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upon us;

Min. O LORD, show thy mercy ing providence governeth all things both in heaven and earth, hath so wisely and mercifully ordered the course of this world, that his judg ments are often sent as fatherly corrections to us; and if with due submission and resignation to his holy will we receive the same, they will work together for our good.

Ans. And grant us thy salvation. Min. Turn thy face from our sins; Ans. And blot out all our iniquities. Min. Send us help from thy holy place;

Ans. For thine indignation lieth hard upon us.

Min. O LORD, hear our prayer; Ans. And let the sighing of the Prisoners come before thee.

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, ALMIGHTY GOD, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

It is your part and duty, therefore, to humble yourself under the mighty hand of GoD, to acknowledge the righteousness of his judgments, and to endeavor, that, by his grace, this sincere and hearty repentance. present visitation lead

may

you to a

The way and means thereto is, to examine your life and conversation by the rule of GOD's commandments; and whereinsoever you shall perceive yourself to have offended either by O GOD, who sparest when we will, word, or deed, there to bewail deserve punishment, and in thy your own sinfulness, and to confess wrath rememberest mercy; we hum- yourself to ALMIGHTY GOD, with bly beseech thee, of thy goodness to full purpose of amendment of life. comfort and succor all those who are And if you shall perceive your offenunder reproach and misery in the ces to be such as are not only against house of bondage; correct them not GOD, but also against your neighin thine anger, neither chasten them bors; then to reconcile yourself to in thy sore displeasure. Give them them, being ready to make restitution a right understanding of themselves, and satisfaction, according to the utterand of thy threats and promises: that most of your power, for all injuries they may neither cast away their and wrongs done by you to any confidence in thee, nor place it any other: and being likewise ready to where but in thee. Relieve the dis- forgive others who have offended tressed, protect the innocent, and you, as you would have forgiveness of awaken the guilty: and forasmuch your offences at GOD's hand. And as thou alone bringest light out of to this true repentance and change of darkness, and good out of evil, grant mind you must add a lively and that the pains and punishments which steadfast faith, and dependence upon these thy servants endure, through the merits of the death of CHRIST, their bodily confinement, may tend to setting free their souls from the chains of sin; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

Here the Minister, as he shall see convenient, Men, the Collect for Ash Wednesday, and the may read the Prayer for All conditions of Collect beginning Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, &c. or any other prayer of the Liturgy, which he shall judge proper. Then shall the Minister exhort the prisoner or prisoners after this form, or other like: DEARLY beloved, know this, that ALMIGHTY GOD, whose never-fail

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with an entire resignation of yourself to the will of GOD. Except you repent, and believe, we can give you no hope of salvation. But if you do sincerely repent and believe, GOD as red as scarlet, they shall be made hath declared, though your sins be white as snow; though your wicked ness have gone over your head, yet shall they not be your destruction.

We exhort you therefore in the name of GOD, and of his dear Son JESUS CHRIST our Saviour, and as

you tender your own salvation, to Behold, I was shapen in wicked take good heed of these things in ness; and in sin hath my mother time, while the day of salvation last-conceived me.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn thy face from my sins; and put out all my misdeeds.

eth; for the night cometh, when no But lo, thou requirest truth in the man can work. While you have inward parts; and shalt make me to the light, believe in the light, and understand wisdom secretly. walk as children of the light, that you be not cast into outer darkness; that you may not knock, when the door shall be shut; and cry for mer. cy, when it is the time of justice. Now you are the object of GOD's mercy, if by repentance and true faith you turn unto him: but if you neglect these things, you will be the object of his justice and vengeance. Now you may claim the merits of CHRIST; but if you die in your sins, his sufferings will tend to your greater condemnation. O beloved, consider in this your day, how fearful a thing it will be to fall into the hands of the living GOD, when you can neither fly to his mercy to protect you, nor to the merits of CHRIST to cover you in that terrible day.

Here the minister shall examine him concern

ing his faith, and rehearse the articles of the Creed, Dost thou believe in God, &c. And the prisoner shall answer,

All this I steadfastly believe.

Then shall the Minister examine whether he

Make me a clean heart, O GOD; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again; and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O GOD, thou that art the GOD of my health; and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O LORD; and my mouth shall show thy praise.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt offerings.

repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world, and further admonish him particularly concerning the crimes wherewith The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled he is charged; and exhort him, if he have any scruples, that he would declare the same, and spirit; a broken and contrite heart, prepare himself for the Holy Communion, O GOD, shalt thou not despise. against the time that it may be proper to ad minister it to him.

