a burning fiery furnace. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, Ŏ Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. ALMI The Priest says: Let us pray. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, theoneandonly hope of the world, who didst declare the mysteries of this present time by the word of thy prophets; graciously increase the desires of thy people, since without thy inspiration no growth in any grace or virtue is possible for any of thy faithful; Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee. THE BLESSING OF THE FONT If the Church has a baptismal font, the Priest, who is to bless the font, vested in a violet cope, and preceded by the Cross and lighted candles (the Paschal Candle has been lighted) descends to the font with the clergy and assistants properly vested, during which time is sung the following: LIKE The Tract. IKE as the hart desireth the waterbrooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God. V. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? V. My tears have been my meat day and night, while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God? Then the Priest before he enters to bless the font says this Collect standing near it : V. The Lord be with you. ALM Leus pray. The Collect. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, look favorably on the devotion of thy folk as they are being born again, who long for the fount of thy waters : and favorably grant that the thirst of this very faith may hallow, by the mystery of baptism, both soul and body. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth. R. Amen. Then he proceeds to the blessing of the font, saying: V. The Lord be with you. ALMIG Let us pray. The Collect. LMIGHTY and everlasting God, be present at these mysteries of thy great loving-kindness, and send forth the Spirit of adoption, that new peoples whom the font of baptism has begotten unto thee, may be renewed again thereby: that the effectual working of thy power may fulfil what is done by the weakness of our ministry. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. R. Amen. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up unto the Lord. V. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. R. It is meet and right so to do. T is very meet, right, and our all times, and in all places give thanks |