in Advent, 'Repent ye,' &c.
in Lent, 'Rend your hearts,' &c.
And the Sentences from Ps. 51.
on Sundays and Festivals, 'To the Lord our God,' &c.,
'I will arise,' &c.
on Week-days, 'Enter not into judgment,' &c.
The other Sentences can be used at any time.
19. A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, all kneeling. Almighty and most merciful Father, &c.
The epithet 'general' prefixed to the word 'Confession' mainly refers to the generality of its expressions, as being said by the whole congregation, and not being individual or particular. It was ordered to be said not 'with' but 'after' the Minister—i.e. each clause, as marked by an initial capital, should be completely said by the Minister, and then repeated by the congregation. This was probably because the congregation required to be taught it, it being new in 1552.
The phrase 'humble voice,' in the closing Sentence of the preceding Exhortation, seems to have a double force, moral and vocal; and to point to the careful solemnity with which the Confession should be said. A low pitch of voice, therefore, such as is easily within the reach of all, and a moderately slow time, seem absolutely necessary.
In Musical Services it is best to recite on E rather than on G or A, to the end of the Lord's Prayer, dropping a third to C, as customary, at 'O Lord, open Thou our lips,' and rising to G at 'Glory be to the Father,' &c. On this point it should be remembered that the standard musical pitch three centuries ago—i.e. in the time of Marbeck and Tallis—was considerably, lower than the present standard pitch.
20. The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing; the people still kneeling. Almighty God, &c.
Of late years. Bishops, when present at Morning Prayer, have sometimes pronounced this Absolution instead of the Priest who is officiating. But the absence of any such direction as that which is given in the Communion Office appears to shew that this practice was not intended at Morning or Evening Prayer.
A Deacon, officiating in the absence of a Priest, may not use this Absolution as a prayer, nor may he substitute for it either the prayer, 'O God, whose nature,' &c. or any other prayer.
21. The people shall answer here, and at the end of all other prayers, Amen.