Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is ; the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. 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. And Then a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed. after that, Nunc dimittis (or the Song of Symeon) in English, as followeth. Lo Nunc dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29. ORD, 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 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. Or else this Psalm; except on the twelfth day of the month. GO Deus misereatur. Psal. lxvii. OD be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us: That thy way may be known upon earth; thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. 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. Then shall be said, or sung, the Apostles' Creed by the Minister and People, standing. 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. And after that, these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling; the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice, The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Minister. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Then the Minister, Clerks, and People, shall say the Lord's Prayer, with a loud voice. UR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be OUR 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. Then the Priest, standing up, shall say, O Lord, show thy mercy upon us ; O Lord, save the Queen. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Endue thy ministers with righteousness. And make thy chosen people joyful. O Lord, save thy people. And bless thine inheritance. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. O God, make clean our hearts within us. Then shall follow three Collects; the first of the Day, the second for Peace, the third for Aid against all Perils, as hereafter followeth which two last Collects shall be daily said at Evening Prayer without alteration. The Second Collect, for Peace. God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. The Third Collect, for Aid against all Perils. L IGHTEN 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. In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem. A Prayer for the Queen's Majesty. Lord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes; who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen VICTORIA; and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way; endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her in health and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies; and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Royal Family. LMIGHTY God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless Adelaide the Lighten our Darkness.]-It is sometimes asked, concerning this Collect (very improperly headed, "for aid against all perils,") whether the "darkness," intended to be referred to, is the natural darkness of night, or a spiritual darkness of the mind? It would be easy to show, both from the original words of the Collect, from its necessary meaning, and from the very words which it contains, that, in the first place, it is an evening prayer for the return of the light of morning; and in the second, a prayer for defence from all perils and dangers of this night." To be understood, it needs only to be read in connexion with what is called the "Collect for Grace," in the "Order for Morning Prayer," in which God is addressed as having now "safely brought us to the beginning of this day," and asked to "defend us in the same." The one is a prayer for defence during the night, and the other for defence during the day; and each appropriately concludes the General Order for Morning and Evening Prayers respectively. O Lord, our heavenly Father.]-The modern editions of the Prayer book, while they erroneously insert a comma in the midst of the words, "Our Father, which art in heaven, omit the placing of such a stop after the word "Lord," in the present instance, where it is obviously required. The same words occur, however, in the opening of the "Collect for Grace," and it is curious that we find them diversely pointed. Thus, in the "Collect for Grace," we find, "O Lord, our heavenly Father; but in this Prayer for the Queen's Majesty,-" ‚—“O Lord our heavenly Father." Queen Dowager, and all the Royal Family; endue them with thy holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A A Prayer for the Clergy and People. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels, send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. A A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. LMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace, at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their requests; fulfil, now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us, in this world, knowledge of thy truth, and, in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen. TH 2 Cor. xiii. HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer throughout the Year. Adelaide the Queen Dowager.]-There seem grounds for criticism in the terms in which Her Majesty the Queen Dowager is here directed to be prayed for; but the considerations to be submitted will appear in a succeeding note. E |