1.
Alteration
in the English Prayer Book Enjoined by Bishop Seabury.
SAMUEL,
by divine permission, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the State of Connecticut,
to the Clergy of the said Church, GREETING:
IT
having pleased Almighty GOD, that the late British Colony of Connecticut
should become a free, sovereign and independent State, as it now is, some
alterations in the Liturgy and Offices of our Church are necessary to
be made, to accommodate them to the civil Constitution of the country
in which we live; for the peace, security and prosperity of which, both
as good subjects and faithful Christians, it is our duty constantly to
pray —— WE, the Bishop aforesaid, have thought fit, by and
with the advice and assistance of such of our Clergy as we have had opportunity
of consulting, to issue this Injunction, hereby authorizing and
requiring You, and everyone of You, the Presbyters and Deacons of the
Church above mentioned, in the celebration of Divine Service, to make
the following alterations in the Liturgy and Offices of our Church,
viz.:
I. In the suffrages after the Creed, in morning and evening Prayer, instead
of O Lord save the King, You are to read, O Lord save the
Church; to which the congregation are to make the accustomed response,
And mercifully hear us, &c.
II. The prayer for the King, in the morning and evening
service, to be left out; and the prayer for the Royal Family to be thus
altered; Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech
thee to bless the Governor and Rulers of this State; endue them with thy
Holy Spirit;— and so on as it now stands.
III. In the Litany the 15, 16, 17, 18th petitions to
be omitted, and the petition for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, immediately
to follow that for the universal Church. The 20, and 21st petitions to
be thus read, That it may please thee to endue the Governor and
Rulers of this State, with grace, wisdom and understanding. That it
may please thee to bless and keep the Judges and inferior Magistrates,
giving them grace to execute justice and to maintain truth. To both
which the usual response— We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord,—
is to be made by the congregation.
IV. In the prayer for the whole state of Christ's Church,
the part relating to Rulers and Ministers to be thus altered— We
beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and
Governors; and grant that they, and all that are put in authority, may
truly and impartially minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness
and vice, and to the maintenance of true religion and virtue. Give grace,
O heavenly Father, to all Bishops, Priests; and Deacons, that they may—
and so on, as it now stands.
V. The prayers for the King that stand before the Nicene
Creed in the Communion service, to be omitted.
VI.
In the answer in the Catechism to the question — What is thy duty
towards thy neighbor? for — to honor and obey the King— substitute,
to honor and obey my civil Rulers, to submit myself, &c.
VII.
That during every session of the Great and General Court, or Assembly,
you do use the following collect, in its proper place, both in morning
and evening prayer,
"Most
gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for this State in general, so
especially for the great and general Court at this time assembled: That
thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations
to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy church, the safety, honor,
and the welfare of thy people; that all things may be so ordered and settled
by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace
and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety may be established
among us for all generations. These and all other necessaries for them,
for us, and thy whole church, we humbly beg in the name and mediation
of Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.”
VIII. That you discontinue the observation of the fifth of November, the
thirtieth of January, the twenty-ninth of May, and the twenty-fifth of
October.
Commending you, Reverend
Brethren, your congregations, and labours in the Gospel, to the grace,
protection, and blessing of Almighty God, We remain your affectionate
brother and servant in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Done
at New London,
Aug. 12th, 1785.
|
Vide,
page xii.
Taken from
the Rev. Dr. Hart's facsimile reprint in his Historical Sketch and
Notes to Bp. Seabury's Communion Office, 2 ed., p. 29. |
3.
Alterations
in the English Book proposed at a Convention held at Boston, September
7th, 8th, 1785.
AT
a Convention of Clergymen and Lay Deputies of the Episcopal Church of
the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, held at
Boston, Sept. 7 and 8, 1785.
Present.
Rev. Edward Bass, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Newburyport .
Rev. Wm. Willard Wheeler, Rector of the united Churches
at Scituate, Marshfield, Braintree, and Bridgewater.
Rev. Nathaniel Fisher, Rector of St. Peter's Church,
Salem.
Rev. Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston.
