tibvaxy of fche Cheolocyical Seminary 
 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 
 
 
 From the library of 
 
 
 
 Prof. Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield 
 
 
 BX 5199 .A6 W5 1896 
 Whyte, Alexander, 1836-1921. 
 Lancelot Andrewes and his 
 private devotions 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2015 
 
 https://archive.org/details/lancelotandrewesOOwhyt 
 
LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 AND HIS 
 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS 
 
LANCELOT *ANDREWES 
 
 AND HIS 
 
 PRIVATE DEVOTIONS 
 
 A BIOGRAPHY A TRANSCRIPT 
 AND AN INTERPRETATION 
 
 BY 
 
 ALEXANDER WHYTE 
 
 OLIPHANT ANDERSON AND FERRIER 
 
 30 ST. MARY STREET, EDINBURGH, AND 
 24 OLD BAILEY, LONDON 
 1 896 
 
Edinburgh : T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty 
 
The Transcript of Andrewes's Private Devotions 
 contained in this volume was made with the 
 current Greek and Latin printed texts and with 
 the translations of Drake, Stanhope, Hall, Newman, 
 Neale, and Venables, as well as that of a private 
 hand, before the transcriber. Newman's translation 
 from the Greek is above praise, and it is enough 
 to say of Neale's translation from the Latin that 
 it is not unworthy to stand beside Newman's 
 English. It will be seen that free use has been 
 made of both ; but it seemed peculiarly fitting, in 
 a work so largely scriptural in its phraseology, that 
 preference should be given, wherever possible, to 
 the matchless language of the Authorised Version, 
 in the production of which Bishop Andrewes had 
 so large a share. Certain other modifications in 
 the Transcript have their authority in the lately 
 recovered and exceedingly valuable Laudian text, 
 edited by Canon Medd and published by the 
 Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, 
 which still waits for translation. The Biography 
 and the Interpretation were delivered as opening 
 lectures to the transcriber's classes formed this 
 session for the study of some of the great mystical, 
 spiritual, and devotional writers. 
 
 St. George's Free Church, 
 
 Edinburgh, November 1895. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A BIOGRAPHY ...... 1-29 
 
 AN INTERPRETATION . . . 30-59 
 A TRANSCRIPT OF THE DEVOTIONS :— 
 
 Times of Prayer . . . . 63 
 
 Places of Prayer ..... 63 
 
 Circumstances and Accompaniments of 
 
 Prayer 65 
 
 Course of Morning Prayers for the Seven 
 Days of the Week : — 
 For the First Day .... 66 
 For the Second Day . . . .81 
 For the Third Day . . . 89 
 For the Fourth Day .... 94 
 For the Fifth Day . . -105 
 
 For the Sixth Day . . . .112 
 For the Seventh Day . . . .120 
 Other Morning Prayers : — 
 
 A Prayer on Awaking . . . .128 
 Another Prayer on Awaking . . 129 
 Another Prayer on Awaking . . 132 
 A Confession and Prayer for Grace . 134 
 Another Act of Confession . 135 
 An Act of Intercession . . 137 
 An Act of Thanksgiving . . 139 
 Evening Prayers : — 
 
 Meditations before Evening Prayer . 143 
 A Prayer for Grace . . . .146 
 An Act of Thanksgiving . . .147 
 An Act of Confession and Prayer for 
 
 Grace 148 
 
 An Act of Commendation . . .149 
 
viii CONTENTS 
 Meditations and Prayers for various times 
 and seasons : — 
 
 An Act of Thanksgiving for the Lord's Day 217 
 A Meditation on the Aggravation of Sin 218 
 A Meditation on the Day of Judgment . 220 
 A Meditation on the Shortness of Life . 222 
 A Prayer of Thomas Bradwardine, Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury . . . 224 
 Communion Prayers and Meditations :— 
 
 An Act of Self-Examination before the 
 
 An Act of Prayer before the Lord's Supper 227 
 A Meditation during this Service and 
 
 after the Supper . . .229 
 
 An Horology .... 
 An Act of Confession 
 Another Act of Confession 
 A Confession of Faith 
 A Prayer for Grace 
 An Act of Intercession . 
 An Act of Thanksgiving 
 Another Act of Confession 
 An Act of Deprecation . 
 Another Act of Deprecation . 
 Another Act of Deprecation . 
 Another Act of Deprecation . 
 An Act of Pleading 
 Hosanna in the Highest 
 Hosanna on the Earth . 
 An Act of Thanksgiving 
 Another Act of Thanksgiving 
 Another Act of Thanksgiving . 
 
