3311 i ^Hauuito fclutrsdan %hn $m\ ■v •»9M)3*c0«3*« Calcutta: PRINTED BY THE CALCUTTA CENTRAL PRESS CO., LD., 5, COUNCIL HOUSE STREET. 1888. N A *s & IS) zzzzz. [J III 1 S^S) 10 HJjuuuIij WwtzUi §mi fntUg $ttmw OF THE Jtrmmtm* (Calcutta: PRINTED BY THE CALCUTTA CENTRAL PRESS CO., LD., 5, COUNCIL HOUSE STREET. 1888. « V, x SBLF ^ URL Uf Notice. rPHIS divine Service Book of the two great Solemn days, Holy Thursday and Good Friday is intended by the Armenian Priests of Calcutta for the use of such members of the Armenian Community who do not understand their language sufficiently well to follow the Services in the Church. The Priests trust that the book will meet with the approval of the said members of our Community, and that they will be benefited by it. * s « fi n ir t x ♦ Renunciation — -A Confession — A Form of Confession — Absolution — from page V to X. HOLY THURSDAY-MORNING SERVICE. Lord's Prayer .... V Tage.. ... 1 Lord how are they Lord God Bless the Lord Hear ray prayer PSALMS. ... 2 ... 2 ... 3 5 I will wash ANTHEM. HYMN. 6 Lord God Now is my soul. St. John GOSPEL. HOLY THURSDAY-MIDDAY SERVICE. P8ALMS. Unto Thee, Lord Judge me, Lord The Lord is Unto thee will I cry Give unto the Lord I will extol thee In thee, Lord Blessed is he Fret not thyself 10 11 12 13 U 15 16 18 19 K a INDEX. HOLY THURSDAY— MIDDAY— (Contd.) Page. OLord .- ... .» ... 22 I said ... ... ... ... ... 23 I waited patiently ... ... ••• ••• 25 Blessed is he ... ... ... ... ••• 26 As the hart panteth ... ... ... ... 26 Judge me, God ... ... ... ... 27 As the hart panteth ... ... ... ... 36 Give thanks ... ... ... ... 38 Make a joyful noise ... ... ^. ... 39 LESSONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 1 cried by reason (Jonah) ... ... ... 28 And the days (Isaiah) ... ... ... 34 For I will take (Ezekiel) ... ... ... 34 THE PRAYER OF MANASSES, KING OF JUDAH. Lord, Almighty God ... ... ... ... 29 HYMN OF ST. MESROPE. 1 beseech thee ... ... .- ••• 32 ANTHEM. Purge me with hyssop ... ... ... ... 32 GOSPEL. Having therefore (Hebrews) ... ... ... 35 And one of the (St. Luke) ... ... ... 36 HOLY THURSDAY-SERVICE AT NOON- Lord's Prayer ... ... ... ... 40 ' PSALMS. Have mercy ... ... ... ... 40 Bow down ... ... ... ... 40 W 8 INDEX. HOLY THURSDAY— NOON-(Contd.) Page. ANTHEM. I will wash ... ... ... ... ... 40 His words ... ... ... ... 44 Thou preparest a table ... ... ... ... 49 LESSONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. And it came (Genesis) ... ... ... 40 The Spirit (Isaiah) ... ... ... 42 GOSPEL. And in those (Acts) ... ... ... 43 After two days (St. Mark) ... ... ... 46 For I have received (Corinthians I.,) ... ... ... 49 Now the first day (St. Mathew) ... ... ... 50 THE NICENE CREED. We believe in one God ... ... ... ... 51 HOLY THURSDAY.-EVENING SERVICE. Ceremony of Washing of Feet. ANTHEM. Purge me with hyssop. Have Mercy ... , . 53 PSALM. The voice of the Lord. G ve unto . 55 LESSONS OF OLD TESTAMENT. And the Lord spake (Exodus) . 55 Then made he ten lavers (Kings I) . 56 Fear not, Jacob (Isaiah) ... . 57 Also he made (Chronicles) GOSPEL. . 56 Moreover brethren (Corinthians I) . 58 Beloved, let us love (John I) . 58 Now before the feast (St. John) . 59 So after he had (St. John) . 64 88 s INDEX. HOLY THURSDAY— EVENING— (Contd.) Page. HYMN OF ST. NIERSES THE GRACEFUL. This day the Origin of Light Ineffable ... ... 61 HOLY THURSDAY-NIGHT SERVICE- Our Father, &o. ... ... ... ... 64 PSALMS. Lord how are they ... ... „.. ... 64 O Lord God ... ... ... ... 65 Bless the Lord ... ... ... ... 66 Hear my prayer ... ... ... ... 67 Why do the heathen .... ... ... ... 70 Lord how are they ... ... ... ... 71 Hear me when 1 call ... ... ... ... 71 Blessed is he ... ... ... ... 85 As the hart panteth ... ... ... ... 86 Judge me O Lord ... ... ... ... 88 Deliver me from ... ... ... ... 91 O God thou ha9t ... ... ... ... 96 Hear my cry O God ... ... ... ^. 97 O God the heathen are ... ... ... ... 103 Give ear, O Shepherd ... ... ... ... 104 Sing aloud unto God ... ... ... ... 105 Hold not thy peace, O God ... ._ ... 110 The Lord said unto my Lord ... ... ... 112 Praise ye the Lord ... ... ... ... 113 O Give thanks ... ... ... ... 117 Have mercy upon me ... ... ... 127-32 Praise ye the Lord ... ... ... ... 128 Hold not thy peace ... ... ... ... 110 ANTHEM. Praise ye the Lord ... ... ... ... 69 The rulers take counsel ... ... ... .„ 72 An evil disease ... ... ... ... 88 S3 INDEX. y HOLY THURSDAY— NIGHT— (Contd ) Page. Deliver me from ... ... ... • . 97 They were rejected ... ... ... • . 106 They have spoken ... • 11 i Give thanks ... ... ... ■ . 118 Princes have ... ... ••« . . 122 Thou didst ride ... ... ... . . 124 I am up and go ... . 129 HYMN OF ST. NIERSES THE GRACEFUL. This day the Origin of Light Ineffable ... . 72 He fulfilled the laws ... ... ... . 88 With an affectionate ... ... . 97 Thou ... . 106 Thou the Releaser ... ... . . 114 His Hands were ... GOSPEL. . 118 Verily, Verily, I say unto you (St John) . 74 Now the feast (St. Luke) ... . 90 And Jesus saith unto (St. Mark) ... . 99 Then saith Jesus (St. Matthew)... . 108 And they that had (St. Matthew)... . 115 And Judas also (St. Johu) ... . 120 Then led they Jesus (St. John) ... . 130 LESSON OF OLD TESTAMENT. Blessed are thou Lord (Daniel) . 124 SONG OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. And my Spirit hath rejoiced (St. Luke) m . 126 SONG < 3F THE ANGELS. Glory to God in the highest ... - 128 « W & INDEX. i GOOD FRIDAY -MORNING SERVICE. PSALMS. Fnge. ITave mercy upon me, God ... 133 Plead my cause, Lord ... ... 133 Lord, rebuke me not ... ... 136 Blessed is he ... ... 139 My God, my God ... ... 141 In thee, Lord .. ... ... 145 Save me, God ... ... ... ... 151 Hear my prayer, Lord ... ... 162 Ilear my prayer, Lord ... ... 