Hon. Tristram Dalton, Esq., Deputy of St. Paul's Church,
Newburyport.
Stephen Greenleaf, Esq., and Mr. Benjamin Greene, Deputies
of Trinity Church, Boston.
Thomas Ivers, Esq., and Mr. James Sherman, Deputies
of Christ, Church, Boston.
Dr. Charles Stockbridge, Deputy of Scituate, Marshfield,
and Bridgewater.
Rev. Wm. Willard Wheeler, Deputy of Braintree.
Mr. Woodward Abraham, Deputy of Marblehead.
Mr. Joshua Kingsbury, Deputy of Dedham.
Mr. Joseph Aspinwall, Deputy of Stoughton.
Mr. John Bours, Deputy of Trinity Church, Newport,
Rhode Island.
Mr. John Usher, Deputy of Bristol, R. I.
Dr. Francis Borland, Deputy of Queen's Chapel, Portsmouth,
N. H.
Voted, Rev. Edward Bass, President of this
Convention.
Voted, Rev. Nathaniel Fisher, Secretary.
Voted, That the Clergy and Laity now assembled
shall deliberate in one body, but shall vote separately, and the concurrence
of both orders shall be necessary to give validity to every measure.
Voted, That the Convention take into consideration
the revisal of the Liturgy and offices of the Church, as contained in
the book of Common Prayer, and make such alterations as may be necessary
j and that the omissions and alterations, agreed upon by a Committee of
Convocation, held at Middletown, in Connecticut, August 3, 1785, as contained
in paper No.1, serve as a basis for our present proceedings.
The Convention then
proceeded to a revisal of the State Prayers, in the Book of Common Prayer,
and came to the following resolutions, as a substitute for the State Prayers.
That in the Suffrage after the Creed, in morning and evening prayer, instead
of, "O Lord save the King," it be read, O Lord save the Church,
to which the congregation are to make the accustomed response, "
and mercifully hear us," &c.
That the prayer for the King, in morning and evening
service, be left out; and the prayer for the Royal Family be thus altered,—
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to
bless the Governor and Council of this Commonwealth, endue them with thy
Holy Spirit, and so on, as it now stands.
That in the Litany, the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th petitions
be omitted, and the petition for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, immediately
follow that for the universal Church; the 20th and 21st petition be thus
read,-that it may please thee to endue the Governor and Council of this
Commonwealth with grace and wisdom, and understanding; that it may please
thee to bless and keep the Judges and subordinate Magistrates, giving
them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth;— to both which,
the usual response, "we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord,"
is to be made by the congregation.
That in the prayer for the whole state of Christ's
Church Militant, the part relating to Rulers and Ministers, be thus altered:—
We beseech thee also to save and defend, all Christian Kings, Princes,
and Governors, and grant that they, and all that are in authority, may
truly and impartially minister justice to the punishment of wickedness
and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion and virtue; give
grace, O Heavenly Father, to all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, that they
may,— and so on, as it now stands.
That the prayers for the King, that stand before the
Nicene Creed, in the Communion Service, be omitted.
That in the Answer in the Catechism, to the question,
"What is thy duty towards thy neighbor," for, "to honor
and obey the King," be substituted, to honor and obey my civil rulers,
to submit myself, &c.
That during every session of the General Court, the
following Collect be used in its proper place :— Most Gracious God
we humbly beseech thee, as for this Commonwealth in general, so especially
for the General Court at this time assembled, that thou wouldest be pleased
to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy
glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honor and welfare of thy people;
that all things may be so ordered and settled, by their endeavors, upon
the best and surest foundation, that peace and happiness, truth and justice,
religion and piety, may be established among us, for all generations;;these,
and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we
humbly beg, in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed
Lord and Saviour. Amen.
That the observation of 5th November, 30th January,
29th May, and 25th October, be discontinued.
In the other parts of the Liturgy and offices of the
Church, they came to the following resolutions:
That in the Te Deum, the sentence following this, "when
thou tookest upon thee to deliver man," be thus altered, thou didst
humble thyself to be born of a pure virgin.
