The Table of Vigils is given at the commencement of the Book, so also is the general List of Fasts and Days of Abstinence, although it is not specified what days belong to those two classes respectively. At the time that Table was given in the Common Prayer Book, the two first of the Rogation-Days, and all Fridays in the year, were Days of Abstinence; the rest were Fast-Days: the former being a limitation in the kind and quantity of food, the latter entire deprivation of food until late in the day.

In families where there are many who cannot observe any strict rule, it would conduce to an observance of the season of Lent and other Fast-Days to postpone the Evening meal until after Evening Prayer, which could be much earlier than is usual. The Children might then be present. Where either chanting or singing of Hymns form a part of the Family Service, these as well as all musical recreation might be discontinued.

On Vigils the Litany in the Appendix may be used instead of the ordinary Morning Prayers, and some of the following Prayers inserted between the Lord's Prayer and the concluding Prayer.

VIGILS, FASTS, AND DAYS OF ABSTINENCE.

For appropriate Sentences, and Invocation for Lent and FastDays generally, see those for Lent in the Seasons of the Year.

ON EVES OF FESTIVALS RELATING TO OUR LORD.

CONSIDER him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin. Heb. xii.

ON WHITSUN EVE.

IF ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Rom. viii.

ON EVES OF SAINTS' DAYS.

TAKE, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering, affliction, and patience. S. James v. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same. Col. iv.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. S. Matt. xxvi,

I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. ix.

Instead of the usual Prayer for Pardon, may be said the following.

FROM THE COMMINATION SERVICE.

TURN thou us, O good Lord, and so shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, be favourable

to thy people, who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them, and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE INVOCATION.

O Thou who didst continue whole nights in prayer; and rising up a great while before day didst depart into a solitary place and pray: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

APPROPRIATE PSALMS.
6, 102, 130.

On Special Fast-Days the Penitential Psalms could be in part or wholly used in the course of the Day in private, and in the Family as follows.

As a morning Confession, Ps. 51.

For the Church and Unity, 102.

At the Third Hour, 143. At the Sixth, 32.
At the Ninth, 6.

In the Evening, 130. At Night, 38.

APPROPRIATE COLLECTS FOR FASTS GENERALLY.

"O Lord, who for our sakes." (First Sunday in Lent.)

"Almighty God, who madest." (The Circumcision.)

PRAYERS FOR THE SAME.

(Bp. Cosin, &c.)

GOD, who didst command thy people Israel of old to fast, and afflict their souls, humbling themselves before thee, [and who, by the forty days' fast of thy dear Son in the desert hast both sanctified and taught the same,] and by whose divine inspiration thy Church hath in all succeeding ages appointed times of fasting and humiliation before thee; Help us now, O Lord, and [as thou hast shewn how powerfully prayer and fasting, when offered from sincere and contrite hearts, avail with thee,] give us grace rightly to use these blessed means, that as much as the body is mortified, by so much and more also may our souls be sanctified and refreshed in thee, O Blessed Jesus, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

ON THE EVES OF FESTIVALS RELATING TO OUR LORD, AND ON WHITSUN EVE.

(Dean Hickes.)

Some of the words

GOD, who inspirest thy Church to sanctify the year with festival memorials of our blessed Saviour and his most exemplary followers, and to excite and introduce our devotions to each feast by the wholesome discipline of a religious fast. Grant us thy servants, we most humbly. Here mention the beseech thee, brought again to the Festival. Eve of the Festival of by this in the Collects, or day's obedient mortification of our Prayers for the Sea carnal appetites, to call in and pu- sons may be adapted rify our souls, and fitly dispose them for the fruitful celebration of the approaching festival; through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

OR THIS.

to it.

O LORD Christ, who by thy Holy Doctrine hast taught us to fast, and watch, and pray, and by thy blessed example hast powerfully engaged us to follow thy steps; vouchsafe, we beseech thee, by thy grace so to mortify our bodies, that our minds may be better disposed by prayer and meditation devoutly to celebrate the Fasts and Festivals of thy Church, and eternally to rejoice with thee hereafter in the kingdom of thy glory, where with the Father and the Holy Ghost, thou livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.