our life.

Luke i. 68. (n)

7 That we being delivered out BLESSED be the Lord God of of the hand of our enemies : Israel : for he hath visited and might serve him without fear, redeemed his people;

8 In holiness and righteous2 And hath raised up a mighty ness before him : all the days of salvation for us : in the (6) house of his servant David;

9 And thou, Child, shalt be 3 As he spake by the mouth called the Prophet of the Highest: of his holy prophets : which have for thou shalt go (9) before the face been since the world began;

of the Lord to prepare his ways; 4 That we should be saved 10 To give knowledge of salfrom our enemies : and from the

vation unto his people : for the hand of all that hate us;

remission of their sins,
5 To perform the (p) mercy 11 Through the tender mercy
promised to our forefathers : and of our God : whereby the(r) Day-
to remember his holy covenant ; spring from on high hath visited

6 To perform the oath which
he sware to our forefather Abra- 12 To give (s) light to them that
ham : that he would give us ; sit in darkness, and in the shadow

us;

V. 2.

me; and

(n) The Hymn of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, on the circumcision of his son. It occurs again in the Gospel for St. John the Baptist's day.

(0) “In the house," i.e.“ of the family, " a descendant." The Messiah was to be of the lineage of David ; and David is often mentioned as a type or figure of him. Thus, Jer. xxiii. 5. post. « Behold the “ days come, saith the Lord, that I will " raise unto David a righteous Branch ; " and a King shall reign and prosper, “ and shall execute judgment and justice “ in the earth. In his days Judah shall “ be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. “ And this is the name whereby he shall “ be called, the Lord our Righteous" ness." See also Jer.xxx. 8,9. And one of the common appellations of our Saviour,

accordingly, was “ the Son of David.” 9.5.6. () Immediately after the Fall, God

promised that “ the Seed of the woman
it should bruise the Serpent's head,"
Gen. iii. 15. intimating, (though obscure-
ly, and in a manner probably not then
distinctly understood,) that some future
descendant of Eve should so far destroy
the effect of Adam's disobedience, as to
give mankind the chance of complete
forgiveness and eternal life. And when
Abraham so far obeyed God's command-
ment as to take the knife to sacrifice his
only son to God, God swore by himself,
as a reward for his obedience, that “in his
(Abraham's) “ seed should all the nations

of the earth be blessed.” See Gen. xxii. 10 to 18. God had made him the like promise before, Gen. xii. 3. See post, note on Mal. ii. 1.

(9) “ Go before."'. It was to John the v.9.
Baptist that Isaiah refers in ch. xl. 3.
“ The voice of him that crieth in the
“ wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
6 Lord,” &c. And he is the messenger
to whom Malachi refers, ch. iii. 1. “ Be.
“ hold I will send my messenger, and he
« shall
prepare

the
way

before
« the Lord whom ye seek (i.e. the

Messiah) shall suddenly come to his
“ temple, &c. Mal. iv. 5,6. gives him
the appellation of Elijah the prophet, from
the correspondence of their characters,
and describes his office to be, “ to turn
" the heart of the fathers to their child.

ren, and the heart of the children to “ their fathers," to produce peace, and unanimity:

This was to be his mode of preparing a way for the Messiah, by correcting the minds and dispositions of the people. See post 32. note on Matt. xi. 1o.

(r) “ Day-spring.” He is called, o.11. Mal. iv. 2.“ The Sun of Righteousness, “ with healing in his wings.

() “ To give light," &c. Isaiah, 0.17, speaking, prophetically of the times of the Messiah, says, " the people that “ walked in darkness have seen

great light; they that dwell in the « Land of the Shadow of Deatby

a

of death : and to (t) guide our

IN THE EVENING SERVICE,

either feet into the way

of
peace.

The Song of Simeon, upon his seeing t
Glory be to the Father, &c.

Infant Jesus ;
As it was in the beginning, &c.

Luke ii. 29.
Or this Psalm.

Lord, now (x) lettest thou th
Psalm c. (u)

servant depart in peace : accord O be joyful in the Lord, all ye ing to thy word. lands : serve the Lord with glad

2 For mine eyes have seen ness, and come before his pre

thy (y) salvation. sence with a song.

3. Which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people ;
2 Be ye sure that the Lord
he is God; it is he that hath

4 To be a (z) light to lighten made us, and not we ourselves :

the (a) Gentiles : and to be the we are his people, and the sheep

glory of thy people Israel. of his pasture.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c. 3 O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into Or else this Psalm ; except it be on the his courts with praise : be thank- Twelfth Day of the Month. ful unto him, and speak good of

Psalm lxvii. (6) his Name.

God be merciful unto us, and 4. For the Lord is gracious, bless us : and shew us the light his mercy is everlasting : and his of his countenance, and be mercitruth endureth from generation to generation.