That the Article in the Apostles' Creed, " He
descended into Hell," be omitted.
That the Creed commonly called the Creed of St. Athanasius,
be wholly disused.
That it be left discretionary with the Minister, Wardens,
and Vestry, of each particular Church, or congregation, to omit or use
the Nicene Creed, as they shall severally choose.
That the response after the suffrage, "give peace
in our time, O Lord," be thus altered," and make all nations
to rejoice in thy loving kindness, O God."
That the Lord's Prayer after the Apostles' Creed, and
also what is usually called the shorter Litany, or the petitions, "
Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy," &c. be omitted,
or left out. That the petitions in the Litany, from, " O Christ hear
us," inclusive, to the prayer beginning, " O God, merciful Father,"
and from the end of that prayer including the response, "O Lord arise,
help us, and deliver us, for thy name's sake," as far as the suffrage,
"From our enemies defend us, O Christ," exclusive, be also omitted.
That the Lord's Prayer, at the beginning of the Comunion
Service, be omitted; and that the Gloria Patri be repeated only at the
last of the Psalms, read at morning and evening 'service, when more than
one, or that it be repeated but once in reading the Psalms.
The Prayer for the Clergy and people, in morning and
evening service, to be thus read, Almighty and everlasting God, from whom
alone every good and perfect gift doth come, send down upon all Bishops
and Pastors, and the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful
Spirit of thy grace, &c.
That in the first warning, for the Celebration of the
Holy Communion, the word "damnation," following these words,
"increase your," be read, condemnation; and the two paragraphs
after these words, "or else come not to that holy table," be
omitted, and the following one be read, And if there be any of you, who
by these means cannot quiet their own conscience, &c. The words "learned
and discreet," epithets given to ministers, &c. be also omitted.
That in the Exhortation at the Comunion, the paragraph
concerning the danger of receiving the same unworthily, be thus altered
:— So is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily, not
considering the Lord's Body, for then we are guilty of the Body and Blood
of Christ our Saviour, we eat and drink judgment to ourselves, kindling
God's wrath against us, and provoking him to afflict us with divers diseases,
and sundry kinds of death.
That it be left discretionary with the Minister, whether
the words, "The body of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c., be
repeated to each communicant separately, when the bread is given, or whether
it shall be repeated but once, for all then present at the Altar—
and the same also at giving the cup; and if the latter is adopted, that
the plural be then used, instead of the singular.
That at the Baptism of Infants, parents may be admitted
Sponsors, with one or other person, if a suitable one can be procured,—
if not, the parents alone, in their own persons, or by their proxies.
In the first address to the people at the Baptismal
Office, the words, "All men are conceived and born of sin,"
be omitted, and the words, "our Saviour Christ," follow "for
as much as."
That the words, "release him of his sins,"
in the address to the Sponsors, be omitted; that when the child or person
is baptized in church, instead of repeating the Creed, the priest may
say, Dost thou believe all the articles of the Christian faith, as contained
in the Apostles' Creed? to which the answer shall be, I do, and, by God's
help, I will instruct this child in that faith; the following question
to he thus altered, Wilt thou have this child to be baptized in that faith?
The usual response to follow; the last demand and response to be omitted.
That the Sign of the Cross may be omitted, if particularly
desired by the Sponsors.
In the last prayer, the following alterations to be
made: "That it hath pleased thee, by thy holy baptism, to regenerate
this infant or person," the words, "Vulgar tongue," in
the Exhortation or Charge to the sponsors, be omitted; and the words,
"if opportunity presents," be added at the end of the Charge.
At the Burial of the Dead, the Commitment of the Body
to the ground, to be thus altered: For as much as it hath pleased Almighty
God, to take out of this mortal life, the soul of our brother (or sister),
here departed, we therefore commit his (or her) body to the ground, earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, looking for the resurrection of
the body, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall change our vile body that it may be like unto his glorious Body,
according- to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things
unto himself.
The prayer following the Lord's Prayer, to be omitted;
and after the words, "beginning of the world," in the last prayer,
be added this paragraph: So that we, with all those that are departed
in the true faith of thy holy name, may then have our perfect consummation
and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, grant this, &c.
