The General Confession in The Book of Common Prayer
The General Confession, which follows the Exhortation and precedes the Absolution, of Morning and Evening Prayer (in the BCP 1662 and USA 1928) is of exceedingly high quality as a spoken prayer of God’s assembled people. In contains a remarkable union of simplicity and fervour of tone together with solidity and exactness of thought. It falls into three parts (a) the actual confession of sin; (b) the petition for pardon, and (c) the prayer for grace.
Let us examine these three parts:
Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from they 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.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is most appropriately addressed as both omnipotent and also merciful. Because of these eternal attributes he is well able to forgive and cleanse sin in the whole of mankind through all space and time.
The essential character of evil before God is made clear in terms of its practical reality, straying from his ways and following our own desires and paths. Herein is the root of sin revealed, the self choosing of our own “devices” and the self-will of our own “desires”, which lead inevitably to acting contrary to God’s revealed law and commandments. This disobedience takes the form of sins both of commission and omission and its general effect is to destroy the health of the soul, making a healthy creaturely, relation to God in friendship and communion impossible. The image of God in man is defaced and immersed in sickness and needs to be restored and renewed. In such a condition – as seen by God - are all of us, whatever our education and good manners, and whatever our human achievements and successes.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord.
The plea for pardon to the Father, who is the Lord, is not made glibly but earnestly and honestly. It is based wholly on the promise of absolution, remission and pardon declared in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and on the call for faith, penitence and confession of sins also contained in that same Gospel. What God has promised, his people are wise to desire and ask for.
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.
The verb “grant” is a strong form of petition and is common in Collects; and it is matched by a powerful emphasis upon the mercy of God, the Father, who is not only addressed as “most merciful” but is reminded of the Atonement and Heavenly Intercession of his Son (“for his sake”). The forgiven children of God recognize that they are to live in godliness (always remembering their duty to God), in righteousness (always doing their duty to their neighbour) and in soberness (not forgetting their duty to themselves), and all being done exclusively to God’s glory. Absolution, remission, forgiveness and pardon from God the Father for Jesus Christ’s sake should produce a thankful, obedient and faithful people. Such is the perfect will of God. The “Amen” or “So be it” is the final underlining of what is desired and asked for.
In summary it may be noted that this Confession is based on St Paul’s analysis of sin in Romans 7: 8-25 and verses cited or quoted in it are in this order: Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 119:176; 1 Peter 2:25; Proverbs 19:21; Jeremiah 18:12; 2 Chronicles 28:13; Matthew 23:23; Psalm 38:3; Luke 18:13; Psalm 51:1; Nehemiah 13:22; Psalm 51:12; Romans 15:8; 1 John 2:12; Titus 2:11-12 & John 14:13.
This Confession should be compared with that in the Order for Holy 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 honour and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
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