Scottish Prayer Book: Morning and Evening Prayer (1637)

Opening Rubrics and Sentences

THE ORDER

where and how Morning

and Evening prayer shall

be said or sung

THE Morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in the accustomed place of the Church, Chapel, or Chancell, except it bee otherwise determined by the Ordinarie of the place; and the Chancels shall remaine as they have done in times past.

AND here is to be noted, that the Presbyter or Minister at the time of the Communion, and at other times in his Ministration, shall use such Ornaments in the Church, as are prescribed, or shall be by his Majesty, or his Successors, according to the Act of Parliament provided in that behalf.

AN ORDER FOR

MORNING PRAYER

daily throughout the year.

AT the beginning both of Morning Prayer, and likewise of Evening Prayer, the Presbyter or Minister shall reade with a loud voyce some one of these Sentences of the Scriptures that follow. And then he shall say that which is written after the said Sentences.

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will ye die? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn your selves and live.

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. Neither have we obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

He that covereth his sinnes shall not prosper; but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

O Lord, correct me, but with judgement; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

If we say that we have no sinne, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us.

The Exhortation

DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places, to acknowledge and confesse our manifold sins and wickednesse, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, but confesse them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart: to the end that wee may obtain forgivenesse of the same by his infinite goodnesse and mercy. And although we ought at all times, humbly to knowledge 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 heare his most holy Word, and to aske those things which bee requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as be here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voyce, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me:

The General Confession

¶ A General Confession To be said by all that are present after or with the Deacon or Presbyter, all humbly 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, wee have left undone those things which wee ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done: and there is no health in us: but thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders: Spare thou them, O God, which confesse their faults: Restore thou them that be penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankinde in Christ Jesu our Lord: and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name, and the salvation of our own souls. Amen.

The Absolution

¶ The Absolution or Remission of sinnes to be pronounced by the Presbyter alone, he standing up and turning himself to the people, but they still remaining humbly upon their knees.

ALMIGHTY GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickednesse and live: and who hath given power and commandement to the Presbyters of his Church the Ministers of his gospel, to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins: The same Almighty GOD pardoneth and absolveth all them which truly repent, and unfeignedly beleeve his holy gospel. Wherefore wee beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy Spirit, that wee may receive from him absolution from all our sins, 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 eternal joy: through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The people shall answer. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Then shall the Presbyter or Minister begin the Lord's Prayer with a loud voice. And in this, and in all other places of the Liturgy, where the last words, for thine is the kingdom, &c. are expressed, the Presbyter shall reade them. But in all places where they are not expressed, he shall end at the words, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome 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 trespasse against us. And leade us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Opening Versicles

Then likewise he shall say.

O Lord open thou our lips.

Answer. And our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Presbyter. O God make speede to save us.

Answer. O Lord make haste to helpe us.

¶ Then all of them standing up, the Presbyter shall say or sing.

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.

Praise ye the Lord.

Answer. The Lords Name be praised.

The Venite

¶ Then shall be said or sung this Psalme following.

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God: and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

To day if yee will heare his voyce, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wildernesse.

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Fourty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do erre in their heart, and they have not known my wayes.

Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

The Psalms

¶ Then shall follow certain Psalms in order as they be appointed in a table made for that purpose, except there be proper Psalms appointed for that day. And at the end of the Venite, and also at the end of every psalm through out the year, and likewise in the end of Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis, shall be repeated, Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne: and to the holy Ghost.

And the people shall answer,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. Every one standing up at the same.

The First Lesson

¶ Then shall be read two Lessons distinctly with a loud voyce that the people may hear. The first of the Old Testament, the second of the New, like as they be appointed by the Kalendar, except there be proper Lessons assigned for that day. The Presbyter or Minister that readeth the Lesson standing and turning him so, as he may best be heard of all such as be present. And before every Lesson, the Presbyter or Minister shall say thus, The first, second, third, or fourth chapter of Genesis, or Exodus, Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, or other like, as is appointed in the Kalendar. And in the end of every chapter he shall say, Here endeth such a chapter of such a book.

