THE BOOK OF

COMMON PRAYER,
 

AND ADMINISTRATION OF 

THE SACRAMENTS;
 

AND OTHER 

RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHURCH, 

ACCORDING TO THE USE OF 

The Protestant Episcopal Church
 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

TOGETHER WITH

THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID.

Oxford; 

PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 

AND SOLD BY THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, 

NEW YORK.

PHILADELPHIA:
FEMALE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1873.

 
N E W   Y O R K :

New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society,

DEPOSITORY, 5 COOPER UNION, FOURTH AV.

1865.

 
NEW-YORK:
NEW-YORK BIBLE AND COMMON PRAYER BOOK SOCIETY
1878.

Philadelphia:

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

1843.
 

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY S. POTTER & CO.

J. Maxwell, printer.
1821.

 
NEW-YORK:

STANFORD & SWORDS,

No. 139 Broadway

1849.

 
New-York:

Printed and sold by T. & J. Swords,
No. 160 Pearl-street

CERTIFICATE.

I DO hereby certify that this Edition of the Common Prayer Book, Articles, Offices, &c., having been compared and corrected by the Standard Book by a Presbyter duly appointed, as the Canon directs, is permitted to be published accordingly. 

HORATIO POTTER. 

Bishop of New York.

July, 1876.

John W Amerman, Printer, 47 Cedar-street, N. Y.

I CERTIFY that this edition of the Common Prayer Book, the Articles, Offices, Psalms in Metre, selected from the Psalms of David, and Hymns, has been compared with, and corrected by, the Standard Book, by a Presbyter appointed by me for the purpose. And the same is permitted to be published, as an edition so compared and corrected, as the Canon directs.

JONA. M. WAINWRIGHT,
Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of New York

MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK, 1854.

New York, May 14, 1841.

I DO hereby certify, that this Edition of the Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, &c., (having been compared with a standard Book, and corrected by the same,) is permitted to be published as an Edition duly compared and corrected by a suitable Person appointed for that purpose, as the Canon directs.

BENJAMIN T. ONDERDONK
Bishop of the Diocese of New-York.

New York, May 1, 1818.

I DO hereby certify, that this Edition of the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, &c., (having been compared with a standard Book, and corrected by the same) is permitted to be published as an Edition duly compared and corrected by a suitable Person appointed for that purpose, as the canon directs.

JOHN HENRY HOBART
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the State of New-York.

Philadelphia, November 1, 1821.

I DO hereby certify, that this Edition of the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, &c., (having been compared with a standard Book, and corrected by the same) is permitted to be published as an Edition duly compared and corrected by suitable Persons appointed for that purpose, as the Canon directs.

WILLIAM WHITE,
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

New York, Jan. 8, 1810.

I DO hereby certify, that this Edition of the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, &c., (having been compared with a standard Book, and corrected by the same) is permitted to be published as an Edition duly compared and corrected by a suitable Person appointed for that purpose, as the Canon directs.

BENJAMIN MOORE,   
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in the State of New-York.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

1. THE Ratification of the Book of Common Prayer. 
2. The Preface. 
3. The Order how the Psalter is appointed to be read 
4. The Order how the rest of the Holy Scripture is appointed to be read. 
5. Table of Lessons of Holy Scripture to be read at Morning and Evening Prayer throughout the Year. 
6. The Calendar. 
7. Tables and Rules for the Moveable and Immoveable Feasts, together with the Days of Fasting and Abstinence throughout the Year. 
8. Tables for finding the Holydays. 
9. The Order for Daily Morning Prayer. 
10. The Order for Daily Evening Prayer. 
11. The Litany.* 
12. Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions, to be used before the two final Prayers of Morning and Evening Service. 
13. The Collects Epistles, and Gospels, to be used throughout the Year. 
14. The Order for the Administration of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. 
15. The Ministration of Public Baptism of Infants, to be used in the Church. 
16. The Ministration of Private Baptism of Children, in Houses. 
17. The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of Riper Years, and able to answer for themselves. 
18. A Catechism; that is to say an Instruction to be learned by every Person before he be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop. 
19. The Order of Confirmation, or Laying on of Hands upon those that are baptized, and come to years of Discretion. 
20. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony. 
21. The Order for the Visitation of the Sick. 
22. The Communion of the Sick. 
23. The Order for the Burial of the Dead. 
24. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth, commonly called, The Churching of Women. 
25. Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea. 
26. A Form of Prayer for the Visitation of Prisoners. 
27. A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the Fruits of the earth, and all the other Blessings of his merciful Providence. 
28. Forms of Prayer to be used in Families. 
29: Selections of Psalms, to be used instead of the Psalms for the Day, at the discretion of the Minister. 
30. The Psalter, or Psalms of David. 

