Satan and unbelief that would 
 ha ve you qu estiQ.n_it, to the injury both of Christ and you. 
 Come near, observe, believe, and wonder at the riches of His 
 love and grace : for He hath Himself invited you to see and 
 taste, that you might wonder. You are sinners : but He invit- 
 eth you to receive a renewed, sealed pardon of your sins, and 
 to give you more of His Spirit to overcome them. See here 
 His broken body and His blood, the testimonies of His willing- 
 ness. Thus hath He sealed the covenant, which pardoneth all 
 your sins, and ^ecureth you ^f^our reconciliation with God, 
 and your adoption72Liid your right, to everlasting blessedness. 
 Deny not your consent, but heartily give up yourselves to 
 Christ : and then doubt not that your scarlet, crimson sins shall 
 be made as white as wool or snow. Object not the number or 
 greatness of them against His grace : there is none too great 
 for Him to pardon to penitent believers. But strive you then 
 for great loathing of your sins, and greater love to such a God, 
 aad greater thanks to such a Saviour. Unfeignedly say, I am 
 willing, Lord, to be wholly Thine : and then believingly take 
 Christ, and pardon, and life, as given you by His own appoint- 
 ment in the sealed covenant. And remember that He is com- 
 ing. He is coming with thousands of His mighty angels, to 
 execute judgment on the ungodly ; but to be glorified in His 
 saints, and admired in all that do believe. And then we shall 
 have greater things than these. Then shall you see all the 
 promises fulfilled, which now are sealed to you, on which He 
 causeth you to trust. Eevive now your love to one another, 
 and forgive those that have wronged you, and delight in the 
 communion of saints : and then you shall be admitted into the 
 Church triumphant, where, with perfect saints, you shall per- 
 fectly rejoice, and love and praise the Lord forever. Receive 
 now a crucified Christ here represented, and be content to take 
 up your cross, and follow Him. And then you shall reign 
 with a glorified Christ, in the blessed vision and fruition of 
 that God, to whom by Christ you are now reconciled. Let 
 faith and love be working upon these things, while you are at 
 this holy Table. 
 
 The Consecrating Prayer. 
 
 Almighty God, Thou art the Creator and the Lord of all 
 things. Thou art the sovereign Majesty whom we have of- 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 45 
 
 fended. Thou art our most loving and merciful Father, 
 who hast given Thr Son to reconcUe us to Thvself: who 
 hath ratified the new testament and covenant of ' crrace with 
 His most precious blood ; and hath instituted this holv Sacra- 
 ment to be celebrated in remembrance of Him till His'comincr. 
 Sanctify these Thv creatures of bread and wine, which accord- 
 ing to Thv institution and command we set apart to this holv 
 use, that thev may be sacramentallj the bodv and blood of 
 Thy Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 ifost merciful Saviour, as Thou hast loved us to the death, 
 and sufiered for our sins, the just for the unjust, and hast in- 
 stituted this holy ordinance to be used in remembrance of Thee 
 till Thy coming: We beseech Thee, bv Thine intercession 
 with the Father, through the sacrifice of Thv bodv and blood, 
 give us the pardon of our sins, and Thv quicke'ning Spirit 
 without which the flesh will profit us nothing. Eeconcile us 
 to the Father ; nourish us as Thy members to everlastins: life. 
 
 Most Holy Spirit, proceeding 'from the Father and the Son; 
 by whom Christ was conceived ; bv whom the prophets and 
 apostles were inspired, and the ministers of Christ are qualified 
 and called ; Thou that dwellest and workest in all the members 
 of Christ, whom Thou sanctifiest to the image and for the serv- 
 ice of their Head, and comfortest that th'ey mav show forth 
 His praise : Illuminate us, that by faith we may s'ee Him who 
 is here represented to us. Soften our hearts, and humble us 
 for our sins. Sanctify and quicken us, that we mav relish t^ 
 spiritual food, and feed on it to our nourishment and growth in 
 grace. Shed abroad the love of God upon our hearts, and 
 draw them out in love to Him. Fill us with thankfulness and 
 ^oly joy, and with love to one another. Comfort us by \N-it- 
 nessing that we are the children of God. Confirm us for new 
 obedience. Be the earnest of our inheritance, and seal us unto 
 everlasting life. 
 
 Accept us, Lordf who resign ourselves unto Thee as 
 Thine o^vn : and with our thanks and praise, present ourselves 
 a living sacrifice, to be acceptable through' Christ, useful for 
 Thine honour, through time, and through etemitv. Being 
 made free from sin, and become Thv servants, let us' have ou? 
 fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life: Throuc-h 
 Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. ° 
 
 Then tt« Minister is to take the Bread and break it, in the view of the oeimle. 
 saying: • ^^r^ 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, having taken bread, and blessed and broken it, gave 
 it to His disciples ; as I, ministering in His Xame, give'this 
 
44 PRECES ECCLESIASTICiE. 
 
 bread unto yon: saying, [here the bread is to he distributed^'] Take, 
 eat : this is My body, which is broken for you : this do in re- 
 membrance of Me. 
 
 Afler having given fkt Bread, let him take ike Gup, and say : 
 After the same manner our Saviour also took the cup, and 
 having given thanks, as hath been done in His Name, He gave 
 it to the disciples ; saying, [here the cup is to be given,] This cup 
 is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for many, for 
 the remission of sins : drink ye all of it. For as often as ye 
 eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death 
 till he come. 
 
 The Minister himsdf is to communicate, at such time as may appear to Aim most 
 
 Then let an euehariatie hymn be sung. 
 
 The CoUeetion for the poor rnay be made after this. 
 
 Then the Minister is to pray, and give thanks to God. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 Most Glorious God, how wonderful Thy power and wis- 
 dom. Thy holiness and justice, Thy love and mercy, in this 
 work of redemption, by the incarnation, life, death, resurrec- 
 tion, intercession, and dominion of Thy Son I No wisdom or 
 power in heaven or earth could have delivered us but Thine. 
 The angels desire to look into this mystery : the heavenly host 
 do celebrate it with praises, saying. Glory to God in the high- 
 est : on earth peace, good- will towards men. The whole cre- 
 ation shall proclaim Thy praises: Blessing, honour, glory, 
 and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and 
 unto the Lamb forever and ever. Worthy is the Lamb that 
 was slain, to receive power, and honour, and glory : for He 
 hath redeemed us to God by His blood, and made us kings 
 and priests unto our God. And hast Thou indeed forgiven us 
 so gre^t a debt, by so precious a ransom? Wilt Thou in- 
 deed give us to reign with Christ in glory, and see Thy face, 
 and love Thee and be loved of Thee for ever ? Yea, Lord ! 
 Thou hast forgiven us, and wilt glorify us ; for Thou art faith- 
 ful that hast promised. O set our affections on the things 
 above : let our conversation be in heaven, from whence we 
 expect our Saviour to come and change us into the likeness 
 of His glory. Then will we perfectly praise and worthily 
 magnify Thee for ever, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : to 
 whom be glory. Amen. 
 
S^CEAMEJTT OF THE LOKD'S SUPPER, 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Now tlie God of Peace, that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the^ sheep, through the 
 blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every 
 good yrork to do His "will, working in you that which is well- 
 pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ : to "Whom be glory 
 for ever and ever. Amen. Baxiek. 
 
 IT. 
 The service may begin with the singing of « hymn, JoUovoed by ike 
 
 Exhortation. 
 
 Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, attend to the words of 
 the institution of the holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, as 
 they are delivered by the holy Apostle Paul. 
 
 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered 
 unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He 
 was betrayed, took bread : and when He had given thanks, 
 He brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is 
 broken for you : this do in remembrance of me. After the 
 same manner also He took the cup, when He had snpped, 
 saying. This cup is the new testament in my blood : this 
 do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as 
 often as re eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 
 the Lord^s death till He come. Wherefore, whosoever shall 
 eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unwonhily, 
 shall be guilty of the bodv and blood of the Lord. But let"^a 
 man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and 
 drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
 eateth and drinketh damnation* to himself, not discerning t£e 
 Lord's body. 
 
 That we may now celebrate the Supper of the Lord to 
 our comfort, it is necessary first that every one consider 
 by himself his sins, and the curse due to him for them : to 
 the end that he may abhor and humble himself before God; 
 considering that the wrath of God against sin is so great, that 
 rather than it should go unpunished, He hath punished the 
 same in His beloved Son Jesus Christ, with the bitter and 
 shameful death of the cross. 
 
 Secondly, Let every one examine his own heart, whether he 
 doth believe this faithful promise of God : that all his sins are 
 
 ♦ Gr. — Kpiua. D. — Oordeel. E. — Judgment, condemnation. 
 
46 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 forgiven him, only for the sake of the passion and death of 
 Jesus Christ ; and that the perfect righteousness of Christ is 
 imputed and freely given to him as his own ; yea, so perfectly 
 as if he had in his own person satisfied for all his sins, and 
 fulfilled all righteousness. 
 
 Thirdly, Let every one examine his own conscience, whether 
 he hath resolved henceforth to shew true thankfulness to God 
 in his whole life, and to walk uprightly before Him : and also 
 whether he hath laid aside unfeignedly all enmity, hatred, and 
 envy, and doth firmly resolve henceforward to walk in true 
 love and peace with his neighbour. 
 
 All those who are thus disposed, God will certainly receive 
 in mercy, and count them worthy partakers at the table of His 
 Son Jesus Christ, On the contrary, those who do not feel 
 this testimony in their hearts, eat and drink judgment to them- 
 selves. Therefore, we also, according to the command of 
 Christ and the Apostle Paul, admonish all those who know 
 themselves to be defiled with the following sins, to keep them- 
 selves from the Table of the Lord ; and declare to them that 
 they have no part of the Kingdom of Christ. Such as are idol- 
 aters ; all those who use or confide in any form of divination ; 
 all despisers of God and of His Word, and of the holy Sacra- 
 ments; all profane or false swearers; contentious persons, 
 and those who live in hatred and envy against their neigh- 
 bours; all unclean persons, drunkards, thieves, liars, slanderers, 
 covetous ; and all who lead offensive lives. These, while they 
 continue in such sins, shall ^abstain from this meat which 
 Christ hath ordained only for the faithful ; lest their judg- 
 ment and condemnation be made the heavier. 
 
 But this 'is not designed, dearly beloved brethren and sis- 
 ters in the Lord, to deject the contrite hearts of the faithful ; 
 as if none might come to this Supper, but such as are without 
 [ sin. For we do not come to this Supper to testify thereby 
 I that we are perfect and righteous in ourselves: but on the 
 ^ contrary, since we are seeking our life out of ourselves, in 
 Jesus Christ, we acknowledge by this very service that we lie 
 in the midst of death. Therefore, notwithstanding we still find 
 many short-comings and miseries in ourselves; as namely, 
 that we have not perfect faith ; and that we do nof~give our- 
 selves to serve God with Jhat zeal as we are bound ; but have 
 daily to strive with the weakness^f our faith, and the evil 
 lusts of our own flesh ; yet since, by the grace of the Holy 
 Ghost, we are sorry for these weaknesses, and earnestly desi- 
 rous to fight against our unbelief, and to live according to all 
 ■the commandments of God : Therefore, we rest assured, that 
 no sin or infirmity which still against our will remaineth in 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 47 
 
 US, can hinder us from being received of God in mercy, and 
 thus made worthy partakers of this heavenly meat and drink. 
 
 Let us now also consider to what end the Lord hath institu- 
 ted His Supper : namely, That we do it in remembrance of 
 Him. Now after this manner are we to remember Him in it. 
 First, We must be confidently persuaded in our hearts, that 
 our Lord Jesus Christ was sent of the Father into the world ; 
 He assumed our flesh and blood ; He bore for us the 
 wrath of God, under which we should have perished ever- 
 lastingly, from the beginning of His incarnation to the 
 end of His life upon earth; especially when the weight 
 of our sins and of the wrath of God pressed out of Him the 
 bloody sweat in the garden, where he was bound that our 
 bonds might be loosed. Afterwards He suffered innumerable 
 tevilings, that we might never come to shame. In His inno- 
 cence He was condemned to death, that we might be acquitted 
 at the judgment-seat of God. Yea, He suffered His blessed 
 body to be nailed on the Cross, that He might fasten thereon 
 that handwriting of our sins. And hath also taken upon 
 Himself the curse due to us, that He might fill us with His 
 blessings ; and humbled Himself unto the deepest reproach 
 and pains of hell, in body and in soul, on the tree of the Cross, 
 when He cried with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast 
 Thou forsaken me : that we might be made nigh unto God, 
 and never be forsaken of Him. And finally He confirmed 
 with His death and the shedding of His blood the new and 
 eternal testament, that covenant of grace and reconciliation ; 
 when He said. It is finished. And that we might firmly be- 
 lieve that we belong to this covenant of grace, the Lord Jesus 
 Christ hath ordained this Holy Supper, and said, This do in 
 remembrance of Me : That is, as often as yet eat of this bread 
 and drink of this cup, ye shall thereby, as by a sure memorial 
 and pledge, be admonished and assured of this my hearty love 
 and faithfulness toward you. That whereas you should other- 
 wise have suffered eternal death, I have given my body to the 
 death of the Cross, and have shed ray blood for you, and with 
 my crucified body and shed blood do nourish your hungry 
 and thirsty souls to everlasting life, as surely as this bread is 
 broken before your eyes, and this cup is given to you, and you 
 eat and drink the same with your mouth, in remembrance of 
 Me. 
 
 From this institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, we see that He directs our faith and trust to His perfect 
 sacrifice once offered on the Cross, as to the only ground of our 
 salvation ; wherein He is become to our hungry and thirsty 
 souls the true meat and drink of life eternal. For by His 
 
48 PRECES ECCLESIASTICiE. 
 
 death He hatli taken away the cause of our eternal death 
 and misery ; namely, sin : and obtained for us the life-giving 
 Spirit ; that we by the same, which dwelleth in Christ as in 
 the Head, and in us as in His members, might have true com- 
 munion with Him, and be made partakers of all His blessings, 
 of life eternal, righteousness, and glory. And furthermore, 
 that we by the same Spirit may also be united as members of 
 one Body in true brotherly love ; as the holy Apostle saith, 
 For we being many are one bread and one body : for we are 
 all partakers of that one bread. For as out of many grains 
 one meal is ground and one bread baked ; and out of many 
 berries being pressed together one wine floweth and mixeth 
 itself together : so all we, who by a true faith are engrafted 
 into Christ, shall through brotherly love be one body for the 
 sake of Christ our beloved Saviour, who hath first so exceed- 
 ingly loved us. And this we shall shew not only in word, but 
 also in very deed. 
 
 Hereto assist us the Almighty God and Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit. Amen. 
 
 That we may obtain all this, let us humble ourselves before 
 God, and with true feith implore His grace. 
 
 The Cons&yrating Prayer. 
 
 Most Merciful God and Father 1 we beseech Thee that in 
 this Supper, by which we celebrate the glorious remembrance 
 of the bitter death of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, Thou 
 wilt so work in our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that with true 
 confidence we may more and more give ourselves up unto Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ ; that our burthened and fainting hearts may, 
 through the power of the Holy Ghost, be fed and comforted 
 with His true body and blood, yea, with Him, true God and 
 man, that only heavenly Bread. And may we no longer live 
 in our sins, but He in ua and we in Him ; and thus be true 
 partakers of the new and everlasting covenant of g^race. May 
 we not doubt that Thou wilt for ever be our gracious Father, 
 never more imputing our sins unto us, and providing us as 
 Thy beloved children and heirs, with all things necessary as 
 well for the body as the soul. Grant us also Thy grace, that 
 we may cheerfully take upon us our cross, deny ourselves, con- 
 fess our Saviour, and in all tribulations with uplifted heads 
 expect our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, where He will make 
 our mortal bodies like unto His most glorious body, and take 
 us to be for ever with Himself. 
 
 Our 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 
 
c 
 
 SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 49 
 
 our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the po-wer, and the glory, for ever. Amen, 
 
 Strengthen us also by this holy Supper in the Catholic un- 
 doubted Christian Faith, whereof we make confession with our 
 mouths and hearts, saying : 
 
 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 Marv, suf- 
 fered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; 
 He descended into hell : the third day He rose again 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; th« 
 forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body, and the life 
 everlasting. Amen. 
 
 That we may now be fed with the true heavenly Bread, 
 Christ Jesus, let us not cleave with our hearts unto the external 
 bread and wine, but lift them up on high, where Christ Jesus 
 is our Advocate, at the right hand of His heavenly Father ; 
 whither aU the articles of our faith lead us : not doubting that 
 through the^worklng of the^oly Ghost, we shall be fed and 
 refreshed in our souls with His *^body and blood, as surely as 
 we receive the holy bread and wine in remembrance of Him. 
 
 Then the Minister w to take the Bread, and bregk itiaUie view of the pwpic, aaying : 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, having taken bread, and blessed and broken it, gave 
 it to His disciples ; as I, ministering in His Name, give this 
 bread unto you : saying, [here the h-ead is to he distributed,'] 
 Take, eat ; this is My body, which is broken for you ; this do 
 in remembrance of Me. 
 
