THANKSGIVING OF WOMEN AFTER CHILD-BIRTH,

COMMONLY CALLED,

THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN.

The Woman, at the usual time after her Delivery, shall come into the Church decently apparelled, and there shall kneel down in some convenient place, as hath been accustomed, or as the Or dinary shall direct: And then the Priest shall say unto her, ORASMUCH as it hath | tion and call upon the Name pleased Almighty God of his of the Lord. goodness to give you safe deliverance, and hath preserved you in the great danger of Child-birth; you shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God, and say,

FOR

I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people: In the courts of the Lord's house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to

(T Then shall the Priest say the the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

cxvith Psalm,)

Dilexi quoniam.

I
AM well pleased that the
Lord hath beard the voice of

my prayer;

That he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The snares of death compassed me round about and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.

I found trouble and heaviness, and I called upon the Name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple I was in misery, and he helped me.

Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul for the Lord hath rewarded thee.

And why? thou hast delivered my sou! from death mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the Lord: in the land of the living.

I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled : I said in my haste, All men are liars.

What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?

I will receive the cup of salva

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Or, Psalm exxvii. Nisi Dominus.

XCEPT the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it.

Except the Lord keep the city: the watchman waketh but in vain.

It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Lo, children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.

Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant even so are the young children.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Then the Priest shall say,

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

A COMMINATION,

OR DENOUNCING OF GOD'S ANGER AND JUDGEMENTS AGAINST SINNERS,

With certain Prayers, to be used on the first Day of Lent, and at other times, as the Ordinary shall appoint.

After Morning Prayer, the Litany ended according to the accustomed manner, the Priest shall, in the Reading-Pew or Pulpit, say,

RETHREN, in the Primitive] be moved to earnest and true re

pentance; and may walk more warily in these, dangerous days; fleeing from such vices, for which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to be due.

Bchurch there was a godly dis cipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as stood convicted of notorious sin were put to open penance, and, punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of theeth any carved or molten

perverteth the judgement of the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife.

Answer. Amen.

travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves; which despised the goodness, patience, and long-suf ferance of God, when he calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me, (saith the Lord,) but I will not hear; they shall seek 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 counsel, and despised my correc Minister. Cursed are the un- tion. Then shall it be too late to merciful, fornicators, and adul-knock when the door shall be terers, covetous persons, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners.

Minister. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the innocent. Answer. Amen. Minister, Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord. Answer. Amen.

Answer. Amen.

Minister.

and

shut; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of jus tice. O terrible voice of most just judgement, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, Norsed pro ted and OW seeing that all they are into the fire everlasting, which is accursed (as the prophet Da- prepared for the devil and his vid beareth witness), who do err angels. Therefore, brethren, take and go astray from the command- we heed betime, while the day ments of God; let us (remem- of salvation lasteth; for the night bering the dreadful judgement cometh, when none can work. hanging over our heads, and al- But let us, while we have the ways ready to fall upon us) return light, believe in the light, and unto our Lord God, with all con- walk as children of the light; that trition and meekness of heart; we be not cast into utter darkbewailing and lamenting our sin-ness, where is weeping and gnashful life, acknowledging and con-ing of teeth. Let us not abuse fessing our offences, and seeking the goodness of God, who calleth to bring forth worthy fruits of us mercifully to amendment, and penance. For now is the ax put of his endless pity promiseth us unto the root of the trees, so that forgiveness of that which is past, every tree that bringeth not forth if with a perfect and true heart good fruit is hewn down, and cast we return unto him. For though into the fire. It is a fearful thing our sins be as red as scarlet, they to fall into the hands of the living shall be made white as snow; and God: he shall pour down rain though they be like purple, yet upon the sinners, snares, fire and they shall be made white as wool. brimstone, storm and tempest; Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all this shall be their portion to drink. your wickedness, and your sin For lo, the Lord is come out of shall not be your destruction: Cast his place to visit the wickedness away from you all your ungodliof such as dwell upon the earth. ness that ye have done: Make But who may abide the day of you new hearts, and a new spirit: his coming? Who shall be able to Wherefore will ye die, O ye house endure when he appeareth? His of Israel, seeing that I have no fan is in his hand, and he will pleasure in the death of him that purge his floor, and gather his dieth, saith the Lord God? Turn wheat into the barn; but he will ye then, and ye shall live. Alburn the chaff with unquenchable though we have sinned, yet have fire. The day of the Lord cometh we an Advocate with the Father, as a thief in the night: and when Jesus Christ the righteous; and men shall say, Peace, and all he is the propitiation for our sins. things are safe, then shall sudden For he was wounded for our of destruction come upon them, as fences, and smitten for our wicksorrow cometh upon a woman [edness. Let us therefore return

A COMMINATION.

and put out all my mis

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 thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

unto him, who is the merciful re- | sins ceiver of all true penitent sinners; deeds. assuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; seeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving: This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left hand; and he will set us on his right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his glorious king-ings. dom: Unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen.

Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Priest and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the Litany) shall say this Psalm.

HAVE

Miserere mel, Deus, Psalm 11, mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from

my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy

sight that thou mightest be tified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open ny lips, O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise.

For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offer

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thon not despise.

O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

jus-Oven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be Give us this day our daily bread. done in earth, As it is in heaven. And forgive us our trespasses, As

UR Father, which art in hen

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness and in tin hath my mo

ther conceived me.

But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hys sop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

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

Minister. O Lord, save thy ser

vants;

Answer. That put their trust

in thee.

Minister. Send unto them help from above.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which thou hast broken may rejolce. Answer. And evermore mighTurn thy face away from my I tily defend them.

Minister. Help us, O God our Saviour.

Answer. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners, for thy Name's

Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Answer. And let our cry come

Minister. Let us pray.

LORD, we beseech thee, mer cifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord.

good Lord, spare thy people, whom Tus; the Lord lift up the light thou hast redeemed; enter not of his countenance upon us, and into judgement with thy servants, give us peace, now and for ever. who are vile earth, and miserable more. Amen.