2 That thy (c) way may be Glory be to the Father, &c. known upon earth :

earth : thy saving As it was in the beginning, &c. health among all nations.

ful unto us;

v. 12.

21.

(2)

“ upon them hath the light shined.” should not see death before he had seen Isaiah ix. 2.

the Lord's Christ. See Luke ii. 26. (1) “ To guide, &c.” This was to be ()“Salvation.” According to Matt.i. the nature of his office, not as the Jewsex.

the reason why the name of Jesus pected, to lead them to temporal honours.

was given to him was, because he was to According to Isaiah xi. 5. “Righteousness

save his people from their sins.
was to be the girdle of his loins.” In
Isaiah ix, 6. he is called “ the Prince of

“ A light.” See note on p. 7, v.. “ Peace.” And when Haggai foretels his

vill, 12. coming to the temple they were then build- (a) “ The Gentiles.” This was the ap. ing, he says, “In this place will I give pellation for all who were not Jews. The peace,

saith the Lord of hosts.” Part promises to Abraham and Isaac were, of the song of the heavenly host on our

that in their seed, not the Jews only, but Saviour's birth was, “ on earth peace.”

all the nations of the earth, should be And one of the peculiarities of Christian- blessed. See Gen. xii. 3-xviii. 18.– ity is, that it inculcates meekness, for

xxü. 18.-xxvi. 4.--and xxviii. 14. bearance, forgiveness of injuries, and (6) A prayer for peculiar blessings upon whatever has a tendency to prevent or the Jews, to convince other nations, that terminate dissension.

their God is the only true God, and so (u) A Hymn, supposed to be used by to bring those nations in to worship him. the Priest, at the sacrifice of such

peace (c) * That thy way, &c.” That by v. offerings as were by way of thanksgiving. seeing the great advantages thou givest See Levit, vii. 11, 12.

to thy servants, all nations may turn to (x) “Now, &c.” It had been revealed thee. See Ps. vii. 7.-Ps. xxxii. 7.to him by the Holy Ghost, that he

Ps. li. 13.

3 Let the people praise thee, And in Jesus Christ his only O God : yea, let all the people Son, our Lord; Who was conpraise thee

ceived by the Holy Ghost, Born 4 O let the nations rejoice of the Virgin Mary, Suffered and be glad : for thou shalt judge under Pontius Pilate, Was crucithe folk righteously, and govern

fied, dead, and buried : He dethe nations upon earth.

scended into hell; The third day 5 Let the people praise thee, he rose again from the dead : He O God: yea, let all the people ascended into heaven, And sitpraise thee.

teth on the right Hand of God 6 Then shall the earth bring the Father Almighty; From forth her increase : and God, thence he shall come to judge the even our own God, shall give us quick and the dead. his blessing

I believe in (e) the Holy 7 God shall bless us : and all Ghost; The holy (f) Catholic the ends of the world shall fear Church; The (8) Communion of him.

Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; Glory be to the Father, &c. The Resurrection of the Body, As it was in the beginning, &c. And the Life everlasting. Amen.

Ther shall be sung or said the (d) Apostles'

Creed by the Minister and the People
standing : except only such days in ibe
Morning Service as the Creed of Saint

Athanasius is appointed to be read.
I BELIEVE in God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and

And after that, these Prayers following,

all devoutly kneeling ; the Minister first
pronouncing with a loud voice,
The Lord be with you:
Answ. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

earth:

opposition to particular heresies and

errors.

(d) “Apostles' Creed.” It is not to be understood that this Creed was framed by the Apostles, or indeed that it existed 2 a Creed in their time. Before the year for it was no more than this, “I believe

in God the Father Almighty : and in "Jesus Christ his only begotten Son,

our Lord; who was born of the Holy
“Ghost and Virgin Mary, and was
"crucified under Pontius Pilate, and was
" buried, and the third day rose again
" from the dead, ascended into Heaven,
“ sitteth on the right hand of the Father,
" whence he shall come to judge the
" quick and the dead ; and in the Holy

Ghost, the Holy Church, the remission
" of sins, and the resurrection of the
“ Besh. Amen." Anon. on Athanasian
Creed, 102. cites Bingham orig. Eccl.
B.10. C. 4. 5. 12. fol. ed. p. 450. and see
Pearson on the Creed, 47. 157. 181.225.
334. 351. 371. 389. How long that
form had existed is not exa&ly known.
The additions were probably made in.

(e) “ The Holy Ghost," i. e. “The “ Holy Spirit.”

(f) “ Holy Catholic Church," that is, not the Church of Rome, but the whole body of true Christians. See post, note on Ephes. xi. 20. that the whole body of true Christians throughout the world constitute one church, and that this church is open to persons of all nations, ages, &c.

