tihravy of Che theological ^tmxn<^vy PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY •>» <«• FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE REVEREND JESSE HALSEY, D.D. BX 5947 .B8 B55 1896 A book of offices and prayers for Priest and V N^: f^^^P"*^^ A Book of Offices and Prayers For Priest and People Compiled by Two Presbyters of the Church \ CKoir" (iorris A)M NEW YORK: JAMES POTT & CO. i8g6. ~^ Copyright by JAMES POTT & CO. 1896. CONTENTS. THE PASTOR'S PRAYERS for Himself and His People, . . i OFFICES FROM THE BOOK OF COM- MON PRAYER The Baptismal Offices, .... 9 The Solemnization of Matrimony, . 23 The Visitation of the Sick, ... 27 The Communion of the Sick, . . 34 The Burial of the Dead, . , . . 45 The Burial of Children, ... 52 THE COLLECTS for the Christian Year, .... 59 Other Collects from the Prayer Book, . 82 Benedictions, , 85 PRAYERS for Children and Sunday Schools, . . 86 for Sunday School Teachers, . . 92 for Bible Classes, ..... 94 for Persons preparing for Confirmation, 96 in preparation for Holy Communion, . 97 for Church Workers, Guilds, etc. . 102 Family Prayers from the Prayer Book, . iii Occasional Prayers, in the family and for other Services, .... 116 Intercessions, 129 for Missions, 146 for the Sick and Dying, .... 159 for those in Affliction, .... 175 READINGS from the Bible, . . o . . 185 T^HE first intention of this book is to provide ^ a collection of Prayers that shall supple- ment The Book of Common Prayer in the hands of the Parish Priest in his daily ministrations and occasional services. The collection contains many Prayers which have approved themselves through use in Parish work. Some of them are, in a sense, accepted, in that they are not only of ancient origin, but are also in constant use in many places. Others are new, either in origin or adaptation. That they should be gathered to- gether in convenient form was the demand of experience on the part of the editors. It is believed that others will welcome such a col- lection and use it. The need of supplementing the authorized forms of the Prayer Book is more deeply felt each year, and is giving oc- casion not only to the growing use of ancient liturgical forms, but to new liturgical expres- sion. If this book can help forward in any way this movement within the Church, its produc- tion will be doubly justified. It is believed that it will add to the book's practical value that it contains the Offices from The Book of Com- mon Prayer and a selection of readings from the Bible. The Prayers are arranged to follow the order of the Christian life in its relation to the Church, and, while they are primarily designed for the Priest, it is hoped that they will also be found useful by the people in their family devotions. The editors are indebted to the Rev. Wm. R. Huntington, D.D., for kind co-operation in many ways, especially in reviewing and criticis- ing the proof ; they desire also to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Thomas Whittaker and of Messrs. E. P. Button & Co., in allowing the use of certain prayers from their publications. But it is not possible to specify, except in one gen- eral word of thanks, the many sources and helpers to whom the gratitude of the compilers is due. , ,' --jt^" CyOVvvv.- C. M. A.^'y 0^^>A^ J. W. S.^lA . Whitsuntide, 1896. I BELIEVE in God the Father Al- mighty, 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 de- scended into hell ; The third day he rose again from the dead : He as- cended 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 Commun- ion of Saints : The Forgiveness of Sins : The Resurrection of the body : And the life everlasting. Amen. /^UR Father, who art in heaven, Hal- ^^ lowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy w^ill be done on earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our tres- passes, As we forgive those who tres- pass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. THE PASTOR'S PRAYERS FOR HIMSELF AND HIS PEOPLE. OLORD my God, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; yet thou hast honoured thy servant with appointing him to stand in thy House, and to serve at thy holy Altar. To thee and to thy service I devote myself, soul, body, and spirit, with all \heir powers and faculties. Fill my memory with the words of thy Law ; enlighten my under- standing with the illumination of the Holy Ghost ; and may all the wishes and desires of my will centre in what thou hast commanded. And, to make me instrumental in promoting the salvation of the people now committed to my charge, grant that I may faithfully admin- ister thy holy Sacraments, and by my life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word. Be ever with me in the performance of all the duties of my ministry: in prayer, to quicken my devotion ; in praises, to heighten my love and gratitude ; and in preaching, to give a read- iness of thought and expression suitable to the clearness and excellency of thy holy Word. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Saviour. Amen. MOST gracious God, the giver of all good and perfect gifts, who of thy wise provi- dence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to thy servant, to whom the charge of this Con- gregation is now committed ; and so replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue him with innocency of life, that he may faith- fully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church ; through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. PRIVATE PRAYERS FOR GRANT to us, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we may so behave ourselves by thy grace as to be worthy of thee, and may af- ford to thy faithful people the example of a right conversation ; and that the everlasting salvation of thy people may become the reward of the priest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OGOD, whose ways are all mercy and truth, carry on thy gracious work, and bestow, by thy benefits, what human frailty cannot attain ; that we who attend upon the heavenly Mysteries may be grounded in perfect faith, and shine forth conspicuous by the purity of our souls ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, the Source and Perfection of all virtues ; grant us, we beseech thee, both to do what is right and to preach what is true ; that both by action and teaching we may afford to thy faithful people the instruction which is of thy grace ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O ETERNAL God, who hast made all things for man, and man for thy glory, sanctify my body and soul, my thoughts and my intentions, my words and actions, that whatsoever I shall think, or speak, or do, may be by me de- signed to the glorification of thy name, and by thy blessing may be effective and successful in the work of God, according as it can be capable. Lord, turn my necessities into virtue, the works of nature into the works of grace, by making them orderly, regular, temperate, subordinate and profitable to ends beyond their proper efficacy, and let no pride or self-seek- ing, no covetousness or revenge, no impure mixture or unhandsome purposes, no little PASTOR AND PEOPLE. ends and low imaginations pollute my spirit and unhallow any of my words and actions ; but let my body be a servant of my spirit, and both body and spirit servants of Jesus ; that doing all things for thy glory here, I may oe partaker of thy glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OGOOD Shepherd, who camest to seek and i^ to save that which was lost, be with me in this my work. Strengthen me in my weakness. Give me greater zeal for thy glory ; greater love for the souls thou diedst to save. Let not my sins or infirmities hinder thy grace. Grant me faithfulness with tenderness, and boldness with meekness. Teach me, that I may teach. Comfort me, that I may comfort. Bless that which I shall speak in thy name. And have mercy both upon the Pastor and upon the flock. Amen. OGOD, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faith- ful, visit, we pray thee, this Congregation with thy love and favour ; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlast- ing Gospel ; graft in their hearts a love of the truth ; increase in them true religion ; nourish them with all goodness ; and of thy great mercy keep them in the same, O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we wor- ship and glorify as one God, world without end. An2en. OGOD, the Sovereign Good of the soul, who requirest the hearts of all thy children ; deliver us from all sloth in thy work, all cold- ness in thy cause ; and grant us by looking unto thee to rekindle our love, and by waiting upon thee to renew our strength ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRIVATE PRAYERS FOR OLORD Jesus Christ, thou good Shepherd of the flock, mercifully hear our supplica- tions, and grant unto this parish all things that are needful for its spiritual welfare. Unite the hearts of pastor and people in love of thee, and in zeal for thy work. Endue the clergy with holiness and wisdom ; strengthen and in- crease the faithful ; visit and relieve the sick ; convert the wicked ; rouse the careless ; recover the fallen ; restore the penitent ; remove all hindrances to the advancement of thy truth ; and bring all to be of one heart and mind within the fold of thy holy Church ; to the honor and glory of thy Name, who art with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service ; take from us all our lukewarmness and halfhearted- ness. Stir up within us more life and zeal and entire devotion to thee. Give us the spirit of prayer, without which we cannot serve thee truly. Make us forward and self-denying in good works. Make us to care for the eternal good of others, that w^e may, each according to his power and his calling, teach thy ways unto the wicked, and that sinners may be converted unto thee. Build us up more and more, O Lord, in faith and love and unity and holiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee to hear our prayers for such as sin against thee, or neglect to serve thee, especially those in this parish, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to bestow upon them true repentance, and an earnest longing for thy service, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PASTOR AND PEOPLE. LORD Jesus, we intercede with thee for the conversion of all in this parish, who are liv- ing in wilful sin and godlessness. Turn them, O Lord, and they shall be turned. Take from them the heart of stone, and give them the heart of flesh. Rouse them to see their peril, and to flee from the wrath to come. Hear, O Lord, our special intercession for those near and dear to ourselves. Make us also to labour as we pray and may each one of us be an in- strument in the salvation of some one soul. Hear us, O Saviour, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, evermore. Amen. QFFICES FROM THE gOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES IN FULL AND ARRANGED FOR THEIR COMBINED USE. The Minister coming to tJie Font (which is then to be filled with pure water) and standing tJiere sfuill say, Hath this Person [or this Child'\ been already baptized, or no ? 1 If they answer, No : then shall the Minister proceed as fol- Icnveth, tJie People all standing until the Lord's Prayer. DEARLY beloved, forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, *[azid that which is born of the *j^^ ^^ omitted in flesh is flesh, and they ^Arho are the Office of Infant in the flesh cannot please God, Baptism, but live in sin, committing many actual trangressions ;'\ and our Saviour Christ saith, None can enter into the king- dom of God, except he be regenerate and born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost ; I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous goodness, he will grant to these Persons and these Infants that which by nature they cannot have ; that they may be baptized with "Water and the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy Church, and be made lively members of the same. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. U Then shall the 3Iifusier say, Let us pray. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy great mercy didst save Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red Sea, figuring thereby thy holy Baptism ; and by the Baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ in the river Jor- dan, didst sanctify Water to the mystical wash- ing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thine infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these thy Servants and these Infants; wash them and sanctify them with the Holy Ghost; that they being delivered from thy wrath, may be received into the ark of Christ's Church ; and being stedfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally they may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with thee, world without end ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IT Or this. ALMIGHTY and immortal God, the aid of all who need, the helper of all who flee to thee for succour, the life of those who believe, and the resurrection of the dead ; We call upon thee for these thy Servants and these Infants, that they, coming to thy holy Baptism, may receive remission of sin, by spiritual regenera- tion. Receive them, O Lord, as thou hast promised by thy well-beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. So give now unto us who ask ; let us who seek, find ; open the gate unto us who knock ; that these Persons and these Infants may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. [7"^? Minister shall then, when the Services are to be combined, proceed to the questions, page /j,] but [ When the Office for Infants is used alone see page /j.] a7id [ Wheji the Office for A dults is used alone :] IT T/ien the Minister shall say. Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. John, in the third Chapter, beginning at the first Verse. THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews : the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him. Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God : for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him. How can a man be born when he is old ? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born .^ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, "Ve must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hear- est the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it Cometh, and whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit. H After which he shall say this 'Exhortz.iion following. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the express words of our Saviour Christ, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can- not enter into the kingdom of God. Whereby ye may perceive the great necessity of this Sacrament, where it may be had. Likewise, X2 THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. immediately before his ascension into heaven, (as we read in the last Chapter of Saint Mark's Gospel,) he gave command to his disciples, saying, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that be- lieveth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Which also showeth unto us the great benefit we reap thereby. For which cause Saint Peter the Apostle, when upon his first preaching of the Gospel many were pricked at the heart, and said to him and the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ? replied and said unto them. Repent, and be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the "Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words exhorted he them, saying, Save your- selves from this untoward generation. For (as the same Apostle testifieth in another place) even Baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will favourably receive these present Persons, truly repenting, and coming unto him by faith ; that he will grant them, remission of their sins, and bestow upon them the Holy Ghost ; that he will give them the blessing of eternal life, and make them, partakers of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father toward these Persons, declared by his Son Jesus Christ ; let us faithfully and devoutly give thanks to him, and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, We give thee humble thanks, For that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee : Increase this knowledge. And confirm this THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. 13 faith in us evermore. Give thy Holy Spirit to these thy Servants, That they may be born again, And be made heirs of everlasting salva- tion ; Through our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. H TAen tlie Minister shall speak to the Persons to be baptized on this wise. WELL-BELOVED, who are come hither de- siring to receive holy Baptism, ye have heard how the congregation hath prayed, that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to re- ceive you and bless you, to release you of your sins, to give you the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also, that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his holy Word to grant all of those things that we have prayed for ; which promise he, for his part will most surely keep and perform. Wherefore, after this promise made by Christ, ye must also faithfully, for your part, in the presence of these your Witnesses, and this whole congregation, promise and answer to the following questions. {See page ij.] [ When the Office for In/ants is used alotie :] IT Then the Minister shall say as follo^veth : or else shall pass im- mediately to the Questions addressed to the Sponsors. But Note, That in every church the intermediate parts of the Service shall be used, once at least in every month, {if there be a baptism^ for the better instructing of the People in tJie grounds of It f ant Baptism. Hear the words of the Gospel, written by St. Maria, in the tenth Chapter, at the thirteenth Verse. THEY brought young children to Christ, that he should touch them : and his dis- ciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased. 14 THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you. Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter there- in. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. IT After the Gospel is read, the Minister shall make this brief Exhortation upo7i the words of the Gospel. BELOVED, ye hear in this Gospel the words of our Saviour Christ, that he commanded the children to be brought unto him ; how he blamed those who would have kept them from him ; how he exhorteth all men to follow their innocency. Ye perceive how, by his out- ward gesture and deed, he declared his good will toward them ; for he embraced them in his arms, he laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. Doubt ye not therefore, but earnestly believe, that he will likewise favour- ably receive this present Infant; that he will embrace hinx with the arms of his mercy ; that he will give unto him the blessing of eternal life, and make him partaker of his everlasting kingdom. Wherefore, we being thus persuaded of the good will of our heavenly Father towards this Infant, declared by his Son Jesus Christ; and nothing doubting but that he favourably allow- eth this charitable work of ours in bringing this Infant to his holy Baptism ; let us faith- fully and devoutly give thanks unto him, and say, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, We give thee humble thanks. That thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowledge of thy grace, and faith in thee : Increase this knowledge. And confirm this faith in us ever- more. Give thy Holy Spirit to this Infant, That he may be born again. And be made an heir of everlasting salvation ; through our Lord Jesus Christ, W^ho liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, Now and for ever. Amen. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. 15 IT T hen shall the Minister speak nnto the Godfathers atid God- mothers on this wise. DEARLY beloved, ye have brought this Child here to be baptized ; ye have prayed that our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to re- ceive him, to release him from sin, to sanctify him. with the Holy Ghost, to give him. the kingdom of heaven, and everlasting life. Ye have heard also that our Lord Jesus Christ hath promised in his Gospel to grant all these things that ye have prayed for : which promise he, for his part, will most surely keep and perform. W^herefore, after this promise made by Christ, this Infant must also faithfully, for his part, promise by you that are his sureties, (until he come of age to take it upon himself,) that he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obe- diently keep his commandments. ^ The Minister shall then detnand of the sponsors or of the Persons to be baptized, as follozueth ; tlie Questions beifig con- sidered as addressed to them severally, and the A nswers to be made accordingly. I demand therefore, DOST thou \in the name of this child] renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous de- sires of the same, and the sinful desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them ? Ansvi^er. I renounce them all ; and, by God's help, will endeavour not to follow, nor be led by them. Minister. Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as contained in the Apostles' Creed? Answer. I do. Minister. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith ? Answer. That is my desire. Minister. \A^ilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of thy life ? Ansvirer. I will, by God's help. x6 THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. IF Theti shall the Mmister say, O MERCIFUL God, grant that the old Adam in these thy Servants and in these In- fants may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. Amen. Grant that all sinful affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them. Amen. Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. Amen. Grant that they, being here dedicated to thee by our office and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and everlastingly re- warded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God, who dost live and govern all things, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY, everliving God, whose most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, did shed out his most precious side both water and blood ; and gave commandment to his disciples, that they should go teach all nations, and baptize them In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; Regard, we beseech thee, the sup- plications of thy congregation; sanctify this Water to the mystical washing away of sin ; and grant that these thy Servants and these Infants, now to be baptized therein, may receive the fulness of thy grace, and ever remain in the number of thy faithful children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IT Then shall the Minister take each Person to be baptized by the right hand ; a?id placi7ig him conveniently by the Font, according to his discretion, shall ask the Godfathers and Godmothers the Name; and then shall dip him /« the water, or pour water upon him, saying, NI baptize thee in the Name of the Father, • and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. 17 IT Tfien sltall the Minister say, WE receive this Person into the congrega- tion of Christ's flock; and do *sign him. with the sign of the Cross, * Here the Minister »" token that hereafter he shall make a Cross upon shall not be ashamed to con- the Person's forehead. fegg the faith of Christ cruci- fied, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil ; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto Ms life's end. Amen. H Then the Minister shall take the Child into his hands, and shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers, Name this Child. IT A nd tJien, naming it after them, he sJiall dip it in the Water discreetly, or shall pour Water upon it, saying, NI baptize thee in the Name of the Father, • and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. ^ Then shall the Minister say, WE receive this Child into the congregation of Christ's flock ; and do *sign him with the sign of the Cross, in * Here the Minister token that hereafter he shall shall make a Cross upon not be ashamed to confess the Child' s forehead. t^g faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil ; and to continue Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life's end. Amen. IT Then shall the Minister say, SEEING now, dearly beloved brethren, that these Persons and these Infants are regener- ate, and grafted into the body of Christ's Church, let us give thanks unto Almighty God for these benefits ; and with one accord make our prayers unto him, that they may lead the rest of their life according to this beginning. l8 THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. U Thefi shall be said, all kneeling. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. TT The7i shall the Miftisier say, WE yield thee hearty thanks, most merci- ful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate these thy Servants and these Infants with thy Holy Spirit, to receive them for thine own children by adoption, and to incorporate them into thy holy Church. And humbly we be- seech thee to grant, that they, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin ; and that, as they are made partakers of the death of thy Son, they may also be par- takers of his resurrection ; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, they may be inheritors of thine everlasting kingdom ; through Christ our Lord. Amen. ^ Then all standing- up, the Minister shall use this Exhortation followifig : s/eaking to the Godfathers and Godmothers first. FORASMUCH as these Persons have prom- ised, in your presence, to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your part and duty to put them in mind, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession they have now made be- fore this congregation, and especially before you their chosen witnesses. And ye are also to call upon them, to use all diligence to be rightly in- structed in God's holy "Word, that so they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and live godly, righteously, and soberly, in this present world. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. 