That the office of Churching of Women, be omitted,
excepting the introduction, the latter part of which shall be read: You
shall therefore join in giving hearty thanks to God; and the Collect,
which shall be thus altered: O Almighty God,. we give thee humble thanks,
for thy great mercy vouchsafed to this woman, thy servant, who now desires
to offer up her praises and thanksgivings to thee; and grant, &c.
The
second paragraph in the Introduction to the Commination Service, to be
thus read: instead whereof, it is thought good 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:— the remainder of this
paragraph, with the Rubrick, that "the people shall answer and say,
Amen," to the Curses, to be omitted.
That
the Absolution, in the office of the Visitation of the Sick, be expunged,
and the Absolution used in the Communion Service, be substituted in its
stead, if necessary.
That
the Introduction to the Marriage Service, containing the reasons why matrimony
was ordained, be omitted, from the words, "holy matrimony,"
to "therefore, if any man can shew any just cause," &c.
That
the words, "plight and give thee my troth," be altered to pledge
thee my truth; that the words, "with my body I thee worship, and
with all my worldly goods I thee endow," in giving the ring, be omitted.
That
it be left discretionary with the Minister, whether the Collect for the
day be read more than once in the morning service, and also whether the
Communion Service shall be read in the Reading Desk or in the Altar.
Voted, That it be recommended to the several Churches in these States,
immediately to make the omissions, and adopt the alterations contained
in the printed paper No.1, and agreed upon by this Convention, as a substitute
for the State Prayers, in the Book of Common Prayer, and that the using
the other alterations be postponed till after the time to which this Convention
shall be adjourned, in order that it may be seen, how far the other States
will conform to said alterations.
Voted, That it is the opinion of this Convention,
that it is not necessary nor convenient to send a Delegate or Delegates
to the General Convention, to be holden at Philadelphia on the Tuesday
preceding the Feast of St. Michael, but that a copy of the proceedings
of this Convention be communicated, by a Committee, to be hereafter chosen,
to the President or some member of said Convention, to be communicated
to said Body, and also to the Bishop or Clergy of Connecticut, previous
to the Convention to be held at New Haven, to be communicated to them,
requesting a speedy communication of each of their proceedings to said
Committee.
Voted, That said Committee furnish all the
Churches in the three States not represented here, and those whose members
are absent, with a copy of the alterations in the Liturgy, agreed upon
by this Convention, and request of them a return of their actings thereon,
to this Convention, at their adjournment.
Voted, Rev. Mr. Parker, Thomas Ivers, Esq.,
and Mr. Benjamin Greene, be said Committee, with a power to employ a Clerk
to assist them.
Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Bass and Mr. Fisher
be a Committee to form a Collect, to be inserted among the occasional
prayers for the case of persons who have lost their friends, for persons
sick, and for persons bound to sea, and report at the adjournment.
Voted.
That this Convention be adjourned to October 26th, and in case the Committee
shall not then have received the returns from the Conventions at New Haven
and Philadelphia, that they be authorized to adjourn said Convention,
to such future day as they shall judge best, and notify the members of
the same.
In
consequence of the preceding votes of Convention, attested copies of the
proposed alterations in the Liturgy and Offices of the Church, were transmitted
to the Churches and Clergymen.
One
to the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, New London, Con.
" Rev. Bela
Hubbard, New Haven, Con.
" Rev. Benjamin
Moore, New York.
" Rev. William
White, D. D., Philadelphia.
" St. Paul's
Church, Newburyport, Mass.
" Trinity
Church, Boston, Mass.
" Christ
Church, "
"
" St. Peter's
Church, Salem, Mass.
" United
Churches at Scituate and Marshfield.
" Christ
Church, Braintree, Mass.
" Church,
Marblehead, Mass.
" Church,
Falmouth, Mass.
" Trinity
Church, Newport, R. I.
" St. Michael's
Church, Bristol, R. I.
" Church,
Providence, R. I.
" Church,
Narragansett, R. I.
" Queen's
Chapel, Portsmouth, N. H.