 Lord's Supper 
 
 2 -7 
 
 Communion . 
 After Communion 
 
 -3° 
 
 -3i 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 
 
 Lancelot Andrewes was born the son of a sea- Andrewes. 
 faring man at Barking in 1555, and he died Bishop 
 of Winchester in 1626. Andrewes was born one 
 year after Hooker, four years before Isaac Casaubon 
 and Robert Bruce, six years before Bacon, nine 
 years before Shakespeare, eleven years before His 
 James the First, and eighteen years before Laud p^"'^™" 
 and Donne. Lancelot Andrewes lives to us 
 and shines to us to this day in his Private 
 Devolio?is. All our interest in Andrewes is centred The Devo- 
 in his Private Devotions. Andrewes was a great tlons ' 
 scholar and a great patron of poor scholars, he 
 was the most popular preacher of his day, in 
 his hospitality he was the pattern of an apostolic 
 bishop, and he was a great favourite with his 
 king; but all that would have been forgotten 
 by us long ago had it not been for his one incom- 
 parable and immortal book, the Private Devotions. 
 We carry Andrewes's Private Devotions in our 
 mind as we read of his birth, of his education, of 
 his talents, of his industry, of his rise in life, and 
 of all his after-career. Our interest in Andrewes's 
 scholarship and wide reading, in his churchman- 
 ship and in his statesmanship, in his single life, 
 in his friends and in his opponents, in his great 
 opportunities and in his great temptations, both 
 as a minister of Jesus Christ and as a privy 
 councillor of King James, — our interest in all that 
 is awakened and is intensely quickened as we 
 
 A 
 
2 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 study, and much more as we ourselves employ, his 
 Private Devotions. With that entrancing book open 
 before us we search the histories and the biographies 
 of his time ; the home and the foreign politics of 
 his time ; the State papers, the Church con- 
 troversies, and not least the Court scandals and the 
 criminal reports of his time, with the keenest 
 interest and the most solicitous anxiety. ' I am 
 wonderful curious,' says Montaigne, ' to discover 
 and know the mind, the soul, the genuine dis- 
 position, and the natural judgment of my authors ; 
 but much more what they do in their chambers 
 and in their closets than what they are in the 
 senate and in the market-place.' And that is just 
 what we discover and know of our author in his 
 Private Devotions. We have preserved to us in that 
 priceless book what Andrewes was in his chamber 
 and in his closet as we have no other author 
 preserved to us in any other book that I know. 
 To Andrewes more than to any other man that I 
 know has this assurance of our Saviour been to the 
 letter fulfilled, — But thou, when thou prayest, 
 enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut 
 thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret ; 
 and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward 
 thee openly. For, what Andrewes prayed for 
 in his closet, and how he prayed for it, all 
 the world now openly knows and openly has the 
 reward of. 
 
