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Then shall be said or sung the Psalms in Order as they are appointed. Then a Lesson of the Old Testament, as is appointed. And after that, Magnificat (or the Song of the blessed Virgin Mary) in English, as followeth.

Magnificat. St. Luke i.

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Y soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.

"Then shall be said or sung the Psalms," &c.-The 95th Psalm is not inserted in this part of the service, its use being appropriate only to the commencement of the day's devotions. This was the case with the 63rd Psalm, in the early Liturgies, the place of which was supplied by the 141st for evening prayer. No introductory psalm is employed in our evening service, but the preceding sentences, and "the glory" may be considered as supplying the necessary exhortations to devotional fervour. The singing of psalms and reading of Scripture, are properly regarded by our Church as essential to its services. They formed, in early times, the ground-work and sinews of public prayer; and as a portion of our evening Liturgy afford the mind a deep foundation of holy thought, a rich treasury of sublime meditation, out of which the greatest of intellects, the most afflicted, or the tenderest hearts, may rejoice to draw the nourishment of everlasting hope. Note to the Magnificat.-The Holy Spirit, when inspiring the servants of God with the language of zeal and love, did not intend to confine the blessing to those who first received the gift, but structed them in the use of terms which, unfolded by his further gifts of grace and light,

He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Or else this Psalm; except it be on the Nineteenth Day of the Month, when it is read in the ordinary course of the Psalms.

Cantate Domino. Psal. xcviii.

SING unto the Lord a new song: for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory.

The Lord declared his salvation : his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen : the salvation of our God.

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convey wisdom and consolation to the Church throughout all ages. Thus the Magnificat, as it is called from the first word in the Latin version, has been adopted into our Liturgy on account of its general appropriateness as a hymn of praise. It was thus employed in the primitive Church; and, repeated with becoming thoughtfulness, is admirably calculated to express the feelings which accompany the earnest reading of the word of God. The Old Testament testifies throughout of the mystery of Christ's incarnation. In the fulfilment of its prophecies respecting this mystery the believer finds his peace and joy; and the first sentiment which awakens in his heart is poured gladly forth when he says, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

In order to afford variety, should occasion require it, the 98th Psalm was inserted in the second book of King Edward. The whole structure of this beautiful song points it out as fit to be used at any period of great triumph and rejoicing; or when the preceding lesson has contained the narrative of some special interference on the part of God for the safety of his people.

Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands: song, rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp : sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

With trumpets also and shawms: O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is the round world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord : for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world people with equity.

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and the

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end.

Amen.

Then the Lesson of the New Testament, as is it appointed. And after that, Nunc Dimittis (or the Song of Simeon) in English, as followeth.

Nunc Dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29.

ORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy

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word.

For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;

"Nunc Dimittis," &c.-Nunc Dimittis are the first words in the Latin version of the Song of Simeon. The observation above made respecting the general application of these inspired hymns to the wants of the Church, may also be repeated in this instance. Simeon rejoiced, after many years of watchful prayer and contemplation, that he at length beheld the promised deliverer of his people, and of mankind in general. He could now depart in peace, for he knew that with the staff of Messiah to support him, he might safely walk through the valley of the shadow of death. How much more confidently may they utter these words, who see in the Gospel the victory of Christ over sin and death, and who hear his own gracious words," Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you: and if I go away, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."

The 67th Psalm was also added in the second Liturgy of King Edward. It exhibits, with great force and beauty, the earnest desires of a mind intently occupied in meditating on those times, when the way of God shall "be known upon earth, and his saving health among all nations."

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

¶Or else this Psalm; except it be on the Twelfth Day of the Month.

Deus misereatur. Psal. lxvii.

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OD be merciful unto us, and bless us and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto

us:

That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations rejoice and be glad for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations earth.

upon

Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.

God shall bless us and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Then shall be said or sung the Apostles' Creed, by the Minister and the People,

standing.

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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 Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

And after that, these Prayers following, all devoutly kneeling; the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice,

"The Apostles' Creed."-As the confession of faith in the fundamental articles of Christianity forms an essential part of public worship, the service of the evening would no more be complete without it than that of the morning. But there are considerations which will impress a thoughtful mind with peculiar feelings of seriousness when repeating this Creed at the close of day. The light which lightens our darkness is the knowledge of immortality, derived immediately from the Gospel revelations of God and of Christ. In these heavenly teachings we now again declare our confidence. Night and sleep are emblems of the change which shall bring us to the realization of our hopes; and on the point, as it were, of this solemn approach to eternity, the highest and the most consolatory of duties is the renewal of faith. We confess, with a saving efficacy, the paternity and love of God. The sufferings and mediation of Jesus Christ, his Son, assure us of the forgiveness of sins. In the belief of the Holy Ghost we find the means of personal sanctification; in that of a church, or communion of saints, the assurance that we have the faith, the prayers and blessings of the great body of Christ's people to uphold us; and in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting, an answer to all the questionings which can worthily occupy the mind, or interest the affections.

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