Wednesday, March 4, 2009

The First Reformed Episcopal Prayer Book: Morning Prayer

By Robin G. Jordan
This article is the first in a series of articles on The Book of Common Prayer authorized for the use of the Reformed Episcopal Church in 1874. It was the first Prayer Book of the newly formed Church. Like the 1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer and the 1789 Book of Common Prayer of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the 1874 Book of Common Prayer of the Reformed Episcopal Church was a local adaptation of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This article briefly examines the Order for Morning Prayer of the 1874 Prayer Book, and compares it with the 1786 and 1789 Prayer Books.

The word “daily” is omitted from the title, “Order for Morning Prayer.” Eleven additional Sentences are added to the Opening Sentences of Scripture from 1789 Order for Morning Prayer. The Exhortation is based on that in the 1552 Prayer Book with one alteration. The words “saying after me” are changed to “saying with me.”

The Absolution from the 1789 Communion Service, recast as a Prayer, replaces the Declaration of Absolution, or Remission of Sins, from the 1786 and 1789 Orders for Morning Prayer. The latter has been a part of the Prayer Book since 1552 but first the Puritans and then the Evangelicals objected on Scriptural grounds to the words, “…hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins….” For the same reason they objected the Special Form of Confession of Sins and Absolution in the Visitation of the Sick and to the words, “Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained…” in the Form and Manner of Ordering of Priests. The 1786 Proposed American Prayer Book substitutes the Absolution from the Communion Service for the Absolution in the Visitation of the Sick and the 1789 Ordinal provides alternative wording for “Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest…” that omits the references to receiving of the Holy Ghost and forgiving and retaining of sins. This alternative wording was eliminated by the 1928 revision.

The Versicles, “O God, make speed to save us,” “O Lord, make haste to help us” are omitted. As in the 1789 Order for Morning Prayer, the last four verses (8-11) of the Venite are omitted and verses nine and thirteen of Psalm 96 substituted for that section. In the 1786 Order for Morning Prayer Psalm 95 is used in its entirety.

The 1874 Order for Morning Prayer omits all repetitions of the Gloria Patri except the one printed after the opening versicle and that at the end of the psalmody of the day. From the sixteenth century on Anglicans had objected to the repetition of the Gloria Patri after each Psalm and after the 1662 revision, after each section of Psalm 119. In the Eastern Church the Gloria Patri is recited only after each group of Psalms. The Gloria in Excelsis is also provided as an alternative for use at the end of the psalmody. In the Western Church the Gloria in Excelsis was used in the morning office from the fourth century on and was apparently one of the most popular daily office canticles. By the eleventh or twelfth century it had migrated to the Mass and was customarily sung on Sundays and certain other feast days. It was dropped from the daily office around that time. In the 1786 and 1789 Orders for Morning Prayer it was restored to the morning office, only to be eliminated by the 1892 revision. In the Eastern Church the Gloria in Excelsis is used in the morning office to this day.

The 1874 Order for Morning Prayer substantially adopts the 1786 and 1789 version of the Te Deum but omits the word “pure” from the clause, “When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst humble thyself to be born of a pure Virgin….” In this regard the 1874 Te Deum is closer to that of the 1662 Prayer Book in which the same clause is rendered, “When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb…” As in the 1789 version of the Te Deum, the clause “Thy honorable, true, and only Son…,” is altered to “Thine adorable, true, and only Son….” The 1786 version of the Te Deum alters the clause, “O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee…” to “O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us: as our trust is in thee…” and omits the final clause, “O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.” The 1789 version of the Te Deum retains the altered clause and restores the final clause. The 1874 version of the Te Deum does likewise. The 1874 Order for Morning Prayer, like the 1786 order, omits the Benedicite and provides no alternative to the Te Deum. The 1874 order, also like the 1879 order, abbreviates the Benedictus to four verses, printed after rather than before the Jubilate. The lack of an alternative for the Te Deum and the truncated Benedictus are a major defect of the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer. The apparent rational for shortening the Benedictus was to make it the same length as the Jubilate. The 1874 order does not print the Gloria Patri after any of the canticles. It must be assumed that it was not intended that the Gloria Patri should be recited after any of them. The 1789 order prints the Gloria Patri after certain canticles but then permits its omission after these canticles.

In the Apostles’ Creed alternative wording may be substituted for the clause, “He descended into Hell…,” or it may be omitted altogether. Its omission is justified elsewhere on the basis that the clause was not included in the earliest versions of the Apostles’ Creed. As in the 1789 Order for Morning Prayer the Nicene Creed may said in place of the Apostles’ Creed.

The Lesser Litany and the Lord’s Prayer are omitted. The omission of the second Lord’s Prayer is a peculiar feature of the early American Prayer Books that was incorporated into the 1874 Prayer Book. The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer before the opening versicle is a survival of the private use of the Lord’s Prayer as preparation for the daily office and is a relatively late development. Although Archbishop Cranmer incorporated it into the Order for Morning Prayer, following the example of Cardinal Quinon, it is really not a part of the morning office. If any of the uses of the Lord’s Prayer in the Order for Morning Prayer are to be omitted, it is this use. The second use of the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of the prayers of the office is much more ancient. It was originally the conclusion of the morning office. Its omission suggests a lack of familiarity with the history and development of the morning office. Its omission from the 1786, 1789, 1874, and 1892 Orders for Morning Prayer is one of the major defects of these orders.