(8) “ The Communion of Saints," i.c. what the Scripture calls “the fellowship" between God and true believers ; the participation true believers have in the favour and goodwill of God, and also the common bond or union among Chris. tians, considering them members of that body of which our Saviour Christ is the head, and looking to the common object they have of advancing God's glory, acknowledging his goodness, &c.

fear the power

Christ, have mercy upon us. knowledge of whom standeth our Lord, have mercy upon us.

eternal life, whose service is per

feet freedom ; Defend us thy Then the Minister, Clerks, and People shall humble servants, in all assaults say the Lord's Prayer with a loud

of our enemies; that we surely voice. Our Father, which art in hea

trusting in thy defence, may not

of

any adversaries, ven, Hallowed be thy Name ;

through the might of Jesus Christ Thy kingdom come ; Thy will

our Lord. Amen. be done in earth, as it is in hea. ven: Give us this day our daily

For Grace. bread; And forgive us our tres- O Lord our heavenly Father, passes, as we forgive them that

Almighty and everlasting God, trespass against us; And lead

who hast safely brought us to the us not into temptation, But de

beginning of this Day ; Defend liver us from evil. Amen.

us in the same with thy mighty Then the Priest, standing up, shall say, power ; and grant that this day O Lord, shew thy mercy upon

we fall into no sin, neither run

into any kind of danger ; but Answ. And grant us thy sal

that all our doings may be orvation.

dered by thy governance, to do Priest. O Lord, save the always that is righteous in thy King;

sight, through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen. Answ. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

IN THE EVENING, Priest. Endue thy Ministers

the two following. with righteousness;

O God, from whom all holy Answ. And make thy chosen

desires, all good counsels, and people joyful.

all just works do proceed; Give Priest. O Lord, save thy

unto thy servants that peace people;

which the world cannot give; Answ. And bless thine inheri.

that both our hearts may be set tance.

to obey thy commandments, and Coo Priest. Give peace in our time,

also that by thee we being deO Lord;

fended from the fear of our 2P Answ. Because there is none

enemies, may pass our time in other that fighteth for us, but rest and quietness, through the

置 it only thou, o God.

merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Priest. O God, make clean

Amen. our hearts within us. Answ. And take not thy Holy

For did against all Perils. Spirit from us.

LIGHTEN our darkness, we Then shall follow three Colle&s; the first

beseech thee, O Lord; and by of the Day, and then

thy great mercy defend us from IN THE MORNING,

all perils and dangers of this For Peace.

night, for the love of thy only O God, who art the author of Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. peace, and lover of concord, in Amen.

4

Ro

I. Choirs and Places where they sing, here ing kingdom, through Jesus followeth the Anthem.

Christ our Lord. Amen. Then these five Prayers following are to be read here, except when the Litany is read; and then only the two last are to

A Prayer for the Clergy and People. be read, as they are there placed. Almighty and everlasting God, A Prayer for the King's Majesty.

who alone workest great marvels; O Lord our heavenly Father, Send down upon our Bishops high and mighty, King of kings, and Curates, and all CongregaLord of lords, the only Ruler of tions committed to their charge, princes, who dost from thy throne the healthful Spirit of thy grace : behold all the dwellers upon And that they may truly please earth; Most heartily we beseech

thee, pour upon them the conthee with thy favour to behold tinual dew of thy blessing : our most gracious Sovereign

Grant this, O Lord, for the Lord, King GEORGE ; and so honour of our Advocate and replenish him with the grace of Mediator Jesus Christ. Amen. thy Holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. in thy way: Endue him plen- | ALMIGHTY God, who hast given teously with heavenly gifts ; grant him in health and wealth long to

us grace, at this time, with one

accord to make our common live ; strengthen him, that he

supplications unto thee; and may vanquish and overcome all

dost promise, that when two or his enemies; and finally, after

three (b) are gathered together in this life, he may attain everlasting thy Name, thou wilt grant their joy and felicity, through Jesus

requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, Christ our Lord. Amen.

the desires and petitions of thy

servants, as may be most expeA Prayer for the Royal Family.

dient for them; granting us in ALMIGHTY God, the fountain

this world knowledge of thy of all goodness, we humbly be

truth, and in the world to come seech thee to bless our gracious

life everlasting. Amen. Queen Charlotte, their Royal Highnesses George Prince of

2 Cor. xiii, 14. Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue | THE

The grace of our Lord Jesus them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich Christ, and the love of God, and them with thy heavenly grace;

the fellowship of the (i) Holy prosper them with all happiness; Ghost, be with us all evermore. and bring them to thine everlast. Amen.

(6) “ Two or three." See Matt. xviii. my Father which is in heaven: for 19, 20. where our Saviour says to his dis- « where two or three are gathered tociples, “ If two of you shall agree on “ gether in my name, there am I in the

earth touching any thing that they « midst of them.” “ shall ask, it shall be done for them of (i) i. e. “ Spirit.”

Here endeth the Order of Morning and Evening Prayer.