his bodily Abfence, by reafon of his Ascenfion. Suitable to this Purpose, the Gospel felected for it treats of the Nature and Efficacy of Prayer. Our Saviour being now about to leave his Difciples, he recommends Prayer to be to them as it were the Equivalent of himself; to fupply them with all the Confolations of his own Prefence; and fo to fill up their Joy, that they should want none, tho' he were away. Verily, verily, I fay unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye afked nothing in my Name: Afk, and ye shall receive, that your Foy may be full, i. e. Hitherto, when ye have requested any Thing, it has been by your immediate Addreffes to God; or elfe, you have defired me to pray in your Behalf; but you have not yet addressed yourselves to God through my Mediation: From hence forward, make use of this Method in your Prayers; beg every Thing for the Sake of Jefus Chrift your Lord; and God will be always ready to grant, what you pray for, efpecially, fo far forth, as relates to your compleating your eternal Happiness.

At that Day, ye shall afk the Father in my Name,

Afcenfion

Afcenfion Day.

The three Rogation Days, i. e. Days of Supplication, which fo judiciously precede this Day, and Whitfunday, are to be obferved, not only to prepare our Minds for the Celebration of them, but also to befeech Almighty God, that the Fruits of the Earth might be bleffed, that now cover it.

The Reading of a Gospel, in the Parish Proceffions or Perambulations at feveral Places by the Minister, is to admonish the People to give Thanks for their Increase.

Thus in the 19th of Queen Elizabeth's Injunctions: 'Provided, that the Curate in "their faid common Perambulations, ufed

heretofore, in the Days of Rogations,

at certain convenient Places, fhall admo"nish the People, to give Thanks to God, "in the Beholding of God's Benefits, for the "Increase and Abundance of his Fruits, upon "the Face of the Earth. At which Time "alfo he fhall inculcate thefe, or fuch like "Sentences, Curfed is he, which tranflateth the "Bounds and Dolls of his Neighbour: And " with the faying of the ciii. Pfalm, which is "full of great Devotion, and abounds with “Variety of curious poetical Images: Or the

cc next,

next, which begins, as the last began and "ended; and is a noble Description of God's Majefty, Power, Wisdom and Goodness. "Tho' all Proceffions are now abolished, yet the Circuits of Parishes, which still re"tain the Name of Proceffioning, are usefully "continued; and most of them obferved upon "this Day, to prevent Incroachments, and to

cr

preserve the Rights of the Extent of them, by keeping up the Marks of their Bounds.

"The Church has provided four Homilies "to be used in this Week. The Homily for "this Day exhorts,

"That the View of the Bounds of the "feveral Eftates and Parishes, should put Men " in Mind of their Neighbours Properties, and give them an Abhorrence against invading

"them.

"That they should not vindicate their Right against every little and unwilful Encroachment, to the Breach of Christian Charity.

"That they ought carefully to take Notice "of Boundaries, that they may hinder vexa"tious Suits, and vindicate the Right of the "Owner.

"That they should take Notice of, and "hinder the Mischiefs, which arise from bad "Ways.

"That

"That when the Fruits of the Earth are gathered in, they fhould be kind to the "Poor, in handsome Largesses, and suffer them "to glean the scattered Corn."

Whitfunday, or the Feast of Pentecoft.

The Solemnity of the Chriftian Pentecoft, is kept in Honour of the Gospel, as the Jewish was out of regard to the Law. It was celebrated by them, fifty Days after the Passover, pursuant to God's Command, Lev. xxiii.

It is likewife called, the Day of first Fruits; for on this Day they offered them in the Temple. It is moreover termed, the Day of the Harveft; for that they began then about to cut their Corn.

This Day, amongst us, is that of the Descent of the Holy Ghoft upon the Apostles. it was called Whitfunday, partly because of the Diffufions of Light, that were then shed upon them; partly for the white Garments that were put upon those that were not baptized before, but were now initiated into the Church; and partly, because our Ancestors upon this Day gave the Milk, i. e. the White of their Kine to the Poor.

Trinity Sunday is the Octave of Whitfunday, celebrated by the Church for the Mystery of

the Bleffed Trinity, one God, in three diftinct Perfons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in Oppofition to the Arians, and fuch like Hereticks, who blafphemed the fame.

It is a facred Injunction of the Founder of Corpus-Chrifti College upon his Society, who always celebrate this Day upon the Thursday in Trinity Week, to make Confeffion of the Holy and undivided Trinity, by repeating this Sunday Collect twice every Day, throughout the Year.

After the aforefaid Collects, as well at Morning as Evening Prayer, in Choirs or Places where they fing,

Here followeth the Anthem.

1

Altho' the Time for finging is fixed here; yet in most Places where they fing, is the Pfalm fung at Evening Service, after the fecond Leffon, for all there is a Hymn appointed then.

Then thefe five Prayers following are to be read here, except when the Litany is read; and then only the two laft are to be read, as they are there placed.

Here followeth the Litany, or general Supplication, to be fung or faid after Morning Prayer; upon Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at other times, when it shall be commanded by the Ordinary.

If we take Notice of thefe Directions, and of one or two more upon fome other Occafions,