Then, all kneeling, the Minister shall say as follows, from the 51st Psalm.

HAVE mercy upon me, O GOD, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offences.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness; and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my fault; and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

O LORD, we beseech thee, mer

cifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved, through CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, whose mercy is ever. lasting, and power infinite; look down with pity and compassion upon the sufferings of this thy servant; and whether thou visitest for trial of his patience, or punishment of his

offences, enable him by thy grace rible voice of most just judgment, to cheerfully to submit himself to thy the wicked, Go, ye accursed, into holy will and pleasure. Go not far the fire everlasting, prepared for the from those, O LORD, whom thou devil and his angels. hast laid in a place of darkness, and Your sins have brought you too in the deep; and forasmuch as thou near this dreadful sentence: it is hast not cut him off suddenly, but therefore your part and duty, my chastepest him as a father; grant that brother, humbly to confess and behe, duly considering thy great mer-wail your great and manifold offencies, may be unfeignedly thankful, ces, and to repent you truly of your and turn unto thee with true repent- sins, as you tender the eternal salvaance and sincerity of heart, through tion of your soul. JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

¶ Prayers for persons under sentence of death. When a criminal is under sentence of death, the Minister shall proceed, immediately after the Collect, O God, who sparest, &c. to exhort

him after this form, or other like a

mercies for ever in displeasure: But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous. ness. Do not either way abuse the goodness of GOD, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect. and true heart we return unto him.

Be not deceived with a vain and presumptuous expectation of GOD'S favor, nor say within yourself, Peace, Peace, where there is no peace; for there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. GOD is not mocked; DEARLY beloved, it hath pleased he is of purer eyes than to behold ALMIGHTY GOD, in his justice, to iniquity; and without holiness no bring you under the sentence and man shall see the LORD. On the condemnation of the law: You are other hand, despair not of God's shortly to suffer death in such a mercy, though trouble is on every manner, that others, warned by your side; for GOD shutteth not up his example, may be the more afraid to offend; and we pray GoD, that you may make such use of your punishments in this world, that your soul may be saved in the world to come. Wherefore we come to you in the bowels of compassion; and, being desirous that you should avoid presumption on the one hand, and despair on the other, shall plainly lay before you the wretchedness of your Since therefore you are soon to condition, and declare how far you pass into an endless and unchangeought to depend on the mercies of able state, and your future happiness GOD, and the merits of our SAV- or misery depends upon the few moIOUR. Consider then seriously with ments which are left you; I require yourself, in all appearance the time you strictly to examine yourself, and of your dissolution draweth near; your estate both toward God and your sins have laid fast hold upon toward man; and let no worldly you; you are soon to be removed consideration hinder you from mak from among men by a violent death;ing a true and full confession of your and you shall fade away suddenly sins, and giving all the satisfaction like the grass, which in the morning is green and groweth up, but in the evening is cut down, dried up, and withered. After you have thus finished the course of a sinful and miserable life, you shall appear before the Judge of all flesh; who, as he Lastly, beloved, submit yourself pronounces blessings on the right-with Christian resignation to the just eous, shall likewise say, with a ter- judgment of Gop which your own

which is in your power to every one whom you have wronged or injured; that you may find mercy at your hea venly Father's hand, for CHRIST'S sake, and not be condemned in the dreadful day of judgment.

crimes nave orought upon you, and succor in behalf of this thy servant, be in charity with all men; being who is now under the sentence of ready sincerely to forgive all such condemnation. The day of his calaas have offended you, not excepting mity is at hand, and he is accounted those who have prosecuted you even as one of those who go down into the unto death and, though this may pit. Blessed LORD, remember thy seem a hard saying, yet know assur mercies; look upon his infirmities; edly, that without it your charity is hear the voice of his complaint; give not yet perfect. And fail not earnestly him, we beseech thee, patience in this to endeavor and pray for this blessed his time of adversity, and support temper and composure of mind. So under the terrors which encompass may you cast yourself with an entire him; set before his eyes the things dependence upon the mercies of GOD, he hath done in the body, which have through the merits of our Saviour justly provoked thee to anger; and and Redeemer JESUS CHRIST.

