EASTER DAY. O MOST HOLY, most glorious Saviour and Redeemer, who for our sake didst descend from the glories of heaven to the pains and labours of the earth, and didst pass from a painful life to an ignominious death, from the bitterness of death to the darkness of the grave, and by Thy divine power didst raise Thyself from death to life again, we give Thee thanks for Thine infinite love to us and all mankind. We acknowledge Thee to be our Lord, and confess Thee to be our God. We adore Thy majesty, and rejoice in Thy mercy, and we humbly pray Thee to enable us, by Thy Spirit, to believe all Thy doctrines, and to obey all Thy commandments, that after a holy and religious life, spent in doing honour to Thy holy Name, we may be partakers of Thy holy resurrection, passing from death to life, from the darkness of the grave to the light of heaven, from imperfect service to the perfection of holiness in the fruition of the joys of God in Thy eternal kingdom, O most holy, most glorious Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. BISHOP JEREMY TAYLOR. ASCENSION DAY. O BLESSED High Priest, Holy Jesus, King of the world, and Head of the Church, who, when Thou hadst taken upon Thee our nature and our sin, and appeased Thy Father's wrath, and performed all His will, and overcome death, and rescued all obedient souls from the hand of the enemy, didst ascend to Thy eternal Father, and open the kingdom of heaven to all believers; Thou hast a feeling of our infirmities, and art our merciful High Priest, making intercession for us for ever. Oh, be pleased to represent and supply all our wants, excuse all our infirmities, pity all our calamities, pardon our sins, and send down Thy Holy Spirit of grace into our hearts, that though we walk upon the earth, yet our conversation may be in heaven, and there also may be our portion and inheritance for ever, through Thy mercies, O most gracious Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. BISHOP JEREMY TAYLOR. WHITSUNDAY. O ETERNAL GOD, the great Father of Spirits, the great Lover of souls, who didst send Thy Holy Spirit upon Thy Church in the day of Pentecost, and hast promised that He shall abide with the Church for ever; let Thy Holy Spirit lead us into all truth, defend us from all sin, enrich us with His gifts, refresh us with His comforts, rule in our hearts for ever, conduct us with His truth, and lead us in the way everlasting; that we, living by Thy Spirit and walking in Him, may by Him be sealed unto the day of our redemption. Let Thy Spirit witness to our spirits that we are the children of God; and keep us so for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. BISHOP JEREMY TAYLOR. FOR A SICK PERSON. O LORD our heavenly Father, we implore Thy grace and favour towards Thy servant who is sick. Work in him a true and hearty repentance for all the sins he hath committed, in thought, word, or deed, against Thy Divine Majesty. Give him a lively and stedfast faith in Thy Son Jesus Christ, who died for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Fill him with a reviving hope of that immortal life, which He hath purchased and promised; and with a grateful sense of Thy fatherly love to him, and tender care over him. Vouchsafe unto him heavenly supports and comforts from above; and bestow on him perfect patience and absolute submission to Thee during this sickness. We know that there is nothing impossible with Thee, but that if Thou wilt Thou canst raise him up, and grant him a longer S |