" Church,
Claremont, N. H.
" Church,
Holderness, N. H.
|
Vide,
pp. xiii, xiv.
Reprinted
from the Journals of Massachusetts. |
4.
Alterations
in the English Book agreed on in the First General Convention, 1785.
ALTERATIONS
agreed on and confirmed in Convention, for rendering the Liturgy conformable
to the principles of the American Revolution, and the constitutions of
the several states.
1st. That in the suffrages after the Creed, instead
of O Lord, save the king, be said O Lord, bless and preserve
these United States.
2nd, That the prayer for the Royal family, in the morning
and evening service, be omitted.
3rd. That in the Litany the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th,
petitions be omitted, and that instead of the 20th and 21st petitions,
be substituted the following — That it may please Thee to endue
the Congress of these United States, and all others in authority, legislative,
executive, and judicial, with grace, wisdom and understanding, to execute
justice and to maintain truth.
4th.
That when the Litany is not said, the prayer for the high court of Parliament
be thus altered— "Most gracious God, we humbly beseech
thee, as for these United States in general, so especially for their delegates
in Congress, that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their
consultations to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy Church,
the safety, honour and welfare of thy people, that all things may be so
ordered and settled by their endeavors upon the best and surest foundations,
that peace and happiness, truth and Justice, religion and piety, may be
established among us for all generations," &c. to the end:
and the prayer for the king's majesty, altered as follows: viz.-
A
Prayer for our Civil Rulers.
O Lord, Our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe,
who dost from thy Throne, behold all the Dwellers upon Earth; we most
heartily beseech thee, with thy Favour to behold all in Authority, legislative,
executive and Judicial in these United States j and so replenish them
with the Grace of thy holy Sp1'1'it, that they may alway incline to thy
will and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly Gifts,
grant them in Health and Wealth long to live and, that after this Life,
they may attain everlasting Joy and Felicity, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
5th. That the 1st. Collect for the King in the Communion Service be omitted;
and that the second be altered as follows— instead of "the
hearts of Kings are in thy rule and governance," be said—"That
the hearts of all Rulers are in thy governance," &c.; and
instead of the words— "heart of George thy servant,
insert,— so to direct the Rulers of these states, that in all
their thoughts, &c." changing the singular pronouns to the
plural.
[No sixth paragraph appears in the MS. ]
7th.
That in the answer in the Catechism to the question— " What
is thy duty towards thy neighbor?" for "to honour and
obey the king," be substituted— "to honour and
obey my civil rulers, to submit myself, &c."
8th.
That instead of the observation of the 5th of November, the 30th of January,
the 29th of May, and the 25th of October, the following service be used
on the 4th of July, being the Anniversary of Independence.
9th.
That in the Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea, in the Prayer "O
eternal God, &c." instead of these Words— "unto
our most gracious Sovereign Lord King George and his Kingdoms,"
be inserted the Words— "to the United States of America,"
and that instead of the Word— "Island" be inserted
the Word "Country;" and in the collect "O
Almighty God, the Sovereign Commander," be omitted the Words—
"the Honour of our Sovereign," and the Words "the
honour of our Country" inserted.
Service
for the 4th of July,
With
the sentences before Morning and Evening Prayer.
The Lord has been mindful of us, and he shall bless us, he shall bless
them that fear him, both small and great. O that men would therefore praise
the Lord, for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for
the children of men.
Hymn,
instead of the Venite.
My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord: with my mouth
will I ever be showing forth his truth from one generation to another.
Psal. 89. 1.
The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous
works: that they ought to be had in remembrance. Psal. 111. 4.
Who can express the noble acts of the Lord: or show
forth all his praise. Psal. 106. 2.
The works of the Lord are great: sought out of all
them that have pleasure therein. Psal. 111. 2.
For he will not al way be chiding: neither keepeth
he his anger for ever. Psal. 103. 9.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded
us according to our wickedness. Verse 10.
For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the
earth: so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. Verse 11.
Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children: even
so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. Verse 11.
