To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him: Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his scrvants the prophets.

Daniel ix. 9, 10.

Where two or three are gathered together in my there am I in the midst of them.

name,

Matthew xviii. 20.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua xxiv. 15.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm cxviii. 24.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Luke xv. 18, 19.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John i. 8, 9.

After

After which may be read this

EXHORTATION.

HE Scripture moveth us in sundry places, to

THE

acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our Heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought especially so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, yet are we no less bounden, when debarred by some necessity from the great privilege of public worship, to set forth his most worthy praise in the best manner we can at home; to read his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore, let us address ourselves to our Heavenly Father, and say—

CONFESSION.

A

CONFESSION.

To be said aloud by each one, all kneeling.

LMIGHTY and most merciful Father; we have

erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults.

Restore thou those

who are penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter lead a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of thy holy name.

Amen.

Then

Then the leader of the service may read the Prayer and Absolution, all still kneeling.

A

LMIGHTY God! the Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and who pardonest and absolvest all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe thy holy Gospel, we beseech thee to grant us true repentance and thy Holy Spirit, that those things may please thee which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to thy eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And then, the Lord's Prayer, all present repeating it with him.

UR Father, who art in Heaven! hallowed be thy

OUR

name! thy kingdom come! thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Selections of Psalms which may be read by the leader alone or responsively, or by each one reading a verse in succession.

SELECTION I.

THE

Psalm xix.

HE heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handy-work.

One day telleth another; and one night certifieth another.

There is neither speech nor language; but their voices are heard among them.

Their sound is gone out into all lands; and their words into the ends of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun; which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.

It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about unto the end of it again; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is an undefiled law, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.

The