The Liturgy and Ritual of the Ante-Nicene Church (Warren)

The Liturgy and Ritual of the Ante-Nicene Church (Warren)

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Appendix. From the Apostolic Constitutions

1 IN this appendix we place before the reader the devotional formulæ—anthems, prayers, etc., including the so-called Clementine Liturgy—which are contained in the compilation known as the Apostolic Constitutions. As that compilation dates from the second half of the fourth century, we have not ventured to include any of its contents in Chapter iii., unless known to us through earlier writings, although much of the following devotional material may be, and much of it no doubt is, ante-Nicene.

§ 1. Gloria in Excelsis.

2 The following is a very ancient hymn of unknown authorship. The two earliest forms in which it is known to us occur in the seventh book of the Apostolic Constitutions, and in the Codex Alexandrinus of the Bible, now in the British Museum. In the latter it is labelled 'A Morning Hymn.' In the former the context would imply its use at eventide; but the one MS. which gives it any title describes it as 'A Morning Hymn.' In the Antiphonary of Bangor, a seventh-century Irish service-book, it is headed, 'For the Evening and for the Morning,' or as we might say, 'At Vespers and Matins'; for its connection was with the Divine office. The Eucharistic use of it, now prevalent in Western Christendom, is of later origin. We give in parallel columns translations of the three earliest texts of 'Gloria in Excelsis,' to which reference has been made, together with the anthems or other devotional formulæ appended to them.

3 Further information about the origin, growth, and use of this hymn will be found in Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology (London, 1892), pp. 425, 459; Smith and Cheetham's Dictionary of Christian Antiquities (London, 1875), vol. i. p. 736. I. APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS (lib. vii. caps. 47-49, pp. 187, 188. 4th century): Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men. We praise Thee, we hymn Thee, we bless Thee, we glorify Thee, we worship Thee, through the great High Priest, Thee the one unbegotten God, alone, unapproachable through Thy great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord God, the Father of Christ, the spotless Lamb. II. CODEX ALEXANDRINUS (fol. 569, 2nd col. 5th century): Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. III. ANTIPHONARY OF BANGOR (fol. 33rs. 7th century): Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we magnify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great pity. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit of God, and we all say, Amen. O Lord, Son of God the Father, Lamb of God. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS—continued.

4 I.—APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS: which taketh away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest upon the Cherubim, [have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, Jesus Christ; of the God of all created nature. our King, through whom be glory, honour, and worship to Thee. Praise the Lord, ye servants, O praise the name of the Lord. We praise Thee, we hymn Thee, we bless Thee, for Thy great glory, O Lord, King, Father of Christ, the spotless Lamb, which taketh away the sin of the world. It becometh us to praise Thee, it becometh us to hymn Thee, it becometh us to glorify Thee. that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Receive 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, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Every day will I bless Thee, and praise thy name for ever, and for ever and ever. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day also, that we be kept without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified be Thy name for ever. Amen. Blessed art Thou, O Lord; teach me Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Lord;

5 teach me Thy statutes. | that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord. Thou only art glorious, with the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day we bless Thee, and praise Thy name for ever, and for ever and ever. Amen. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified be Thy name for ever. Amen. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Hearken unto my words, O Lord; hear my cry; incline unto the voice | | God and Father, through Thy Son, in the all-holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, that nourishest me from my youth up, and givest food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that having always all sufficiency, we may abound unto every good work in Christ Jesus our Lord; through whom glory, honour, and power be unto Thee for ever. Amen. | Blessed art Thou, O Lord;

6 teach me Thy statutes. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said, Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Lord, I have fled unto Thee for refuge; teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. For with Thee is the well of life; and in Thy light shall we see light. Continue forth Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee. of my prayer, my King and my God. In the morning also shalt Thou hear my prayer. In the morning shall my prayer come before Thee, O Lord. Day and night, hourly and momently, have mercy upon us, O Lord. By the prayers and merits of Thy saints have mercy on us, O Lord. [By the prayers and merits] of angels, archangels, patriarchs, prophets, have mercy on us, O Lord. [By the prayers and merits] of apostles, martyrs, and confessors, and of the whole hierarchy of the saints, have mercy [on us, O Lord]. Glory and honour to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, both now, and ever, and for endless ages. Amen. . Ps. cxiii. 1. St. Luke ii. 29-32. Ps. cxxxvi. 25. The repetition of this clause also occurs in the present Anglican version of this hymn, but not in the usual Latin versions.

7 It has never been ascertained on what authority, or for what reason, the compilers of the Book of Common Prayer made the change in the text. It is interesting to see that they have the authority of the Codex Alexandrinus for it, though that MS. can hardly have been known to them. Ps. cxlv. 2. Te Deum, ver. 26. Tobit viii. 5, or Song of the Three Children, 29, 30. Ps. cxix. 12. Ps. xc. 1. Ps. xli. 4. Ps. cxliii. 9, 10. Ps. xxxvi. 9. Ps. xxxvi. 10. Ps. cxxiii. 3. Ps. v. 1, 2. Ps. v. 3. Ps. lxxxviii. 13. Origin unknown. The Mozarabic form of Gloria Patri. For further notes, see Antiphonary of Bangor, pt. ii., in vol. x. of the Henry Bradshaw Society Publications, p. 75. | | | The 'Triumphal Hymn,' or 'Tersanctus,' or 'Sanctus,' is a constituent portion of all Liturgies. From its being found in the Apostolic Constitutions, where it forms part of the Clementine Liturgy, we know that it is as old as the fourth century. It is probably older still, perhaps almost as ancient as Christianity. It will be found printed on p. 297 in a shape nearly resembling that in our present English Liturgy. It must be distinguished from the 'Trisagion,' which occurs in most Eastern Liturgies, but in a different position, and which is also found among the Reproaches on Good Friday in the Roman Missal. Its words are—

8 'Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.' This Trisagion is not found in the Clementine Liturgy, and the date of its composition is unknown. The following formulæ of devotion are also contained in the Apostolic Constitutions:—

§ 3. A Widow's Thanksgiving.

9 'Blessed art Thou, O God, who hast refreshed my fellow widow. Bless, O Lord, and glorify him that ministered unto her, and let his good work ascend in truth before Thee, and remember him for good in the day of his visitation. Add glory to my bishop who hath well fulfilled his ministry before Thee, and hath directed a seasonable alms to be given to my fellow widow in her destitution; grant unto him a crown of rejoicing in the day of the revelation of Thy visitation.' We thank Thee, O our Father, for that life which Thou hast made known to us, through Thy Son Jesus, through whom also Thou makest all things, and takest thought for the whole world; whom too Thou didst send to become man for our salvation, and didst permit Him to suffer and to die, whom Thou didst also raise up and wast pleased to glorify, and hast seated Him on Thy right hand, through whom also Thou hast promised unto us the resurrection of the dead. Do Thou, O Lord Almighty, eternal God, as this grain was once scattered, and afterwards gathered together so as to form one loaf, so gather Thy Church together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom. Furthermore, we thank Thee, O our Father, for the precious blood of Jesus Christ which was shed for us, and for His precious body whereof we celebrate the antitype, He Himself having commanded us to show forth His death; for through Him glory is to be given to Thee for ever. Amen.'

§ 5. A Post-Communion Thanksgiving.

10 'We give thanks to Thee, O God and Father of Jesus our Saviour, for that holy thing which Thou hast made, to tabernacle within us, and for the knowledge, and faith, and love, and immortality, which Thou hast given to us through Thy Son Jesus. Thou, O Almighty God, the God of the universe, didst create the world, and the things which are therein, through Him, and didst implant a law in our souls, and didst prepare things beforehand for their reception by men. O God of our holy and blameless fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Thy faithful servants, Thou art powerful, and faithful, and true, and without deceit in Thy promises. Thou didst send upon earth Jesus, Thy Christ, to converse among men as man, and to take away error by the roots, being Himself both God the Word and man. Do Thou, even now, through Him, remember this holy Church, which Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of Thy Christ, and deliver it from all evil, and perfect it in Thy love and Thy truth, and gather us all together into Thy kingdom which Thou hast prepared. Maranatha. Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. God is the Lord who was manifested to us in the flesh. "If any one be holy, let him approach; if any one be not holy, let him become so by repentance." Permit also to your presbyters to offer thanksgiving.

§ 6. A Thanksgiving for the Holy Oil.

11 'We give thanks to Thee, O Lord, the Creator of all things, both for the fragrancy of the oil, and for the immortality which Thou hast made known unto us through Thy Son Jesus.'

§ 7. A General Prayer.

12 It is plain from chap. xxx. that it was intended for Sunday use, and it is probable, from expressions in the prayer itself, that it was intended to be used on the sabbath, or seventh day of the week. Chap. xxx. is short, and is worthy of being given in full— 'On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, which we call the Lord's day, assemble yourselves together, unintermittingly giving thanks to God, and confessing the benefits which God hath conferred upon us through Christ, having delivered us from ignorance, from error, and from bondage, so that your sacrifice may be unblamable and acceptable to God, who has said concerning His ecumenical Church, "In every place shall incense be offered unto Me and a pure offering; for I am a great King, saith the Lord Almighty, and My Name is dreadful among the heathen." Then after two chapters devoted to the characteristics of true bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and of those false prophets who will arise in the latter days, the following lengthy form of prayer is provided for general use in chapters xxxiii.—xxxviii. :—

13 [CAP. XXXIII.] 'O our eternal Saviour, King of gods, who alone art Almighty and Lord, the God of all things that exist, the God of our holy and blameless fathers, and of those that were before us, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who art merciful and compassionate, long-suffering and of great pity, to whom all hearts are open and all secret desires are known, the souls of the righteous call upon Thee, and the hopes of holy men are fixed on Thee, Thou Father of the blameless, who hearest those that call on Thee in righteousness, who knowest the supplications which are not uttered, for Thy forethought reacheth to the innermost recesses of human hearts, and by Thy knowledge Thou searchest the hearts of each man, and in every region of the world the incense of prayer and supplication is sent up to Thee. 14 O Thou who has appointed this present world as the place where men should run the race of righteousness, and hast opened the gate of mercy unto all, and hast demonstrated unto every man, by implanted knowledge and natural judgment, and from the exhortation of the law, that the possession of wealth is not everlasting, that the ornament of beauty is not perpetual, that the force of power is easily dissolved, that everything is smoke and vanity, and that only the good conscience of faith passes without guile through the midst of heaven, and returning with truth seizes the right hand of future nourishment, and before the promise of the regeneration is fulfilled, the soul itself exults in hope and rejoices. For from the beginning of the truth which was in our forefather Abraham, when he changed his laborious journey, Thou didst guide him with a vision, and didst teach him what kind of a world this world is, and knowledge preceded his faith, and faith succeeded his knowledge, and the covenant was the consequence of his faith. For Thou saidst, "I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. Moreover, when Thou hadst given him Isaac, and knewest him to be like Abraham in his way of life, then wast Thou also called his God, saying, "I will be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

