| _These sentences of Scripture may be used at the beginning of_ | _Morning Prayer at the Great Festivals_. | | _Christmas-day and seven days after_. | | Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which | is Christ the Lord. _St Luke_ ii. 11. | | _Easter-day and seven days after_. | | The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. _St Luke_ xxiv. 34. | | _Ascension-day and seven days after_. | | Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting | doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. _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_.