Every thing written in this book, or therein appointed to be read, is to be read aloud, so as to be easily understood of all persons present; and slowly and reverently, as becomes the worship of God. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." Ecclesiastes v. 1, 2. In this Liturgy, most official acts are attributed to the Bishop, to whom alone it primarily belongs, by virtue of his Scriptural Office, to preach the Word, and to administer all Christian Ordinances; but some of these acts may be performed by an Elder or Deacon. The whole Evening and Morning Prayer, the Sunday Service, the Daily Praise, and the Burial of the Dead, as contained in this book, may be conducted, in case of need, even by a Layman. When both a Bishop, or Presbyter, and a Deacon are present, it is most proper that the Scriptures should be read, and the singing conducted, by the Deacon. When the Invitations of the Litany, at Morning and Evening Prayer, are read by the Bishop himself, the words "For all Bishops" are to be used in the place of the words "For our Bishop (N)." The Evening Prayer, in this book, precedes the Morning Prayer, because in the East the day is still reckoned from sunset to sunset. The Sunday, for example, begins at what we commonly call the sunset of Saturday. The Lord's Prayer, and the Prayer for the Church Militant, may be omitted in the Liturgy of the Catechumens, when the Liturgy of the Faithful is immediately to follow, and to be attended by the same persons. The words "from ... day," page 46, line 2, are quoted from Psalm xci. 6, according to the LXX, and may be omitted if misunderstood by persons accustomed to the English version only. CONTENTS. Vespers; or Evening Prayer I Matins; or Morning Prayer. The Liturgy of the Catechumens; or the Public Service for Sundays Lauds; or Daily Praise on Week-days The Order of Baptism . The Ordination of Deacons 13 26 41 45 49 52 54 57 The Liturgy of the Faithful, or the Lord's Supper, according to The Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, according to Saint John The Burial of the Dead 72 78 THE EVENING PRAYER. The bishop begins the Evening Prayer, saying: BLESSED be the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, world without end. Amen. HEAVENLY King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art present every where, and fillest all things, Treasure of blessings, and Giver of life, come and dwell in us; purify us from every imperfection, and save, good Lord, our souls. Here may be sung a Hymn, if Hymn-books have been provided. Then is read the First Lesson, according to the following table, which shows how the whole of the Historical Books of the Old Testament (with the exception of the Chronicles, which are mainly a repetition of Samuel and Kings) may be read in the course of a year, one chapter every day. Before beginning the Lesson, the bishop says: Let us read the Word of God in the [First ar Second] Book of chapter verse B |