the priest to set forth their wants to Almighty God, provided that they declare their assent to every petition as he delivers it. The Deprecation. By Deprecation we pray that those evils (to which our sins have made us liable) may be averted, and as our requests ought to be progressive, before we ask for perfect deliverance, we beg the mercy of forbearance. Remember not, Lord, our offences, &c. We confess we have sinned, that we are on that account obnoxious to punishment, and therefore intreat God not to punish our sins as they deserve, Christ having purchased our pardon by his most precious blood; but if we cannot be wholly spared, we beg he will not be angry with us for ever, fervently repeating, Spare us, good Lord. We next pray to, be preserved from sin in general, and particularly from blindness of heart, pride, vain-glory, hypocrisy, envy, hatred, malice, and uncharitableness; we then pray to be preserved from deadly or presumptuous sins, that we may avoid the threatened punishments of lightning and tempest, plague, pestilence, and famine, &c. Having thus deprecated those evils which might endanger our lives, we proceed to pray for the safety of the state against sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion, and also that the church may be preserved from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; we then conclude with deprecating the last and worst of God's judgments, hardness of heart, and contempt of his word and commandment: and say Good Lord, deliver us. In the next two petitions we implore the Redeemer, by the mystery of his holy incarnation, nativity, circumcision, &c. to deliver us from all those evils we have been praying against: and that the divine assistance may be afforded us, in all times of tribulation, when we are usually tempted to murmuring, impatience, sadness and despair; also, that in prosperity we may be delivered from pride, folly and presumption; that God will be with us in the hour of death, and finally deliver us in the day of judgment. We begin with acknowledging that we are sinners, yet, being penitents, (in humble confidence of God's mercy, and in obedience to his commands,) we beseech him to hear our intercession for the preservation of the Holy Church universal; that the king and royal family may be supplied with all spiritual blessings, and preserved from all plots and dangers. Next that the clergy may be illumined with true knowledge and understanding of the word of God, and manifest the same in their manner of living and preaching, that the nobility may be endued with wisdom and integrity; magistrates with justice and truth; that the people may be safe and happy; and that all nations may have unity at home, and amity one with another. Having thus prayed for temporal blessings, both for ourselves and others, we now proceed to pray for spiritual blessings. We begin with intreating that our love and fear of God may be evinced by our diligently living according to his commandments, and that by meekly listening to his holy word we may increase in grace. We pray also, that all who have erred and are deceived, may be brought into the way of truth. We next entreat God to succour all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to preserve all that travel by land or by water; to protect the fatherless and widow, and such as are desolate and oppressed, by the cruel designs of wicked men ; to bless all men generally; and then (to shew that we have no reserve in our charity) we pray particularly for our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, that they may share in the blessings for which we have been praying, and that God would forgive them their sins, and turn their hearts; lastly, we pray for true repentance, pardon of our transgressions, and that we may amend our lives according to his most holy word. Both the priest and people now call on the Son of God for assistance. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. O Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world,* Grant us thy peace. O Lamb of God, &c. &c. The Supplication. The supplication begins with the Lord's Prayer; after which we beg that God will not deal with us after (that is, according to) our sins, neither reward us after (that is, in proportion to) our iniquities. We are then called upon to attend to the minister, whilst he repeats the prayer for assistance in all our troubles and adversities, and for preservation from persecution. The people second the petition in these words: O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thy name's sake. The priest then exclaims, O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them: the people ejaculate, O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thine honour. They then join in the hymn to the Trinity. Glory be to the Father, &c. After which the priest and people continue in alternate supplications to entreat for defence from their enemies; for pity upon their sorrows and afflictions; for mercy with respect to their sins; that their prayers may be favourably received; that Christ will graciously hear their petitions both *For an explanation of this passage see the note to the epistle for the fifth Sunday in Lent. now and for ever; and that he will be pleased to shew his mercy upon them, as they put their trust in him. The priest then repeats that beautiful prayer to the Father; We humbly beseech thee, O Father, &c. After which, in his own name, and in that of the people, he offers to Almighty God A General Thanksgiving, for all the mercies we have hitherto received; particularly for his inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory, beseeching him to make us unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth his praise, not with our lips only, but in our lives. Then follows the prayer of St. Chrysostom, in which we request that God would graciously fulfil those desires and petitions which shall be most expedient for us; having graciously promised, that when two or three are gathered together in his name He would grant their petitions. The priest then pronounces the apostolic benediction, which concludes the Litany. In the Evening service, the prayers for all conditions of men, that for the king, the royal family, clergy, and people, correspond in substance with the Litany. The thanksgiving, &c. are the same as in the Morning service. If the congregation have, with due fervour, joined in the preceding parts of the service, their minds will now be strengthened, and their spirits refreshed, by singing the psalm* or anthem which is usually performed between the Litany and the * Music has, from the remotest antiquity, formed a part of religious worship. It appears to have been interwoven through the whole of the Jewish ceremonies; and, in the time of the apostles, to have been used in the Christian church. Sacred music has a powerful influence. Most of our common psalm tunes, if played and sung in a simple and unaffected style, never fail to awaken the most grateful emotions, and to excite in us a glow of devotional feeling. 16 THE CHURCH LITURGY EXPLAINED, &c. Communion Service. This, as a part of the regular Morning service, begins with a preparatory prayer, that the thoughts of our hearts may be cleansed by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit; the Lord's Prayer is then repeated, after which, the minister distinctly reads the commandments, as they were dictated to Moses by God himself; the people, kneeling in token of humiliation, should listen with profound attention, and devoutly unite in the responsive supplication: Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. The priest then prays that God will please to direct and guide the heart of his servant, our sovereign, to seek above all things his honour and glory; and that we, and all the subjects of the king, knowing by whose authority he is appointed to rule over us, may faithfully serve, honour, and obey him, in conformity to the commands of God. After that The Sermon Is delivered from the pulpit. A sermon is a discourse explanatory of some portion of Scripture, in which what is difficult is illustrated for the confirmation of our faith; and practical instruction is deduced for the regulation of our conduct. Having concluded his discourse, the minister dismisses the people with this expressive benediction, that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ; and that the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, may be with us, now and for ever. Amen.* * See the Rev. Charles Wheatley's Rational Illustrations of the Common Prayer. |