* "The Litany" did not officially appear in the Table of Contents until 1871, but was until then considered part of Morning Prayer; in the 1854 text it appears as:
The Litany, or General Supplication, to be used after Morning Service, on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

THE RATIFICATION OF 

THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.

By the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this Sixteenth Day of October, in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. 

THIS Convention having, in their present Session, set forth A Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, do hereby establish the said Book: And they declare it to be the Liturgy of this Church: And require that it be received as such by all the members of the same: And this Book shall be in use from and after the First Day of October, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety. 

PREFACE.

IT is a most invaluable part of that blessed liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, that in his worship, different forms and usages may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire; and that, in every Church, what cannot be clearly determined to belong to Doctrine must be referred to Discipline: and therefore, by common consent and authority, may be altered, abridged, enlarged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most convenient for the edification of the people, "according to the various exigencies of times and occasions."
    The Church of England, to which the Protestant Episcopal Church in these States is indebted, under God, for her first foundation and a long continuance of nursing care and protection, hath, in the Preface of her Book of Common Prayer, laid it down as a rule, that "The particular forms of Divine Worship, and the Rites and Ceremonies appointed to be used therein, being things in their own nature indifferent and alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable that upon weighty and important considerations, according to the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes and alterations should be made therein; as to those who are in places of authority should, from time to time, seem either necessary or expedient.”
    The same Church hath not only in her Preface, but likewise in her Articles and Homilies declared the necessity and expediency of occasional alterations and amendments in her Forms of Public Worship; and we find accordingly, that, seeking to "keep the happy mean between too much stiffness in refusing, and too much easiness in admitting variations in things once advisedly established", she hath, in the reign of several Princes since the first compiling of her Liturgy in the time of Edward the Sixth upon just and weighty considerations her thereunto moving yielded to make such alterations in some particulars, as in their respective times were thought convenient; yet so as that the main body and essential parts of the same (as well in the chiefest materials as in the frame and order thereof) have still been continued firm and unshaken.
    Her general aim in these different reviews and alterations hath been, as she farther declares in her said Preface "to do that which according to her best understanding, might most tend to the preservation of peace and unity in the Church; the procuring of reverence, and the exciting of piety and devotion in the worship of God; and finally the cutting off occasion, from them that seek occasion. Of cavil or quarrel against her Liturgy." And although, according to her judgment, there be not "any thing in it contrary to the Word of God or to sound doctrine, or which a godly man may not with a good conscience use and submit unto, or which is not fairly defensible, if allowed such just and favourable construction as in common equity ought to be allowed to all human writings;" yet upon the principles already laid down, it cannot but be supposed that further alterations would in time be found expedient. Accordingly, a commission for a review was issued in the year 1689: but this great and good work miscarried at that time; and the Civil Authority has not since thought proper to revive it by any new commission.
    But when in the course of Divine Providence, these. American States became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical independence was necessarily included; and the different religious denominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal liberty to model and organize their respective Churches, and forms of worship, and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most convenient for their future prosperity; consistently with the constitution and laws of their country.
    The attention of this Church was in the first place drawn to those alterations in the Liturgy which became necessary in the prayers for our Civil Rulers, in Consequence of the Revolution. And the principal care herein was to make them conformable to what ought to be the proper end of all such prayers, namely, that "Rulers may have grace, wisdom, and understanding to execute justice, and to maintain truth;" and that the people "may lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all godliness and honesty."
    But while these alterations were in review before the Convention, they could not but, with gratitude to God, embrace the happy occasion which was offered to them (uninfluenced and unrestrained by any worldly authority whatsoever) to take a further review of the Public Service, and to establish such other alterations and amendments therein as might be deemed expedient.
    It seems unnecessary to enumerate all the different alterations and amendments. They will appear, and it is to be hoped, the reasons of them also, upon a comparison of this with the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. In which it will also appear that this Church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local circumstances require.
    And now, this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is hoped the whole will be received and examined by every true member of our Church. and every sincere Christian, with a meek, candid, and charitable frame of mind; without prejudice or prepossessions; seriously considering what Christianity is, and what the truths of the Gospel are; and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing every endeavour for promulgating them to mankind, in the clearest, plainest, most affecting and majestic manner, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. 