 After having given the Bread, he shm take iheC^,ind say: 
 
 After the same manner our Saviour also took the cup ; and 
 having given thanks, as hath been done in His Name, He gave 
 it to the disciples : saying, [here the cup is to he given'] This cup 
 is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for many, for 
 the remission of sins : drink ye all of it. For as often as ye 
 eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death 
 till He come. 
 
50 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 In distributing the Bread, the Minister sJiaU say : 
 
 The bread which we break is the communion of the body of 
 Christ. 
 
 And when he giveth the Cup : 
 
 The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the 
 blood of Christ. 
 
 During the Communion there iJtaU w m ay be devoutly sung a Psalm, or some chapter 
 read, in remembrance of the death of Christ: as Isaiah LIIL, St. John XIII^ 
 XIV., XVI., XVII., XVUL, or the like. 
 
 After the Communion, the Minister shall say : 
 
 Beloved in the Lord, since the Lord hath now fed our souls 
 at His Table, let us therefore jointly praise His holy Name 
 with thanksgiving, and every one say in his heart thus : 
 
 Bless the Lord, my soul : and all that is within me, bless 
 His holy Name. 
 
 Bless the Lord, my soul : and forget not all His benefits. 
 
 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities : who healeth all thy dis- 
 
 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction : who crowneth 
 thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies. 
 
 The Lord is merciful and gracious : slow to anger and plen- 
 teous in mercy. 
 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us 
 according to our iniquities. 
 
 For as the heaven is high above the earth : so great is His 
 mercy toward them that fear Him. 
 
 As far as the East is from the West : so far hath He removed 
 our transgressions from us. 
 
 Like as a Father pitieth his children : so the Lord pitieth 
 them that fear Him. 
 
 Who hath not spared His own Son, but delivered Him up 
 for us all, and given us all things with Him. Therefore God 
 commendeth therewith His love towards us, in that while we 
 were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being 
 now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from wrafh 
 through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were recon- 
 ciled to God by the death of His Son : much more being recon- 
 ciled we shall be saved by His life. Therefore shall my mouth 
 and heart show forth the praises of the Lord from this time for 
 evermore. Amen. 
 
 Then let an eucharisiic hymn be sung. 
 
 The collection for the poor may be made after this. 
 
 Then the Minister is to pray, and give thanks to God. 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER. 51 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 Let every one say with an attentive heart : 
 
 Ahnighty, Merciful God and Father, with our whole hearts 
 we thank Thee, that Thou hast of Thy boundless mercy given 
 us Thine only-begotten Son, to be our Mediator, and the sacri- 
 fice for our sins, and our meat and drink unto life eternal. 
 We bless Thee that Thou givest us lively faith, whereby we 
 are made partakers of such Thy benefits : and hast been pleased 
 that Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ should ordain His holy 
 Supper for the confirmation of the same. Grant then we be- 
 seech Thee, O faithful God and Father, that through the work- 
 ing of Thy Holy Spirit, this remembrance made of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and this shewing forth of His death, may tend to 
 the daily increase of our faith and saving fellowship with Him : 
 Unto Whom, as unto Thee, O Father 1 and the Holy Ghost, be 
 honour and praise for ever. Amen. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the 
 blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every 
 good work to do His will, working in you that which is well- 
 pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Clirist, to whom be glory 
 for ever and ever. Amen. Reformed Dutch Liturgy. 
 
PKECES ECCLESIASTIC.^!:. 
 
 SENTENCES^ 
 
 Which may be repeated iy the Minister „^intervdls of silence, during the 
 participation. 
 
 The Bread wHch we breaki' is tihe communion of the Body 
 of Christ. " 
 
 I am the Bread of life, saith Jesus; he that cometh to Me 
 shall never hunger j and he that belie vetdi on Me shall never 
 thirst. 
 
 The Son of Man came, to give His life a ransom for many. 
 
 He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for 
 our iniquities : the chastisement *^ our peace was upon Him ; 
 and with His stripes we are heaied. 
 
 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not 
 His mouth. 
 
 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. 
 
 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the 
 world. 
 
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceplation, that 
 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; of whom 1 
 am the chief. 
 
 Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and 
 He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of 
 Him : for He is meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find 
 rest unto your souls. 
 
 And now, little children, abide in Him ; that when He shall 
 appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed at His 
 coming. 
 
 The Cup of Blessing which we blessffis the communion of 
 the Blood of Christ. ^ 
 
 I am the Vine, saith Jesus, ye are the branches ; abide in Me 
 and I in you. 
 
 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down 
 his life for his friends : ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever 
 I command you. 
 
 God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but 
 have everlasting life. 
 
 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down 
 His life for us : and we ought to lay down our Hves for the 
 brethren. 
 
SACRAMENT OF THE LOED's SUPPEF. 53 
 
 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon 
 us, that we should be called the sons of God. 
 
 We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him : 
 for we shall see Him as He is. 
 
 It is a faithful saying, If we be dead with Him, we shall also 
 live with Him : if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. 
 
 _ Fear not, little flock : it is your Father's good pleasure to 
 give you the Kingdom. 
 
 Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into 
 the heart of men, the things which God hath prepared for them 
 that love Him. 
 
 Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and 
 will not tarry. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 
 
 SENTElfCES, 
 Which may be read during the collection for the poor. 
 
 Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is 
 more blessed to give than to receive. 
 
 Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though 
 He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that ye through 
 His poverty might be rich. 
 
 To do good and to communicate forget not : for with such 
 sacrifices God is well pleased. 
 
 _ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him 
 . give j not grudgingly, or of necessity : for God loveth a cheer- 
 ful giver. 
 
 If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to 
 that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 
 
 Eemember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, Ye 
 have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye 
 may do them good. 
 
 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all 
 men, especially unto them who are of the Household of Faith. 
 
 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the 
 want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings 
 unto God. 
 
 God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of 
 love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye 
 have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 
 
 Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 OF 
 
 Administering the Sacrament of Baptism. 
 
 I, 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 Address. 
 
 Do you present this child to be baptized ? 
 
 Answer : We do. 
 
 Our Lord hath shewed us in what poverty and misery we are 
 all born, when He saith that we must be born again. For if it 
 is necessaiy that our nature be renewed, in order that we may 
 enter the Kingdom of God : This signifies that it is originally 
 guilty and depraved. Thus He teacheth us that we must hum- 
 ble ourselves, and become displeased with ourselves ; and thus 
 He prepares us to desire and seek His grace : whereby all the 
 depravity and guilt of our former nature shall be done away. 
 For we are not capable of receiving that grace, unless we oe 
 first emptied of all confidence in our own strength, wisdom, 
 and righteousness, even so as to condemn all that is in our- 
 selves. 
 
 Now when Our Lord hath shewed us our misery. He doth 
 likewise comfort us by His mercy : promising to regenerate us 
 by His Holy Spirit in a new life, that shall be to us as it were 
 
SACRAME^'T OF BAPTISM. 55 
 
 an entrance into His Kingdom. This regeneration consists of 
 these two parts : First, That we do renounce ourselves, not follow- 
 ing our own reason, our own pleasure, and our own will : but 
 bringing into subjection our understanding and affections to 
 the wisdom and righteousness of God ; mortifying all that is 
 of us and of our flesh. And secondly. That we follow God's 
 light, obeying and delighting ourselves in His good pleasure, 
 as He manifests it by^His Word, and leads us to it by His 
 Spirit. The fulfilment of both these things rests in our 'Lord 
 Jesus Christ; TVhose passion and death are of such power, 
 that participating in them, we become as it were buried unto 
 sin, that our carnal lusts may be mortified and slain. So too 
 by the power of His resurrection we are raised to newness of 
 life in God, by so much as His Spirit conducts and governs us, 
 to work in us the things that are well-pleasing to Him. But 
 the first and principal point of our salvation is, that by His 
 mercy He remits to us all our offences, not imputing them unto 
 us, but destroying even the remembrance of them, that they 
 come not into account at His judgment. 
 
 These graces are all conferred upon us, when God is pleased 
 to incorporate us into His Church by Baptism. For m this 
 Sacrament He doth witness to us the remission of our sins. 
 And for this cause He hath ordained the sign of water, figuring 
 to us that as by this element the stains of the body are cleansed, 
 so He is willing to wash and purify our souls, that no spot ap- 
 pear any longer upon them. And also He doth represent to 
 us here our regeneration ; which, as hath been said, consists in 
 the mortifying of our flesh, and the spiritual life, which He 
 produces in us. Thus we receive in Baptism a twofold grace 
 and benefit from our God ; provided that we destroy not the 
 virtue of this sacrament by our ingratitude : to wit, That we 
 have here a sure testimony that God is willing to be our pro- 
 pitiated Father, not imputing to us our sins and offences ; and 
 secondlv, that He will assist us by His Holy Spirit, that we 
 may figlit against the devil, sin, and the lusts of our flesh, even 
 to have the victory over them, and to live in the liberty of His 
 kingdom, which is the kingdom of righteousness and peace. 
 Since then it is so, that these two things are accomplished 
 in us by the grace of Jesus Christ, it follows that the virtue 
 and the" substance of Baptism are included in Him. And in 
 fact we have no other washing than His blood : and we have 
 no other renewal than in His death and resurrection : but as 
 He communicates to us His riches and blessings by His 
 "Word, so too He distributes them to us by His Sacraments. 
 
 But our gracious God is not content to have adopted us for 
 
56 Pl^ECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 His children, and received us into the communion of His 
 Church : He hath chosen more fully to extend His goodness 
 over us ; and this by promising that He will be our God, and 
 the Grod of our seed, unto a thousand generations. And al- 
 though the children of believers belong to the corrupt race of 
 Adam, He nevertheless doth not fail to accept them by virtue 
 of this Covenant, and adopt them into the number of His 
 People. Hence from the beginning He hath chosen that in 
 His Church the children should receive the sign of circumci- 
 sion, whereby He then represented all that to-day is manifested 
 in Baptism. And as He commanded them that they should 
 be circumcised, so He adopted them for His children, and 
 called Himself their God, as He was the God of their fathers. 
 
 Now, therefore, since the Lord- Jesus came down to earth, 
 not to diminish the grace of God His Father, but to enlarge 
 the covenant of salvation which then was confined to the peo- 
 ple of the Jews, so as to include the whole world : there can 
 be no doubt that our children are the heirs of that life which 
 He hath promised. And for this cause St. Paul hath said, that 
 they are sanctified of God from the womb, that they may be 
 distinguished from the children of heathen and unbelievers. 
 And therefore our Lord Jesus Christ received the children who 
 were brought to Him, as it is written in the Gospel : 
 
 Then were there brought unto Him little children, that He 
 should put His hands on them, and pray : and the disciples re- 
 buked them. But Jesus said, Sufier little children, and forbid 
 them not, to come unto Me ; for of such is the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Since then He declares that the kingdom of heaven belong- 
 eth unto them ; since He layeth His hands upon them, and 
 commendeth them to God His Father : He doth sufficiently 
 teach us, that we must not exclude them from His Church. 
 Therefore in pursuance of this rule, we shall receive this child 
 into His Church, to the end that he may be made partaker of 
 the blessings which God hath promised to the faithful. And 
 first of all we shall present him to God by our prayers, humbly 
 saying with all our hearts thus : 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Lord God, Eternal and Almighty Father, since it hath 
 pleased Thee of Thine infinite mercy to promise that Thou 
 wilt be a God to us and to our children : We pray Thee to 
 confirm this grace unto the child here present, begotten and 
 born of parents whom Thou hast called into Thy Church. And 
 
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 57 
 
 since he is offered and consecrated unto Thee by us, wilt Thou 
 receive him into Thine holy protection, declaring Thyself to 
 be his God and Saviour, forgiving him the original sin whereof 
 the whole race of Adam is guilty ; and sanctifying him by Thy 
 Holy Spirit, so that when he shall come to years of discretion, 
 he shall know and worship Thee as his only God, and glorif}-- 
 Thee throughout all his life. And to obtain such mercies, wilt 
 Thou be pleased to incorporate him into the communion of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, that he may have a part in all His benefits, 
 as a member of His Body. Grant, Father of mercies, that the 
 Baptism we confer upon him according to Thine Ordinance, 
 may produce its fruit and manifest its power, as Thou hast 
 declared in the Gospel of Thy Son : Who hath taught us to 
 say : 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 As this child is to be received into the fellowship of the 
 Christian Churcli, you do promise, when he is come to years of 
 discretion, to instruct him in the doctrine embraced by God's 
 People, and summarily comprehended in our common Confes- 
 sion of Faith, to wit : 
 
 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 de- 
 scended into hell ; the third day He rose again 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. 
 
 You promise that you will teach this child to read the Word 
 of God. You will instruct him in the principles of our holy 
 Religion, as contained in the Scriptures ofi the Old and New 
 Testament. You will teach him to repeat the Catechism, the 
 Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. You will pray with 
 and for this child ; you will set an example of piety and god- 
 liness before him ; and endeavour, by all the means of God's 
 appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition 
 of the Lord. 
 
58 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 These promises being made, the child shall be named ; and the Mnisier caHing him by 
 his name, shaU say : 
 
 I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Sod, 
 and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 As he pronounces these words, he is to baptise the child with water, by pouring er 
 sprinkling on the face of the child, without adding any other ceremony : and the 
 whok shaU be concluded with prayer. Calvtn. 
 
 Fvr ike concluding prayer, er .Thanksgiving, see the succeeding forms. 
 
 n. 
 Invocation. 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 Address. 
 
 Do ye here present this child to be baptized, earnestly de- 
 siring that he may be engrafted in the mystical body of Jesus 
 Christ? 
 
 Answer : Yea, we require the same. 
 
 Then let us consider, dearly beloved, how Almighty God 
 hath not only made us His children by adoption, receiving us 
 into the fellowship of His Church : but also hath promised 
 that He will be our God, and the God of our children, unto a 
 thousand generatfons. Which promise, confirmed to His Peo- 
 ple in the Old Testament by the Sacrament of Circumcision, 
 He hath renewed to us in His New Testament by the Sacra- 
 ment of Baptism : giving us thereby to know, that our infants 
 belong to Him by covenant, and therefore ought not to be 
 deprived of those holy signs and badges, whereby His children 
 are known from unbehevers. 
 
 Neither is it requisite that all those who receive this Sacra- 
 ment should have the use of understanding and faith : but 
 chiefly that they be contained under the name of God's Peo- 
 ple, so that remission of sins in the blood of Christ Jesus doth 
 pertain unto them by the promise of God. This is most evi- 
 dent from the words of St. Paul, who pronounces the children 
 begotten and born, either of the parents being faithful, to be 
 clean and holy. Also our Saviour Christ admitteth children 
 to His presence, embracing and "blessing them. Which testi- 
 monies of the Holy Ghost assure us, that infants are of the 
 number of God's People, and that remission of sins doth also 
 belong to them in Christ. Therefore they can not without in- 
 
SACRAilENT OF BAPTISM. 69 
 
 jury be debarred from the common sign of God's children. 
 And yet this outward action is not of such necessity, that the 
 lack thereof should be hurtful to their salvation ; if, prevented 
 bj death, thej may not be presented to the Church. But we, 
 having respect to that obedience which Christians owe to the 
 voice and ordinance of Christ Jesus, who commanded to 
 preach to and baptize all, without exception, do judge them 
 only unworthy of any fellowship with Him, who contemptu- 
 ously refuse such ordinary means as His wisdom hath ap- 
 pointed to the instruction of our dull -senses. 
 
 Further, it is evident that Baptism was ordained to be mi- 
 nistered in the element of water, to teach us that, like as water 
 outwardly doth wash away the filth of the body, so inwardly 
 doth the virtue of Christ's blood cleajise our souls from that 
 corruption and deadly poison wherewith by nature we were 
 infected; whose venomous dregs, although they continue in 
 this our flesh, yet by the merits of His death are not imputed 
 unto us, because the righteousness of Jesus Christ is made ours 
 by Baptism. Not that we deem any such virtue or power to 
 be included in the visible water, or outward action ; for many 
 have been baptized, and yet never inwardly cleansed: But 
 that our Saviour Christ, who commanded Baptism to be 
 ministered, will, by the power of His Holy Spirit, effectually 
 work in the hearts of His Elect, in time convenient all that 
 is meant and signified by the same. And this the Scripture 
 calls our regeneration ; which consists chiefly in these two 
 
 f)oints : mortification, that is to say a resisting of the rebellious 
 usts of the flesh ; and newness of life, whereby we continually 
 strive to walk in the pureness and perfection wherewith we 
 are clad in Baptism. 
 