Thou, O God, hast proved us: thou also hast tried us,
like as silver is tried. Psal. 66. 9.
Thou didst remember us in our low estate, and redeem
us from our enemies: for thy mercy endureth for ever. Psal. 136.
23, 24.
Proper
Psalms, 118, except. v. 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, to conclude with v. 24.
1.
Lesson Deut. 8. 2. Lesson Thess. 5. v. 12,-23 both inclusive.
Collect
for the day.
Almighty God, who hast in all ages showed forth thy power and mercy in
the wonderful preservation of thy church, and in the protection of every
nation and people professing thy holy and eternal truth, and putting their
sure trust in thee; we yield thee our unfeigned thanks and praise for
all thy public mercies, and more especially for that signal and wonderful
manifestation of thy providence which we commemorate this day; wherefore
not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be ascribed all honour
and glory, in all churches of the Saints, from generation to generation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A
Thanksgiving for the day, to be said after the General Thanksgiving.
O God, whose Name is excellent in all the earth, and thy glory above 'the
heavens; who as on this day didst inspire al}.d direct the hearts of our
delegates in Congress, to lay the perpetual foundations of peace, liberty,
and safety; we bless and adore thy glorious Majesty, for this thy loving
kindness and providence. And we humbly pray that the devout sense of this
signal mercy may renew and increase in us a spirit of love and thankfulness
to thee its only Author, a spirit of peaceable submission to the laws
and government of our country, and a spirit of fervent zeal for our holy
religion, which thou hast preserved and secured to us and our posterity.
May we improve these inestimable blessings for the advancement of religion,
liberty, and science throughout this land, till the wilderness and solitary
place be made glad through us, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the
rose. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
|
Vide,
pp. xiv-xvi.
Reprinted
from Fac-Similes of Church Documents. |
5.
Alterations
in the English Book proposed by the First General Convention, 1785.
ALTERATIONS
in the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and
other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the
Church of England, proposed and recommended to the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of America.
The Order for Morning and Evening service, Daily throughout
the Year.
1st. The following Sentences of Scripture, are ordered
to be prefixed to the usual Sentences, viz.-
The Lord is in his Holy Temple; let all the Earth keep
Silence before Him. Hab. ii. 20.
From the Rising of the Sun to the going down of the
Same, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every Place Incense
shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure Offering: for my Name shall
be great among the Heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts. Malachi.
Where two or three are gathered together in my Name,
there am I in the midst of them. St. Matthew.
The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit, &c.,
with one or two more of the other Sentences. But this to stand next after
the Sentence, "Where two or three."
2d. That the Rubric preceding the Absolution, be altered
thus-"A declaration to be made by the Minister alone, standing,
concerning the forgiveness of sins."
3d. That in the Lord's prayer, the word "who"
be substituted in lieu of "which;" and that "those
who trespass" stand instead of "them that trespass."
4. That the "Gloria Patri" be omitted after
the "O come let us sing, &c." and in every other
place, where, by the present Rubric it is ordered to be inserted, to "the
end of the" reading psalms; when shall be said or sung "Gloria
Patri, &c." or, "Glory be to God on high: and in
earth peace and good will towards men, &c." at the discretion
of the Minister.
5th. That in the "Te Deum" instead of "honourable"
it be "adorable, true, and only son;" and instead of
"didst not abhor the Virgin's womb;" "didst
humble thyself to be born of a pure Virgin."
6th. That until a proper selection of Psalms be made,
each Minister be allowed to use such as he may chuse.
7th. That the same liberty be allowed, respecting the
lessons.
8th. That the article in "the Apostles creed"
"He descended into hell" be omitted.
9th. That the Athanasian and the Nicene creeds be entirely
omitted.
10th. That after the response "and with thy
spirit," all be omitted to the words "O Lord show thy
mercy upon us;" which the Minister shall pronounce, still
kneeling.
11th. That in the suffrage "make thy
chosen people Joyful," the word "chosen" be omitted;
and also the following suffrages, to "O God, make clean our hearts
within us."
