EASTER-DAY. MORNING PRAYER. All standing, the head of the family (or the priest or deacon, if present) says: V. O Lord, open Thou our lips. Ry. And our mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. . O God, make speed to save us. R. O Lord, make haste to help us. . Glory be to the Father, &c. Ry. As it was, &c. Then he says the following hymn of praise: . Christ, the Lord, is risen indeed, Ry. And hath appeared unto Simon. Alleluia. Ry. Who for our sakes hung upon the cross. Alleluia. Alleluia. R. Because He hath redeemed His people, and is risen triumphant over the powers of hell. . Glory be to the Father, &c. I Ry. As it was, &c. Then he says the following Psalm: PSALM 111. WILL give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart: secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great: sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour and His righteousness endureth for ever. : The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done His marvellous works: that they ought to be had in remembrance. He hath given meat unto them that fear Him He shall ever be mindful of His covenant. He hath shewed His people the power of His works that He may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of His hands are ve rity and judgment all His com- covenant for ever; holy and revermandments are true. end is His name. They stand fast for ever and ever and are done in truth and equity. He sent redemption unto His people He hath commanded His I BELIEVE in God, &c. MAY The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; the praise of it endureth for ever. Then all say, Then he says, AY the reading of the Holy Word (or Holy Gospel be unto us salvation and protection. Amen. Then he reads the short chapter following: From the Holy Gospel according to A understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third ND Jesus said unto His disciples, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things day and that repentance and remust be fulfilled, which were writ-mission of sins should be preached ten in the law of Moses, and in the in His name among all nations, beprophets, and in the psalms, con- ginning at Jerusalem. And ye are cerning Me. Then opened He their witnesses of these things. Then he says: . Let us bless and praise the Lord. Ry. Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. A . O Lord, keep us this day without sin; Ry. And evermore mightily defend us. Then all kneeling, say the Confession and Litany following: LMIGHTY and everlasting God, graciously vouchsafe to hear the prayers of Thy servants, who confess and bewail the innumerable offences which we have most grievously committed against Thee, by thought, word, and deed; and as by Thy only Son Thou hast opened unto us the gate of eternal life, through His victory over sin and death, we beseech Thee to forgive us our sins, and so to confirm us by Thy grace, that 1 St. Luke xxiv. 44. we may walk like those who have been redeemed from sin; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, three Persons and one God, Have mercy on us. From all evil, from all sin, from the spirit of unbelief, from all abuse of this glorious day, and of those places which are sacred to Thee, from whatever is an offence to Thee or a scandal to the weak, O Lord, deliver us. From contempt of Thy worship, and all kinds of irreverence in Thy holy presence, from sloth, coldness, and levity in time of prayer, from the neglect of prayer and of Thy sacred word, O Lord, deliver us. We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, and grant that we may celebrate this joyful day, which brought us salvation, with thankful, fearing, and rejoicing hearts; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. Grant that we may this day rise to a new life; that we may deny our wills, rule our tongues, soften our tempers, mortify our lusts, and learn patience, meekness, purity, forgiveness of injuries, and continuance in well-doing; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. Grant that we may this day join with the blessed above, in praising, adoring, and praying to Thee; and prepare our souls to celebrate with Thee an eternal Easter; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. And grant that as Thou hast knit together the differing Gentile nations by the confession of Christ's name, so all they who are born again in the baptismal font may be one, both in the belief of their minds and in the piety of their actions; through Christ our Lord; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. O Lord Jesus Christ, Conqueror of sin and death, hear the prayers of Thy servants, and have mercy upon us; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Here may be said the Prayer which is to be used when there is Holy Communion (see Sunday Morning Prayers, page 11). And if Easter-Day should happen to fall on the Feast of the Annunciation of the B. V. M., or of St. Mark the Evangelist, he here says the particular Collects for either of those festivals (see Saints' Day Morning Prayers). Then he says the usual Sunday Morning Thanksgiving Prayer, as follows: ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who at the beginning of the world didst bless and sanctify the Sabbath-day, in memory of Thy finishing the glorious work of the creation, and who in the new law didst teach the apostles to transfer the duty of it to the Lord's day, in honour of Thy finishing the more glorious work of the redemption and sanctification thereon, by the resurrection of Thy divine Son, and the descent of the Holy Ghost-behold, we Thy servants are here on this day assembled to bless and praise Thee for these incomprehensible blessings, and for every other favour Thou hast bestowed upon us, especially for the protection Thou hast afforded us during the week past. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may sanctify this day, by devoting it entirely to Thy love and service; and that whatever portion of time Thou hast decreed for each of us to live may be dedicated to the glory of Thy name, and employed in faithfully serving Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then he says the two Collects and Prayer for a blessing, as in Sunday or Week-Day Morning Prayers (see pages 12, 50, 90). EASTER-DAY. EVENING PRAYER. All standing, the head of the family (or the priest or deacon, if present) says: V. Turn Thou us, O God our Saviour. Ry. As it was, &c. Then he says the following hymn of praise: . Christ the Lord is risen indeed, Ry. And hath appeared unto Simon. Alleluia. . The Lord is risen from the tomb, R. Who for our sakes hung upon the cross. Alleluia. . O come, let us rejoice in God our Saviour. R. Because He hath redeemed His people, and is risen triumphant over the powers of hell. . Glory be to the Father, &c. Alleluia. Ry. As it was, &c. Then he says the following Psalm: PSALM 3. I laid me down and slept, and LORD, how are they increased rose up again: for the Lord sus that trouble me many are tained me. they that rise against me. Many one there be that say of my soul: There is no help for him in his God. But Thou, O Lord, art my defender Thou art my worship and the lifter up of my head. I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people that have set themselves against me round about. : Up, Lord, and help me, O my God for Thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord and Thy blessing is upon Thy people. |