Inftead whereof, (until the faid difcipline may be restored again, which is much to be wifhed) it is thought good, that at this time (in the prefence of you all) should be read the general fentences of God's curfing against impenitent finners, gathered out of the feven and twentieth chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of fcripture; and that ye should answer to every fentence, Amen: To the intent that, being admonished of the great indignation of God against finners, ye may the rather be moved to earnest and true repentance; and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from fuch vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths the curfe of God to be due.

URSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten

Cimage, to worship it.

¶ And the People shall answer and say, Amen. made their repentance appear to be fincere. And left any other finners fhould efcape, they had a godly difcipline: all Chriftians came to the bifhop in the beginning of Lent, that is upon Afh-Wednesday; and all who by their own free confeffion, or by others' difcovery, were guilty of any great crimes, had a ftrict penance laid upon them for the forty days of Lent, that the hardships they endured might help to bring the offenders to repentance and falvation, and be a warning to others to be more afraid to offend. But this in the Roman church is turned into a mere ceremony of fprinkling afhes upon all that come to confefs on Afh-Wednesday: And in our church, fince cuftom hath difcontinued the primitive ufage, the only remedy, until the faid difcipline be reftored, (which we may rather with than expect in thefe licentious days) is, to endeavour to bring every man to judge and condemn himself, by fetting before him the curfes due to all fin, and minding him of God's dreadful tribunal, where the impenitent, though they be never cenfured here, fhall certainly be condemned: And it is hoped this may firft bring every finner to true repentance for that which is paft; and fecondly, make them carefully to flee those vices unto which God's curfe is due, as they themselves do here acknowledge.

Curfed, c.] The origin of repeating the curfes, in the manner we now use them, was a pofitive and divine inftitution, twice enjoined by Mofes; and in obedience to which we find Joshua afterwards moft religiously obferving it. Jofephus alfo reckons it amongst those things which the Jews always used to perform. And though the circumftances in the Jewish manner of reciting thefe curfes were purely ceremonial, yet doubtlefs the end for which this duty was prefcribed was truly moral. The end of the people anfwering Amen is not that they fhould curfe themfelves or their neighbours, but merely an affent to what the priest has faid proleptically, or by way of anticipation of thofe confequences which will neceffarily follow the commiffion of fuch and fuch crimes. As if the affertion and refponfe had been, "Accurfed, or condemned of the Lord, will that man be who maketh any carved, &c. Amen"; or we verily believe fuch a confequence will purfue the crine.

Bba

Minifter. Curfed is he that curfeth his father or mother-Anf. Amen.

Min. Curfed is he that removeth his neighbour's landmark.-Anfw. Amen.

Min. Curfed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way.-Anfw. Amen.

Min. Curfed is he that perverteth the judgment of the ftranger, the fatherlefs, and widow.-Anfw. Amen, Min. Curfed is he that fmiteth his neighbour fe cretly.-Anfw. Amen..

Min. Curfed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife.-Anfw. Amen..

Min. Čurfed is he that taketh reward to flay the in nocent.-Anfw. Amen.

Min. Curfed is he that putteth his truft in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord.-Anfw. Amen.

Min. Curfed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adul terers, covetous perfons, idolaters, flanderers, drunkards, and extortioners.-Anfw. Amen.

Minifter.

WOW feeing that all they are accurfed (as the prophet David beareth witnefs) who do err and go aftray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meeknefs of heart; bewailing and lamenting our finful life, acknowledging and confefling our offences, and feeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the axe put unto the root of the trees, fo that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and caft into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: He fhall pour down rain upon the finners, fnares, fire and brimstone, ftorm and tempeft; this fhall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to vifit the wickednefs of fuch as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who fhall be able to endure when he appeareth? His fan is

in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night: and when men fhall fay, Peace, and all things are fafe, then fhall fudden deftruction come upon them, as forrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they fhall not efcape. Then fhall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obftinate finners, through the ftubbornnefs of their heart, have heaped unto themselves; which defpifed the goodness, patience, and long fufferance of God, when he calleth them continually to repentance. Then fhall they call upon me, (faith the Lord) but I will not hear; they fhall feek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counfel, and defpifed my correction. Then fhall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of juftice. O terrible voice of moft juft judg ment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be faid unto them, Go, ye curfed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of falvation lafteth; for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light; that we be not caft into utter darknefs, where is weeping and gnafhing of teeth. Let us not abufe the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promifeth us forgivenefs of that which is paft, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our fins be as red as fcarlet, they fhall be made white as fnow; and though they be like purple, yet they fhall be made white as wool. Turn ye (faith the Lord) from all your wickednefs, and your fin fhall not be your deftruction. Caft away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done: Make you new hearts, and a new fpirit: Wherefore will ye die, O ye houfe of Ifrael; feeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, faith the Lord God? Turn ye then, and ye fhall

live. Although we have finned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our fins. For he was wounded for our offences, and finitten for our wickednefs. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent finners; affuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we fubmit ourfelves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his eafy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowlinefs, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; feeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving: This if we do, Chrift will deliver us from the curfe of the law, and from the extreme maledic tion which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand; and he will fet us on his right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take poffeffion of his glorious kingdom: unto which he vouchfafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen.

Then fhall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Prieft and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the Litany) fhall fay this Pfalm.

Miferere mei, Deus. Pfalm li.

Hanels: according to the multitude of thy mercies do

AVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great good

away mine offences.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickednefs; and cleanse me from my fin.

For I acknowledge my faults; and my fin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I finned, and done this evil in thy fight: that thou mightest be justified in thy faying, and clear when thou art judged.

Behold, I was fhapen in wickednefs: and in fin hath my mother conceived me.

But lo, thou requireft truth in the inward parts: and fhalt make me to understand wisdom fecretly.

Thou fhalt purge me with hyffop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I fhall be whiter than fnow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice.

Turn thy face from my fins: and put out all my mifdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right fpirit within me.

Caft me not away from thy prefence: and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again: and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked: and fin. ners fhall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltinefs, O God, thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue fhall fing of thy righteoufnefs.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth fhall fhew thy praise.

For thou defireft no facrifice, else would I give it thee: but thou delighteft not in burnt-offerings.

The facrifice of God is a troubled fpirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, fhalt thou not despise.

O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; build thou the walls of Jerufalem.

Then fhalt thou be pleased with the facrifice of rightcoufnefs, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then fhall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Anfw. As it was in the beginning, &.

Ο

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Chrift, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

UR 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 trefpaffes, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.