The Book of Common Prayer Table
of contents
A Commination
or Denouncing of God's Anger and
Judgements against Sinners
with certain prayers to be used on
the first day of Lent, and at other times, as the ordinary shall
appoint
After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended,
according to the accustomed manner, the Priest shall in the reading
Pew or Pulpit say,
BRETHREN, in the primitive Church there was a
godly discipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as
stood convicted of notorious sin were put to open penance, and
punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day
of the Lord; and that others, admonished by their example, might be
the more afraid to offend.
Instead whereof, until the said discipline may
be restored again, (which is much to be wished,) it is thought good
that at this time (in the presence of you all) should be read the
general sentences of God's cursing against impenitent sinners,
gathered out of the seven and twentieth chapter of Deuteronomy, and
other places of Scripture; and that ye should answer to every
sentence, Amen: To the
intent that, being admonished of the great indignation of God
against sinners, ye may the rather be moved to earnest and true
repentance; and may walk more warily in these dangerous days;
fleeing from such vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths
the curse of God to be due.
Cursed is the man
that maketh any carved or molten image, to worship it.
And the people shall answer and say,
Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that curseth
his father or mother.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that removeth
his neighbour's land-mark.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that maketh
the blind to go out of his way.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that
perverteth the judgement of the stranger, the fatherless, and
widow.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that smiteth
his neighbour secretly.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that lieth
with his neighbour's wife.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that taketh
reward to slay the innocent.
Answer.Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that putteth
his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart
goeth from the Lord.
Answer.Amen.
Minister.
Cursed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adulterers, covetous
persons, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners.
Answer.Amen.
Minister.
Now seeing that all
they are accursed (as the prophet David beareth witness) who do err
and go astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the
dreadful judgement hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall
upon us) return unto our Lord God with all contrition and meekness
of heart; bewailing and lamenting our sinful life, acknowledging
and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy
fruits of penance. For now is the axe put unto the root of the
trees, so that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God: He shall pour down rain upon the
sinners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall
be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his
place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But
who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to endure
when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his
floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn the
chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief
in the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are
safe, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow
cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not
escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance,
which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart,
have heaped unto themselves; which despised the goodness, patience,
and long-sufferance of God, when he calleth them continually to
repentance. Then shall they call upon me (saith the Lord) but I
will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find
me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the
fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my
correction. Then shall it be too late to knock, when the door shall
be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of
justice. O terrible voice of most just judgement, which shall be
pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye
cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil
and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the
day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh, when none can work:
But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk
as children of the light; that we be not cast into utter darkness,
where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the
goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his
endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if
with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our
sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; and
though they be like purple, yet they shall be made white as wool.
Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sin
shall not be your destruction: Cast away from you all your
ungodliness that ye have done: Make you new hearts, and a new
spirit: Wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel? seeing that I
have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord
God. Turn ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have sinned, yet
have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
and he is the propitiation for our sins. For he was wounded for our
offences, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us therefore return
unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent
sinners; assuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and
most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful
repentance; if we submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth
walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke and light burden
upon us, to follow him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be
ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; seeking always his
glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving. This
if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and
from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall
be set on the left hand; and he will set us on his right hand, and
give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to
take possession of his glorious kingdom: Unto which he vouchsafe to
bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen.
Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and
the Priest and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are
accustomed to say the Litany) shall say this Psalm.
Miserere mei,
Deus. Psalm 51
Have mercy upon me,
O God, after thy great goodness : according to the multitude of thy
mercies do away mine offences.
Wash me throughly from my wickedness : and
cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults : and my sin is ever
before me.
Against thee only have I sinned, and done this
evil in thy sight : that thou mightest be justified in thy saying,
and clear when thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness : and in sin
hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward
parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean : thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness:
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Turn thy face away from my sins : and put out
all my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God : and renew a right
spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence : and take
not thy holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of thy help again : and
stablish me with thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked: and
sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou
that art the God of my health : and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord : and my mouth
shall shew thy praise.
For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I
give it thee : but thou delightest not in burnt-offering.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit : a
broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto Sion : build
thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of
righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations : then shall
they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to
the Holy Ghost;
Answer.As it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without
end. Amen.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon
us.
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.
Minister. O Lord, save thy
servants;
Answer.That put their trust in
thee.
Minister. Send unto them help from
above.
Answer.And evermore mightily defend
them.
Minister. Help us, O God our
Saviour.
Answer.And for the glory of thy Name
deliver us; be merciful unto us sinners, for thy Name's sake.
Minister. O Lord, hear our
prayer.
Answer.And let our cry come unto
thee.
Minister.Let us pray.
O Lord, we beseech
thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess
their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are
accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
O most mighty
God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and
hatest nothing that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a
sinner, but that he should rather turn from his sin, and be saved:
Mercifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who
are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property
is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive
sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou
hast redeemed; enter not into judgement with thy servants, who are
vile earth, and miserable sinners; but so turn thine anger from us,
who meekly acknowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our
faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may
ever live with thee in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Then shall the people say this that followeth,
after the Minister.
Turn thou us, O
good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be
favourable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and
praying. For thou art a merciful God, Full of compassion,
long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve
punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people,
good Lord, Spare them, and let not thine heritage be brought to
confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after the
multitude of thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and
mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Minister alone shall say,
The Lord bless us,
and keep us; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us,
and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.