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After Matins ended, the people being called together by the ringing of a bell, and assembled in the Church, the English Litany shall be said after the accustomed manner; which ended, the Priest shall go into the pulpit, and say thus:

RETHREN, in the Primitive Church there was a godly discipline, that, at the beginning of Lent, such persons as were notorious sinners, were put to open penance, and punished in this world, that their souls might be saved in the day of the Lord; and that 13 others admonished by their example might be more afraid to offend. In the stead whereof, until the said discipline may be restored again (which thing is much to be wished) it is thought good that at this time (in your presence) should be read the general sentences of God's cursing against impenitent sinners, gathered out of the xxvij. Chapter of Deuteronomy, and other places of Scripture; and that ye should answer to every sentence, Amen: To the intent that you being admonished of the great indignation of God against sinners, may the rather be called to earnest and true repentance, and may walk more warily in these dangerous days; fleeing from such vices, for the which ye affirm with your own mouths the curse of God to

be due.

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URSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten Image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place to worship it.

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the which [1604] [S. L.]

10 called [1604] [S. L.]

12 These references are found only in [S. L.] in the margin.

13 other [1549]

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And the people shall answer and say,

Amen.

S. L.

1604 And the people shall answer and say, Amen.

'Minister. Cursed is he that curseth his father and mother, Deut.

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1 Minister. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way.

Deut. 27. 18.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.

Answer. Amen. 1 Minister.

27.24.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. 2 Cursed is he that letteth in judgment the right of the stranger, of them that be fatherless, and of widows.

Answer. Amen.

Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. Deut.

Answer. Amen.
Minister.

20. 10.

Answer. Amen.

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

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the innocent.

Answer. Amen.

Answer. Amen.

'Minister. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the soul of innocent blood. Deut. 27. 25. Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord. Jer. 17. 5. Answer. Amen.

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OW seeing that all they are accursed (as the prophet David beareth witness,) who do err and go astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and 5 always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing and lamenting

The verses are not printed in [1604]

Presbyter [S. L.]

2 Cursed is he that in judgment hindereth, stoppeth, or perverteth the right of the stranger, of them that be fatherless, and of widows. Deut. 27. 19. [S. L.]

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And the people shall answer, and say

Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that curseth his father 6or mother.

Answer. Amen.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that removeth away the mark of his neighbour's land.

Answer. Amen.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way.

Answer. Amen.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that letteth in judgment the right of the stranger, of them that be fatherless, and of widows.

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that smiteth his neighbour secretly.

Answer. Amen.

I Answer. Amen.

| Answer. Amen.

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

Answer. Amen.

I Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that taketh reward to slay the soul of innocent blood.

Answer. Amen,

Answer. Amen.

Minister. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, and taketh man for his defence, and in his heart goeth from the Lord.

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prophet David beareth witness) which do Ps. cxviij. err and go astray from the commandments of God; let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and being "alway at hand) return unto our Lord God, with all contrition and meekness of heart; bewailing and lamenting

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Heb. x. 31.
Ps. xi. 6.

Isa. 26. 21.
Mal. 3. 2.

3.

Prov. 1. 28, 29, 30.

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S. L.

our sinful life, acknowledging and confessing our offences, and S. Mat. 3. 10. seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the axe put unto the root of the trees, so that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: He shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to visit the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to enS. Mat. 3. 12. dure when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he 1 Thess. 5. 2, will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night; and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing Rom. 2.4,5. with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves; which despised the goodness, patience, and longsufferance of God when he 'calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me (saith the Lord,) but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall Mat. 25. 41. be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as 5 children of the light; that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; and though they be like Ezek. 18. 30. purple, yet they shall be made white as wool. "Turn ye, (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sin shall not be your destruction: Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done; make you new hearts, and a new

S. Mat. 25. 10, 11, 12.

[S. L.]

2 Cor. 6. 2.

S. Joh. 9. 4.

Joh. 12. 35, 36. [S. L.]

S. Mat. 25. 30.

Isai. 1. 18.

1 knowledging [1604]

10

3 For upon the wicked he shall tempest; this shall be the portion 4 called [1604] [S. L.]

6 the utter [1604]

2 which [S. L.]

rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible of their cup. [S. L.]

the children [1604] [S. L.] 7 which [1604] [S. L.]

if (with a whole mind and true heart) we, &c. [1604] [S. L.]

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our sinful life, knowledging and confessing our offences, and seeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For 12 now is Mat. iij. the Axe put unto the root of the trees, so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Heb. x. God: he shall pour down rain upon the sinners, snares, fire Ps. x. and brimstone, storm and tempest; this shall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to visit Isai. xxvi. the wickedness of such as dwell upon the earth. But who may Mal. iij. abide the day of his coming? Who shall be able to endure when he appeareth? His fan is in his hand, and he will purge Mat. iij. his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh 1 Thess. v. as a thief upon the night: and when men shall say, Peace, and all things are safe, then shall 13 suddenly destruction come upon them, as sorrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then shall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obstinate sinners, through Rom. ij. the stubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves; which despised the goodness, patience, and long sufferance of God, when he called them continually to repentance. Then Prov. i. shall they call upon me, saith the Lord, but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye Matt. xxv. cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, 2 Cor. vi. while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe Joh. ix. in the light, and walk as the children of the light; that we be not cast into the utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing

of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, which calleth Matt. xxv. us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity 14 promised

us forgiveness of that which is past, if (with a whole mind, and

15 true heart) we return unto him. For though our sins be red Isai. i.

as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; and though they be

like purple, yet shall they be as white as wool. Turn you Ezek. xxviji. clean (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sin shall not be your destruction. Cast away from you all your Ezek. xvij. ungodliness that have done; ye make you new hearts, and a new spirit wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel, seeing

9 shall be as white, &c. [1604] [S. L.]

10 shall they be as white as wool [1604] [S. L.]

"Turn you clean (saith the Lord) from, &c. [1604] [S. L.]

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even now is [1549]

13 sudden [1549]

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a true heart [1549]

14 promiseth [1552] [1549]

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