THE ORDER

How the Psalter is Appointed to be Read.

THE Psalter shall be read through once every month, as it is there appointed, both for Morning and for Evening Prayer. But in February, it shall be read only to the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth day of the month.
    And whereas, January, March, May, July, August, October, and December, have one-and-thirty days apiece; it is ordered that the same Psalms shall be read the last day of the said months which were read the day before; so that the Psalter may begin again on the first day of the next month ensuing.
    And whereas the 119th Psalm is divided into twenty-two Portions, and is over long to be read at one time; it is so ordered, that at one time shall not be read above four or five of the said Portions.
    The Minister shall, instead of reading from the Psalter as divided for Daily Morning and Evening Prayer, may read one of the Selections set out by this Church.
    And, on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, appointed either by the Civil or by the Ecclesiastical Authority, the Minister may appoint such Psalms as he shall think fit in his discretion, unless any shall have been appointed by the Ecclesiastical Authority, in a Service set out for the Occasion; which, in that case, shall be used and no other.

Proper Psalms on Certain Days.

 
The minister may use one of the Selections, instead of any of the above Portions.

THE ORDER

How the rest of the Holy Scripture is Appointed to be Read.

THE Old Testament is appointed for the First Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer, so that the most part thereof will be read every year once, as in the Calendar is appointed.
    The New Testament is appointed for the Second Lessons at Morning and Evening Prayer.
    And to know what Lessons shall be read every day, look for the day of the month in the Calendar following, and there ye shall find the Chapters that shall be read for the Lessons, both at Morning and at Evening Prayer; except only the Movable Feasts, which are not in the Calendar; and the Immovable, where there is a blank left in the column of Lessons; the Proper Lessons for all which days are to be found in the table of Proper Lessons.
    And, on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving, the same rule is to obtain as in reading the Psalms.
    And the same discretion of choice is allowed on occasions of Ecclesiastical Conventions and those of Charitable Collections.
    And Note, That whensoever Proper Psalms or Lessons are appointed, then the Psalms and Lessons of ordinary course appointed in the Psalter and Calendar, if they be different, shall be omitted for that time.
    Note also, That the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed for the Sunday, shall serve for the Week after, where it is not in this Book otherwise ordered.

¶ TABLES of LESSONS of Holy Scripture, to be read at Morning and Evening Prayer throughout the Year.

* The Numbers prefixed to the several Days (in the foregoing Calendar) between the 21st Day of March and the 18th Day of April, both inclusive, denote the Days upon which those Full Moons do fall, which happen upon or next after the 21st Day of March, in those years, of which they are respectively the Golden Numbers; and the Sunday Letter next following any such Full Moon points out Easter-Day for that year. All of which holds until the Year of our Lord 1899, inclusive; after which Year, the Place of these Golden Numbers will be to be changed, as is hereafter expressed.