. _Psalm_ xxiv. 7.
|
| _Or_, We have a great high priest that is passed into the
| heavens, Jesus the Son of God. Let us therefore come boldly
| unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
| grace to help in time of need. _Heb_. iv. 14, 16.
|
| _Whitsunday and six days after_.
|
| When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with
| one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from
| heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
| where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven
| tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them: and
| they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. _Acts_ ii. 1-4.

Dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places
to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and
that we should not dissemble nor cloke them before the face of
Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble,
lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain
forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And
although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins
before God; yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble
and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that
we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy
praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things
which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the
soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here
present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice unto
the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me:

| _The exhortation_, Dearly beloved brethren, _except on occasions_
| _specified by the Bishop, may be omitted, or may be abbreviated_
| _as follows:_
|
| Dearly beloved brethren, I pray and beseech you, as many as are
| here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble
| voice unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me;
|
| _Or the following may be said instead_,
|
| Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.

_A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation after
the Minister, all kneeling_.

Almighty and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed
from thy ways like lost sheep, We have followed too much the
devices and desires of our own hearts, We have offended against
thy holy laws, We have left undone those things which we ought
to have done, And we have done those things