19 IT A nd then, sneaking- to the baptized Persons, he shall proceed and say, AND as for you, who have now by Baptism put on Christ, it is your part and duty also, being made the children of God and of the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to walk answerably to your Christian calling, and as becometh the children of light ; remembering always that Baptism doth represent unto us our profession ; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ and to be made like unto him ; that as he died, and rose again for us, so should we who are bap- tized, die from sin, find rise again unto righteous- ness ; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. II Then the Minister shall say to the Godfathers and Godmothers this Exhortation folloiving. FORASMUCH as this Child hath promised by you his sureties, to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him ; ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this Infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession he hath here made by you. And that he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear Ser- mons; and chiefly ye shall provide that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health ; and that this Child may be vir- tuously brought up to lead a godly and a Chris- tian life ; remembering always that Baptism doth represent unto us our profession ; which is to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him ; that, as he died, and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto right- eousness ; continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. IT Then shall he add, and say, YE are to take care that this Child be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him, so soon as he can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and is sufficiently instructed in the other parts of the Church Cate- chism set forth for that purpose. * THE MINISTRATION OF PRIVATE BAPTISM OF CHIL- DREN IN HOUSES. IT The Minister of ez'ery Parish shall often admonish the People that they defer ttot the Baptism of their Children longer than the first or second Sunday next after their birth, or other H oly -day falling between, 7inless np07i a great and reasonable cause. IF A fid also he shall warn them, that without like great cause and necessity, they proctire not their Childreri to be baptised at home in their houses. But ivhen need shall compel them so to do, then Baptism, shall be adtninistered as follcnveth. IT First, let the minister of the Parish (or, in his absence, any other laiiful Mitiister that cati be procured) xoith those who are present, call upon God, and say the Lord'' s Prayer, a?id so many oj the Collects appoifited to be said before in the Form of Public Baptism, as the time and present exigence will suffer. A nd then, the Child being named by so7ne one Tvho is present, the Minister shall pour Water upon it, saying these words : NI baptize thee In the Name of the Father, • and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. IT Then the Minister shal give thanks unto God, and say, WE yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to re- generate this Infant with thy Holy Spirit, to re- ceive him. for thine own Child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy Church. And humbly we beseech thee to grant, that he, being dead unto sin, and living unto righteous- ness, and being buried with Christ in his death, may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin ; and that, as he is made partaker of the death of thy Son, he may also be partaker of his resurrection ; so that finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, he may be an inheritor of thine everlasting kingdom ; through Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BAPTISMAL OFFICES. The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth. O ALMIGHTY God, we give thee humble thanks for that thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve, through the great pain and peril of child-birth, this woman, thy servant, who desireth now to offer her praises and thanksgivings unto thee. Grant, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, that she, through thy help, may both faithfully live and walk ac- cording to thy will in this life present, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lordo Amen, ^ THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. H The laws respecting- Matrhnony, whether by publishing the Baftns in Churches, or by Licefice, being differ e7it in t/te several States, eziery Alinister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing tJuit regards the civil contract between the parties. IT A nd when the Bamis are published, it shall be in the following form : I publish the Banns of Marriage between A/, of , and iV. of . If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. Tliis is the first [second or third] time of asking. ^ At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall coine into the body of the Church, or shall be ready in sojue proper house, ivith tlieir friends and neighbours ; and there standing together, tJie Alan on the right hatid, and the Wo7na7i on tJie left, the Minister shall say, DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony ; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church : which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is com- mended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but rever- ently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. 24 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. U A nd also speaking unto the Persons who are to be married, he shall say, I REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matri- mony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. II The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the la%vfidness of the proposed Marriage, may demand S2ifficie7it surety for his indemnification ; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or sus- pected, the Minister shall say to the Mati, MWILT thou have this Woman to thy • wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony ? "Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health ; and, for- saking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? IT The Man shall answer, I will. IT Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman, NWILT thou have this Man to thy wedded • husband, to live together after God's ordi- nance in the holy estate of Matrimony ? W^ilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health ; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live "i T[ The Woman shall answer, I will. w SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. IT Then shall the Mviister say HO giveth this Woman to be married to this Man ? IT Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner. The Mifiister, receiviiig the IVotnan at her father'' s or friejicfs hands, shall cause the J\Ia>t with his right hand to take the Woman by }ier right hand, and to say after him asfolloweth, IM. take thee N. to my wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance ; and thereto I plight thee my troth. IT Then shall they loose their hatids ; and the IVoman with her right hand taking tlie Man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister : N. take thee M. to my wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forwfard, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, n sick- ness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance ; and thereto I give thee my troth. IT Then shall they again loose their hands ; and tJie Man shall give U7ito the IVomafi a Ring. A nd the Minister taking the Ring shall deliver it ujtto the Man, to put it upon the fourth fi>/ger of the Jl'o)nan''s left hand. A 7id the Man holding the Ring there, afid tarcght by the Minister, shall say, WITH this Ring I thee wed, and with al my worldly goods I thee endow : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. IT Then, the Man leaving the Ring upon the fourth finger of the Woman\ left hand, the Minister shall say, Let us pray. OUR Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth. As it is in heaven. Give 26 SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. US this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil. Amen. O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life ; Send thy bless- ing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name ; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IT Thefi shall the Minister join their right hands together, and say^ T HOSE whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. ^ Theyi shall the Minister speak unto the Coinpany, FORASMUCH as Af. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have wit- nessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and "Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 51 A 7id the Minister shall add this blessing. GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you ; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace ; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life ever- lasting. Amen. THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. IT When any perso-)i is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish ; who, coming- into the sick person's house, shall say, PEACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. H When he covieth into the sick niaiCs presence, he shall say, kneeling down, REMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers : Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Ans-wer. Spare us, good Lord. IT Then the Minister shall say. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. OUR Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who tres- pass against us. And lead us not into tempta- tion ; But deliver us from evil. Amen. 28 THE ORDER FOR THE Minister. O Lord, save thy servant. Answer. Who putteth his trust in thee. Minister. Send him help from thy holy place; Ansvirer. And evermore mightily defend him. Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him.; Ansvver. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him.. Minister. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower ; Answer. From the face of his enemy. Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend liim from the danger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "EAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed good- ness to this thy servant, who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to liim; that the sense of Ais weakness may add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance : that, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health, lie may lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory : or else, give liim grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlast- ing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. H TJieu shall the Minister exho7-t the sick Person after this for jh.^ or othsr like. VISITATION OF THE SICK. 29 DEARLY beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining; as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Where- fore, whatsoever your sickness be, know you certainly that it is God's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness be sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the Lord, laudable, glori- ous, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father ; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life. II IftJie Person visited be very sick, then the Minister may end his Exhortation in this place, or else proceed. TAKE therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord: for (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth Chapter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them rever- ence : shall v/e not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live "i For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure ; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, good brother, are written in holy Scrip- 30 THE ORDER FOR THE ture for our comfort and instruction ; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's correction, whensoever, by any manner of adversity, it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian per- sons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suf- fering patrently adversities, troubles, and sick- nesses. For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain ; he entered not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Now therefore, taking your sickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you, in the Name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an ac- count to be given unto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged, without respect of persons, I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be ac- cursed and condemned in that fearful judgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith ; that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no. 1 Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, say- iftg' thus, DOST thou believe in God the Father Al- mighty, Maker of heaven and earth ? And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord ? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary : that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried : that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day : that he VISITATION OF THE SICK. 31 ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: and from thence shall come again, at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead ? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost: the holy Catholic Church ; the Communion of Saints: the Remission of sins: the Resurrec- tion of the flesh : and everlasting Life after death ? IT The sick person shall answer , All this I stedfastly believe. IT The7t shall the Minister examine whether Jte repent hitn truly oj his sins, and Iw in charity with all the world ; exhorting hint to forgiz'e^froin the bottoju of his heart, all perso7ts t/tat have of- fended him ; and if he hath qffefided any other, to ask them forgiveness ; and luliere he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his po^ver A nd if he hath not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his Debts, what he oweth, a7id li-'hat is oiving unto hiin, for tlie better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men shoiddoften be put i?i retnembrance to take order for the settlifig of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health. IT The Exhortatio7i before rehearsed, 77iay be said before tfte Mi7i- ister begin his Prayer, as lie shall see cause. H The Mi7iister shall not omit ear7testly to 77iove such sick perso7is as are of ability, to be liberal to the poor. IT A nd then the Mi7iister shall say the Collect followi?ig. Let us pray. OMOST merciful God, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more ; Open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant, who most ear- nestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew in him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the 32 THE ORDER FOR THE devil, or by his own carnal will and frailness ; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church ; consider Jus contrition, accept his tears, assuage his pain, as shall seem to thee most expedient for him. And foras- much as he putteth liis full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit ; and, when thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto thy favour ; through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IT T/ien shall the Mmister say this Psalm. Psalm 130. De profundis. |UT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord : Lord, hear my voice. let thine ears consider well : the voice of my complaint. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss : O Lord, who may abide it ? For there is mercy with thee : therefore shalt thou be feared. 1 look for the Lord ; my soul doth wait for him : in his word is my trust. My soul fleeth unto the Lord : before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch, O Israel, trust in the Lord ; for with the Lord there is mercy: and with him is plenteous re- demption. And he shall redeem Israel : from all his sins. IT A ddi7tg this. SAVIOUR of the world, who by thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed us ; Save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord. VISITATION OF THE SICK, 33 IT Then sJiaU the Minister say, THE Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all those who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey. Be now and evermore thy defence ; and make thee know and feel, that there is none other Name under heaven given to man, in whom, and through whom, thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. IT Here the Minister vtay use any part of the service of this Book, ivhich, in his discretion, he shall think C07ivenient to the occa- sion ; and after that shall say^ UNTO God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Am.en. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. IF Fortzstnuch as all mortal men are subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertaiji zvkat time they shall depart out of this life ; tltereforc , to the intefit they itiay be al- ivays ifi readiness to die, luhensoever it shall please A Imighty God to call them, the Ministers shall diligently /rojn time to time {b?{t especially in the time of pestilejice, or other infections sickness) exhort their parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Cotnmnni07t of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, luheti it shall be pnblicly administered in the Church ; that so doing, they may, in case of sudden visitation, have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same. But if the sick person be not able to come to the Church, and yet is desirous to receive the Conim24uio7i in his house ; then he must give timely notice to the J\Ii7tister, sigtiifying also hoiv many there are to commutiicate ivith him, {zvhich shall be tivo at the least ;) afid all things nec- essary beittg prepared, the Minister shall there celebrate the Holy Comjnunion., beginning with the Collect, Epistle, and Gos- pel, li€rcfollowi}ig. The Collect. ALMIGHTY, everliving God, Maker of man- kind, who dost correct those whom thou dost love, and chastise every one whom thou dost receive ; "We beseech thee to have mercy upon this thy servant visited with thine hand, and to grant that he may take his sickness patiently, and recover his bodily health, if it be thy gracious v/ill ; and that, whensoever his soul shall depart from the body, it may be without spot presented unto thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Epistle, Heb. xii. 5. Y son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him : for whom the Lord loveth he chas- teneth, and scourgeth every son whom he re- ceiveth. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 35 The Gospel. St. John v. 24. VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death unto life. After %vJiich the Minister shall proceed according to the for^m prescribed for the Holy Covimuniou, begituiing at these words: YE who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walk- ing from henceforth in his holy ways ; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort ; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling. IT Then shall this General Confession Be made, by the Priest and all those who are 7ni?idedto receive the Holy Coniiniaiion, Immbly kneelijtg. 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. 36 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. H The7i shall the Priest (the Bishop if he be present) stand up , a7id ttirnitig to the People, say, LMIGHTY God, pur heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgive- ness of sins to all those who with hearty repent- ance and true faith turn unto him ; Have mercy upon you ; pardon and deliver you from all your sins ; confirm and strengthen you in all good- ness ; and bring you to everlasting life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. TT Then shall the Priest say, Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him. COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. St. Matt. xi. 28. So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that be- lieve in him should not perish, but have ever- lasting life. St. John iii. 16. Hear also what Saint Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received. That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, i Tim. i. 15. Hear also what Saint John saith. If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins, i St. John ii. I, 2. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 37 IT After which the Priest shall proceed, saying, Lift up your hearts. AnsweT. We lift them up unto the Lord. Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God. Answer. It is meet and right so to do. IT T/iefi shall the Priest turn to the Lord's Table, a7id say, IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should # y,^^^ ^,^^^^ at all times, and in all places, give [Holy Father] thanks unto thee, O Lord, [^Holy nmst be omitted on Father,] Almighty, Everlasting Trimty-Sunday. God. IT Here shall follow the Proper Preface, according to the titne, if there be any specially appointed ; or else imtnediately shall be said or sung by the Priest, Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name ; evermore praising thee, and saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord ^ Priest and God of hosts. Heaven and earth People. are full of thy glory : Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Amen. PROPER PREFACES. Upon Christmas-day, and seven days after. BECAUSE thou didst give Jesus Christ, thine only Son, to be born as at this time for us ; who, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, was made very man, of the substance of the Virgin Mary his mother ; and that without spot of sin, to make us clean from all sin. Therefore with Angels, etc. 38 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. Upon Easter-day, and seven days after. lUT chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord : for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world ; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. There- fore with Angels, etc. Upon Ascension-day, a7id seven days after. THROUGH thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord ; who, after his most glorious Resurrection, manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven, to prepare a place for us ; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. Therefore with Angels, etc. Upon Whitsunday, aiid six days after. THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven, with a sudden great sound, as it had been a mighty wind, in the likeness of fiery tongues, lighting upon the Apostles, to teach them, and to lead them to all truth ; giving them both the gift of divers languages, and also boldness with fer- vent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations ; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, etc. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 39 Upon the Feast of Trinity only, may be said, WHO art one God, one Lord; not one only Person, but three Persons in one Sub- stance. For that which we believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. Therefore with Angels, etc. IT Or else this may be said, the words [Holy Father] being retainea m tJie introductory A ddrcss. FOR the precious death and merits of thy Son Jesus (Christ our Lord, and for the sending to us of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter ; who are one with thee in thy Eternal Godhead. Therefore with Angels, etc. IT Then shall the Priest, kneeling doamt at tJie Lord''s Table, say> in the name of all those who shall receive tJie Cominunioji, this Prayer following. WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is al- ways to have mercy : Grant us therefore, gra- cious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. TT JVhen the Priest, standing before the Table, hath so ordered the Bread afid IFijie, that he may ivith the more readiness and de- cency break the Bread before the People, and take the Cup into his ha?ids, lie shall say the Prayer of Consecration, as followeth. 40 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. ALL glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption ; who made there (by his one obla- tion of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did insti- tute, and in his holy Gospel cominand us to con- tinue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again: For in the night in which he was betrayed, (a) he took Bread ; and ^^^ ^^^^ ^J^^ when he had given thanks, (fc) he Priest is to take brake it, and gave it to his di's- i^'^ Paten into his ciples, saying, Take, eat, (c) this is ^""(^f;^;,,/ hereto my Body, which is given for you ; break the Bread. Do this in remembrance of me. fc) A>idhereto Likewise, after supper, (d) he took J^J^fiw. ''''''' the Cup; and when he had given (d) Here he is to thanks, he gave it to them, saying, i(^^^ i^^e C^ip into Drink ye all of this; for (e) this" '"JeM^^^ W A. is my Blood of the New Testa- is to lay his hand ment, which is shed for you, and ^pon every vessel r-,_ ..~>„_,. r„-. *.\^ ^ _„.~,:^„;„„ ^i in ivhich there is for many, for the remission of ^^^^ ^^.-^^^ ^^ ^^ sins ; Do this, as oft as ye shall consecrated. drink it, in remembrance of me. The Oblation, 'HEREFORE, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, we, thy humble ser- vants, do celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make ; having in re- membrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension ; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 41 AND we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to ^^'^ Invocation hear us ; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouch- safe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine ; that we, receiving them ac- cording to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood. ND we earnestly desire thy fatherly good- ness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly be- seeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins", and all other benefits of his passion. And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee ; humbly beseech- ing thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worth- ily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice ; yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service ; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; by whom., and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world with- out end. Am.en. IT Here may be simg a Hymn. 42 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. IT Then shall the Priest Jirst receive the Holy Cominunio7i in both kinds himself, and proceed to deliver the same to the Bishops, Priests, a>id Deacons, in like nia>iner, {if atiy be present,) atid, after that, to the People also in order, into their hafids, all de- voutly k7ieeling. A nd sufficient opportiuiity shall be given to those preseiit to commJinicate. A nd when he delivereth the Bread, he shall say, THE Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving. n A nd the Minister who delivereth the Cup shall say, THE Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remem- brance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful. IT If the consecrated Bread or Wi7te be spent before all have com- ■mnnicated, the Priest is to cojisecrate more, accordijtg to the Form before prescribed ; beginiiing at, All glory be to thee, Almighty God, a?id e?iding with these words, partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood. IT IVheit all have coninninicated, the Minister shall return to the Lord''s Table, and reverently place upo)i it ivhnt remaijieih of the consecrated Eletnents, covering the same with a fair listen cloth. IT The7t shall the Minister say the Lord's Prayer, the People re peati7ig after hi7n every Petitio7i. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from evil : For thine is the king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. 43 IT After shall be said as followeth. ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us ; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people ; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. IT Then shall be said or su7ig, all stayiding; Gloria in excelsis; or some proper Hymn from the Selection. GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy ; thou only art the Lord ; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 44 THE COMMUNION OF THE SICK. IT Then the Priest {the Bishop if he be present) shall let them de- part with this Blessing. THE Peace of God, which passeth all under- standing, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord : And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. ^ At the time of the distridntion of the holy Sacrament, the Min- ister shall first receive the Comimttiion himself and after min- ister unto those who are appointed to C07nmzmicate with the sick, and last of all to the sick person, IT In the times of contagio7is sickness or disease, or whe7t extreme iveakness renders it expedient, the following form shall suffice : The Confession and the A bsolntion ; Lift up your hearts, etc. through the Sanctus ; 7"/^!? Prayer of Consecration, endi7ig with these words, partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood; The Commufzion ; 'The Lord s Prayer ; The Blessing. IT But if a man, either by reason of extreinity of sick7iess, or for wa7it of ivarni7ig /« due ti77ie to the Mi/iister, or for lack of co77ipa7iy to receive ivith hi7ii, or by any other just i77ipedi7/ie7it, do 7iot receive the Sacrai7ie7it of Christ'' s Body a7id Blood, the Mi7uster shall i7istruct him, that if he do triily repe7tt hi77i of his si7is, a7id stedfastly believe that fesus Christ hath suffered death up07i the Cross for hi7n, a/id shed his Blood for his re- de77iptio7i, ear7iestly re77ie7nberi7ig the benefits he hath thereby, a7id givi7ig hi77i hearty tha7iks therefor, he doth eat and dri/ik the Body ajid Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his souPs health, although he do 7iot receive the Sacrat7ie7it with his tnojith. IT Whe7i the sick perso7t is visited, a7id receiveth the Holy Coni- mu7iio7i all at one ti7/ie, the7i the Mi7iister,for i7iore expeditio7i, shall ctit off the for77i of the Visitation at the Psah/i, a7id go straight to the Comimi7iio7i. IT hi the times of cotitagions sick7iess or disease, whe7i 7ione of the Parish or neighbours ca7i be gotte7i to co77i7nu7iicate ivith the sick i7i their houses, for fear of the i7ifectio7i, upon special request of the diseased, the Minister alo7ie may co77ijnu7iicate with hi7n. IT This Office may be used with aged and bed-ridde7i persons, or such as are 7tot able to atte/id the public Miiiistratio7i in Church, substituting the Collect, Epistle, a7id Gospel for the Day, for those appointed above. THE ORDER FOR THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. IT Here is to be noted, that the Office ensuing is 7iot to be used for afzy nnbaptized aduits, any who die exconifnjtnicate, or zvho have laid violent hands upoti themselves. IT The Minister, meeting the Corpse at the entra7i.ce of the Chiirch- yard, atid going be/ore it, either into the Church or towards the Grave, shall say or sing, I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord : he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. St. John xi. 25, 26. I KNOW that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth : and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Job xix. 25, 26, 27. WE brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the LORD. i Tim. vi. 7. Job i. 21. IT After they are come into the Church, shall be said or sung one or both 0/ the following Selections, taketifrotn the j,c)th anil qoth Psalms. ORD, let me know mine end, and the num- ber of my days : that I may be certified hov/ long I have to live. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long: and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee ; and verily every man living is altogether vanity. 46 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and dis- quieteth himself in vain : he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what is my hope : truly my hope is even in thee. Deliver me from all mine offences : and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish. When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a gar- ment : every man therefore is but vanity. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine cars consider my calling : hold not thy peace at my tears. For I am a stranger with thee, and a so- journer : as all my fathers were. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength : before I go hence, and be no more seen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. LORD, thou hast been our refuge : from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made : thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. Thou turnest man to destruction : again thou sayest. Come again, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday : seeing that is past as a watch in the night. As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep : and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up : but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure : and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee : and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 47 For when thou art angry all our days are gone : we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. The days of our age are threescore years and ten ; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years : yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow ; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. O teach us to number our days : that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. H Then sJuxll follozv the Lesson, taken out of the fifteenth Chapter of the first Epistle of St. Patd to the Coritithiaiis. I Cor. XV. 20. NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and be- come the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order : Christ the firstfruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; v/hen he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? why are they then baptized for the dead ? and why stand we in jeopardy every houv ? I 48 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the man- ner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephe- sus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not ? let us eat and drink ; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not ; for some have not the knowledge of God : I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up ? and with v^^hat body do they come ? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die : and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All fliesh is not the same flesh : but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars : for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the res- urrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dis- honour ; it is raised in glory : it is sown in weak- ness ; it is raised in power : it is sown a natural body ; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural ; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that fiesh and blood cannot in- BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 49 herit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corrup- tion inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery ; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incor- ruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on im.mortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writ- ten, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy vic- tory ? The sting of death is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. If Here may be sung" a HyviJi or an A nthein ; and., at the dis- cretioti of t lie Minister ^ the Creed, and sjtch fitting Prayers as are elsewhere provided in this Book, may be added. IT IVhen they come to the Grave, ivhile the Corpse is made ready to be laid into the earth, shall be snng or said, "AN, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He Cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadov/, and never con- tinueth in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death ; of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased ? Yet, O Lord God m.ost holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts ; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us. Lord most holy, O God most mighty, 50 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee. IT Tlien, while the earth shall be cast upon the Body by some stand- mg by, the minister shall say, FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased bi'other, we therefore commit his body to the ground ; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust ; looking for the general Resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead ; and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own glorious body ; according to the mighty work- ing whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. H Then shall be said or sung, HEARD a voice from heaven, saying unto me. Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead who die in the Lord : even so saith the Spirit ; for they rest from their labours. Rev. xiv. 13. ^ Then the Alinister shall say. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth. As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 51 T TIie7i tJte Minister shall say one or both 0/ thefollowing Prayers, at his discretioti. ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the y^ spirits of those who depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity ; "We give thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we beseech thee, that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and ever- lasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Axaen. O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life ; in whom whosoever believeth, shall live, though he die ; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him ; We humbly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness ; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him ; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight ; and receive that blessing, v/hich thy well-be- loved Son shall then pronounce to all who love and fear thee, saying. Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. IT InasnuicJi as it may soinctiiiies be expedieftt to say under shelter of the Church the whole or a part of the service appointed to be said at the Grave, the same is hereby allcnoed for weighty cause ^ 52 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. At the Burial of the Dead at Sea. IT The same office jnay be used ; but hi the Sentence of Cominittal, the Minister shall say, "We therefore commit his body to the deep, looking for the general Resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the sea shall give up her dead ; and the cor- ruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his glorious body; according to the mighty working where- by he is able to subdue all things unto himself. At the Burial of Children, H For the Sente^tces. THUS saith the Lord ; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears : for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord ; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. Jeremiah xxxi. 16, 17. HE shall feed his flock like a shepherd : he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. Isaiah xl. 11. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the Kingdom of God. Luke xviii. 16. THEY shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation vii. 16, 17. BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 53 - vj^jy ie^H.'^Zr." IT For the Psalm. hS^^L^ A'-^f^^ ^^^^ GOD is our hope and strength: a very pres- ent help in trouble. Therefore will we not fdar, though the earth be moved : and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea ; Though the waters thereof rage and swell : and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. ; The rivers of the flood thereof shall make i glad the city of God : the holy place of the ' tabernacle of the Most Highest. / God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed : God shall help her, and that right early Be still then, and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us : the God of Jacob is our refuge Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children : even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we are made : he remembereth that we are but dust. The days of man are but as grass : for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone : and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him : and his righteousness upon children's children ; Even upon such as keep his covenant : and think upon his commandments to do them. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost ; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 54 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. THE Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff com- fort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me : thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full. But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost ; As it v/as in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. '5--H/yVN.d''Wv' . IT For the Lesson. J^t \ P*^ > V ^ AND I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, com- ing down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, "Write : for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 55 I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abomi- nable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone : which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying. Come! hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wij[Q^ And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear as crystal ; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: on the east, three gates ; on the north, three gates ; on the south, three gates ; and on the west, three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth : and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper : and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, ; an emerald ; the fifth, sardonyx ; the sixth, sardius; ' the seventh, chrysolyte ; the eighth, beryl;! the ninth, a topaz ; the tenth, a chrysoprasus ; the ' eleventh, a jacinth ; the twelfth, an amethyst.j And the twelve gates were twelve pearls ; ev^ry 56 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. several gate was of one pearl ; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein : for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it : for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it : and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day ; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie : but they v/hich are written in the Lamb's book of life. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceed- ing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month ; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse : but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve him : and they shall see his face ; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there ; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth them light : and they shall * reign for ever and ever. Revelation xxi., i — xxii., 5, "^ ^ I^c?r the Sentence of Committal. 'ORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God our heavenly Father, to take away the soul of this child, from the evil to come, we therefore commit liis body to the ground ; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust ; in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. Amen. >RAYERS. THE COLLECTS FOR THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. The First Sunday in Advent. ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour 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. The Second Sunday in Advent, BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy ^A^ord, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Third Sunday in Advent. OLORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first com- ing didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee ; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world with- out end. Am.en. 6o THE COLLECTS FOR The Fourth Sunday in Advent. LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us ; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bounti- ful 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 honour and glory, world without end. Amen. The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called Christmas-day. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only- begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit ; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Or, GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ ; Grant that as we joyfully re- ceive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world with- out end. Amen. Saint Stephen^ s Day. GRANT, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 6l by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed ; and, being filled v/ith the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those who suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. Saint John the Evangelisfs Day, 'ERCIFUL Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being instructed by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to everlasting life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Innocents^ Day. O ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths ; Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. The Sunday after Christmas-day. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only- begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world v/ithout end. Amen. 62 THE COLLECTS FOR The Circumcision of Christ. ALMIGHTY God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man ; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit ; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IT T/ie same Collect shall serve for every day after, unto the Epiphany. The Epiphany, Or the Manifestatio7i of Christ to the Ge7itiles. OGOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gen- tiles ; mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The First Sunday after the Epiphafiy. OLORD, we beseech thee mercifully to re- ceive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee ; and grant that they may both per- ceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. The Second Sunday after the Epiphany. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth ; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 63 The Third Sunday afier the Epiphany. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. OGOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by rea- son of the frailty of our nature we cannot al- ways stand upright ; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. OLORD, we beseech thee to keep thy Church and household continually in thy true relig- ion ; that they who do lean only upon the ope of thy heavenly grace may evermore be defended by thy mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. OGOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eter- nal life ; Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure ; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom ; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world with- out end. Am.en. 64 THE COLLECTS FOR The Sunday called Septuagesima, Or the Third Sunday before Leiit. OLORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people ; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be merci- fully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name ; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. The Sufiday called Sexagesimay Or the Second Sufiday before Lent. LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do ; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Sunday called Quinquagesima, Or the next Sunday before Lent. OLORD, who hast taught us that all our do- ings without charity are nothing worth ; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which who- soever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. J The First day of Lent, commonly called Ash- Wednesday, ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost for- give the sins of all those who are penitent ; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 65 that we, worthily lamenting our sins and ac- knowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. H T/its Collect is to be read every day hi Lent, after tJie Collect appointed for the day. The First Sunday in Lent. OLORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights ; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world with- out end. Amen. The Second Sunday in Lent. 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 ad- versities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Third Sunday in Lent. WE beseech thee. Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 66 THE COLLECTS FOR The Fourth Sunday in Lent. RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily de- serve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved ; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. G The Fifth Sunday in Lent, WE beseech thee. Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people ; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Sunday next before Easter. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility ; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Good Friday. ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 67 ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is gov- erned and sanctified ; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and minis- try, may truly and godly serve thee ; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. O MERCIFUL God, v/ho hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live ; Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics ; and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word ; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the rem.nant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Easter-Even. ^ GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our cor- rupt affections we may be buried with him ; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his mer- its, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Easter-day. ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-be- gotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life ; "We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into 68 THE COLLECTS FOR our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Or, GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy ; Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection ; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. The First Sunday after Easter. ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification ; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth ; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Second Sunday after Easter. r A LMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only "H -^^ Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life ; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 69 The Third Sunday after Easter. ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of right- eousness ; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Fourth Sunday after Easter. O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Fifth Sunday after Easter. LORD, from whom all good things do come ; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that are good, and by thy merciful guiding may per- form the same ; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Am.en. The Ascension-day. GRANT, we beseech thee. Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens ; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Am.en. 70 THE COLLECTS FOR Sunday after Ascension-day. OGOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great tri- umph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. Whitsunday. OGOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit ; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy com- fort ; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Trinity-Sunday. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the con- fession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We be- seech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all ad- versities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 71 The First Smiday after Trinity. OGOD, 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. The Second Sunday after Trinity. OLORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy sted- fast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Third Sunday after Trinity. OLORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us ; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may, by thy mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ bur Lord. Am.en. The Fourth Sunday after Trinity. OGOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy ; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Am.en. 72 THE COLLECTS FOR The Fifth Sunday after Trinity. GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Sixth Sunday after Trinity. \ /^ GOD, who hast prepared for those who love ■>i ^f «' A . ^ ^ CHOIR PRAYERS. 109 CHOIR PRAYERS. Before Service. OGOD, before whose throne in heaven the saints, standing on the sea of glass, sing the song of Moses and the Lamb ; Grant us so to sing thy praises here with the spirit, and with the understanding also, that we may be counted worthy to learn the new song, which none can learn save those that shall be redeemed from the earth ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OGOD, our heavenly Father, who hast called us to the sacred ministry of praise in the service of thy church, make us ready now to worship thee in spirit and in truth. Teach us to understand and love thy holy service and help us to be reverent and attentive, guarding us from all wandering thoughts and unseemly actions, and make all that we shall say and do acceptable unto thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. O HEAVENLY Father, we are going into thy house. Cleanse our hearts and help us to worship thee in spirit and in truth. Keep our minds from idle and worldly thoughts, and grant that the prayers and praises of thy people may go up from thy holy temple on earth to thy mercy seat in heaven ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. After Service. GRANT, O Lord, that what we have sung with our lips, we may believe in our hearts ; and what we believe in our hearts, we may prac- tise in our lives ; so that being doers of the word and not hearers only, we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Chr::it our Lord. Amen. CHOIR PRAYERS. THANKS be to thee, O God, for all thy mer- cies. Pardon our wandering thoughts and cold desires, and grant that when we leave thy house we may not leave thy presence, but may be ever near to thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, ac- cept, we beseech thee, this our bounden duty and service. Whatsoever we have offered aright, graciously regard, and wherein we have been negligent, mercifully pardon, for Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord. Amen. FORMS OF PRAYER TO BE USED IN FAMILIES. Morning Prayer, IT The Master or Mistress Jiaviiig called together as many of the Family as can convetiiently be prese7it, let one of thein, or atiy other ivhoin they shall thitik proper, say as follows, all kneeling. o UR Father, who art in heaven, etc. ALMIGHTY and everlasting Acknowledg- God, in whom we live and Zl^'/y ^^^ ^''/Jj. move and have our bemg ; We, vation, especially thy needy creatures, render thee through the night our humble praises, for thy pres- ^^^^' ervation of us from the beginning of our lives to this day, and especially for having delivered us from the dangers of the past night. To thy watchful providence we owe it, [-that no disturbance hath come *Z^''J JJ'fA L . , ,,. ances oj any Kind nigh us or our dwelimg ; but that befall a family, in- we are brought in safety to the stead of this, say, beginning of this day.] For ^ ^"^^^^^ these thy mercies, we bless and we are brought in magnify thy glorious Name ; hum- safety to the be- bly beseeching thee to accept this gianing of this day. our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; for his sake who lay down in the grave, and rose again for us, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. AND since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that an- Jj'^i^^t.^t other day is added to our lives; God's service, with We here dedicate both our souls « resolution to be and our bodies to thee and thy srozving daily in . . ■% goodness. service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life : in which resolution, do thou, O mer- 112 FORMS OF PRAYER ciful God, confirm and strengthen us ; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. BUT, O God, who knowest the weakness and corruption of Prayer for our nature, and the manifold f ^^f ^^ e^mble ns ' , . , , ., to perforin that temptations which we daily meet resolution. with ; We humbly beseech thee to have compassion on our infirmities, and to give us the constant assistance of thy Holy Spirit ; that we may be effectually restrained from sin, and excited to our duty. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee. And, above all, keep in our minds a lively re- membrance of that great day, in which we must give a strict account of our thoughts, words, and actions ; and according to the works done in the body, be eternally rewarded or punished, by him whom thou hast appointed the Judge of quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. N particular, we implore thy grace and protection for the For grace to ensuing day. Keep us temperate sfde and keep m ° 1 , • , ^ ,.,. the jouoivins: day, in our meats and drinks, and dili- and for God's gent in our several callings. Messing on the bus- Grant us patience under any af- i'^e^s of the same. fiictions thou shalt see fit to lay »0n Sunday on us, and minds always con- vwming, instead tented with our present condition. K .^^'"li "^I'^-^c ^"^ r^. ^ -i • ^ 1 let thy Holy Spirit Give us grace to be just and up- accompany us to right in all our dealings ; quiet the place of thy and peaceable; full of compas- P^^l^'^ worship, ^ J J ' , , ,•■ making us serious sion ; and ready to do good to all and attentive, and men, according to our abilities raising our minds and opportunities. Direct us in ^'"°™ ^^^ thoughts ^^ r^ 1 ,01 this WOrld tO all our ways, [*and prosper the the consideration of the next ; that we may fervently join in the prayers and praises of thy Church, and listen to our duty with honest hearts, in order to practise it. TO BE USED IN FAMILIES. 