deemed thy people-thou, the Lord our strength, our praise, our Saviour. We from our hearts return thee the homage of thanksgiving, we sing hallelujahs to thee the King of Glory. Amen. Amen, IN THE THANKSGIVINGS UPON EASTER-DAY, AND SEVEN DAYS AFTER. (See p. 162.) BUT chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life. To be said by all. Therefore with Angels, &c. (p. 183.) The Scripture Reading of the days between this and Ascension day may most usefully be directed to the Events of that period which bear so much upon the gifts and powers bequeathed by our Lord to His Church. (See some remarks on the Calendar and on Family Scripture Reading at the end of the Appendix.) ROGATION DAYS. IF ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. S. John xv. ye Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. S. John xvi. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. S. Matth. vii. THE INVOCATION. O Thou that hearest prayer. Glory be, &c. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. 3, 4, 34. THE PRAYER. (Dean Hickes.) O GOD, who by thy Church hast ordained this solemn time of supplication for all our necessities; open, we beseech thee, thy gracious ears to the prayers thou inspirest and drawest from our hearts; and by granting us those good things which thy children with humility and resignation ask of thee, their Heavenly Father, so encourage our devotion and obedience, and so increase our hope and love, that looking above and beyond all earthly goods as safely to be trusted in the hands of thy Providence, our whole souls may thirst after thee, and trust in thee, who art our all in all for ever, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Amen. D d Ascension. THESE things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John xvi. He ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, he received gifts for men. Ps. lxviii. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John xiv. THE INVOCATION. O Thou who hast ascended up on high, who sittest upon the right hand of the Father, and there makest intercession for us. Glory be to thee, O Lord. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. PRAYER FOR THE ASCENSION. BLESSED Jesus, on this day we bow down and give thee thanks for all thou hast suffered for the redemption of man, for the poverty and humiliation of thy birth, thy fasting, thine agony, thy scourging, thy persecutions, thy passion, thy death and burial. For all these, O Lord Jesus, be thy Name blessed, adored, and sanctified. And now we join our joys with thine, for that thou art ascended on high, and hast overcome sin, and death, and hell, and hast entered victorious into heaven, there to be adored by the angels, and to be glorified by all the blessed for all eternity. Raise our hearts, we beseech thee, above all that is sinful, above all worldly cares and sorrows, and fears, and joys, and vouchsafe to remember us who remain in this vale of tears, this day, and to give us thy blessing, the blessing of faith and of patience, the blessing of a sincere and humble heart, the blessing of purity and charity, and the blessing of peace. Amen. IN THE THANKSGIVINGS UPON ASCENSION DAY AND SEVEN DAYS AFTER. (See p. 162.) THROUGH thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his most glorious Resurrection manifestly appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, thither we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory. To be said by all. Therefore with Angels, &c. (p. 183.) Whitsuntide. The Week following Whit-Sunday is an Ember Week. THE Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John xiv. Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thess. v. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephes. iv. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Gal. v. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Ib. THE INVOCATION. O Thou who didst send down the Holy Ghost upon thine Apostles, and gavest him unto thy Church. Glory be to thee, O Lord. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. PRAYER FOR WHITSUNTIDE. GOD of infinite goodness, behold we bow down and give thanks for thy wonderful mercy of this day, in sending down thine Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, to be their comforter and peace, and to prepare them for preaching the faith of thy dear Son; for that by this mercy thou hast established thy Church, and made it the pillar and ground of |