 And though in the journey of this life, we are assailed' 
 with many foes, yet do we not fight without fruit. For this 
 constant battle which we wage against sin, death, and hell, is 
 a most infallible argument that God the Father, mindful of 
 His promise made unto us in Christ Jesus, doth not only give 
 us desire and courage to resist them, but also assurance to 
 overcome. Wherefore, dearly beloved, it is not only neces- 
 sary that we be once baptized, but also it profiteth much to 
 be often present at this ministration : that oeing put in mind 
 of the league and covenant made between God and us, that 
 He will be our God, and we His People, He our Father, and 
 we His children, we may have occasion to try as well our past 
 lives as our present conversation ; and to prove ourselves, 
 whether we stand fast in the faith of God's Elect, or have 
 strayed from Him through unbelief and ungodly lives. If 
 our consciences do thus accuse us, yet by hearing the loving 
 
60 PRECES ECCLESIASTIC-E. 
 
 promises o^ our heavenly Father, who calls all men to mercy 
 by repentance, we may henceforth walk more warily in our vo- 
 cation. Moreover ye that be fathers and mothers, should take 
 peculiar comfort in seeing your children thus received into the 
 bosom of Christ's Congregation : whereby you are admonished 
 to nourish and bring up the children of God's favour and mer- 
 cy, over whom His fatherly providence continually watches. 
 ' And as this ought greatly to rejoice you, knowing that 
 nothing can happen unto them without His good pleasure, so 
 should it make you diligent and careful to nurture and in- 
 struct them in the true knowledge and fear of God. Wherein 
 if ye be negligent, ye do not only injure your own children, 
 hiding from them the good will and pleasure of Almighty 
 God their Father : but also you heap upon yourselves judg- 
 ment, in suffering His children, bought with the blood of His 
 dear Son, so treacherously for lack of knowledge to turn away 
 from Him. Hence it is your duty with all diligence to pro- 
 vide that your children, in due time, be instructed in all 
 knowledge necessary for a true Christian : chiefly that they be 
 taught to rest upon the righteousness of Christ Jesus alone, 
 and to abhor and flee all superstition and idolatry. And now 
 to the intent, that we may be assured that you, the parents of 
 this child, consent to the performance of all this: Declare 
 here, before the face of God's Congregation, the sum of that 
 Faith wherein ye believe, and will instruct your child. 
 
 Then ihe father, vr in hia absence the godfather, shaU rehearse the- articles of Tiis faith, 
 asfoUowa: 
 
 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 again 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 for- 
 giveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life 
 everlasting. Amen. 
 
 Then follows this 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Almighty and Everlasting God, who of Thine infinite mercy 
 and goodness hast promised unto us that Thou wilt be not 
 only our God, but also the God and Father of our children : 
 We beseech Thee that having called us to be partakers of this 
 
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 61 
 
 Thy great mercy, in the fellowship of faith, it may please Thee 
 to sanctify with Thy Spirit and to receive into the number ot 
 Thy children, this infant, whom vre shall baptize according to 
 Thy Word : That he, coming to perfectage, may confess Thee 
 the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent ; and 
 may so serve Him, and be profitable unto His Church, in the 
 whole course of his life, that this life ended he may be brought, 
 as a lively member of His body, unto the fall fruition of Thy 
 joys in the heavens : where Thy Son, our Saviour Christ, reign- 
 eth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, world -without end. And 
 in His name we pray, as He hath taught lis, sayiug : 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 When (key have frwyed in this sort, fke Mitdsio' it to exhort the parents to the care- 
 ful perforTTumce of their duty : requiring, 
 
 You promise that you will tea<;h this child to read the word 
 of God:; that you will instruct him in the principles of our 
 holy religion, as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Testament ; that you will teach him to repeat the Cate- 
 chism, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer ; that you 
 will pray with and for this child ; that jou will set an example 
 of pietj and godhness before him, and endeavour, by all the 
 means of God's appointment^ to bring him up in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 These promises leinff node, the Aild sbaH be named, and ihe Minister caMing him by 
 A» name, shaM say, 
 
 I baptize thee, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 and of the Holy Ghost 
 
 As he pronounces ffieae vords, fte is to baptize the dtUd triSft water, 5j/ pouring or 
 ^>rinkling it on the face cf the child with<aU adding any other ctremcny : and ^ 
 iohoh sJioM he condiuied with prayer. 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 We lift up our eyes unto Thee, Most Holy and Merciful 
 Father ! Who not only dost bless us -s\dth the common benefits 
 bestowed upon mankind, but also dost lavish the precious 
 and wonderful gifts of Thy Gospel upon us: and we give 
 Thee most humble thanks "^ for Thine infinite goodness: that 
 Thou hast numbered us among Thy Saints, and of Thy free 
 
62 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 grace called our cliildren unto Thee ; marking them "with 
 this Sacrament, as a singular token and badge of Thy love. 
 Wherefore, most loving Father! though we deserve not so 
 great a benefit, we beseech Thee for Christ's sake to confirm 
 Thy favour more and more towards us : and take into Thy 
 tuition and defence, this child whom we offer and present unto 
 Thee with our common supphcations. Suffer him never to 
 fall into ingratitude, and to lose the force of Baptism; but 
 may he perceive Thee continually to be his Merciful Father, 
 through Thine Holy Spirit working in his heart ; by whose 
 divine power he may so prevail against Satan, that in the end 
 obtaining the victory, he may be exalted into the liberty of 
 Thy Kingdom. Amen. K>-oi. 
 
 m. 
 
 Address. 
 
 Baptism is an holy Sacrament instituted by Christ : in which 
 a person professing the Christian Faith, or the infant of such, 
 is baptized with water into the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost : in signification and solemnization 
 of the holy covenant in which as a believer, or the seed of be- 
 lievers, he giveth up himself, or is by the parent given up, to 
 God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : to believe in, love, 
 and fear this blessed Trinity, against the flesh, the de%'il, and 
 the world. Thus he is solemnly entered a visible member of 
 Christ and His Church, a child of God, and an heir of heaven. 
 How great now is this mercy, and how great the duty that is 
 before you ! Is it a small mercy for this child to be accepted 
 into the covenant of God, and washed from his original sin in 
 the blood of Christ — which is signified and sealed by this 
 sacramental washing in water : — to be accepted as a member of 
 Christ and of His Church, where He vouchsafes His protec- 
 tion and provision, and the means and Spirit of grace, and the 
 renewed pardon of sin upon repentance ? The duty on your 
 part is, first to see that you are stedfast in the faith and cove- 
 nant of Christ : that you perish not yourself; that your child is 
 indeed the child of a believer : And then you are believingly 
 and thankfully to dedicate your child to God, and to enter him 
 into the covenant in which you stand. And you must know 
 that your faith, and consent, and dedication, will suffice for 
 your children no longer than until they come to age them- 
 selves : and then they must own their baptismal covenant, and 
 personally renew it, and consent and give themselves up to 
 God or else they will not be owned by Christ. You must 
 therefore acquaint them with the doctrine of the Gospel as they 
 
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM, (JS 
 
 grow up, and with the covenant now made : and bring them 
 up in the fear of the Lord. And when they are actually peni- 
 tent believers, they must present themselves to the Pastors of 
 the Church, to be approved and received into the communion 
 of the adult believers. 
 
 Tke Minister shall here say to the Parent, and the Parent answer, as folbweth : 
 
 And now because these promises are made only to the faith- 
 ful and to their seed, and because no man can sincerely dedi- 
 cate his child to that God in whom he believeth not himself : 
 I therefore require you to make profession of your own faith. 
 
 Do you 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 again 
 from the dead ; He ascended into heaven, an^ sitteth on the 
 right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence He shall 
 eome to judge the quick and the dead ? 
 
 Do you 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 ? 
 
 Answer: All this I unfeignedly believe. 
 
 Do you repent of your sins, and renounce the flesh, the devil, 
 and the world, and consent to the Covenant of Grace, giving 
 up yourself to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as your 
 Creator and reconciled Father, your Redeemer and your Sanc- 
 tifier? 
 
 Answer : I -do. 
 
 Do you here solemnly promise, that, if God continue this 
 child with you till he be capable of instruction, you will faith- 
 fully endeavour to acquaint him with the covenant in which 
 he was here engaged by you, and to instruct and exhort him 
 that he perform this covenant as he looks for the blessings 
 upon it, or to escape the curses and wrath of God ; that he re- 
 nounce the flesh, the world, and the devil, and live not after 
 them ; and that he believe in this one God in three Persons, 
 the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, his Creator, Redeemer, and 
 Sanctifier ; that he resign himself to Him as his absolute 
 owner, and obey Him as his supreme Governor, and love Him 
 as his most gracious Father, hoping to enjoy Him as his felicity 
 in endless glory ? 
 
 Answer : I will faithfully endeavour it. 
 
64 PKECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Will you to this end faithfully endeavour to cause him to 
 learn the articles of the Christian Faith, the Lord's Prayer, and 
 the Ten Commandments ; and to read and hear the holy Scrip- 
 tures, and to attend on the . public Preaching of God's Word ? 
 Will you endeavour by your own teaching, and example, and 
 restraint, to keep him from wickedness, and train him up in a 
 holy life ? 
 
 Answer: I will faithfully endeavour it, by the help of God. 
 Then let the Minister pray thus : 
 
 PRAYER. 
 
 Most Merciful Father ! by the first Adam siu entered into 
 the world, and death by sin ; and we are all by nature children 
 of wrath. But Thou hast given Thy only Son to be the seed 
 of the woman, the Saviour of the world, the Captain of our sal- 
 vation ; to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and to 
 wash us in His blood, and reconcile us unto Thee, and to re- 
 new us by the Holy Ghost, and to bruise Satan under our feet. 
 In Him Thou hast established the Covenant of Grace, and 
 hast appointed this holy Sacrament of Baptism for our solemn 
 entrance into the bonds of the Covenant, and instating us in 
 the blessings of it, which Thou extendest to the faithful and 
 their seed. We dedicate and ofier this child to Thee, to be 
 received into Thy Covenant and Thy Church. We beseech 
 Thee to accept him as a member of thy Son, and wash him in 
 His blood from the guilt of sin, as the flesh is washed by this 
 water. Be reconciled to him, and take him for Thy child. 
 Eenew him in the image of Thy Son ; make him a fellow-citi- 
 zen with the Saints, and of Thy household. Protect him and 
 
 Erovide for him as Thine own, and finally preserve him to Thy 
 eavenly Kingdom: Through Jesus Christ our Lord and 
 Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister sTtaU ask of the parent the name of the child to be laptized; and 
 naming him, siaM say : 
 
 1 baptize thee, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 and of the Holy Ghost, 
 
 And he shaU Aits dedare : 
 
 This child is now received by Christ^s appointment into His 
 Church, and solemnly entered into the holy Covenant ; and 
 engaged, if he lives to the use of reason, to rise with Christ to 
 newness of life, being buried with Him by Baptism ; and to 
 bear His Cross, and confess Christ crucified, and manfully to 
 
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM 
 
 65 
 
 nght under His banner against the flesh, the devil and the 
 
 lel^h'ath^rvT-^"./"^''^^ '""'''^ -^ -™'^ ' 
 aeatn, tnat he may receive the crown of life. 
 
 Tnen he shaM give thanks andprai/.^ 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 m give Thee thanks, Most Merciful Father! that when we 
 had broken Thy law, and were condemned by it, Thou diS 
 
 t^Pnld T? p''''^^'' ^^^?t^^^^l life in Him; and hast ex- 
 ended Thy Covenant of Grace to believers and to their seed 
 
 ChJoT. ""^"^ ^^<^t'^^^ V^f '^^^ ^^^^ Thy covenant and Thy 
 Sn W. V^^'^l'V^ ^\''\^^ '^^ Sacrament of regenera^ 
 tr.; ^ ''''?^ ^^''' ^'^ ^'"^ ^°^ ^P i^ holiness', and 
 ,1. V ^""^^ ^^ ^^"-'^ °^ discretion, let Thy Spirit reveal 
 unto him the mystenes of the Gospel, and the^^riches of Thy 
 love m Jesus Christ : and cause him to renew and perform thl 
 
 nhpd;^n.^T;'^'vV^'^ T^^" his Lord, to be subject and 
 wkh?lThJ''.^i^°T^°^^"^^ to love Thee his Father, 
 tTn o tI^ T'^' f t'^-^^' ^^^ '^'^^'- ^^y ^e ever adhere 
 TZ:^} '-tf ^^^'^^^ ^-^ T^^^' ^ ^^« P°^"°^ of his soul; 
 desiring and hoping to enjoy Thee in everlasting glorv. Save 
 
 o ^1^"^ ^-1 ^''f "^^ ^ll^^e^ents of the flesh ; the temptations 
 frn^ oil T' '^' V^^^^^re profit, and honour of the world ; 
 So^nii n/ ^^^^^Pt^^^V^f l^is own heart, and all the hurtfu 
 \ltT i ^' ^°''-. ^'^P ^^"^ i^ communion with Thy 
 saints, in the love and use of Thy Word and worship. May 
 
 rant?n^ IT^^ f ^ "^^^ ^P ^'' ^^^^^' ^^^ f°"«^^' Christ, the 
 Captain of his salvation, and be faithful unto the death, and 
 
 v^our.''lmem ''"''''' °^ ^'^'' '^'°^°^' '^^"^ ^^^^^ "^^ ^- 
 
 Baxtxb. 
 
 IV. 
 Address. 
 
 the^hOT^P^f ."^^ '^' .^°°'^°^ ^f Solv Baptism are 
 Ind bo^ ' '^' ^5'^^' 7^'^ ^^'^ children 'are conceived 
 r^^^.^V ''°' ^""^ therefore are children of wrath- inso 
 much that we can not enter into the Kingdom of God, ^x^pt 
 we are born again : which is signified bv the applicat'o^of 
 
 unto^^. ?h; J'T''^^^' Solv Baptism witnesseth and sealeth 
 For ^vl.pn ^^'1° ^-"^'I ^^ °^' ^i°^ t^^o'^?^ Jesus Christ, 
 the F^h^ ^^ ^reU^t^e^ in the Xame of the Father: God 
 the Father sealeth unto us that He doth make an eternal 
 
(,Q PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Covenant of Grace .ith us and adopt us for His^cMdre. 
 
 ^^^.:>"s?d.tro.t:rer.r^^^^ 
 
 the Name of the Holy ^^^^^ ', ^"^"^ i^^.^r:. '^^ ,ve have in 
 that He will dwell in us, and apply that ^^ ^1^ ^the daily 
 Christ, namely, the washmg ^^^'^y.f.^^'b.^^'.'esented without 
 renewing of our lives, till we ^^^J^ .^^.f {.^^^ SernTl Thirdly, 
 
 generations, for an everlasting covenant . *» ^^ ^ ^f^ ,^, 
 
 cation of His Church : let us call upon His holy name. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Almightv and Eternal God, ^-e beseech Thee that Thou 
 wUt be plfased of Thine infinite »e^ey grac.onsly to kok upon 
 these children ; and incorporate them bv Thy Holy bpmt mw 
 
SACRAMEXT OF BAPTISM. QJ 
 
 §mmm 
 
 An Exhortation, 
 To the Parents, and those who come with them to Baptism 
 
 questions ' ^'''' ^""^ ^"^ ^°'^^'" sincerely to these 
 
 tained°?n Thf ni^°" acknowledge the doctrine which is cod- 
 oT^heChrstLfif'^ I<ew Testament, and in the articles 
 
 .an Church to L .?»'»" a"^ " ?''"''" ^"' *° "^'^ C'""^'" 
 ThirX no v^ "' ''"'^ complete doctrine of salvation? 
 
 ^hen come to J^^T;'' ™!^ '""="'' *° ^^^ *^=« '=WHren, 
 k. fL^S ? j^°'^.'^"""'°°' instructed and brouc^ht up 
 
 straoted therein, to the utmost of your power? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Thm tht Mmiikr 0/ God's Word, in laftmns. «»«« »y .• 
 
 So^-aL':Ft S:'i ^,S^ "iren°' "-^ ^''*"' ''"^ "^ '^^ 
 
 Thtetlt'^ho,'?^'".'^ *^"°'f"i '^^"'"' ^'^ ""'"k and praise 
 iiiee that Thou hast promised to forgive us and our ch Idren 
 all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son JesS 
 
 • My chUdrei,, Ezek. ivi. 21. Thty are holy, \ Cor. rii. 14. 
 
gg PRECES ECCLESIASTICiE. 
 
 praise Thee tbat inou ""^ ^ Usetch Thee, through 
 
 ^^es unto us by Holy Baptism vv ^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 Ghost, the one only true God. ^°^eii^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
THE FORM 
 
 OF 
 
 Administering the Sacrament of Baptism 
 
 TO ADULT PERSONS. 
 