 At School As soon as young Andrewes had a book put into 
 fege C01 his hands he began to show a quite extraordinary 
 aptitude for the acquisition of languages. All his 
 days Andrewes never could write the English 
 language with any beauty or purity or good taste, 
 but there seems to have been no language under 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 3 
 heaven that he could not read. Andrewes proved 
 himself a perfect genius and paragon as often as he 
 had another grammar and another dictionary put 
 into his hands, but when he took up a pen to 
 compose in his own language all his talent would 
 seem to have forsaken him and fled. There is 
 scholarship, and there is the sense of beauty and 
 the taste for letters that should surely come from 
 all sound scholarship, and some men have the 
 excellent taste without the scholarship, while other 
 men have all the scholarship with nothing whatever 
 of the fine taste or the sweet sensibility for good 
 writing. Shakespeare in that day had little Latin 
 and less Greek, but what English Shakespeare 
 wrote ! While Andrewes had all the Latin and 
 all the Greek and everything else that his great 
 contemporary had so little of, and yet what poor 
 work he made in the noble tongue of Cranmer and 
 North and Shakespeare and Hooker and Bacon. 
 But what we have to do with at his present stage 
 is Andrewes's wonderful facility in mastering the 
 ancient languages as well as the foreign languages 
 of his own day. From his tender years, Isaacson, 
 his secretary and biographer, tells us, Andrewes 
 was totally addicted to the study of languages ; and 
 in his youth there appeared in him such aptness to 
 learn, answerable to his endeavours, that his first 
 two schoolmasters contended who should have the 
 honour of his breeding. By his extraordinary 
 industry and admirable capacity he soon outstripped 
 all his school-fellows, having become an excellent 
 Grecian and Hebrician. When he came home to 
 London from Cambridge for the Easter holiday, he 
 was wont to bespeak a tutor for those vacant weeks 
 till he went back to his college after a month's 
 
4 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 absence a much better scholar than he had been 
 when he left it. Isaacson had often heard the 
 reverend and worthy prelate say that when he was 
 a young scholar at the University, and so all his 
 time onwards, he never loved or used any games or 
 ordinary recreation, either within doors, as cards, 
 dice, tables, chess, or the like : or abroad, as butts, 
 quoits, bowls, or any such ; but his ordinary exercise 
 and recreation was walking either alone by himself, 
 or with some selected companion, with whom he 
 might confer, argue, and recount their studies. He 
 would often profess that to observe the grass, herbs, 
 corn, trees, cattle, earth, waters, heavens, any of 
 the creatures, and to contemplate their natures, 
 orders, qualities, virtues, uses, and such like, was 
 ever to him the greatest mirth, content, and re- 
 creation that could be : and this he held to his 
 dying day. ' He accounted all that time lost that 
 he spent not in his studie,' says Bishop Buckeridge, 
 'wherein in learning he outstript all his equals, 
 and his indefatigable industry had almost outstript 
 himself: he studied so hard when others played, 
 that if his parents and masters had not forced him 
 to play with them also, all the play had been 
 marred.' And then Fuller follows Isaacson and 
 Buckeridge with this, — that 'the world wanted learn- 
 ing to know how learned this man was ; so skilled 
 in all (especially Oriental) languages, that some con- 
 ceive he might, if then living, almost have served as 
 an interpreter-general at the confusion of tongues.' 
 ' His admirable knowledge in the learned tongues, 
 adds Buckeridge, ' Latine, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, 
 Syriack, Arabick, besides other modern tongues to 
 the number of fifteen, as I am informed, was such, 
 and so rare, that he may well be ranked to be in 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 5 
 the first place, to be one of the rarest linguists in 
 Christendom.' 
 
 No young man of that day ran a more brilliant In Holy 
 career than that career was which Andrewes ran, r ers 
 and his Christian character kept full pace with all 
 his attainments and all his promotions. Scholar 
 and Fellow of Pembroke, Vicar of St Giles', 
 Cripplegate, Prebend, first of Southwell and then 
 of St Paul's, Master of his College, Chaplain to 
 Whitgift and to Queen Elizabeth, and Dean of West- 
 minster : through all these upward steps Andrewes 
 rapidly rose, leaving behind him on each succes- 
 sive stage a record of most excellent work accom- 
 plished, and carrying with him a most honourable 
 and a much-beloved name. 'The course of his 
 studies,' says Sir John Harrington, ' was not, as 
 most men's are in these times, to get a little 
 superficial divinity by reading two or three of 
 the new writers, and straight take orders and up 
 into the pulpit. Dr Andrewes gathered before he 
 spent, reading both new writers and old writers, 
 and not as tasting them, but as digesting them.' 
 Out of that great storehouse of that time, 
 Hacket's Life of Archbishop Williams, we gather 
 abundant proof that as Dean of Westminster and 
 superintendent of its famous school Andrewes 
 was still the same scholar, and the same lover of 
 scholarship, he had been when he was at school 
 himself. Hacket, happily, was himself at West- 
 minster at that time, and this is the fine tribute 
 that he pays to the learned dean's great industry 
 and great care over his young scholars : 'How strict 
 that excellent man was to charge our masters,' says 
 Hacket, ' that they should give us lessons out of 
 none but the most classical authors ; he did often 
 
