Paab 1887 HE Ratification of the 17. The Ministration of Baptism 3. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read. 18. A Catechism; that is to say, 4. The Order how the rest of an Instruction to be learn- the Holy Scripture is ap- ed by every person before 8. Tables of Lessons of Holy firmed by the Bishop Scripture, to be read at 19. The O.der of Contirmation, Prayer throughout the upon those that are bap- 7. Tables and Rules for the 20. The Form of Solemnization able Feasts, together with 21. The Order for the Visitation the Days of Fasting and of the Sick. Abstinence throughout the 22. The Communion of the Sick. 23. The Order for the Burial of 8. Tables for finding the Holy. the Dead. 9. The Order for Daily Morning after Child-birth,common- 10. The Order for Daily Evening 25. Forms of Prayer to be used 12. Prayers and Thanksgivings 26. A Form of Prayer for the upon several Occasions, to Visitation of Prisoners. be used before the two 27. A Form of Prayer and final prayers of Morning Thanksgiving to Almighty 13. The Collects, Epistles, and earth, and all the other Gospels, to be used Blessings of his merciful 14. The Order for the Adminis- 28. Forms of Prayer to be used per, or Holy Communion. 29. Selections of Psalms, to be 15. The Ministration of Public Baptism of Infants, to be for the Day, at the discre- tion of the Minister. 16. The Ministration of Private 30. The Psalter, or Psalms of 1 may lead cannot but be supposed that further alterations would in time be found expedient. Accordiugly, a commission for a reciew was issued in the year 1689 : but this great and good work miscarried at that time; and the Civil Authority has not since thought proper to revive it by any new commission. But when in the course of Divine Providence, these American States became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical independence was necessarily included; and the different religious denominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal liberty to model and organize their re. spective Churches, and forms of worship, and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most convenient for their future prosperity; consistently with the constitution and laws of their country. The attention of this Church was in the first place drawn to those alterations in the Liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for our Civil Rulers, in consequence of the Revolution. And the principal care herein was to make them contormable to what ought to be the proper end of all such prayers, namely, that “Rulers may have grace, wisdom, and understanding to execute justice, and to maintain truih;" and that the people quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty." But while these alterations were in review before the Convention, they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occa-ion which was offered to them (uninfluenced and unrestrained by any wordly authority whatsoever) to take a further review of the Public Service, and to establish such other alterations and amendments therein as might be deemed expedient. It seems unnecessary to enumerate all the different alterations anid amendments. They will appear, and it is to be hoped, the reasons of them also, upon a comparison of this with the Book of Common Praver of the Church of England. In which it will also appear that this Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local circumstances require. And now, this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is h ped the whole will be received and examined by every true member of our Church, and every sincere Christian, with a meek, candid, and charitable frame of inind; without prejudice or prepossessions; seriously considering what Christianity is, and what The truths of the Gospel are; and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing every endeavour for promulgating them to mankind, in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and majestic manner, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, our blessed Lord Saviour. HOW THE PSALTER IS APPOINTED TO BE READ. THE Psalter shall be read through once every month, as it is there appoiuted, both twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth day of the month. And whereas, January, March, May, July, August, October, and December, bave one-and thirty days a piece; it is ordered that the same Psalms shall be read the last day of the said months which were read the day before ; so that the Psalter may begin again the first day of the next month ensuing. And whereas the 119th Psalm is divided into twenty-two Portions, and is over laas to be read at one time; it is so ordered, that at one time shall not be read above four or £ ve of the said Portions. The Minister, instead of reading from the Psalter as divided for Daily Morning and Evening Prayer, may read oue of the Selections set out by this Church. And, on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, appointed either by the Civil or by the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Minister may appoint such Psalms as he shall think it in his discretion, unless any shall have been appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority, in a Service set out for the Occasion; which, in that case, shall be used, and no other. PROPER PSALMS ON CERTAIN DAYS. Morning. Evening. Morning. Evening. 6, 32, 38 102, 130, 143 Ascension Day 64, 88 The Minister may use one of the Selectists, instead of a one of the above Portions. THE ONDER TO BE REAL. Prayer; so that the most part thoreof will be read every year once, as in the Calendar is appointed. The New Testament is appointed for the Second Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer. And to know what Lessons shall be read every day, look for the day of the month in the Calendar following, and there ve shall find the Chapters that shall be read for the Lessons, both at Morning and Evening Prayer; except only the Moveable Feasts, which are not in the Calendar; and the Immoveable, where there is a blank left in the columa of Lessons; the Proper Lessons for all which days are to be found in tbe Table of Proper Lessons. If in any Church, upon a Sunday or Holy Day, both Morning, ard Evening Prayer be not said, the Minister may read the Lessons appointed either for Morning ur for Evening Prayer. At Evening Prayer on Sunday, the Minister may read the Lesson Prom the Gospels appointed for that Day of the Month, in place of the Second Lecson for the Sunday. Upon any Day for which no Proper Lessous are provided, the Lessons appoiuted in the Calendar for any Day in the same week may be read in place of the Lessons for the Day. And, on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, the same rule is to obtain as in reading the Psalms. And the same discretion of choice is allowed on occasion of Ecclesiastical Conventions, and those of Charitable Collections. And Note, That whensoever Proper Psalms or Lessons are appointed, then tbc Psalms and Lessons of ordinary course appointed in the Psalter and Calenda!, if they be dil ierent, shall be omitted for that time. Note also, That the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the Sunday, shall serve all the Week after, where it is not in this Book otherwise ordered. |