COLLECTS,

TO BE READ AFTER THE THIRD COLLECT, FOR GRACE.

For Christmas-Day.

ALMIGHTY God, who didst as on this day send thy beloved Son Jesus Christ into the world, accept our unfeigned thanks for this thine unspeakable gift. We rejoice that in the fulness of time he came into the world, made of a woman, made under the law. Grant that we, being regenerate and made thy children by adoption and favour, may be renewed in the spirit of our minds by the gospel of thy Son. Teach us duly to consider the good purposes for which he appeared among men ; and may we wisely improve the blessings conferred upon us through him that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, we may rise to life eternal. Amen.

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For Good-Friday.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who of thy love to mankind hast sent thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ

to suffer death, as on this day, upon the cross, that all mankind may learn of him humility and obedience; mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience and virtue, and also be made partakers of the blessings of his gospel. And as he died on account of the sins of the world, may we hence learn to die unto sin, that we may live unto Christ, and reign with him in his heavenly kingdom.

Merciful Father, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same in his vocation and ministry may truly and godly serve thee.

And, O Thou who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; have mercy upon all orders of men, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word, and bring them home to the fold of Christ, that there may be one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord: to whom be glory in all his churches, world without end. Amen.

For Easter-Day.

ALMIGHTY God, who, through thine only Son Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened to us the gates of everlasting life; we humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us, thou didst put into our minds good desires; so, by thy continual help, we may bring the same to good effect. And, as thou hast raised up thy Son Jesus Christ from the dead, to die no more, grant that we, being dead to sin, may be raised with him to newness of life, and with him inhabit the realms of bliss for evermore. Amen.

For Ascension-Day.

GRANT, we humbly beseech thee, Almighty God, (that) like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended as on this day into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, when time shall be no more. Amen.

For Whit-Sunday.

O GOD, who, as at this time, didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light

of thy Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in thy aid and comfort, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS

AND

THANKSGIVINGS.

Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several occasions, to be used before the two final prayers of Morning and Evening Prayer.

For Rain.

O God, our heavenly Father, who by thy Son Jesus Christ hast promised to all them that seek thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance; send us, we beseech thee, in this our necessity, such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to thy honour. And grant that we may shew forth our thankfulness to thee by a sincere obedience to thy holy laws, which thou hast taught us by Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Fair Weather.

O ALMIGHTY Lord God, who for the sin of man didst once drown all the world, except eight persons,