6 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 supply the place both of head schoolmaster and 
 usher for the space of a whole week together, and 
 gave us not an hour of loitering time from morning 
 to night : he caused our exercises in prose and 
 verse to be brought to him, to examine our style 
 and proficiency ; he never walked to Chiswick for 
 his recreation without a brace of this young fry ; 
 and in that wayfaring leisure had a singular dex- 
 terity to fill those narrow vessels with a funnel. 
 And sometimes thrice a week, sometimes oftener, 
 he sent for the uppermost scholars to his lodging 
 at night, and kept them with him from eight 
 till eleven, unfolding to them the best rudiments 
 of the Greek tongue, and the elements of the 
 Hebrew Grammar ; and all this he did to us boys 
 without any compulsion of correction, nay, I never 
 heard him utter so much as a word of austerity 
 among us. This great and good prelate,' Hacket 
 gratefully adds, 'was the first that planted me in 
 my tender studies, and watered them continually 
 with his great bounty.' 
 
 The Dean of Westminster had a leading hand 
 in the production of the Authorised Version of 
 The the English Bible, ' a work,' says Dr Perry, ' which 
 
 Bibfe' Sh * las S one ^ ar to re d eem King James from the con- 
 tempt and reprobation of posterity.' A new trans- 
 lation of the Bible had been moved for by Reynolds 
 at the famous Hampton Court Conference in 1604, 
 and though on all the other matters discussed at the 
 Conference the king went against Reynolds and 
 the Puritan side, yet in this matter, and in spite 
 of Bancroft's opposition, James accepted Reynolds's 
 proposal. The king, no doubt, had the assistance 
 of some of the leading divines of that day in 
 making the excellent arrangements for the work 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 7 
 of the translation, and in drawing up the ad- 
 mirable instructions to the translators that were 
 issued in his name ; but to take the side he did 
 take when the proposal was made, and to put his 
 royal name to the arrangements made and to the 
 instructions sent out, — all that greatly redounds 
 to the king's credit. Andrewes was one of the 
 secretaries of the Translation Company, and it is 
 more than probable that the rules and instructions 
 that were issued to the translators came from his 
 scholarly pen. Certain it is that an immense 
 amount of correspondence, and of many other 
 kinds of work, fell to the dean's hands during 
 the four years over which this great task extended. 
 ' But that this afternoon is our translation time, 
 and that most of our company are negligent, I 
 would have come to you,' he writes to the secretary 
 of the Society of Antiquaries, of which society he 
 had at that time just been made a member. The 
 whole Translation Company consisted of forty-seven 
 of the leading scholars and divines of England, 
 both prelatic and puritan. They sat in six com- 
 mittees, and the books of the Old and New 
 Testaments were divided out among them. The first 
 committee, which sat at Westminster, had the 
 Sacred Books from Genesis to the end of Second 
 Kings allotted to them, and the dean's name stands 
 at the head of the Westminster committee. ' And 
 now,' says Fuller, writing of the year l6ll, 'after 
 long expectation and great desire, came forth the 
 new translation of the Bible, most beautifully printed, 
 by a select and competent number of divines, 
 to whom by their industry, skilfulness, piety, 
 and discretion the Church is bound in a debt of 
 special remembrance and thankfulness. These, with 
 
8 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 a Jacob, rolled away the stone from the mouth of 
 the well of life, so that now even Rachels, weak 
 women, may freely come, both to drink themselves 
 and to water the flocks of their families at the 
 same. Leave we these worthy men, of whom, as 
 also of that gracious king that employed them, 
 we may say, Wheresoever the Bible shall be 
 preached or read in the whole world, there shall 
 also this that they have done be told in memorial 
 of them.' 
 
