THE
MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
II.
A RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
II.
A FORM. OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
THE PREFACE
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O worship of
God, and least of all common
worship, may fittingly be offered by those who are separated from God
and from
their neighbours by unrepented
sin. If we do not repent, not only are
we unfit to worship God, but we also dishonour
God, and:
cause damage to his Church as well as to ourselves. Therefore we are
exhorted
in our common worship, both at Morning and Evening Prayer and at the
Lord's
Supper, to make general confession of our sins.
Those
who truly repent must: be ready to live at all times in love and
charity with
all men. But, since it is so easy to
make light of, and seven to cherish,. grudges and resentments against others, we should
find
definite times when: we may search our hearts and seek reconciliation
with any
from whom we find ourselves estranged. This
is specially fitting at: the beginning of the Church's year, as we
approach Christmas
with its message of peace
and goodwill and when we enter upon the season of Lent and are
specially called
to penitence.
Furthermore
a general confession in the common worship of the Church can only be
entered
into with full sincerity by those who already have personally repented
of their
sins.
The first
Exhortation (page. 341) reminds us of the
duty of personal penitence for those who are to receive the Holy
Communion, and
gives us guidance in the method of self-examination. We are also
exhorted in
the Ministry to the Sick (page 656) to repent and to take such steps as
are
needed to be at peace with God and in charity with all men. And we know well that, though we have sinned
.grievously, we can be :restored by our
gracious Saviour and Shepherd.
To
this end God has committed to his Church the Ministry of
Reconciliation. From early times the
Church has provided means
whereby sinners can be reconciled to God and their fellow-members in
Christ's
Body, either openly before the whole .congregation or in private. Private confession may be made at any time by
the individual soul in the presence of God. But since we.are bound
together in fellowship one with. another,
the individual is often helped to full confession,
by unburdening: himself to a fellow Christian and receiving: the
benefit of his
counsel and. prayer. That Christian may
be an experienced and devout lay member of the Church, or his own or
some other
pastor, since pastors are specially trained and set apart for this work.
Furthermore
we are warned that our sin is not only against God, but is also an
injury to
the fellowship of the Church. It is
therefore fitting that in seeking the forgiveness of God the assurance
of his
pardon should come to us through the appointed representative of the
Church. This assurance may come to us in
the General
Absolution pronounced by the Priest in the public services of the
Church. And it may also come through
private
absolution given to the individual penitent. The
pastors of the Church are authorized and
bound by the commission received in their ordination (page 706) to
exercise
this ministry when required and. to pronounce absolution in God's name.
For this purpose, a form of: private
confession to. God in the presence of a. priest with the benefit of
counsel and
absolution is here provided.
EXAMINATION
OF CONSCIENCE
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N
preparation for confession we are bidden to examine our life and
conduct by the
rule of God's commandments, as advised in the Exhortation (pages 344-5)
to
those who are about to receive Holy Communion, who must always bear in
mind the
stern warning of Saint Paul to the Corinthian Christians in the
eleventh
chapter of his First Epistle, verses twenty-seven and following.
We
are further advised more personally in the Ministry to; the Sick (page
656) to
examine ourselves, remembering the account which one day we must give
to the
righteous Judge, by whom all men will be judged.
In
such examination we look to our Lord Jesus Christ as to our example of
perfect
manhood, as well as our Mediator and Advocate. We
should therefore examine and see ourselves
in the light of what he himself has taught us. It
is good therefore not only to examine
ourselves by the rule of God's commandments as given in Exodus, chapter
20
(pages 351-2) but also as interpreted—
in our Lord's' Summary of the Law,
recorded in St Matthew's
Gospel, chapter 22, verses 37–40 (pages 352–3), and
in our Lord's own teaching on the
Commandments, given it the
Sermon on the Mount in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 5, and
in the same chapter, 'those
Beatitudes which give us the
true picture of the Christian life (page 627), or
in the exposition of the Commandments
to be found in the
Catechism in the form of our Duty towards God and our Duty towards our neighbour (page. 302).
THE. REQUIREMENTS
OP. TRUE
PENITENCE
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E see in the
second paragraph: of the :first Exortation
in the Lord's Supper (pages 341-2) that the
result of our self-examination should be—.
recognition of our offences by will,
word and deed,
sorrow for our sinfulness, confession
to God,
purpose of amendment off life.
Further it
should lead to—
recognition of our offences, not only
against God, but also
against our neighbours,
reconciliation with them,
readiness to. make
restitution, as
far as we can, for all injuries done by us to any other,
readiness to forgive others for any
offences against
ourselves, which, as we are taught in our Lord's Prayer, is. an
essential. condition of receiving God's
forgiveness.
Of
the general nature of sin we may learn by studying again the General
Confession
in Morning or Evening Prayer (pages 7–8. and 19–20), where. we
are shown sin in the four aspects of error, disobedience, shortcoming
and
spiritual disease. And in the Invitation in the Lord's Supper (page
361) we
learn how essential it is to be in love and charity with our neighbours, if we are sincerely to repent of our
sins
towards God; and further; that we must approach our heavenly Father
with full
trust and confidence in his mercy and love.
These
lessons are all summed up in the last Answer in the Catechism: (page
307).
THE ASSURANCE
OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
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E are assured
that if we truly repent, God will
forgive us. all our sins and restore to us again, not only the
baptismal
innocence which we have lost, but even those graces of Christian life
which he
had bestowed upon us through his Word and Sacraments before our
backsliding. By
absolution he will give us the peace of a quiet conscience and courage
to go
forward in the power of the Holy Spirit.
These
assurances we may find in the Absolutions in Morning and Evening Prayer
(pages
8–9 and 20–1), in the Lord's Supper (page 362), and in the Absolution
in the
Ministry to the Sick, with the Collect which follows (page 657). We can
accept
them with unhesitating confidence, because they are based on the
affirmation of
Scripture declared to us in such passages as the following:
The
four Comfortable Words (pages 362–3).
If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1
Him
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the
.blood of
Jesus . . . let us draw near with a true heart in fulness
of faith. Hebrews 1.
19, 22.
Either of
the following forms may be used, after a Parochial
This form
is specially suitable for Ash Wednesday and
during the
season of Lent. The Prayers (page 327) may also be
used by themselves
as a penitential devotion.
The
Minister shall stand and say,
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RETHREN, ye
are well aware that in accordance
with the godly practice of the Church such persons as stand convicted
of
notorious sin are put under discipline, that their souls may be saved
in the
day of the Lord. It is meet
at all. times, especially in the season of Lent, when
we are all called to penance and mortification, that prayer should be
made for
such offenders, to the end that, having been found truly penitent,
obedient, and
faithful, they may receive the grace of absolution, and again become
partakers
of the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood.
We
ought also at this time to pray for the hardened and impenitent, who
neglect to
enter by the door that has been opened to them, that they may turn to
God with
humble and contrite hearts, sincerely confessing their faults, and.
firmly
purposing to amend. For, if we are mindful of the words of the Apostle
Paul, Ye
are members one of another, we shall consider ourselves bound to endeavour by every means within our power to
bring such
erring members of Christ's Body to repentance, that being converted
from the
error of their way they may be restored to Christian fellowship.
Moreover
this godly discipline serves a further purpose: it
has been ordained not only to bring those
convicted of notorious sin to repentance, but as a warning to others,
that being
admonished by their example they might be the more afraid to offend. Wherefore, that ye may the more diligently
heed this warning, and forasmuch as we are all prone lightly to regard
God's
judgment on sin, it is thought good that at this time (in the presence
of you
all) should be read the general sentences of God's condemnation of
impenitent
sinners, gathered out of Holy Scripture; and that ye should answer, to
every,
sentence, Amen. Lord,, have mercy upon us: To
the intent that, being admonished of the
great indignation of God against sin, 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 judgment of
God to be
due.
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HE. Lord our
God is one Lord:
them that serve
other gods'
God shall judge;
And the
people shall answer and say,
Amen. Lord;
have mercy upon us.
Minister..
Idolaters and all them that worship God's creatures, God shall, judge;
Answer. Amen Lord,
have.mercy;
upon, us.
Minister. Blasphemers
and all them that take God's name in. vain, God
shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Minister. The Lord's day, is holy; them that
profane it, God shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord,
have mercy
upon us.
Minister. Him that honoureth
not his father or his mother, and them that are lawless or seditious,
God shall
judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord,
have mercy
upon us.
Minister. Murderers
and all them that: are malicious or cruel, God shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord,
have mercy
upon us.
Minister. Adulterers
and fornicators
and all unclean persons, God shall judge;
Answer: Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Minister. Robbers and
thieves and them that
defraud, God shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord,
have mercy
upon us.
Minister. False
witnesses and perjurers, liars, slanderers and all
evil speakers, God shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Minister. Covetous
persons and extortioners
and them that grind the faces of the poor, God shall judge;
Answer. Amen. Lord,
have mercy
upon us, and lay not these sins to our charge.
Minister
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OW seeing
that all they are. accursed 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 .repentance. For it is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God and to hear the terrible voice of his most just
judgement which shall be pronounced upon
obstinate sinners
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.
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 then 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 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 they
shall all kneel, and led by the Minister, shall say this Psalm.
Psalm: 51
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AVE mercy
upon me, O God, after.thy
great goodness; *
according to the
multitude of thy
mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my
wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I
acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
4 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 shalt
judge..
5 Behold, I was shapen
in wickedness, .* and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest
truth in the inward parts, * and shalt
make me to
understand wisdom in my secret thoughts.
7. Purge me
with hyssop, and I shall be clean; *
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear
of joy and. gladness, * that the
bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face
from my sins, .* and put out all my
misdeeds.
10 Make me a
clean heart, O God, * and renew a
right spirit within me.
11 Cast me
not away from thy presence, * and
take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me
the comfort of thy help again,
*.and stablish
me with thy
free Spirit.
13 Then shall
I teach thy ways unto the wicked, *
and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me
from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou
that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy
righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my
lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall show thy praise.
16 For thou desirest
no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest
not in burnt-offerings.
17 The
sacrifice of God is, a troubled spirit: *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt
thou not
despise.
18 O be favourable
and. gracious unto Sion; * build thou.the
walls of
19 Then shalt thou be
pleased with the sacrifice.of
righteousness, with the
burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks
upon thine altar.
Glory be to,
the Father, .and to the Son, * and
to the Holy Spirit;
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.
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UR Father,
who 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.
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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.
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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
unworthy creatures, 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 follows, with the Minister
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URN 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, long-suffering, 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,
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HE Lord bless us,, and keep us; the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen.
II. A
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
This
Form may fittingly be used before Easter
and is specially appropriate to Easter Eve,
since the
Sacrament of Holy Baptism as well as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
is
intimately linked with our Lord's death and resurrection. On this account Easter Eve has been one of the
main occasions since the early Church for the Baptism of converts, and
it is fitting
that those who .are already baptized should renew their vows before
going
forward to their Easter Communion.
It may also
be used before other great festivals of the Church, especially Whitsun,
the
Festival of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
This
Form is also suitable for occasions when
individual members of the Church desire to testify publicly to their
faith in
Christ and avow once again the obligations of discipleship.
The Bishop
may order the use of this Form at the public restoration of penitents
who have
been suspended by him from Holy Communion.
A Hymn may
be sung, after which'all: those who desire
to renew
their baptismal vows shall stand before the Priest, who shall say,
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O you desire,
with true penitence for your. past sins and
firm purpose of amendment. of
life, to renew the solemn promises, and vows. which
were made at your Baptism (and. which you affirmed at.your
Confirmation)?
They
shall answer,
That is my
desire.
Then
the Priest may say,
Hear
therefore, the words of
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WE no man any
thing, but to love one another:
for he that loveth another bath fulfilled
the
law. For this, Thou shalt.
not commit adultery, Thou shalt
not: kill, Thou shalt not steal,
Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Thou shah not
covet; and if
there be any other commandment,. it
is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself.. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour;
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the
time; that
now it is, high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation
.nearer
than when we believed. The night is far
spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness,, and let us put on the armour of
light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness,
not, in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
CONFESSION OF
PAST SIN
All
shalt kneel and say,
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LMIGHTY God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of all things, Judge. of all men: We
acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we,
from, time
to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed,
Against thy
Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against
us. We do earnestly repent, And
are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of. them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is
intolerable.
Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive
us all. that is past; And grant that we may
ever, hereafter Serve
and please thee In newness of life, To the honour
and
glory of thy name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Priest. O Lord,, save thy
servants
Answer. That put
their trust in
thee:
Priest. Send unto
them help from above;
Answer. And evermore
mightily
defend them.
Priest. 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.
Priest. O Lord, hear our
prayer;
Answer. And let our
cry come unto
thee.
Priest. Let us pray.
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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.
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HE Almighty
and. merciful Lord grant unto you
pardon and remission of all .your sins, time for true repentance,
amendment of
life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
RENEWAL OF. VOWS
All
shall stand, and the Priest shall say to those who are
to
renew
their vows,
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o you here,
in the presence of God, and of this
congregation, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and
glory. of the world, with all covetous
desires. of
the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that you will not
follow, nor
be led by them?
Answer. I renounce them all.
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O you believe
all the Articles of the Christian
Faith as contained in the Apostles' Creed.
Answer. I believe.
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ILL you
obediently keep God's holy will. and
commandments, and walk in.the
same all the days of your life?
Answer: I will, by
God's help.
The
Priest: shall say,
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LMIGHTY God,
who hath given you this will to do
all these things:
Grant also unto you strength
to perform the same; through Jesus; Christ our.Lord.
Amen.
Then all shall kneel and the Priest shall.
say,
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EEING now,
dearly: beloved brethren, that these
persons have confessed. their past sins, have received the assurance of
God's
pardon, and have been given grace to renew their baptismal vows, let us
give
thanks unto Almighty God, and with one .accord make our prayers unto him,.that these persons may lead the rest of
their lives
according to their holy intentions.
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UR Father,
who 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: For
thine is the kingdom, The
power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
Then.
the
Priest shall say,
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E do not. presume to
come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own
righteousness, but
in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to
gather up the
crumbs under thy Table. But, thou art the same Lord, whose property is
always
to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so.to
eat the Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his Blood,
that our
sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, And our souls washed
through his
most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in
us.. Amen.
After
which the Priest may say,
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BIDE; with
us, 0 Lord, for it is toward evening
and: the day is far spent.. As watchmen look for the morning, so do we
wait for
thee, O Lord. Come to us with the dawning
of the day and
make thyself known unto us in the breaking of bread, for thou art our
God for
ever and ever. Amen.
The
Service shall conclude with. the following:
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HE Almighty
and merciful God, the. Father, he
Son, and the Holy Spirit, .
bless us and keep
us, now and
for evermore. Amen.
which
may be used alone, or
after counsel with a fellow-Christian.
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AVE .mercy
upon me, O God, after thy great
goodness;
according to the multitude of thy mercies do away
mine offences,
(If
desired, the whole of Psalm 5I, as given on page 327, may profitably.
be used.)
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CONFESS
to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy. Spirit,.
that I have sinned in thought, word, and
deed, through
my own grievous fault. And especially I have sinned in these ways . . .
.
Therefore I
pray God to have mercy upon me.
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LORD; . I beseech thee, mercifully hear my prayer,
and spare all
those who confess their sins unto thee; that we whose consciences by sin are accused,. by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through
Christ our
Lord. Amen.
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LMIGHTY God,
have mercy upon me, .forgive me all
my sins, deliver me from all evil, confirm and strengthen, me in. all. goodness, and bring. me
to
everlasting life;.through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen.
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HE Lord bless
us, and keep us: the Lord make his
face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: the Lord lift up the
light of
his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen.
II. A
FORM OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION IN
THE PRESENCE OF A PRIEST
The
Church does not require of any that, in
order to receive forgiveness of sins, he of necessity confess before a
Priest,
but only that every man be honestly assured in his own conscience off
his duty
in this matter.
And
such as shall be satisfied with a private
confession to God in prayer ought not to be offended with those that
use
confession to God before a Priest; nor ought those who think needful
for
themselves to confess their sins before a Priest to be offended with
those that
are satisfied with their confession to God in private prayer together
with the
general confession of the Church; but let all alike remember in all
things to
follow and keep the rule of charity, and not to judge other men's
consciences,
seeing that there is no warrant in God's Word for so doing.
Every
Priest in his exercising of this ministry
of reconciliation, committed by Christ to his Church, is solemnly bound
to
observe secrecy concerning all those matters which are thus confessed
before
him.
At the time
appointed the penitent shall kneel
down in some convenient place in the church, and the Priest shall say
unto him,
|
T |
HE Lord be in
-thy heart and on thy lips,
that thou mayest truly and humbly confess thy sins.
Then shall
the penitent make confession of his sins, using
this form or the
like.
|
I |
CONFESS
to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, before the
whole
company of heaven, and to you, that I have sinned, in thought, word,
and deed,
through my own. most grievous fault. And
especially
(since my last confession) I have sinned in these ways . . . .
For these and
all my other sins which I cannot now
remember, I am; heartily sorry, firmly purpose amendment, and humbly ask:pardon of God,
and of you
counsel and absolution. Wherefore I pray God to have mercy upon me, and
you to
pray for me to the Lord our God.
After
which confession the Priest shall give spiritual counsel and advice, if
needed,
and prescribe some simple act of devotion, commonly known as a penance;
and, if
he is assured of his repentance, he shall absolve the penitent after
this sort:
|
A |
LMIGHTY God. have mercy
upon you, forgave 1 you your. sins,
and bring. you to
everlasting life.
Amen.
|
M |
AY the
Almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you
pardon, absolution,
and remission of all your sins. Amen.
|
O |
UR Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath left power to has
Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in: ham, of
his
great mercy forgave thee than offences And by has authority committed
to me, I
absolve thee from all thy sins, In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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