which, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God for ever. Amen. ye The Epistle. 1 Thess. iv. I WOULD not, brethren, that should be ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleep, that ye sorrow not as other do which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep by Jesus will God bring again with him. For this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which shall live, and shall remain in the coming of the Lord, shall not come ere they which sleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall arise first: then we which shall live (even we which shall remain) shall be caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort yourselves one another with these words. The Gospel. John vi. JESUS said to his disciples and to the Jews, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and he that cometh to me I cast not away. For I came down from heaven, not to do that I will, but that he will which hath sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I shall lose nothing, but raise them up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. The Order of the Purification of Women. The Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth, commonly called the Churching of Wo men. The woman shall come into the church, and there shall kneel down in some convenient place, a nigh unto the quire door; and the Priest, standing by her, shall say these words, or such like, as the case shall require. FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to give you safe deliverance, and your child baptism, and hath preserved you in the great danger of childbirth; ye shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God, and pray. I HAVE lifted up my help. Then shall the Priest say this Psalm. Levavi oculos. Psalm cxxi. mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh My help cometh even from the Lord which hath made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: and he that keepeth thee will not sleep. Behold, he that keepeth Israel: shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand; a nigh unto the place where the table standeth 1552. hath preserved 1552. b safe deliverance, and So that the sun shall not burn thee by day : neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever &c. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. ¶ dOur Father which art in heaven, &c. Answer. But deliver us from evil. Amen. Priest. Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come to thee. Priest. Let us pray. O ALMIGHTY God, which hast delivered this woman thy servant from the great pain and peril of childbirth; Grant, we beseech thee, (most merciful Father,) that she, through thy help, may both faithfully live and walk in her vocation, according to thy will, in this life present; and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The woman that is purified, must offer her chrism, and other accustomed offerings; and if there be a communion, it is convenient that she receive the holy communion. c the Son, and to &c. 1552. thee 1552. The woman that cometh to give her thanks, must offer accustomed offerings; and if there be a communion, it is convenient that she receive the holy communion. d Our Father which &c. 1552. e unto The first Day of Lent, com- A Commination against Sinmonly called Ash-Wednesday. ners, with certain Prayers to be used divers times in the year. ¶ After f Matins ended, the people being called together by the ringing of a bell, and assembled in the church, the English Litany shall be said after the accustomed manner; which ended, the Priest shall go into the pulpit, and say thus: BRETHREN, in the primitive church there was a godly discipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as were notorious sinners were put to open penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that other, admonished by their example, might be more afraid to offend. In the stead whereof, until the said discipline may be restored again, (which thing is much to be wished,) it is thought good, that at this time (in your presence) should be read the general sentences of God's cursing against impenitent sinners, gathered out of the xxviith chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of scripture; and that ye should answer to every sentence, Amen to the intent that you, being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners, may the rather be called to earnest and true repentance; and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from such vices, for the which with your own mouths the curse of God to be due. ye affirm CURSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place to worship it. And the people shall answer and say, Amen. Minister. Cursed is he that curseth his father and mother. Answer. Amen. Minister. Cursed is he that removeth away the mark of his neighbour's land. Answer. Amen. Minister. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way. Answer. Amen. f Morning Prayer 1552. g others 1552. Minister. Cursed is he that letteth in judgment the right of the stranger, of them that be fatherless, and of widows. Answer. Amen. Minister. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. Minister. Cursed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife. Minister. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the soul of innocent blood. Answer. Amen. Minister. Curseth is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord. Answer. Amen. Minister. Cursed are the unmerciful, the fornicators, hand advowterers, the covetous persons, the worshippers of images, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners. Answer. Amen. The Minister. Now seeing that all they be accursed (as the Ps. cxviii. prophet David beareth witness) which do err and go astray from Matt. iii. Heb. x. - Psalm X. the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and being always at hand) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing and lamenting our sinful life, knowledging and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For even now is the axe put unto the root of the trees, so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: he shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to endure when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; I Thess. v. but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief upon the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath Isai. xxvi. Mal. iii. Matt. iii. h and adulterers, and the covetous persons 1552. k suddenly 1552. i For now is 1553. |