 After repeating the first four paragraphs of the preceding ojice, the Minister proceeds 
 thus: 
 
 However children of Christian parents, although they un- 
 derstand not this mystery, must be baptized, by virtue of the 
 Covenant : yet it is not lawful to baptize those who are come 
 to years of discretion, except they first be sensible of their 
 sins, and make confession both of their repentance and their 
 faith in Christ, For this cause our Lord Jesus Christ com- 
 manded His disciples to teach all nations, and then to baptize 
 them, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghost; adding this promise. He that belie veth and is 
 baptized shall be saved. Accordingly, the Apostles baptized 
 none who were of years of discretion, but such as made con- 
 fession of their faith and repentance. Therefore it is not law- 
 ful now to baptize any adult persons, but those who have been 
 taught the mysteries of Holy Baptism, and are able to give an 
 account of their faith by the confession of the mouth. 
 
 Since then you, N., are desirous of this holy sacrament, as a 
 seal of your engrafting into the Church of God ; that it may 
 appear that you do not only receive the Christian Keligion of 
 which you now make confession, but do, through the grace of 
 God, intend and purpose to lead a life according to the same ; 
 you are sincerely to give answer before God and His Church : 
 
 First Dost thou believe in the only true God, distinct in 
 three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; Who hath made 
 
70 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 heaven and earth, and all that in them is, of nothing, and still 
 maintains and governs them, insomuch that nothing comes to 
 pass, either in heaven or on earth, without His divine will ? 
 
 Answer, Yes. 
 
 Secondly. Dost thou acknowledge that thou art conceived 
 and born in sin, and therefore art a child of wrath, bj nature 
 wholly incapable of doing any good, and prone to all evil ; 
 and that thou hast frequently, both in thought, word, and 
 deed, transgressed the commandments of the Lord; and art 
 thou heartily sorry for these sins ? 
 
 Answer, Yes. 
 
 Thirdly. Dost thou believe that Christ, Who is the true and 
 eternal God, and very Man, is given thee of God to be thy 
 Saviour ; and that thou dost receive by this faith remission of 
 sins in His blood ; and that thou art made by the power of the 
 Holy Ghost a member of Jesus Christ and of His Church ? 
 
 Atiswer, Yes. 
 
 Fourthly. Dost thou assent to all the articles of the Christian 
 Relioion, as thev are here taught in this Christian Church, ac- 
 cording to the Word of God ; and purpose stedfastly to con- 
 tinue in the same to the end of thy life ; and also dost thou re- 
 ject all heresies and schisms, repugnant to this doctrine ; a,nd 
 promise to persevere in the communion of our Christian 
 Church, not only in the hearing of the Word, but also in the 
 use of the Lord's Supper ? 
 
 Answer, Yes. 
 
 Hast thou taken a firm resolution always to lead a Christian 
 life ; to forsake the world and its evil lusts, as is becoming the 
 members of Christ and of His Church ; and to submit thyself 
 to all Christian admonitions? 
 
 Answer, Yes. 
 
 The good and gracious God mercifully grant His grace and 
 blessing to this your purpose, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Then the Mvnister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say : 
 
 N., I t)aptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOR 
 
 The Admission of Baptized Persons 
 
 TO 
 
 THE TABLE OF THE LORD. 
 
 " Children born within- the pale of the visible Church, and 
 dedicated to God in Baptism, are under the inspection and 
 government of the Church ; and are to be taught to read and 
 repeat the Catechism, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord^s 
 Prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear 
 God, and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, And when they come 
 to years of discretion, if they be free from scandal, appear 
 sober and steady, and to have sufficient knowledge to discern 
 the Lord's Body, they ought to be informed it is their duty and 
 their privilege to come to the Lord's Supper. 
 
 " The years of discretion in young Christians can not be 
 precisely fixed. This must be left to the prudence of the El- 
 dership. The officers of the Church are the judges of the qua!-, 
 ifications of those to be admitted to sealing ordinances ; and 
 of the time when it is proper to admit young Christians to 
 them. 
 
 " Those who are to be admitted to sealing ordinances, shall 
 be examined as to their knowledge and piety." 
 
 Directory fob Worship, c. ix. 
 
72 PRECE3 ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 [The follo-vring mode of Admission, taken from Formularie3 of Presbvteriac 
 Criurches. is used by them in connection with the Serrice preparatoiy to the cele- 
 bration of the Lords Supper.] 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made hearen and 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 Preface. 
 
 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from 
 the womb, which will help thee, Fear not, O Jacob, mr ser- 
 vant, and thou Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will 
 pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry 
 ground : I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing 
 upon thine offspring ; and they shall spring up as among the 
 grass, as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am 
 the Lord's ; and another shall subscribe himself with his hand 
 unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 
 
 Address to the Congregation. 
 
 Brethren, we are here met for the admission of these young 
 persons, who have been examined as to their knowledge and 
 piety, to the Table of the Lord, They will publicly ratify in 
 your hearing the engagements of their Baptism, and be re- 
 ceived to the full participation of the benefits of the Covenant 
 of Grace. 
 
 This occasion is one of solemn interest for each of them : 
 and such also let it be for each of you. Let your thoughts 
 revert to the vows that you have taken, and the privileges 
 that you have obtained, in the communion and fellowship of 
 Christ and of His Body the Church. To this end let us with 
 one accord seek the blessing of the Spirit of God. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Almighty and most Merciful God I "We give Thee hearty 
 thanks, that Thou hast called us to the knowledge of Thyself, 
 in Jesus Christ our Lord ; and hast vouchsafed to make us 
 partakers of the great and precious promises of Thy holy Word. 
 We praise Thee for the certain assurance, that these promises 
 are unto us, and to our children, and to all that are afar off, 
 even as many as Thy grace shall call. Merciful God. we 
 have believed the witness of Thy Word. We have dedicated 
 these children from their infancy to Thee. We have sought 
 for them admission to Thy Church by Holy Baptism. We 
 
ADMISSION OF BAPTIZED PEESONS. 73 
 
 have taught them Thy saving Truth ; and now that they have 
 reached years of discretion, we come with them, to witness 
 their willing renewal of the sacred vows that bind them to Thy 
 Covenant. Lord, we beseech Thee, help them at this solemn 
 hour. AVork in them both to will and to do of Thy good 
 pleasure. Make them sincere in repentance, strong in faith, 
 stedfast in hope, and fervent in charity. Keceive them into 
 the communion of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and enable 
 them to persevere unto the end, by the grace of Thy Holy 
 Spirit. Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister addressing the Candidates says:- 
 
 You that desire to be admitted to the Table of the Lord, 
 are you so fully persuaded of the truths of the Gospel in 
 which you have been taught, that you are ready to suffer all 
 things, sooner than renounce the profession you now make ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
 Have you examined your own hearts, and are you deter- 
 mined to forsake sin, and to order your lives in obedience to 
 God's law ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
 Do you promise that, for the strengthening of your faith and 
 piet}*, you will give yourselves to the careful study and medi- 
 tation of the Word of God, and to prayer ; to a regular attend- 
 ance upon the assemblies of His People ; and to all other 
 means that Providence shall furnish, for the advancement of 
 your salvation ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
 Do you then sincerely and with your whole hearts confirm 
 and ratify the vows of your Baptism," that bind you to renounce 
 the world with all its vanities, to resist your evil passions, to 
 consecrate yourselves to God, your Father, Saviour, and Sanc- 
 tifier ; and to live in temperance, righteousness, and holiness all 
 your days ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
 Then the Minister says : 
 
 In view of these your promises, I admit you to the Table of 
 the Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may enjoy all 
 the privileges of the Covenant of Grace. 
 
74 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 May you be deeply sensible of the importance and tke so- 
 lemnity of the engagement that you have now entered upon, 
 and retain the impression of it throughout your lives. Re- 
 member that it is to God, your Maker, your Redeemer, and 
 your Judge, that these promises have been made ; and that 
 upon the care you take to fulfil them, will depend your eternal 
 blessedness. Walk worthily, then, of your high vocation. 
 Let the light of your good works shine before men. Labour 
 to perfect holiness, in the fear of the Lord. Seek daily the 
 strength of God. Nourish your souls with His "Word. Be 
 watchful unto prayer. Flee youthful snares, that would lead 
 you away from Him. 
 
 Thus devoting yourselves to God from youth, you will be so 
 accustomed to His service, that His yoke will seem to you easy, 
 and His burthen light, and your joy will be found in doing 
 His blessed will. God on His part will bless you ; He will 
 give you His peace, that passeth all understanding. The eye 
 of the Lord will be upon you, and His ear will be open to your 
 prayers ; the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all 
 sin. Be fearful of nothing ; because greater is He that is in 
 you, than he that is in the world. His strength will be made 
 perfect in your weakness ; you will be able to do all things 
 through Christ who strengtheneth you. In the hour of death, 
 you will be sustained by the hope of a joyful resurrection, and 
 having here below your fruit unto holiness, you shall have the 
 end everlasting life. 
 
 Then the Minister addressing the whole congregation says : 
 
 And you. Brethren, who now witness the entrance of these 
 baptized persons upon a connection yet more close and inti- 
 ^mate with yourselves, let your affection for them, and your 
 'earnest solicitude for their welfare, be henceforth redoubled. 
 And let us all with one accord, as members of one Body, unite 
 in fervent prayer, that God may pour down His grace upon us, 
 and guide by His Holy Spirit into His perfect way. 
 
 Prayer, 
 The Candidates kneeling. 
 
 Lord our God, who hast chosen to Thyself a Church on 
 earth, and who hast promised to preserve it unto the end of 
 the world, and finally raise it unto Thy glory : Look down in 
 Thy goodness upon these baptized persons now prostrate before 
 Thee, who have been solemnly admitted to the full communion 
 and fellowship of Thy Church. Thou hadst already called 
 them, by the promises "^of Thy Covenant, which are made unto 
 
ADMISSION OF BAPTIZED PERSONS. 75 
 
 US and unto our children; and granted them the seal of this 
 privilege of Christian birth, in the ordinance of Baptism. But 
 since the weakness of their infancy prevented the personal 
 and voluntary dedication of themselves, thev come now to con- 
 firm the vows of obedience that were taken for them, to conse- 
 crate themselves entirely to Thy service, and to beseech Thee 
 that Thou wilt graciously regard them as Thy children. They 
 have been taught, God, to know Thee, their Father, Saviour, 
 and Sanctifier. They are persuaded that there is salvation in 
 none other, and they desire to have part in the benefits of the 
 sacrifice of Christ, and His efficacious intercession. Accept, 
 Lord, these purposes of their hearts, and receive them into the 
 communion of Thy Son. Mav they love Thy truth, and ever 
 seek to know it more thoroughly, and to profess it more con- 
 sistently, unto the end of their lives. May they withstand 
 all evil, renounce the world, its vanities and delusions, and 
 live as the heirs and citizens of heaven. May the Sacrament 
 of which they shall partake be accompanied with a fresh out- 
 pouring of Thy grace upon them. Take possession of their 
 hearts by Thy Holy Spirit ; and at last receive them with us 
 into Thy heavenly habitations, through our Great Eedeemer 
 and Advocate, Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen. 
 Our Father, etc. 
 
 Benediction, 
 
 The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. 
 Amen. WiXDEysiAK Litckgt. 
 
THE OFFICE 
 
 FOR 
 
 The Confirmation of Marriage. 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 Dearly beloved Brethren, we are here gathered together in 
 the sight of God, and in the face of His Congregation, to join 
 together these persons in the honourable estate of Matrimony : 
 which was instituted and authorized by God Himself in Para- 
 dise, Man being then in the state of innocency. For what 
 time God made heaven and earth, and all that in them is, and 
 had created and fashioned Man also in His own similitude 
 and likeness, He said. It is not good that the Man should be 
 alone ; I will make him an help meet for him. And the Lord 
 God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and He took one 
 of his ribs, and framed Eve thereof : giving us thereby to un- 
 derstand, that they two are one body, one flesh, and one 
 blood. For the which cause a man leaveth father and mother, 
 and cleaveth to his wife ; whom he ought to love, as our 
 Saviour loveth the Church, for the which He gave His life. 
 Likewise also it is the wife's duty, to study to please and obey 
 her husband, serving him in all things that be godly and ho- 
 nest : for she is under the governance of her husband, so long 
 as they continue both alive. 
 
 Here the Minister epeakeih to the parties that shafl he married, in this wise : 
 
 I require and charge you, as ye will answer at the day of 
 judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. 
 
CONFIRMATION OF MAEBIAGE. 77 
 
 that if either of you do know any impediment, why ye may 
 not lawfully be joined together in matrimony, ye confess it. 
 For >be ye well assured, that so many as be joined otherwise 
 than God's Word doth allow, are not joined together by God, 
 neither is their matrimony lawful. 
 
 If no impediment be by them declared, then the Minister saith to the whole Con- 
 gregation : 
 
 I take you to witness that be here present, beseeching you 
 all to have good remembrance thereof: and moreover, if there 
 be any of you which knoweth that either of these parties be 
 contracted to any other, or knoweth any other lawful impedi- 
 ment, let them now make declaration thereof. 
 
 If no cause be alleged, the Minister proceedeth, saying: 
 
 Forasmuch as no man speaketh against this thing. Our Lord 
 confirm jonr good purpose which He hath given you : and 
 your beginning be m the Name of the Lord, which made 
 heaven and earth. 
 
 You, M., do here acknowledge before God, and His holy 
 Congregation, that you have taken and do take N., here pre- 
 sent, for your lawful wife : you do promise to keep her, to love 
 her and maintain her, faithfully, as a true and faithful hus- 
 band is bound to do ; and forsaking all other, to live holily 
 with her, keeping faith and truth in all things, according as 
 the Word of God and His holy Gospel doth appoint ? 
 
 Answer: Even so I take her, before God, and in the pre- 
 sence of this Congregation. 
 
 Then the Minister to the Spouse also saith : 
 
 You, N., do here acknowledge before God and His holy 
 Congregation, that you have taken and do take M., here pre- 
 sent, for your lawful husband : you do promise to obey him, 
 to love him, faithfully, as a true and faithful wife is bound to 
 do ; and forsaking all other, to live holily with him, keeping 
 faith and truth in all things, according as the Word of God 
 and His holy Gospel doth appoint ? 
 
 Answer : Even so I take him, before God, and in the pre- 
 sence of this Congregation. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say : 
 
 The Father of all Mercies, who of His grace hath called you 
 to this holy state of Marriage, bind you in true love and faith- 
 fulness all your lives. 
 
 Whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. 
 
78 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Let us all witli one heart call upon God. 
 
 God, Most Mighty, Gracious and Wise ! since it hath 
 pleased Thee to call these persons to the holy state of Mar- 
 riage : Grant them, -we beseech Thee, the grace of Thy Holy 
 Spirit : that with true and firm faith they may live holily 
 together, according to Thy will, to the edification of all men, 
 by their pure and honest life. Bless them, as Thou blessedst 
 Thy faithful servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob : that they 
 may be partakers of that covenant which Thou madest with 
 them. Hear us, Father of all Mercies ! through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. In whose Name we also pray, saying, 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 The Lord bless you, and keep you : The Lord make His 
 face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you : The Lord 
 lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen. 
 
 KUOX. 
 
 n. 
 
 God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His face 
 to shine upon us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 In the Name of Almighty God, I demand of each of you 
 here present, that if you know any good reason why these per- 
 sons and , should not be joined in Marriage, ye 
 
 do now declare the same, as ye would answer before the 
 Searcher of hearts. 
 
 God created Man in His own image, and said, It is not 
 good that man should be alone — I will make a help meet 
 for him. He brought unto the man the woman whom He 
 had made. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, 
 and flesh of my flesh. Therefore shall a man leave father and 
 mother, and cleave unto his wife : and they twain shall be 
 one flesh. 
 
 Marriage, thus ordained of God in Eden, was confirmed at 
 the wedding in Cana of Galilee, by the gracious presence and 
 miraculous blessing of our divine Lord Jesus Christ : who hath 
 also saidj What God hath joined together let not man put 
 
CONFIRMATION OF MARRIAGE. 79 
 
 asunder. Moreover, His holy Apostle Paul has commended 
 unto the husband the example of Christ in loving His Church, 
 and unto the wife the willing subjection of the Church unto 
 Christ as her head. Whence we learn that Marriage is well- 
 pleasing to God our Saviour, and most honourable to all who 
 maintain therein a mutual love and unshaken fidelity. 
 
 I therefore, a minister of the blessed Gospel, charge and en- 
 treat you both, to seek the help of God in all your duties ; that 
 His grace may make your union fruitful of comfort in this life, 
 and a furtherance of your everlasting salvation, to the glory of 
 His holy Name. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 O Most Holy and Most Merciful Lord God, we beseech Thee 
 for these Thy servant and handmaid ; that they may, with a 
 reverent trust in Thee, enter into the covenant of marriage, as 
 they now propose, and truly keep all the vows which they are 
 about to make according to Thy Word. Grant this, our 
 Father, with the forgiveness of our. sins, through Christ Thy 
 Son. Amen. 
 
 TJien the Minister sMU lid the vmn and the woman to join their right hands: which, 
 being done, he shaU say to the man : 
 
 Dost thou , take this woman , before God and 
 
 these witnesses, to be thy wife ? 
 
 The man shall answer, Yes. 
 