 Bishop of With his elevation to the bench of bishops that sad 
 Chichester. (j r0 p anc j deterioration of Andre wes's character began 
 which cannot be kept hid from any unprejudiced 
 reader of his life, and which stands written out in 
 a sea of tears the bitterness of which every reader 
 of sensibility must surely taste on every page of 
 his penitential Devotions. A more servile and short- 
 sighted body of men than the bench of bishops 
 under James the First never set a royal house on 
 the road to ruin ; and with all his saintliness, and 
 with all his unworldliness, Lancelot Andrewes at 
 last consented to sit down among them. ' He con- 
 trived to live at Court while contemning the world.' 
 George Herbert writes of the same court : ' I now 
 look back upon my aspiring thoughts, and think 
 myself more happy than if I had attained what 
 then I so ambitiously thirsted for. And I now can 
 behold the court with an impartial eye, and see 
 plainly that it is made up of fraud, and titles, and 
 flattery, and many other such empty, imaginary, 
 painted pleasures.' ' A main cause of all the misery 
 and mischief in our land is the fearfullest of flattery 
 of our prelates and clergy,' says one of the Rev. 
 Joseph Mead's correspondents in 1623. It is only 
 those who truly love Andrewes, — and as Bucke- 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 9 
 ridge who had known him for thirty years says, 
 ' I loved him, but yet my love doth not blind or 
 outsway my judgment,' — it is only those, I say, who 
 have long known and who truly love Andrewes, and 
 who have his Devotions day and night in their hands 
 till they come to owe him their own souls, it is only 
 they who will feel the full pain and shame of 
 Lancelot Andrewes's position as a minister of Jesus 
 Christ, and at the same time a Privy-Councillor and a 
 Court favourite of James the First. The truth is, 
 no man could remain a man at all, and much less a 
 man of Christian honour and uncompromised in- 
 tegrity, at the Court and in the favour of James. 
 What a system of things that was which placed the 
 Church of Christ and her chief ministers, as well 
 as the whole people of a great and growing nation, 
 under the heel of a man like James Stuart ! The 
 strongest men bent and broke under the dreadful 
 incubus of that abominable system. It was only 
 one outstanding man here and another outstanding 
 man there who could remain true and upright and 
 honourable men under that abominable system. It 
 was only a statesman like Bristol, and a judge like 
 Coke, and a bishop like Abbot, and a minister like 
 Robert Bruce who could live through such an at- 
 mosphere. The best and the most blameless men 
 became compromised, corrupted, and demoralised. 
 And that a man of Andrewes's goodness and beauty 
 of character was so compromised, corrupted, and 
 demoralised is surely of itself sufficient condemna- 
 tion of James and of the life of his Court, and 
 of that whole abominable system of things that 
 had grafted the sword and the sceptre of England 
 upon the crook of Jesus Christ, and then had put 
 all three into the hand of James the First. The 
 
10 LANCELOT ANDRE WES 
 
 time had been when you would have seen Lancelot 
 Andrewes rather have his right hand cut off than 
 that it should countersign any king's command in 
 The Essex such an infamous affair as the divorce case of the 
 Earl and Countess of Essex. But ten years at a 
 Stuart Court had brought even Lancelot Andrewes 
 down to that. If you cannot so much as touch 
 pitch without being denied, how could you expect 
 to wade about in a pit of pitch for half a lifetime 
 and come out clean ? The Essex case is much too 
 loathsome to be more than merely mentioned here, 
 and I do not wonder that Mr Gardiner protests 
 that nothing short of direct evidence will suffice to 
 convince him that Lancelot Andrewes knew what 
 he was doing when he took the side he did take 
 in the Essex case. Mr Gardiner has had all the 
 evidence before him, and he is both an able and a 
 just judge; but, much as I would like to see 
 Andrewes cleared, or even given the benefit of a 
 doubt in the Essex case, I despair of ever having 
 the relief of mind of seeing that done. I have read 
 far too much direct evidence against Andrewes for 
 my own full faith and perfect pride in Andrewes. 
 The successive state trials connected with that long- 
 lasting, wide-spreading, and utterly loathsome case, 
 supplemented and aggravated as they are by the 
 powerful Memorial and outspoken Speech of Arch- 
 bishop Abbot, to all of which I shall always be com- 
 pelled to add some of the most agonising pages of the 
 Private Devotions — all that is nothing short of over- 
 whelming evidence to me. Had Bishop Andrewes 
 kept a private diary, and had he kept his diary as his 
 disciple and friend Archbishop Laud kept his ; that 
 is to say, had Andrewes entered his ' unfortunate- 
 nesses' and his 'ill-haps' under fast days and in 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 11 
 cyphers and in initials as the Archbishop did, I 
 cannot doubt what some of those cyphers and 
 initials would have been, nor how ' slubbered ' they 
 would have been ' with his pious hands, and watered 
 with his penitential tears.' ' Some great calamity 
 happens to you, you do very well to make it an 
 occasion of exercising a great devotion,' says William 
 Law. 
 
