nations; and then shall the end come. as 1 At another time Jesus said to His apostles, Peace be unto you My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. Seventh Week. Exhortation to persevere in ail virtue, and to cultivate a love for spiritual wisdom. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 2 And I John saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. From St. Paul's Epistles to the 1 St. John xx. 21. things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. OUR : 5 UR 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 subdue all things unto Himself. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever : Eighth Week. Christ appears twice to His disciples on the first day of the week. From the Holy Gospel according to St. John. THE HEN the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. But 3 Phil. iii. 20. 2 Rev. xiv. 6. 5 St. John xx. 19. .... Thomas, one of the twelve, called bread, and in prayers. 3 And fear And 1 Isai. lxii. 8. 4 St. Matt. xi. 28. Same subject continued. From the Book of the Prophet Jere- EAR the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the Lord. 4 At that time Jesus said, 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 2 And the disciples continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of is easy, and My burden is light. 2 Acts ii. 42. 3 Jerem. xxxi. 10. Then he says, . Thanks be to God for His mercy. Ry. Blessing, thanksgiving, and honour, be unto God for ever and ever. Amen. . But may the Lord continue to bless us. Ry. And keep us this night without sin. 0 Then all kneeling, say the Confession and Litany following: BLESSED Trinity, one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we here assembled, prostrate in spirit before Thee, do confess in the sight of the whole court of heaven our innumerable offences committed against Thy divine majesty. We have sinned, Lord, we have sinned; we have grievously offended Thee, through the whole course of our lives, in thought, word, and deed, and therefore are most unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven, or so much as to name Thy sacred name. But, O God, eternal Creator of all things, Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who hast made us in Thine own image, redeemed us by Thy only Son, adopted us Thy children, and shewest mercy to those who humbly and sincerely seek it, be merciful to us, O Lord, and give us a true contrition for all the sins we have committed against Thee, that, being turned from all our evil ways, we may, by a sincere repentance, obtain Thy peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We beseech thee to hear us, O Lord, and grant that as we have heard this day in Thy house of prayer what our duty is, we may, by Thy grace and help, be enabled to accomplish it; That we may not be conformed to this world; but that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we may live soberly, justly, and piously; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. That we may crucify the flesh with its vices and lusts, and be ever clean of heart; That being dead to sin, we may live unto righteousness, and arising with Thee, our Redeemer, may die no more; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. That it may please Thee to have mercy on our relations, friends, and benefactors, to open their eyes to see the beauty of Thy truth, and give them grace to embrace it; That it may please Thee mercifully to look down from heaven on all those who suffer, and so to strengthen them in their affliction, that they may be led thereby to a more perfect love of Thee, and a stricter obedience to Thy commandments; We beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord. And that Thou wouldst give to us and to all people the spirit of the Gospel, and inspire us all with a zeal for peace, unity, and truth. O Lord, graciously hear these our prayers; O Son of God, we beseech Thee to hear us, and have mercy upon us. Then all say, UR Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. be in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen. Here may be said the particular Collect for any Saint's Day which may fall on a Sunday (see Saints' - Day Morning Prayers), or for the Sundays during the season of Advent (see Week-Day Evening Prayers). Then, if there has been Holy Communion, he says, POUR into our hearts, O Lord, the spirit of Thy love, that we, whom Thou hast fed with Thy most sacred Body and Blood, may by Thy goodness live in perfect concord, and being strengthened against all the snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil, may avoid every vice, and practise with diligence all the virtues proper for our state, so as to serve Thee more faithfully every day. Amen. Then he says the following Thanksgiving Prayer: 0 ALMIGHTY and eternal God, who hast appointed us six days in which we may labour and do all our work, and hast consecrated the seventh to Thyself, mercifully forgive the sins, the coldness, and neglect in worshipping Thee of which we have been guilty, and give us grace to avoid them for the future. Make us sensible, O Lord, of the daily blessings we receive from Thy bounty, especially the blessing of this happy day; that as we know Thee by faith, we may love Thee by charity; and fixing all our hopes on the happiness of a future life, we may patiently suffer in submission to Thy holy will what Thou now permittest, and come at length to the joys of Thy heavenly kingdom; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Then he says the two Collects following, and Prayer for a blessing. WE E pray Thee, O Lord, graciously continue to visit this habitation; drive far from it all snares of the enemy; and give us a quiet night and a perfect end; through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. we beseech thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always from Thee, and by Thee may happily be ended; through Christ our Lord. Amen. MAY AY the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Amen. |