The above is taken from a very curious MS. in the Museum Library, Ms. Bibl. Reg. 17. B. xvi. xvij. consisting of long rubrics, and prayers relating to the Liturgy, all in English verse. I shall make several extracts from it as we proceed. I shall in future refer to it as Museum MS. 11 (Precor omnes sanctos Dei. Sar.) It is one thing to assert that the Saints can hear our prayers, if we address them; it is another to believe that they offer up for us, and for the Church of which they are members, prayers and intercession. That the Almighty does listen graciously to the prayers of His Saints we know from the Sacred Scriptures. In Genesis, Abimelech, we read, was told that if he restored to Abraham his wife, the 66 Patriarch should pray for him, and he should live. Now, therefore, restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet: and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live." ch. xx. ver. 7. And again, in the 42nd ch. of Job, ver. 7, Eliphaz and his two friends, against whom the wrath of the Lord was kindled, are directed to“ go to My servant Job,—and My servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept." In the most ancient offices we find forms of confession and absolution before the more solemn part of the Liturgy: they are in the Liturgy of S. James, which next to the Clementine, is without doubt, the oldest extant. The Gallican Liturgy contains them, under another name, Apologia: and several forms are in the Sacramentary of S. Gregory. The present form in the Roman Missal, it will be observed varies very materially from the Sarum and other English Uses. It has been ascribed, that is, in its present state to Pope Damasus: but without any authority, as the best commentators allow. Archbishop Egbert alludes to the English form of confession, in his Penitential. 12 (Percutit sibi. Rom.) "Tunsio pectoris obtritio cordis." S. Augustin. Enar. 2. In Psal. 31. SARUM. BANGOR. EBOR. > Ministri respondeant. ISEREATUR ISEREATUR vestri omnipotens M vestri omnipoM Deus, et dimittat vobis omnia Μ peccata vestra, liberet vos ab omni malo, conservet et confirmet in bono, et ad vitam perducat æternam. tens Deus: et dimittat vobis omnia peccata vestra: liberet vos ab omni malo, servet et confirmet in omni opere bono et perducat vos ad vitam æternam. BSOLUTIONEM et remissionem omnium peccatorum vestrorum, spatium veræ penitentiæ, (et, Sar.) emendationem vitæ, gratiam et consolationem sancti Spiritus, tribuat vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. 13 (Tibi pater. Rom.) This, even though a Bishop, or the Pope himself, be present. "Cum minister, et qui intersunt (etiam si ibi fuerit Summus Pontifex) respondent Confiteor, dicunt tibi pater, et, te pater, aliquantulum conversi ad celebrantem." Ritus Celebr. Miss. Tit. iii. 9. 14 Et sciendum est quod quicunque sacerdos officium exequatur: semper episcopus si præsens fuerit ad gradum chori dicat: Confiteor, Misereatur, et Absolutionem." Rubr. Miss. Sar. 15 This ceremony is peculiar in this place to the Sarum and Bangor Churches: nor is it easy to say from whence it was introduced. Certainly, |