15 And when our father Jacob was sent into Mesopotamia, Thou shewedst him Christ, and spakedst by him, saying, "Behold, I am with thee, and I will increase and multiply thee exceedingly. And thus Thou spakedst unto Moses, Thy faithful and holy servant in the vision of the bush, saying, "I AM THAT I AM: this is My Name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations. Champion of the seed of Abraham, blessed art Thou for ever. 16 [CAP. XXXIV. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the King of æons, who by Christ has made the whole world, and by Him at the beginning didst reduce into order the disordered parts; who dividedst the waters from the waters by the firmament, and didst infuse into them the spirit of life; who didst fix the earth, and extend the heavens, and dispose each creature by an accurate constitution. For at Thy desire, O Lord, the world was beautified, and the heavens, fixed as an arch, were decorated with stars for our comfort in darkness; and the light and the sun were created for the demarcation of days, and for the production of fruits; and the waxing and waning moon for the revolving seasons; and the one was called "night," and the other was entitled "day. And the firmament was exhibited in the midst of the abyss, and Thou commandedst the waters to be gathered together and the dry land to appear. As for the sea itself, how can any one describe it? which comes in furiously from the ocean, and retreats from the sand, where it is stayed at Thy command, for Thou hast said that on it shall its waves be broken. And Thou didst make it a highway for little and for great living creatures, and for ships. Then the earth became green, picked out with all kinds of flowers, and with a variety of different trees; and the glittering luminaries, the nourishers of these plants, preserve their unchangeable path, in nothing departing from Thy command.

17 Where Thou biddest them, there do they rise and set, for signs of seasons and years, regulating by alternation the labours of men. Afterwards the different kinds of animals were created, inhabiting the dry land, or the water, or the air, or amphibious; and the cunning wisdom of Thy providence imparts a corresponding providence to each of them. For as He was not unable to produce different kinds of animals, so neither did He disdain to exercise a different providence towards each one. And as the conclusion of creation, Thou gavest direction unto Thy Wisdom, and createdst a rational living creature, the citizen of the world, saying, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," exhibiting him as the ornament of the world, fashioning a body for him out of the four elements, the primary substances, and furnishing it with a soul created out of nothing, and endowing it with the five senses, and setting the mind over the senses as the charioteer of the soul. And in addition to all these things, O Lord God, who shall worthily describe the course of clouds big with rain, the shining of lightning, the noise of thunder, providing an appropriate supply of food, and an all-harmonizing temperature of the air? And when man was disobedient Thou didst deprive him of the reward of life;

18 yet didst Thou not totally destroy him, but laidest him to sleep for a little time, and then didst summon him with an oath to a resurrection, having loosed the bond of death, O Thou quickener of the dead, through Jesus Christ, our hope. 19 [CAP. XXXV. Great art Thou, O Lord Almighty, and great is Thy power, and of Thy understanding there is no count. Creator, Saviour, rich in graces, long-suffering and full of pity, who dost not take away salvation from Thy creatures; for Thou art good by nature, and sparest sinners, and invitest them to repentance, and Thy admonition is pitiful. For how should we abide if we were required to come to judgment immediately, when after so much long-suffering we hardly get clear of our own weakness? The heavens declare Thy power, and the quivering earth, suspended upon nothing, Thy;security. The wave-tossed sea, feeding the myriad host of living creatures, is bound with sand, standing in awe of Thy command, and compels all men to cry, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches. And the flaming host of angels, and the intellectual spirits say to Palmoni, "One is holy," and the holy seraphin, together with the six-winged cherubin, sing to Thee the triumphal hymn, and cry with voice unceasing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. And the other multitudes of the orders, angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, cry aloud and say, "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.

20 But Israel, Thy Church on earth, taken out of the Gentiles, emulating the heavenly powers night and day, with a full heart and a willing soul, sings, "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai. The heaven knows Him who fixed it in the form of an arch as a cube of stone upon nothing, who united land and water to one another, and poured the vitalizing air abroad, and conjoined fire therewith, for warmth and for comfort under darkness. The choir of the stars strikes us with admiration, declaring Him that numbered them, and showing forth Him that named them, as living creatures declare Him that breathed life into them, and trees Him that made them grow; all of which having come into existence by Thy word, show forth the might of Thy power. Wherefore every man ought to send up to Thee through Christ, the hymn of thanksgiving for all these benefits, as he has power over them all by Thine appointment. For Thou art kind in Thy benefits, and beneficent in Thy compassions, who alone art Almighty; for Thy eternal power both quenches flame, and stops the mouths of lions, and tames the monsters of the deep, and raises the sick, and overturns powers, and overthrows the army of the enemy, and the people numbered in pride.

21 Thou art He that is in heaven, upon the earth, in the sea, in all finite things, Thyself confined by nothing, for there is no limit to Thy greatness. This is not our saying, O Lord; it is the oracle of Thy servant, which saith, "And thou shalt know in thy heart and consider, that the Lord thy God is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else beside Him." For there is no God beside Thee alone; there is none holy beside Thee, O Lord God of knowledge, God of saints, holy above all holy beings, for they are sanctified under Thy hands. Thou art glorious and highly exalted, invisible by nature, unsearchable in Thy judgments. Thy life is without want, Thy duration neither alters nor fails, Thy operation is without toil, Thy greatness is unbounded, Thy excellency is perpetual, Thy habitation is unapproachable, Thy dwelling-place is unchangeable, Thy knowledge is without beginning, Thy truth is immutable, Thy work is unassisted, Thy might is unassailable, Thy monarchy is without succession, Thy kingdom is without end, Thy strength is irresistible, Thy host is very numerous. Thou art the Father of wisdom, the Creator of the world by a Mediator as the original Cause, the Bestower of providence, the Giver of laws, the Fulfiller of want, the Punisher of the ungodly, the Rewarder of the just, the God and Father of Christ, and the Lord of them that reverence Him; whose promise is infallible, whose judgment is not open to bribes, whose decision is incapable of change, whose piety is incessant, and His thanksgiving is everlasting; through whom adoration is worthily due to Thee from every rational and holy nature.

22 [CAP. XXXVI. O Lord Almighty, Thou didst create the Christ, and didst ordain the sabbath day in memory of this fact that, on it Thou didst rest from Thy works, in order to meditate upon Thy laws. Thou hast also appointed festivals for the rejoicing of our souls, that we might come to remember that Wisdom which was created by Thee; how for our sakes He condescended to be born of woman, and appeared in life, and manifested Himself at His baptism, as one who appeared as both God and man; He suffered by Thy permission on our behalf, and died, and rose again by Thy power. Wherefore we solemnly celebrate the feast of the resurrection on the Lord's day, and rejoice over Him that conquered death, and brought life and immortality to light. For through Him Thou hast brought the Gentiles to Thyself for a peculiar people, the true Israel, beloved of God and seeing Him. For Thou, O Lord, didst bring our fathers out of the land of Egypt, and didst deliver them out of the iron furnace, and from the clay and brickmaking. Thou didst ransom them from the hand of Pharaoh and his subordinates, and didst lead them through the sea as through dry land, and didst bear with their manners in the wilderness, supplying them with all good things. Thou didst give them the law or the decalogue which was spoken by Thy voice and written down with Thy hand.

23 Thou didst enjoin the observation of the sabbath, not as affording to them an occasion for idleness, but an opportunity of piety, for increasing the knowledge of Thy power and the hindrance of evils, having limited them, as it were, within a holy circuit, for the sake of instruction, and for a rejoicing every seven days. On this account there was appointed one week, and seven weeks, and the seventh month, and the seventh year, and the revolution of this year in the jubilee, which is the fiftieth year for remission; so that they might have no excuse for pretending ignorance. On this account He permitted men to rest on every sabbath, so that no man might be willing to send forth an angry word out of his mouth on the sabbath day. For the sabbath is the ceasing from creation, the completion of the world, the seeking after laws, and praise and thanksgiving unto God for the gifts which He hath bestowed upon men. The Lord's day surpasses all these, as it exhibits the Mediator Himself, the Provider, the Law-giver, the Cause of the resurrection, the First-born of every creature, God the word, and man, born of the Virgin Mary alone without a man, who lived a holy life, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and died, and rose again from the dead. Thus, the Lord's day, O Lord, commands us to offer unto Thee thanksgiving for all things. For this is the grace afforded by Thee, which by its greatness has obscured all other blessings.

