A Comminationagainst Sinners, with Certain Prayers to Be Used Divers Times in the Year
After Morning Prayer, the people being called together by the ringing of a bell, and assembled in the church, the English Litany shall be said, after the accustomed manner, which ended, the priest shall go into the pulpit and say thus.
And the people shall answer and say. Amen. Minister. Cursed is he
that curseth his father and mother.
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OW seeing that all they be
accursed (as the Prophet David beareth witness) which do err and go astray from
the commandments of God, let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads,
and being always at hand) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of
heart, bewailing and lamenting our sinful life, knowledging and confessing our offenses,
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 which 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 upon
the night, and when men shall say peace, and all things are safe, then shall suddenly
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
themself, which despised the goodness, patience, and long sufferance of God, when he
called 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 judgment, 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 the children of the light, that we be not cast into the
utter darkness where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the
goodness of God, which calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity
promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if (with a whole mind and true heart) we
return unto him. For though our sins be red as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,
and though they be like purple, yet shall they be as white as wool. Turn you
clean (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 you die, O ye house of Israel? Seeing that
I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth (saith the Lord God). Turn you then and
you shall live. Although we have sinned, yet have we an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous, and he it is that obtaineth grace for our sins, for he was wounded
for our offenses, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us therefore re turn unto
him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners, assuring ourself that he
is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come to him with faithful
repentance, if we will 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 in lowliness, patience, and
charity, and be or dered by the governance of his Holy Spirit, seeking always his
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Ps. 118
Ps. 10 Matt. 3
Prov. 1
Matt. 25
Ezek. 18
Matt. 11
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AVE mercy upon me (O God) after
thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offenses. |
Miserere mei deus. Ps. 51 |
UR Father which art in heaven, etc.
Let us pray. LORD, we beseech thee mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those which confess their sins to thee: that they (whose consciences by sin are accused) by thy merciful pardon may be absolved, through Christ our Lord. Amen. MOST mighty God and merciful Father, which hast compassion of all men, and
hatest nothing that thou hast made, which wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he
should rather turn from sin, and be saved: Mercifully forgive us our trespasses, receive
and comfort us, which be grieved and wearied with the burden of our sin. Thy property is
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 judgment with thy servants,
which be vile earth, and miserable sinners; but so turn thy ire from us, which meekly
knowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our faults, 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. URN thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be I favorable (O Lord) be favorable to thy people, which turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying; for thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of a 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 thy heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us (O Lord) for thy mercy is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies, look upon us. |
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