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Here the Minister shall examine him concerning

bas Faith, and rehearse the Articles of the Creed,

Dot the believe in God, &c. And the prisoner shall answer,

All this I steadfastly believe. Then shall the Minister examine whether he repeut hum truly of bis sins, and be in charity with all the world, and further admonish him particularly concerning the crimes wherewith he is charged; and exhort him, if he have any scruples, that he would declare the same, and prepare himself for the Holy Communion, against the time that it may be proper to administer it to him. Then, all kneeling, the Minister shall say as fol

Gve but also against your neigh- the hands of the living God, when ns: them to renoncise yourself you can neither fly to his mercy beng ready to make res- to protect you, nor to the merits Jnroe, and satisfaction, according of Christ to cover you in that terin the uttermost of your power, for rible day. ali ingenes and wrongs done by wow to any other: and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand. And to this true repentance and change of mind you must add a lively and steadfast faith, and dependence upon the merits of the death of Christ, with an entire resignation of yourself to the will of God. Except you re-HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; acpent, and believe, we can give you no hope of salvation. But if you cording to the multitude of thy do sincerely repent and believe, mercies, do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my God hath declared, though your sins be as red as scarlet, they shall wickedness; and cleanse me from be made white as snow: though my sin. your wickednesses have gone over your head, yet shall they not be your destruction.

lows, from the 51st Psalm:

For I acknowledge my faults; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, We exhort you therefore in the and done this evil in thy sight; that name of God, and of his dear Son thou mightest be justified in thy Jesus Christ our Saviour, and as saying, and clear when thou art you tender your own Salvation, to judged.

take good heed of these things in Behold, I was shapen in wick-
time, while the day of salvation edness; and in sin hath my mother
lasteth; for the night cometh, when conceived me.

no man can work. While you But lo, thou requirest truth in the
have the light, believe in the light, inward parts; and shalt make me
and walk as children of the light, to understand wisdom secretly.
that you be not cast into outer
Thou shalt purge me with hys-

when the door shall be shut; and wash me, and I shall be whiter
darkness; that you may not knock, sop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt
cry for mercy, when it is the time than snow.
of justice. Now you are the ob-

Thou shalt make me hear of

ject of God's mercy, if by repent-joy and gladness; that the bones ance and true faith you turn unto which thou hast broken may re

him: but if you neglect these joice.

things, you will be the object of

Turn thy face from my sins;

you may claim the merits of Christ;

his justice and vengeance: Now and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God;

but if you die in your sins, his suf- and renew a right spirit within me.

ferings will tend to your greater condemnation.

Cast me not away from thy

sider in this your day, how fear-Spirit from me. ful a thing it will be to fall into O beloved, con- presence; and take not thy Holy

O give me the comfort of thy

help again; and stablish me with DEARLY beloved, it hath

thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways justice, to bring you under the senAlmighty God, in his unto the wicked; and sinners shall tence and condemnation of the law: be converted unto thee. You are shortly to suffer death in Deliver me from blood-guilti-such a manner, that others, warned ness, O God, thou that art the by your example, may be the more God of my health; and my tongue afraid to offend; and we pray God, shall sing of thy righteousness. that you may make such use of Thou shalt open my lips, O your punishments in this world, Lord; and my mouth shall show that your soul may be saved in the thy praise. world to come.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, Wherefore we come to you in else would I give it thee; but thou the bowels of compassion; and, delightest not in burnt-offerings. being desirous that you should The sacrifice of God is a avoid presumption on the one hand, troubled Spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not

despise.

O

T Then the Minister shall say,

and despair on the other, shall plainly lay before you the wretchedness of your condition, and deLet us pray. clare how far you ought to depend on the mercies of God, and the LORD, we beseech thee, merits of our Saviour. Consider mercifully hear our prayers, then seriously with yourself, in all and spare all those who confess appearance the time of your dissotheir sins unto thee; that they, lution draweth near; your sins whose consciences by sin are ac- have laid fast hold upon you; you cused, by thy merciful pardon may are soon to be removed from among be absolved, through Christ our men by a violent death; and you Lord. Amen. shall fade away suddenly like the

