Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Ib.

When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matth. vi.

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Ïb.

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matth. iv.

It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Ib.

It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Ib.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? And when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Is. lviii. 6, 7.

Give alms of thy goods, and never turn thy face from any poor man; and then the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee. Tob. iv.

Be merciful after thy power. If thou hast much, give plenteously if thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity. Tob. iv.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord: and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. xix.

Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. Psal. xli.

:

The Lent Invocation.

O Thou who for our sakes didst fast forty days and forty nights.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Appropriate Psalms.-vi. xxxii. xxxviii. li. cii. cxxx. cxliii. For this season, as well as in Holy Week, the Prayers for Fast-Days, Vigils, Ember-Days, and Rogation-Days, are in part applicable.

Passion-tide.

ET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ

in form of God, thought it

robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Phil. ii.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. Is. lxiii.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Is. l.

Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb. ix.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Ib.

The Invocation.

O Thou who for us sinners didst humble thyself and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Appropriate Psalms.-xxii. xl. liv. lxix. lxxxviii.

Prayer for Holy Week.

GOD, who hast brought us to this holy time, wherein we renew the memory of our Redeemer's passion; hear us we beseech thee, and enable us to distinguish it

from all other times, in the spirit of holiness and piety, of recollection and penitence, of love and adoration, and gratitude. And since all our hopes are from the passion of Christ, since by his blood we are purchased, and alone obtain pardon of sin, give us thy grace, that our abomination of sin may be the greater, and that we may learn to crucify it in ourselves. Strengthen us in this, O God, for our nature is both weak and unwilling, and thy grace alone can work it in us. Grant that his wonderful sufferings may shew us the grievousness of sin, and the punishment due to them, while they give us comfort in shewing to us the ground of our hope; that so, putting our whole trust in him, who is the sacrifice and ransom for our sin, we may enter into the fellowship of his sufferings, and dying unto the world, may live evermore with him. Amen.

C

Easter-tide.

HRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more: death hath no more dominion over him. Rom. vi. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Ib.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ib.

:

Christ is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept. 1 Cor. xv.

For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Ib.

For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Ib.

Appropriate Psalms.-ii. lvii. cxi. cxiii. cxiv. cxviii.

Prayer for Easter.

"OST Blessed Redeemer, we come to meet thee with joy this day; thou who wentest through so many sorrows in thy sacred passion, and gavest up thy life upon the cross, who art risen to a life of glory, who hast burst the bands of death, who art victorious over death and hell, who hast redeemed thy people thou, the Lord our strength, our praise, our Saviour. We from our hearts return thee the homage of thanksgiving, we sing hallelujahs to thee the King of Glory. Amen, Amen.

Ascension.

N.B. The Sentences and Prayers for the Rogation-Days are to be found amongst those for Fasts, &c. further on.

TH

HESE 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 overcome the world. John xvi.

He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, he received gifts for men. Ps. lxviii.

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.

The Invocation.

O Thou who hast ascended up on high, who sittest upon the right hand of the Father.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Appropriate Psalms.-viii. xv. xxi. xxiv. xlvii. cviii.

Prayer for the Ascension.

BLESSED Jesus, on this day we bow down and give thee thanks for all thou hast suffered for the redemption of man, for the poverty and humiliation of thy birth, thy fasting, thine agony, thy scourging, thy persecutions, thy passion, thy death and burial. For all these, O Lord Jesus, be thy name blessed, adored, and sanctified. And now we join our joys with thine, for that thou art ascended on high, and hast overcome sin, and death, and hell, and hast entered victorious into heaven, there to be adored by the angels, and to be glorified by all the blessed for all eternity. Raise our hearts we beseech thee above all that is sinful, above all worldly cares and sorrows, and fears, and joys, and vouchsafe to remember us who remain in this vale of tears, this day, and to give us thy blessing, the blessing of faith and of patience, of a sincere and humble heart, the blessing of purity and charity, and the blessing of peace. Amen.

Whitsuntide.

The Week following Whit-sunday is an Ember Week.

THE

HE Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John xiv.

Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thess. iv.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephes. iv.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal. v.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Ib.

The Invocation.

O Thou who didst send down the Holy Ghost upon thine Apostles, and gavest him unto thy Church.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

Appropriate Psalms.-xlviii. lxviii. civ. cxlv.

Prayer for Whitsuntide.

GOD of infinite goodness, behold we bow down and give thanks for thy wonderful mercy of this day, in sending down thine Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, to be their comforter and peace, and to prepare them for preaching the faith of thy dear Son; for that by this mercy thou hast established thy Church, and made it the pillar and ground of truth, and thou thyself its everlasting light. May it daily bring forth children to thee walking here by the Gospel, and Spirit of thy Son our Lord Jesus, and hereafter translated from this his mystical body on earth, to thy heavenly choirs above. Send forth thy Holy Ghost, O God, as thou hast promised, that he, dwelling in our hearts, may form our whole inward man, and make us one with thee in charity. And thou, O Holy Ghost, receive and hear our prayers, thou best of comforters, thou author of all good, for Jesus' sake. Amen. Prayers for the Clergy should be especially used at this time, such as those scattered throughout the Daily Services.