: FIRST To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers and to remember His holy Covenant : HOUR. To perform the oath which He sware to our forefather Abraham that He would give us ; That we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve Him without fear; : : In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life. And Thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; : To give knowledge of salvation unto His people for the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; : As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. The Creed. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried, He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen. The Prayers. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Vers. O Lord, shew Thy mercy upon us. Resp. And grant us Thy salvation. Vers. O Lord, save the King. Resp. And mercifully hear us when we call upon Thee. Vers. Endue Thy ministers with righteousness. Resp. And make Thy chosen people joyful. Vers. O Lord, save Thy people. Resp. And bless Thine inheritance. Vers. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Resp. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only Thou, O God. Vers. O Lord, make clean our hearts within us. Resp. And take not Thy Holy Spirit from us. Vers. O Lord, hear my prayer. Resp. And let my crying come unto Thee. Then the Collects proper for the week, with these Prayers following. The Second Collect, for Peace. O God, Which art the Author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of Whom standeth our eternal life, Whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us Thy humble servants in all the assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in Thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Third Collect, for Grace. O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, Which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by Thy governance, to do always that that is righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. FIRST HOUR. A DEVOUT PRAYER, WHICH MAY BE USED AT ALL TIMES. I. Grant me, gracious Lord, a pure intention of my heart, and a stedfast regard to Thy glory in all my actions. Possess my mind continually with Thy presence, and ravish it with Thy love, that my only delight may be, to be embraced in the arms of Thy protection. II. Be Thou a light unto mine eyes, music to mine ears, sweetness to my taste, and a full contentment to my heart. Be Thou my sunshine in the day, my food at the table, my repose in the night, my clothing in nakedness, and my succour in all necessities. III. Lord Jesu, I give Thee my body, my soul, my substance, my fame, my friends, my liberty, and my life: dispose of me, and of all that is mine, as it seemeth best to Thee, and to the glory of Thy blessed Name. IV. Therefore claim me as I am not now mine, but Thine. Thy right, keep me as Thy charge, and love me as Thy child. Fight for me when I am assaulted, heal me when I am wounded, and revive me when I am destroyed, V. My Lord and my God, I beseech Thee to give me patience in troubles, humility in comforts, constancy in temptations, and victory against all my ghostly enemies. Grant me sorrow for my sins, thankfulness for Thy benefits, fear of Thy judgments, love of Thy mercies, and mindfulness of Thy presence for evermore. VI. Make me humble to my superiors and friendly to my equals make me ready to pleasure all, and loth to offend any: make me loving to my friends, and charitable to mine enemies. VII. Give me modesty in my countenance, gravity in my behaviour, deliberation in my speech, holiness in my thoughts, and righteousness in all my actions. Let Thy mercy cleanse me from my sins, and let Thy grace bring forth in me the fruits of everlasting life. VIII. ing. Lord, let me be obedient without arguing, humble without fawning, patient without grudging, pure without corruption, murmurmerry without lightness, sad without mistrust, sober without dulness, true without doubleness, fearing Thee without desperation, and trusting in Thee without presumption. IX. Let me be joyful for nothing but that which pleaseth Thee; nor sorrowful for any thing but that which doth displease Thee. Let my labour be my delight, which is for Thee; and let all rest weary me, which is not in Thee. X. Give me a waking spirit and a diligent soul, that I may seek to know Thy will, and when I know it truly, may perform it faithfully, to the honour and glory of Thy ever blessed Name. Amen. The Final Prayers. Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of Thy servants toward the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by Thy most gracious and ready help; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty Lord, and everliving God, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of Thy laws, and in the works of Thy FIRST commandments; that through Thy most mighty protection, HOUR. both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Doxology. Now unto the King eternal, the immortal, invisible, and only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. The End of the Matins, or First Hour of Prayer. |