 Dost thou promise to love her, honour her, defend her, sus- 
 tain and cherish her, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in 
 sickness, in prosperity and in adversity ? Wilt thou be faith- 
 ful to her in all things as becometh a good husband, and never 
 forsake her so long as ye both do live ? 
 
 Answer : Yes. 
 
 The Minister shaU then say to the woman : 
 
 Dost thou , take this man , before God and 
 
 these witnesses, to be thy husband ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
 Dost thou promise to love him, honour him, cherish and 
 obey him, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in 
 prosperity and adversity ? Wilt thou be faithful to him in all 
 things as becometh a good wife, and never forsake him so long 
 as ye both do live ? 
 
 Answer: Yes. 
 
80 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 [ When a ring is wei.] 
 To the man : 
 
 What pledge dost thou give that thou wilt perform these 
 thy vows ? 
 
 The man shows the ring. 
 To the woman : 
 
 Dost thou receive this ring in token of the same on thy 
 part? 
 
 Then the man (the Minister guiding his hand) shaM place the ring on the fourth fingtr 
 of her kft hand. 
 
 Then the Minister- fhall say : 
 
 Let US pray. 
 
 O God, our heavenly Father, Thou hast heard these promises 
 of Thy servant and handmaid to each other : Mercifully conde- 
 scend to unite their hearts and lives by all the grace and true 
 affection of a happy marriage. May their love never know 
 change, or doubt, or decay. Eeplenish them with Thy Holy 
 Spirit, that they may piously live together according to Thy 
 divine will. May they be blessed in each other, and both in 
 the knowledge of Christ Thy Son, and may they at last enter 
 Thy blessed Kingdom : Though Jesus Christ our Eedeemer. 
 Amen. 
 
 Then the Minister, taking their datped hands between his, shall say : 
 
 Now in the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 whose servant I am, I pronounce you husband and wife. 
 
 The Lord bless you, and keep you. 
 
 The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious 
 imto you. 
 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you^ and give you 
 peace. 
 
 Then, stUl holding their hands, the Minister shall say to the company of witnesses : 
 
 What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 
 
THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 THE SER\^ICE AT THE HOUSE. 
 
 Prefaces, 
 On« or more of which may be read at discretion. 
 
 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the 
 house of feasting ; for that is the end of all men, and the living 
 will lay it to heart 
 
 Let us weep with those that weep ] and let our prayer also 
 be in their calamities. 
 
 Affliction cometh not forth of the dust^ neither doth trouble 
 spring out of the ground. See now, saith the Lord, I, even I 
 am He, and there is no God beside Me. I kill, and I make 
 alive ; I wound, and I heall neither is there any that can de- 
 liver out of My hand. 
 
 The Lord destroyeth the hope of man. The Lord prevaileth 
 against him, and he passeth. He changeth his countenance, 
 and sendeth him away. 
 
 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed ; be- 
 cause His compassions fail not. Like as a iather pitieth his 
 children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He 
 knoweth our frame ; He remembereth that we are dust. 
 
 Though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion accord- 
 ing to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict 
 willingly the children of men. 
 
 Despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when 
 6 
 
82 PEECES ECCLESIASTIC.E. 
 
 thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He chas- 
 teneili, and scourgeth every sou whom He receiveth. Now 
 no chastening for the present seemeth to-be joyous but griev- 
 ous ; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of 
 righteousness unto them which are exercised thereb3^ Where- 
 fo're lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees. 
 
 For we have not an High Priest wdiich can not be touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points 
 tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come 
 boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, 
 and find grace to help in time of need. 
 
 Leave thy fatherless children, saith the Lord; I will preserve 
 them alive ; and let thy widows trust in Me. 
 
 A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widow, is 
 God in His holy habitation. 
 
 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord 
 will take me up. 
 
 {For an Infant:) And David said, While the child was 
 yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, who can tell whether 
 God will be gracious unto me, that the child may live? But 
 now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him 
 back again? I shall go to him; but he shall not return 
 to me. 
 
 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be 
 the Name of the Lord. 
 
 ■ A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax 
 shall He not quench. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 God, Merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Wlio 
 .hast said, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be com- 
 forted: Under the shadow of Thy judgments we come to Thee, 
 and acknowledge Thee to be tlie Lord alone. Thou hast en- 
 tered this house'with Thy chastenings: Oh ! be Thou nigh in 
 Thy tender compassion to these afflicted ones. Bless Thy sor- 
 rowing servants with Thy consolations, which are neither few 
 nor small. Convert them wholly to Thyself, and fill their 
 bleeding hearts with Thy love. Intake the night of their grief 
 to be light by Thy grace. Deliver us Thy servants, we pray 
 Thee, from the bondage of our sins, that we may be free from 
 fear of death, and be ready at Thy coming. Yea, Lord ! for 
 Christ's sake, sanctify us by Thy Holy Spirit, that whether we 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. S3 
 
 live, we may live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we niay 
 die unto the Lord ; whether we live or die, may we be the 
 Lord's. Amen. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and 
 the communion of the Holv Ghost, be with vou all. Amen. 
 
 THE SERMCE AT THE CHURCH. 
 
 [If the service be performed in ichok at the hou^e, then a jiartof the following may 
 be xtsed in connection with the preceding form.l 
 
 Cpon entering the church, when aU sJwM have taken the attitude of prayer, let the SCth 
 Psalm be read as an 
 
 Invocation. 
 
 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. 
 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst 
 formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to ever- 
 lasting. Thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction': and 
 sayest, Eeturu, ye children of men. For a thousand years in 
 Thy sight are but as 3'esterday when it is past, and as'^a watch 
 in the night. . Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; thev 
 are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass which grow- 
 eth up. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up ; in the 
 evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed 
 by Thine auger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou 
 hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the liizht 
 of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in Thy 
 wrath : we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of 
 our years are three score 3-ears and ten ; and if by reason of 
 strength they be four score years, yet is their strength laboui- 
 and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and wc fly away. Who 
 knpweth the power of Thine anger ? even according to Thy 
 fear, so is Thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that 
 Ave may apply our hearts unto wisdom, Eeturn, Lord ! 
 how long? and let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. 
 Oh satisfy us early Avith Thy mercv ; that we may rejoice and 
 be glad all our days. Make us glad according 'to the davs 
 wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have 
 seen evil. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thv 
 glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our 
 God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands 
 upon us : yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. 
 
84 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 Here may he sung a Funeral Hymn. 
 
 Then let there he read two portions of Scripture, from the Gospel and the EpisiUs. 
 The following are suitable passages. 
 
 Hear the comfortable words of the Gospel of our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, as they are written in the eleventh chapter of 
 Saint John. 
 
 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, 
 my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, what- 
 soever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. Jesus 
 saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith 
 unto Him, I know that he shall ri.se again in the Resurrection 
 at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and 
 the Life : he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet 
 shall he live : and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall 
 never die. Believest thou this ? She saith unto Him, Yea, 
 Lord : I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which 
 should come into the world. 
 
 Or this : 
 
 Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ, in the fifth 
 chapter of Saint John : 
 
 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, 
 and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and 
 shall" not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death 
 unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, 
 and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of 
 God : and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath 
 life in himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in 
 Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment 
 also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this : for 
 the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall 
 hear His voice, and shall come forth ; they that have done good, 
 unto the Resurrection of life ; and they that have done evil, 
 unto the Resurrection of damnation. 
 
 [For an Infant] 
 
 Hear the comfortable words of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 They brought young children to Him that 5e should touch 
 them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. 
 But when Jesus saw it. He was much displeased, and said unto 
 them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid 
 them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven. Verily I 
 say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of 
 Heaven as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 
 Or this: 
 
 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; for I 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 85 
 
 say unto you That in heaven their angels do always behold 
 the face of Mj Father which is in heaven. For the Son of 
 Alun IS come to save that which was lost. How think ve '' if a 
 man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astrav 
 doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the 
 mountains, and seeketh that which is sone astrav "^ And if so 
 be that he find it verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of 
 that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astrav 
 ii-ven so It IS not the will of your Father which is in heaven' 
 that one of these little ones should perish. '" 
 
 TV^/ore tht second portion of Scripture, may U read one or more of these ser.. 
 
 By one man sin entered into the world, and death bv sin 
 and so death hath passed upon all men, because that all" have 
 sinned. 
 
 The living know that they must die ; for there is one event 
 unto all. 
 
 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the 
 multitude of their riches, none of them can by any means re- 
 deem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, that he 
 should live for ever, and not see corruption. 
 
 ^s a cloud is consumed and vanisheth awav, so he that 
 goeth down to the grave shall return no more. 'He shall re- 
 turn no more to his house, neither shall his place know him 
 any more. His days are ended, his purposes are broken oS 
 even the thoughts of his heart 
 
 TTien let the second poriioa of Scripture be read, from 1 Corinthiatu ZV. : 
 
 Hear also what the Apostle Paul saith : 
 
 Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits 
 of them that slept. For since by man came death, by Man 
 came also the Resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all 
 die even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man 
 m his own order : Christ the first-fruits : afterward they that 
 are Christ s at His coming.— But some man will sav. How are 
 the dead raised up ? and with what bodv do thev come ? Thou 
 tool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die • 
 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that bodv that 
 shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some 
 other gram : but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him 
 and to every seed his own body.-So also is the Resurrection 
 ot tbe dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorrup- 
 tion : It IS sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory : it is sown 
 m weakness, it is raised in power : it is sown a natural body 
 
86 PPwECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and 
 there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man 
 Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a 
 quickening spirit. HowlDeit that was not first which is spi- 
 ritual, but that which is natural ; and afterward that which ' 
 is spii'itual. The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second 
 Man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they 
 also that are earthy ; and as is the heavenly, such are they 
 also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of 
 th3 earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 
 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can not inherit 
 the Kingdom. .of God; neither doth corruption inherit incor- 
 ruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery : We shall not all 
 sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twink- 
 ling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, 
 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be 
 changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and 
 this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corrupti- 
 ble shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have 
 put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying 
 that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. death, 
 where is thy sting? grave, where is thy victory? The sting 
 of death is sin, and'the strength of sin is the law. But thanks 
 be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Or this, from Revelation XX. : 
 
 Hear also the Eevelation of St, J ohn : 
 
 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, 
 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and 
 there was found no jDJace for them. And I saw the dead, 
 small and great, stand before God ; and the books were 
 opened : and another book was opened, which is the Book of 
 life : and the dead were judged out of those things which were 
 written in the books, according to their works. And the sea 
 gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell de- 
 livered up the dead which were in them : and they were 
 judged every man according to their works. 
 
 Or this, from Eevelation XXI. : 
 
 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first 
 heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was 
 no more sea. And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusa- 
 lem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a 
 bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice 
 out of heaven, saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with 
 men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His Peo- 
 
BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 87 
 
 pie, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. 
 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there 
 shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither 
 shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed 
 away. 
 
 ^ Prayer. 
 
 God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies can 
 not be numbered : Make us, we beseech Tliee, deeply sensi- 
 ble of the shortness and uncertainty of human life ; and let 
 Thy Holy Spirit lead us through this vale of miser}'', in holi- 
 ness and righteousness, all the days of our lives : that when 
 we shall have served Thee in' our generation, we may be 
 gathered'unto ovr fathers^ having the testimony of a good con- 
 science ; in the communion of the Christian Church ; in the 
 confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of a reasonable', 
 religious, and holy hope.; in favour with Thee our God, and in 
 perfect charity with the world: all which we ask throug^i 
 Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 
 Amen. 
 
 THE SERVICE AT THE GRAVE. 
 
 Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the 
 streets. 
 
 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? 
 Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? 
 
 I heard a voice from heaven saying u-nto me, write : Blessed 
 are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, 
 saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their 
 works do follow them. 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us 
 again unto a lively hope by the Eesurrection of Jesus Christ 
 from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and 
 that fadeth not awa}^ reserved in heaven for you, who are 
 kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 
 
 At the time ofhwial, (he Minister, shall say : 
 
 The dust returns to dust, and the spirit unto God who gave 
 it J therefore do we now commit the body of our departed 
 
88" PEECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 brother to the earth [or deep] until that hour when earth and 
 sea shall give up their dead, at the coming of our Lord Jesus- 
 Christ to judge the world. 
 
 Let us pray. 
 
 Almighty and Everlasting God! we Thine unworthy ser~ 
 vants beseech Thee for Christ's sake to have pity upon us. 
 From the borders of the grave we cry unto Thee ; for Christ's 
 sake have mercy upon us. It hath pleased Thee to call out of 
 tills world the soul of our departed friend, whose body we 
 have now brought for his burial. We humbly entreat Thee 
 that we may with true penitence of heart receive the warning 
 of Thy pro-vidence, and consider that for reason of our guilt it 
 is appointed unto us to die, and that in a moment when we 
 tliink not we may appear before Thee. Yea, Lord, by reason 
 of our sins we lie in the midst of death. Spare us, Lord, 
 6 most pitiful and long-suffering Lord God, sj3are us a little 
 longer, that we may take refuge in Christ, abiding in Him, 
 that when He shall appear we may have confidence, and not 
 be ashamed at His coming. Merciful God and Father of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, suffer none of us to live without godli- 
 ness and die without hope ; but constrain us mightily by Thy 
 love: that we, being renewed by Thy grace, and accepted 
 through Christ's intercession, may walk before Thee in new- 
 ness of life, and praise Thee for ever among the Assembly of 
 the Elect, where there shall be no more death, and sorrow and 
 sighing shall flee away : which we implore for the sake of 
 Him who has taught us to say, 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. 
 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is 
 lieaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us 
 our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom^ and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Benedictwn. 
 
 Now the God of Peace, that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
 ^he blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in 
 every good work to do His will, working in you that which ia 
 well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 ORDER OF SERVICE 
 
 FOR A 
 
 Day of Humiliatiorij Fasting, and Prayer. 
 
 Invocatioji. 
 
 Our help is in the Name of the Lgrd, TYho made heaven an^ 
 earth. Amen. 
 
 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and how mvself 
 before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt- 
 ofiferings, with calves of a year old ? Will the Lord-be pleased 
 with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil f 
 Shall I give raj first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my 
 body for the sin of my soul ? *He hath shewed thee, O man, 
 what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to 
 do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thj 
 God ? 
 
 S^e Opming Prayer. 
 
 O lord, Thy mercy is without measure, and the troth of Thy 
 promise abide th for ever. Unworthy ^Fe we that Thoe 
 shouldst look upon us ; but Thou bast promised to shew Thy 
 compassion toward the most grievous offenders, wheusoevei 
 they repent ; and by the mouth of Thy dear Son our Lor4 
 
90 PRECES ECCLESIASTICJE. 
 
 Jesus Christ, to give TI13' Holy Spirit unto such as humbly 
 call upon Thee. In boldness of this promise, we most humbly 
 beseech Thee, Father of Mercies, that it may please Thee to 
 work in our stubborn hearts an unfeigned sorrow for our 
 offences, a feeling of Thy grace and mercy, and an earnest 
 desire for that righteousness in which we are bound continu- 
 ally to walk. But because neither we nor our prayers can 
 stand before Thee, we fly to the obedience and perfect right- 
 eousness of Jesus Christ our only Mediator: in whom, and by 
 whom, we ask of Thee not only the remission of our sins, and 
 .the help of Thy Spirit, but all things also that Thy wisdora 
 knoweth to be expedient for us, and for Thy Church Universal 
 Amen. Knox 
 
 Here may he sung apenitsntial Psalm. 
 
 TTien foVaws the Reading of Scri^-iture, out of the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 The folbwing are appropriate selections : 
 
 laaiah i. 10-2L St. Matthew ill 1-12- 
 
 Isaiah Iviii. Hebrews iii. 
 
 Jeremiah viL 1-20, St. Matthew xxi. 28-4G. 
 
 Psalm li. St. Luke xiii. 23-35. 
 
 Ezekiel xviiL 20-32. St. Luke xviii. 1-14. 
 
 Daniel ix. 1-19. St. Luke xv. 11-32. 
 
