A COMMINATION, OR DENOUNCING OF GOD’S ANGER AND JUDGEMENTS
AGAINST SINNNERS.
With certain Prayers, to be used on the first Day of Lent,
and at other times, as the Ordinary shall appoint.
{After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended according to the
accustomed manner, the Priest shall, in the reading Pew or Pulpit, say,}
BRETHREN, in
the Primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that, at the beginning of
Lent, such persons as stood convicted of notorious sin were put to open
penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day
of the Lord; and that others, admonished by their example, might be the more
afraid to offend.
Instead whereof, until the said discipline may be restored
again, (which is much to be wished,) it is thought good, that 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; and that ye should answer to every
Sentence, Amen: To the intent that, being admonished of the great
indignation of God against sinners, ye may the rather be moved to earnest and
true repentance; and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from
such vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to be
due.
CURSED is the
man that maketh any carved or molten image, to worship it.
{And the people shall answer and say,}
Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that curseth his father or mother.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that perverteth the judgement of the stranger, the fatherless, and
widow.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that lieth with his neighbour’s wife.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the innocent.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and
in his heart goeth from the Lord.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
Cursed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adulterers, covetous persons,
idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners.
Answer. Amen.
Minister.
NOW seeing that all
they are accursed (as the prophet David beareth witness) who do err and go
astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgement
hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord
God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing and lamenting our
sinful life, acknowledging and confessing our offences, 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 that 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 bam; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day
of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and
all things are safe, then shall sudden 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 them, selves; which
despised the goodness, patience, and long, sufferance of God, when he calleth
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 judgement, 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 children of the light; that we be not cast into utter
darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness
of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity
promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true
heart we return unto him. For though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall
be made white as snow; and though they be like purple, yet they shall be made
white as wool. Turn ye (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 ye die, O ye
house of Israel, seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,
saith the Lord God? Tom ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have sinned,
yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is
the propitiation for our sins. For he was wounded for our offences, and smitten
for our wickedness. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful
receiver of all true penitent sinners; assuring ourselves that he is ready to
receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful
repentance; if we 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 him in
lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy
Spirit; seeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with
thanksgiving: This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law,
and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set
on the left hand; and he will set us on his right hand, and give us the
gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his
glorious kingdom: Unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite
mercy. Amen.
{Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the
Priest and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the
Litany) shall say this Psalm.}
Miserere mei, deus. Psalm 51
HAVE mercy upon me, O
God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do
away mine offences.
Wash me thoroughly from my
wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults: and my
sin is ever before me.
Against thee only have I sinned, and
done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and
clear when thou art judged.
Behold, I was shapen in wickedness:
and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, thou requirest truth in the
inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and
I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me hear of joy and
gladness: that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Turn thy face away from my sins: and
put out all my misdeeds.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and
renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence:
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
O give me the comfort of thy help
again: and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
Then shall I teach thy ways unto the
wicked: and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O
God, thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and
my mouth shall shew thy praise.
For thou desirest no sacrifice, else
would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled
spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
O be favourable and gracious unto
Sion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the
sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and ablations: then shall
they offer young bullocks upon thine attar.
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.
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.
Minister. O
Lord, save thy servants;
Answer. That put their
trust in thee.
Minister. Send
unto them help from above.
Answer. And evermore
mightily defend them.
Minister. Help
us, O God our Saviour.
Answer. And for the glory
of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners, for thy Name’s sake.
Minister. O
Lord, hear our prayer.
Answer. And let our cry
come unto thee.
Minister. Let us pray.
O LORD, we beseech thee,
mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto
thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon
may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O MOST mighty
God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing
that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should
rather turn from his sin, and be saved: Mercifully forgive us our trespasses;
receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our
sins. Thy property is always 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 judgement with thy servants, who are vile earth, and
miserable sinners; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our
vileness, and truly repent us of our faults, and 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.}
TURN thou us, O good
Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be favourable to thy
people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a
merciful God, Full of compassion. Longsuffering, and of 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 thine heritage be brought to
confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of
thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
{Then the Minister alone shall say,}
THE Lord bless us, and keep us; the Lord
lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for
evermore. Amen.
