Sunday Evening.

The Family having met together, let the Master of the House begin the Evening Prayer by reading the following Sentences from Scripture.

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord.

The blessing of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon such as put their trust in his mercy.

Obey the voice of the Lord, and he will be your God, and ye shall be his people, and walk in all the ways that he hath commanded you, that it may be well with you.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

May the Lord direct all our hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ our Saviour.

Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

Most Holy and Righteous Lord our God, who, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, dost put away the sins of all them that truly repent; Forgive, we beseech thee, whatever thou hast seen amiss in us and our services this day. We confess that we have not wor

shipped thee, served thee, or obeyed thee, as we ought to do. Pardon, good Lord, the wanderings of our minds, the coldness of our hearts, and the unprofitableness of our best services, and deal not with us according to the imperfection of our prayers and deserts, but according to our great need, and thy abundant mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Here let there be silence kept for a brief space, that all may secretly confess their sins to Almighty God.

¶ If a Bishop or Priest be present let him then make the declaration of Absolution; otherwise, the Master of the House leading, let all say,

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Thy will
Give us

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. be done on earth, As it is in heaven. 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and Amen.

ever.

Then may be read the Lessons of the Day according to the Calendar in the Book of Common Prayer, or else some other portion of Holy Scripture.

After which a portion of the Psalter may be chanted, or read responsively, or else a selection from the Psalms in metre or a Hymn may be sung.

Let us pray.

¶ Then shall be said the Collect for the Day.

I.

O Lord God, who dwellest not in temples made with hands, but yet hast been pleased to manifest thy presence in places set apart for thy worship; Accept our hearty thanks for the privilege of thy Day and House, and grant that we may none of us have joined the services of thy Church in vain. Whatever holy thoughts and good resolutions thou hast this day put into any of our hearts, we pray thee bring the same to good effect, and perfect the work thou hast begun. And grant to all the members of this household that whatever good instructions they have heard, they may carefully remember, and diligently follow; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

Teach us, O Heavenly Father, by thy Holy Spirit, the true understanding of thy blessed Word, and give us grace to lead our lives

agree

ably to our knowledge. Suffer us not to be of the number of those who profess that they know God with their mouths, but deny him with their deeds; but make us rather like unto that good and fruitful land which yieldeth again her seed with great increase, that men seeing our Christian lives, may glorify thee, our Heavenly Father; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

O Lord our Heavenly Father, who knowest all our wants and all our weakness, deal not with us according to our deserts, but according to thy tender mercies. Let not thy blessing be ever far from us, but sanctify us wholly, that our minds may always be set to do good, and our hearts and lips be given to prayer and praise. And when the days of our vanity and rejoicing are past, and we go hence like the shadow that departeth, may we be received among the blessed servants of our Lord, and stand at thy right hand in the great and terrible day, having our portion with the just; through the righteousness and mediation of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ Here, if need be, let any of the Prayers for SPECIAL OCCASIONS be introduced.

IV.

Almighty God, the Creator and Governor of all things, grant that all mankind may be brought to the knowledge and belief of thy true religion, and that all who profess the Christian faith may obey thy will in all things, with sincerity and constancy, as do the spirits of the blessed in heaven. Remember for good all those that are over us in the Lord, who watch for our souls as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy. Bless all our relations, benefactors and friends; those who are good preserve in goodness, and those who are wicked do thou convert. And hear us, good Lord, when we commend unto thy tender compassion all that are in error and sincerely seek the truth; all such as are destitute of necessary means of instruction; all that are engaged in sinful courses, that they may have grace and strength to break their bonds; all that labour under trials and afflictions; all sick and dying persons, that they may omit nothing which is necessary to make their peace with thee before they die; and also