5 So may our youth adore thy name, With fostering grace the timid flame 178. SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER. 1 JESUS comes with all his grace, 2 He hath our salvation wrought, He hath wash'd us in his blood. 4 Seek we then our calling's prize, Fill'd with joy, and love, and peace, 5 Let us then rejoice in hope, 179. SEPTUAGESIMA. 1 O GOD, whose sun shines far around O'er every distant land, Where'er the tribes of men are found, 2 Whose rain diffuses verdure green, 3 Behold, O Lord, thy works abroad, Still vexed by sin's oppressive load, O send to all thy saving light, That they may see thy Gospel bright 5 In barren wastes let springs appear, To them let heathens wild draw near, 6 That standing by the friendly tree And taste the grace that flows from thee, 30. SEXAGESIMA. 1 DECEIVED by subtle snares of hell, 2 Death was the threat'ning: death began To take possession of the man, His unborn race received the wound, 3 But Satan found a worse reward, Betwixt the woman's seed and thee. 4 The woman's seed shall be my Son, 5 He spake and bid four thousand years 6 Lo, by the sons of hell he dies, powers below. LENT.† ASH WEDNESDAY, PSALM VI. FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT, PSALM XXV. SECOND SUNDAY, PSALM XXXVIII. THIRD, (OR HYMN 181), PSALM LI. FOURTH SUNDAY, PSALM LXIX. FIFTH SUNDAY, PSALM CXXX. SIXTH, (OR HYмN 182), PSALM CXLIII. + Luke xvii. 7. Which of you having a servant plowing, feeding cattle, will say unto him by and bye when he is come fr the field, "Go, sit down to meat," and will not rather say him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and ser me, and afterward thou shalt eat and drink. Doth he thank th servant, &c. i. e. We are Christ's servants, not for a stated tim but for ever, and bought by him with a goodly price, and can the fore render no service for which he has not already paid. From this intimation of our Lord probably arose the custo Christian fasting, as we frequently read in the Acts. "They m tered unto the Lord, and fasted," or in plain words, postponed t own business and pleasure till the service of their Master wask complished. Hence the ancient rule of the Church to abstain fr food on fast days till after the evening service. In the early times fasting was carried to an extent which wo seriously injure the weaker constitutions of the present day, as been found by experience. On the other hand, there is no do that most of the diseases which affect all classes above the labou poor, are caused by over-eating, and consequently over-sleep The beneficial effects produced by moderate fasting, on the he 1 1. THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. PHYSICIAN. O LORD, since thou art still to day Since still thou art disposed to do mind, and the spirits, are best understood by those who have le the trial. Considered as a religious exercise, the following cautions should be attended to. Ist, That it be voluntary and not pulsory, or else it partakes of the nature of a legal work, done ause commanded, instead of an act of evangelical self-devotion. noman judge you in respect of meat and drink-yet the practice isely recommended by the Church, and exemplified by good men. , That it be done from an impression of its being a duty which frequires, otherwise there is a danger of its being considered an raordinary act of goodness which we need not have performed, I something of which to boast, which is the Popish error. Still not an unmeaning service, but an act by which God is honoured, which he has promised to reward. 3dly, To observe the preatory lessons conveyed in the three preceding collects. ptuagesima teaches that all evil and affliction is no part of God's ginal creation, but the consequence of man's sin-that God takes lelight in the misery of his creatures, (as Moloch, &c. were suped to do)-that being sinners and deserving punishment, an acowledgment of this being so, can be nothing meritorious, nor off any part of the debt." eragesima reminds us to acknowledge that we put no trust in own doings for two reasons-The merits of Christ are allficient in the way of satisfaction and atonement without any adon. And the subsequent holy devotion and obedience which in gratitude must pay as well as to secure our interest in the mement, and which he will accept, is such as we could in no e perform, but by the aid of the Holy Spirit, his free gift, the chase and consequence of his death. It is of his fore-appointnt that we receive the capacity for performing good works. Quinquagesima warns us against all uncharitableness, self-con, preferring ourselves to others, all spiritual pride and contention which we may be tempted in the performance of this duty. God ks not for great things, which exalt a man's self, but for good ngs, which benefit others. Christian love and mutual forbearance of more real value than the most splendid performances. Fastis an act of humiliation to which our divine Master deigned to mit; a true follower of him will therefore be ashamed not to subt to it. It is an act of self-denial highly useful to check the inpendence and self-will of the prosperous, to remind that riches fit not in the day of wrath, and by the experience of hunger to d them to think of the wants of their fellow-creatures. It is, in nification an acknowledgment of our own ill desert, and a due pect to the sufferings of Christ on our behalf. LEPER. 3 Now, Lord, to whom for help we call, With pitying eye behold us fall 4 Loathsome, and vile, and self-abhorr'd, But if thou wilt, a gracious word DEAF AND DUMB. 5 Thou seest us deaf to thy commands, Bid us stretch out our withered hands, 6 Silent (alas! thou know'st how long) But oh when thou shalt loose our tongue, LAME. 7 Lame at the pool we still are seen Waiting to find relief, While many others venture in, And wash away their grief. 8 Now speak our mind our conscience sound, Give, and our strength employ, Light as a hart our soul shall bound, BLIND. 9 If thou, our Lord, art passing by, 10 See, we are waiting in the way 1 |