And (to the end the people may the better hear) in such places where they do sing, there shall the Lessons be sung in a plaine tune after the manner of distinct reading, and likewise the Epistle and Gospel.

After the first Lesson shall be said or sung Te Deum laudamus, in English, daily through the whole year.

Te Deum

WE praise thee, O God: wee knowledge 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 Cherubin and Seraphin: continually doe 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 knowledge thee:

The Father: of an infinite Majesty.

Thine honorable, true: and only Sonne:

Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.

Thou art the King of glory: O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Sonne: of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhorre the Virgin's wombe.

When thou haddest overcome the sharpnesse of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest on 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.

Or this Psalm.

THe Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to ly down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Names sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, &c.

The Second Lesson

And after the second Lesson shall be used and said, Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, in English, as followeth.

Benedictus

BLessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised up an horn of 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 fathers, and to remember his holy covenant:

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us,

That we being delivered out of the hands 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, by 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, 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.

Or else c. Psalm.

MAke a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands,

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his Name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth to all generations.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c.

As it was in the beginning, is now, &c.

The Creed

Then shall be said or sung the Creed by the Presbyter or Minister and the people standing.

I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Ponce 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 quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholick Church, the Communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lesser Litany and Suffrages

And after that, these Prayers following, as well at Evening Prayer as at Morning Prayer, all devoutly kneeling, the Presbyter or Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice.

The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

The Presbyter. ¶ Let us pray.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Then the Presbyter, Clerks, and People, shall say the Lord's Prayer, with a loud voice.

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, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Then the Presbyter standing, up shall say.

O Lord shew thy mercy upon us.

Answer. And grant us thy salvation.

Presbyter. O Lord save our King.

Answer. And mercifully hear us, when we call upon thee.

Presbyter. Endue thy Presbyters and Ministers with righteousness.

Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful.

Presbyter. O Lord save thy people.

Answer. And bless thine Inheritance.

Presbyter. Give peace in our time, O Lord.

Answer. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

Presbyter. O God make clean our hearts within us.

Answer. And take not thy holy Spirit from us.

The Collects

¶ Then shall follow three Collects: The first of the day, which shall be the same that is appointed at the Communion. The second, for peace. The third, for grace to live well. And the two last Collects shall never alter, but daily bee said at Morning prayer throughout all the year, as followeth.

The second Collect for peace.

O GOD, which art authour of peace, and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternall life, whose service is perfect freedome: defend us thy humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies, that wee surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The third Collect for grace

O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, which 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 sinne, neither runne into any kinde of danger: but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do alwayes that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayers

¶ After this Collect ended, followeth the Letany: and if the Letany be not appointed to be said that morning, then shall next be said the prayer for the Kings Majestie, with the rest of the prayers following at the end of the Letany, and the Benediction.

Last page of Morning Prayer

Opening Rubrics and Sentences

An order for Evening Prayer

throughout the year

The Lord's Prayer

After the sentences, exhortation, confession, and absolution, as is appointed at morning prayer, the Presbyter shall say, or sing,

OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdome 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 wee forgive them that trespasse against us. And leade us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil, for thine is the knigdome, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Opening Versicles

Then likewise he shall say or sing.

O Lord open thou our lips.

Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Presbyter. O God make speed to save us.

Answer. Lord make haste to help us.

Presbyter. Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. All standing up, as often as it is repeated.

Praise ye the Lord.

Answer. The Lords Name be praised.

The Psalms

¶ Then Psalmes in order as they be appointed in the Table for Psalmes, except there be proper Psalmes appointed for that day. Then a Lesson of the old Testament, as it is appointed likewise in the Kalender, except there be proper Lessons appointed for that day. After that, the Magnificat, in English, as followeth.

Magnificat

MY soul doth magnifie the LORD, and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden: For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation.