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O GOD, whose mercy is ever-grass, which in the morning is

lasting, and power infinite; look down with pity and compas-evening is cut down, dried up, and green and groweth up, but in the sion upon the sufferings of this thy withered. After you have thus servant; and whether thou visitest finished the course of a sinful and for trial of his patience, or punish-miserable life, you shall appear ment of his offences, enable him by before the Judge of all flesh; who, thy grace cheerfully to submit him- as he pronounces blessings on the self to thy holy will and pleasure. righteous, shall likewise say, with Go not far from those, O Lord, a terrible voice of most just judgwhom thou hast laid in a place of ment, to the wicked, Go, ye acdarkness, and in the deep; and cursed, into the fire everlasting, forasmuch as thou hast not cut him prepared for the devil and his anoff suddenly, but chastenest him as a father; grant that he, duly congels. sidering thy great mercies, may be near this dreadful sentence: it is Your sins have brought you too unfeignedly thankful, and turn un- therefore your part and duty, my to thee with true repentance and brother, humbly to confess and besincerity of heart, through Jesus wail your great and manifold ofChrist our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for Persons under Sentence of Death.

¶When a Criminal is under Sentence of Death,
the Minister shall proceed, immediately after the
Collect, O God, who sparest, &c. to exhort him
after this Form, or other like:
L 2

fences, and to repent you truly of your sins, as you tender the eternal salvation of your soul.

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Be not deceived with a vain

Here the Minister shall examine him concerning

his Faith, and rehearse the Articles of the Creed, Dost thou believe in God, &c. And the prisoner shall answer,

All this I steadfastly believe. Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world, and further admonish him particularly concerning the crimes wherewith he is charged; and exhort him, if he have any scruples, that he would declare the same, and prepare himself for the Holy Communion, against the time that it may be proper to administer it to him. Then, all kneeling, the Minister shall say as follows, from the 51st Psalm :

God, but also against your neigh-the hands of the living God, when bours; then to reconcile yourself you can neither fly to his mercy to them, being ready to make res- to protect you, nor to the merits titution and satisfaction, according of Christ to cover you in that terto the uttermost of your power, for rible day. all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other: and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, as you would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand. And to this true repentance and change of mind you must add a lively and steadfast faith, and dependence upon the merits of the death of Christ, with an entire resignation of yourself to the will of God. Except you re- AVE mercy upon me, O God, pent, and believe, we can give you after thy great goodness; acno hope of salvation. But if you cording to the multitude of thy do sincerely repent and believe, mercies, do away mine offences. God hath declared, though your Wash me thoroughly from my sins be as red as scarlet, they shall wickedness; and cleanse me from be made white as snow; though my sin. your wickednesses have gone over your head, yet shall they not be your destruction.

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For I acknowledge my faults; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, We exhort you therefore in the and done this evil in thy sight; that name of God, and of his dear Son thou mightest be justified in thy Jesus Christ our Saviour, and as saying, and clear when thou art you tender your own Salvation, to judged.

take good heed of these things in Behold, I was shapen in wicktime, while the day of salvation edness; and in sin hath my mother lasteth; for the night cometh, when conceived me.

no man can work. While you But lo, thou requirest truth in the have the light, believe in the light, inward parts; and shalt make me and walk as children of the light, to understand wisdom secretly. that you be not cast into outer Thou shalt purge me with hysdarkness; that you may not knock, sop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt when the door shall be shut; and wash me, and I shall be whiter cry for mercy, when it is the time than snow.

Turn thy face from my sins; and put out all my misdeeds.

of justice. Now you are the ob- Thou shalt make me hear of ject of God's mercy, if by repent- joy and gladness; that the bones ance and true faith you turn unto which thou hast broken may rehim but if you neglect these joice. things, you will be the object of his justice and vengeance: Now you may claim the merits of Christ: but if you die in your sins, his sufferings will tend to your greater condemnation. O beloved, consider in this your day, how fearful a thing it will be to fall into

Make me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy

help again; and stablish me with DEARLY beloved, it hath

thy free Spirit.

Almighty God, in his Then shall I teach thy ways justice, to bring you under the senunto the wicked; and sinners shall tence and condemnation of the law: be converted unto thee.. You are shortly to suffer death in

Deliver me from blood-guilti-such a manner, that others, warned ness, O God, thou that art the by your example, may be the more God of my health; and my tongue afraid to offend; and we pray God, shall sing of thy righteousness. that you may make such use of Thou shalt open my lips, O your punishments in this world, Lord; and my mouth shall show that your soul may be saved in the thy praise. world to come.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, Wherefore we come to you in else would I give it thee; but thou the bowels of compassion; and, delightest not in burnt-offerings. being desirous that you should The sacrifice of God is a avoid presumption on the one hand, troubled Spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

and despair on the other, shall plainly lay before you the wretchedness of your condition, and declare how far you ought to depend on the mercies of God, and the LORD, we beseech thee, merits of our Saviour. Consider

T Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

O mercifully hear our prayers, then seriously with yourself, in all and spare all those who confess appearance the time of your dissotheir sins unto thee; that they, lution draweth near; your sins whose consciences by sin are ac- have laid fast hold upon you; you cused, by thy merciful pardon may are soon to be removed from among be absolved, through Christ our men by a violent death; and you Lord. Amen. shall fade away suddenly like the O GOD, whose mercy is everlasting, and power infinite; green and groweth up, but in the grass, which in the morning is look down with pity and compas-evening is cut down, dried up, and sion upon the sufferings of this thy withered. After you have thus servant; and whether thou visitest finished the course of a sinful and for trial of his patience, or punish-miserable life, you shall appear ment of his offences, enable him by before the Judge of all flesh; who, thy grace cheerfully to submit him- as he pronounces blessings on the self to thy holy will and pleasure. righteous, shall likewise say, with Go not far from those, O Lord, a terrible voice of most just judgwhom thou hast laid in a place of ment, to the wicked, Go, ye acdarkness, and in the deep; and cursed, into the fire everlasting, forasmuch as thou hast not cut him prepared for the devil and his anoff suddenly, but chastenest him as a father; grant that he, duly considering thy great mercies, may be near this dreadful sentence: it is Your sins have brought you too unfeignedly thankful, and turn un- therefore your part and duty, my to thee with true repentance and brother, humbly to confess and besincerity of heart, through Jesus wail your great and manifold ofChrist our Lord. Amen. fences, and to repent you truly of your sins, as you tender the eternal salvation of your soul.

Prayers for Persons under Sentence of Death.

¶When a Criminal is under Sentence of Death,
the Minister shall proceed, immediately after the
Collect, O God, who sparest, &c. to exhort him
after this Form, or other like:/
L 2

gels.

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Be not deceived with a vain

Here the Minister shall examine him concerning

his Faith, and rehearse the Articles of the Creed, Dost thou believe in God, &c. And the Criminal shall answer,

and presumptuous expectation of perfect. And fail not earnestly to God's favour, nor say within your-endeavour and pray for this blessself, Peace, Peace, where there is ed temper and composure of mind. no peace; for there is no peace, So may you cast yourself with an saith my God, to the wicked. God entire dependence upon the meris not mocked; he is of purer eyes cies of God, through the merits of than to behold iniquity; and with- our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus out holiness no man shall see the Christ. Lord. On the other hand, despair not of God's mercy, though trouble is on every side; for God shutteth not up his mercies for ever in displeasure: But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do not either way abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him.

All this I steadfastly believe.

Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, exhorting him to a particular Confession of the sin for which he is condemned; and upon Confession, he shall instruct him what satisfaction ought to be made to those whom he has offended thereby; and if he know. eth any combinations in wickedness, or any evil practices designed against others, let him be adinonished to the utmost of his power to discover and prevent them.

After his Confession, the Minister shall declare

to him the pardoning mercy of God, in the Form which is used in the Communion Service.

After which shall be said the Collect following,

HOLY Jesus, who of thine Since therefore you are soon to infinite goodness, didst acpass into an endless and unchange- cept the conversion of a sinner on able state, and your future happi- the cross; open thine eye of merness or misery depends upon the cy upon this thy servant, who few moments which are left you; desireth pardon and forgiveness, I require you strictly to examine though in his latest hour he turnyourself, and your estate both to eth unto thee. Renew in him wards God and towards man; and whatsoever hath been decayed by let no worldly consideration hin- the fraud and malice of the devil, der you from making a true and or by his own carnal will and frailfull confession of your sins, and ness. Consider his contrition; giving all the satisfaction which accept his repentance; and forasis in your power to every one whom much as he putteth his full trust you have wronged or injured; that only in thy mercy, impute not unyou may find mercy at your hea- to him his former sins, but strengthvenly Father's hand, for Christ's en him with thy blessed Spirit; sake, and not be condemned in and when thou art pleased to take the dreadful day of judgment. Lastly, beloved, submit your-vour: This we beg through thy him hence, take him unto thy faself with Christian resignation to merits, O Lord, our Saviour and the just judgment of God, which our Redeemer. Amen. your own crimes have brought upon you, and be in charity with all men; being ready sincerely to forgive all such as have offended unto thee for succour in behalf of you, not excepting those who have this thy servant, who is now under prosecuted you even unto death: the sentence of condemnation. And, though this may seem a hard The day of his calamity is at saying, yet know assuredly, that hand, and he is accounted as one without it your charity is not yet of those who go down into the

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Then the Minister shall say, FATHER of mercies and

God of all comfort; we fly

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