12th. That the Rubric after these words "and
take not thy Holy Spirit from us," be omitted. Then the two
collects to be said: in the collect for grace, the words "be
ordered," to be omitted; and the word "be"
inserted, instead of "to do alway that is."
13th. In the collect “for the Clergy and
People," read— "Almighty and everlasting God,
send down upon all Bishops and other Pastors, and the Congregations committed,
&c," to the end.
14th. That after all the reading Psalms and not at
the end of each, Gloria Patri or the Gloria in Excelsis Deo
shall be used at the Discretion of the Minister.
15. That the Lord's prayer after the Litany, and the
subsequent Rubric be omitted.
16th. That the short Litany be read as follows—
"Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we beseech
thee to hear us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
Grant us thy peace. O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us. Lord, have mercy
upon us and deal not with us according to our sins, neither reward us
according to our iniquities." After which, omit the words—
"Let us pray."
17th. That the Gloria Patri, after O Lord
arise, &c. be omitted; as also "Let us pray,"
after "we put our trust in thee."
18th. That in the following prayer, instead of "righteously
have deserved," it be "justly have deserved."
19th. That in the 1st. warning for the Communion, the
word "damnation," following these words "increase
your, &c." be read "condemnation;" and
the two paragraphs after these words "or else come not to that
holy table, be omitted; and the following one be read, and if
there be any of you, who by these means, cannot quiet their conscience,
&c. The words "learned and discreet," epithets
given to the ministers, to be also omitted.
20th. In the exhortation to the communion, let it run
thus— "For as the benefit is great, &c. to drink his
blood, so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge
therefore yourselves, &c."
21st. That in the rubric preceding the absolution,
instead of "pronounce this absolution," it be—
"Then shall the minister stand up, and turning himself to the
people say, &c,"
22d. That in the baptism of infants, parents may be
admitted as sponsors.
23d. That the minister, in speaking to the Sponsors,
after these words "vouchsafe to release him," say—
"release him from sin." In the second prayer, instead
of "remission of his sins," read— "remission
of sin."
24th. That the questions addressed to the sponsors,
and answers, instead of the present Form, be as follows— "the
sinful desires of the flesh."
25th. "Dost thou believe the articles of the
christian faith, as contained in the Apostles' creed, and wilt thou endeavour
to have this child instructed accordingly?" Answer: "I
do believe them, and, by God's help, will endeavour so to do."
Wilt thou endeavour to have him b?'ought 11p in the fear of God, and
to obey God's holy will and commandments?" Answer "I
will, by God's assistance."
26th. That the sign of the cross may be omitted, if
particularly desired by the Sponsors or Parents, and the prayer to be
thus altered (by the direction of a short rubric) "We receive
this child into the congregation of Christ's flock; and pray that hereafter
he may never be ashamed, &c." to the end.
27th. That the address— "seeing now
dearly beloved, &c." be omitted.
28th. That the prayer after the Lord's prayer, be thus
changed— "We yield thee hearty thanks, &c."
to "receive this Infant as thine own child by baptism, and to
incorporate him, &c."
29th. That in the following exhortation, the words
"to renounce the devil and all his works," and in the
charge to the Sponsors, the words "vulgar tongue" be
omitted.
30th. That the forms of private baptism and of confirmation,
be made conformable to these alterations.
31st. That in the exhortation before matrimony, all
between these words "holy matrimony," and "therefore
if any man, &c." be omitted.
32d. That the words "I plight thee my troth"
be omitted in both places; and also the words— "with my
body I thee worship;" and also— "pledged their
troth either to other."
33d. That all after the blessing be omitted.
34th. In the burial service, instead of the two Psalms,
take the following verses of both— viz. Ps. 39, Verses 6, 7, 8,
9, 12, 13, and Psalm 90, to v. 13. In the rubric, the words "unbaptized
or" to be omitted.
For the Declaration and form of interment, beginning—
"Forasmuch as, &c." insert the following—
viz. "Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise
Providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother
(sister) lying now before us; We therefore commit his (her) body to the
ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; (thus at sea,—
to the deep to be turned into corruption) looking for the general
resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, thro'
our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose second coming in glorious Majesty, to
judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead j and
the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and
made like unto his own glorious body, according to the mighty working,
whereby he is able to subdue all things unto Himself."
