THE SUNDAY CALLED SEXAGESIMA;

OR, THE

SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT.

This day is fifty-seven days before Easter, or in round numbers, about sixty, as its name denotes.

THE COLLECT.

Greg. S.M. Slightly altered in 1549.

LORD GOD, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do; mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.

O Lord, to whom all hearts are bare,
Thou seest that we do not dare,
To put our confidence and stay,
In aught we think, or do, or say.

Be Thou our refuge by Thy power;
Defend us in the adverse hour;

And Thy sufficient help afford

Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord.

ΑΜΕΝ.

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY;

OR, THE NEXT

SUNDAY BEFORE LENT.

This day is exactly fifty days before Easter.

THE COLLECT.

Prayer Book of 1549.

LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send Thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift

of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before Thee: grant this for Thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.

O Lord, who in Thy Holy Word hast taught
That all our works, bereft of love, are nought,
As when no salt commends the sacrifice,
In vain the offerings from the altar rise.

Pour out on us Thy Spirit from above,
Pour out the gift of charity and love,
That grace most excellent that vies
With all the jewels of Thy treasuries.

Love like the girdle that our robe retains,
Doth by the linkings of her gentle chains,
Peace and the sisterhood of virtues tie
In the familiar bond of unity.

Without this grace our spirit's pulse is numb,
Our life in Thy sight is but dead and dumb;
This grace, this quickening grace, Thy suppliants give,
That we die not, but in Thy presence live.

For love to Thee we come, of love the Spring,
And to Thy throne our supplications bring,
'Tis Thine, O God, to grant, 'tis ours to take,
This prayer we ask for Jesus Christ, His sake.

THE FIRST DAY OF LENT,

COMMONLY CALLED

ASH WEDNESDAY.

In Primitive times the fast of Lent differed in different churches, both in length and in mode of observance.

The word Lent means Spring, and hence came to signify the Spring Fast.

Ash Wednesday is so called from the ancient practice of the Bishop sprinkling ashes on the heads of the peni

tents.

THE COLLECT.

Prayer Book of 1549.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASH WEDNESDAY.

O Lord, Almighty and eternal God,

Who madest all that here on earth do breathe, And hatest none, nor lovest with the rod

To chide Thy children, or Thy creatures grieve,

But longest to blot out from off the roll

All memory of the past misdeeds of those

Who smite their breast for sins that stain the soul,
And cry to Thee with penitential throes,

Our hardened hearts with grace anew create,
To feel contrition's pangs and sore distress;
All our transgressions to lament and hate,
Acknowledging our woe and wretchedness;

That so we may obtain, O Lord, from Thee,
Who for Thy grace and mercy art adored,
Perfect remission and forgiveness free,

Through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Lord.