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 seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent emptie away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne: and to the holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Or else this Psalme.

Cantate Domino

O SING unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoyce, and sing praise.

Sing unto the Lord with the harp: with the harp, and the voice of a psalme.

With trumpets and sound of cornet: make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea roar, and the fulnesse thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein.

Let the flouds clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together,

Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousnesse shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne: and to the holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

The Second Lesson

Then a Lesson of the new testament. And after that, Nunc dimittis, in English, as followeth.

Nunc dimittis

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

For mine eyes have seene thy salvation:

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people:

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne: and to the holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Or else this Psalme.

Deus misereatur

GOD be mercifull unto us, and blesse us: and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.

That thy way may bee known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and governe the nations upon earth. Selah.

Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yeeld her increase; and God, even our own God, shall blesse us.

God shall blesse us; and all the ends of the earth shall feare him.

Glory be to the Father, etc.As it was in the, etc.

The Creed

¶ Then shall follow the Creede, with other prayers, as is before appointed at Morning prayer, after Benedictus, and with three Collects, First of the day. The second of peace. The third for aide against all perils, as hereafter followeth: which two last Collects shall be daily said at Evening Prayer without alteration.

The Collects

¶ The second Collect at Evening prayer

O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, an all just works do proceede: give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the feare of our enemies, may passe our time in rest and quietnesse, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

¶ The third Collect, for aid against all perils

LIGHTEN our darknesse we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy onely Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then shall follow the prayer for the Kings Majesty, with the rest of the prayers at the end of the Letany, to the Benediction.

Quincunque vult.

In the feasts of Christmas, the Epiphany, Saint Matthias, Pasch or Easter, the Ascension, Pentecost, Saint John Baptist, Saint James, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Matthew, Saint Simon and Jude, Saint Andrew, and Trinity Sunday, shall be sung or said, immediately after Benedictus, this confession of our Christian faith, the Presbyter and all the people standing.

WHosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholique faith.

Which Faith except everyone doe keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholique faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.

Neither confounding the persons: nor dividing the substance.

For there is one person of the Father, another of the Sonne: and another of the holy Ghost.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equall, the majesty coeternall.

Such as the Father is, such is the Sonne: and such is the holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Sonne uncreate: and the holy Ghost uncreate.

The Father incomprehensible, the Sonne incomprehensible e: and the holy Ghost incomprehensible.

The Father eternall, the Sonne eternall: and the holy Ghost eternall.

And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternall.

As also there be not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is almighty, the Sonne almighty: and the holy Ghost almighty.

And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Sonne is God: and the holy Ghost is God.

And yet are they not three Gods: but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Sonne Lord: and the holy Ghost Lord.

And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.

For like as wee be compelled by the Christian veritie: to acknowledge every person by himselfe to be God and Lord;

So are we forbidden by the Catholique Religion: to say, there be three Gods or three Lords.

The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten.

The Sonne is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.

The holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers, one Sonne, not three Sonnes: one holy Ghost, not three holy Ghosts.

And in this Trinity, none is afore or after other: none is greater, nor lesse then another.

But the whole three persons: bee coeternall together: and coequall.

So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped.

He therefore that would be saved: let him thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Jesu Christ.

For the right faith is, that we beleeve and confesse: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sonne of God, is God and man.

God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and man of the substance of his mother, born in the world.

Perfect God, and perfect man: of a reasonable soul, and human flesh subsisting.

Equall to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, touching his manhood.

Who although he be God and man: yet he is not two, but one Christ.

One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking of the manhood into God.

One altogether, not by confusion of substance: but by unity of person.

For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so is he who is God and man is one Christ.

Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell: rose again the third day from the dead.

He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty: from whence hee shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works.

And they that have done good, shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholike faith: which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne: and to the holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Thus endeth the Order of Morning and Evening prayer, through the whole year.