 Much as I would like to agree with Mr Gardiner in 
 the hesitation and judicial doubt of which he gives 
 Andrewes's memory the benefit, I am compelled 
 in this matter to side rather with Mark Pattison 
 and with many other students of that time as to 
 the depth of the infamy into which Bishop Andrewes 
 slipped and fell when James summoned him to vote, 
 and pursued after him and compelled him to vote 
 on the King's side, which was also the wanton's 
 side, of the Essex case. I would not have come 
 near that noisome ditch unless I had seen Bishop 
 Andrewes's footsteps being dragged up toward it in 
 a leash of servility till he all but sank out of sight 
 under it. Shall I, to please King James and to 
 shelter and satisfy his vile favourites, — shall I send 
 my soul to hell ! shouted Archbishop Abbot to one 
 of the king's emissaries. No ! I will not do it. But 
 Bishop Andrewes did it. And Bishop Andrewes's 
 soul is still in hell to the end of his life, and a 
 hundred times in his remorseful Devotions, because 
 he did it. There is no other word for it. For a 
 man like Lancelot Andrewes to have to look back 
 all his days, and that too from an episcopal throne, 
 to that scandalous Essex case, and to see himself 
 in the society, if not in the secrets, of James, and 
 Rochester, and the Countess of Essex, and Mrs 
 Turner, and Bishop Neill, — out of the belly of hell 
 
12 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 cried I ! As whoredom and wine take away the 
 heart, so do servility and party spirit, the fear of 
 kings and the respect of great men. But as David's 
 heart came back to him from adultery and murder 
 in the Fifty-first Psalm, so did Bishop Andrewes's 
 heart come back to him from servility and syco- 
 phancy and the sale of justice in many a confession 
 and in many a commendation of his Private Derations. 
 If I did not believe absolutely in the sincerity and 
 the truthfulness of Andrewes's repentance in every 
 literal syllable and down to the blackest bottom of 
 his Private Devotions, I would not have opened my 
 mouth or taken up my pen about him. But, absolutely 
 and utterly believing that Andrewes means all that he 
 says when he is on his knees clothed in sackcloth and 
 with dust on his head and a rope round his neck, I am 
 not afraid at the worst thing that I meet with in his 
 previous life. ' Come,' says Andrewes, ' and hear, all 
 ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath 
 done for my soul. Blessed be God, which hath not 
 turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me.' 
 Visit to Continuing thus fearlessly to trace all Bishop 
 
 Scotland. Andrewes's footprints to the end of his life, I was led 
 to open the eleventh volume of Professor Masson's 
 Privy Council Register of Scotland, which is full of 
 His Most Sacred Majesty's long-promised visit to 
 his native land. And what has burned itself most 
 bitterly into my memory and my heart out of that 
 visit was not his royal determination that Scotland 
 should there and then set aside her accustomed and 
 conscientious forms of public worship and of Church 
 government at his kingly word ; what made my 
 blood boil as I read it was the way that the gentry 
 and the farmers and the poor labourers were 
 requisitioned and robbed right and left by the 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 13 
 royal progress through this country. James had 
 now been for fourteen years the absolute owner of 
 a land so rich that the poverty of Scotland was a 
 proverb and a jest at his dissolute and ribald Court ; 
 but, with all that, James at that moment was up to 
 the lips in public and in personal debt : and that 
 not by building cathedrals and fitting out fleets, but 
 by fattening his favourites and making rich and 
 licentious men of all who fawned on him and 
 flattered him. Those were the days of the loyal 
 benevolences. ' A benevolence,' says Dr Murray, 
 ' was a forced loan levied without legal authority. 
 First so called in 1473 when astutely asked for by 
 Edward iv. as a token of goodwill towards his rule.' 
 ' A benevolence,' said Lord Digby, in the Long 
 Parliament, 'which is a malevolence indeed.' But 
 before we blame James and his impoverished 
 ministers too much for their benevolences in 
 England and for their requisitions in Scotland, let 
 us hear all that they had been doing of late in order 
 to raise money. ' Everything,' says Dr Perry, ' was 
 sold that could be sold, everything that could at- 
 tract a buyer. Patents, monopolies, offices, dignities 
 were all in the market. Knighthood had become 
 such a drug that it could be had for sixty pounds. 
 Even church dignities were to be had at a cheap 
 price.' And now to return to Scotland. You cannot 
 imagine the misery that the king's visit caused the 
 poor country on which James descended, not indeed 
 with the six thousand of a train he had so royally 
 requisitioned for, but still with sufficient to drive 
 the poor people mad who had to transport and feed 
 the king and his enormous retinue wherever he 
 signified his royal will to go, and as long as he 
 honoured them with his stay. From Berwick to 
 
