Then the Priest shall say the Evening Thankfgiving.

God, who art without beginning and without end, the maker and governour of all things by Christ, the God and Father of him before all things, the Lord of the Spirit, and the King of all intellectual and sensible beings; who hast made the day for works of light, and the night to give rest to our weakness, for the day is thine and the night is thine, thou hast prepared the light and the fun : Do thou now, O Lord, thou lover of mankind and fountain of all good, mercifully accept this our evening thanksgiving: Thou, who hast led us through the length of the day, and brought us to the beginning of the night, keep and preserve us by thy Christ; grant that we may pass this evening in peace, and this night without fin, and vouchsafe to bring us to eternal life by thy Christ; through whom to Thee in the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and adoration, world without end. Amen.

Then shall the Deacon turn to the People, and Say,

Bow down your heads for the benediction. Then the Priest shall say the prayer of benediction, the Deacon kneeling, both he and the People reverently bowing their heads.

God of our fathers and Lord of mercy, who haft created man by thy Wisdom a rational animal, and of all thy creatures upon earth dearest unto thee, and haft given him dominion over the earth

earth; who hast also by thy will constituted princes and priests, the former for the security of life, the latter for the regularity of worship: Be pleased now, O Lord Almighty, to bow down and shew the light of thy countenance upon thy people, who bow the neck of their hearts before thee; and bless them through Christ, by whom thou hast enlightened them with the light of knowledge, and revealed thy self unto them; with whom to Thee, and the Holy Ghost the Comforter, all worthy adoration is due from every rational and holy nature, world without end. Amen.

And after a pause the Deacon shall stand up and Say to the People,

Depart in peace.

Here endeth the Order for Evening Prayer throughout the Year.

PRAYERS

PRAYERS

FOR THE

Catechumens, the Energumens, the Candidates for Baptism, and the Penitents.

Prayers for the Catechumens, or unbaptized persons who are receiving instructions in Chriftianity.

The Deacon being turned to the People, shall fay, YE

E Catechumens pray: Here the Catechumens are

to kneel down, on Sundays and all days without exception: And let us all beseech God for them, that he who is good and the lover of mankind, would mercifully hear their prayers and fupplications, and accept their petitions; that he would assist them, and grant them the defires of their hearts, as may be most expedient for them; that he would reveal unto them the gospel of his Christ, give them illumination and understanding, and instruct them in the knowledge of God and of divine things; that he would teach them his precepts and judgments, implant in them his holy and saving fear, and open the ears of their hearts that they may exercise themselves in his law day and night; that he would strengthen them in piety, and unite them to and number them with his holy flock, vouchsafeing ing them the laver of regeneration, the garment of incorruption, of immortal life; that he would de liver them from all ungodliness, and not fuffer the Adversary to have any advantage against them, but cleanse them from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and dwell in them, and walk with them by his Chrift; that he would bless their going out and their coming in, and direct all their designs and purposes to their good. Farther yet, let us earnestly put up our fupplications for them, that they obtaining remiffion of their fins by the initiation of baptism, may be thought worthy of the holy mysteries, and may conftantly continue in the communion of Saints.

People. Lord, have mercy upon them: We beseech thee to hear them, good Lord.

Deac. Bow down your heads, ye Catechumens, and receive the Benediction.

Then shall the Priest say the following prayer, all Standing but the Catechumens, who are to bow their heads.

Almighty God, unbegotten and inaccessible, the

only true God, the God and Father of thy Christ, thine only begotten Son, the God of the Comforter, and the Lord of all, who by Christ didst make Learners become Teachers for the propagation of religion and piety: Do thou now look down upon these thy fervants, who are receiving inftructions in the gofpel of thy Christ. Give them a new heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within them, that they may both know and do thy will with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Grant that they may be initiated by sacred baptifm, unite them to thy holy church, and vouchsafe to make them

1

partakers of thy divine mysteries, through Jesus Christ our hope, who died for them; by whom glory and adoration be to Thee in the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Then the Deacon being turned to the Catechumens, Shall fay,

Depart, ye Catechumens.

Prayers for the Energumens, or persons pofsessed by evil spirits.

The Deacon being turned towards the People, shall say, VE Energumens vexed with unclean spirits, pray:

Here the Energumens are to kneel down, on Sundays and all days without exception: And let us all earnestly pray for them, that God the lover of mankind would by Christ rebuke the unclean and wicked spirits, and deliver his fupplicants from the dominion of the Adversary. Let us pray, that he who rebuked the legion of dæmons, and the prince of wickedness the devil, would now also rebuke these apostates from goodness, would deliver his own workmanship from the power of Satan, and cleanse his creatures whom he hath made with great wif dom.

People. Lord, have mercy upon them: Save them, O God, and raise them up by thy power. Deac. Bow down your heads, ye Energumens, and receive the Benediction.

Then