24 [CAP. XXXVII. Thou who hast fulfilled the promises made by the prophets, and hast had mercy upon Sion and compassion upon Jerusalem, by exalting the throne of David Thy servant in the midst of her, by the birth of Christ who was born of his seed, according to the flesh, of a virgin alone, do Thou now, O Lord God, accept the prayers which proceed from the lips of Thy people, which are of the Gentiles, which call upon Thee in truth; as Thou didst accept the gifts of righteous men in their generations. In the first place, Thou didst favourably regard and accept the sacrifice of Abel; of Noah on his coming out of the ark; of Abraham after his leaving the land of the Chaldees; of Isaac at the well of the oath; of Jacob in Bethel; of Moses in the desert; of Aaron betwixt the quick and dead; of Jesus the son of Nave in Gilgal; of Gideon at the rock and the fleeces before his sin; of Manoah and his wife in the field; of Samson in his thirst before his transgression; of Jephthah in the war before his rash vow; of Barak and Deborah in the time of Sisera; of Samuel at Mizpeh; of David at the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite; of Solomon at Gibeon and at Jerusalem; of Elias at Mount Carmel; of Elisæus at the barren spring; of Jehoshaphat in war; of Ezekias in sickness and in the time of Sennacherib; of Manasses in the land of the Chaldeans after his transgression;

25 of Josias in Phassa; of Esdras at the return from the captivity; of Daniel in the lions' den; of Jonas in the whale's belly; of the three children in the fiery furnace; of Anna in the tabernacle before the ark; of Neemias at the rebuilding of the walls, and of Zerubbabel; of Mattathias and his sons in their zeal for Thee; of Jael in blessings; now, therefore, also receive the prayers of Thy people which are offered unto Thee with knowledge through Christ in the spirit. 26 [CAP. XXXVIII. We give thanks to Thee for all things, O Lord Almighty, because Thou hast not taken away Thy mercies and compassions from us, but in each generation after generation Thou dost save, deliver, assist, and protect us. For Thou didst assist in the days of Enos and Enoch; in the days of Moses and Jesus; in the days of the Judges; in the days of Samuel and Elias, and the prophets; in the days of David and the Kings; in the days of Esther and Mordecai; in the days of Judith; in the days of Judas Maccabæus and his brethren; and in our days Thou hast assisted us by Thy great High Priest Jesus Christ Thy Son. For He hast delivered us from the sword, and hath freed us from famine, and nourished us, and hath healed our sickness, and sheltered us from the evil tongue. For all things we give thanks to Thee through Christ, who hast given to us an articulate voice for confession, and hast supplied a well-adapted tongue to an instrument, like the bow which strikes the lyre, with a proper taste, and a correspondent touch; and sight for seeing, and the hearing of sound, and the smelling of vapours, and hands for work, and feet for walking. Thou mouldest all these members from a little drop in the matrix, and after such formation Thou dost bestow on it an immortal soul, and producest it into the light as a rational living creature, even man.

27 Thou didst instruct him by Thy laws, and brighten him with Thy judgments, and though Thou hast brought upon him dissolution for a little while, Thou didst promise his resurrection. Wherefore, what life is in itself sufficient, or what length of ages will suffice for men to express their thanks? To thank Thee worthily is impossible; to thank Thee according to our ability is meet and right. For Thou hast redeemed us from the impiety of polytheism, and hast brought us out from the heresy of those that slew Christ, delivering us from error and ignorance. Thou didst send Christ as a man among men, being the only-begotten God. Thou hast caused the Paraclete to dwell in us. Thou hast given Thine angels charge over us; Thou hast put the devil to shame. Whereas we were not, Thou didst make us; Thou takest care of us when we are made; Thou measurest out life unto us; Thou providest us with food; Thou hast promised repentance. For all these things glory and worship be unto Thee through Jesus Christ, now, and for ever, and throughout all ages. Amen.'

§ 8. Baptismal Formula of Renunciation.

28 'I renounce Satan, and his works, and his pomps, and his service, and his angels, and his inventions, and all things that are under him.'

§ 9. Baptismal Creed.

29 'I believe and am baptized into one unbegotten only true God, Almighty, Father of Christ, Creator and Maker of all things, from whom all things do come. And in the Lord Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, the First-born of every creature, begotten before the ages through the good pleasure of the Father, by whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on earth, both visible and invisible; who in those last days came down from heaven, and took flesh, and was born of the holy Virgin Mary, whose conversation was holy according to the laws of His God and Father. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and died for us, and rose again from the dead after His passion on the third day; He ascended into heaven, and sat on the right hand of the Father, and is coming again with glory at the end of the world to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

30 And I am baptised into the Holy Ghost, that is to say, the Paraclete, who wrought in all the saints from the beginning of the world, and was afterwards also sent from the Father to the Apostles, according to the promise of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ; and, after the Apostles, to all believers in the holy and Apostolic Church; into the resurrection of the flesh, and into the remission of sins, and into the kingdom of heaven, and into the life of the world to come.'

§ 10. Consecration of the Water at Baptism.

31 'Look down from heaven, and sanctify this water, and give to it grace and power, so that he that is baptized therein according to the commandment of Thy Christ, may be crucified with Him, and may die with Him, and be buried with Him, and may rise again with Him unto the adoption of sonship which is in Him, by becoming dead unto sin and living unto righteousness.'

§ 11. Consecration of the Oil at Baptism.

32 'O Lord God, who art without generation, and without a superior, the Lord of the whole world, who hast caused the sweet odour of the knowledge of the gospel to extend to all nations, do Thou grant now that this oil may be efficacious upon him that is being baptized, so that the fragrance of Thy Christ may remain firm and fixed upon him, and that having died with Christ, he may rise and live with Him.'

§ 12. A Post-Baptismal Prayer.

33 'O God Almighty, the Father of Thy Christ, Thy only-begotten Son, give me a body undefiled, a pure heart, a watchful mind, unerring knowledge, the descent upon me of the Holy Spirit, for the acquirement and full possession of the truth through Thy Christ, through whom be glory to Thee in the Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.' To be used while Deacons are holding the Book of the Gospels over the newly elected Bishop's Head. 34 'Thou self-existent One, our Master and Lord, God Almighty, who alone art unbegotten, and ownest allegiance to no other king, who always art, and wast before the ages, who standest in need of nothing, and art above all causation and generation; who alone art true; who alone art wise; who alone art most highest; who art by nature invisible; whose knowledge is without beginning; who alone art good and incomparable; who knowest all things before they come into being; who art acquainted with hidden things; who art unapproachable, owning no lord above Thee; the God and Father of Thy only-begotten Son, our God and Saviour; the Creator of all things by Him, the Forethinker, the Care-taker, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who hast Thy dwelling on high, and yet humblest Thyself to behold the things that are on the earth; Thou that dost set bounds to Thy Church, by the presence of Thy incarnate Christ, of which the Holy Ghost is witness, through Thy Apostles, and through us the Bishops who by Thy grace are here present; Thou who from the beginning didst foreordain priests for the government of Thy people, Abel in the first place, Seth, and Enos, and Enoch, and Noe, and Melchisedech, and Job; who didst appoint Abraham, and the rest of the patriarchs, together with Thy faithful servants Moses and Aaron, and Eleazar, and Phinees; who didst appoint from among them rulers and priests in the tabernacle of the testimony;

35 who didst choose out Samuel to be a priest and a prophet; who didst not leave Thy sanctuary without ministers in sacred things; who wast well-pleased with those in whom Thou chosest to be glorified;--Do Thou Thyself now through us, by the mediation of Thy Christ, pour down the power of Thy guiding Spirit, which waiteth on Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, which He bestowed according to Thy will upon the holy Apostles of Thee, the eternal God. Grant in Thy name, O God, that searchest the hearts, that this Thy servant, whom Thou hast chosen to be bishop, may feed Thy holy flock, and fill the office of high priest before Thee, serving Thee without blame night and day; that with the approbation of Thy countenance He may gather together the number of those that shall be saved, and may offer to Thee the gifts of Thy holy Church. Grant unto him, O Lord Almighty, through Thy Christ, the Communion of the Holy Ghost, so that he may have power to remit sins according to Thy command, to give forth lots according to Thy direction, and to loose every band according to the power which Thou gavest unto the Apostles;

36 and that he may please Thee by meekness and purity of heart, steadfastly, unblameably, irreprovably offering unto Thee the pure and unbloody sacrifice, which Thou didst ordain through Christ, the mystery of the New Testament, for a sweet-smelling savour, through Thy holy Child, Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour, through whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee in the Holy Ghost, now, and for ever, and for endless ages. R. Amen.

§ 14. 'The Clementine Liturgy.'

37 We now come to the famous Liturgy embedded in the Apostolic Constitutions, and known as 'The Clementine Liturgy.' The following features in its structure or wording imply a very early date for its composition, and for the most part point to an ante-Nicene origin:— 1. The length of many of the prayers, and especially of the Preface, with its exhaustive commemoration of God's providential dealings in creation and redemption, and in the Old Testament and New Testament history generally. 2. The elaborate forms of the dismissal of the Catechumens, Energumens, Competentes, and Penitents. The presence of these forms implies a date when the disciplinary system of the primitive Church was in full force. 3. The repeated references to the sufferings of persecuted Christians in exile, or in prison, or at work, or in the mines, together with prayer for the emperors that persecute them. 4. The inexactness of the theological language used, indicating an ante-Arian and a pre-Nicene age.

38 5. The absence of a Creed. 6. The non-mention of incense. 7. The omission of the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer, having been delivered by the Founder of Christianity to His Apostles and others, would naturally form an integral portion of Christian worship from the earliest times. In the Didaché, where it is given with the doxology in a curtailed form, it is ordered to be repeated three times a day. Its omission from the Clementine Liturgy, as its text has reached us, is liturgically unique, and has never been satisfactorily explained. There are several passages in that Liturgy which are adaptations from or which refer to various petitions in the Lord's Prayer. It is contained in the Apostolic Constitutions in a form similar to, but not verbally identical with, the form given in the Didaché. It is there also ordered to be used by the newly baptized person directly after the post-baptismal anointing. It is to be said by him standing, and with face turned towards the East.

39 Guided then, so far as guidance is given, by the Clementine Liturgy, we see the following to have been the main features and order of the Christian Liturgy in the earliest complete form in which it has come down to us:—

Mass of the Catechumens.

40 [Preparation and approach to the altar.] Lections (p. 278). Sermon (p. 279). Dismissal of Catechumens, Energumens, Competentes, Penitents (pp. 279-285).

Mass of the Faithful.

41 Deacon's Bidding Prayer, or Eucharistic Litany for all sorts and conditions of men (p. 285). Prayer of the Faithful (p. 288). Kiss of Peace (p. 289). Lavabo (p. 290). Offertory (p. 290). Secret Prayer (p. 290). Sursum Corda (p. 290). Preface (p. 291). Triumphal Hymn, or Tersanctus (p. 297). Consecration Prayer— (a) Commemoration of the work of Redemption (p. 297). (b) Commemoration of the Institution (p. 299). (c) The Great Oblation (p. 299). (d) The Epiklesis, or Invocation of the Holy Ghost (p. 299). The Great Intercession, for the whole State of Christ's Church Militant on earth and at rest in Paradise, followed by another Deacon's Bidding Prayer (p. 300). Prayer of humble access (p. 303). Sancta Sanctis (p. 303). Communion of Celebrant and People (p. 304). Thanksgiving after reception, with bidding thereto (p. 304). Benediction (p. 306). Dismissal (p. 306). Another description of the primitive Liturgy, differing in some of its details, is given in another part of the Apostolic Constitutions. It is of great interest, and will be found translated on page 307.