 Next the 
 
 FuENcn Liturgy. 
 General Prayer, 
 Beginning with the Prayer of our Lord. 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 Almighty, Most Just and Merciful God ! we acknowledge 
 ourselves unworthy to lift up our eyes unto heaven, as we pre- 
 sent ourselves before Thee. For our consciences accuse us, 
 and our sins reprove us ; and we know that Thou who art a 
 righteous Judge, must needs punish them that transgress Thy 
 iaw. Lord! when we 'look back and examine our whole 
 iife, we find nothing in ourselves that deserveth any other re- 
 ward than eternal condemnation. But since Thou, of Thine 
 unspeakable mercy, hast commanded us in all our necessities 
 to call upon Thee ; and hast also promised that Thou wilt hear 
 our prayers, not for any merit of our own, for we have none, 
 but for the merits of Thy Son, whom Thou hast ordained to 
 
DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER. 91 
 
 be our only Mediator and Intercessor : Therefore we lav aside 
 all confidence in man, and flee to the throne of Thy mercy, bj 
 the intercession of Thy only Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
 
 O Lord1 we do lament and bewail, from the bottom of our 
 hearts, our past unthankfulness towards Thee. We remember 
 that besides those benefits of Thine which we enjoy in common 
 with all men as Thy creatures, Thou hast bestowed upon us 
 many special blessings, of which we are not able in heart to 
 conceive the value, much less in words worthily to express it. 
 Thou hast called us to the knowledge of Thy Gospel. Thou 
 hast released us from the hard servitude of Satan. Thou hast 
 delivered us from all idolatry, wherein we were sunken ; and 
 hast brought us into the clear and comfortable light of Thy 
 blessed Word, But we, most unmindful, in our prosperity, of 
 these Thy great benefits, have neglected Thy commandments, 
 have abused the knowledge of Thy Gospel, have followed our 
 carnal liberty, have served our own lusts, and through our sin- 
 ful lives have failed suitably to serve and honour Thee. 
 
 And now, Lord! we do most humbly confess that we 
 have sinned, and have most grievously displeased Thee. And 
 if Thou, Lord ! provoked wi'th our disobedience, shouldst now 
 deal with us as we have deserved, there remaineth nothing to 
 be looked for, but continual plagues in this world, and here- 
 after eternal death and condemnation, both of body and of soul. 
 For if we should excuse ourselves, our own consciences would 
 accuse us before Thee, and our own disobedience and wicked- 
 ness would bear witness against us. Yet, although Thou 
 shouldst punish us more grievously still ; though Thou shouldst 
 pour upon us all those testimonies of Thy just wrath, which in 
 time past Thou pouredst on Thy chosen people, Israel : yet could 
 we not deny that we had justly deserved it. , 
 
 But, O merciful Lord ! Thou art our God, and we are Thine 
 inheritance ; Thou art our Creator, and we the work of Thy 
 hands; Thou art our Shepherd, we Thy flock ; Thou art our Re- 
 deemer, and we the people whom Thou hast redeemed : Thou 
 art our Father, we are Thy children. Lord ! be not wroth 
 against us; punish us not in Thy sore displeasure. 
 
 Remember, O Lord! that Thy'Name hath been named upon 
 us ; that we bear Thy seal and the tokens of Thy service. 
 Perfect the work Thou hast begun in us ; that all the -world 
 may know Thou art our God and merciful Deliverer. Thou 
 knowest that the dead who are in their graves can not praise 
 Thee ; but the sorrowful spirit, the contrite heart, the conscience 
 broken with a sense of sin, and panting for Thy grace, shall 
 give Thee praise and glory. Thy people Israel ofttimes 
 
92 PRECES ECCLESIASTICJE. 
 
 offended Thee, and Thou didst justly afflict them; but as oft 
 as they returned to Thee, Thou didst receive them in mercy ; 
 and though their sins were never so great, yet didst Thou turn 
 away Thy wrath, and the punishment prepared for them : and 
 that for Thy Covenant's sake, which Thou raadest with Thy 
 servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thou hast made a bet- 
 ter Covenant with us, O heavenly Father ! a Covenant on which 
 we may lean as we appear before Thee : through the mediation 
 of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Saviour, with whose most 
 precious blood it pleased Thee that this covenant should be 
 written, sealed, and confirmed. 
 
 Wherefore, heavenly Father ! we now, casting away all 
 confidence in ourselves or any other creature, do flee to this 
 most holy covenant and testament ; wherein our Lord and Sa- 
 viour Jesus Christ, once offering himself a sacrifice for us on 
 the Cross, hath reconciled us to Thee for ever. Look, there- 
 fore, O merciful God ! not upon the sins that we continually 
 commit, but upon our Mediator and Peacemaker, Jesus Christ: 
 that by His intercession Thy wrath may be pacified, and we 
 again by Thy fatherly countenance relieved and comforted. 
 Eeceive us also into Thy heavenly defence, and govern us by 
 Thy Holy Spirit. Frame in us newness of life, wherein to laud 
 and magnify Thy blessed Name for ever, and to live everv one 
 of us according to the several states of life whereunto Thou 
 hast ordained us. 
 
 And, O heavenly Father ! although by reason of our past 
 sins, we are unworthy to crave any thing of Thee : yet because 
 Thou hast commanded us to pray for all men, we most humbly 
 beseech Thee, save and defend Thy holy Church. Be merciful 
 to all commonwealths, countries, princes, and magistrates; and 
 especially to this our land, and to its rulers and governors. In- 
 crease the number of godly ministers. Endue them with Thy 
 grace, to be found faithful and prudent in their office. Bless the 
 President of the United States, and all that be in authority. We 
 commend also to Thy fatherly mercy all that be in poverty, 
 exile, imprisonment, sickness, or any other kind of aaversity; 
 and chiefly those whom Thy hand hath touched with any 
 dangerous sickness : which we beseech Thee, O Lord ! of Thy 
 mercy, when Thy blessed will is, to remove. And in the 
 meantime grant us the grace of true repentance, stedfast faith, 
 and constant patience : that whether we live or die, we may 
 always continue Thine, and ever bless Thy holy Name, and 
 be brought to the fruition of Thy Godhead. Grant these, and 
 all our humble petitions, merciful Father! ^for the sake of 
 Thy dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Calvin. 
 
DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER. 93 
 
 Afttr this Prayer a Hymn shall be sung before the 
 
 Sermon : 
 
 At the close of which another Hymn. 
 Then the 
 
 Closing Prayer. 
 
 Most Mighty God ! Thou who from the beginning hast de- 
 clared Thyself a consuming fire against the contemners of Thy 
 holy precepts ; yet to penitent sinners hast always shewed 
 Thyself a favourable Father, and a God full of mercy : We 
 Thy creatures once more confess ourselves most unworthy to 
 open our eyes unto the heavens, far less to appear in Thy 
 presence. For our manifold iniquities have borne witness 
 against us, that we have declined from Thee. TVe have 
 given Thy glory to creatures ; we have sought support 
 where it was not to be found : and have slighted Thy 
 most wholesome admonitions. We are not ignorant, 
 Lord, that Thou art a righteous Judge, who canst not suffer 
 iniquity long to be unpunished upon obstinate transgress- 
 ors ; especiallv when that after so long blindness and de- 
 fection from I'hee, so lovingly Thou callest us back, and that 
 yet we do rebel. We have nothing, O Lord, that we may lay 
 between us and Thy judgment, but only Thy mercy, freely 
 offered unto us in Thy dear Son our Lord Jesus Christ. For 
 if Thou wilt enter into judgment with Thy servants, and keep 
 in mind our grievous offences, then can there no flesh escape 
 condemnation. And therefore we most humbly beseech Thee, 
 Father of Mercies, for Christ Jesus Th;f Son's sake, to take 
 from us these stony hearts that so long have heard Thy mer- 
 cies as well as Thy severe judgments, and yet have not been 
 effectually moved. Give unto us hearts mollified by Thy 
 Spirit. Look, Lord, unto Thy children labouring under the 
 imperfections of the flesh, and grant us the victory promised 
 by Jesus Christ Thy Son, our only Saviour, Mediator, and 
 Lawgiver : to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all 
 honour and praise, now and ever. Amen. Ejtox 
 
 Bentdiction. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you idl. 
 Amen. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOR 
 
 Ordaining Elders and Deacons. 
 
 If ordained separately, tliis form may he used as occasion shall require. 
 
 " When any person shall have been elected to either of these offices, and shall have de- 
 clared his willingness to accept thereof, he shall ha set apart in the following man- 
 ner : 
 
 " After sermon, the Minister shall state, in a concise manner, the warrant and nature 
 of the office of ruling Elder or Deacon, together with the character proper to he sus- 
 tained and the duties to he fulfilled hy the officer elect." DiK. OF Worship. 
 
 [Tlie following is a suitable form.] 
 
 Beloved Christians, you know that we have several times 
 published unto you the names of our brethren here present 
 who arc chosen to the office of Elders and Deacons in this 
 Church, that we might know whether any person had aught to 
 allege why they should not be set apart to their respective 
 of&ces. And w'^hereas no lawful objection hath been alleged 
 against them, we shall in the Name of the Lord proceed to in 
 duct them into the same. 
 
 But first we invite your attention to a short declaration from 
 the Word of God, concerning tlie office and duties of Elders 
 and Deacons. The Avord Elder, which is derived from the 
 Old Testament, and signifies a person who is placedin an hon- 
 ourable office of government over others, is applied to two 
 sorts of persons who minister in the Church of Jesus Christ ; 
 for the Apostle saith : " The elders that rule well shall be 
 counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour 
 in the Avord and doctrine." Hence it is evident that there were 
 
ORDINATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS. 95 
 
 two sorts of Elders in the Apostolic Church ; the former where- 
 of did labour in the Word and doctrine, and the latter did not. 
 The first were the Ministers of the Word, and Pastors who 
 preached the "Word and administered the Sacraments ; but the 
 others, though they did not labour in the Word, yet served the 
 Church by taking the oversight thereof, and ruliug the same 
 with the Ministers of the Word. For St. Paul, having spoken 
 of the Ministry of the Word of reconcihation, and also of the 
 office of distribution or Deacouship, speaketh afterwards par- 
 ticularly of this office, saying: " He that ruleth, let him do it 
 ■with diligence." In another place, he counts '• governments" 
 among the gifts and offices which God hath instituted in His 
 Church. In like manner we find the Apostle exhorting the 
 Elders of the Church of Ephesus, to "take heed to themselves 
 ■ and to the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them 
 overseers."' 
 
 It is moreover proper that such officers should be joined to 
 the Ministers of the Word in the government of the Church, 
 that there may be no lording over God's heritage ; which can 
 sooner creep in when the government is in the hands of one, 
 or a very few. And thus the Ministers of the Word, together 
 with the Elders, form an Assembly or Council of the Church, 
 representing the whole Body, to wliich Christ alludes when He 
 saith, " Tell the Church ;" which can in no wise be understood 
 of all and every member of the Church in particular, but very 
 properly of those who govern the Church out of which they 
 are chosen. 
 
 Therefore, in the first place, the office of the Elders is^ to- 
 gether with the Ministers of the Word, to take the episcopacy 
 or oversight of the Church which is committed to them. In 
 the discharge of their duties, they are to admit to its commu- 
 nion such as profess faith in Christ and repentance for their 
 sins ; diligently to look whether every one properly deports 
 himself in his doctrine and life ; to admonish those who behave 
 disorderly ; to prevent as much as possible the Sacrament from 
 being profaned ; to exercise the discipline of the Church 
 against such as offend ; and to receive them again when peni- 
 tent to the household of foith. 
 
 Secondly, Since the Apostle enjoineth that all things shall 
 be done decently and in order, therefore it is also the duty of 
 the Elders to pay regard to all Christian ordinances; and in 
 all things which relate to the welfare of the Church, to assist 
 the Ministers of the Word with good counsel, to visit the sick, 
 comfort the afflicted, and to be flxithful advisers of all the flock 
 committed to their care. 
 • Thirdly, It is their duty particularly to have regard unto the 
 
PREOES ECCLESIASTICJS. 
 
 doctrine and life of the Ministers of the Word, that all things 
 may be directed to the edification of the Church ; and that no 
 etrange doctrine be taught, according to that which we read 
 where the Apostle exhorteth the Elders to watch diligently 
 against the wolves who might come into the sheepfold of 
 Christ : for the performance of which the Elders are in duty 
 bound diligently to search the Word of God, and continually 
 to be meditating on the mysteries of faith. 
 
 Concerning the Deacons : Of the origin and institution of 
 their office we may read in the sixth chapter of the Acts : 
 where we find that the Apostles themselves did in the beginning 
 serve the poor ; At whose feet was brought the price of the 
 things that were sold, and distribution was made unto every 
 man according as he had need. But afterwards, when a raur* 
 muring arose, because the widows of the Grecians were ne- 
 glected in the daily ministration, men were chosen by the 
 advice of the Apostles, who should make the service of the 
 poor their peculiar business: to the end that the Apostles 
 might continually give themselves to prayer, and to the Min- 
 istry of the Word. And this has been continued from that 
 time forward in the Church ; as appears from Romans xii. 
 where the Apostle speaking of this office saitb : "He that giveth, 
 let him do it with simplicity." And speaking of helps, he 
 means those who are appointed in the Church to help and 
 assist the poor and indigent in time of need. 
 
 From these passages we may easily gather what the Deacons' 
 office is. In the first place, it is their duty to collect and pre- 
 serve with the greatest fidelity and diligence the alms which 
 are given to the poor, and that they endeavour that sufficient 
 means be provided for the same. The second part of their 
 office consists in distribution : wherein not only is godly dis- 
 cretion required, to bestow the alms only on the proper objects 
 of charity, but also cheerfulness and simplicity, to assist the 
 poor with becoming sympathy, hearty affection, and also with 
 comfortable words from Scripture— all which the Apostle re- 
 quires when speaking of the duties of this office. 
 
 To the end, therefore, beloved brethren — ■ — , -, that 
 
 every one may hear that you are willing to take your re- 
 spective offices upon you, ye shall answer to the following ques* 
 tions : 
 
 " 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 
 taments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of 
 faith and practice ? 
 
 "2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of 
 
OEDIXATION OF ELI>ERS AND DEACONS. 97 
 
 Taith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine 
 taught in the Holy Scriptures? 
 
 ." 3. Do you approve of the government and discipline of 
 tlie Presbyterian Church in these United States? 
 
 '•-i. Do you accept the office of ruling elder [or deacon, as 
 the case may be,] in this congregation, and promise faithfully to 
 perform all the duties thereof? 
 
 " 5. Do YOU promise to study the peace, unity, and purity 
 of the Church? 
 
 " 27ie elder or deacon elect having answered these questions in the affirmative, the Min- 
 ister sJuxU address to the members of the Church the following question : 
 
 " Do you, the members of this Church, acknowledge and 
 receive this brother as a ruling elder, [or deacon,] and do you 
 promise to yield him all that honour, encouragement, and 
 obedience, in the Lord, to which his office, according to the 
 Word of God, and the constitution of this Church, entitles 
 him ? 
 
 " The members of the Church having answered this question in the affirmative, by 
 holding up their right hands, the Minister shall proceed to set apart the candidate, 
 by prayer, to the office of ruling elder, or deacon as the case may be." 
 
 Die. of TVoeseip. 
 
 [The following is a suitable form.] 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Lord God, our Heavenly Father! we thank Thee that it 
 hath pleased Thee, for the better edification of Thy Church, 
 to ordain in it, besides the Ministers of the Word, rulers and 
 assistants, by w^hom Thy Church may be preserved in peace 
 and prosperity, and the indigent assisted ; and that Thou hast 
 -at present granted us in this place, men who are of good testi- 
 mony, and we hope endowed with Thy Spirit. We beseech 
 Thee, replenish them more and more with such gifts as are 
 necessary for them in their ministration.^ with the gifts of wis- 
 dom, courage, discretion, and benevolence ; to the end that 
 •every one may, in his respective office, acquit himself as is be- 
 coming : The Elders, in taking diligent heed unto the doctrine 
 and conversation, in keeping out tlae wolves from the sheep- 
 fold of Thy beloved Son, and in admonishing and reproving 
 disorderly persons. In like manner the deacons, in carefully 
 receiving, and liberally and prudently distributing of the alms 
 to the poor, and in comforting them with Thy holy Word. 
 Give grace both to the elders and deacons, that they may per- 
 severe in their faithful labour, and never become weary by 
 reason of any trouble, pain, or persecution of the world. 
 Orant also Thy divine grace to this people over whom they 
 7 
 
98 PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 are placed, that they may -willingly submit themselves to the 
 t^ood exhortations of the elders, counting them worthy of 
 honour for their work's sake. Give also unto them libeml 
 hearts towards the poor, and to the poor grateful hearts towards 
 those who help and serve them : to the end that every one 
 acquitting himself of his duty, Thy holy Name may thereby 
 be magnified, and the kingdom of Thy Son Jesus Christ en- 
 larged, in whose Name we conclude our prayer. 
 
 Our 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into 
 temptation, but deliver us from evil : For Thine is the king- 
 dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 
 
 " The Minister, having set apart the candidate by prayer, shall give to- him and to the 
 congregation an exhortaiion suited to the occasion. 
 
 " Where there is an existing Session, it is proper that the memhers of that body, at the 
 close of the service, and in the face of the congregation, take tfu newly^ordained elder 
 by the fiand, saying in words to this purpose : 
 
 " We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of 
 
 this office with us." 
 
 Reformed Dutch LrruEGT ; with the exception of the passages marked 
 from the DmECTOET of "Woeship. 
 
THE FORM 
 
 FOR 
 
 Ordaining Ministers of the Word of God. 
 