Here the Minister shall examine him concern

ing his faith, and rehearse the articles of the Creed, Dost thou believe in God, &c. And

the criminal shall answer,

All this I steadfastly believe. Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, exhorting him to a particular confession of the sin for which he is condemned; and upon confession, he shall instruct him what satisfaction ought to be made to those whom he has offended thereby; and if he knoweth any combinations in wickedness, or any evil practices designed against others, let him be admonished to the utmost of his power to discover and prevent them.

After this confession, the Minister shall declare to him the pardoning mercy of God, in the form which is used in the Communion Service.

After which shall be said the Collect following: O HOLY JESUS, who of thine infinite goodness, didst accept the conversion of a sinner on the cross; open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant, who desireth pardon and forgiveness, though in his latest hour he turneth unto thee. Renew in him whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by his own carnal will and frailness. Consider his contrition; accept repentance; and forasmuch as he putteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit; and when thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto thy favor: This we beg through thy merits, O LORD, our Saviour and our Redeemer. Amen.

Then shall the Minister say,

forasmuch as his continuance appeareth to be short amongst us, quicken him so much the more by thy grace and holy Spirit; that he being converted and reconciled unto thee, be-, from the earth, may at the hour of his fore thy judgments have cut him off death depart in peace, and be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen.

Adding this.

O SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O LORD.

Then the Minister, standing, shall say, IN the midst of life we are in death:

of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O LORD, who for our sins art justly displeased?

Yet, O LORD GOD most holy, O LORD most mighty, O holy and most merciful SAVIOUR, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, LORD, the secrets of our hearts: shut not thy merciful his ears to our prayers; but spare us, LORD most holy, O GOD most mighty, O holy and merciful SAVnal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for IOUR, thou most worthy Judge eter any pains of death to fall from thee.

O FATHER of mercies and GOD of all comfort; we fly unto thee for

Then the Minister shall say,

THE Almighty GOD, who is a most strong tower to all those who put their trust in him; to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey; be now land evermore thy defence; and make

thee know and feel that there is none nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth other name under heaven given to the peaceful fruit of righteousness, man, in whom and through whom unto them which are exercised thou mayest receive salvation, but thereby. only the name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

And after that shall say, UNTO GOD's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee: The LORD bless thee and keep thee: The LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace both now

and evermore.

At the time of Execution, besides all, or such parts of the foregoing office as the Minister shall Judge proper, shall be said the Commendatory prayer for a person at the point of depart ure, as it is in the Visitation of the Sick.

The Collect for the Communion Service.

The Gospel. St. John v. 24. 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.

A Prayer for imprisoned Debtors.

MOST gracious GOD, look down in pity and compassion upon these thine afflicted servants, who are fallon under the misery of a close restraint. Give them always a deep sense of their sins, and of thy fatherly love and correction; and the more their confinement presseth hard upon O GOD, who declarest thy Al- them, the more let the comforts of mighty power chiefly in showing thy grace and mercy abound toward mercy and pity; we beseech thee to them. Give to their creditors tenhave mercy upon this thy servant, derness and compassion, and to them who for his transgressions is appoint-a meek and forgiving spirit toward ed to die. Grant that he may take all those who have confined them, and thy judgments patiently, and repent a full purpose to repair all the inju him truly of his sins; that he recov: ries and losses which others have ering thy favor, the fearful reward sustained by them. Raise them up of his actions may end with this life; friends to pity and relieve them; give and whensoever his soul shall depart them the continued comfort of thy from the body, it may be without spot countenance here; and so sanctify presented unto thee, through JESUS their afflictions, that they may work CHRIST Our Lord. Amen. for them an eternal weight of glory, through the merits and mediation of JESUS CHRIST thy Son cur Lord.

The Epistle. Heb. xii. 11. NO chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ;| Amen.

A FORM

OF

PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING

TO ALMIGHTY GOD,

For the fruits of the earth, and all the other blessings of his merciful providence; to be used yearly on the FIRST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER, or on such other day as shall be appointed by the civil authority.

The service shall be as usual, except where it is hereby otherwise appointed. Among the Sentences at the beginning of thine increase; so shall thy barns be Morning Prayer shall be the following:

HONOR the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all

filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Prov. iii. 9, 10.

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