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of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. How has God purchased to Himself an universal Church? By the precious blood of his dear Son. "Christ also loved the

church, and gave himself for it." (Eph. v. 25.)

3. In what do we beseech Him to guide the bishops and pastors of his flock?

That they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of his Church. 66 Lay hands suddenly on no man.” (1 Tim. v. 22.) "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." (1 Tim. iii. 8, 9.)

4. What do we beseech God to grant to those who shall be ordained to any holy function?

God's grace and heavenly benediction, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth God's glory and man's salvation. "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned." (Tit. ii. 7, 8.) "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Christ Jesus." (1 Pet, iv. 11.)

1. Repeat the second prayer for Ember weeks.

ALMIGHTY God, the Giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

2. Who is the Giver of all good gifts?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James i. 17.)

3. What divers orders did God appoint in his Church? "He chose twelve, whom he named Apostles." (Luke vi. 13.) "The Lord appointed other seventy also." (Luke x. 1.) "He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers." (Eph. iv. 11.)

4. What do we pray all those who are called to any office and administration in the Church may be replenished with?

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With the truth of God's doctrine, and endued with innocency of life. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John xvii. 17.) "And thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1 Tim. vi. 11.)

5. How do we pray they may serve before God?

1st. To the glory of his great name. "That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. iv. 11.)

2ndly. For the benefit of the holy Church. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph. iv. 12.)

1. Repeat the prayer that may be said after any of the former.

O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions; and though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us; for the honour of Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

2. Is this prayer of great antiquity?

Yes; it is found in the most ancient monuments of the English Church.

3. What is the peculiar nature and property of God?

"The Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations." (Ps. c. 5.)

4. What do we beseech Him to receive?

Our humble petitions. "Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place: and when thou hearest, forgive." (1 Kings viii. 30.)

5. By what are we tied and bound?

By the chain of our sins. "I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." (Rom. vii. 23.)

6. How do we pray to be loosed from this chain? By the pitifulness of God's great mercy. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord: that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (Isa. v. 11.)

7. For whose honour do we ask this?

For the honour of our Advocate and Mediator Jesus Christ. "We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John ii. 1.)

1. Repeat the Prayer for the High Court of Parliament, to be read during their session.

MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this Kingdom in general, so especially for the High Court of Parliament, under our most religious and gracious Queen at this time 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, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and her dominions; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest founda

tions, 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.

2. For whom do we especially pray in this prayer?

For the High Court of Parliament, according to the exhortation of St. Paul. 66 "I exhort, therefore, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority." (1 Tim. ii. 12.)

3. To what end do we pray God to direct and prosper all their consultations?

1st. To the advancement of God's glory. "That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. iv. 11.)

2ndly. For the good of his Church. "That we being delivered out of the hand of his enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke i. 74, 75.)

3rdly. For the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and her dominions. "For them thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and thou shalt have good success." (Josh. i. 9.)

4. What do we pray may be established among us for all gene

rations?

1st. Peace. "Peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces." (Ps. cxxii. 7.)

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2ndly. Happiness. Happy is the people that are in such a case: yea, happy is the people whose God is the Lord." (Ps. cxliv. 15.) 3rdly. Truth. "For the lip of truth shall be established for ever." (Prov. xii. 19.)

4thly. Justice. "And they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment." (Gen. xviii. 19.)

5thly. Religion and piety. Because "righteousness exalteth a nation." (Prov. xiv. 34.)

5. In whose name and mediation do we ask for these and all other necessaries?

In the name of Jesus Christ. "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. iv. 19.)

1. Repeat the Collect.

A Collect or Prayer for all Conditions of men, to be used at such times when the Litany is not appointed to be said.

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially, we pray for the good estate of the Catholick Church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call

themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those, who are any ways af flicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [*especially those for whom our prayers are desired,] that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake. Amen.

This is to be said when any desire the Prayers of the Congregation.

2. Prove from Scripture that God is the Creator and Preserver of all mankind.

"Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. iv. 11.)

3. What do we pray God to make known unto all nations? His ways, and saving health. "God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations." (Ps. Ixvii. 1, 2.)

4. How do we pray the Catholic, or universal Church of Christ, may be guided and governed?

By God's good Spirit. "Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John xvi. 13.)

5. When it is thus guided, what will it be led unto?

All truth, and will hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." (Gal. v. 22, 23.)

6. Whom do we commend to God's fatherly goodness?

All those who are afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble by the comfort, wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (2 Cor. i. 3, 4.)

7. What do we pray God to give them under their sufferings? Patience. That they may be "patient in tribulation." (Rom. xii. 12.)

8. What do we hope may be granted to their afflictions?

A happy issue out of them all. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." (Ps. xxxiv. 19.)

THANKSGIVINGS.

1. REPEAT the general thanksgiving.

when any that have been prayed for desire to return praise.

¶ A General Thanksgiving.

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; [* particularly to those who desire now to offer This to be said up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] 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 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 honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

2. For what do we give Almighty God our most humble and hearty thanks?

For his goodness and loving-kindness to us and all mankind. "The Lord is good to all, his tender mercies are over all his works." (Ps. cxlv. 9.)

3. For what do we bless God?

1st. For our creation. "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honour: and didst set him over all the works of thine hands." (Heb. ii. 7.)

2ndly. For our preservation. "By thee have I been holden up from the womb; my praise shall be continually of thee." (Ps. lxxi. 6.)

3rdly. For all the blessings of this life. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name, who crowneth thee with loving-kindnesses, and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed as the eagle's." (Ps. ciii. 1. 4, 5.)

4. For what above all do we bless God?

For the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world." (1 John ii. 2.)

5. For what means of grace do we thank God?

For his word, his Holy Spirit, his ministers, his sacraments, his sabbaths, his public worship, and the privilege of private prayer; He has given us these means of grace, "for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Eph. iv. 12.)

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