 The day appointed for Ordination being come, and the Presbytery convened, a 
 naember of the Presbytery previously appointed to that duty shall preach a sermon 
 adapted to the occasion. The same or another member appointed to preside, shall 
 afterwards briefly recite from the pulpit, in the audience of the people, the proceed- 
 ings of the Presbytery preparatory to this transaction : he shall point out the nature 
 and importance of the ordinance ; and endeavour to impress the audience with a 
 proper sense of the solemnity of the transaction." Die. of Worship. 
 
 [The following is an appropriate form.'] 
 
 Beloved brethren, attend to a short declaration taken from 
 the holy Scriptures touching the Ministry of reconciliation and 
 the Pastoral office. 
 
 We are not to look for the origin of this office in human ap- 
 pointment, but in G-od, our Heavenly Father, who, being will- 
 ing to call and gather a Church from among the corrupt race 
 of men into life eternal, doth by a particular mark of His 
 favour, use the ministry of men therein. Accordingly, our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, shortly before His ascension to heaven, gave 
 to His Apostles the commission, " Go ye therefore and teach 
 all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holv Ghost: and lo! I am with .you alwav 
 even unto the end of the world." Therefore St. Paul saith that 
 the " Lord Jesus Christ hath given some Apostles and some 
 Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teach- 
 ers: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the Minis- 
 try, for the edifying of the Body of Christ." Thus we see 
 that the Pastoral office is an institution of Christ. 
 
 In the Ministry, thus divinely appointed, there is no superi- 
 
100 PRECE3 ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 ority of rank or diversity of order ; but all are possessed of the 
 same authority, dignity, and power: being equally clothed 
 with the right of preaching the Gospel, of administering the 
 Sacraments and discipline of Christ's house, and of ordaining 
 others to the same office. 
 
 What this holy office of Pastor enjoins, mcij easily be 
 gathered from the Very name itself: for, as it is the duty of the 
 shepherd to feed, guide, protect, and rule the flock committed 
 to his charge, so it is with regard to these spiritual shepherds 
 who are set over the Church which God calleth unto salvation, 
 and accounts as sheep of His pasture. 
 
 The pasture with which these sheep are fed is the Preaching 
 of the Gospel, accompanied with prayer and the administration 
 of the holy Sacraments. The same Word of God is likewis3 
 the staff with which the flock is guided and ruled. Therefore 
 the office of Pastors and Ministers of God's Word is — 
 
 First. That they shall faithfully explain to their flocks the 
 Word of the Lord, revealed by the writings of the Prophets 
 and Apostles, and apply the same to the edification of the hear- 
 ers ; instructing, admonishing, comforting, and reproving ac- 
 cording to everyone's need, preaching repentance towards God 
 and reconciliation to Him through faith in Christ ; and refuting 
 from the holy Scriptures all schisms and heresies which are 
 repugnant to the pure doctrine. All this is clearly signified to 
 us in holy writ, for the Apostle Paul saith that these " labour in 
 the Word," and elsewhere he teacheth that this must be done 
 "according to the measure or rule of faith." He writes also 
 that a Pastor " must rightly divide the Word of Truth." In 
 another place he proposes himself as a pattern to Pastors, de- 
 claring that he hath " publicly from house to house taught and 
 testified repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." But particularly we have a clear description of 
 their office, where the Apostle thus speaketh : "And all things 
 are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself, by Jesus Christ, 
 and hath given to us the Ministry of reconciliation: to wit, 
 that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not 
 imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto 
 us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are embassadors 
 for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us ; we pray you 
 in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 
 
 So also concerning the refutation of false doctrine, the same 
 Apostle saith, that a Minister must " hold fast the faithful 
 Word of God as he hath been taught, that he may be able by 
 sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers," 
 
 Secondly. It is the office of the Ministers publicly to call upon 
 the Kame of the Lord in behalf of the whole Congregation. 
 For that which the Apostles say, " We will give ourselves con- 
 
. ORDINATION OF MINISTERS. 101 
 
 ■ tinually to praver and to the Ministry of the Word," is com- 
 mon to these Pastors Avitli the Apostles : to which St. Paul 
 alluding speaketh thus to Timothy : " I exhort, therefore, that 
 first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of 
 thanks be made for all men ; for kings and for all who are in 
 authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all 
 godliness and honesty ; for this is good and acceptable in the 
 sight of God our Saviour." 
 
 Thirdly. Their office is to administer the Sacraments which 
 the Lord hath instituted as seals of His grace. As is evident 
 from the command given by Christ to the Apostles, and in 
 them to all Pastors : " Baptize them in the Name of the Father 
 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Likewise the Apostle 
 speaking of the institution of the Lord's Supper saith, "For I 
 have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto 
 you." 
 
 Finally. It is the duty of the Ministers of the Word, together 
 with the other Elders, to maintain the discipline of the Church ; 
 and to govern it in such manner as the Lord hath ordained. 
 For Christ having spoken of the Christian discipline, says to 
 His Apostles: "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be 
 bound in heaven." This is the reason why the Pastors are in 
 Scripture called " Stewards of God," and " Bishops," for thev 
 have the oversight of the house of God, to the end that every 
 thing may be done decently and in order ; and also have au- 
 thority to open and shut with the keys committed to them the 
 Kingdom of Heaven, according to the charge given them by 
 God. 
 
 From these things may be learned what a glorious work the 
 ministerial office is ; yea, how highly necessary it is for man's 
 salvation : which is also the reason why the Lord wills that 
 such an office should always remain. For Christ said when He 
 sent forth His Apostles to officiate in this holy function, " Lo ! 
 I am with you always, even unto the end of the world ;" where 
 we see His pleasure is, that this holy office should always be 
 maintained on earth. Amd therefore St. Paul exhortetb 
 Timoth}', to " commit that which he had heard of him to faith- 
 ful men who are able to teach others:" as he also, having or- 
 dained Titus a minister, further commanded him " to ordain 
 elders in every city." (Tit, 1 : 5.) 
 
 Forasmuch therefore as we, for the maintaining of this office 
 •in the Church of God, are now to ordain a new Minister of the 
 Word, and have sufficiently spoken of the office of such per- 
 sons, therefore you, beloved brother N., shall answer to the 
 following questions which shall be proposed to you, to the end 
 that it may appear to all here present that you are inclined to 
 accept this office as it has been described. 
 
102 ,PRECES ECCLESIASTICS. 
 
 " 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes- 
 taments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith 
 
 and practice ? i /-, i- • r 
 
 " 2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession oi 
 Faith of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught 
 in the Holy Scriptures ? 
 
 "3. Do you approve of the government and discipline of 
 the Presbyterian Church in these United States ? 
 
 ''4. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the 
 Lord? 
 
 " 5. Have you been induced, as far as you know your own 
 heart, to seek the office of the holy Ministry from love to 
 God, and a sincere desire to promote His glory in the Gospel 
 of His Son ? ... 
 
 *' 6. Do vou promise to be zealous and faithful in maintammg 
 the truths of the Gospel, and the purity and peace of the Church : 
 whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto you on that 
 account? 
 
 '■ " 7. Do you engage to be faithful and diligent in the exer- 
 cise of all private and personal duties, which become you as a 
 Christian and a Minister of the Gospel ; as well as in all rela- 
 tive duties, and the public duties of your office : endeavouring 
 to adorn the profession of the Gospel by your conversation ; 
 and walking with exemplary piety before the flock over which 
 God shall make'you overseer ? 
 
 " [8. Are you now willing to take the charge of this congre- 
 gation, agreeably to your declaration at accepting their call ? 
 And do you promise to discharge the duties of a Pastor to them, 
 as God shall give you strength ?"> 
 
 " The Candidate having answered these {questions in the affirmative, [the Presiding 
 Minister shaU propose to the people the'foUowing questions: 
 
 " 1. Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to 
 
 profess your readiness to receive , whom you have 
 
 called to be your Minister ? 
 
 " 2. Do you promise to receive the Word of truth from his 
 mouth, with meekness and love ; and to submit to him in the 
 due exercise of discipline ? 
 
 " 3. Do you promise to encourage him in his arduous labour, 
 and to assist his endeavours for your instruction and spiritual 
 edification? 
 
 " 4. And do you engage to continue to him, while he is your 
 Pastor, that competent worldly maintenance which you have 
 promised ; and whatever else you may see needful for the hon- 
 our of religion, and his[^comfort among you?^^ 
 
ORDINATION OF MINISTEKS. 
 
 103 
 
 ■" The veople having answered these questions in the affirmative, by holding up thnr 
 riaht handj} the Candidate shaU kneel down in the most convenient T^^ri of the 
 church Then the Presiding Minister shall, by prayer, and with the laying on of 
 the hands of the Presbytery, according to the Apostolic example, solemnly ordain 
 him ta Vie holy office of the Gospel Ministry:' 
 
 ^' J5 it is sometimes desirable and important that a candidate who has not received a 
 COM to he the pastor of a particular congregation, should net-erheless be o^datned^ 
 Zwork of the Gospel ministry, as an Evangelist to preach the Gospel administer 
 Sealing Ordinances and organize churches, in frontier or destitute settlements ;tn 
 ihtc2ethe last of the preceding questions {and the questions to the peopU] shall 
 be omitted, and the following used as a substitute: vtz. 
 "Are vou llo^v willina; to inidertake the work of an Evan- 
 gelist- and do you promise to discharge the duties which may 
 be incumbent on you ia this character, as God shall give you 
 strength?" "^ Dib.ofWof 
 
 JThe following is a suitable form for 
 
 The Ordaining Prayer. 
 O Lord, to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth ! 
 Thou art the Eternal Son of the Father; who hast so loved 
 Thv Church, that to" redeem and purify it Thou didst humble 
 Thvself to the death of the Cross, and there shed Thy most 
 innocent blood. And to retain this Thy most excellent benefit 
 in memory. Thou hast appointed in Thy Church pastors and 
 teachers, to instruct, admonish, and comfort Thy people. Look 
 upon- us mercifully, Lord, Thou only King, Teacher, and 
 High Priest to Thine own flock ; and send unto this Thy servant 
 our brother, whom in Thy name we set apart and ordain such a 
 portion of Thy Holy Spirit, that he may rightly divide Thy 
 Word, to the instruction of Thy flock, and the overthrow of 
 error and vice. Give unto him, good Lord, Thy grace and wis- 
 dom whereby the enemies of Thy truth may be coniounded, the 
 blind and ignorant edified, and Thy sheep fed in the wholesome 
 pastures of Thy most holy Word. Multiply Thy graces upon 
 him. Illuminate him with Thine Holy Spirit. Comfort and 
 strengthen him in all virtue. Govern and guide his ministry, 
 to the praise of Thy holy Name, the promotion of Thy king- 
 dom, the comfort of Thy Church, and to the plain discharge of 
 bis own conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus: To Whom, 
 with the Father and with the Holy Ghost, be all honour, praise, 
 and glory, now and ever. Amen. Knox. 
 
 <^ Prayer being ended, he shall rise from his knees; and the Minister who in-esides 
 shcUi first, and afterward aU the members of the Presbytery i;i their order, take him 
 by the. right hand, saying, in words to ihis purpose, 
 
 " We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of 
 this ministry with us. 
 
104 PRECES ECCLESIASTIC-S.- 
 
 " After which the Minister presiding, or some other appointed for the purpose, shall 
 give a solemn charge in the Name of God to the newly-ordained BisJwp, and to the 
 people, to persevere in the discharge of their mutual duties." 
 
 Charge to the Newly- Ordained If mister, and the Congregation. 
 
 Take heed, therefore, beloved brother, and fellow-servant in 
 Christ, unto yourself and to all the flock, over which the Holy 
 Ghost hath made you overseer, to feed the Church of God 
 which He hath purchased with His own blood. Love Christ, 
 and feed His sheep, taking the oversight of them not by con- 
 straint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,, 
 neither as being lord over God's heritage, but as an example 
 to the flock. Be an example of believers, in word, in conver- 
 sation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Give attendance 
 to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift 
 that is in thee, meditate upon those things, give thyself wholty 
 to them, that thy profiting may appear to all : take heed to 
 thy doctrine, and continue stedfast therein. Bear patiently all 
 sufferings and oppressions, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,. 
 for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that 
 hear thee. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, thou 
 shalt receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 
 
 And you likewise, beloved Christians, receive this your 
 Minister in the Lord with all gladness, " and hold such in 
 reputation." Remember that God Himself through him speak- 
 eth unto you and beseecheth you. Receive the Word, which 
 he, according to the Scripture, shall preach unto you, ** not as 
 the word of man, but (as it is in truth) the Word of God." 
 Let the feet of those that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring 
 glad tidings of good things, be beautiful and pleasant unto you. 
 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves ; 
 for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, 
 that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is 
 unprofitable for you. If you do these things, it shall come 
 to pass, that the peace of God shall enter into your houses, 
 and that you who receive this man in the name of a prophet, 
 shall receive a prophet's reward, and through his preaching, 
 believing in Christ, shall through Christ inherit life eternal. 
 
 " Tlien the Presiding Minister shall, by prayer, recommend both the newly-ordained 
 Minister and the congregation, to the grace of God, and His holy keeping.'* 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Merciful Father, we thank Thee that it pleaseth Thee, by 
 the ministry of men, to gather a Church to Thyself unto life 
 eternal, from amongst the lost children of men. We bless Thee 
 
ORDINATION OF MINISTERS. 105- 
 
 for SO' graciously providing the Church in this place with a faith- 
 ful Minister. We beseech Thee to qualify him daily more and 
 more by the Holy Spirit, for the ministry to which Thou hast 
 ordained and called him : enlighten his understanding to com- 
 prehend Thy holy Word, and give him utterance, that he may 
 boldly open his mouth, to make known and dispense the mys- 
 teries of the Gospel. Endue him with wisdom and valour, to 
 rule the people aright over which he is set, and to preserve 
 them in Christian peace, to the end that Thy Church under his 
 administration and by his good example, may increase in num- 
 ber and in virtue. Grant him courage to bear the difficulties 
 and troubles which he may meet with in his ministry, that 
 being strengthened by the comfort of Thy Spirit, he may re- 
 main stedfast to the end, and be received with all faithful serv- 
 ants into the joy of his Master. Give Thy grace also to this 
 people and Church, that they may becomingly deport them- 
 selves towards this their Minister ; that they may acknowledge 
 him to be sent of Thee ; that they may receive his doctrine 
 with all reverence, and submit themselves to his exhortations: 
 To the end that they may, by his Word, believing in Christ, be 
 made partakers of eternal life. Hear us, O Father, through 
 Thy beloved Son, who hath thus taught us to pray — Our Fa- 
 ther, etc. 
 
 " Finally, after singing a Psalm, he shall dismiss the congregation with the tisuaJ " 
 
 Blessing. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
 and the Communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 
 Amen. Reformed Dutch Litubqt and Directoet op Worsiiuv 
 
jY^u'^.u^x. ' ^r( 
 
 PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLES. 
 
 A Thanksgiving^ 
 
 Blessed be Thou, God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, "Who hast blessed us with all spiritual blessings in hea- 
 venly places in Christ^ according as Thou hast chosen us in 
 Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be 
 holy and without blame before Thee in love : and hast predes- 
 tinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to 
 Thyself, according to the good pleasure of Thy will. We 
 praise the glory of Thy grace, wherein Thou hast made us 
 accepted in the Beloved, We bless Thee that in Him we have 
 redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, accord- 
 ing to the riches of Thy grace> We bless Thee for making 
 known to us the mystery of Thy will : that in the dispensation 
 of the fulness of times Thou mightest gather together all things 
 in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, 
 even in Him. And we give thanks unto Thee, Lord ! for 
 the faith and love of all Thy saints: beseeching Thee that 
 they, having heard the Gospel of their salvation, and trusted 
 in Christ, may be sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise, 
 which is the earnest of their inheritance, until the redemption 
 of the purchased possession, to the praise of Thy glor}-. Amen. 
 
 Efh. l 3-16. 
 
 A Prayer for Wisdom. 
 
 O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory ! Give 
 unto us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge 
 of Him: that the eyes of our understanding may be enlight- 
 ened: that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and 
 what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. 
 Manifest, Lord ! the exceeding greatness of Thy power to 
 us- ward who believe, according to its mighty working in Christ, 
 
PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLES. 107 
 
 when Thou didst raise Him from the dead, and sei^ml Him at 
 Thine own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all 
 principality, and power, and rftight. and dominion, and every 
 name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that 
 which is to come. Eph, l 17-21. 
 
 For Spiritual Strength, 
 
 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole 
 Familv in heaven and earth is named : We bow our knees 
 unto 'Thee, beseeching that Thou wilt grant us, according to 
 the riches of Thy glory, to be strengthened with might by Thy 
 Spirit in the inner man : That Christ may dwell in our hearts 
 by faith : That we, bein^ rooted and grounded in love, may be 
 alDle to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and 
 length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, 
 that passeth knowledge 5 that we may be filled with all the 
 fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do excfeeding 
 abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the 
 power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by 
 Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Eph. m. 11-21. 
 