170 LESSONS OF OLD TESTAMENT. And it was broken (Zachariah) ... 135 The shew of their (Isaiah) ... 138 The Lord God hath (Isaiah) ... 140 And it shall come (Amos) ... 144 Behold, my Servant (Isaiah) ... U7 Who is this that (Isaiah) ... 157 And the Lord hath (Jeremiah) ... 164 And the Lord my God (Zechariah) GOSPEL. ... 171 But God forbid (Galatians) ... 136 Let this mind be in you (Phillippians) ... ... 138 For when we were (Romans) ... 141 For the preaching (Corinthians I) ... ... 144 For both he that (Hebrews) ... 149 When the morning (St. Matthew) ... ... 150 But Christ being (Hebrews) ... 158 And straightway (St. Mark) ... 159 Having therefore (Hebrews) ... 166 And as socn as (St. Luke) ... 166 I give the charge (Timothy I) ... 172 n 88 8 INDEX. £ GOOD FRIDAY-EVENING SERVICE. Our Father, &c. PSALMS. ... 174 Bow down thine ear ... ... ... 175-198 Deliver me, Lord ... ... ... 175-198 My God, my God ... 176-141 Let my prayer be ... ... 176 I will lift up (one verse) ... 176 For thou wilt (one verse) ANTHEM. ... 177 They gave me also ... ... 175 LESSONS OF OLD TESTAMENT. And the Lord (Jeremiah) ... 175 Behold my Servants (Isaiah) ... 175 For the ungodly said (Solomon) ... 177 In that day (Zachariah) GOSPEL. ... 179 For it is better (Peter I) ... 180 When the even was come (St. Matthew) ... TRISAGION. ... 180 Holy God, Holy and Mighty ... 181 PRAYER OF ST NIERSES THE GRACEFUL. I confess with faith ... ... 182 THE SEVEN PENITENT :iAL PSALMS ... 187 PSALMS. Bow down thine ear ... ... ... ... 198 Deliver me Lord END. ... 199 » K « Kcnunnattoin WE renounce Satan and all his devices, all his seductions, all his thoughts, all his ways, all his intentions, and his evil angels, all his wicked worship, all his seditious servants, and all his wicked power and influence, do we heartily renounce. (Repeated thrice.) A CONFESSION OF WE CONFESS and with our whole [most perfect] heart believe in the Father God, [Who is] not created, not begotten, but without beginning ; [Who] also is begetter of the Son, and breather forth of the Holy Ghost. We believe in the Word God, [Who is] not created, [but] begotten and [Who has His] beginning from the Father, before the worlds. Who is neither posterior nor less ; but as the Father is Father, so is the Son also Son. We believe in the Holy Ghost, [Who is] not created, [and] not of time ; not begotten vi but breathed forth from the Father, of the same essence with the Father, and of the same glory with the Son. AVe believe in the Holy Trinity, One Nature, one Godhead — not three Gods, but One God — one will, one kingdom, one sovereign ty, Maker of things, visible and invisible. We believe in a Holy Church, a remission of sins, a communion of saints. We believe [that] One of the three Persons, the Word God, begotten of the Father before the worlds, in time came down into the Mother of God [Deipora], the Virgin Mary, took of her blood and united it with His Godhead [Divinity], patiently tarried nine months in the Womb of that pure Virgin, and was made [or became] perfect man in spirit [or soul], and mind and body ; one person, one figure [or appearance], and united in one nature. God was made [or became] man, without change, without alteration ; conception without seed, and generation without corruption. So that as there is no beginning to His Godhead [Divinity], so also is there no end to His humanity ; for Jesus Christ, yesterday and to-day, is the same and for ever. We believe [that] our Lord Jesus Christ, having gone about in the Earth, after thirty years came to Baptism ; [that] the Father bare witness : " This is My Beloved Son," and the Holy Ghost like a dove came down upon Him. [That] He was tempted of Satan, and overcame him ; preached the salvation of men, laboured in the body, hungered and thirsted ; after 5ff 5P 8 vii that, of His own free will came into sufferings, was crucified, dead in the body, but alive in his Godhead [Divinity]. His body was laid in the grave united with His Godhead [Divinity] ; and in spirit He went down into hell in His undivided Godhead [Divinity], preached to the spirits, spoiled hell, and set free the spirits. After three days He rose again from the dead, and appeared r to the disciples. We believe [that] our Lord Jesus Christ went up into heaven in that same body, and sat at the right hand of God ; and that he is to come in the same body, and in the glory of the Father, to judge the quick and dead ; that is also the Resurrection of all men. We believe also in the retribution for works [done in the body] ; to the righteous, life everlasting ; and to sinners, everlasting torments. %i jForm of ffionfeasum. * I HAVE sinned against the most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. I have sinned against God. I confess before God, and the Holy Mother of God, and in your presence, Revd. Father, all the sins that I have committed. Because I have * In. this form of Confession are represented all kinds of sins that human nature might commit under temptation ; but in pri- vate confession the penitent must confess to the priest those sins only which he (or she) has committed. viii sinned by thought, word and deed, willingly and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have sinned by my soul and its influence, by my mind and its emotion, by my body and its sensa- tion. I have sinned by the influence of my soul. I have sinned by cunning, by malignity, by insolence and timidity, by extravagance and niggardliness, by excessive addiction to appetite, by injustice, byprone- ness to evil, by despondency and mistrust ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have sinned by the evil employment of my tongue, by speaking lies, by taking false oaths, by swear- ing, by contention, by