Anthropology of the 1928 Prayer Book

If one was to study biblical anthropology, the normal flow of study would be Man's Creation, Man's Original Condition, Man's Probation, Man's Fall, and Man's Present Condition. It has been said that if you want to know what Anglicans believe, then you must look to the creeds and to the prayers for we are not a confessional church, but a creedal church. And I dare say, we are a praying church.

One technique I use in counseling individuals, when I need to know their spiritual state and what they believe about God and themselves, is to require them to pray every night for a week, write down what they prayed, then bring the written record of their prayers to our next session for my review. I can tell much of their spiritual absolutes, beliefs, and presuppositions from their prayers. The same is true with churches. We can tell much of what Anglicans believe by our prayers.

In the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), we find what we believe about Man's Creation, Man's Fall, and Man's Present Condition.

I. Man's Creation

A. The Creeds - showing God's transcendence and immanence. The first thing we learn about man is that we are of other substance than God. WE ARE NOT GOD! There is nothing about us that is of the substance of God, neither body or soul. (pp. 29, 30, 15, 71, 284, 577)

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the Life everlasting. Amen.

I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

B. The Prayers

A prayer for all conditions of men

GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; . . . . (p. 18)

GOD the Father, Creator of heaven and earth;

Have mercy upon us. (p. 54)

C. Communion

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honor and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 75)

D. Made Male & Female

Jesus answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, . . . . (p. 268)

E. Christmas Day

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (p. 97)

II. Man's Fall

A. Easter Day

Eastertide begins with,

"Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For since by man came death, by man also came resurrection from the dead.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (p. 163)

B. Collects

God, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 189)

KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 210)

Man's Creation and Man's Fall are not spoken of much in the BCP; however, by far, there is much more said of Man's Present Condition.

III. Man's Present Condition - a sinner in need of a Savior. Our sinful condition and utter helplessness, unable to do anything to merit (gain) our salvation, is clearly presented throughout the whole of the BCP.

A. Morning Prayer - sinners in need of mercy, forgiveness, cleansing from sin, defense, the Holy Spirit of Grace, health, truth, faith peace, righteousness, and knowledge.

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 cloak 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 that 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:

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 which we ought not to have done, And there is no health in us: But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their fault, Restore thou them that are penitent, According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord: And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. (pp. 5 & 6)

The Lord be with you;

Answer. And with thy spirit.

Minister. Let us pray.

Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us;

Answer. And grant us thy salvation. (p. 16)

GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 17)

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels; Send down upon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen (p. 18)

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for . . . all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. (p. 19)

B. Evening Prayer - we are rebellious sinners in need of mercy, righteousness, joy, salvation, peace, safety, and a clean heart.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us. Dan. 9. 9, 10. (p. 22)

I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51. 3. (p. 22)

A general Confession, to be said of the whole Congregation, after the Minister, all kneeling.

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;

Answer. And grant us thy salvation.

Priest. O Lord, save the State.

Answer. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Priest. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.

Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful.

Priest. O Lord, save thy people.

Answer. And bless thine inheritance.

Priest. Give peace in our time, O Lord;

Answer. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.

Priest. O God, make clean our hearts within us.

Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us. (p. 31)

C. Litany - We are blind sinners in need of mercy and deliverance from sin, our enemies, and sorrows.

Remember not, Lord, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us forever.

Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and mischief; from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all fornication, and all other deadly sin; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

Good Lord, deliver us. (p. 54)

Son of God : we beseech thee to hear us.

O Lamb of God : that takest away the sins of the world;

Grant us thy peace.

O Lamb of God : that takest away the sins of the world;

Have mercy upon us.

O Christ, hear us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us. (p. 57)

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

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

From our enemies defend us, O Christ.

Graciously look upon our afflictions.

Pitifully behold the sorrow of our hearts.

Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people.

Favorably with mercy hear our prayers.

O Son of David, have mercy upon us.

Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ.

Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ.

Priest. O Lord, let thy mercy be shewed upon us;

Answer. As we do put our trust in thee. (p. 59)

D. Ash Wednesday - sinners in need of God's mercy. (pp. 60-63)

E. Holy Communion - sinners in need of cleansing, mercy, unity, and forgiveness.

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 67)

The Decalogue responses:

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

68-69)

ALMIGHTY and ever living God, who by thy holy Apostle has taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: We humbly beseech thee most mercifully [to accept our alms and oblations, and] to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord: And grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. (p. 74)

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honor and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 75)

F. Collects - sinners in need of grace, mercy, new hearts, and forgiveness. We are sinners with NO power in ourselves to help ourselves.

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. (p. 90)

LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succor us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (p. 95)

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive all the sins of those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 124)

ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 127)

G. Family Prayers - We have a weak and corrupt nature in need of the Holy Spirit of grace. We are unworthy of salvation because of our sins and are in need of forgiveness and mercy.

The Prayer for Grace (p. 588)

Confession of Sins (p. 589)

H. Articles of Religion - we are sinners in need of a savior.

Article IX. Of Original or Birth Sin (p. 604)

Article X. Of Free Will (p. 604)

We are sinners, totally helpless in ourselves to help ourselves. Praise God that the BCP does not leave us there. As much as the BCP has to say about the doctrine of man - his sin and need for grace - it says even more of God's remedy to our present condition. We are to PRAY!

Our prayers should be that by God's grace, through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, He would have mercy upon us, pour out His grace upon us, forgive us our sins, help us, deliver us, cleanse our hearts, give us peace, joy, safety, salvation, and unity.

Our response to His mercy and grace must be the keeping of His Law and participation in worship - especially His Holy Sacraments of the Gospel. Our trust leads to obedience, body and soul.

Robert+