 For a Good Judgment, 
 
 Almighty God, we pray Thee, that the love of all Thy 
 People may abound yet more and more, in knowledge and in 
 all judgment: that they may approve those things which are 
 excellent; that they may be sincere and without offence till 
 the day of Christ ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness 
 which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 
 
 Philip, l 9-11. 
 
 For the Prosperity 0/ the Church. 
 
 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give Thee 
 thanks for all Thy saints our faithful brethren in Christ 
 throughout the earth : desiring that they^iglrt all be filled 
 with the knowledge of Thy will, in all wisdom and spiritual 
 understanding ; that they miglit walk worthy of the Lord unto 
 all pleasing, Iseing fruitful m every good work, and increasing 
 in the knowledge of God. Strengthen them with all might, 
 according to Thy glorious power, unto all patience and long- 
 suffering with joyfulness. May they. ever give thanks unto 
 Thee, O Father : who hast made us meet to be partakers of 
 the inheritance of the saints in light ; who hast delivered us 
 from the power of darkness, and hast translated us into the 
 kingdom of Thy dear Son, in Whom we have redemption 
 through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 Col, l 1-13. 
 
108 PRECJES ECCLESIASTICS 
 
 For Faith and Charity. 
 
 Q God, we render thanks unto Thee for the faith and charity 
 of Thy People, and the joy wherewith we joy for their sakes 
 before Thee. And we beseech Thee to perfect that which is 
 yet lacking in their faith. Make them to increase and abound 
 in love toward one another, and toward all men : to the end 
 that their hearts may be established unblameable in holiness 
 before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ with all His saints. Thou ^^s^zy God of peace, sanc- 
 tify them wholly ; and may their whole spirit, and soul, and 
 body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. i thess. m. 6-13; v. 23. 
 
 A Prayer for Rulers and Ministers. 
 
 God, who hast exhorted us by Thine Apostle to make 
 suppliications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, for 
 all men: "We pray for kings, and all that are in authority; 
 that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and 
 ]»miiaaga»f We also pray for all Thy servants, who in every 
 place make manifest the savour of Thy knowledge, preaching 
 among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ. Supply 
 them with Thy Spirit ; give utterance unto them to make 
 known the mystery of the Gospel ; open unto them doors of 
 utterance ; deliver them from unreasonable and wicked men : 
 and may the Word of the Lord have free course and be glori- 
 fied, even as it is with us. 
 
 ITLii. 1-2; IThesa. v. 25; 2Cor.iL14; Eph. iii 8 ; PhiL L 19; 
 Eph. tL 19 ; CoL iv. 3 ; 2 Thess. iiL 2 ; id. 1, 
 
 For Sanctijication. 
 
 Vouchsafe, our God ! we pray Thee, to count us worthy 
 of Thy calling, and to fulfil all the good pleasure of Thy good- 
 ness, and the work of faith with power : That the Name of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in us, and we in Him, 
 according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 Amen. ' 2 Thess. i. ii, 12. 
 
 For Stedfastness. 
 
 God ! Who from the beginning hast chosen us to salvation 
 through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth : 
 Grant us grace to stand fast, and hold the traditions which we 
 have been taught, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. Lord Jesus Christ ! who Thyself hast loved us, and 
 hast given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through 
 grace : Comfort our hearts, and establish us in every good word 
 and work. 2 Thess. n. 13-17. 
 
PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLES. 
 
 109 
 
 For Grace to do Good VTorks. 
 God of Peace ! who broughtest again from the dead our 
 Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the 
 blood of the everlasting Covenant : Make us perfect in every 
 eood work to do Thv will, working in us that which is well- 
 pleasing in Thv sight : Through Jesus Christ, to ^hom be 
 glorv for ever and ever. Araen. Heb. sm. 20, 2L 
 
 For Perseverance. 
 God of all Grace ! Who hast called us unto Thine eternal 
 -lorv by Christ Jesus : Make us perfect, stablish. strengthen, 
 settle us; that God in all things may be glorihed, through 
 Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 1 p^teb v. 10 ; iv. 11. 
 
 For Unity. 
 ■ God of Patience and Consolation, grant us to be like- 
 minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus : that we^ 
 may with one mind and one mouth glorify Thee, the Father of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. xv. 5, 6, 
 
 For Hope. 
 God of Hope, fill us with all joy and peace in believirg, 
 that we may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy 
 Ghost. ^°^- ^- 12- 
 
 Asa-iptions of Praise. 
 Now to God only Wise be glory through Jesus Christ for 
 ever. Amen. Ro^- ^^^^ -'• 
 
 Now unto the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only 
 Wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever, ^men.^^ 
 
 Now to the Blessed and Only Potentate, the King of kings, 
 and Lord of lords; ^\Tio onlv hath immortality, dwelling in 
 the lic^ht which no man can approach unto, Whom no man 
 hath s'een nor can see : To Him be honour and power everlast- 
 ing. Amen. 1 Ti- it. 15, 16. 
 
 Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to 
 present us faultless before the presence of His glory with ex- 
 ceeding jov : To the only Wise God our Saviour, be glory and 
 maiestv, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 
 
 •' * ' ^ Jn>E 24, 25. 
 
AN ORDER 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Reading of Scripture in Public Worship, 
 
 Reading or the "Word is the CoyoREOATiox, being part op the Public Wor- 
 ship OP GrOD, wherein yTE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON Hill AND SUB- 
 JECTION TO Him, and one means sanctified by Him for the edefting of His 
 People, is to be performed by the Pastor and teacher. 
 
 How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the 
 Minister : but it is convenient that ordinarily one chapter of each Testa- 
 ment BE read at every MEEHNG ; AND SOMETIMES MORE, WHERE THE CHAPTERS 
 BE SHORT, OR THE COHERENCE OF MATTER REQUIRETH IT. 
 
 It IS REQUISITE THAT ALL THE CANONICAL BoOKS BE READ OVER IN ORDER, THAT 
 
 THE People may be better acquainted with the whole body of the Scriptures : 
 
 AND ordinarily, WHERE THE READING IN EITHER TESTAMENT ENDETH ON ONE 
 
 Lord's Day, rris to begin the next. 
 
 Directory for Worship, by the Westminster Divines : § 2. 
 
 The following Order has be^i prepared to facilitate BelectioiL 
 
 Morning Service. Evening Service. 
 
 Dun- 
 
 First PortlOT 
 
 L 
 
 Second. 
 
 First Portloo, 
 
 Second. 
 
 1 Gen.L 
 
 
 John i. 1-18. 
 
 Isa. 
 
 i. 1-20. 
 
 Acta 
 
 ii. 1-21. 
 
 2 
 
 iL 
 
 
 Luke i. 26-56. 
 
 
 iL 
 
 
 IL 22-47. 
 
 3 
 
 uL 
 
 
 MattL 
 
 
 V. 1-17. 
 
 
 vi 
 
 4 
 
 vi. 
 
 
 Luke ii. 1-20. 
 
 
 vL 
 
 
 ix. 1-22. 
 
 5 
 
 TiL 
 
 
 MattiL 
 
 
 viL 10-25. 
 
 
 xi 1-18. 
 
 6 
 
 TiiL 
 
 
 John I 19-51 
 
 
 ix. 
 
 
 xvi 14-40. 
 
 1 
 
 ix. 1-19. 
 
 
 Mattiv. 
 
 
 iL 
 
 
 xxvi 
 
 8 
 
 zil. 
 
 
 John iiL 1-21. 
 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Rom. 
 
 i. 1-25. 
 
 9 
 
 xxiL 
 
 
 John iv. 1-26. 
 
 
 xxvi. 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 10 
 
 nviii. 
 
 
 Luke iv. 16-37. 
 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 
 V. 
 
 11 
 
 xxxvii. 1- 
 
 ■28. 
 
 Luke V. 1-26. 
 
 
 TTxviii. 
 
 
 Ti 
 
 12 
 
 xUL 1-28. 
 
 
 John v. 19-47. 
 
 
 ±L 
 
 
 vii 
 
 13 
 
 xliiu 
 
 
 Matt xii. 1-21. 
 
 
 xll 
 
 
 viii. 
 
 14 
 
 xlv. 
 
 
 Matt. V. 1-20, 
 
 
 xlil 
 
 
 liL 
 
 15 
 
 xlvi 1-7 ; 
 
 28-34 ; Matt, vi 1-18, 
 
 
 Tliii 
 
 
 XV. 1-13. 
 
 
 and xlvil 1- 
 
 -12. 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 xlviiL 
 
 
 Matt. vi. 19-34. 
 
 
 xliv. 
 
 1 Cor. 
 
 , i 1-25. 
 
ORDER FOR READING OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 Ill 
 
 MORNiKG Service. 
 
 Eteoxg Siktice. 
 
 dT^. First Portion. 
 
 Second. 
 
 First Portion. 
 
 Second. 
 
 17 Gen.xlii. 
 
 Matt. TiL 
 
 Isa. 
 
 xiv. 
 
 ICor. 
 
 iL 
 
 18 Ex, iL 
 
 Matt. xL 
 
 
 xlviiL 
 
 
 iii. 
 
 19 iiL 
 
 Matt. xii. 1-21. 
 
 
 xHx. 
 
 
 xiL 
 
 20 V. 
 
 Matt. xiii. 1-30. 
 
 
 IL 
 
 
 xiii. 
 
 21 xii. 1-36. 
 
 Matt. xiii. 33-58. 
 
 
 IiL 
 
 
 xiv 1-20. 
 
 22 xiv. 
 
 Matt. Ls. 18-38. 
 
 
 liiL 
 
 
 XV. 1-20. 
 
 23 XV. 
 
 Matt. X. 1-20. 
 
 
 hv. 
 
 
 XV. 21-58. 
 
 24 xvi. 1-19. 
 
 Matt. xiv. 14-36. 
 
 
 Iv. 
 
 2 Cor. 
 
 iv. 
 
 25 xi. 17-38. 
 
 John vi. 35-59. 
 
 
 Iviii. ' 
 
 
 V. 
 
 26Deut.i. 19-46. 
 
 Matt. xvL 
 
 
 lix. 
 
 
 vi. 
 
 27 iv. 23-40. 
 
 Matt. xviL 1-21. 
 
 
 Ls. 
 
 GaL 
 
 iiL 
 
 28 ix. 
 
 Matt, iviii. 1-20. 
 
 
 LlL 
 
 Eph. 
 
 L 
 
 29 xviil 
 
 Luke X. 1-24. 
 
 
 IxiL 
 
 
 iL 
 
 30 Txxiii 
 
 John viL 14-51. 
 
 
 iTiii 
 
 
 iiL 
 
 31Josh.iiL 
 
 John viL 32-52. 
 
 
 Ldv. 
 
 
 iv. 
 
 32 viL 
 
 Luke X. 25-42. 
 
 
 Lrv. ■ 
 
 
 V. 
 
 33 xxir. 1-25. 
 
 Luke xi. 1-13. 
 
 
 IxvL 
 
 Phihp 
 
 . iL 1-18. 
 
 3iJudg.iL 
 
 Luke xii. 1-21. 
 
 Jer. 
 
 xiv. 7-22. 
 
 Col. 
 
 iiL 
 
 35 Ruth i. 
 
 Luke xiL 22-48. 
 
 
 xvii. 6-27. 
 
 1 Thes.v. 
 
 36 lSam.iiL 
 
 John ix. 1-25. 
 
 
 xxxi. 1-20. 
 
 2 Thes.iL 
 
 37 IiL 
 
 John X. 1-18. 
 
 
 xxxiii 1-16. Heb. 
 
 L 
 
 38 IT. 1-23. 
 
 John xi. 19-46. 
 
 Lam, 
 
 . iiL 22-59. 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 39 ivL 1-13- 
 
 John xiL 12-36. 
 
 Ezek. i. 
 
 
 iiL 
 
 402Sam.vu. 
 
 John liiL 
 
 
 X. 
 
 
 iv. • 
 
 41 xii. 1-23- 
 
 John xiv. 
 
 
 xxxiii. 1-20 
 
 
 X. 
 
 42lKLiii. 1-15. 
 
 John XV. 
 
 
 xxxi V. 11-3] 
 
 L. 
 
 xi. 
 
 43 yL 11-38. 
 
 John xvL 
 
 
 xxxvii. 1-14. 
 
 XiL 
 
 44 Ls. 1-14. 
 
 John xviL 
 
 
 xliii. 1-12. 
 
 James 
 
 1 ii. 
 
 45 xriL 
 
 John xviii. 1—27. 
 
 
 xlviL 1-12. 
 
 IPet. 
 
 iL 
 
 46 xriiL 17-46. 
 
 Luke xxiiL 1-25. 
 
 Dan. 
 
 iii. 
 
 1 John V. 
 
 47 xix. 
 
 Luke xxiiL 26-49 
 
 
 vi. 
 
 Revel 
 
 L 
 
 48 2KiiL 
 
 John xLs. 25-42. 
 
 
 ix. 
 
 
 iiL 
 
 49 V. 1-19. 
 
 John XX. 1-18. 
 
 Amosv. 1-15. 
 
 
 T. 
 
 50 2Ch.ixxTLl-21. 
 
 Luke xxiv. 13-35.Mic. 
 
 iv. 
 
 
 lix. 
 
 61 Neh. viiL 
 
 John XX. 19-31. 
 
 Hab. 
 
 iiL 
 
 
 XX. 
 
 52 Job L 
 
 John jm. xxi. 
 
 Zech. xiii. 
 
 
 xxL 
 
 63 lliL 
 
 Acts Ll-14. 
 
 Mai. 
 
 iiL 
 
 
 xxiL 
 
NOTES 
 
 The Opening SE>rrEycES: Pp. 3, 22. — Calvin's Liturgy introduces the ordinary 
 Service for the Lord's Day. with a sentence of Scripture. Hence a similar feature 
 in the Book of Common Prayer. Instead of the single passage (Psalm cxxiv. 8) 
 with which Calvin begins, we" have preferred to give several passages for selection : 
 being such as contain appropriate promises of Divine presence to worshipping assem- 
 blies. Isaiah Ixvi. 1, 2 ; Isaiah Ivii. 15 ; Isaiah IvL 6, 7 ; Exodus xx. 24; St. Matt 
 xviiL 20 ; SL John xiv. 13 ; Hebrews ix. 24 
 
 IxviTATiON : Page 4. — The invitation in the French Liturgy reads thus : "My 
 brethren, let each of you present himself before the Lord, in order to make an humble 
 confession of his sins unto Him, : following in heart these words."' The Middleburgh 
 Prayer-book has it thus: "Let us fail down before the majesty of Almighty God, 
 humbly confessing our sins ; andfoUow in your hearts the tenour of my words." In 
 place of these forms, we have used Scriptural language : combining the passages, 
 2 Cor. vii 1 ; Heb. x. 22 ; Phil. iv. 6 ; and in addition, Heb. iv. 16. 
 
 BucES's LiTAirr : Page 26. — This beautiful prayer, modelled upon the ancient lit- 
 anies, yet possessing much originality and peculiar beauty, is due. in all probability, 
 to the' Reformer Bucer; from whose "Reformation of Doctnne ancL'WorsEp," it 
 is literally translated. The Litany of the English Prayer-Book is for the most part 
 borrowed from this form. 
 
 The Mabeiage Seevice : Page 76. — Of the two forms given for this ordinance, 
 the one is compiled from the Liturgies of Geneva, Scotland, and Holland. The 
 other is -extracted from the Proposed Liturgy of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
 America. 
 
 The Burial Sehvige: Page 81. — The Liturgies of the Reformed Churches on 
 the Continent supply us with few examples of a service for Burial. The danger 
 of superstitious observances, at the period when those formularies were compUed, 
 ■deterred Calvin and others from furnishing any prescribed order. It has always 
 been customary to consecrate the last ofl&ces at the grave with prayer : but for 
 this, even, the French Liturgy gives no form- 
 Martin Bucer was the author of a service for the Burial of the Dead, which is to 
 •be found in Herman's Reformation of Cologne. This service the English Reform- 
 ers partly followed. The selections of Scripture, from St. John xL, Psakn xc, and 
 I Cor. XV., are there indicated. But Bucers form possesses a merit of adaptation 
 which is wanting to that of the AngUcan Church ; for in addition to the services 
 for adults, there is an "Alia Concio in Fnnere Adolescentis, vel Adolescentuke.'' The 
 words of sepvilture are taken from Bucer's " Postquam sic visum est Omnipotenti 
 Deo, ut hune fratrem nostrum pro sua misericordia ex hoc mundo sublatum ad se 
 ceciperet,"" etc. 
 
 The present Form of Burial is borrowed from the revision of the Reformed 
 Dutch Liturgy, prepared by a committee under appointment of the General Synod. 
 The selection of Scripture'is the best that we have seen. Three services are pro- 
 vided for : a short one at the house, a principal one at the church, and a form of 
 interment The prayer concluding the service at the church, is from Jeremy Tay- 
 lor ; it has been introduced into the American edition of the Book of Common 
 Prayer. 
 
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