Minister. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit. Answer. For Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth.

Minister. Keep me as the apple of an eye;

Answer. Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. Antiphon. Lord, grant us Thy light.

Nunc dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29.

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace: according to Thy word.

For mine eyes have seen: Thy salvation.

Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of Thy people Israel.

Glory be.

Antiphon. Lord, grant us Thy light, that being rid of the darkness of our hearts, we may come to the true Light, which is Christ.

Then shall be said the Apostles' Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who 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 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.

Then shall be said, all kneeling:
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father.

Minister. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers:

Answer. And worthy to be praised, and glorified for ever.

Minister. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost;

Answer. Let us praise and exalt Him forever.

Minister. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;

Answer. And praised for evermore.

Minister. The almighty and merciful God bless us and keep us.

Answer. Amen.

Minister and People. We confess to Thee, O God the Father Almighty, that we have sinned against Thee in thought, word, and deed, by our own fault, our own grievous fault. We repent ourselves of these our transgressions, and we beseech Thee to grant us forgiveness for the past, and grace to amend our lives in time to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alternative form of confession.

We confess to God the Father Almighty, to His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and to God the Holy Ghost, that we have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, by our fault, our own fault, our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to have mercy upon us, to forgive us all that is past, and to grant us grace to amend our lives in time to come. Amen.

Minister. The almighty and merciful Lord grant you remission of your sins, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of His Holy Spirit. Amen. Minister. Vouchsafe, O Lord,

Answer. To keep us this night without sin.
Minister. O Lord, have mercy upon us,
Answer. Have mercy upon us.

Minister. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us:
Answer. As our trust is in Thee.

Minister. Turn us again, Thou God of hosts:
Answer. Show the light of Thy countenance, and

we shall be whole.

Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;

Answer. And let our cry come unto Thee.

Minister. The Lord be with you;

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

Then shall be said the Collects following.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Give us light in the night season, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and grant that our rest may be without sin, and our waking to Thy service; that we may come in peace and safety to the waking of the great day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here the Minister may add, at his discretion, any prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, or from this Book, concluding the Office as followeth :

Minister. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.

Minister. The Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a good end.

Answer. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.

Amen.

XXI.

SERVICE OF

THE BEATITUDES OF THE GOSPEL

This service may be used on any week day and may be followed by an address or meditation.

The Minister standing at the Chancel steps facing the people shall say:

Let us hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, as He delivers to us the Laws of His Spiritual Kingdom, praying that we may so fulfil those laws that we may enter and dwell therein.

All kneeling, he shall then rehearse the Beatitudes, the people making a response after each.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Response. Lord, open Thou our hearts, that we may hear and receive Thy most holy Word.

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain

mercy.

:

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

:

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be I called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

:

Happy are the people that are in such a case, yea,