The Suffrages are abbreviated, as in the 1789 Order for Morning Prayer. Omitted are the following versicles and responses:

Minister. O Lord: bless and preserve these United States;
Answer. And mercifully hear us, when we call upon thee.
Minister. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness;
Answer. And make thy people joyful.

The Collect for the day is optional. The wording of A Prayer for our Civil Rulers and A Prayer for Congress is slightly altered. In the 1789 Prayer Book, A Prayer for Congress is not printed after A Prayer for our Civil Rulers but at the beginning of the Prayers and Thanksgivings.

As in the 1786 Order for Morning Prayer, the Litany is printed in the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer. However, the Litany in the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer may, unlike in 1786 order, be omitted. Its mandatory use in the 1786 order accounted to a large extent for the unpopularity of that order. It made the service too long. The wording of the 1874 Litany is substantially that of the 1789 Litany. There are two significant changes. The petition, “That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons…” is altered to “That it may please thee to illuminate all Ministers of the Gospel….” An additional petition, “That it may please thee to send forth laborers into thy harvest…” is added to the Litany. These two changes give the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer something that is lacking in the 1662, 1786, and 1789 orders—a theology of missions.

The rubrics of the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer permit the minister to begin the Litany at the words, “O Christ, hear us” or to omit everything from the words, “O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy upon us…,” to the prayer, “We humbly beseech thee, O Father….” In permitting the omission of this section of the Litany the 1874 order follows the 1789 order. The 1786 order requires that entire Litany should be said or sung.

A General Thanksgiving is printed after the Litany. The rubric preceding it directs that it is to be said by the people with the minister. In the 1786 and 1789 orders only the minister may say the General Thanksgiving. The rubric following A General Thanksgiving authorizes the use of occasional prayers or extemporaneous prayer at that point in the service. The service concludes with A Prayer of St. Chrysostom and The Grace. A Prayer of Chrysostom is retitled A General Supplication.

For those wishing to use the 1874 Order for Morning Prayer, it has been reproduced below. Most of the original punctuation has been observed except for the canticles. It is recommended that several of the penitential sentences should be read after a general or seasonal Opening Sentence of Scripture. During Lent the use of Psalm 95 is recommended in place of the abbreviated version of the Venite printed in the order. If a less festive alternative to the Te Deum is desired, the Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6) is recommended:

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

The use of the full version of the Benedictus is also recommended.

The words in square brackets may be omitted.

Words in bold type are said or sung by the congregation.

THE ORDER FOR MORNING PRAYER

The Minister shall begin the Morning Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences.

Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.
From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts. Mal. i. 11.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. St. John iv, 24.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm. xix, 14.
When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27.
I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Psal. ii. 3.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psal. li. 9.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psal. li. 17.
Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel ii. 13.
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. Dan. ix. 9, 10.
O Lord, correct me, but with judgment: not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. x. 24. Psal. vi. 1.
Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Mat. iii. 2.
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. St. Luke xv. 18, 19.
Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psal. cxliii. 2.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousess. 1 St. John i. 8, 9.
FOR ADVENT

Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Rev. i. 7.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev. xxii. 20.
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii. 2.

FOR CHRISTMAS

When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians iv. 4, 5.

FOR EPIPHANY

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John i. 14.

FOR GOOD FRIDAY

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every man to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah liii. 6.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree. 1 Peter ii. 24.

FOR EASTER

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet he shall live. John xi. 25.

FOR ASCENSION DAY

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Psalm lxviii. 18.

FOR WHITSUNDAY

When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father: even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John xv. 26.

FOR TRINITY SUNDAY

Through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians ii. 18.

Then the Minister shall say,

Dearly beloved brethren, the scripture moveth us in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloke 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 might obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore, I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me, with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying:

A general Confession, to be said by the whole Congregation; with the Minister, all kneeling.

Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred and strayed like from thy ways 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 live a godly, righteous, and sober life; To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

The Minister, still kneeling, shall say the following Prayer.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all those who, with hearty repentance and true faith, turn unto thee; have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all your sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The people shall answer here, and at the end of every prayer, Amen.

Then the Minister shall say the Lord's Prayer; the people repeating it with him, both here, and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service.

Our Father, who 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 trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Then likewise he shall say,

O Lord, open thou our lips.
Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Here all standing up, the Minister shall say,

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Answer. The Lord's Name be praised.

Then shall be said or sung following, except on those days for which other Anthems are appointed.

Venite, Exultemus Domino
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and show ourselves glad in him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship, and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him.For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.

Then shall follow a portion of the Psalter. After which may be said or sung, the Gloria Patri, or else the Gloria in Excelsis.