42 We translate from the text as given in the Eighth Book of the Apostolic Constitutions. More recent reprints of the Greek text may be seen in Hammond's (C. E.) Liturgies, Eastern and Western (Oxford, 1878), pp. 3-23; and in Maskell's (W.) Ancient Liturgy of the Church of England, 3rd Edition (Oxford, 1882), pp. 281-293.

[Mass of the Catechumens.] — [Lections.]

43 let the [newly] ordained [Bishop] salute the Church, saying:

[Salutation.]

44 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. And let all answer: And with thy spirit.

[The Sermon.]

45 And after this let him address to the people words of exhortation, and when he hath finished the word of instruction, let all stand up, and let the Deacon, ascending up to some high place, proclaim:

[Dismissal of the Catechumens.]

46 Let none of the hearers, let none of the unbelievers [be present]. And let all the faithful pray for them in their hearts, saying: Lord, have mercy. And let him minister on their behalf, saying: Let us all beseech God for the Catechumens, that He, who is good and the lover of men, may mercifully hear their prayers and supplications, and, receiving their requests, may assist them, and grant them their hearts' desires, in such way as may be expedient for them; that he may reveal to them the gospel of His Christ, may enlighten them and cause them to understand, may instruct them in the knowledge of God, may teach them His commandments and judgments, may implant in them His holy and salutary fear, and may open the ears of their hearts to occupy themselves in His law day and night; that He may stablish them in piety, may unite and number them together in His holy fold, may count them worthy of the laver of regeneration, of the vestment of immortality, and of the true life; and that He may preserve them from all impiety, and may give no place to the enemy against them; and that He may purify them from all pollution of flesh and spirit, and may dwell in them and walk in them, through His Christ; that He may bless their coming in and their going out, and may direct that which lies in front of them, as may be expedient for them. Furthermore, let us earnestly supplicate on their behalf, that having obtained remission of their sins through the initiation of baptism, they may be found worthy of participation in the holy mysteries, and of perseverance with the saints.

47 [Silent prayer.] Catechumens, stand up. Ask for the peace of God through His Christ, and that this day and all the time of your life may be peaceful and sinless, that your ends may be Christian, that God may be merciful and gracious; and for the remission of your sins. Commend yourselves to the only unbegotten God, through His Christ. Bow down, and receive the blessing. And, as we have prescribed before, let the people say for each of those whom the Deacon addresses : Lord, have mercy. And before all let the children say it. And while the Catechumens bow down their heads, let him that hath been elected Bishop bless them with the following blessing : Almighty God, the Unbegotten and Unapproachable, the only true God, the God and Father of Thy Christ, Thy only begotten Son, the God of the Paraclete, and Lord of all, who didst by Christ constitute Thy disciples as teachers for instruction in piety, do Thou Thyself also now look down upon these Thy servants, the Catechumens of the gospel of Thy Christ. Give to them a new heart, and renew a right spirit within them, to know and to do Thy will with a full heart and willing soul. Make them worthy of the initiation of holy baptism, and unite them to Thy holy Church, and make them partakers of the Divine mysteries, through Christ, our hope, who died for them, through whom be glory and worship to Thee, in the Holy Ghost for ever. Amen.

48 After this let the Deacon say : Depart, ye Catechumens, in peace.

[Dismissal of the Energumens.]

49 And after they have departed let him say : Pray, ye Energumens, who are vexed with unclean spirits : Let us all earnestly pray for them, that the merciful God through Christ would rebuke the unclean and evil spirits, and deliver his supplicants from the oppression of the adversary ; that He who rebuked the legion of devils, and the devil, the fount of evil, would now rebuke these apostates from piety, and deliver the works of His own hands from the active hostility of Satan, and cleanse them whom He hath created with great wisdom. Let us, further, earnestly pray for them. Save them, and raise them up, O God, in Thy might. Bow down, ye Energumens, and receive the blessing. And let the Bishop pray over them, saying : 50 Thou who didst bind the strong man and spoil all his goods; Thou who didst give us power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy; Thou who didst deliver up unto us the murdering serpent a prisoner, as a sparrow unto children; before whom all things shake and tremble at the presence of Thy power; Thou that didst cast him down as lightning to earth from heaven, not with a local fracture, but from honour to dishonour, through his deliberate evil-mindedness; whose look drieth up the depths, and whose indignation maketh the mountains to melt away, and whose truth remaineth for ever; whom infants praise, and sucklings bless; whom angels worship and adore; who lookest upon the earth and makest it to tremble; who touchest the hills and they smoke; who rebukest the sea and makest it dry, and driest up all its rivers, and the clouds are the dust of Thy feet; who walkest upon the sea as upon a pavement, the only-begotten God, Son of the mighty Father;—rebuke the evil spirits and deliver the works of Thy hands upon the activity of an adverse spirit; for to Thee belongeth glory, honour, and adoration, and through Thee to Thy Father in the Holy Ghost, for ever. Amen.

51 Then let the Deacon say : Depart, ye Energumens. And after they have gone let him proclaim : Pray, ye candidates, for baptism. Let us, the faithful, all pray earnestly for them, that the Lord would make them worthy to be baptized into the death of Christ, and to rise again with Him, and to be made members of His kingdom, and partakers of His mysteries; that He would unite them and enrol them along with such as shall be saved in His holy Church. Save them and raise them up by Thy grace. Then having been sealed to God through His Christ, let them bow down, and be blessed by the Bishop with his blessing : O God, who didst say beforehand through Thy holy prophets to them that are to be baptized, "Wash you, make you clean," and didst through Christ appoint a spiritual regeneration, look down now Thyself upon these persons who are to be baptized. Bless them and sanctify them, and prepare them that they may be worthy of Thy spiritual gift, and of their true adoption as sons, and of Thy spiritual mysteries, and of being gathered into the number of those that shall be saved, through Christ our Saviour, through whom to Thee in the Holy Ghost be glory, honour, and adoration for ever. Amen.

52 Then let the Deacon say : Depart, ye candidates for baptism.

[Dismissal of the Penitents.]

53 Afterwards let him make this proclamation : Pray, ye that are in penitence. Let all of us earnestly pray on behalf of our brethren who are in penitence, that the God of mercy would show unto them the way of repentance; that He would receive their recantation and confession; that He will bruise Satan under their feet shortly, and ransom them from the snare of the devil, and from the despitefulness of demons, and deliver them from every unlawful word, and from every unseemly deed and wicked thought; that He would forgive them all their offences, both voluntary and involuntary, and blot out the handwriting that is against them, and write their names in the book of life, and cleanse them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and restore and unite them to His holy flock; for He knoweth whereof we are made: for who will boast, "I have made my heart clean?" Who will claim, "I am pure from my sin?" For we are all worthy of punishment.

54 Let us pray for them yet more earnestly, because there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, that turning away from every unlawful work, they may become associated with every good action, in order that God, the Lover of men, may speedily and favourably accept their supplications, may restore them to their former position, and may give them back the joy of His salvation, and stablish them with His free spirit, so that their footsteps no more slip, but that they be deemed worthy to be partakers of His most holy things, and sharers of the Divine mysteries; in order that being proved worthy of the adoption of sons, they may attain life eternal. Let us all still earnestly say on their behalf: Lord, have mercy. Save them, and raise them up by Thy grace. Rise up, and bow down before God through His Christ and receive the blessing.

55 Then let the Bishop pray over them as followeth: Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of the whole world, Creator and Governor of all things, who through Christ didst consecrate man to be the ornament of the world, and didst give him a law implanted and written, that he might live, as a reasonable being, according to Thy statutes; and when he had sinned didst give him Thine own goodness as a pledge to repentance, look down upon those who have bowed to Thee the necks of their souls and bodies; because Thou wouldest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent, so that he should return from his evil way and live, Thou who didst receive the repentance of the Ninevites; who willest that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; who didst through Thy fatherly pity receive the son who devoured his substance in riotous living because of his repentance; do Thou Thyself now accept the repentance of Thy supplicants, for there is none that sinneth not against Thee, and if Thou, Lord, will be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? for there is mercy with Thee: and restore them to Thy holy Church in their former reputation and honour, through Christ our God and Saviour, by whom in the Holy Ghost be glory and honour to Thee for ever. Amen.

56 Then let the Deacon say: Depart, ye penitents.

[Mass of the Faithful.]

57 Let the Deacon add: Let none of those who are not able to pray with us draw near. Let those of us who are among the faithful kneel: Let us entreat God through His Christ. Let us all earnestly beseech God through His Christ. Let us pray for the peace and good condition of the world and holy churches, that He who is God of all may bestow His own peace upon us, eternal and that cannot be taken away, to the end that He may preserve us, persevering in the fulness of that virtue which is according to godliness. Let us pray for the holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which extends from one end of the world to another, that the Lord would preserve it and guard it continually, unshaken and unstormed, till the end of the world, founded upon the Rock. Let us pray for the holy parish here, that the Lord of all would vouchsafe to us to pursue unfailingly His heavenly hope, and to pay to Him unceasingly the debt of our prayer.

58 Let us pray for the whole episcopate which is under heaven of those who rightly divide the word of Thy truth. Let us pray for our bishop James and his parishes. Let us pray for our bishop Clement and his parishes. Let us pray for our bishop Evodius and his parishes. That the merciful God would vouchsafe to preserve them to their holy Churches, in safety, honour, and length of days, and would grant to them an honourable old age in piety and righteousness. Let us pray for our presbyters, that the Lord would deliver them from all unseemly and wicked deeds, and would grant to them a presbyterate both safe and honourable. Let us pray for the whole diaconate and ministry in Christ, that the Lord would vouchsafe to them an unblamable diaconate. Let us pray for the readers, singers, virgins, widows, and orphans, for married women, for women with child, that the Lord would have mercy upon them all.

59 Let us pray for eunuchs walking in holiness of life. Let us pray for those in a state of continence and piety. Let us pray for those who bring forth fruit in the holy Church, and who give alms to the poor. Let us pray for those who bring offerings and firstfruits to the Lord our God: That God, Who is the Fountain of all goodness, would recompense them with His heavenly gifts, and would give unto them a hundredfold more in the present world, and in the world to come life everlasting, and would grant unto them eternal things instead of temporal, and things of heaven instead of things of earth. Let us pray for our newly baptized brethren, that the Lord would strengthen and confirm them. Let us pray for our brethren tried with weakness, that the Lord would deliver them from all sickness and all infirmity, and restore them sound to His holy Church.

60 Let us pray for those who travel by land or water. Let us pray for those who are in mines, in exile, in prison, or in bonds for the name of the Lord. Let us pray for those who travail in the bitterness of servitude. Let us pray for our enemies and for them that hate us. Let us pray for those who persecute us for the name of the Lord, that the Lord would soften their anger and scatter their wrath against us. Let us pray for those that are without and wandering, that the Lord would bring them back. Let us pray for the children of the Church, that the Lord would perfect them in His fear, and would bring them to the full measure of their age. Let us pray for each other, that the Lord would guard us and preserve us by His grace unto the end, and deliver us from evil, and from all the scandals of those that work iniquity, and that He would preserve us unto His heavenly kingdom.

61 Let us pray for every Christian soul. Save us and raise us up, O God, by Thy pity. Let us rise up. With earnest prayer let us commit ourselves and each other to the living God through His Christ.

[Prayer of the Faithful.]

62 Then let the Bishop add this prayer, and say: 63 O Lord, Almighty, Most Highest, who dwellest on high, Holy One resting in holy ones, without beginning, the only Potentate, who hast given to us by Christ the preaching of knowledge, to the acknowledgment of Thy glory and of Thy name, which He hath made known to us for our comprehension; do Thou also now look down through Him upon this Thy flock, and deliver it from all ignorance and evil-doing, and grant that they may fear Thee with fear, and lovingly love Thee, and be reflected on from the face of Thy glory. Be gracious unto them, and merciful, and hearken unto their prayers, and keep them immovable, unblamable, irreprovable, that they may be holy both in body and spirit, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that they may be complete, and that not one of them may be defective or imperfect. Thou that art mighty to help, and no respecter of persons, be Thou the Assister of this Thy people, whom Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of Thy Christ; be Thou their Protector, Aider, Provider, Guardian, their most Strong Wall of defence, their Bulwark of security, because none is able to pluck them out of Thy hand; for there is no other God than Thou, and in Thee is our hope. Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth. Thou who dost nothing for favour, Thou who canst not be deceived, deliver them from every sickness, and from every weakness, from every offence, from all injury and deceit, from fear of the enemy, from the arrow that flieth by day, from the pestilence that walketh in darkness; and deem them worthy of eternal life, which is in Christ, Thy only-begotten Son, our God and Saviour, by whom in the Holy Ghost be glory and honour to Thee, now, and for ever, and for endless ages. Amen.

64 After this, let the Deacon say: Let us attend. Then let the Bishop salute the Church, and say: The peace of God be with you all. And let the people answer: And with Thy spirit.

[The Kiss of Peace.]

65 Then let the Deacon say to all: Greet one another with an holy kiss. Then let the clergy kiss the Bishop, and the laymen kiss the laymen, and the women kiss the women; and let the children stand at the reading desk; and let another Deacon stand by them, that they may not be disorderly, and let other Deacons watch the men, and the women, that there be no disturbance; that no one nod, or whisper, or sleep. And let Deacons be stationed at the doors of the men, and Sub-Deacons at the doors of the women, to see that no one go out, and that no door be opened, even by one of the faithful, during the time of the Anaphora. Then let a Sub-Deacon bring water to wash the hands of the Priests, which is a symbol of the purity of souls devoted to God. Then let the Deacon say:

66 Let none of the catechumens, let none of the hearers, let none of the unbelievers, let none of the heterodox remain. Ye who have joined in the former prayer depart. Mothers, take up your children. Let no one have aught against any man. Let no hypocrite remain. Let us stand upright before the Lord to present unto Him our offerings with fear and trembling.

[The Offertory.]

67 When this is done, let the deacons bring the gifts to the bishop at the altar, and let the presbyters stand on his right hand and on his left, as disciples stand by their Master. And let two deacons, on each side of the altar, hold a fan of thin membranes, or of peacocks' feathers, or of fine linen, and let them gently drive away the small winged insects, so that they may not touch the cups. Then let the Bishop, having prayed in secret, accompanied by the Priests, put on a splendid vestment, and stand at the altar. There, having made the sign of the cross with his hand upon his forehead, let him say: The grace of Almighty God, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Then let all with one voice say: And with thy spirit.

[Sursum Corda.]

68 Bishop. Lift up your mind. People. We lift it up unto the Lord. Bishop. Let us give thanks unto the Lord. People. It is meet and right so to do.

[Preface.]

69 Then let the Bishop say: It is very meet and right before all things to sing praises unto Thee, who art the true God, existing before all things that are, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, who alone art unbegotten, without beginning, without a ruler, without a master, standing in need of nothing, the Author and Giver of all good things, who art beyond all cause and all generation, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, from whom all things, as from a starting point, came into existence. For Thou art knowledge without beginning, eternal sight, unbegotten hearing, untaught wisdom; the first in nature, alone in existence, and beyond all number; who through Thy only-begotten Son didst bring all things into existence out of nothing, having begotten Him before all ages by Thy will, and power, and goodness, without any medium, the only-begotten Son, God the Word, the living Wisdom, the First-born of every creature, the Angel of Thy great counsel, Thy High priest, the King and Lord of all intellectual and sensible nature, who was before all things, by whom all things were made.

70 For Thou, O eternal God, didst make all things by Him, and by Him dost vouchsafe a suitable providence over the whole world; for by the same Person that Thou didst graciously bring all things into being, by Him Thou hast granted that all things should continue in well-being. O God and Father of Thy only-begotten Son, who by Him before all things didst create Cherubim and Seraphim, æons and hosts, principalities and powers, dominions and thrones, archangels and angels, and after all these things didst create by Him this visible world, and all things that are therein. For Thou art He that did fix the heavens as an arch, and did spread them out as a curtain, and did found the earth upon nothing by Thy will alone. Thou hast established the firmament, and hast prepared the night and the day, bringing forth light out of Thy treasures, and superinducing darkness to overshadow it, to provide rest for the living creatures which roam to and fro in the world. Thou hast appointed the sun in the heaven to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night; Thou hast inscribed in the heaven the choir of stars to praise Thy great glory. Thou createdst water for drink and cleansing, the vital air for respiration, and for the manufacture of the voice by the tongue striking the air, and the hearing which co-operates with it, so as to receive and perceive the words which fall upon it.

71 Thou hast made the fire for our consolation in darkness, for the relief of our necessities, for warmth and light. Thou hast divided the great sea from the land, and hast made the one navigable, and the other a basis for our feet in walking; the former Thou hast replenished with small and great beasts, and the latter Thou hast filled with the same both tame and wild; and Thou hast wreathed it with various plants, and crowned it with herbs, and beautified it with flowers, and enriched it with seeds. Thou didst collect together the great deep, and surround it with a mighty cavity, seas of salt water heaped together, hedged round with barriers of finest sand. Sometimes Thou dost crest it with Thy winds to the height of mountains, sometimes levelling it as a plain, sometimes making it rage with a storm, sometimes stilling it with a calm, making it easy for sea-faring voyagers to traverse. Thou hast girdled round with rivers the world which was made by Thee through Christ, and hast watered it with mountain-streams, and hast moistened it with overflowing springs, and hast bound it round with mountains, to make the earth most secure and unmoved. Thou hast replenished Thy world and adorned it with fragrant and medicinal herbs, with many and different kinds of living creatures, strong and weakly, edible and workable, tame and wild; with the hissing of serpents, and the cries of many-coloured birds;

72 with the revolutions of years and the numbers of months and days, the succession of seasons, and the courses of clouds big with rain, for the production of fruits, and the support of living creatures. Thou hast appointed the station of the winds, which blow at Thy command, and the multitude of plants and herbs. 73 And not only hast Thou created the world, but Thou didst also make man the citizen therein, exhibiting him as the ornament thereof. For Thou didst say to Thy Wisdom, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air.' Wherefore, too, Thou madest him of an immortal soul and a perishable body, the soul out of nothing, the body out of the four elements; and as to the soul, Thou didst endow him with rational knowledge, with the power of discerning between piety and impiety, and of observing right and wrong; and, as to the body, Thou didst grant him five senses, and the power of progressive motion. For Thou, O Almighty God, didst by Christ plant a garden eastwards in Eden, adorned with every kind of edible food, and into it as into a sumptuous dwelling-place Thou didst introduce man. And when Thou madest him, Thou didst give him an implanted law, that at home and within himself he might have the seeds of divine knowledge. And when Thou hadst brought him into this paradise of luxury, Thou didst allow unto him the power of partaking of all things, forbidding him only the taste of a single tree, in hope of greater blessings, in order that if he kept the commandment, he might receive the reward of his obedience in immortality.

74 But when he neglected the commandment and tasted the forbidden fruit by the guile of the serpent and the counsel of his wife, Thou didst justly cast him out of paradise; yet in Thy goodness Thou didst not suffer him to fall into utter destruction, for he was the work of Thy hands, but Thou didst subject creation to him, and didst grant unto him that he should procure sustenance for himself by the sweat of his brow and the labour of his hands, while Thou didst cause all the fruits of the earth to spring up, and grow, and ripen. At length, having laid him to sleep for a little while, Thou didst promise with an oath to recall him to a regeneration, having loosed the bond of death, and promised him life after resurrection. Nor was this all, but Thou didst also multiply his posterity without number, glorifying those who remained true to Thee, and punishing those who rebelled against Thee. And while Thou didst accept the sacrifice of Abel as of an holy man, Thou didst reject the offering of Cain who slew his brother as of an accursed person. Besides these Thou didst accept of Seth and Enos, and didst translate Enoch. For Thou art the Creator of men, and the Supplier of life, and the Fulfiller of want, and the Giver of laws, and the Rewarder of those who keep them, and the Avenger of those who break them.

75 Thou didst bring the great flood upon the world because of the number of the ungodly, saving righteous Noe from it in the ark with eight souls, the last of the foregoing and the first of succeeding generations. Thou didst kindle a fearful fire upon the five cities of Sodom, and didst turn a fruitful land into a salt lake for the wickedness of them that dwell therein, but didst snatch holy Lot out of the burning. Thou art He who didst deliver Abraham from the impiety of his forefathers, and madest him heir of the world, and revealedst unto him Thy Christ. Thou didst beforehand ordain Melchisedech to be the high priest in Thy service. Thou didst render Thy much-suffering servant Job conqueror over the serpent, the originator of evil. Thou madest Isaac the son of the promise, and Jacob the father of twelve sons, whose descendants Thou didst multiply exceedingly, bringing him into Egypt with seventy-five souls. Thou, O Lord, didst not overlook Joseph, but gavest him, as a reward for his chastity for Thy sake, the government of the Egyptians. Thou, O Lord, didst not overlook the Hebrews when they were evil-entreated by the Egyptians, on account of the promises made unto their fathers, but Thou didst deliver them, and punish the Egyptians. And when men corrupted the law of nature, sometimes deeming creation to be an automaton, sometimes honouring it more than was meet, and marshalling it against Thee who art the God of all things, Thou didst not suffer them to err;

76 but Thou didst raise up Thy holy servant Moses, and by him didst give the written law to assist the law of nature, showing the creation to be Thy handiwork, and abolishing the error of polytheism. Thou didst adorn Aaron and his sons with the honour of the priesthood. Thou didst punish the Hebrews when they sinned, and didst receive them again when they returned to Thee. Thou didst take vengeance on the Egyptians with ten plagues. Thou didst divide the sea, causing the Israelites to pass through, destroying the Egyptians who pursued them beneath its waves. With wood Thou didst make the bitter water sweet. Thou didst bring water out of the precipice of stone. Thou didst rain down manna from heaven, and broughtest food from the air in the form of quails. Thou gavest them a pillar of fire by night to give them light, and a pillar of cloud by day as a shadow from the heat. Thou appointedst Jesus to be the leader of their hosts, and through Him didst destroy the seven nations of the Canaanites. Thou didst divide Jordan, and dry up the rivers of Etham, and overthrow walls without machinery, and without the aid of human hands.

77 For all these things glory be to Thee, O Lord Almighty. Countless hosts of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, hosts, æons worship Thee; the Cherubim and six-winged Seraphim, with twain covering their feet, and with twain covering their heads, and with twain flying, together with thousand thousands of archangels, and ten thousand times ten thousand of angels, saying incessantly with unsilenced shouts of praise:

[Triumphal Hymn, or Tersanctus.]

78 And let all the people say together: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of His glory." Blessed is He for ever. Amen.

[Commemoration of the Work of Redemption.]

79 After this let the Bishop say: 80 For truly Thou art holy, and most holy, the most highest and highly exalted for ever. Holy also is Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who in all things doing service to Thee His God and Father, both in the creation of different things, and in taking care of them as they required, did not overlook the perishing human race; for after the law of nature, and the warnings of the positive law, and the reproofs of prophets, and the superintendence of angels, when men were corrupting both natural law and the positive law, and were banishing from their memory the burning [of Sodom], and the plagues of Egypt, and the slaughter of the nations of Palestine, being just ready to perish universally, the Creator of man was pleased Himself with Thy consent to become man, the Law-giver to become a subject, the High Priest to become a victim, the Shepherd to become a sheep. And He appeased Thee His God and Father, and reconciled Thee to the world, and freed all men from the impending wrath. He was born of a Virgin, incarnate, God the Word, the beloved Son, the First-born of every creature, and, according to the prophecies spoken before concerning Him by Himself, of the seed of David and Abraham, and of the tribe of Judah. He who fashioneth all who are born into this world was formed in the Virgin's womb; He took flesh who was without flesh; He who was begotten in eternity was born in time.

81 He was holy in His conversation, and taught according to the law. He drove away all manner of sickness and all manner of disease from among the people. He wrought signs and wonders in their midst. He who nourisheth all that stand in need of nourishment, and filleth all things living with plenteousness, partook of food, and drink, and sleep. He made manifest Thy Name to them that knew it not; He put ignorance to flight; He kindled the light of piety: He fulfilled Thy will, finishing the work which Thou gavest Him to do. And having accomplished all these things, He was seized by the hands of wicked men, priests and high priests, falsely so called, and a lawless mob, through the treachery of one who was possessed by wickedness as by a disease. And He suffered many things at their hands, and endured all manner of indignity by Thy permission, and was delivered over to Pilate the governor. And the Judge was judged, the Saviour was condemned, the impassible One was nailed to the cross; He who was by nature immortal died; the Giver of life was buried, that He might loose from suffering and deliver from death those for whose sake He came, and that He might break the chains of the devil, and deliver mankind from his deceit. And on the third day He rose again from the dead, and after continuing forty days with His disciples, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of Thee His God and Father.

[Commemoration of the Institution.]

82 Mindful therefore of what things He suffered on our behalf, we give thanks to Thee, Almighty God, not as we ought, but as we are able, and we fulfill His institution. For in the same night in which He was betrayed, He took bread in His holy and spotless hands, and looking up to Thee His God and Father, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is the mystery of the New Testament. Take of it, eat; this is My body, which is broken for many for the remission of sins." Likewise also having mingled the cup with wine and water, and having blessed it, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; this is My blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Do this in remembrance of me; for as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show My death until I come."

[The Great Oblation.]

83 Remembering therefore His passion, and death, and resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven, and His future second coming, in which He cometh with glory and power to judge the quick and the dead, and to render to every man according to his deeds, we offer to Thee, our King and our God, according to His institution, this bread and this cup, giving thanks to Thee through Him that Thou hast thought us worthy to stand in Thy presence, and to offer as priests before Thee.

[The Invocation.]

84 And we beseech Thee that Thou wouldest look graciously on these gifts now lying before Thee, O God, who needest naught: and that Thou wouldest be well-pleased to accept them to the honour of Thy Christ, and that Thou wouldest send down Thy Holy Spirit, the witness of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, upon this sacrifice, that He may make this bread the body of Thy Christ, and this cup the blood of Thy Christ; so that they who partake thereof may be confirmed in piety, may obtain remission of their sins; and be delivered from the devil and his wiles, may be filled with the Holy Ghost, may be made worthy of Thy Christ, and may obtain eternal life, Thou, O Lord Almighty, being reconciled to them.

[Great Intercession.]

85 We further beseech Thee, O Lord, for Thy holy Church universal, which Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of Thy Christ, that Thou wouldest keep it, unshaken and unstormed, until the end of the world, and for every episcopate rightly dividing the Word of truth. We further beseech Thee on behalf of myself, who am nothing, who now offer unto Thee, and on behalf of the whole presbyterate, on behalf of the deacons, and of all the clergy, that Thou wouldest endue them all with wisdom, and fill them with the Holy Ghost. Furthermore, we beseech Thee, O Lord, for the king and those that are in authority, and for the whole army, that they may be peaceably disposed towards us, in order that leading all the rest of our life in peace and quietness we may glorify Thee through Jesus Christ our hope. Furthermore, we offer unto Thee on behalf of all Thy saints who have pleased Thee from the beginning of the world, patriarchs, prophets, just men, apostles, martyrs, confessors, bishops, presbyters, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, virgins, widows, laity, and all those whose names Thou Thyself knowest.

86 Furthermore, we offer unto Thee, on behalf of this people, that Thou wouldst make them, to the praise of Thy Christ, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; on behalf of those who are living in virginity and purity; on behalf of the widows of the Church; on behalf of those who are living in holy matrimony, and who are labouring with child; and on behalf of the infants among Thy people, that Thou wilt not suffer any of us to be cast away. Furthermore, we entreat Thee also on behalf of this city, and them that dwell therein; for the sick; for those who are in the bitterness of slavery; for those in banishment; for those in prison; for those who are travelling by land or water, that Thou wouldst be the Helper, Assister, and Supporter of them all. Furthermore, we beseech Thee also on behalf of those who hate us and persecute us for Thy Name's sake; on behalf of those that are without, and wandering out of the way; that Thou wouldst convert them to that which is good, and appease their wrath against us.

87 Furthermore, we beseech Thee also on behalf of the catechumens of the Church, and for those who are vexed by the adversary, and on behalf of our brethren who are penitents, that Thou wouldst perfect the former in the faith, and cleanse the second from the possession of the evil one, and accept the repentance of the last, and forgive unto them and unto us our trespasses. Furthermore, we also offer unto Thee that we may experience a seasonable temperature and receive the fruits of the earth in due season, in order that perpetually partaking of good things from Thee, we may praise Thee unceasingly, Who givest food to all flesh. Furthermore, we beseech Thee also on behalf of those who are absent for a just reason, that Thou wouldest keep us all in piety, and gather us immovable, unblamable, irreproachable, within the kingdom of Thy Christ, the God of all sensible and intelligent nature; for to Thee be all glory, worship and thanksgiving, honour and adoration, to Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, both now and ever, and for unceasing and unending generation after generation.

88 And let all the people say: Amen. Then let the Bishop say: The peace of God be with you all. And let all the people say: And with Thy Spirit. Then let the Deacon proclaim again: Let us again and again beseech God through His Christ. Let us pray to the Lord our God on behalf of the gift which has been offered, that the good God would receive it through the mediation of His Christ upon His heavenly altar for a sweet-smelling savour. Let us beseech Him on behalf of this church and people. Let us beseech Him for the whole episcopate, the whole presbyterate, the whole diaconate and ministry in Christ, and for the whole body which fills up the church, that the Lord would preserve and keep them all. Let us beseech Him for kings and those in authority, that they may be peaceably disposed towards us, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

89 Let us remember the holy martyrs, that we may be found worthy to become partakers of their trial. Let us pray for those who have passed to their rest in faith. Let us pray for a seasonable temperature, and for the full maturing of the fruits of the earth. Let us pray on behalf of the newly baptized, that they may be confirmed in the faith. Let us entreat God on behalf of one another. Raise us up, O God, by Thy grace. Let us stand up, and dedicate ourselves to God through His Christ.

[Prayer of Humble Access.]

90 Then let the Bishop say: O God, who art great, and whose Name is great, who art great in counsel and powerful in works, the God and Father of Thy holy Child Jesus, our Saviour, look upon us, and upon Thy flock, which Thou hast chosen through Him to the glory of Thy Name; sanctify us both in body and soul, and grant that being cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, we may partake of the good things spread before us; and judge none of us unworthy of them, but be Thou our Supporter, and Helper, and Protector, through Thy Christ, with whom to Thee and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, praise, adoration, and thanksgiving for ever. Amen. And after all have said 'Amen,' let the Deacon say: Let us attend.

[Sancta Sanctis.]

91 Then let the Bishop make this proclamation to the people: Holy things to holy persons. And let the people reply: There is one holy One, one Lord, one Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father, blessed for ever. Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord who hath also appeared unto us. Hosanna in the highest.

[The Communion.]

92 After this, let the Bishop receive; then the Presbyters, and Deacons, and Sub-Deacons, and Readers, and Singers, and Asectics, and among the women the Deaconesses, and the Virgins, and the Widows; then the children, and afterwards all the people in order with fear and reverence, without tumult: Then let the Bishop administer the oblation, saying: The Body of Christ. And let the person receiving say: Amen. Then let the Deacon take the cup, and as he administers it let him say: The Blood of Christ, the cup of life. And let him that drinketh say: Amen. And let the thirty-third Psalm be said while all the rest are receiving, and when all, both men and women have received, let the Deacons take up what remains [of the consecrated elements] and bear it to the sacristy:

[The Post-Communion Thanksgiving.]

93 And when the Singer has finished let the Deacon say: Having received the precious body and the precious blood of Christ, let us give thanks unto Him who hath deemed us worthy to partake of His holy mysteries, and let us beseech Him that it may not be to us for condemnation, but for salvation, to the benefit of soul and body, for the preservation of godliness, for the forgiveness of sins, and for the life of the world to come. Let us arise. In the grace of Christ let us commend ourselves to God, the only unbegotten God, and to His Christ.

[Thanksgiving.]

94 And let the Bishop give thanks : O Lord God Almighty, Father of Thy Christ Thy blessed Son, who art ready to hear them that with uprightness call upon Thee, and who knowest the petitions of them that are silent, we yield Thee thanks for that Thou hast vouchsafed unto us to partake of Thy holy mysteries, which Thou hast given unto us, for the fulfilment of good resolutions, for the preservation of piety, and for the remission of transgressions; because the name of Thy Christ hath been called over us, and we have been enrolled in Thy family. Thou who hast separated us from fellowship with the ungodly, unite us with those who have been sanctified to Thee, establish us in the truth by the descent of the Holy Ghost; that which we do not know do Thou reveal; that which is wanting do Thou fill up; in that which is known to us do Thou strengthen us; preserve Thy priests blameless in Thy service; maintain kings in peace, and rulers in righteousness; preserve the atmosphere in a good temperature, the fruits of the earth in fertility, the world in Thy all-powerful providence. Soften the nations that delight in war, turn back that which has gone astray; hallow Thy people; guard the virgins; keep married people faithful; strengthen the continent; bring infants to riper years; confirm the newly baptized; instruct the catechumens; cause them to become worthy of initiation, and lead us all into the kingdom of heaven, through Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to Thee and to the Holy Ghost be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.

95 Then let the Deacon say: Bow down to God through His Christ, and receive the blessing. And let the Bishop pray over them, saying: O God Almighty, true and incomparable, who art everywhere, and art present in all things, though existing in nothing as part hereof, Thou who art not circumscribed by place or aged by time, who art not limited by ages, or led aside by words, who art not subject to generation and needest no guard, who art superior to corruption, and unsusceptible of change, who art immutable by nature, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, naturally invisible, yet comprehensible to all reasonable natures that with good will seek for Thee, the God of Israel, Thy people which truly seeth Thee, and which hath believed in Christ, be favourable and hear me for Thy name's sake, and bless those that have bowed their necks unto Thee, and grant unto them their hearts' desires so far as may be expedient for them, and suffer none of them to be cast away out of Thy kingdom, but sanctify them, guard them, shelter them, assist them, rescue them from the adversary and from every enemy, protect their houses; keep them in their coming in and in their going out; for to Thee belongeth glory, praise, majesty, worship, and adoration, and to Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and God, and King, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and for endless ages. Amen.

[Dismissal.]

96 And the Deacon shall say: Depart in peace.'

§ 15. Another Description of the Liturgy.

97 This will perhaps be the most convenient point at which to append the description of the early Christian Liturgy, as found in Book ii. chap. 57 of the Apostolic Constitutions. The person addressed is the bishop. 'When thou callest together the Church of God, as the commander of a great ship, order the assemblies to be made with all knowledge, charging the Deacons as mariners to assign places to the brethren as passengers, with all carefulness and solemnity. And, in the first place, let the building be long, turned towards the East, with vestries on both sides at the east end; and it will be like a ship. Let the Bishop's throne be placed in the middle, and the Presbyters be seated on each side of him, while the Deacons stand by in for the most part closely girt vestments, because they correspond to the sailors and to the overseers of the rowers on each side of the ship. Let these so arrange that the laymen be seated in a different part of the church, in a silent and orderly way; and let the women be seated apart by themselves, they also keeping silence.

98 [LECTIONS.—(a) Old Testament.] In the middle let the Reader, standing in some elevated position, read the Books of Moses and of Jesus the son of Nave, Judges, Kings, Chronicles, and Books connected with the return from the Captivity; and in addition to these the Books of Job, of Solomon, and of the sixteen prophets. [(b) Acts and Epistles.] And when two lessons have been read, let some one else sing the hymns of David, and let the people join at the conclusion of the verses. Afterwards let our Acts be read, and the Epistles of Paul, our fellow-labourer, which he sent to the Churches under the conduct of the Holy Ghost.

[(c) Gospel.]

99 After this, let a Deacon or Presbyter read the Gospels, both those which we Matthew and John have delivered to you, and those which the fellow-labourers of Paul received and left to you, Luke and Mark. And when the Gospel is read, let all the Presbyters, and Deacons, and all the people stand in perfect silence, for it is written, "Take heed, and hearken, O Israel," and again, "Do thou stand here and hearken."

[Sermon.]

100 Next let the Presbyters exhort the people, one by one, not all together, and last of all the Bishop who resembles the commander. 101 Let the door-keepers stand at the men's entrances and guard them, and the deaconesses at the women's entrances, like persons taking seamen on board. For the same [description and] pattern was also in the tabernacle of the testimony, [and in the temple of God.] And if any person be found sitting in a wrong place, let him be rebuked by the Deacon, as by the man standing at the ship's head, and let him be transferred to his proper place. For the church is not only like a ship, but it is also like a sheepfold. For as shepherds place these brute beasts, goats and sheep, separately according to their kind and age, and each of them has a tendency to run together, the like to his like; so let it be in the church; let the younger people sit by themselves, if there be a place for them, if not let them stand upright; and let those who are already advanced in years be seated in order. As to the children who are standing, let their fathers and mothers take charge of them. The younger women again let them sit by themselves, if there be room, but, if not, let them stand behind the women. And let the women who have been already married, and have borne children, be placed by themselves. The virgins, and widows, and the older women should stand or be seated first of all. The Deacon should be the disposer of places beforehand, in order that every one who enters may go into his proper place, and may not sit at the entrance. In the same way let the Deacon superintend the people, in order that no one may whisper, or slumber, or laugh, or nod; for people ought to stand in church wisely, and soberly, and watchfully, having their attention fixed on the word of the Lord.

[Expulsion of Catechumens and Penitents.— Prayer of the Faithful, Etc.]

102 After this, let all rise up with one consent, and looking eastward, after the departure of the catechumens and penitents, pray in the eastward position to God who ascended up to the heaven of heavens, remembering also the original situation of paradise in the East, whence the first man was expelled, after he had broken the commandment, persuaded by the serpent's guile. After the prayer, let some of the Deacons attend upon the oblation of the Eucharist, waiting upon the body of the Lord with fear, and let others of the Deacons keep watch on the congregation, and ensure silence among them. Then let the Deacon who is in attendance on the Bishop say to the people: Let no one have a quarrel against any, let no one come in hypocrisy.

[Kiss of Peace.]

103 Then let the men salute each other, and the women salute each other with the kiss of peace, but let no one act deceitfully, as Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss.

[Deacon's Bidding Prayer.]

104 After this, let the Deacon pray for the whole Church, and for the whole world, with the parts thereof and the fruits thereof, for priests and rulers, for the Bishop, and the king, and for universal peace.

[Benediction of the People.]

105 After this, let the Bishop pray for peace upon the people, and bless them, as Moses commanded the priests to bless the people with these words, "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and give thee peace." Then let the Bishop pray over the people, and say, "Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance, which Thou hast purchased and acquired with the precious blood of Thy Christ, and hast called a royal priesthood and a holy nation."

[Great Oblation.—Communion.]

106 After this, let the sacrifice follow, all the people standing, and praying silently; and when the oblation has been made, let each rank by itself partake of the body of the Lord and His precious blood, in order, with reverence, and godly fear. Let the women approach with their heads covered, as becometh the rank of women. The doors should be guarded, lest any unbeliever, or any unbaptized person should come in.' This prayer is to be said by the bishop while he is laying his hands on the candidate in the presence of the presbyters and deacons— 107 'O Lord Almighty, our God, who hast created all things by Christ, and who, with mutual love, takest care of the whole world by Him; for He who had power to make different creatures, has also power to take care of them in different ways. Wherefore, O God, Thou providest for immortal beings by bare protection, but for mortal beings by succession—in the case of the soul by attention to laws, in the case of the body by the supply of its wants. Do Thou now, therefore, also look down Thyself upon Thy holy Church, and increase it, and multiply those that preside over it, and grant them power to labour, both in word and deed, for the edification of Thy people. Look down also now upon this Thy servant, who is advanced to the presbyterate by the vote and decision of the whole clergy, and fill him with the spirit of grace and counsel, that he may help and guide Thy people with a pure heart, as Thou didst look down upon Thy chosen people, and didst command Moses to choose elders, whom Thou didst fill with Thy spirit. Do Thou also now, O Lord, grant this, and preserve in us the unfailing spirit of Thy grace, in order that Thy servant, being filled with the gifts of healing and the word of teaching, may in meekness instruct Thy people, and may serve Thee sincerely with a pure mind and a willing heart, and may blamelessly discharge the priestly ministrations on behalf of Thy people; through Thy Christ, with whom to Thee and the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.' This prayer is to be said by the bishop, laying his hands on the candidate in the presence of the presbyters and deacons—

108 'O God Almighty, true and without guile, who art rich unto all them that call upon Thee in truth, fearful in counsels, wise in understanding, powerful and great, hear our prayer, O Lord, and hearken unto our supplication, and cause the light of Thy countenance to shine upon this Thy servant, who is being ordained to the office of deacon in Thy service; and replenish him with the Holy Spirit and with power, as Thou didst replenish Stephen the martyr and follower of the sufferings of Thy Christ. Do Thou make him worthy to discharge acceptably the office of a deacon now committed unto him, steadily, unblamably, without reproach, that so he may become worthy of a higher degree; through the mediation of Thy only-begotten Son, with whom glory, honour, and worship be unto Thee and the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.'

§ 18. A Prayer at the Ordination of a Deaconess.

109 This prayer is to be said by the bishop, laying his hand upon the candidate in the presence of the presbyters, deacons, and deaconesses— 'O eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of man and woman, who didst fill with Thy spirit Miriam, and Deborah, and Anna, and Huldah; who didst not disdain that Thy only-begotten Son should be born of a woman; who in the tabernacle of witness and in the temple, didst ordain women to be the keepers of Thy holy gates, do Thou now also look down upon this hand-maiden, who is being ordained to the office of deaconess; give unto her the Holy Spirit, and cleanse her from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, so that she may worthily accomplish the work committed to her hands, to Thy glory, and to the praise of Thy Christ, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Spirit, be glory and worship for ever. Amen.

§ 19. A Prayer at the Ordination of a Sub-Deacon.

110 This prayer is to be said by the bishop as he lays his hands upon the head of the candidate— 'O Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things that are therein; who also in the tabernacle of witness didst appoint the vergers to be the guardians of Thy holy vessels; do Thou also now look down upon this Thy servant elected to the office of sub-deacon; and give unto him the Holy Spirit, that he may worthily handle Thy sacred vessels, and do Thy will always; through Thy Christ, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.'

§ 20. A Prayer at the Ordination of a Reader.

111 This prayer is to be said by the bishop as he lays his hands upon the head of the candidate— 'O eternal God, who art plenteous in mercy and compassions, who hast made manifest the constitution of the world by Thy operations therein, and who keepest the number of Thine elect; do Thou also now look down upon Thy servant who is ordained to the office of reading Thy Holy Scriptures to Thy people, and grant to him Thy Holy Spirit and the spirit of prophecy. Thou who didst give Thy servant Esdras skill to read Thy law to Thy people, now also hear our prayers, and give Thy servant skill, and grant unto him, that he may fulfil, without blame, the work which hath been entrusted to him, and be found worthy of higher advancement, through Christ, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory and worship for ever. Amen.'

§ 21. A Consecration of Water and Oil.

112 'O Lord of hosts, the God of powers, Creator of the waters, and Supplier of oil, who art merciful and a Lover of man, who gavest water for drink and for purification, and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, do Thou now also sanctify this water and this oil through Thy Christ, in the name of him [or her] that hath offered it; and give to them a power to restore health, to banish diseases, to put devils to flight, and to bring to nought every hostile design, through Christ our hope, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.'

§ 22. An Evening Prayer.

113 It will be easier to understand its character, if we reproduce here the preliminary directions and arrangements. When it is evening the bishop is directed to assemble the Church; during the lighting of the lamps a psalm is to be sung; then the deacon is to bid prayers for the catechumens, the energumens, competentes, and penitents. After the dismissal of these, the deacon invites the faithful to pray, and uses these words— 'Save us, O God, and raise us up by Thy Christ. Let us stand up, and pray for the mercies and compassions of the Lord, for the angel of peace, for what things are good and profitable, for a Christian end, for an evening and night peaceful and without sin, and let us pray that the whole course of our life may be without condemnation. Let us commend ourselves and each other to the living God, through His Christ.' Then let the Bishop add this prayer, and say :

114 O God, who art without beginning and without end, who madest the whole world through Christ, and who carest for it, but who art before all things His God and Father, the Lord of the Spirit, the King of all things known to our intelligence or our sense; who hast made the day for the works of light and the night for rest, for our weakness; for the day is Thine, and the night is Thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun; O Lord, Thou Lover of men, and full of all goodness, accept favourably this our evening thanksgiving. Thou who hast led us through the length of the day, and hast brought us to the beginning of the night, guard us through Thy Christ, give us a peaceful evening, and a night free from sin; and make us worthy of eternal life, through Thy Christ; through whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.

115 And let the Deacon say : Bow down for the laying on of hands. And let the Bishop say : O God of our fathers, and Lord of mercy, who by Thy wisdom didst form man as a reasonable creature, beloved of God above all other creatures on the earth, and gavest him power to rule over all things that are in the world; who hast willed to appoint rulers and priests, the former for the security of life, the latter for the regularity of worship, do Thou now also stoop down, O Lord Almighty, and make the light of Thy countenance to shine upon Thy people, who bow the neck of their hearts before Thee. Bless them through Christ, through whom Thou hast enlightened us with the light of knowledge, and hast revealed unto us Thyself, with whom worthy adoration is due to Thee, and to the Spirit, which is the Paraclete, from every reasonable and holy nature for ever. Amen.

116 And let the Deacon say: Depart in peace.'

§ 23. A Morning Prayer.

117 After the repetition of the morning Psalm, and the dismissal of the catechumens, energumens, competentes, and penitents, and after the usual bidding, the deacon is directed to say— 'Save them, O Lord, and raise them up by Thy grace. Let us beg the mercies and compassions of the Lord, that this morning, and this day, and the whole time of our sojourning here, may be peaceful and without sin; that He will send to us the angel of peace, and grant to us a Christian end, and the mercy and lovingkindness of God. Let us commend ourselves and each other to the living God, through His only-begotten [Son]. And let the Bishop add this prayer, and say: O God, the God of the spirits and of all flesh, incomparable, and in want of nought, who gavest the sun to rule the day, and the moon and the stars to govern the night, do Thou now also look down upon us with the eyes of pity, and receive our morning thanksgivings, and have mercy upon us. For we have not holden up our hands to any strange God, neither is there among us any new god, save Thou only the Eternal and Everlasting. Thou who hast given to us our being through Christ, and hast granted to us our well-being through the same, deign also to make us worthy of eternal life through Him, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.

118 And let the Deacon say: Bow down for the laying on of hands. And let the Bishop add this prayer, and say: O God, faithful and true, who hast mercy on thousands, and ten thousands in them that love Thee, Lover of the humble and Protector of them that want, of whom all things stand in need, because all things are subject unto Thee: look down upon this Thy people, who have bowed down their heads to Thee, and bless them with spiritual blessings; keep them as the apple of an eye; preserve them in piety and righteousness; and deem them worthy of eternal life in Christ Jesus Thy well-beloved Son; with whom to Thee and the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship, now, and for ever, and for endless ages. Amen. And let the Deacon say: Depart in peace.'

§ 24. A Thanksgiving at the Presentation of the Firstfruits.

119 'We give thanks to Thee, O Lord Almighty, Creator and Provider of the universe, through Thy only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, for the firstfruits now offered unto Thee, not in such manner as we ought, but to such extent as we are able. For who among men can worthily give thanks unto Thee for those things which Thou has given unto them to partake of? O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all the saints, who madest all things bear to perfection by Thy word, and didst command the earth to bring forth every kind of fruit for our refreshment and our food, giving juices for more sluggish and sheepish natures, grass for animals that eat grass, flesh for some, and seed for others; but corn to us, as advantageous and suitable for our food; and many different things, some for use, some for health, and some for our delight. On all these accounts Thou art worthy to be exalted in hymns of praise, for Thy beneficence unto all, through Christ, through whom to Thee in the Holy Ghost be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.'

§ 25. A Prayer for the Faithful Departed.

120 First of all, the deacon is directed to bid as follows :— 'Let us pray for our brethren who have passed to their rest in Christ, that God, the Lover of men, who hath received his soul, may forgive him every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, and may be merciful and gracious unto him, and may assign him a place in the country where the pious range at large, in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with all those that have pleased Him, and done His will from the beginning of the world, whence grief, and sorrow, and sighing have fled away. Let us arise and commend ourselves and each other to the eternal God through the Word which was in the beginning. And let the Bishop say : 121 O Thou, who art by nature immortal and unending, from whom every creature, both immortal and mortal, hath its being; who hast made man, the reasonable living creature, the denizen of this world, in his constitution mortal, therewithal adding the promise of a resurrection; who didst suffer Enoch and Elias not to taste of death; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, Thou art their God, not as of the dead, but as of the living; for the souls of all live unto Thee, and the spirits of the righteous are in Thy hand, and there shall no torment touch them; for they are all sanctified under Thy hands; do Thou now also regard this Thy servant, whom Thou hast selected and received into another state, and pardon him whatever sin he hath committed voluntarily or involuntarily; and send angels of mercy to him, and place him in the bosom of the patriarchs and prophets, and apostles, and all who have pleased Thee from the foundation of the world, where there is no grief, nor pain, nor sighing, but the place where pious souls range at large, and a land where the righteous are at rest, and the inhabitants whereof see the glory of Thy Christ, through whom to Thee, in the Holy Spirit, be glory, honour, and worship, thanksgiving, and adoration for ever. Amen.

122 And let the Deacon say: Bow down and receive the blessing. And let the Bishop offer thanksgiving over them in the words which follow: O Lord, save Thy people, and give Thy blessing unto Thine inheritance, which Thou hast purchased with the precious blood of Thy Christ. Shepherd them under Thy right hand, and cover them under Thy wings, and grant unto them to fight the good fight, and to finish their course, and to keep the faith, immutably, unblamably, and irreprovisably, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom to Thee, and to the Holy Ghost, be glory, honour, and worship for ever. Amen.