wrangling, by slander, by de- traction, by spreading evil and malicious reports, by false accusation, by mockery, by raillery, by derision, by sowing discord and division, by imprecation, by cursing, by malediction, by murmuring, by being dis- contented, by speaking ill of others, by calumniating* by defaming, by backbiting, by censuring malignantly, by blaspheming ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have sinned by the evil employment of my hands, by stealing, by coveting, by robbing, by beating, by killing, by dragging ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have sinned with all the joints of my frame and with all the members of my body, with my seven ! IX senses and with my six sensations, and by all sorts of carnal inclinations and sensual desires, despising the virtuous conduct of my predecessors and becoming a bad example to those that are to come hereafter ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have, moreover, sinned by seven mortal sins ; namely, by pride and all its parts, by malice and all its parts, by anger and all its parts, by idleness and all its parts, by avarice and all its parts, by gluttony and all its parts, by fornication and all its parts ; by all these I have sinned against God. I have, moreover, sinned against all the command- ments of God, both by commission and by omission ; for neither did I fulfil what I had undertaken to perform, nor did I avoid what I had promised to renounce ! I embraced the laws, but neglected to abide by the laws. I was admitted into the order of Chris- tianity, but was found unworthy by my deeds. I have knowingly and willingly followed the evil, and blindly neglected the good. Woe to me ! woe to me ! ! woe to me ! ! ! How can I enumerate the multitude of my sins ? How can I confess the magnitude of my transgressions ? For innumerable are my sins, inexpres- sible are my iniquities, unpardonable are my crimes, and incurable are my wounds ! Oh ! I have grievously offended my God and my Saviour ! Reverend Father, I hold thee as a medium of re- conciliation and as an intercessor to the only begotten Son of God, beseeching you that by the authority com- mitted to you, you should absolve me from all my sins. &6solitttom MAY the Merciful God have mercy upon you and forgive all the sins and offences which thou hast confessed and which thou hast omitted to confess, and I by virtue of the ministerial authority committed to me and of the divine commandment (*That whose- soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained) by the tenor of this text. I absolve thee from all thy sins committed by thought, word, and deed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. I do moreover design thee to the sacraments of the Holy Church, that all thy good deeds may be considered as acts of benevolence conducive to the eternal life and spiritual beatitude. Amen. * St. Job xx. vrs. 23. St. Matthew xvi. vrs. 19, and xviii. vrs. 18. 1 Cor. v. vrs. 1—6. s* % to (Si fimmhtj ¥|ur$k^ nt& §nnh ny. pt$ntt$$ ]f dh| j[jm$toKij S^tijj^ uf jlpijttk HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. "QLESSED is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 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 them who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Lord if thou wilt open my lips, my mouth shall sing forth thy Praise (repeated tivice.) Blessed be the co- essential, simultaneous, indivisible Holy : Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now and ever world without end. Amen. n » HOLY THURSDAY MollNINCJ. Psalm, Hi, 1 — 8. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me ! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me ; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept, I awaked ; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thou- sands of people that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, Lord ; save me, O my God : for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek- bone ; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : thy blessing is upon thy people. Psalm Ixxxviii, 1 — 18. OLOKD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee : Let my prayer come before thee : incline thine ear unto my cry : For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit ; I am as a man that hath no strength : Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou remem- berest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Thou hast put HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. 3 away mine acquaintance far from me ; thou hast made me an abomination unto them. I am shut up,. and I cannot come forth. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hand's unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead ? Shall the dead arise and praise thee ? Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave ; or thy faithfulness in destruction ? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark ; and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness ? But unto thee have I cried, O Lord ; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. Lord, why castest thou off my soul ? Why hidest thou thy face from me ? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up ; while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me ; thy terrors have cut me off. They come round about me daily like water ; they compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. Psalm ciii, 1 — 22. jHLESS the Lord, my soul ; and all that is within -^ me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits : Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who crowneth thee with- lovincr kindness and tender mercies ; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things ; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and : »! 