Book of Common Prayer (1892)/Evening Prayer
The Order for Evening Prayer
dayly
throughout the year.
¶ At the beginning of Evening Prayer the Minister shall read with a loud voice, some one or more of these sentences of the scriptures that follow. And then he shall say that which is written after the said sentences.
Ezech. 18. 27.When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawfull and right, he shall save his soul alive.
Psal. 51. 3.I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psal. 51. 9.Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out mine iniquities.
Psal. 51. 17.The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Joel. 2. 13.Rent your hearts, and not your garments, and turn vnto the Lord your God, for he is gracious, and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Dan. 9. 9, 10.To the Lord our God belong mercies, and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him: Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before vs.
Jer. 10. 24.
Psal. 6. 1.O Lord, correct me, but with iudgement, not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
S. Matt. 3. 2.Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
S. Luke. 15. 18, 19. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say vnto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Psal. 143. 2. Enter not into iudgement with thy servant, [O Lord] for in thy sight shall no man living be iustified.
1. S. John. 1. 8, 9. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in vs. [but] if we confess our sins, he is faithfull and iust to forgive vs our sins, and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousness.
Dearly beloved brethren, the scripture moveth vs 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 obtein 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 most 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 vnto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me.
¶ A generall Confession to be said of the whole congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling.
Almighty, and most mercifull Father, We have erred and strayed from thy wayes like lost sheep, We have followed too much the devices, and desires of our own hearts, We have offended against thy holy laws, We have left vndon those things which we ought to have don, And we have don those things which we ought not to have don, And there is no health in vs, But thou, O Lord, have mercy vpon vs miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults, Restore thou them that are penitent, According to thy promises declared vnto mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord; And grant, O most mercifull Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
¶ The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing, the people still kneeling.
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather
that he may turn from his wickednes and live; and hath given power and commandment to his Ministers, to declare, and pronounce to his people being penitent the Absolution, and Remission of their sins: He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent and vnfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore beseech we him to grant vs true repentance and his holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternall ioy, throug Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ Then the Minister shall kneel and say the Lords Prayer: the people also kneeling and repeating it with him.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be don in earth as it is in heaven. Give vs this day our daily bread, And forgive vs our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against vs, And lead vs not into temptation, But deliver vs from evil, For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
¶ Then
¶ Then likewise he shall say.
O Lord open thou our lips.
Answer.
And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Priest.
O God make speed to save vs.
Answer.
O Lord make haste to help vs.
¶ Here all standing vp the Priest 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.
Priest.
Praise ye the Lord.
Answer.
The Lords name be praised
¶ U Then shall be said or sung the Psalms in order as they be appointed. Then a Lesson of the old Testament as is appointed; And after that Magnificat (or the song of the blessed virgin Mary) in English as followeth.
Magnificat S. Luke 1. My soul doth magnifie the Lord: and my spirit hath reioiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his hand-maiden.
For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the Imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. Evening Prayer He hath filled the hungTy with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembring his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham, and his seed for ever.
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.
¶ Or else this Psalm, except it be on the nineteenth day of the month, when it is read in the ordinary course of the Psalms.
1. Cantate Domino. Psal: 98. O sing vnto the Lord a new song: for he hath don marvelous things.
With his own right hand, and with his holy arm: hath he gotten himselfe the Victory.
The Lord declared his salvacon: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the Heathen.
He hath remembred his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel: and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
Shew your selves ioyfull vnto the Lord, all ye Lands: sing, rejoyce, and give thancks.
Praise the Lord vpon the Harp: sing to the Harp with a Psalm of thanksgiving.
With Trumpets also and Shawms: O shew yourselves ioyfull before the Lord the King.
Let the Sea make a noise, and all that therein is: the round world, and they that dwell therein.
Let the Floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyfull together before the Lord: for he cometh to iudge the earth.
With righteousness shall he iudge the world: and the People with equity.
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 a Lesson of the New Testament, as it is appointed. And after that Nunc dimittis (or the song of Simeon) in English, as followeth.
Nunc dimittis. St. Luke 2.29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen: thy Salvation.
which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people.
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.
¶ Or else this Psalm (except it be on the twelfth day of the month.)
Deus miscreatur. Psla: 67 God be mercifull vnto vs, and bless vs: and shew vs the light of his Countenance, and be mercifull vnto vs.
That thy way may be known saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O the people praise thee.
O Let the nations rejoyce and be glad: for thou shalt iudge the folk righteously, and govern the nations vpon earth.
Let the people praise thee, (O God :) yea let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth bring forth her increase: and God, even our own God shall give vs his blessing.
God shall bless vs: and all the ends of the world shall fear 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. ¶ Then shall be said, or sung the Apostles Creed by the Minister, and the people standing.
I beleeve in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the holy Ghost, Borne of the virgin Mary. Suffered vnder 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 quicke and the dead. I beleeve in the holy Ghost, The holy Catholick Church, The Communion of Saints, The forgiveness of Sinns, The Resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
¶ And after that these Prayers following, all devoutly kneeling, the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice.
The Lord be with you.
Answer.
And with thy Spirit
Minister.
Lord have mercy vpon vs.
Christ have mercy vpon vs.Lord have mercy vpon vs.
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 vs this day our daily bread. And forgive vs our Trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against vs. And lead vs not into temptation; But deliver vs from evil. Amen. ¶ Then the Minister, Clerks and people shall say the Lords Prayer with a loud voice.
¶ Then the Priest standing vp, shall say.
O Lord shew thy mercy vpon vs.
Answer.
And grant vs thy Salvation.
Priest.
O Lord save the King*.
Answer.
And mercifully hear vs when we call vpon thee.
Priest.
Indue thy Ministers with righteousnes.
Answer.
And make thy chosen people joyfull.
Priest.
O Lord save thy people.
Answer.
And bless thine Inheritance.
Priest.
Give peace in our tyme, O Lord.
Answer.
Because there is none other that fighteth for vs but only thou, O God.
Priest.
O God make cleane our hearts within vs.
Answer.
And take not thy holy Spirit from vs.
¶ Then shall follow three Collects. The first of the day; The second for Peace; The third for aid against all perils as hereafter followeth: which two last Collects shall be daily said at Evening Prayer without Alteration.
¶ The second Collect at evening Prayer
O God from whom all holy desires, all good Counsels, and all iust Works do proceed : give vnto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that both our hearts may be sett to obey thy Comandments, and alsoe that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may passe our time in rest and quietness, through the meritts of Iesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
¶ The third Collect for Aid against all perils.
Lighten our darkness wee beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend vs from all Perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Iesus Christ. Amen.
¶ In Quires and Places where they sing, here followeth the Antheme.
¶ A Prayer for the Kings Majesty.
Lord our heavenly Father, High and Mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only ruler of Princes, who do'st from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth, most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behould our most gracious sovereign Lord King Charles, and soe replenish him with the grace of thy holy spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Indue him plenteously with heavenly guifts, grant him in health and wealth long to live, strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome aS his enemies, and finally after this life he may attaine everlasting ioy and felicity, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ A Prayer for
Almighty God the fountaine of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless
Indue them with thy holy spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, prosper them with all happines, and bring them to thine everlasting Kingdom, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A Prayer for the Clergy and people.
Almighty and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels, send down vpon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations comitted to their charge the healthful Spirit of thy grace, and that they may truly please thee, pour vpon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator Iesus Christ. Amen
¶ A Prayer of Saint Chrysotome.
Allnighty God, who hast given vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee, and do'st promise that when two: or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their Requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them, granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
¶ 2 Corinthians. 13.
The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all evermore. Amen.
Here endeth the Order of Evening Prayer throughout the year.