I have found my sheep which was lost.-St. Luke xv. 6. O good SHEPHERD, I thank Thee for Thy tender care and concern for Thy lost sheep. I had indeed been for ever lost, had not Thy love sought and found me when I was astray. For Thy goodness' sake keep me, for the time to come, from wandering from Thee, and from Thy fold. Amen. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. -St. Matt. xxvi. 41. Make me, O LORD, ever mindful of my infirmities and backslidings, that I may be more watchful and more earnest for grace, for the time to come; that the adversary of my soul may never find me off my guard, or from under Thy protection. Your heavenly FATHER will give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask Him.-St. Luke xi. 13. O heavenly FATHER, let it be unto Thy servant according to this word. Abandon me not, I beseech Thee, to the opposition that I shall at any time make to Thy Holy Spirit, that I may never render myself unworthy of so great a blessing. If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. St. John viii. 51. O JESUS, who hast made known to us another death besides that which separates our souls from our bodies, let Thy grace and mercy deliver me from the bitter pains of eternal death. Amen. Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.-St. Matt. xi. 29. O heavenly MASTER and PATTERN, how am I astonished when I consider Thy humility, Thy poverty, Thy meekness, Thy resignation, in the midst of injuries, oppression, and wrongs! It must be Thy Almighty grace which must enable me to follow Thy example, and submit to this way of peace, to which our nature is so averse: For this grace I now pray, through Thy merits and mediation, O JESUS. Amen. Then shall ye say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, &c.—But He shall say, I tell you I know you not; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity, &c.-St. Luke xiii. 26, 27. Let me not depart from Thy Table and presence, O LORD, without obtaining the grace to lead a godly and a Christian life; that I may escape this terrible and just judgment to be passed upon all those who enjoy the means of grace and salvation without being bettered by them, but continue to lead unchristian lives. Amen. My peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you.-St. John xiv. 27. It must be Thy SPIRIT, O PRINCE of PEACE, that must put us into possession of this Thy last and dying legacy. O give me this peace which the world cannot give; which passeth all understanding!—the peace and pleasure of being in the favour of GOD; and that I may possess my soul in peace, in the midst of the temptations, and troubles, and allurements of this present evil world. And let this peace which Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood, be with me, and with Thy whole Church, evermore. Amen. HYMNS. Before Thy death, this Feast Thou didst ordain, Thy saints will imitate Thy solemn care, O JESU, pierced for love of me, Now in a wondrous wise dost Thou Love bids Thee stoop to be so low- O come to me, dear LORD, I pray, To forest streams the hart doth hie I cannot love Thee as I would, Ken. And if a thousand lives were mine, So richly hast Thou loved me. O Food of men wayfaring, People's Hymnal. The souls that hunger feed Thou, O Fount of Love, redeeming, Come Thou, Thyself bestowing JESU, before Thee kneeling, We pray that we, ascended, When Thou the veil hast rended, May see Thee with our eyes. Amen. O GOD of mercy, GoD of might, People's Hymnal. How should pale sinners bear the sight For now Thy people are allowed To scale the mount, and pierce the cloud; O agony of wavering thought, Thus, while the storm is high within My Mother Church? and hear thee tell And doubt we yet? Thou call'st again- Whispering, it says to each apart, Sweet awful hour! the only sound Refresh us, LORD, to hold it fast; Christian Year. So GoD loved the world that He gave His only begotten SON.'-See the Comfortable Words.' · Come unto Me, all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.' |