14 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 Edinburgh, from Edinburgh to Perth, from Perth to 
 St Andrews, from St Andrews to Stirling, and 
 from Stirling to Glasgow ; every name calls up the 
 most tyrannical acts on the part of the king and his 
 ecclesiastical abettors. But what has burned itself 
 still more into my indignation was the Privy Council 
 demands on the people, the same Privy Council of 
 which James did Andrewes the honour to make 
 him a member. As I read the council papers with 
 my eye upon the object, I found myself calling out, 
 What, in the name of his Divine Master, was Bishop 
 Andrewes doing away from his proper work, and 
 travelling about in the train of this royal freebooter ? 
 He has some pungent passages in his Devotions 
 about defrauding the poor of their wages. Were 
 those passages set down as he remembered in remorse 
 how he and his king had been carried about and 
 feasted and amused from place to place in Scotland, 
 where Laud complained that he found no religion, 
 but where the poor heathen had to find James and 
 Andrewes and Laud and all the rest in horses and 
 carriages and in royal board and lodging on pain of 
 the halter? 
 
 His Ser- Andrewes preached one of his least pedantic 
 sermons, and one with less than usual of his 
 'ingenious idleness' in it, before James in Holyrood 
 Chapel during that royal visit to our city. The 
 Edinburgh people even in that day were severe 
 judges of sermons, and the king's favourite preacher 
 did not escape the searching climate he had come 
 to. ' How did you like the sermon this morning ? ' 
 James was still Scotsman enough to ask of a 
 Presbyterian lord who had been present at the 
 service. ' No doubt your Majesty's bishop is a 
 learned man, but he cannot preach. He rather 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 15 
 plays with his text than preaches on it.' And I 
 must say that I entirely agree with my outspoken 
 fellow-countryman against all the adulation that has 
 been lavished on Andrewes's preaching from that 
 day to this. Canon Mozley, who came to be one of 
 the clearest-headed and profoundest writers of our 
 generation, has a preposterously extravagant paper 
 on Andrewes's Sermons, in the British Critic for 
 January 1842. The whole paper is a set and a 
 highly elaborated eulogy in which such overworked 
 words are applied to Andrewes's sermons as these : — 
 force, animation, depth, fertility, felicity, admirable 
 decision and completeness, quickness, variety, 
 dexterity, richness, rapidity, ubiquity, clear-headed- 
 ness, manifoldness, what he is going to say occu- 
 pies him, what he is saying he only says and no 
 more, — language which, were it distributed upon 
 Hooker's sermons and Taylor's and Newman's and 
 Robertson's, would yield a sufficiency of epithet for 
 all the four. After Mozley has written himself out 
 of breath, he settles down to say that 'these 
 characteristics of Bishop Andrewes are not plainly 
 discernible, we allow, at first sight.' No, they are 
 not. Nor, I am sincerely sorry to say, have they 
 been discerned at all by one who has looked for 
 them longer and oftener than he would like to 
 confess. My sight and experience of Andrewes's 
 sermons was at first and still is rather that of one 
 who is said to have set a high value upon some 
 others of Andrewes's writings, but who, at the 
 same time, had the detachment from party spirit 
 and the intellectual integrity to say, — 'I own 
 that however clear-headed I might be when 
 I sat down to read one of his sermons, I in- 
 variably rose at the conclusion of it with my 
 
