because that, besides this, a fixed order for the celebration of worship, and the ordinances of the Church, ought to bear testimony to the oneness of the living Church with that which is departed; there seemed to be an urgent need to go back to the age of the Reformation, and, by selecting from the ' rituals composed by the Reformers themselves, or at least such as were conceived in their spirit, and sanctioned by the civil authorities, distinguished as these are by their powerful and dignified language. 6 May God in His mercy so watch over this work, as it is filled in all its several parts with the true doctrines of Christendom ("Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and " for ever," "who of God is made unto us wisdom, and right'eousness, and sanctification, and redemption;" Heb. xiii. 8; 1 Cor. i. 30); may He permit it to serve to the honour of His glorious name, and to the furtherance of His kingdom upon earth, and to the lasting blessing of those who in Christ Jesus are called unto everlasting life. 'Berlin, 26th May, 1829. The Spiritual Counsellors of his Majesty's Minister of Spiritual Affairs, and of his Majesty's Consistory of 'the province of Brandenburgh. DR. EHRENBERG. (Signed) (DR. EYLERT. DR. EHRENBERG. Ross. DR. THEREMIN. DR. NICOLAI. DR. BRESCIUS. DR. NEAnder. GILLET. PALMIÉ.'* TABLE OF CONTENTS. Royal Mandate. FIRST PART. Order for the chief celebration of Divine Service on Sundays and Selection from the Ritual. Shorter Ritual with Suffrages. Order for the preparation for the Lord's Supper. A. Suffrages and Collects for Festivals and other occasions. 1. Advent. 2. Christmas. The several titles subjoined in the original are omitted, as being scarcely capable of an intelligible translation into English. 3. New Year. 4. Passion Week. 5. Thursday in Passion Week (known as Green Thursday, i.e. Maundy Thursday). 6. Good Friday. 7. Easter. 8. Fast-day. * 9. Feast of the Ascension. 10. Whitsunday. 11. All Saints (lit. Festival of the Dead). 12. Commemoration of the Peace of Nov. 20, 1815. B. Forms of Confession of Sin, to be used at pleasure. C. Suffrages after Confession. D. Collects before the Epistle. E. Suffrages before the Hallelujah. F. Suffrages after the Confession of Faith. G. Sentences which may be introduced into the General Prayer. 1. Exhortation to Communicants. 2. Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion. Appendix-Choral Music. The three General Confessions of Faith of the Christian Church. Supplement. 1. Address to the Sponsors. 2. Address to the Bridegroom. 3. Address to the Bride. 4. Final Prayer after the Solemnization of Marriage. Appendix of Formularies. Preface. 1. Form of Administration of the Lord's Supper. 2. Form for the Administration of Baptism. 3. Prayer after Baptism. 4. Form for the Celebration of Marriage. Notices and Observations upon sundry Prayers, Formularies, and Suffrages which occur in the most ancient Evangelical Liturgies. * Perhaps some remnant of the Rogation fast. The task of presenting the Ritual and Liturgy of any body of Christians in an abbreviated form, is an enterprise beset with so many perplexities, as to require no little hardihood even to attempt it. Every word in a form of prayer in actual use becomes a sacred treasure in the keeping of those who use it. It is, viewed as a whole, the manner in which a given people present themselves to Almighty God for His blessing; and, according to its character for orthodoxy and fitness, such may be expected to be the degree of acceptance it will find at the throne of God. The Saviour of mankind has revealed the truth, that Almighty God approves of one kind of prayer more than another; He therefore gave His own followers a prayer to be the model of all prayer to the end of time, and He has also cautioned His people, in those prayers which they should themselves compose, to beware of the manner in which the nations of the world prayed. Every Prayer-Book is the social or congregational life of the body who use it; is their united voice, and the expression of their heart, mind, and spirit, as a political whole; and in proportion, therefore, as their mode of thus addressing themselves to Almighty God approves itself to the mind of the all-holy, just, and powerful Being to whom it is spoken, such, we have all good reason, both from revelation, and from the history of the past, to conclude will be His acceptance of it. Every single word, then, in such a document, becomes of value; and it would be obviously very unfair to represent the few extracts we are about to give, as capable of conveying more than merely a proximate idea of the nature and character of the new ServiceBook, as a whole. As we are then compelled by our limited space to make a selection, let this be the ordinary Sunday morning service, as now in use in the different parish churches of Prussia. 