The Book of Common Prayer ... Together With

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com TEIE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, N ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS, AND OTHER RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH, ACCORDING TO THE USE OF (Libe Churti) of Øngland: TOGETHER WITH THE PSALTER OR PSALMS OF DAVID, POINTED AS THEY ARE TO BE SUNG OR SAID IN CHURCHES, AND 3ttented for uge ſuitſ) all Chants ancient and ſhotſerm, BY THE REW. THOMAS HELMORE, M. A. AND THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING OF BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS. O X F O R D : PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. LONDON: NOVELLO, EWER AND CO., * BERNERs STREET, AND 80 & 81, QUEEN STREET, CHEAPSIDE. Small Pica 16mo. - Cum Privilegio. T-_ w THE CONTENT'S OF THIS BOOK. THE Preface. Concerning the Service of the Church. Concerning Ceremonies, why some be abolished, and some retained. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read. The Order how the rest of the holy Scripture is appointed to be read. A Table qf Proper Lessons and Psalms. The Calendar, with the Table of Lessons. Tables and Rules for the Feasts and Fasts through the whole Year. The Order for Morning Prayer. The Order for Evening Prayer. The Creed of Saint Athanasius. The Litany. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions. The Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, to be used at the Ministration ºf the holy Communion, throughout the Year. The Order qf the Ministration of the holy Communion. The Order of Baptism both Publick and Private. The Order of Baptism for those of Riper Years. The Catechism. The Order qf Confirmation. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick, and the Communion of the Sick. The Order for the Burial qf the Dead. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth. A Commination, or denouncing of God's anger and judgements against Sinners. The Psalter. - Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea. The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. A Form of Prayer for the Twentieth Day of June. Articles of Religion. THE PREFACE. TT hath been the wisdom of the Church timely means were used to prevent it; º, of England, ever since the first com those men who under the late us piling of her Publick Liturgy, to keep owers had made it a great part of their the mean between the two extremes, of business to render the people disaffected too much stiffness in refusing, and of too thereunto, saw themselves in point of much easiness in admitting any variation reputation and interest concerned (un from it. For, as on the one side common less they would freely acknowledge them experience sheweth, that where a change selves to have erred, which such men hath been made of things advisedly esta are very hardly brought to do) with their blished (no evident necessity so requiring) utmost endeavours to hinder the resti sundry inconveniences have thereupon tution thereof. In order whereunto di ensued; and those many times more and vers pamphlets were published against greater than the evils, that were intended the Book of Common Prayer, the old to be remedied by such change: So on the objections mustered up, with the addition other side, the particular forms of Divine of some new ones, more than formerly worship, and the Rites and Ceremonies had been made, to make the number appointed to be used therein, being swell. In fine, great importunities were things in their own nature indifferent, used to His Sacred Nº. that the and alterable, and so acknowledged; it said Book might be revised, and such is but reasonable, that upon weighty and alterations therein, and additions there important consideration, according to unto made, as should be thought requisite the various exigency of times and occa for the ease of tender consciences: where sions, such changes and alterations should unto His Majesty, out of his pious in be made therein, as to those that are in clination to give satisfaction (so far as . place of Authority should from time to could be reasonably expected) to all his time seem either necessary or expedient. subjects of what persuasion soever, did ...; we find, that in the reigns graciously condescend. of several'ſ inces of blessed memory since In which review we have endeavoured the Reformation, the Church, upon just to observe the like moderation, as we and weighty considerations her thereunto find to have been used in the like case moving, hath yielded to make such alter in former times. And therefore of the ations in some particulars, as in their sundry alterations proposed unto us, we respective times were thought conveni have rejected all such as were either of ent: yet so, as that the main body and dangerous consequence (as secretly strik essentials of it (as well in the chiefest ing at some established doctrine, or laud materials, as in the frame and order able practice of the Church of England, thereof) have still continued the same or indeed of the whole Catholick Church unto this day, and do yet stand firm and of Christ) or else of no consequence at unshaken, notwithstanding all the vain all, but utterly frivolous and vain. But attempts and impetuous assaults made such alterations as were tendered to us º: it, by such men as are given to (by what persons, under what pretences, change, and have always discovered a or to what purpose soever tendered) as greater regard to their own private fan seemed to us in any degree requisite or cies and interests, than to that duty they expedient, we have willingly, and of owe to the publick. our own accord assented unto: not en By what undue means, and for what forced so to do by any strength of argu: mischievous purposes the use of the ment, convincing us of the necessity of Liturgy (though enjoined by the laws making the said alterations: for we are of the land, and those laws never yet fully persuaded in our judgements (and repealed) came, during the late unhapp we here profess it to the world) that the confusions, to be discontinued, is too § Book, as it stood before established by known to the world, and we are not law, doth not contain in it any thin willing here to remember. But when, contrary to the Word of God, or to soun upon His Majesty's happy restoration, doctrine, or which a godly man may not it seemed probable, that, amongst other with a good conscience use and submit things, the use of the Liturgy would unto, or which is not fairly defensible also return of course (the same having against any that shall oppose the same; never been legally abolished unless some if it sh be allowed such just and 4 CONCERNING THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH. favourable construction as in common that it was thought convenient, that equity ought to be allowed to all human some Prayers and Thanksgivings, fitted writings, especially such as are set forth to special occasions, should be added in by authority, and even to the very best their due places; particularly for those translations of the holy Scripture itself. at Sea, together with an Office for the Our general aim therefore in this un Baptism of such as are of Riper Years: dertaking was, not to gratify this, or which, although not so necessary when that party, in any their unreasonable the former Book was compiled, yet by demands; but to do that, which to our the growth of Anabaptism, through the best understandings we conceived might licentiousness of the }. times crept in most tend to the preservation of peace amongst us, is now become necessary, and unity in the cł. the procuring and may be always useful for the bap of reverence, and exciting of piety and tizing of natives in our plantations, and devotion in the publick worship of God; others converted to the faith. If any and the cutting off occasion from them man, who shall desire a more particular that seek occasion of cavil or quarrel account of the several alterations in any against the Litu of the Church And part of the Liturgy, shall take the pains as to the severa variations from the to compare the present Book with the former Book, whether by alteration, ad former; we doubt not but the reason of dition, or otherwise, it shall suffice to the change may easily appear. give this neral account, That most of And having thus endeavoured to dis the alterations were made, either first, charge our duties in this weighty affair, for the better direction of them that are as in the sight of God, and to approve to officiate in any part of Divine Service; our sincerity therein (so far as lay in which is chiefl §. in the Calendars | us) to the consciences of all men; al and Rubricks: Or secondly, for the more though we know it impossible (in such proper expressing of some words or variety of apprehensions, humours and phrases of ancient usage in terms more interests, as are in the world) to please suitable to the language of the present all; nor can expect that men of factious, times, and the clearer explanation of peevish, and perverse spirits should be some other words and phrases, that were satisfied with any thing that can be done either of doubtful signification, or other in this kind by any other than them wise liable to misconstruction: Or third selves: yet we have good hope, that what ly, for a more perfect rendering of such is here presented, and hath been by rtions of holy Scripture, as are inserted the Convocations of both Provinces with into the Liturgy; which, in the Epistles great diligence examined and approved, and Gospels especially, and in sundry will be also well accepted and approved other places, are now ordered to be read by all sober, peaceable, and truly con according to the last Translation: and | scientious sons of the Church of England.

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