4 HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide : neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins ; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he ■ knoweth our frame ; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass : as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteous- ness unto children's children ; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his command- ments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens ; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts ; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion : Bless the Lord. my soul. a Js HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. Psalm cxliii, 1 — 12. HEAR my prayer, Lord ; give ear to my suppli- cations : in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ; he hath smitten my life down to the ground : he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed with- in me ; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old ; I meditate on all thy works ; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee : my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord : my spirit faileth . hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust : cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God : thy spirit is good ; lead me into the land of upright- ness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake : for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul : for I am thy servant. 5 6 HOLY THURSDAY MORN I NO. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Now and ever world without end, Amen. Hymn* of St. fflierses the Graceful. 'Litany. HHymn of St. fflierses. 'Prayer by the 'Priest. cJIymn of St. Usaac. %itany. 'Prayer by the 'Priest. JJLntlum. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Psalm, xxvi, 6- — 8. I WILL wash mine hands in innocency : so will I com- pass thine altar, O Lord : Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : Thou anointest my head with oil ; my cup runneth over. Glory and blessing be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, Now and ever, world without end. Amen. Alleluia (repeated thrice.) ol short "Prayer by the 'Priest — ' : Our Father. " (Prayers, Hymns and Psalms to follow here, see pages/2 U /* «)• « HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. Psalm, xciv, 1 — 23. OLORD GOD, to whom vengeance belongeth ; O God to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou Judge of the earth : render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph ? How long shall they utter and speak hard things, and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves ? They break in pieces thy people, Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the father- less. Yet they say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people : and ye fools, when will ye be wise ? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear ? He that formed the eye, shall he not see ? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct ? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, Lord, and teachest him out of thy law ; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off his people, nei- ther will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness : and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers ? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity ? Unless the Lord had been my 8 HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth ; thy mercy, O Lord, help me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy com- forts delight my soul. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law ? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my defence ; and my God is the rock of my refuge ; and he shall bring upon them their iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wicked- ness ; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off. St. John, xii, 27—43. NOW is my soul troubled ; and what shall I say ? Father, save me from this hour : but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people there- fore that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered : others said, an angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world : now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him : We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever : and how say est thou, the Son of Man must be lifted up ? Who is this Son of Man ? HOLY THURSDAY MORNING. 9 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you : for he that walketh in dark- ness knovveth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him : That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again : He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart ; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also rnaoy believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not con- fess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 'Exhortation by the '-Deacon, followed by a Grayer by the 'Priest. « si 10 KOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. Psalm li, " Have mercy wpon me, &c." 22 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. upright ; for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together : the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord ; he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them ; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Now and ever, world without end, Amen. Grayer by the ^Deacon. Grayer by the Priests. Psalm, xxxviii, 1 — 22. OLORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath ; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine ar- rows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger ; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head ; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled ; I am bowed down greatly ; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are rilled with a loathsome disease ; and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken : I have roared by reason of the disquietness of W 9 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 23 my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee ; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me ; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore ; and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me ; and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. But I, as a deaf man, heard not ; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope : thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me ; when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity ; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong : and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries ; because I follow the thing that is good. Forsake me not, Lord, O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, Lord my salvation. Psalm, ocxxix, 1 — 13. I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue ; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with * « 24 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. silence, I held my peace, even from good ; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot Avithin me, while I was musing the fire burned ; then spake I with my tongue, Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand breadth ; and mine age is as nothing before thee : verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain show ; surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for ? My hope is in thee Deliver me from all my transgressions : make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth ; because thou didst it. Remove thy stroke away from me ; I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a mouth : surely every man is vanity. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry ; hold not thy peace at my tears : for 1 am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. Psalm, xl, 1 — 17. I WAITED patiently for the Lord ; and he in clined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set HOLY THUKSDAY MIDDAY. my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God : many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is the 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 num- bered. 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, my God : yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart ; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation : I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord : let thy loving kindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about : mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up ; they are more than the hairs of mine head : therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, Lord, 26 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. to deliver me : 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 back- ward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, A.ha. 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. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, world without end. Amen. 'Prayer by the ^Deacon. Prayer by the Priest. Psalm, xli, 1 — 13. BLESSED is he that considereth the poor ; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive ; and he shall be blessed upon the earth : and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him ii|)on the bed of languishing. (See page 71.) Psalm, xlii, 1—11. 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 * » HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 27 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 multitude that kept holy day. Why art thou cast down, 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 waterspouts : all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me ? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy ? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me ; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God ? Why art thou cast down, my soul ? and why art thou dis- quieted within me ? hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm, xliii, 1 — 5. JUDGE me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation : O deliver me from the deceitful 28 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength : why dost thou cast me off ? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy ? O send out thy light and thy truth : let them lead me ; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy : yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Glory be, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, world without end. Amen. ^Exhortation by the beacon. Grayer by the driest. I Jonah, %%, 2 — 9. CRIED by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas ; and the floods compassed me about : all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight ; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul : the depth closed me round about ; the weeds were wrapped sc * « HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 29 about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains ; the earth with her bars was about me for ever : yet hast thou brought up my life from corrup- tion, Lord my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord : and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving : I will pay that that I have vowed. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, world without end. Amen. The priest and people kneeling down shall then sing the—* Hymn of St. Mesrope (repeated thrice). Jonah, ii, 2 — 9. " I cried by reason, etc." Hymn of St. Mesrope (repeated thrice.) Jonah, ii, 2—9. " I cried by reason, etc." Hymn of St. Mesrope (repeated thrice.) The Prayer of Manasses, King of Judah. f\ LORD, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, ^ Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed, Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament there- 30 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. of, Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment ; Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by the terrible and glorious name ; Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power ; Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. For the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable. But thy merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. For thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, long suffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Thou Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee : and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God ofthe just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. But thou hast appointed re- pentance unto me that am a sinner : for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. My transgres- sions, Lord, are multiplied. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. My transgressions are multiplied, and « HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. I am bound down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release : for I have provoked thy wrath, and pone evil before thee. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. I have set up abominations, and have mul- tipled offences. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseech- ing thee of grace. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities : wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, Lord, forgive me. and destroy me not with mine iniquities. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me ; neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent ; and in me thou wilt show all thy goodness : for thou wilt save me, that am un- worthy, according to thy great mercy. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life : for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Almighty Lord forgive me my sins. Glory to the Father, &c. Amen, 32 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. aSy/nn of. <^t. l^lf.srope (repeated thrice). I BESEECH thee, O Lord, forgive me ray sins. O merciful Lord have mercy upon me. God, be merci- ful to me a sinner. O God, my creator and my hope, have mercy upon me, thy sinful servant. Have mercy upon me a great sinner. O Holy and all- blessed and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, intercede for me a sinner. All ye saints of God intercede with the Father in heaven for us sinners. O Christ Son of God, most Benevolent, accept our supplica- tions, for in thee do we put our trust. By the trium- phal conquering power of thy Holy precious and life- giving Cross, protect us. Send, O Lord, the angel of peace, who coming may keep us in tranquility day and night. By thy benevolence, remember us, Lord, remember us when thou comest with thy kingdom, and have mercy upon us. Exhortation by the ^Deacon. Grayer by the ?Prte$t: J5_ u t lu m . T)URGE me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : Wash -*- me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loviug kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash « » _ HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 33 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 thoii judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Be- hold, 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 broken 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 away from thy preseDcej 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 blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation : and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew 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. Do good in thy good 1M a 34 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. pleasure unto Zion : build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering : then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. — Psalm, li, 1 — 19. Isaiah, Ix, 20—22. 4 XD the days of thy mourning shall be ended ; thy ■^ people also shall be all righteous: they shall in- herit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation : I, the Lord will hasten it in his time. Ezekiel, xxxvi, 24 — 31. ijlOR I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and}'e shall be clean from all your filthiness : and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within yon : and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers ; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save m » HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 35 you from all your uncleannesses : and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil days, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abo- minations. Hebreivs, x, 19 — 31. HAVING therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised) ; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works : not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins ; but a certain fearful looking for ».. » 36 HOLY THUKSDAY MIDDAY. judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, where- with he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the spirit of grace. For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me : I will recom- pense, said the Lord ; and again : The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Psalm, cclii, 1. As the hart panteth after the water- brooks, so panieth my soul after Thee God. St. Luke, vii, 36 — 50. AND one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment, Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him : for she is a sinner. HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 37 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he said, Master, say- on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most ! Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest t'nou this woman ? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet : but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss : but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint : but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven ; for she loved much : but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also ? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace. 'Exhortation by the ^Deacon. c J?rayer of St. 'Basil. 8 38 JHOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. Psalm, cxviii, 1 — 19. OGIVE thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good : because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in distress : the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side ; I will not fear what can man do unto me ? The Lord taketh my part Avith. them that help me : therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. All nations compassed me about : but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They compassed me about ; yea, they compassed me about : but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They compassed me about like bees ; they are quenched as the fire of thorns : for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall : but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous : the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted : the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the * * ft HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 39 works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore : but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness : I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. ifTyrnn of St. Peter. Psalm, c, 1 — 5. MAKE a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness : come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God : it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves ; we are his people, and the sheep of his pas- ture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good ; his mercy is everlasting ; and his truth endureth to all genera- tions. 'Exhortation by the ^Deacon. Grayer by the driest. The Bishop or a Priest will then read blessings upon the penitents. 'Exhortation by the ^Deacon. c Litany. 'Prayer by the Priest. & 40 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. £crt'ice at Qoow. "Our Father." Psalm, li, 1 — 19. " &Iaze mercy upon me, Z9 God," fallowed by Slymn. Prayers by the ^FVforf. ^Exhortations by the '-'Deacon, and Psalms (see page 3~J ). "Our Father." Psalm, Ixrxvi, 1 — 17. " *!Bow down thine ear, ~& Tjord." ('I he c Prayers to follow here, see page //£')• I WILL wash mine hands in innocency : so will I com- pass thine altar, O Lord : Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. — Psalm, xxvl, 6, 8. Genesis, xxii, 1 — 18. AND it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham ; and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy sou, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah ; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains * g a HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 41 which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham saidriinto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass ; and I and the, lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son ; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife ; and they went both of them together. Aud Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father ; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood : but where is the lamb for a burnt offering ? And Abraham said, My sou, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of ; and Abra- ham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham ; and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him : for now I 42 HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not with- hold thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns : and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah — jireh : as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore ; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies ; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, be- cause thou hast obeyed my voice. Isaiah, Ixi, 1 — 7. THE spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion ; to give unto m HOLY THURSDAY MIDDAY. 43 them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former deso- lations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the deso- lations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord, men shall call you the ministers of our God, ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast your- selves. For your shame ye shall have double ; and for confusion they shall rejoce in their portion : there- fore in their land they shall possess the double : ever- lasting joy shall be unto them. The Acts, i, 15—26. A ND in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the ■E*- disciples and said ( the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty), Men and brethren this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Hoi}* Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judus, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity ; and falling head- long, he hurst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels ©