Church of England Proposed Prayer Book: A Commination (1928)

Title and Opening Address

A Commination, or Denouncing of God’s Anger and Judgements against Sinners, with certain Prayers, to be used on the First Day of Lent, and at other times, as the Ordinary shall appoint.

[The proposed book prints the 1662 Commination (beginning "After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended according to the accustomed manner") unchanged, and then the following Alternative Commination; "The Prayers" serve both.]

AN ALTERNATIVE COMMINATION

¶ The Priest, standing in the Reading-Pew or Pulpit, shall 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.

Wherefore, lest by disuse of the said discipline God’s judgement upon sin be lightly regarded, it is thought good that at this time (in the presence of you all) it should be declared that God will surely judge them that transgress his holy Commandments; and that ye, imploring his mercy, should answer Amen in token that ye assent and submit to his righteous condemnation: 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 judgement of God to be due.

The Sentences

The 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 all evil speakers, liars and slanderers, 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.

The Exhortation

Minister. NOW seeing that all they are condemned 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.

Psalm 51

THE PRAYERS

¶ 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 throughly 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 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 oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

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.

The Lesser Litany, Lord's Prayer and Suffrages

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.

The Prayers

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.

Turn thou us

¶ 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, 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.

The Blessing

¶ Then the Minister alone shall say,

THE 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.