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    The Scottish Book of Common Prayer (1929)

 

COMPLINE

A SERVICE WHICH MAY BE USED WHEN EVENSONG HATH BEEN PREVIOUSLY SAID

 

All standing up, the Minister shall say,

TURN us, O God our Saviour;
  Answer. And let thine anger cease from us.
    Minister. The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

BRETHREN, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, stedfast in the faith. 1 St. Peter 5. 8, 9.

    V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us;
    R. Thanks be to God.
 

Then, all kneeling, the Minister and people shall say,

WE confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.

ALMIGHTY God, have mercy upon us, forgive us all our sins and deliver us from evil, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

The Absolution, to be pronounced by the Priest alone.

MAY the Almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    Minister. O God, make speed to save us;
    Answer. O Lord, make haste to help us.

Here, all standing up, the Minister shall say,

    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.
    Minister. Praise ye the Lord
    Answer. The Lord's Name be praised.
 

Then shall be sung or said one or more of the Psalms following:

PSALM 4. Cum invocarem.

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness : thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
  2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour : and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
  3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly : when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
  4 Stand in awe, and sin not : commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.
  5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness : and put your trust in the Lord.
  6 There be many that say : Who will shew us any good?
  7 Lord, lift thou up : the light of thy countenance upon us.
  8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart : since the time that their corn and wine and oil increased.
  9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest : for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

PSALM 31. In te, Domine, speravi.

IN thee, O Lord, have I put my trust : let me never be put to confusion, deliver me in thy righteousness.
  2 Bow down thine ear to me : make haste to deliver me.
  3 And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence : that thou mayest save me.
  4 For thou art my strong rock, and my castle be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name's sake.
  5 Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me : for thou art my strength.
  6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit : for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

PSALM 91. Qui habitat.

WHOSO dwelleth under the defence of the most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
  2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold : my God, in him will I trust
  3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence.
  4 He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers : his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
  5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night : nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
  6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday.
  7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee.
  8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the ungodly.
  9 For thou, Lord, art my hope : thou hast set thine house of defence very high.
  10 There shall no evil happen unto thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
  11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee : to keep thee in all thy ways.
  12 They shall bear thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
  13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder : the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
  14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him : I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.
  15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
  16 With long life will I satisfy him : and shew him my salvation.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

PSALM 134. Ecce nunc.

BEHOLD now, praise the Lord: all ye servants of the Lord;
  2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord : even in the courts of the house of our God.
  3 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary : and praise the Lord.
  4 The Lord that made heaven and earth give thee blessing out of Sion.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Then shall be read one of the following short Lessons, or some other passage of Holy Scripture at the discretion of the Minister:

THOU, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord our God.

Jeremiah 14. 9.

Or,

COME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

St. Matthew 11. 28-30.

Or,

NOW the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep with the blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever.

Hebrews 13. 20, 21.

Here may follow a Hymn.

    V. Keep me as the apple of an eye;
    R. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

    Anthem. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and defend us while sleeping : that when we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace.
 

NUNC DIMITTIS

St. Luke 2. 29.

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
  2 For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;
  3 Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
  4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

  Anthem. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and defend us while sleeping : that when we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace.

Then shall be sung or said the Apostles' Creed by the Minister and the people, standing.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
  And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
  I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.

And after that these prayers following, all devoutly kneeling:

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.

Then the Minister standing up shall say,

    Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers;
    R. To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
    V. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;
    R. Let us praise him and magnify him for ever.
    V. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
    R. To be praised and glorified above all for ever.
    V. The Almighty and most merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing;
    R. Amen.
    V. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us;
    R. That thy people may rejoice in thee?
    V. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;
    R. And grant us thy salvation.
    V. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin;
    R. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
    V. O Lord, hear our prayer;
    R. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

Let us pray.

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.