113 works of our hands in the business of our seve- ral stations.] Defend us from all dangers and adversities ; and be graciously pleased to take us, and all things belonging to us, under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see necessary and con- venient to us, we humbly beg through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. Evening Prayer. IT The Family being together, a little hefore\bed-tinie. Jet the Mas- ter or Alistressi or any other whom they shall think proper, say as/ollows, all k>ieeling. o UR Father, who art in heaven, etc. MOST merciful God, who art of purer eyes than to behold Co7t/ession of iniquity, and hast promised for- p:::^Si^i:::i giveness to all those who confess pardon. and forsake their sins ; We come before thee in an humble sense of our own un- worthiness, acknov/ledging our manifold trans- gressions of thy righteous laws.* But, O gracious Father, who de- ,* ^'''', ^'^ f "" ' ° 1 1 r • ivno reads make a sirest not the death of a smner, short pause, that look upon us, we beseech thee, in every one may sc- mercy, and forgive us all our 'J^!^ j:f}Sl^, transgressions. Make us deeply of that day. sensible of the great evil of them ; and work in us an hearty contrition ; that we may obtain forgiveness at thy hands, who art ever ready to receive humble and penitent sin- ners ; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 114 FORMS OF PRAYER AND lest, through our own frailty, or the temptations Prayer for , . , •' , ^ , grace to reforvt which encompass us, we be drawn and grow better. again into sin, vouchsafe us, we beseech thee, the direction and assistance of thy Holy Spirit. Reform whatever is amiss in the temper and disposition of our souls ; that no un- clean thoughts, unlawful designs, or inordinate desires, may rest there. Purge our hearts from envy, hatred, and malice ; that we may never suffer the sun to go down upon our wrath ; but may always go to our rest in peace, charity, and good-will, v/ith a conscience void of offence towards thee, and towards men ; that so we may be preserved pure and blameless, unto the com- ing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. AND accept, O Lord, our inter- cessions for all mankind. ^.^^^'^ Interces- Let the light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations ; and may as many as have re- ceived it, live as becomes it. Be gracious unto thy Church ; and grant that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may serve thee faithfully. Bless all in authority over us ; and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain thy true religion and virtue. Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, upon all our relations, friends, and neighbours. Reward all who have done us good, and pardon all those who have done or wish us evil, and give them repentance and better minds. Be merciful to all who are in any trouble ; and do thou, the God of pity, administer to them according to their several necessities ; for his sake who went about doing good, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Axaen. TO our prayers, O Lord, we join our unfeigned thanks for .^^^'' Thanksgiv- all thy mercies ; for our being, our reason, and all other endowments and facul- ties of soul and body ; for our health, friends. TO BE USED IN FAMILIES. 115 food, and raiment, and all the other comforts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore thy mercy in sending thy only Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in giv- ing us the knowledge and sense of our duty towards thee. We bless thee for thy patience with us, notwithstanding our many and great provocations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy Holy Spirit ; for thy con- tinual care and watchful providence over us through the whole course of our lives ; and par- ticularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day; beseeching thee to continue these thy blessings to us, and to give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to his laws, through whose merits and intercession we re- ceived them all, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. IN particular, be beseech thee to continue thy gracious protec- Prayer for tion to us this night Defend us ,tlV, S^^J^J from all dangers and mischiefs, follcrwing. and from the fear of them ; that we may enjoy such refreshing sleep as may fit us for the duties of the following day. Make us ever mindful of the time when we shall lie down in the dust ; and grant us grace always to live in such a state that we may never be afraid to die ; so that, living and dying, we may be thine, through the merits and satisfaction of thy Son Christ Jesus, in whose Name we offer up these our imperfect prayers. Amen. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. IT On Siifidays, and on other days ivhen it fuay be convenient, it luill be proper to begin with a Chapter, or part of a Chapter, from the New Testament, xi6 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For the Spirit of Prayer. ^ O ALMIGHTY God, from whom every good prayer cometh, and who pourest out on all who desire it, the spirit of grace and supplica- tions ; deliver us, when we draw nigh to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind ; that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affec- tions we may worship thee in spirit and in truth ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Am.en. LORD, our God, great, eternal, wonderful in glory, who keepest covenant and promises with those that love thee with their whole heart ; who art the life of all, the help of those that flee unto thee, the hope of those who cry unto thee ; Cleanse us from our sins, secret and open, and from every thought displeasing to thy goodness, — cleanse our bodies and souls, our hearts and consciences, that with a pure heart and a clear soul, with perfect love and calm hope, we may venture confidently and fearlessly to pray unto thee. Auxen. OGOD, who art the Truth, O God who art a Spirit, help us in spirit and in truth to wor- ship thy great Name ; not acknowledging thee in one place or at one time only, but in every place and at every time, in all we do and in all we see, in our work and in our rest, in our laughter and our tears, in loneliness and in fellowship, in the eye of day and in the shadow of night, be- neath the open sky as in the house of prayer, in the heart of the little child as in the wisdom of the man, in the fulness of health and strength and happiness as in the valley of the shadow of death, through which, O Father Almighty, do thou in thy mercy bear us to never-ending life and light and love. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 117 WE beseech thee, Lord, open thy heavens, open our eyes : from thence may thy gifts descend to us ; from hence may our hearts look back to thee. May thy throne be laid open to us, while we receive the benefits which we implore ; may our mind be laid open to thee, while we ren- der the service which is enjoined to us. Look down from heaven, O Lord, behold and visit this vine which thy right hand hath planted. Strengthen the weak, relieve the contrite, con- firm the strong. Build them up in love, cleanse them with purity, enlighten them with wisdom, keep them with mercy. Lord Jesus, Good Shep- herd, who didst lay down thy life for the sheep, defend the purchase of thy blood. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, seek for the lost, convert the wandering, bind up that which is broken. Put forth thine own hand from heaven, and touch the head of each one here. May they feel the touch of thy hand, and receive the joy of the Holy Spirit, that they may remain blessed for evermore. Amen. H Sunday Morning. "EAVENLY Father, we commend ourselves ^-^^ to thee this day. Be with us, we beseech thee, in prayer, to quicken our devotion ; in praises, to heighten our love and gratitude ; keep us from all wandering thoughts ; fill our memory with the words of thy law, and enlighten our un- derstanding with the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Remember in mercy all who are hin- dered from coming to thy house, or who are deprived of the means of grace. Bless and teach all those who this day give themselves to the instruction of the young or ignorant, and grant to us and thy whole church that at length, with all thy faithful servants departed, we may „^^ enter into that rest which remaineth for thy peo- ple. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Xi8 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. In the Morning, \/ r\ GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day \J from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning ; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace, that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Aiaen. ALMIGHTY God, who alone gavest us the breath of life, and alone canst keep alive in us the holy desires thou dost impart ; We humbly beseech thee to sanctify all our thoughts and endeavours, that we may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it without thy blessing. And grant that having the eyes of the mind opened to behold things invisi- ble and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by thy wisdom, and in work be upheld by thy strength, and in the end be accepted of thee as thy faithful servants ; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. FROM the night our spirit awaketh unto thee, O God, for thy precepts are a light unto us. Teach us, O God, thy righteousness, thy com- mandments, and thy judgments. Enlighten the eyes of our minds, that we may sleep not in sins unto death. Drive away all darkness from our hearts, vouchsafe us the sun of righteousness. Guard our life from all reproach by the seal of thy Holy Spirit. Guide our steps into the way of peace. Grant us to behold the dawn and the day with joyfulness, that we may send up our prayers to thee at eventide. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 119 GRANT, Almighty God, that we may this day endeavour to be that which thou wouldst have us to be, and to do that which thou com- mandest, listening to the voice of thy Spirit within us, not leaving one fault unrepented of, one spot in our hearts uncleansed, and sparing least of all that sin with which it costeth us most to part ; not looking back but forward, not cast- ing down our eyes to earth, but lifting them up to heaven, not leaning upon mortal man, but upon thee, the Rock of Ages, who standeth fast forever; loving all men, doing good unto all men, loving thee, and never doubting that thou lovest us, and wilt make all things work together for good to those who trust in thee, our Lord, our Father and our God. Amen. OGOD, who art near us always, we would V^ speak with thee and thank thee for all the good gifts with which thou hast filled our lives. For blessings all about our path, for love that makes life beautiful, for all thoughts that uplift and gladden us, for disappointment and failure which humble us, for pain and distress which teach us our need, but most of all for our hope in thee and the fulness of joy which thy presence brings. " Let us never doubt that, having led us thus far, thou wilt lead us to the end, and that thou hast in store for us that perfe^ct gladness of which we see some glimpses here. We all wish to serve thee; show to each of us how we shall do it best. Look upon all of us who kneel here this morning, use us as thou wilt, hands to work for thee, feet to run for thee, lips to speak of thee, and sing for thee, thoughts to use for thee, hearts to love as thou lovest. Let us have no lower aim, Jlet none of us measure ourselves by others, or by any narrow and common standard of good^but let our lives beL^autiful on all sides and full of this desire, to be perfect as thou art perfect. "We ask, knowing how poor and weak we are, in thy strength, and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. OTHOU who dwellest in the light invisible, and yet revealest thyself to the soul that is in darkness, Father of spirits, we praise thee for all that thou art in thyself to us unknown ; and for all that thou revealest from day to day. For every creature of thine that ministers to us in any way ; for our parents, teachers, and benefac- tors ; for the examples of the past and the coun- sels of the present ; for the way by which thou art leading us ; for thy voice in our consciences, thy law in our minds, and thy love revealed in our affections ; for thine infinite mercies to our fathers ; and for thy promises unto their children, receive, O Lord, the humble thanksgiving of our hearts. Amen. OTHOU, in whom we live and move and ^ have our being, who art within our thoughts and desires, thou art nearer to us than any creat- ure, yet we cannot by searching find thee out. Thou art farther from us than the east is from the west ; yet thou revealest thyself on every side, and in all places of thy dominion. Grant unto us, who now feel after thee, the inward suc- cour of thy Spirit. Send us help from above, and show unto us thy heavenly light. Keep us from the folly of thinking that we know thee fully, and from the sorrow of imagining that thou art too great to be known at all. May our thoughts of thee be just and true, and our feel- ings toward thee full of reverence and love. Amen. LORD, make this day to be the day of thy tender mercy. Listen to the prayers of all thy children, be the Shepherd of the lost, the Guide and Light of unbelievers, the Teacher of the simple, the Father of the fatherless, the Pro- tector of the oppressed, the Physician of the suffering, the Comforter of the dying, and bring us all at last to thee, our Refuge and Eternal Rest. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. At Night. OLORD, support us all the day long of this L-^ troublous life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Aznen. THINE is the day, O Lord, and thine the night. Grant that the Sun of Righteousness may abide in our hearts, to drive av/ay the dark- ness of v/icked thoughts ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O JESUS, our Master, do thou meet us while we walk in the way, and long to reach thy country, so that following thy light we may keep the way of righteousness, and never wander away into the darkness of this world's night while thou who art the Way, the Truth, and the Life, art shining within us. Amen. ALMIGHTY Father, who neither slumberest V nor sleepest ; We humbly pray thee to watch over us this night with the eyes of thy mercy and over all who are near and dear to us. Grant us quiet and refreshing sleep such as may fit us for the duties of the morrow. Put far away from us all worldly cares and earthly fears, and give us holy thoughts of thee, that we may repose in perfect peace on the everlasting arms of thy fatherly love, and whether we wake or sleep, may live together with him, who died and was buried and rose again for us, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. An2en. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. V I /^ LORD our God, who alone makest us to ^ V-/ dwell in safety ; Refresh with quiet sleep, this night, those who are wearied with the labours of the day ; and mercifully protect from harm all who put their trust in thee ; that lying down in peace to take our rest, we may fear no evil, but confidently give ourselves into thy holy keeping ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD, who art the life of mortal men, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labour, and the repose of the dead ; We thank thee for the timely blessings of the day, and humbly supplicate thy merciful protection all this night. Bring us, we beseech thee, in safety to the morning hour, through him who died for us and rose again, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. BE present, O Lord, to our prayers, and pro- tect us by day and night ; that in all succes- sive changes of times we may ever be strength- ened by thine unchangeableness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. MAY the Lord hear us and bless us; may he save us from our spiritual enemy, and from all that is evil, and keep us under the shadow of his wings, this night and for evermore ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE Lord of Peace himself give us peace always by all means. The Lord be with us all. Amen. V ^A^^ ^^^^ ^^y ^® down in peace, and take our VV rest, for it is thou. Lord, only that makest us to dwell in safety. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 123 For the Family. MERCIFUL Father, bless, we beseech thee, <>'^ with all best blessings, both spiritual and temporal, all members of this family, whether present or absent. Bestov/ upon them, O Lord, such measure of earthly prosperity as may te good for them, and keep them, if thou wilt, in health and safety. But far above all earthly blessings, we ask thee to make this family to be a family fearing thee. " Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them ; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them." Unite them to- gether in the bonds of holy love, and in the unity of thy holy church, that they may abide in thee, and after being separated for a little while here below, may be again united in that kingdom where they can be parted no more forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O ETERNAL God, who alone makest men to ^ be of one mind in an house; Help us, the members of this household, faithfully to fulfil our duties to thee and to each other. Put far from us all unkind thoughts, anger and evil speaking. Give us tender hearts, full of affection and sym- pathy toward all. Grant us grace to feel the sorrows and trials of others as our own, and to bear patiently with their imperfections. Pre- serve us from selfishness, and grant that, day by day, walking in love, we may grow up into the likeness of thy blessed Son, and be found ready to meet him, and to enter with him into that place which he has gone to prepare for us ; for his sake, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen, 124 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. Fo7' the Children. \l C\ J^SUS Christ, the Lord of children, be near \J to all children's hearts to-day. In their pleasant play make them to remember thy holy childhood, and put away all self-loving thoughts and ways, all untruthfulness and disobedience, all angry words and deeds. Comfort them in all their troubles, which are known to thee, and lead them on through pure and faithful lives to thy- self, thy children's home. Amen. For Those We Love. OTHOU who hast ordered this wondrous world, v/ho knowest all things in earth and heaven, so fill our hearts with trust in thee, that by night and by day, at all times and in all sea- sons, we, may without fear commit those who are dear to us to thy never-failing love for this life and the life to come. Amen. Before a Journey. y r\ ALMIGHTY God, who fii^est all things V-/ with thy presence, and art a God afar off as well as near at hand ; thou didst send thy angel to bless Jacob in his journey,,fajid. didst lead the children of Israel through the Red Sea, making it-a wall on the right hand and on the left 7! Be pleased to let thy angel go out before me" and guide me in my journey, preserving me from dangers of robbers, from violence of enemies, ■L-vv-v^, SH«i sudden and sad accidents, from falls and er- rors ; -andj^rosper my journey to thy glory, and to all my innocent purposes; and preserve me from all sin, that I may return in peace and holi- Jie5,s,.:with thy favour and thy blessing, and may serve thee in thankfulness and obedience all the days of my pilgrimage; "and at last bring me to thy country, to the celestial Jerusalem, there to dwell in thy House and to sing praises to thee forever. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 125 For Love. OGOD, the God of all goodness and grace, who art worthy of a greater love than we can either give or understand ; Fill our hearts, we beseech thee, with such love toward thee ae juajt-cast out all wrath and fear, that nothing may seem too hard for us to do or suffer in obe- dience to thee ; and grant that by thus ha yi pg, we may become daily more like ua*o thee and finally obtain the crown of life which thou hast prom- ised to those who unfeignedly love thee ; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. OMOST loving Jesus, pattern of charity, wfee makest all the commandments of the law to consist in love towards God and towards man ; Grant to us so to love thee with all our heart, with all our mind and all our soul and our neigh- bour for thy sake, that the grace of charity end iixotherly love may dwell in us, and all envy, harshness and ill-will may die in us ; mttA fill our hearts v/ith ffi&Ung.s- &i love, kindness and com- passion, so that by constantly rejoicing in the happiness and good success of others, by sym- pathizing with them in their sorrows, and putting away all harsh judgments and envious thoughts, we may follov/ thee, who art thyself the true and perfect Love, and who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. For Guidance. OGOD, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly; Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldst have us to do; that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 126 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. E thou, O Lord, our protection, who art our redemption ; direct our minds by thy gra- cious presence, and watch over our paths with guiding love ; that among the snares which lie hidden in this path, wherein we walk, we may so pass onward with hearts fixed on thee, that by the track of faith we may come to be where thou wouldst have us. Amen. For Those in Perplexity. O ALMIGHTY God, who knowest our several necessities ; Do thou of thy great mercy direct aright those thy children who are harassed by the manifold perplexities belonging to this world of darkness. Guide them with thy heav- enly light, and provide for them such counsel as may best enable them to draw near to thee, that they may return if they have erred, and may go forward in the right way if they are hesitating, and may be received into thy glory when their perseverance has been manifested ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OGOD of light and truth and goodness; May thy Holy Spirit direct me in this perplexity. Help me to omit nothing in order to be rightly informed in the matter, and let me faithfully con- sider what is required of me, that I may see clearly what is thy will ; and then strengthen me to walk bravely in the line of duty ; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. For Purity. OGOD, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity ; Mercifully grant unto us such a sense of sin that we may receive cleansing, and such cleansing that we may be made pure in heart, and may see thee for evermore ; through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 127 For Trustfulness. OMOST loving Father, who wiliest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee and to cast all our care on thee ^who carest for us ; Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Nearness to Christ, "ERCIFUL Jesus, who wast lifted up upon ^^ the Cross that thou mightest draw all men unto thee ; Have mercy upon thy sinful servants and draw them closer to thyself through the power of thy blessed Cross. O dear Redeemer, we are still too far from thee. We ask thee with all our hearts to draw us nearer. We would be drawn nearer to thee in faith, learning to know better the precious teaching of the Cross. We would be drawn nearer to thee in love, loving thee better for thine infinite love to us. We would be drawn nearer to thee in likeness, copy- ing the pattern of thy perfect meekness and patience. Draw us, O merciful Saviour, lifted up from the earth upon the Cross, — draw us with the strong cords of thy love ; embrace us with the outstretched arms of thy compassion ; and through all trials and temptations, in all times of weakness and of danger, keep us close to thee, and suffer us not to go from thee; for thine in- finite mercies' sake, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. 123 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For Conformity to God's Will. \/ A LMIGHTY Lord of life, of work and peace, ii* Lord of our wandering wills ; Renew, we be- seech thee, our souls by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit with loyalty to'duty and love for it ; that when our wills have becomd one with thine, when our work is judged by thy presence, ,vv,# when this life's turmoil has brought forth its harvest of peace, our souls may see thy face ; through his power who liveth and reigneth I^ord of death and Source of life eternal, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Am.3n. THY will, O God, is the perfection of justice; let us never prescribe to thee what thou oughtest to give us. What thou doest will, we may be sure, be best for us ; we cannot be sure of what we will for ourselves. Hearken not to the corrupt desires of our hearts, but to the voice of thy own mercy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. FATHER in heaven, we thank thee for all this world of thy providence, so fertile in wonders, so rich in beauty to every hungering sense of man. We thank thee for thy loving kindness and thy tender mercy, while thou with equal care watchest over the sparrow's fall, and boldest all worlds in thine arms of never-ending love. We thank thee for the beauty which thou bringest forth in every stream of water, on every hill-side, and that wherewith thou fringest the paths of men as they pass to their daily work. We bless thee for the beauty which thou gather- est in the lily's fragrant cup, clothing it with a kinglier loveliness than Solomon in all his glory could ever put on. But we thank thee still more that in a tenderer and lovelier and holier way thou revealest thy loving kindness, and thy tenderness, and thy holiness of heart to thy children. Thou OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 129 hast endowed us with senses to receive the world of sight and sound, and to be fed and beautified therewith. Thou hast given us spiritual powers which lay hold of justice, and truth, and love, and faith in thee. Thou hast fed our souls with thyself. Lord what shall we render to thee for the least of these thy mercies ? We pray thee that we may live as blameless as the flowers of the field ; that our lives within may be as fragrant, and without as fair and that what is promise in our spring, what is blossom in our summer, may, in the harvest of heaven, bear fruit of everlast- ing life. Amen. WHILE we remember, O heavenly Father, our daily duties and the glorious destina- tion thou hast appointed for us, we pray thee that with great and noble lives we may serve thee all our days. May there be in us such knowledge of thee, such reverence for thee and such trust in thee that v/e shall keep every law thou hast written in our body or in our soul, and grow wiser and better, passing from the glory of a good beginning to the glory of a noble ending, as we are led forward by thy Spirit, co-working with our own. Day by day may we proclaim our religion by our faithful industry, doing what should be done, bearing what must be borne, and at all times acquit- ting us like men. So may thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. INTERCESSIONS. LORD Jesus Christ, who ever livest to make intercession for us, let thy mercy be extended to all those who have none upon earth to pray for them in thy Name, and bring them, for thine own sake, to a participation of thy grace on earth, that they may praise thee with all thy saints in thine everlasting glory. Amen. 1/ 130 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. HAVE compassion, we beseech thee O Lord, upon all those, whose hearts are touched with sorrow, whose spirits are troubled or cast down within them. O Lord, remember those to whom the burdens of this life bring dimness or darkness of soul. Send them help from above, and have mercy upon all who suffer, in body or mind, from whatever cause. O Lord, have mercy upon them continually. Amen. A General Intercession, OGOD, at whose word man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening; Be merciful to all whose duties are difficult or burdensome, and comfort them concerning their toil. [ Shield from bodily accident and harm the workrhen at their work.j Protect the efforts of sober and honest industry, and suffer not the hire of the labourers to be kept back by fraud. Incline the hearts of employers and of those whom they employ , to mutual forbearance, fair- ness, and good-will.; Give the spirit of govern- ance and of a sound mind to all in places of authority. Bless all those who labour in works of mercy and schools of good learning. Care for all aged persons, and all little children, the sick and the afflicted, and those who travel by land or by sealj Remember all who by reason of v/eak- ness are overtasked, or because of poverty are forgotten. CLet the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee, and according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Give ear unto our prayer, O merciful and gracious Father, for the love of, thy dear Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen, \ OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 131 For a Blessing on the Families of the Land. rX LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who i-^* settest the solitary in families; We com- mend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vain- glory and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godli- ness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh ; turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers^ J^and so kindle charity among us all, that we be evermore kindly affectioned with brotherly love ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Schools or Colleges. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, whose U^' blessed Son. was manifested that He might destroy the poweV^f dark^'^ss, and make us the children of light, ^and VvhcT) was the aieae true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the worldj Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, with the full and abiding knowledge of tby 'tWvx dear Son and of his gospel. Send thy blessing upon all sincere efforts to train the young in in- telligence, virtue, and piety. Bless all schools and coUagec of sound learning and Christian education, and make them instruments in thy hand for training many for thy service, and for the good of their fellow-men. Look with especial favour upon the efforts of thy church to establish and maintain institutions of learning where the truths of the gospel shall ever be hon- oured as supreme, the precepts and ordinances of thy dear Son be counted the beginning of wis- dom, and all their members be taught of God. Endue the officers and teachers with a right sense of their high stewardship, and with wis- dom, faith, and zeal patterned after him who was 132 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. the Teacher come from God. Stir up the hearts of parents and friends to understand aright their Fesponsibilities in reference to the Christian training of those entrusted to them, and lead them to wi&e. and dutiful co-operation in the en- couragement, endowment, and support of the institutions established by thy Church and people for such training and culture. Illuminate the minds, purify the hearts, and fashion the lives of the students, e» that they may go iorth. Amv k A e host, made ready and consecrated for large and abiding service and power. Bless everywhere those who are striving for a Christian education amidst the hindrances of poverty and friendless- ness; and raise up friends, and strengthen wise agencies, to cheer their noble endeavour. Pour out thy Spirit from on high, and sanctify all minds and hearts for thine acceptable service here and thy blessed kingdom hereafter. All which we ask in the name of him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Fo7' a Theological School. \-^ A LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art the ■*^ only source of light and life ; Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to the various institutions of learn- ing in this place the rich gifts of thy good Spirit, that by them all, thy Truth may be sincerely sought, effectually received and obediently fol- lowed. Especially upon this institution of sacred learning send down th^y a bundan ce of ^hy grace and heavenly benediction, that both in life and doctrine all its patrons, officers, teachers, and students may be true followers of thy Son Jesus Christ, and successful fellow-labourers in the blessed work of setting forward the salva- tion of all men ; through faith in the same, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen. OCCAvSIONAL PRAYERS. 133 For Those Who Labour in the Gospel. OLORD, without whom our labour is but lost, and with whom thy little ones go forth as the mighty; We humbly beseech thee to prosper all works in thy church undertaken ac- cording to thy holy will (especially ), and grant to thy labourers a pure intention, patient faith, sufficient success upon earth, and the blessedness of serving thee in heaven ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Those Who Err from the Faith, O FATHER of lights, who art ever pitiful to ^': the manifold wanderings of the children of men, and who hast given us thy holy Word to be a lantern to our feet amid the darkness of this world; Have compassion upon all who, by deny- ing the Gospel of thy dear Son, have been led far off from peace, and become estranged from prayer; open their hearts to the truth, help them to cast down every proud thought, and make them to become as little children that they may be wise, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Ajnen. For Those Who Live in Sin. " HAVE mercy, heavenly Father, on all who are l^ hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, vouchsafe them grace to come to themselves, the will and the power to return to thee, and the lov- ing welcome of thy forgiveness ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 134 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. O MERCIFUL God, who wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live ; We implore thy mercy upon such of our relatives and friends as know- not thee and upon all in this parish who do not acknowledge thy ways ; that thou wilt graciously move upon their hearts by thy Holy Spirit ; open their eyes to their true condition that they be not deceived ; reveal in them thy Son Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins and breathe into their hearts the most precious gift of faith that they may confess him before men, and finally be gathered with the whole company of the re- deemed into thy heavenly kingdom ; through thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Prisoners. OGOD, who sparest when we deserve pun- ishment, and in thy wrath rememberest mercy; "We humbly beseech thee, of thy good- ness, to comfort and succour all those who are under reproach and misery in the house of bond- age ; correct them not in thine anger, neither chasten them in thy sore displeasure. Give them a right understanding of themselves, and of thy threats and promises ; that they may neither cast away their confidence in thee, nor place it any where but in thee. Relieve the distressed, pro- tect the innocent, and awaken the guilty : and forasmuch as thou alone bringest light out of darkness, and good out of evil, grant that the pains and punishments which these thy servants endure, through their bodily confinement, may tend to setting free their souls from the chains of sin ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 135 For the Deaf. OGOD, our heavenly Father, whose dearly- beloved Son Jesus Christ, when he dwelt on earth, went about doing good, unstopping the ears of the deaf, and loosening the tongues of the dumb ; Look down with loving eyes upon all thy deaf and mute children, and give them the special blessing of thy mercy and grace. Let thy fatherly hand ever be over them ; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them ; so that they may learn the truth as it is in Jesus, and believe in and rest upon him as the Saviour of their souls, and find in him that joy and peace which the Holy Ghost alone can bestow. Be with them, we beseech thee, in all the trials and duties and dangers of this life, and may they so live in thy fear and love here, that in the world to come they may ever, with open ears, and loving tongues, send forth thy praise in thy heavenly kingdom. Hear us, O Lord God, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen. For all Who are Dependent on the Public Care. MOST gracious God, whose tender mercies .-' are over all thy works, and whose compas- sions fail not ; We commend to thy fatherly pity and protection the poor, the sick, the children, [|_the prisoners, dependent on the public care. Suffer us not, in our prosperity, to trust in riches, forgetful that v/e are bidden to be labourers to- ^ gether with thee ; but give unto us, and unto this \ ^wiy whole people, grace to show kindness and mercy ^ |j towards those whom thy dear Son hath vouch- safed to call his brethren. Grant this, O Father, through the same thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. X36 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For all Poor, Homeless, and Neglected Folk. I 1^ GOD, Almighty and merciful, who healest V \J those that are broken in heart, and turnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy ; Let thy fatherly goodness be upon all that thou hast made. Especially we beseech thee to remember in pity such as are this day destitute, homeless, or forgotten of their fellow-men. Bless the con- gregation of thy poor. Uplift those who are cast down, mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all discouraged and unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose penury tempteth them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed, though they be per- plexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him, who for our sakes be- came poor, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. For Those Who Labour. v/ i^ THOU who hast been pleased to reveal V.^ thyself, in thy dear Son, Jesus of Nazareth, as the Father of all the family of the earth, and who hast promised thy heavenly favour to honest and true labour, thyself working wondrously in Vhim the Saviour of the lost; Bless our land, l^which is thine, we beseech thee,, and write the law of justice on the hearts and consciences of its rulers and people. Let thy fatherly pity and protection rest upon the poor, the sick, the sor- rowful. Relieve those who suffer under the wrongs and cruelties of their fellow-men. [Give them patience and sure confidence in thee. Stay the injustice that binds heavy burdens upon the weak, or keeps back the hire of the labourers by fraud. Support all who are in any trouble. Heal the divisions in the great household of thy sons and daughters, and make their mutual striv- ings to cease. Grant the spirit of equity, fair- OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 137 ness, peace and goodwill to every class and nation. Give courage and wisdom to thy proph- ets, and clothe thy bishops and priests with righteousness. And wilt thou fill the whole world with the light of thy truth and the glory of thy kingdom, for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Amen. For Blessing upon Honest Labour.^ j ^K OifUAa | OGOD who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired should be sought -by^ labou r, and who by thy blessing bringest honest labour to good effect ; Look with mercy upon our studies rand endeavoursr Grant us, O Lord, by thy Holy ■^Spirit to design only what is lawful and right ; enable us to shun sloth and negligence ; that every day may discharge part of the task which thou hast allotted us ; and so further with thy help that labour, which without thy help must be ineffectual, that we may obtain in our under- takings such success as will most promote thy glory, and the salvation of our souls, for the sake of Jesus Christ thine only Son, our Lord. Amen. For Every Man in His Business. OGOD, who ordereth all things both in heaven and earth ; Grant that every man according to the business which he hath under- taken among the sons of men may know that he is thy servant therein, and whatsoever his hand findeth to do may do it in thy service and to thy glory; for Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord. Amen. /-' 138 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For Those in Business. MOST just and holy God, who requirest truth in the inward parts, and hast ordained love to be the bond of society; So fill us with truth and love, that in their exercise we may obtain that security of good which no devices of self- interest can acquire. Pardon the dishonest prac- tices of our time, and grant that we may deal • according to that truth wherewith we expect to be judged, and exercise that love wherewith we hope to be pardoned. Enlighten all merchants and tradesmen with the gift of thy Holy Spirit, that they may consider, not what the world would sanction, but what thy law demands. Prosper with thy blessing all who are thus striv- ing to regulate their dealings by the rule of truth and love, and if difficulty compass them in the world, quicken thou within them such a desire of laying up treasures in heaven, as may cause them with an entire satisfaction to accept thy perfect will, teaching them so to use earthly things, that they may become partakers of the true riches which can not fail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.eji, For Daily Bread. yy /^UR Father, giver of every good and perfect \J gift, who hast revealed thyself to us in the person of thy Christ ; We ask thee in the words which he taught us, that thou wilt give us this day our daily bread. "We pray thee bless our land and satisfy her poor with bread ; put such wisdom into the hearts of our rulers that by wise laws the struggle for subsistence may become less terrible ; that poverty, ignorance and crime may be overcome ; that the distinctions between rich and poor may be made less; that all our countrymen may feel themselves to be one body, of which if one member suffers, all the other members suffer with it. Hear us and help us, thou All-bountiful One, for Jesus Christ's sake. Aiaen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 139 For the Emancipation of Workers. OGOD, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, which do declare thy glory and show forth thy handiwork ; Make us thy faithful messengers and ministers, that we may run the way of thy commandments and do the work that thou hast given us to do, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, as becometh the children of the Highest. ^A/'e pray for the emancipation of workers every- where from the discordant service of Mammon, and for the sanctification of labour in every call- ing and handicraft; that so all things may be done in righteousness, in truth and in beauty, for thy obedience and for human wealth, in humble imitation of him who is the Master- Workman of us all, and who sometime was among us as one that serveth, thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen, For Over-burdened Workers, OGOD, who givest unto every man the work ^^ of his calling as a means of serving thee ; Have mercy upon those whose outward occupa- tions distract their minds from the due remem- brance of thyself, and grant that their neglect may be pardoned, their forgetfulness remedied, their desires spiritualized, and their lives trans- formed so that they may not perish by labouring for the world, but may be delivered from the world by a diligent reliance upon thy holy will ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Aiaen, For Women who Work. OLORD Jesus Christ who didst glorify la- bour by thy life of toil ; Bless, we beseech thee, all Working Girls' Societies organized for the establishment and encouragement of a nobler and stronger Christian womanhood. Grant to all I40 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. their members purity of motive, unselfish zeal and simplicity of life and bring all wage-earn- ers and those who have received their wages in advance, into ever closer union with each other and with thee ; that when their brief day of toil is over they may rest together forever united in thy presence, where is fullness of joy forever- more. Grant this, O Blessed Master of the har- vest and the labourer, for thy Name's sake. Amen. For Rich and Poor. Vf^ CREATIVE Word, who while on earth didst ^^ not disdain to be known as the Carpenter; Grant sight to those blinded by luxury and deliv- erance to those bound by want : that the rich may joyfully follow the simplicity of thy most holy life, and the poor may obtain the inheritance of the meek ; and that the hearts of all may be set with one accord to discover the way of salva- tion, through thy mercy, who for our sakes didst become poor that we through thy poverty might become rich. Amen. For our Country, OLORD of heaven and earth, who leddest our fathers forth, making them to go from one kingdom to another people ; We yield thee hearty thanks for all that thou didst for them and art doing for the land to which they came. May we always remember them in thee, and be grate- ful to them through thee. W^e remember that their communion was to eat their bread in exile, their sacrament was to pour out their blood for others. We remember them not only as valiant in fight, but as wise in council, not only as brave warriors but as far-seeing statesmen, and incor- ruptible patriots. And we give thee thanks for them. We remember those of a later day, who spared not their lives that our land might be OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 141 one ; patriots of the newer time, prophets and martyrs of our country's unity. And we give thee thanks for them. And v/e pray that we may follow their good examples and bequeath to our children a nation worthy of such founders and preservers, meet to do thy will, a kingdom subject completely to thee and to thy Christ. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who in the former time v>r didst lead our fathers forth into a wealthy place ; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to us their children, that we may always approve ourselves a people mindful of thy favour, and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honour- able industry, sound learning, and pure man- ners. Defend our liberties, preserve our unity. Save us from violence, discord and confusion, from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Fashion into one happy people the multi- tudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom we entrust in thy Name with the authority of governance, to the end that there be peace at home, and that we keep a place among the na- tions of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness ; and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who hast in all ages showed forth thy power and mercy in the preserva- tion of thy church, and in the protection of all who put their sure trust in thee; Grant that the people of this land, which thou hast so blessed, may show forth their thanks and praise for thy mercies, by loving obedience to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 142 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For Those in Autho7'iiy. GOD of all power and might, the Maker and Ruler of men; We commend our nation to the guidance of thy wisdom, to the keeping of thy love. May the rulers whom thy people choose to serve them, serve thee in honesty of purpose and uprightness of life. May they never forget their answerableness to the people whom they serve and to that people's God. De- liver them from the love of power and from motives of personal gain ; from considerations of men or money in place of the demands of truth and justice ; and from losing patriotism in parti- sanship. Bless them in their ministry with an ever larger vision of truth, an ever deeper sense of the demands of righteousness ; that through their faithfulness the life of our people may be guided by wise policies, and lifted to higher ideals and nobler achievements ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. LORD of Hosts, who didst guide our fathers out of the house of bondage, and through the Red Sea of war, who hast granted us an her- itage of glorious sufferings and the strength of chastening trial, appointing us for the protection of the weak, and giving us a potent ministry to all the world ; Bind up the nation's wounds and make us whole. Help us to close the widening chasm between the strong and weak, the rich and poor; to cast into it all pride and prejudice, luxury and lust, envy and covetousness, the inso- lence of riches with the rancor of poverty, that we may fill it full and make a highway for the King to pass over, and for all the people to walk in together. And so may we establish the re- public, and build in America the Holy City fore- told by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began. We ask this in his Name who maketh men to be of one mind in a house and giveth integrity to states, who casteth out devils and confoundeth the tongues of foolish counsel- lors, the Desire of all Nations, Jesus Christ. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 143 For the Uiiity of God's People. OGOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace ; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dan- gers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and con- cord ; that, as there is but one Body, and one Spirit, and one Hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may all be of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OLORD Jesus Christ, who saidst unto thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, thy peace I give unto you; Regard not our sins but the faith of thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which is according to thy will, who livest and reignest God forever and ever. Amen. OGOD, who restorest to the right way them that err, who gatherest them that are scat- tered, and preservest them that are gathered ; Of thy tender mercy, we beseech thee, pour upon thy Christian people the grace of unity, that all schisms being healed, thy fiock, united to the true Shepherd of thy Church, may worthily serve thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 144 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. For the Church. LORD, God, heavenly Father; Pour out, we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit upon thy faithful people. Keep them steadfast in thy grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all enemies of thy Word, and bestow upon Christ's Church mili- tant thy saving peace ; through the same, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world with- out end. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy V V^ church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone ; Grant that, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple ac- ceptable unto thee. And especially to this con- gregation present, give the abundance of thy grace ; that with one heart they may desire the- prosperity of thy holy Apostolic Church, and with one mouth may profess the faith once de- livered to the Saints. Defend them from the sins of heresy and schism, let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, nor the hand of the un- godly to cast them down. And grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; that so they may walk in the ways of truth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy saints in glory ever- lasting ; through thy merits, O blessed Jesus, thou gracious Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, who art with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God, world without end. Amen. OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 145 For the Liberty of the Word. GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, unto thy Church, thy Holy Spirit, and the wisdom which cometh down from above, that thy word, as becometh it, may not be bound, but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ's holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve thee, and in the confession of thy Name abide unto the end ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Final Blessedness. ALMIGHTY and eternal God, to whom is never any prayer made without hope of mercy; Bow thine ear, we beseech thee, to our supplications, and in the heavenly city cause us to be united with thy faithful servants, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Roj7i. XV. : 13. THE God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 146 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. The Noon- Day Prayer, BLESSED Saviour, who at this hour didst hang upon the cross, stretching forth thy loving arms ; Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved ; through thy mercies and merits who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Ajnen. X For the Increase of the Ministry. OLORD Jesus Christ, who didst command thy disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his har- vest ; We beseech thee graciously to increase the number of faithful ministers of thy \A^ord and Sacraments, and to send them forth among all nations of men ; that perishing souls may be saved, and the bounds of thy blessed kingdom be enlarged. We ask it, O merciful Saviour, for the glory of thy Name, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. O ALMIGHTY God, who hast in thy Holy Church committed to the hands of men the ministry of reconciliation, to gather together a great flock in all parts of the world, to the eternal praise of thy Holy Name; We humbly beseech thee that thou wilt put it in the hearts of many faithful men to seek this sacred ministry, ap- pointed for the salvation of mankind ; that so thy church may rejoice in a due supply of true and faithful pastors, and the bounds of thy blessed kingdom may be enlarged ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 147 nC^ For a Native Ministry. O ALMIGHTY God, the Maker of all man- kind, we humbly pray that thou wouldest be pleased to raise up in each country a zealous and faithful band of native clergy, so that the people thereof may hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. Teach them, O Lord, and lead them into all truth. Give them bold- ness with fervent zeal to preach the Gospel unto their fellow countrymen, whereby they may be brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and knowledge of thee and of thy Son Jesus Christ. ^ Hasten, we beseech thee, the glorious time, when the redeemed out of every kindred, and people, and nation shall join in the new song unto the Lamb that v/as slain, but who now liveth for evermore. Hear us. Heavenly Father, through the merits and mediation of ni*-v)A^*^<*^ Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Missionaries. OTHOU Good Shepherd of the sheep, who wiliest not that any should perish, but that all men should be saved, and come to the knowl- edge of the truth ; Be with those who are help- ing to seek thy lost sheep in the wilderness of this sinful world. Let thy love and patience be shown forth in their lives and conversation, thy tenderness and compassion in their words and actions ; may they win many souls for thee, and kindle in other hearts a desire to devote themselves to works of love. And grant, O Lord, that we may be all knit together as living stones in the unity of thy Church, and be brought at last to thee, in everlasting glory, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Axaen. 148 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. OLORD, who didst come to seek and to save the lost, and to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth ; Hear, we beseech thee, the prayers of thy Church for those who, at thy command, go forth to preach the Gospel to every creature. Preserve them from all dangers to which they may be exposed ; from perils by land and perils by water; from the deadly pestilence; from the violence of the persecutor ; from doubt and impatience ; from discouragement and dis- cord ; and from all the devices of the powers of darkness. And while they plant and water, send thou, O Lord, the increase ; gather in the multi- tude of the heathen; convert in Christian lands such as neglect so great salvation; that thy Name may be glorified, and thy Kingdom come, O gracious Saviour of the world ; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen. ,-^ A LMIGHTY God, who, by thy Son Jesus ^■^ -fcAi Christ, didst give commandment to the holy Apostles that they should go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature ; Grant to us whom thou hast called into thy Church a ready will to obey thy Word, and fill us with a hearty desire to make thy way known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Look with compassion upon the heathen that have not known thee, and on the multitudes in our own land that are scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. O heavenly Father, Lord of the harvest, have respect, we beseech thee, to our prayers, and send forth labourers into thine har- vest. Fit and prepare them by thy grace for the work of thy ministry ; give them the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind ; strengthen them to endure hardness, and grant that both by their life and doctrine they may show forth thy glory, and set forward the salva- tion of all men ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 149 For Diocesan Missions. ALMIGHTY God, whose dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, did enjoin upon his Apostles to become witnesses unto him in their own homes and neighbourhoods, and also unto the uttermost parts of the earth, 'and whose Gospel is for the'| salvation of all nf e n ; Awaken us out of ourj sleep, arouse us from our sloth, drive from us) our unchristian selfishness, and quicken us, body, ^ soul, and spirit, to an increased sympathy and activity in the work of carrying the Gospel toj every creature.""; Help us, as disciples of him who died for all,'~to love and pray and labour for all who either know not, or care not for, the sav- ing knowledge of Jesus Christ. j_(^uicken oufj interest, and give to every one otus a share in the preaching of peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh.J Especially may our^ hearts, our labours, and our gifts be drawn out by the power of the Holy Ghost for those who are our kinsmen according to the flesh, our fel- low-townsmen and the people of this Common- weaJth, for whom in an especial manner we are responsible. Bless all efforts that are according to thy will to bring those whom thy Providence hast made our neighbours and brethren to the knowledge and acceptance of thy dear Son, and into living union with the Church which is his Body. Enable thy servants the bishop and other' /^ ministers, and especially the members of this ^ Archdeaconry to perceive and know what things they ought to do, and give them grace and power to fulfil the same,' for the advancement Tof thy Church and the salvation of souls in ( this our Diocese. Awaken every heart to a living and stedfast co-operation in the work, _and]pour out thy Spirit upon us all, that every member of the Church, in his vocation and min- istry, may truly and godly serve thee, and set forward thy kingdom and the salvation of those n^t around him. All which we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. '^ 150 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. J^or Domestic Missions. ALMIGHTY God, by whose heavenly inspira- tion we think those things that are right, even as by thy merciful guidance we perform the same; Quicken in the hearts of thy servants, the bishops and other pastors of thy flock, and the people committed to their charge, such a sense of their duty to all who are ignorant, erring and uncared-for in this land as shall move them to sacrifice and service in their behalf, without stint and without delay. Make us to see that souls are perishing for lack of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified, and since thou hast en- trusted to us the knowledge of thy truth and the gifts of thy bounty, help us to use them as good stewards, that so thy Word may be proclaimed and thy kingdom enlarged, ^to the glory of thy Name and the salvation of men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Indian Missions. ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, the Father of the friendless and the Helper of the helpless ; Have pity, we beseech thee, upon the Indian tribes who dwell in his our land. Send to them the light and comfort of thy Holy Gospel. Bless all the means used to bring them to the knowledge of thy dear Son, who died for the salvation of all men. Guide with thy Spirit, guard with thy power, sustain with thy love, all those who minister to them in spiritual things, and bear to them the tidings of Redemption. Stir up the hearts of all who profess and call themselves Christians to prayer and deeds of mercy in behalf of this perishing race. Give to our rulers a sense of honour, truth and justice in all their dealings with them, and fill this whole nation with compassion for this poor and scat- tered people; and so fetch them home, Blesseb PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 151 Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved and be made one fold under one Shepherd. All which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Jews. O EVERLASTING God, the God of Abra- ham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; We beseech thee to look upon thine an- cient people Israel, scattered abroad throughout the world, and to visit them with thy salvation. Take away the veil from their hearts, and bring them to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, their Mes- siah, their Prince, and their Saviour : and so fetch them home. Blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made partakers of everlasting life ; through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Aiaen. For Foreign Missions. V^ OHOLY Father, who didst promise to thy well-beloved Son, Desire of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession ; Hear, we pray thee, his prevailing intercession for the souls which he hath purchased with his precious blood ; kindle our desires for the ex- tension of his kingdom among men ; pour upon us the spirit of supplication for the spread of the Gospel ; and so consecrate our lives to thy service, that we may gladly give ourselves and our substance to send the sound of the blessed Gospel into all lands and its words unto the ends of the world ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 152 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. "OST gracious God, who hast gathered into thy Church a great company out of all nations ; Fulfil, we pray thee, what thou hast foretold by thy Holy Prophets, that all the ends of the world should remember themselves and be turned unto thee, and make all the kindreds of the nations to worship before thee ; through the only Saviour of the world, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who turnest the shadow of death into the morning ; Give unto thy Church the heathen for her inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for her possession, to the greater glory of thy Name ; through Jesus Christ thy Son, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and dominion forever and ever. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given to thy dear Son the heathen for an inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for a possession ; Bless, we beseech thee, the missionary work of thy holy Church in all parts of the world. Have pity upon the people who are still calling upon gods that cannot save, and so touch their hearts and waken their consciences and rule their wills, that they may turn to thee the living God, who wouldest have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Raise up among them, we pray thee, prophets and teachers of their own blood, men full of wisdom and of the Holy Ghost. Gather in the souls destitute of help. Set free the prisoners of darkness. Have pity upon the unthankful and the unholy. For- give the evil-doers who know not what they do ; and out of many nations and peoples and kin- dreds and tongues assemble the congregation of thy saints. All of which we ask for the sake of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 153 For those Living in Foreign Lands, OLORD Jesus Christ, who hast commanded us by thy Apostles to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and as we have received thy gift, so to minister the same one to another; Grant to all v/ho are baptized into thy Holy Name, and especially to our fellow- countrymen who sojourn in distant lands, that they may show forth thy praises, who hast called them out of darkness into marvellous light. Pre- serve them, we beseech thee, from the sin of offending thy little ones who believe in thee, and from causing thy "Word to be blasphemed among the heathen. Make them as the salt of the earth, and as a light in the world ; that so, beholding their good works, and v/on by their holy lives, multitudes may be turned to thy truth, to glorify thee in the day of visitation, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost art one God, world without end. Am.en. In Behalf of all Men. OGOD, who hast made of one blood all nations lA of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh ; Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Bring the nations into thy fold, and add the heathen to thine in- heritance. And we pray thee shortly to ac- complish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for the Whole Human Race. O ETERNAL God, the Father of all man- kind, in whom we live and move and have our being ; Have mercy on the whole human race. Pity their ignorance, their foolishness, ¥: 154 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. their weakness, their sin ; sheep wandering on the mountain without a shepherd, travellers lost in the wilderness without a guide. Set up an ensign for the nations, O Lord, and bring them to thy glorious rest. Let the earth be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Hasten thy kingdom, O Lord, and bring in everlasting righteousness, for the honour of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A Prayer for Missions, ALMIGHTY God, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ wrought out for us the great salva- tion and commanded his disciples to make known the Gospel to all nations ; We beseech thee to awaken thy people everywhere to a truer sense of their high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Give us a fuller and more spiritual understand- ing of the trust committed to us, of the needs of souls without Christ and his salvation, and of our duty and privilege to bear his Gospel to every creature. Fill us, by the power of the Holy Ghost, with a ceaseless desire to make thy way known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. O Lord of the harvest, send forth labourers into thy harvest. Replenish thy minis- ters with wisdom and zeal, and everywhere bless their ministry of the Word and Sacraments. Quicken and guide our efforts to lead those of our neighbours and of the people of our own State who are away from thee, into the faith and obedience of Christ, and into living union with his Church. Give wisdom to those who plan and labour for our Diocesan Missions, faith and patience to those engaged in our several mission fields, and unwearied well-doing to the people among whom they minister. Set forward truth, peace, and love among all Christian people. Pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, enlarge the bounds of thy blessed kingdom, and give thy PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 155 Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession. All which we ask through him who died for us, and now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amsn. For Patient Faith. GOD, by whose command the order of all 1\^f^^y, time runs its course ; Forgive, we beseech thee, the impatience of our unbelief; make per- fect that which is lacking in our faith ; and, while we tarry thy fulfilment of the ancient promises, grant us to have a good hope because of thy Word; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Workers in the Field. ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, we humbly beseech thee, for the merits of thy dear Son, to pour out thy Holy Spirit upon all our missionaries at home and abroad, and to crown their labours with success in the gathering of souls into thy kingdom, to the honour and praise of thy glorious Name, who art, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Am.3n. ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, who hast in Christ revealed thy glory unto all nations ; Protect the works of thy mercy, that thy Church may be spread throughout the world, and may abide with stedfast faith in the confession of thy Name ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. K^^\ 156 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. For Workers at Home. ALMIGHTY God, from whom all good things do come ; Give thy grace, we humbly be- seech thee, to those whom thou hast intrusted with riches, that they as faithful stewards may dispense them in the service of thy kingdom for the increase thereof; to the honour and praise of him who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. LORD of all power and might, who rulest in heaven and in earth, and canst turn the hearts of men after the counsel of thine own will ; We humbly pray thee to awaken in all the members of thy Church such a deep sense of their duty to maintain and set forward the work of missions, that by their faith and zeal thy holy Name may be glorified, and the bounds of thy kingdom en- larged ; through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer. Auxen. LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth, and that it is more blessed to give than to re- ceive ; Pour into the hearts of all thy people that most excellent gift of charity, and incline them to liberal offerings for the extension of thy Church and the salvation of mankind ; and, thus bringing forth the fruit of good works, may they by thee be plenteously rewarded, and be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure ; through the merits of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. 157 ALMIGHTY Saviour, who art ascended to the right hand of the Father, and hast poured forth the manifold gifts of the Spirit upon thy Church ; Dispose thy people faithfully to use all that thou givest them in the furtherance of thy kingdom ; for the glory of thy Name, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen. For Blessing on all Helpers. ALMIGHTY God, who hearest the prayers of thy servants for one another ; Be gra- ciously pleased to hear us as we plead in behalf of those, who by prayers, labours and gifts are helpers of our joy in the missionary work of thy holy Church. Remember them for good, O Lord God; supply all their wants, temporal and spirit- ual ; and grant to them a plentiful recompense. And, forasmuch as good-will and love are need- ful to the prosperity of the work, we beseech thee to inspire all thy people with such devotion that they may cheerfully aid in setting forward thy kingdom among men ; for his sake who laid down his life for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, A Confession. OMOST Merciful Father, we confess before thee, that we have done little to forward thy kingdom in the world, and to advance thy glory. We would humble ourselves before thee for our past neglects, and seek for mercy and forgiveness. Pardon our shortcomings. Give us greater zeal for thy glory. Make us more ready and more diligent, by our prayers, by our alms, and by our examples, to spread abroad «v'n 158 PRAYERS FOR MISSIONS. the knowledge of thy truth, and to enlarge the boundaries of thy kingdom. May the love of Christ constrain us, and may we do all to thy glory ; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Sav- iour. Am. en. ,/ A Thanksgiving. \ fvt • A LMIGHTY God, whose compassions fail ^tx not, and whose loving kindness reacheth unto the world's end; "We give thee humble thanks for all the great things thou hast done and art doing for the children of men ; for the opening of heathen lands to the light of thy truth ; for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert ; for knitting nation to nation in the bonds of fellowship ; and for the planting of thy Church in all the earth. O merci- ful Father, in whom the whole family is named, fill full our hearts with grateful love for this thy goodness, granting us grace henceforth to serve thee better and more perfectly to know thee ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND DYING. For a Sick Person, O FATHER of mercies and God of all com- ^' fort, our only help in time of need; Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant, for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him. with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort him with a sense of thy goodness ; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy7 give him. patience under his affliction ; and, in thy good time, re- store him. to health, and enable him. to lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory. pOr else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting T through Jesus Christ our Lord. A2n.en. A Prayer for Persons troubled m initid or ifi conscience. O BLESSED Lord, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort ; We beseech thee, look down in pity and compassion upon this thy afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things against him.^ and makest him to possess his former iniquities ; thy wrath lieth hard upon him., and his soul is full of trouble. But, O merciful God, who hast written thy holy Word for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures, might have hope ; give him. a right understanding of himself, and of thy threats and promises ; that he may neither cast away his confidence in thee, nor place it i6o PRAYERS FOR THE any where but in thee. Give Mm strength against all his temptations, and heal all his dis- tempers. Break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure ; but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift up the light of thy counte- nance upon him., and give him. peace, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.e]i. A Prayer which may be said by the Minister in behalf of all present at the Visitation, OGOD, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered; Make us, we beseech thee, deeply sensible of the short- ness and uncertainty of human life ; and let thy Holy Spirit lead us through this vale of misery, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives : that, when we shall have served thee in our generation, we may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience ; in the communion of the catholic Church ; in the confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy hope ; in favour with thee our God, and in perfect charity with the world. All which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. A Prayer which 7tiay be said in case of sudden surprise and immediate danger. OMOST gracious Father, we fly unto thee for mercy in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under the sudden visitation of thine hand. If it be thy will, preserve his life, that there may be place for repentance ; but if thou hast otherwise appointed, let thy mercy supply to SICK AND DYING. • i6i Mm the want of the usual opportunity for the trimming of his lamp. Stir up in him such sorrow for sin, and such fervent love to thee, as may in a short time do the work of many days : that among the praises which thy saints and holy angels shall sing to the honour of thy mercy through eternal ages, it may be to thy unspeakable glory, that thou hast redeemed the soul of this thy servant from eternal death, and made him partaker of the everlasting life, which is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Patience under Suffering. ALMIGHTY God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified ; Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. hi. time of great bodily danger or distress. OGOD, our refuge and strength, who art a very present help in trouble, look graciously, v/e most humbly beseech thee, upon this thy servant, and send 222222 patience and comfort in this time of his great distress. Strengthen 222221, O blessed Lord, with the consolations of thy Holy Spirit, and lay not more upon 222222 than thou wilt enable 222222 to bear, through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. ^222622. s ■>?• 162 I PRAYERS FOR THE \ For Trust i?t God's Guidance. LORI>, by all thy dealings with us, whether of joy of'^pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to thee. Let us value no treatment of thy grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us. sad, because it gives us or denies us what we want, but may all that thou sendest us bring us to thee, that knowing thy perfectness, we may be sure in every disap- pointment that thou art still loving us; and in every darkness that thou art still enlightening us, and in. every enforced idleness that thou art still using us, yea, in every death that thou art giving us life, as in his death thou didst give life to thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. For Faith in Chrisfs Sympathy. OLORD Jesus Christ, who for our sakes wast made man, that thou mightest thy- self take our infirmities and bear our sicknesses, and who on earth didst feel for thy suffering people and go about doing good and healing all kinds of sickness and disease amongst them ; 'VJq pray thee increase our faith in thy goodness and love towards us for whom thy precious Blood was shed ; that we may believe in thy sympathy with us in all our difficulties and trials here, and take them all to thee, in humble trust that thou wilt remove them if it seemeth good to thee, or else strengthen us to bear them ; for thy tender mercies' sake, who livest and reign- est with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. SICK AND DYING.' 163 For Healing. ^ ¥ OGOD, who hast vouchsafed to mankind the remedies that bring salvation, and the gifts of eternal life ; Preserve to thy servant the gifts of thy power, and grant that not only in his body, but also in his soul, he may experience thy healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OMOST blessed and eternal Jesus, the great Physician of our souls, the Sun of Righteous- ness arising with healing in thy wings, who disposest every great and little accident to the glory of God, and to the comfort of them that love and serve him ; Be pleased to bless the ministry of thy servant in order to mine ease and health; direct his judgment, prosper the medicines, and dispose the chances of my sick- ness fortunately, that I may feel the blessing and loving-kindness of the Lord in the ease or prevention of pain, and the restitution or pres- ervation of health ; and being restored to the society of the living and to thy solemn assemblies, I may praise thee and thy goodness secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation of the redeemed ones, here in the outer courts of the Lord, and hereafter in thine eternal temple. Amen. For Repentance. OGOD, whose mercy is as great as our un- worthiness ; We implore thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ, be merciful to this thy servant. Waken in him a deep sense of sin, and an earnest repentance. Turn him, O Lord, that he may be turned to thee. Make him to see and to long for the one thing needful. Make him to know the things that belong unto his peace. May he feel the awful reality of death, and of a heaven or hell after death. Fix in his mind, O merci- ful Father, thy blessed promise to those that i64 PRAYERS FOR THE truly repent : " Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Wash away, we pray thee, the stains of his sins, that they may be remembered no more. Make him so truly penitent, that if it please thee to raise him up again, he may lead a new life, in thy fear and to thy glory ; or else, so prepare him against the day of death, that he may depart hence with a sure trust in thy blessed Son, and a peace- ful hope of the resurrection at the last day. Hear us, O Father, for the sake of Him, who died to save us from eternal death, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. For Strength to Endure. OTHOU who art the God of patience and consolation ; Strengthen this thy servant in the inner man, that he may bear the yoke and burden of the Lord without murmuring or un- willingness. Lord, he is unable to stand under the Cross — unable of himself; but thou, O Holy Jesus, v/ho didst feel the burden of it, who didst sink under it, and wert pleased to admit a man to bear part of the load, when thou underwent- est all for him ; be thou pleased to help thy servant to bear this load of pain and sickness, that lie may be strongest when he is weakest, and may be able, through thee strengthening him, to do and suffer what thou pleasest. Lord, pity him; Holy Jesus, save and deliver him. Thou knowest how often thy servant hath fallen through pleasure ; in thy mercy and pity let him. not fall through pain. Oh, let him. never offend thee by impatience or an uneasy spirit ; but let him. pass through the valley of tears, the valley of the shadow of death, with safety and peace, with a meek spirit, and a sense of the Divine mercies. Grant this. Eternal God, gracious Father, for the merits and intercession of our merciful High-Priest, who once suffered for us, and for ever intercedes for us, our most gracious and ever-blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. SICK AND DYING. 