In the sentence "I heard a voice, &c."
insert "who" for "which." The prayer
following the Lord's prayer to be omitted. In the next collect, leave
out the words "as our hope is, this our brother doth."
For "them that," insert "those who."
35th. In the visitation of the sick, instead of the
absolution as it now stands, insert the declaration of forgiveness which
is appointed for the communion service; or, either of the collects, which
are taken from the Commination office, and appropriated to Ash Wednesday,
may be used.
In the Psalm, omit the 3d, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 11th
verses In the Commendatory prayer, for "miserable and naughty,"
say "vain and miserable." Strike out the word “purged.”
In the prayer "for persons troubled in mind,"
omit all that stands between the words "afflicted servant,"
and "his soul is full," &c. and instead thereof
say "afflicted servant, whose soul is full of trouble,"
and strike out the particle "but," and proceed, "O
merciful God," &c.
36th. A form of Prayer and visitation of Prisoners
for notorious crimes, and especially persons under sentence of death,
being much wanted, the form entitled "Prayers
for persons under sentence of death, agreed upon in a Synod of the archbishops
and bishops, and the rest of the clergy of Ireland, at Dublin, in the
year 1711," as it now stands in the book of Common Prayer of
the church of Ireland, is agreed upon, and ordered to be adopted, with
the following alterations, viz :
For the absolution, take the same declaration of forgiveness,
or either of the collects above directed for the visitation of the sick.
The short collect "O Saviour of the world," &c.
to be left out; and for the word “frailness,” say
"frailty."
37th, In the Catechism, besides the alteration respecting
the civil Powers, alter as follows: viz. "What is your name? N. M.
When did you receive this name? I received it in Baptism, whereby I became
a member of the christian church. What was promised for you in baptism?
That I should be instructed to believe the christian faith, as contained
in the Apostle's Creed, and to obey God's holy will, and keep his commandments.
Dost thou think thou art bound to believe all the
articles of the christian faith, as contained in this creed, and to obey
God's holy will and keep his commandments?" "Yes verily,"
&c.
Instead of the words "verily, and indeed taken,"
say— "spiritually taken."
Answer to Question "How many Sacraments?"
"Two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper."
38th. Instead of a particular Service for the churching
of women, and psalms, the following special prayer is to be introduced,
after the General Thanksgiving; viz. This to be said, when any woman desires
to return thanks, &c. "O Almighty God, we give thee most humble
and hearty thanks, for that thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve
this woman, thy servant, through the great pains and perils of childbirth.
Incline her, we beseech thee, to show forth her thankfulness, for this
thy great mercy, not only with her lips, but by a holy and virtuous life.
Be pleased, O God, so to establish her health, that she may lead the remainder
of her days to thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."
39.
The Commination office for Ash Wednesday to be discontinued,
as it is considered rather as a discouragement to sincere Christians from
coming to church on that day, than an encouragement, and therefore the
three collects, the first beginning— "O Lord, we beseech
thee," —2d, "O most mighty God,"—3d,
"Turn us, O Good Lord," shall be continued among the
occasional prayers; and used after the collect on Ash Wednesday, and on
such other occasions as the minister shall think fit.
Table
of Holy Days.
The following Days are to be kept Holy by this Ch'h. Viz.
All
the Sundays in the year in the Order enumerated in the Table of
Proper Lessons with their respective Services,
Christmas
Circumcision
Epiphany
Easter
Day, Monday and Tuesday
Ascension Day
Whitsunday,
Monday and Tuesday
The
following Days are to be observed as Days of Fasting Viz Good Friday and
Ashwednesday
The
following Days are to be observed as Days of Thanksgiving Viz, The 4th
of July in Commemoration of American independence, and the first Thursday
in November as a Day of Gen'l Thanksgiving.
Articles
of Religion.
1.
Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.
There is but one living, etc.
|
Vide,
pp. xiv-xvi.
Printed
from Fac-Similes of Church Documents. |
