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his will; and, whether they would, if granted, tend to the welfare of his people. "Not my will, but thine be done." (Luke xxii. 42.)

174. What are the petitions with which this beautiful prayer concludes ?

That God would grant us in this world the knowledge of his truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. "Now, being made free from sin and become the servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Rom. vi. 22.)

175. How is the Morning Prayer concluded?

With that form of blessing which seems to have been delivered to the Christian Church, instead of the Jewish form, with which the priest under the law dismissed the congregation.

176. Why was the form changed?

Without doubt owing to the clearer revelation made to Christians of three persons in the Godhead. The Jews worshipped and blessed in the name of the same God as the Christians, only their devotions had respect chiefly to the unity of the Godhead, whereas ours comprehends also the Trinity of persons.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore." (2 Cor. xiii. 14.)

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (1 Chron. xvi. 29.) "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." (Ps. cl. 6.)

THE ORDER FOR EVENING PRAYER DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

As the order for the Evening Prayer follows that of the Morning to the last of the Versicles, “Praise ye the Lord," "The Lord's name be praised;" and as the two services are in other respects similar, the reader is referred to the Catechism of the Morning Service, for an explanation of those parts common to both.

1. Repeat the Rubric which follows the versicle, "The Lord's name be praised."

Then shall be said or sung the Psalms in order as they are appointed. Then a Lesson of the Old Testament, as is appointed. And after that, Magnificat (or the Song of the blessed Virgin Mary) in English, as followeth.

2. Has it been long the custom to sing after the first Lesson this hymn, which is called "Magnificat," from the word with which it commences in the Latin language?

Yes; the same is found in the office of the English Church, before the Norman conquest, and it is received at this day into the service of all the Reformed Churches of Holland and Germany, as well as retained in ours.

3. Repeat the Magnificat. (St. Luke i.)

Magnificat. St. Luke i.

My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

:

For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him generations.

and holy is his

throughout all

He hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for

ever.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

4. Repeat the next Rubric.

Or else this Psalm; except it be on the Nineteenth Day of the Month, when it is read in the ordinary Course of the Psalms.

5. Repeat Psalm xcviii.

Cantate Domino. Psalm xcviii.

O SING unto the Lord a new song : for he hath done marvellous things.

With his own right hand, and with his holy arm : hath he gotten himself the victory.

The Lord declared his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.

Shew yourselves joyful unto the rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp

psalm of thanksgiving.

Lord, all ye lands: sing,

sing to the harp with a

With trumpets also and shawms: O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

:

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 hill 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, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

6. Repeat the next Rubric.

Then a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed. And after that, Nunc dimittis (or the Song of Simeon) in English, as followeth.

7. Repeat the hymn called "Nunc dimittis," and which is taken from St. Luke ii. 29.

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 to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

8. Repeat Psalm lxvii, which may also be used after the second Lesson.

Deus misereatur. Psalm lxvii.

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us and shew 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, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.1

9. Repeat the Rubric concerning the Collects.

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.

10. Repeat the second Collect for Peace.

O 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.

11. Is this Collect for Peace of ancient origin?

Yes; it is found in all the ancient monuments of the English Church, where it has been used for above 1200 years.

12. Prove that all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works proceed from God.

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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James i. 17.)

13. What do we beseech God to give to his servants? That peace which the world cannot give.

which passeth all understanding." (Phil. iv. 7.)

"The peace of God

14. What do we pray our hearts may be set to obey ?

1 After this psalm the service proceeds with the Apostles' Creed, for the explanation of which, and also the verses which precede and follow the Lord's Prayer, refer to the Morning Service.

God's commandments. "I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved." (Ps. cxix. 47.)

15. From what do we pray God to defend us?

From the fear of our enemies. "Preserve my life from fear of the enemy." (Ps. lxiv. 1.)

16. How do we pray we may pass our time?

ever.

In rest and quietness. "The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." (Isa. xxxii. 17, 18.) 17. Through whose merits do we attain this peace? Through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. x. 1.)

18. Repeat the Collect for Aid against all Perils.

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.

19. Is this an ancient collect?

Yes; it has been appropriated to the Evening Prayer for nearly 1400 years.

20. Why is it particularly seasonable at night?

As we are then looking forward to the dangers of darkness, we by this form commend ourselves into the hands of that God who "neither slumbers nor sleeps, and with whom darkness and light are both alike." (Ps. cxxxix. 12.)

21. What follows this prayer?

In Quires and places where they sing, here followeth the anthem 2.

2 The five prayers with which the service concludes, are the same as those which are explained at the end of the Morning Service.

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