EVENING PRAYER.

At the beginning of Evening Prayer, the Minister shall read one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture; and then he shall read the Exhortation.

WHEN the wicked man turneth away from

his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27.

I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin. is ever before me. Psalm li. 3.

Hide thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm li. 9.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm li. 17.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel ii. 13.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us. Dan. ix. 9, 10.

O Lord, correct me, but in measure; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. x. 24. Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii. 2.

I will arise, and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke xv. 18, 19.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psalm cxliii. 2.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John i. 8, 9.

The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. St. John iv. 23, 24.

EXHORTATION.

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture mov

eth us in sundry places to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our Heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite good

ness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me, with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying with me—

A General Confession to be said by the whole Congregation after the Minister.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; To the glory of thy holy name.

¶The People shall answer here, and at the end of every Prayer, Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of sins to all those who, with hearty repentance, and true faith, turn unto thee; have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶Then the Minister shall say the Lord's Prayer; the People repeating it with him both here and wheresoever else it is used in Divine Service.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Then likewise he shall say,

LORD, open thou our lips;

Answ.

praise.

Amen.

And our mouth shall show forth thy

¶ Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,

Min. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God;

Answ. Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever.

Amen.