'Order for Morning Prayer on Sundays and Festivals, with the Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper. Song of the Congregation. (Introit.) (From the Gesangbuch.) The minister approaches during the singing of the hymn, in a proper dress (priesterlichen ornat), before the altar, and offers 'a silent prayer. This ended, he turns himself to the congrega'tion, who stand up, and, with due reverence, remain standing ' until the prayers, together with the suffrages, are ended, and says In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. . Amen. Our help be in the name of the Lord, who hath made heaven ' and earth. [Here follows either of the Forms for the Confession of Sin.] First Form.-' Beloved in Christ, let us with all lowliness of 'mind confess our unworthiness and our sins before the Lord, ' and say one with another, I, wretched sinner that I am, confess before Thee, Almighty God, that I have often, and greatly sinned, in thought, word, and deed. I acknowledge mine offences, all mine offences; but I truly repent of them from my heart, and am steadfastly 'purposed, with the assistance of Thy grace, to amend my life, and to sin no more. Almighty God have mercy upon you, and forgive you all 'your sins. Confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to his everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ 6 our Lord. Amen. Glory be to the Father, &c. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. 'Lord, have mercy. 'Minister. Glory be to God on high. 'Choir. And peace on earth, and goodwill towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty, Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Lord God, Lamb of God, 'Son of the Father, Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us! Thou that takest away the sins ' of the world, hear our prayer! Thou that sittest at the right ' hand of the Father, have mercy upon us, for Thou only art holy! Thou only art the Lord; Thou only art the Most High; Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father! Amen. Amen. Amen. 'Minister. The Lord be with you! 'People. And with thy spirit. [Here follows one of the Collects: to be chosen by the Minister.] Collect 19th. The Lord our God be merciful unto us, 'and prosper the work of our hands; yea, let Him bless our 'handiwork. 'Minister. O God, upon whose blessing all things depend, 'who art ready to bless all them that put their trust in Thee, 'we beseech Thee that Thou wouldest be with us, and with all 'that we begin, continue, and end in Thy name. Mercifully 'grant us Thy help, and make us fruitful in all good works, to 'do Thy will, and create in us that which is pleasing to Thee, 'through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Minister. The Epistle is written,' &c. (The Epistle is here read.)* [Here follows one of the Sentences appointed to be said.] 'Minister. Not they that hear the word shall be accounted 'just before God, but they that do it shall be accounted righteous; yet, not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy ' name only be the praise. Alleluia. 'Minister. The holy Gospel is written,' &c. (The Gospel is read.) 'Minister. Praised be Thou, O Christ. Amen. People. Amen. • Minister. I believe in God, the Father,' &c. (The Apostles' Creed.)† Choir. Amen. Amen. Amen. ‡ [Here follows one of the Sentences appointed to be said after the Creed.] 12th. Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. Minister. Lift up your hearts, and let us thank the Lord ' our God. • His mercy It is right, very meet, and good, to give thanks unto Thee, Almighty God, at all times, and in all places, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for whose sake Thou hast spared us, forgivest us our sins, and promisest us everlasting life; therefore, with 'angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, we sing 'praise unto Thee, for Thy great glory. Choir. Holy! holy! holy! Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosannah in the highest! 'Praised be He that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosannah ⚫ in the highest! Minister. Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee that Thou wouldest govern Thy Christian Church, with all its 'teachers and servants, by Thy Holy Spirit, that they being kept steadfast in the true doctrine of Thy holy word, true faith may be awakened and confirmed in us, and love towards all men be increased. * The selection of the portion of Scripture to be read for the Epistle and Gospel We have for the Day appears to be left to the choice of the officiating minister. not been able to hear of the existence of any prescript order for the year, as is the case generally with all Catholic Liturgies.-[Ed.] + The Holy Catholic Church is here rendered by the words, a holy general Christian Church (eine allgemeine Christliche Kirche). Instead of the Apostles' Creed, the hymn, We all believe in one God,' (Wir glauben all' an einen Gott,) may be sung by the congregation. NO. XLVII.-N.S. H |