Mattins

¶ The Minister shall begin Morning and Evening Prayer by reading one or more of the following Sentences of Scripture. On any day, save a Day of Fasting or Abstinence, or on any day when the Litany or Holy Communion is immediately to follow, the Minister may, at his discretion, pass at once from the Sentences to the Lord's Prayer and Angelic Salutation, which may never be omitted.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joel 2:13

Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying—

¶ To be said by the whole Congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling.

DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTION

℣. O Lord, ✠ open thou our lips. ℟. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. ℣. O God, ✠ make speed to save us. ℟. O Lord, make haste to help us. ℣. 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. ℣. Praise ye the Lord. ℟. The Lord's Name be praised.

¶ On the days hereafter named, immediately before and after the Venite may be sung or said the Invitatory Antiphon. But NOTE, That on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Even, the Venite is omitted, and it may be omitted on Ash Wednesday.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God; * O come, let us adore him.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts: as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness. When your fathers tempted me: proved me, and saw my works. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said: It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways; Unto whom I sware in my wrath: that they should not enter into my rest.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God; * O come, let us adore him.

℣. 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 45, 46, 87

M¹Y HEART is inditing of a good matter : I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.

²My tongue is the pen : of a ready writer.

³Thou art fairer than the children of men : full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever.

⁴Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty : according to thy worship and renown.

⁵Good luck have thou with thine honour : ride on, because of the word of truth , of meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

⁶Thy arrows are very sharp, and the people shall be subdued unto thee : even in the midst among the King's enemies.

⁷Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever : the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

⁸Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity : wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

⁹All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia : out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

¹⁰Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women : upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold, wrought about with divers colours.

¹¹Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear : forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.

¹²So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty : for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.

¹³And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift : like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee.

¹⁴The King's daughter is all glorious within : her clothing is of wrought gold.

¹⁵She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work : the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.

¹⁶With joy and gladness shall they be brought : and shall enter into the King's palace.

¹⁷Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children : whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.

¹⁸I will remember thy Name from one generation to another : therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.

¹GOD is our hope and strength : a very present help in trouble.

²Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved : and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea;

³Though the waters thereof rage and swell : and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.

⁴The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God : the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.

⁵God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed : God shall help her, and that right early.

⁶The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved : but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.

⁷The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our refuge.

⁸O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord : what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.

⁹He maketh wars to cease in all the world : he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.

¹⁰Be still then, and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.

¹¹The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our refuge.

¹HER foundations are upon the holy hills : the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

²Very excellent things are spoken of thee : thou city of God.

³I will think upon Rahab and Babylon : with them that know me.

⁴Behold ye the Philistines also : and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born.

⁵And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her : and the most High shall stablish her.

⁶The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people : that he was born there.

⁷The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse : All my fresh springs shall be in thee.

℣. 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.

ECCLESIASTICUS 24:13-17

I¹³ was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon.

¹⁴I was exalted like a palm tree in En-gaddi, and as a rose plant in Jericho, as a fair olive tree in a pleasant field, and grew up as a plane tree by the water.

¹⁵I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon and aspalathus, and I yielded a pleasant odour like the best myrrh, as galbanum, and onyx, and sweet storax, and as the fume of frankincense in the tabernacle.

¹⁶As the turpentine tree I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and grace.

¹⁷As the vine brought I forth pleasant savour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.

¶ The following Hymn is sung or said on all Sundays (outside Advent, Septuagesimatide, & Lent), Festivals (at least Semidouble), Octave Days, & the Saturday Office of St. Mary. NOTE, The Old Testament Canticle may be said instead of the following Hymn.

We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud; the Heavens, and all the Powers therein; To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee; The Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost the Comforter. Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage. Govern them and lift them up for ever. Day by day we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name ever, world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

℣. 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.

LUKE 2:25-35

N²⁵ow there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation

³¹that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Blessed ✠ be the Lord God of Israel; * for he hath visited and redeemed his people; And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, * in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, * which have been since the world began; That we should be saved from our enemies, * and from the hand of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant; To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, * that he would give us; That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies * might serve him without fear; In holiness and righteousness before him, * all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people * for the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

℣. 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.

℣. The Lord be with you. or, O Lord, hear our prayer. ℟. And with thy spirit. or, And let our cry come unto thee.

℣. Let us pray. ℣. Lord, have mercy upon us. ℟. Christ, have mercy upon us. ℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.

℣. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us. ℟. And grant us thy salvation. ℣. O Lord, save the State. ℟. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. ℣. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness. ℟. And make thy chosen people joyful. ℣. O Lord, save thy people. ℟. And bless thine inheritance. ℣. Give peace in our time, O Lord. ℟. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety. ℣. O God, make clean our hearts within us. ℟. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Wednesday after the 17th Sunday after Trinity

Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works. Through.

A COLLECT FOR PEACE

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A COLLECT FOR GRACE

O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

℣. The Lord be with you. or, O Lord, hear our prayer. ℟. And with thy spirit. or, And let our cry come unto thee. ℣. Let us bless the Lord (alleluia, alleluia.) ℟. Thanks be to God (alleluia, alleluia.) ℣. May the souls ✠ of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. ℟. Amen.

¶ The following Prayers shall be omitted here when the Great Litany is said, and may be omitted when the Holy Communion is to follow. The Prayer for the Head of State is here said.

A PRAYER FOR THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE

Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift; Send down upon our Bishops, and other Clergy, and upon the Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR ALL SORTS & CONDITIONS OF MEN

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; (especially those for whom our prayers are desired;) that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

A GENERAL THANKSGIVING

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; (to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.) We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

A PRAYER OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

THE GRACE

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ✠ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.