165 For the Aged. OLORD God, who hast made the days of man as a span long, and his age even as nothing in respect of thee; Grant, we beseech thee, unto this thy servant, repentance and par- don for all the transgressions which he hath com- mitted against thee, and make him. to spend whatever of Ms life remaineth, in thy love and holy fear. Accept, we beseech thee, Ms prayers and services, though they be imperfect by reason of his bodily weakness, and finally, by the grace of thy Holy Spirit so strengthen Mm. that he may continue thine forever, and, in thine ap- pointed time, be received into eternal rest through the merits of Jesus Christ, our blessed Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. THE day is gone, and we give thanks, O Lord. Evening is at hand ; make it bright unto us. As the day has its evening, so also has life. O Lord, make the evening of life bright unto thy servant. Cast him. not away in the time of age; forsake him. not when iiis strength faileth Mm. Abide with Mm, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent of this fretful life. Let thy strength be made perfect in his weakness. Day is fled and gone ; life too is going. Night cometh ; and death cometh also. Near as is the end of day, so too the end of life. We beseech of thee, O Lord, bless to thy servant his closing days. Make them pure, and peaceful, and sinless, and if it please thee, painless. Into thy Hands, O LordT'we commend thy servant, spirit, soul, and body. Thou didst make, and thou didst redeem him.. Guard his lying down, and Ms rising up, from henceforth even forever. Let Mm remember thee on his bed, and search out his spirit. Let him. wake up, and be present with thee. We ask all in the Name of our only Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. i66 PRAYERS FOR THE For One Kept from Church. vX r\ HEAVENLY Father, we pray for a blessing \J upon thy servant, hindered by infirmity from going up to the house of prayer. Thine Eyes are in every place. Thine Ear is open unto every prayer that is offered in spirit and in truth. O be with thy servant in his home, and may he find thy presence ever near to him. Thou hast cut off from him the privilege of worship- ping with his brethren in the congregation. Give him much joy and comfort in the prayer of the secret closet. And so bless and guide him, O merciful Father, that, when the poor, imperfect worship of this world is no more, he may join for ever in the glorious and perfect worship of the heavenly chorus; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. For One Shut-ift. OLORD God, who makest all things work to- gether for good, thou hast been pleased to withdraw thy servant from many occupations and pleasures which others enjoy; Grant that he may the more find his happiness in peaceful rest and communion with thee, and fill iiis heart with sweet thoughts of the good things God hath prepared for them that love Him, so that others seeing his content and cheerfulness, may *' take note of him. that he has been with Jesus ;" and thus by his weakness, the Son of God shall be glorified. Be very near to him, O Lord, through this life and bring him at last to that land where there shall be no more pain, for, the sake of Jesus Christ, his Saviour. Axaert. SICK AND DYING. i67 For One iii Great Suffering. O GRACIOUS Father, whose dear Son bore for us unspeakable agonies, being scourged, and crowned with thorns, and nailed to the Cross; Have mercy on thy servant who is now in great suffering, and grant him. grace to fix his eyes upon the Cross, and therein to find strength, truly following him, who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross; that know- ing the fellowship of the sufferings of thy dear- ly-beloved Son, our Lord, he may rest in him, and at length enter into his joy; for his merits, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth one God, world without end. Amen. For One in Great Sorrow. OHOLY Jesus, we beseech thee to have mercy upon this thine afflicted servant. Thou wast a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief; thou art touched with a feeling of our in- firmities ; thou hast borne our griefs and carried our sorrows ; thou knowest every pain and pang that rends the heart; thou knowest the heaviness which boweth down thy servant's soul: O thou whose soul was once exceeding sorrowful even unto death, look down in mercy upon his sorrow. Pardon in him. all faithless thoughts and fears, and dispel them by thy grace. Lift from his head the dark cloud of despair, and let the bright sunshine of thy love shine round about him.. Teach him. to trust thy word, and to believe in thy promises, and let him not be cast down over- much by the anguish of his own weak heart. Teach him. to look from his own suffering to thy blessed cross, and in thine own good time, may he there find healing and comfort and peace, knowing that thou wilt never leave him. nor for- sake him until he enter at length into the joy of his Lord, and the perfect peace of Paradise, there to dwell with thee, who liveth and reign- est with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for evermore. Am.en. i63 i I PRAYERS FOR THE FT J^or a Sick Child. O ALMIGHTY God, and merciful Father, to whom alone belongf the issues of life and death ; Look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy, upon this child now lying upon the bed of sickness : Visit iizn, O Lord, with thy salvation; deliver him. in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercies' sake : that, if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faith- fully, and doing good in his generation ; or else receive him. into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of those who sleep in the Lord Jesus, enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies' sake in the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. OST merciful Saviour, who lovest little children, and thyself didst live as a little child upon the earth ; We come to thee in be- half of one whom we love. Thou art the Good Shepherd and carest for the lambs of thy flock, leading them tenderly and bearing them in thy gentle arms. Bring thou this child, for whom our prayer is offered, safely through the time of sickness and danger. Teach him. to be meek and loving and obedient like thyself. Keep him. from all fretfulness and impatience. Let him. feel that thou art ever near. Let him learn to love thee better and better. And if thou art pleased to restore him. to health, make iiiiii to walk all his days, be they many or few, in the way that leadeth to eternal life. Hear us, O pitiful and loving Lord, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. / f SICK AND DYING. ,' ' i6q J OLORD Jesus Christ, who |ida?t heal all manner of sickness and diseas'e amongst thy people; Give thy blessing, we beseech thee, to the means now used for the healing of this thy child; that he may be restored to health, and spared to worship thee in the courts of thy house on earth ; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest one God, world without end. Amen. For Parents whose Child is Sick. OGOD most merciful and gracious, who hast taught us in thy holy word to cast all our 1/^ care upon thee ; Relieve, we pray thee, the anxiety of thy servants ; and, that they may trust them- selves and their dear child wholly unto thee, teach them ever more and more to know the greatness of thy love and sympathy, which thou hast revealed to us in thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. For those who Care for the Sick. MERCIFUL Lord, we beseech thee to y strengthen and support thy servants who are called to tend the sufferer and to watch beside the bed of sickness. Give them grace to fulfil their task with patient endurance and with loving tenderness. Comfort them in their weariness with the comfort of thy blessed spirit. Teach them how good and blessed a thing it is to be permitted to minister to the wants of the sick and suffering. May this season of self- denying labour be a season of much spiritual welfare to their own souls. May they learn lessons which shall be blessed to themselves. May they learn to number their days, and to seek the things above, and to choose the one thing needful, while health and strength are •v 170 t^RAYERS FOR THE given to them',; so that, when they shall in their turn be called' to suffer and die, they may be able, with lowly submission and loving trust, to commit themselves into thy hands to do with them what thou wilt; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Thanksgiving for the Beginning of a Recovery, GREAT and mighty God, who bringest down to the grave, and bringest up again ; We bless thy wonderful goodness, for having turned our heaviness into joy and our mourning into gladness, by restoring this our brother to some degree of his former health. Blessed be thy Name that thou didst not forsake him in his sickness ; but didst visit him. with comforts from above ; didst support him. in patience and submission to thy will; and at last didst send him. seasonable relief. Perfect, we beseech thee, this thy mercy towards him; and prosper the means which shall be made use of for his cure : that, being restored to health of body, vigour of mind, and cheerfulness of spirit, he may be able to go to thine house, to offer thee an oblation with great gladness, and to bless thy holy Name for all thy goodness towards him.; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. A Thanksgiving for a Child's Recovery from Sickness. ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks for that thou hast been graciously pleased to deliver from his bodily sickness the child in whose behalf we now desire to bless and praise thy Name, in the SICK AND DYING. 171 presence of all thy people. Grant, we beseech thee, O gracious Father, that he, through thy help, may both faithfully walk according to thy will in this life present, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Thanksgiving for an Escape from Special Peril. OLORD God, in whose hand is the life of every thing, and the breath of all mankind ; We magnify thy goodness in that thou hast been pleased to save from deadly hurt thy servant, who now desireth \_or, for whom we desire] to offer thee the sacrifice of praise and thanks- giving. Give him grace, we humbly beseech thee, worthily to spend in thy service the days which thou hast so mercifully prolonged, that henceforth dwelling always under thy protection he may abide in thy love unto his life's end, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. For a Recovery fro?n Sickness. OGOD, who art the giver of life, of health, and of safety ; We bless thy Name, that thou hast been pleased to deliver from his bodily sick- ness this thy servant, who now desireth to return thanks unto thee, in the presence of all thy people. Gracious art thou, O Lord, and full of compassion to the children of men. May his heart be duly impressed with a sense of thy merciful goodness, and may he devote the resi- due of his days to an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. !^ 172 PRAYERS FOR THE A Prayer for a Sick Person, when there ap- pear eth but small hope of recovery . O FATHER of mercies, and God of all com- fort, our only help in time of need ; We fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, here lying under thy hand in great weakness of body. Look graciously upon him., O Lord; and the more the outward man de- cayeth, strengthen him., we beseech thee, so much the more continually with thy grace and Holy Spirit in the inner man. Give him. un- feigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and stedfast faith in thy Son Jesus ; that his sins may be done away by thy mercy, and his pardon sealed in heaven, before he go hence, and be no more seen. We know, O Lord, that there is no word impossible with thee ; and that, if thou wilt, thou canst even yet raise him. up, and grant him. a longer continuance amongst us; yet, forasmuch as in all appearance the time of his dissolution draweth near, so fit and prepare him, we beseech thee, against the hour of death, that after Ais departure hence in peace, and in thy favour, his soul may be received into thine everlasting kingdom ; through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. A Commendatory Prayer for a Sick Person at the point of departure. ALMIGHTY God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons ; We humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, our dear brother, into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee, that it may be precious in thy sight. Wash, it we SICK AHD DYING. '" 173 pray thee, in the blood Jf that immaculate Lamb, that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements it may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of the flesh, or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may be presented pure and without spot before thee; through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. Amen. For the Dying. O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whose hands are the issues of life, and whose in- finite wisdom ordereth all things for the best to them that love thee ; Look down with Fatherly eye on thy child whom thou hast touched with thine hand. Support hira by thy grace, confirm his faith, increase his hope, and perfect Ai-?love. Strengthen him with thy spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in Ais heart through faith. Make him to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge. And when it shall please thee to call him to thyself, carry him safely through the valley of the shadow of death through which our loving Saviour hath passed before us. And finally receive him. into those heavenly mansions which the same Lord has gone to prepare; where no fear shall trouble him, no pain distress him, no anxiety disturb him., no infirmity affiict 221722; where perfect security, pure delight, and unceasing joy await all who truly love thee, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Am.en. HAVE mercy on thy servant, O Lord. Into thy hands we commend his spirit, for thou hast redeemed it, O Lord, thou God of truth. O be with him. in this hour of need. Leave him. not, neither forsake 72^222. Support 222222 in thine everlasting arms. Guide 722222 through the valley of the shadow of death. Bring i22.sr soul out of prison, that it may praise thee. Say unto his 174 PRAYERS 1 OR THE soul, " I am thy salvation.'f^ Say unto him, " To- day thou shalt be with me in Paradise." Let him know the salvation of Jesus. Let him see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. O Lord, bid him. come to thee. Lord Jesus receive his spirit, and open to him the gates of everlasting glory. Let thy loving spirit lead him. forth into the land of righteousness. Send thine angel to carry him to the abode of peace. In the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver him. Amen. GOD, our heavenly Father, we remember before thee tonight, those thy children who are journeying in great bodily weakness, and drawing near unto the gates of death. We pray thee that thou wilt send thy dear Son to meet with them in the way, and to abide with them, for the day is far spent; that he may break with them the bread of eternal life ; that he may look upon them with the eyes of thy mercy, and com- fort them with a sense of thy goodness. And fill the hearts of all of us, we pray thee, with such trust in thee, that by night and by day, at all times and in all seasons, we may without fear commit those who are dear to us to thy never-failing love, for this life and the life to come. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen. A/ TNTO thy merciful hands, O heavenly Father, ^^ X we commend the soul of thy servant now de- parting from the body. Acknowledge, we meekly beseech thee, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive liim into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, into the glorious estate of thy chosen saints in heaven. O m.ost merciful Father, that cannot perish which is committed to thy charge. Re- ceive, we beseech thee, his spirit in peace. Amen. AFFLICTED. 175 For a Dying Child. OLORD Jesus Christ, who didst take little l^ children in thine arms and bless them ; Bless, we beseech thee, this child ; take him. into the arms of thine everlasting mercy. Keep him. from all evil, and bring him. into the company of those who ever behold the face of thy Father which is in heaven, with whom, and the Holy Spirit thou livest and reignest ever, one God, world without end. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THOSE IN AFFLICTION. M 'OST merciful Father, who hast been pleased j^ . to take unto thyself the soul of this thy servant [oi'this child]; Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that having served thee with constancy on earth, we may be joined hereafter with thy blessed saints in glory everlasting ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OLORD Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst :^ take away the sting of death ; Grant unto us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake up after thy likeness ; through thy mercy, who livest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we yield unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks, for the wonderful grace and virtue de- clared in all thy saints, who have been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their several generations ; most humbly beseeching thee to give us grace so to 176 PRAYERS FOR THE follow the example of their stedfastness in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy commandments, that at the day of the general Resurrection, we, with all those who are of the mystical body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice : Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. O LOVING Jesus, who didst take little chil- dren unto thine arms to bless them ; We believe that thou hast received the child now hidden from our sight. Thou lovedst him. better than we loved him.. Thou knewest what was best for him better than we knew, Thou wiliest, in thy love, that he should be with thee where thou art. We ask thee, O our Saviour, to have mercy on us who remain. Make all thy chil- dren to know how short and uncertain their time is. May they learn to love thee in obedience and innocence, that so, when thou callest them away, their eyes may see the King in his beauty, and their voices join in the songs of those who praise thee day and night in thy temple. And unto thee, O blessed Lord Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, shall be glory forever and ever. Amen. O MERCIFUL God and heavenly Father, of whose kingdom in heaven little children are members, and into which no one can enter who becomes not as a little child ; W^e humbly implore thy mercy in behalf of these afflicted parents. Bind up, we pray thee, their broken hearts, en- able them to say, in perfect resignation, " not my will but thine be done ;" comfort them with the blessed assurance that it is well with their child, now delivered from the trials and sorrows AFFLICTED. 177 of this mortal life, and at rest and peace in the Paradise of God. And prepare them, we pray thee, for their happy reunion with all the faith- ful departed in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O MERCIFUL God, and heavenly Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the chil- dren of men ; Look with pity, we beseech thee, upon the sorrows of thy ssrvant, for whom our prayers are desired. In thy wisdom thou hast seen fit to visit him with trouble, and to bring distress upon him. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy; sanctify thy fatherly correction to him; endue his soul with patience under his affliction, and with resignation to thy blessed will ; comfort him. with a sense of thy goodness ; lift up thy countenance upon him, and give him. peace ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O ALMIGHTY God, who art found of those who seek thee in loneliness, and whose por- tion is sufficient for the sorrowful soul ; Pour out, we pray thee, thy blessing upon these thy servants bereaved and afflicted. Thou only canst keep their feet from falling and their eyes from tears. Let not thy grace of patience fail them, nor thy love forsake them; but do thou so chasten, comfort, and sustain their hearts that in the country of peace and rest they may find, when the end cometh, an everlasting home. Grant this, we beseech thee, for his sake who hath gone thither that he may prepare a place for us, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 178 PRAYERS FOR THE U^ INTERNAL and unchangeable God, in whom J-=^ alone we find rest for our weariness and comfort for our sorrow, and from whom alone Cometh all true joy; Keep our hearts, we beseech thee, ever fixed on thee through life and death, waiting patiently for that glorious day when we shall rejoice in the fulness of thy love for ever- more ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. vV A LMIGHTY God, who in the time of our ^A- shadow^and darkness canst be our only true and .lasting,light ; Look upon us thy sad children with thy constant mercy, and give unto us the spirit of understanding promised by thy dear Son. W^hen our eyes no longer behold what we have loved, and when we listen for the footsteps of those who have gone out of our sight, and hear them not, what can we do but turn to thee ? And when our hearts fail us, and we sigh for that which cannot be, and no traveller comes back from that far country, and there are none to comfort us, make us to trust in thee. Then comfort our souls with the words of thy Son, " I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Give us this comfort of Christ through the spirit of truth, in which grant us all to abide for evermore ; through Jesus our Lord. Amen. COMFORT us, we beseech thee, gracious God, whensoever we are cast down and faint of heart amidst the sorrows and difficulties of the world. And grant that by the energy of thy Holy Spirit we may be enabled to go on our way rejoicing, and may at length appear before thee in the city where the vision of thy peace is manifested ; through thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. AFFLICTED. 179 MOST Mighty, most Merciful Father, look down in thy infinite pity upon these bereaved ones, smitten to the dust, and overwhelmed with the greatness and suddenness of this sorrow. Help them to bear the burden of this grief. Help them to believe that thou lovest them- ^ Let thy love shine graciously upon them in this dark day. Grant unto them thy blessing of j«signa- tion^-aiid trust in thee. Support — and comfort them with thy Holy Spirit. And enable them so to do and to bear thy holy will, that after all the changes and trials of this mortal life they may, in thy Paradise, be united again with loved ones gone before ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OHOLY Jesus, we fall down before thee, and beseech thee to have mercy upon thine afflicted servant. Lift from him, if it might be, the heavy burden of his affliction. Thou wast "despised and rejected of men, a Man of sor- rows, and acquainted with grief." Thou hast "borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." " We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Thou knowest every pain and pang that rends the heart. Thou knowest the heaviness which boweth down thy servant's soul. O thou, whose soul was " exceeding sorrowful, even unto death," look in mercy upon his great sorrov/. Pardon in him all faithless thoughts and fears, and dispel them by thy grace. Lift from above his head the dark cloud of despair, and let the bright sunshine of thy love shine round about him. Teach him to trust thy word, and to be- lieve in thy promises, and let him not be cast down overmuch by the feelings of his own weak and sinful heart. Teach him to look from his own wounds to thy blessed Cross, and may he find healing, and comfort and peace, as and when thou seest fit. May he remember that it is not l8o PRAYERS FOR THE bis own. feelings, but thy promises, which are the pledge of everlasting salvation. And, if he may not know here joy and peace in believing, may he nevertheless enter at length into the joy of his Lord, and the perfect peace of Paradise ; there to dwell with thee, who livest and reign- est, with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God evermore. Amen. GOD, merciful Father, even as Jesus Christ our L,ord endured the Cross with joy be- cause it was thy blessed will, so give us thy help in bearing the trouble which thou sendest upon us, that we may find in it how we may serve thee. Deliver us from rebellion at what is of thine appointment, from repining at our lot, and from a spirit of bitterness. Show us the service thou wouldest have us do for thee, and help us in the joy of that service to lose all trouble of spirit. Or, if it shall be thy will that we shall still dwell in darkness, help us ever in the darkness to re- joice, knowing that thine ear is ever open to the cry of thy children, and that nothing can separate us from thy love and care. Grant this for the sake of that love which thou hast revealed in thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen. MOST merciful Lord, who healest the in- ward man by outward afflictions, and by troubles in this world dost prepare us for eternal joys in the world to come ; By that cup of sorrow which thou didst drink for us, and by that weary path which thou didst tread, grant that we may willingly drink of thy cup, and cheerfully follow thee along the road where thou hast gone before ; v/ho with the Father and the Holy Ghost now reignest one God, world without end. Amen. AFFLICTED. i8i ALMIGHTY God, to whom is never any prayer made without hope of mercy and who layest on us no greater burden than thy grace can en- able us to bear ; Mercifully uphold these thy servants in their day of sorrow. Give them that holy calmness which comes of owning thy hand in whatever befalls, and patience in the faith that thou doest all things well. From unwilling- ness to listen to thy fatherly voice ; from hard- ness of heart under thy chastening ; from use- less wanderings after deliverers that cannot save, and from the sorrow of those who are without hope, deliver and save them, O Lord our God. "We ask it in the name of him who livest and was dead and behold he is alive forevermore, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. OHOLY Father, whose blessed Son in his love to little children said, " Suffer little chil- dren to come unto me, and forbid them not ; " We thank thee for this merciful assurance of thy love ; and we praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to take unto thyself the soul of this thy child, who is now taken from our sight. As he was made a member of thy suffer- ing kingdom here on earth, so we humbly be- lieve thou hast made him a member of thy glorious kingdom now in Paradise. Help us firmly to believe in thy wisdom and thy good- ness. May we remember that he whom we love is taken away from the evil to come, and is safe for ever. "We also ask thee, O Father, to make us as little children, in humility and innocence, that so we, through thy grace, may be fit for thy kingdom, both here in this world, and hereafter in heaven ; through thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Amen. \/ J^EADINGS FROM THE BIBLE. READINGS FROM THE BIBLE. HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness : According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions : And my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned. And done this evil in thy sight : That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest. And be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; And in sin did my mother conceive m.e. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts : And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; That the bones which thou hast Ijroken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins. And blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God ; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not av/ay from thy presence ; And take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; And uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways ; And sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation : And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteous- ness. l86 READINGS FROM O Lord, open thou my lips ; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give it : Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm li : 1-17 THEREFORE thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest : for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God ? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffer- ing; not knowing that the goodness of God lead- eth thee to repentance .-' But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ; who will ren- der to every man according to his deeds : tp them vv^ho by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eter- nal life : but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile ; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile : for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law : and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Rom. ii : 1-12, 16. THE BIBLE. 187 FOR we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not : for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to vv^ill is present with me ; but how to per- form that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not : but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man : but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vii : 14-253. SAY not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away : for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth. Say not thou. He hath caused me to err : for he hath no need of the sinful man. The Lord hateth all abomination ; and they that fear God love it not. He himself made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his counsel ; if thou wilt, to keep the commandments, and to perform acceptable faith- fulness. He hath set fire and water before thee: stretch forth thy hand unto whether thou wilt. Before man is life and death; and whether him liketh shall be given him. For the wisdom of the Lord is great, and he is mighty in pov/er, and beholdeth all things ; and his eyes are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth every v/ork of man. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, neither hath he given any man licence to sin. Ecclus. XV : 11-20. i88 READINGS FROM ND unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write ; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the begin- ning of the creation of God ; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art luke- warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked : I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear m^y voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that over- cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. iii : 14-22. IF thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribula- tion, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice : (for the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. . . . O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him. Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously ; so will v/e render the calves of our lips. ... I will ransom them THE BIBLE. 189 from the power c^ the grave : I will redeem them from death : O death, I will be thy plagues : O grave, I will be thy destruction : repentance shall be hid from mine eyes .... I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he shall knov/ them ? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them : but the transgressors shall fall therein. Deut. iv : 29, etc. HEAR the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom ; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the inultitude of your sacrifices unto me ? saith the Lord : I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts ; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts .^ Bring no more vain oblations ; incense is an abomination unto me ; the new moons and sab- baths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth : they are a trouble unto me ; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you : yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil ; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obe- dient, ye shall eat the good of the land : but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword : for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah i : 10-20. igo READINGS FROM FOR thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel ; In returning and rest shall ye be saved ; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength : and ye would not. . . There- fore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem : thou shalt weep no more : he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry ; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affiicticn, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers : and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah xxx : 15, 18-21. COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusa- lem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accom- plished, that her iniquity is pardoned : for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low : and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain : and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said. Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field : the grass withereth, the flower fadeth : because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : but the THE BIBLE. igi word of our God shall stand for ever. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain ; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength ; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Be- hold your God ! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him : behold, his reward is with him, and his work be- fore him. He shall feed his flock like a shep- herd : he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. . . . Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known .^ hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faint- eth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he in- creaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall re- new their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah xl : 1-11,27-31. BUT now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not : for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee : and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee ... I, even I, am the Lord ; and beside me there is no Saviour. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgres- sions for mine own sake, and will rot remember thy sins. . . . For thus saith the high and ig2 READINGS FROM lofty One that inhctbiteth eternity, whose Name is Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah xliii: 1,2, 11, 25, and Ivii : 15. MY son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be in- creased at thy last end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the fur- nace of adversity. Believe in him and he will help thee ; order thy way aright, and trust in him. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail. Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy. Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded ? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him ? For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffer- ing, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction. Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways ! Woe unto him that is faint- hearted ! for he believeth not ; therefore shall he not be defended. Woe unto you that have lost patience ! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you ? They that fear the Lord will not disobey his word ; and they that love him will keep his ways. They that fear the Lord will seek that which is wellpleasing unto him ; and they that love him shall be filled with the law. They that fear the Lord will prepare their heart, THE BIBLE. 193 and humble their souls in his sight, saying "We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men : for as his majesty is, so is his mercy. Ecclus. ii. AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God : When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God ? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me : For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, with a multi- tude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. my God, my soul is cast down within me : Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water- spouts : All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime. And in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 1 will say unto God my rock, W^hy hast thou for- gotten me ? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy ? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies re- proach me ; While they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 194 READINGS FROM Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in God: For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm xlii. LESSED is he whose transgression is for- given. Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imput- eth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me : My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord ; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found : Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble ; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of de- liverance. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go : I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding : Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked : But he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm xxxii. THE BIBLE. 193 THE Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall I fear ? The Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom shall I be afraid ? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, Came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear : Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after ; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion : In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me ; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me : Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : Have mercy also upon me, and ansv/er me. \A^hen thou saidst. Seek ye my face ; My heart said unto thee. Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me ; put not thy ser- vant away in anger : Thou hast been my help ; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, And lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine ene- mies: igS READINGS FROM For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, And he shall strengthen thine heart : Wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm xxvii. I WAITED patiently for the Lord ; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay. And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in m.y mouth, even praise unto our God : Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done. And thy thoughts which are to us-ward : They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee : If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire ; Mine ears hast thou opened : Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come : In the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God : Yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great con- gregation : Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. THE BIBLE. 197 I have not hid i.hy righteousness within my heart ; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salva- tion : I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, Lord : Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about : Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that 1 am not able to look up ; They are more than the hairs of mine head : Therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me ; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it ; Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, Aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee : Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy ; Yet the Lord thinketh upon me : Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm xl. BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me : For my soul trusteth in thee : Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, Until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high ; Unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, igS READINGS FROM And save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My soul is among lions : And I lie even among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens ; Let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps ; My soul is bowed down : They have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed : I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory ; awake, psaltery and harp : I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people : I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: Let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalm Ivii. I "WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper : The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth. And even for evermore. Psalm cxxi. THE BIBLE. xgg OLrORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine upris- ing, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue. But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me ; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there : If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning. And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea ; Even there shall thy hand lead me. And thy right hand shall hold me. If I say. Surely the darkness shall cover me ; Even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins : Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee ; for I am fearfully and wonder- fully made : Marvellous are thy works ; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret. And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being un- perfect ; And in thy book all my members were written, W^hich in continuance were fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! READINGS FROM If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand : When I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God : Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee ? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee ? I hate them with perfect hatred : I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart : Try me, and know my thoughts : And see if there be any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm cxxxix. IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust : Let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape : Incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort : Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked. Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God : Thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb : Thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels : My praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many ; But thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age ; THE BIBLE. Forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me ; And they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him ; Persecute and take him ; For there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me : my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul ; Let them be covered with reproach and dis- honour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day ; For I know not the numbers thereof. 1 will go in the strength of the Lord God : I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth : And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not ; Until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation. And thy power to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things : God, who is like unto thee ! Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again. And shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 1 will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God : Unto thee v/ill I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee ; READINGS FROM And my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long : For they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. Psalm Ixxi. LOVE the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me. Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me : I found trouble and sorrov/. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous ; Yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple : 1 was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul ; For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken : I was greatly afflicted : I said in my haste, all men are liars. "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me ? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Lord, truly I am thy servant ; 1 am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. THE BIBLE. 2Q3 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm cxvi. WILL extol thee, my God, O king; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day v/ill I bless thee ; And I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; And his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty. And of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts : And I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion ; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all : And his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; And thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power ; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts. And the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all gen- erations. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee ; And thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand. And satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 204 READINGS FROM The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him : But all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord ; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm cxlv. THEREFORE I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment ? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature ? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : and yet I say unto you. That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith ? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat ? or. What shall we drink ? or. Wherewithal shall we be clothed ? (for after all these things do the Gen- tiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- ness ; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow : for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matt, vi : 25-34. THE BIBLE. 203 AT that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so. Father : for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father : and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father ; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt, xi : 25-30. AND he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and cam.e to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto / 2o6 READINGS FROM him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet : and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it ; and let us eat, and be merry : for this my son was dead, and is alive again ; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field : and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come ; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in : therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment ; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends : but as soon as this thy son v/as come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad : for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found. Luke xv : 11-32. FOR the kingdom of heaven is as a man travel- ling into a far country, who called his ov/n servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one ; to every man according to his several ability ; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged THE BIBLE. 207 in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had re- ceived five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents : behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him. Well done, thou good and faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said. Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents : behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed : and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth : lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him. Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed : thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance : but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness : there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt, xxv : 14-30. 'HEN the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations : / 2o8 READINGS FROM and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world : for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink : I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me : I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink ? when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in .^ or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee ? And the King shall answer and say unto them. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- pared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink : I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.' Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ? Then shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal. Matt, xxv : 31-46. VERILY, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen ; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how THE BIBLE. 209 shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things ? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that who- soever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who- soever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only be- gotten Son of God. And this is the condemna- tion, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John iii : 11-21. LABOUR not for the meat which perisheth, ^ but for that meat which endureth unto ever- lasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you : for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God ? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him. What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee ? v/hat dost thou work ? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto j'ou, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven ; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the READINGS FROM bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, everm^ore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life : he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me ; and him that com.eth to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life : and I will raise him up at the last day. John vi : 27-40. LET not your heart be troubled : j'-e believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself ; that where I am, there ye may be also. And vv'hither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest ; and how can we know the way ? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no m^an cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also : and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip,? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shev/ us the Father ? Believest thou THE BIBLE. not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself ; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me : or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also ; and greater works than these shall he do ; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may bQ glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever ; even the Spirit of truth ; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him : but ye know him ; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless : I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more ; but ye see me : be- cause I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: anti he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . . These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my command- ment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command j^ou. Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the ser- vant knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I have called you friends ; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. . . . And in that READINGS FROM day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, W^hatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye. shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation : but be of good cheer ; I have over- come the world. . . . Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John xiv: 1-21; XV : 11-16 ; xvi : 23, 24, 33 ; xiv : 27. ^ "II^OR as many as are led by the Spirit of God, A they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared^with the glory which shall be revealed in us. / For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.^ For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope : but hope that is seen is not hope : for THE BIBLE. 213 what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. '"^iCnd he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh inter- cession for the saints according to the will of God.^ And we know that all things work to- gether for good to them that love God, to them^ who are called according to his purpose. I~Fot whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called : and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."] What shall we then say to these things? "If God be for us, who can be against us ? He that spared not his own Son, but de- livered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condem- neth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaugh- ter."'^ Nay, in all these things v/e are more than coriquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. viii: 14-39. 214 READINGS FROM lEHOLD, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God : therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Be- loved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. I John iii : 1-3. y '\'KT^ ^^^ troubled on every side, yet not dis- ^ VV tressed ; we are perplexed, but not in des- pair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed ; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal fiesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, ac- cording as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak : knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not ; but though our outward man perish, yet the in- ward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, v/orketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen : for the things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tab- ernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in 1 THE BIBLE. 215 the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly de- siring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven : if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For v/e that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened : not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be sv/allowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are alv/ays confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight :) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Where- fore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. II Cor. iv: 8-v: g. iUT what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the right- eousness which is of God by faith : that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death ; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect : but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am ap- prehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself ';o have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for 216 READINGS FROM the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded : and if in any thing ye be other- wise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample For our conversation is in heaven ; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to sub- due all things unto himself. Phil, iii : 7-17, 20, 21. BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abun- dant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and un- defiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salva- tion of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you : searching what, or what manner of THE BIBLE. 217 time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suffer- ings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto them- selves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance : but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corrupt- ible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot : who verily was foreordained before the founda- tion of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently : being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. I Peter i : 3-25. 2i8 READINGS FROM BUT thou, O man of God, flee these things ; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pon- tius Pilate witnessed a good confession ; that thou keep this commandment without spot, un- rebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ : which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ; who only hath im- mortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto ; whom no man hath seen, nor can see : to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. . . . But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my depature is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : hence- forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteous- ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. I Tim. vi : 11-16 and II Tim. iv : 5-8. THE souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die : and their departure is taken for misery, and their go- ing from us to be utter destruction : but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. And having Ijeen a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded : for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. , As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt-offering. And in the time of their visita- tion they shall shine, and run to and fro like THE BIBLE. 219 sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. Wis. iii : 1-8. THE wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abun- dantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and con- firm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not : behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence ; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing : for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water : in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those : the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the re- deemed shall walk there : and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah xxxv. AFTER this I beheld, and, lo, a great multi- tude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, 220 READINGS. Stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands ; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Sal- vation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying. Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiv- ing, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me. What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they? And I said unto him. Sir, thou know- est. And he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. vii : 9-17. NOTE — Other passages from the Bible may be found in this book, as follows : Psalm xxiii, page 54 ; Psalm xxxix, page 45 ; Psalm xlvi, page 53; Psalm xc, page 46; Psalm cxxx, page 32; Mark X : 13-16, page 13; John iii : 1-8, page 11; I Cor. XV : 20-58, page 47 ; Rev. xxi : i-xxii : 5, page 54.