These prayers may be added:

LOOK down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne, illuminate the darkness of this night with thy celestial brightness, and from the sons of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BE present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shades lengthen, and the evening cometh, and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work done. Then, Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who at the hour of Compline didst rest in the sepulchre, and didst thereby sanctify the grave to be a bed of hope to thy people: Make us so to abound in sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of thy passion, that when our bodies lie in the dust, our souls may live with thee; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

In Colleges and Private Houses.

VISIT, we beseech thee, O Lord, this [habitation], and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy. Let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and may thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    V. We will lay us down in peace and take our rest;
    R. For it is thou, Lord, only that makest us dwell in safety.
    V. Let us bless the Lord;
    R. Thanks be to God.

THE Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, Land Holy Ghost, bless and keep us. Amen.

 

Here endeth the Order of Compline.

 


A CONFESSION OF

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

COMMONLY CALLED

THE CREED OF SAINT ATHANASIUS

The following Canticle shall be sung or said, either in place of the Apostles' Creed or as an Anthem, at Morning or Evening Prayer on Trinity Sunday. On other days the Canticle as a whole or from verse 3 to verse 28 (The Catholic Faith is this.. let him thus think of the Trinity), or from verse 30 (The right Faith is that) to verse 41 inclusive, or from verse 3 to verse 41 inclusive, all portions with the Gloria Patri, may be used at Morning or Evening Prayer as an Anthem or Procession.
 

QUICUMQUE VULT

WHOSOEVER would be saved needeth before all things to hold fast the Catholic Faith.
  2 Which Faith except a man keep whole and undefiled : without doubt he will perish eternally.

NOW the Catholic Faith is this : that we worship one God in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity;
  4 Neither confusing the Persons : nor dividing the Substance.
  5 For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son : another of the Holy Ghost;
  6 But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one : the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
  7 Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the holy Ghost;
  8 The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated the Holy Ghost uncreated;
  9 The Father infinite, the Son infinite : the Holy Ghost infinite;
  10 The Father eternal, the Son eternal : the Holy Ghost eternal;
  11 And yet there are not three eternals : but one eternal;
  12 As also there are not three uncreated, nor three infinites : but one infinite, and one uncreated.
  13 So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty : the Holy Ghost almighty;
  14 And yet there are not three almighties : but one almighty.
  15 So the Father is God, the Son God : the Holy Ghost God;
  16 And yet there are not three Gods : but one God.
  17 So the Father is Lord, the Son Lord : the Holy Ghost Lord;
  18 And yet there are not three Lords : but one Lord.
  19 For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity : to confess each Person by himself to be both God and Lord;
  20 So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to speak of three Gods or three Lords.
  21 The Father is made of none : nor created, nor begotten.
  22 The Son is of the Father alone not made, nor created, but begotten.
  23 The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son not made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
  24 There is therefore one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons : one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
  25 And in this Trinity there is no before or after : no greater or less;
  26 But all three Persons are CO-eternal together : and co-equal.
  27 So that in all ways, as is aforesaid : both the Trinity is to be worshipped in Unity, and the Unity in Trinity.
  28 He therefore that would be saved let him thus think of the Trinity.

FURTHERMORE it is necessary to eternal salvation : that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  30 Now the right Faith is that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and Man.
  31 He is God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds : and he is Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world;
  32 Perfect God : perfect Man, of reasoning soul and human flesh subsisting;
  33 Equal to the Father as touching his Godhead : less than the Father as touching his Manhood.
  34 Who although lie be God and Man : yet he is not two, but is one Christ;
  35 One, however, not by conversion of Godhead into flesh : but by taking Manhood into God;
  36 One altogether : not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
  37 For as reasoning soul and flesh is one man so God and Man is one Christ;
  38 Who suffered for our salvation : descended into hell, rose again from the dead;
  39 Ascended into heaven, sat down at the right hand of the Father : from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
  40 At whose coming all men must rise again with their bodies : and shall give account for their own deeds.
  41 And they that have done evil will go into eternal fire and they that have done good into life eternal.

THIS is the Catholic Faith : which except a man do faithfully and stedfastly believe, he cannot be saved.
  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

 

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