(n) The Hymn of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, on the circumcision of his son. It occurs again in the Gospel for St. John the Baptist's day. (o)" In the house," i.e. " of the family, "a descendant." The Messiah was to be of the lineage of David; and David is often mentioned as a type or figure of him. Thus, Jer. xxiii. 5. post. "Behold the 66 days come, saith the Lord, that I will "raise unto David a righteous Branch; "and a King shall reign and prosper, "and shall execute judgment and justice "in the earth. In his days Judah shall "be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. "And this is the name whereby he shall "be called, the Lord our Righteous"ness." See also Jer. xxx. 8, 9. And one of the common appellations of our Saviour, accordingly, was "the Son of David." .5.6. () Immediately after the Fall, God promised that "the Seed of the woman should bruise the Serpent's head," Gen. iii. 15. intimating, (though obscurely, and in a manner probably not then distinctly understood,) that some future descendant of Eve should so far destroy the effect of Adam's disobedience, as to give mankind the chance of complete forgiveness and eternal life. And when Abraham so far obeyed God's commandment as to take the knife to sacrifice his only son to God, God swore by himself, as a reward for his obedience, that "in his (Abraham's)" seed should all the nations "of the earth be blessed." See Gen. xxii. (q)" Go before." It was to John the v. 9. Baptist that Isaiah refers in ch. xl. 3. "The voice of him that crieth in the "wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the "Lord," &c. And he is the messenger to whom Malachi refers, ch. iii. 1. "Be. "hold I will send my messenger, and he "shall prepare the way before me; and "the Lord whom ye seek (i. e. the "Messiah) shall suddenly come to his "temple," &c. Mal. iv. 5, 6. gives him the appellation of Elijah the prophet, from the correspondence of their characters, and describes his office to be, "to turn "the heart of the fathers to their child. "ren, and the heart of the children to "their fathers," to produce peace, and unanimity. This was to be his mode of preparing a way for the Messiah, by correcting the minds and dispositions of the people. See post 32. note on Matt. xi. 10. (r) "Day-spring." He is called, v.11. Mal. iv. 2. "The Sun of Righteousness, "with healing in his wings." (s)" To give light," &c. Isaiah, v. 12, speaking prophetically of the times of the Messiah, says," the people that "walked in darkness have seen a "great light; they that dwell in the "Land of the Shadow of Death V. 12. Or this Psalm. Psalm c. (u) IN THE EVENING SERVICE, either The Song of Simeon, upon his seeing the LORD, now (x) lettest thou thy O BE joyful in the Lord, all ye ing to thy word. lands serve the Lord with glad- 2 Be ye sure that the Lord 3 O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. 4 For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, &c. upon them hath the Isaiah ix. 2. light shined." (1) "To guide, &c." This was to be the nature of his office, not as the Jewsexpected, to lead them to temporal honours. According to Isaiah xi. 5. "Righteousness " was to be the girdle of his loins." In Isaiah ix, 6. he is called " the Prince of "Peace." And when Haggai foretels his coming to the temple they were then building, he says, "In this place will I give "peace, saith the Lord of hosts." Part of the song of the heavenly host on our Saviour's birth was, "on earth peace." And one of the peculiarities of Christianity is, that it inculcates meekness, forbearance, forgiveness of injuries, and whatever has a tendency to prevent or terminate dissension. (u) A Hymn, supposed to be used by the Priest, at the sacrifice of such peace offerings as were by way of thanksgiving. See Levit. vii. 11, 12. (x) "Now, &c." It had been revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, that he 2 For mine eyes have seen : thy (y) salvation. 3 Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people; 4 To be a (z) light to lighten the (a) Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. : Glory be to the Father, &c. GOD be merciful unto us, and 2 That thy (c) way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations. (a) "The Gentiles." This was the appellation for all who were not Jews. The promises to Abraham and Isaac were, that in their seed, not the Jews only, but all the nations of the earth, should be blessed. See Gen. xii. 3-xviii. 18.xxii. 18.-xxvi. 4.—and xxviii. 14. (b) A prayer for peculiar blessings upon the Jews, to convince other nations, that their God is the only true God, and so to bring those nations in to worship him. (c) That thy way, &c." That by a 2. seeing the great advantages thou givest to thy servants, all nations may turn to thee. See Ps. vii. 7.-Ps. xxxii. 7.— Ps. li. 13. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations rejoice rejoice and be glad for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. 7 God shall bless us and all the ends of the world shall fear him. Glory be to the Father, &c. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under 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 quick and the dead. I believe in (e) the Holy Ghost; The holy (ƒ) Catholic Church; The (g) Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of Sins; The Resurrection of the Body, And the Life everlasting. Amen. (e)" The Holy Ghost," i. e. "The "Holy Spirit." (f)" Holy Catholic Church," that is, not the Church of Rome, but the whole body of true Christians. See post, note on Ephes, xi. 20. that the whole body of true Christians throughout the world constitute one church, and that this church is open to persons of all nations, ages, &c. (g)"The Communion of Saints," i. e. what the Scripture calls "the fellowship" between God and true believers; the participation true believers have in the favour and goodwill of God, and also the common bond or union among Christians, considering them members of that body of which our Saviour Christ is the head, and looking to the common object they have of advancing God's glory, acknowledging his goodness, &c. 9 Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Then the Minister, 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. Amen. Then the Priest, standing up, shall say, O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us; Answ. And grant us thy sal vation. Priest. O Lord, save the King; Answ. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Priest. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness; Answ. And make thy chosen people joyful. Priest. O Lord, save thy people; Answ. And bless thine inheri tance. Priest. Give peace in our time, O Lord; Answ. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. Priest. O God, make clean our hearts within us. Answ. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Then shall follow three Colleas; the first of the Day, and then IN THE MORNING, For Peace. O GOD, who art the author of peace, and lover of concord, in In Choirs and Places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem. Then these five Prayers following are to be read here, except when the Litany is read; and then only the two last are to be read, as they are there placed. A Prayer for the King's Majesty. O LORD our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold most gracious Sovereign Lord, King GEORGE; and so replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to live; strengthen him, that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and finally, after this life, he may attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Royal Family. ALMIGHTY God, the fountain. of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our gracious Queen Charlotte, their Royal Highnesses George Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: Endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlast (b) "Two or three." See Matt. xviii. 19,20. where our Saviour says to his disciples, "If two of you shall agree on "earth touching any thing that they "shall ask, it shall be done for them of ing kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Clergy and People.. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels; Send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace: And that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing: Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer of St. Chrysostom. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace, at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise, that when two or three (b) are gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the (i) Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. my Father which is in heaven: for " where two or three are gathered to"gether in my name, there am I in the "midst of them." (i) i. e. "Spirit." Here endeth the Order of Morning and Evening Prayer. |