Gloria Patri
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 this.

Gloria in Excelsis
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Then shall be read the first lesson, from the Old Testament. After which shall be said or sung the following Anthem.

Note, that before every Lesson, the minister shall say, Here beginneth such Chapter, or Verse of such Chapter, of such a Book: And after every Lesson, Here endeth the first or second Lesson.

Te Deum Laudamus
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim, and Seraphim: continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and Earth are full of the Majesty: of thy Glory. The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee. The Father: of an infinite Majesty; Thine adorable, true: and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter, Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin. When thou hast overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the Glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints: in Glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage. Govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name: ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

Then shall be read the second lesson, taken out of the New Testament. And after that the following anthem.

Jubilate Deo. Psalm c.
O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves : we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with Praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

Or this.

Benedictus St. Luke i. 68.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of, his holy Prophets; which have been since the world began; That we should be saved from our enemies: and from the hands of all that hate us.

Then shall be said the Apostles’ Creed, by the Minister and the people, standing: And any church may insert after the words, Was crucified, dead and buried, the words, He descended into Hell, or the words, He went into the place of departed spirits.

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; 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.

Or this.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

[Note. By “One Catholic and Apostolic Church” is signified “The blessed company of all faithful people;” and by “One Baptism for the remission of sins” the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.]

Then the Minister shall say,

The Lord be with you.
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.

O Lord show thy mercy upon us.
Answer. And grant us thy salvation.
Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us;
Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Then may follow the Collect for the day, except when the Communion Service is read; and then the Collect for the day shall be omitted here.

A Collect for Peace
O God; who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom, Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we surely trusting in thy defence; may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Grace
Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power, and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may, by thy governance be righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for all in Civil Authority, which may be omitted when the Litany is used at Morning Service.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee, with thy favour to behold and bless thy servant the President of the United States, and all in authority, legislative, judicial, and executive; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[A Prayer for Congress. To be used during the Session
Most gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the people of these United States in general, so especially for their Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled: that thou wouldest be
pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of thy Glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honor, and welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavors, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and Mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.]

The LITANY, or General Supplication, which may be used at Morning Service, and at other times, as the Minister shall think fit.

O God the Father of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Father of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father, and the Son: have mercy us miserable sinners.
O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father, and the Son: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons, and one God: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons, and one God: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.
Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and mischief; from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation;
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness;
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil;
Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle, and murder, and from sudden death;
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine; heresy and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and Commandment;
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting and Temptation;
Good Lord, deliver us.
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the holy Ghost;
Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment.
Good Lord, deliver us.
We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God, and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and preserve all Christian Rulers and Magistrates; giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to illuminate all Ministers of the Gospel with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to send forth laborers into thy harvest;
We beseech, thee to hear us, good Lord
That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people;
We beseech, thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand, and to comfort and help the weak-hearted, and to raise up those who fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee succor, help, and comfort all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve all who travel by land or by water, all women in the perils of childbirth, all sick persons, and young children, and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives,
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children, and widows, and all who are desolate and oppressed
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us true repentance, to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances, and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word;
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God: we beseech thee to hear us.
Son of God: we beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world;
Grant us thy peace.
O Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world;
Have mercy upon us.

The Minister may, at his discretion, begin the Litany here, or omit all that follows, to the Prayer, “We humbly beseech thee, O Father,” etc.

[O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Then shall the Minister, and the people with him, say the Lord’s Prayer, if it has not been previously said.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy 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 who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
Answer. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

O God, merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as are sorrowful; mercifully assist our prayers which we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils, which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us, may, by thy good providence, be brought to nought; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Lord, arise, help us, an deliver us for thy Name's sake.

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.
O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thine honor.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
From our enemies defend us, O Christ.
Graciously look upon our afflictions.
Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts.
Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people.
Favourably with mercy hear our prayers.
O Son, of David, have mercy upon us.
Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ.
Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ.
O Lord, let thy mercy be showed upon us.
As we do put our trust in thee.

We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore, serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory, through our only Mediator and Advocate Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A General Thanksgiving, to be said by the People, with the Minister.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men: We bless thee for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies that our hearts may be, unfeignedly thankful, and that we may shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Here may be used any of the occasional prayers, or extemporaneous prayer.

A General Supplication
Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise, that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

2 Cor. Xiii. 14.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Here endeth the Order of Morning Prayer.

2 comments:

Hugh McCann said...

Could an acceptable BCP be gleaned from UK's 1662, PECUSA's 1789 & 1928, and the REC's 1874 & 1963?

Could a group form of ex-REC-ers, TPEC-ers, AOC-ers, and over the pond, the FCE gang?

God give us an Anglican-Calvinist witness!

Just thinkin',

Hugh McCann
hughmc5@hotmail

David.McMillan said...

I am not sure what you are doing here.....is this Pb the PB of the REC used in many of the Churches up north still, the old 1785/1874? If you think it is, then , you are missing something as the " Absolution" is much more Reformed saying God in His Holy Word absolves, not the clergy. Blessings.