16 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 brain bewildered and confused.' But the British 
 Critic and its young Anglo-Catholics were all 
 engaged in that day in writing up, without 
 rhyme or reason, the churchmen of James's and 
 Charles's day ; and with much of a high, a fine, and 
 a quite singular distinction, at the same time less 
 theological openness, less true catholicity, and less 
 fair and just judgment you will scarcely meet with 
 anywhere than just in their sectarian and reactionary 
 writings. Archdeacon Hare is the only writer of any 
 authority and eminence I know on whom the good 
 sense and sound judgment of that ancient Scottish 
 lord has descended. I have read a good many 
 sermons in my time, and there are some sufficiently 
 High Church sermons that I have continually in my 
 hands. It cannot then be their church doctrine, 
 or their church tone, or their exclusive temper that 
 has turned me so often away from Andrewes's 
 sermons. And still as I read again about Andrewes, 
 and as his editors and biographers and fellow- 
 churchmen praise his sermons, I go back to his five 
 volumes, accusing myself that I cannot have done 
 them and myself proper justice, — but always with 
 the same result. I tried to read the Gowrie series 
 again one Sabbath morning above the fiord of 
 Mandal in Norway during my late holiday time till 
 I could read no longer, I so felt as I read that I 
 was wasting and desecrating the Lord's Day. I 
 threw down the eight maledictory sermons preached 
 before James on the long dead and buried Gowrie 
 brothers, and took up to give it another trial the 
 much-praised sermon on Justification ; and to do it 
 justice I took paper and pencil determined to bring 
 something home to you out of it. But with the 
 old result. The doctrine was all right, when I got 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 17 
 at it. The doctrine was the Pauline, Lutheran, 
 Puritan, Presbyterian, only possible doctrine on 
 that text and on that topic, but the magnificent 
 doctrine never kindled the preacher, never gave 
 him wings, never carried him away, never fused 
 nor took the slag out of his style, never made him 
 once eloquent, never to the end of his sermon made 
 him a great preacher of a great gospel. I felt 
 sorry I had not brought with me the third volume 
 of Keble's Hooker, such was my hunger for 
 Hooker's greatest sermon after those twenty tanta- 
 lising pages of his unimproved contemporary. But, 
 happily, I had brought Mr Henry Craik's English 
 Prose Selections with me, the first volume of which 
 contains ten pieces out of Hooker with Mr Vernon 
 Blackburn's perfect little paper prefixed. Ay, that is 
 preaching, I exclaimed to myself as I read and read 
 again the four golden pages taken out of Hooker's 
 golden sermon. That is writing. That is English. 
 That is the best of gospels in the best of English. 
 Yes, when I go back to Edinburgh, and have my 
 classes again before me, I shall command them to 
 master Hooker, at any rate on Justification, such is 
 his style in that immortal sermon, his depth, his 
 strength, and his sublimity. I shall also set An- 
 drewes's Devotions day and night before them, — but 
 not his sermons. Bruce's and Hooker's and Donne's 
 and Taylor's and Leighton's, and many other sermons 
 since their day, but not Andrewes's. Whoever says 
 otherwise, the blunt, uncourtly Scottish lord was 
 right. We are assured on all hands that the 
 bishop's delivery was 'inimitable.' But substance 
 and unction have always come before delivery in 
 Scotland. Andrewes is a learned man, and, better 
 than that, he can pray as no other man can pray, 
 B 
 
18 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 but he cannot preach, to be called preaching. That 
 dissatisfied Edinburgh lord most likely was one of 
 Robert Bruce's elders, and he must have heard 
 that 'stately Presbyterian divine' preach his famous 
 Five Sermons on the Lord's Supper, and his Six 
 Sermons on King Hezekiah's Sickness, and his taste 
 for a sermon must have been formed on the model 
 of that preacher of such distinction. And if I had 
 the ear of one of Bishop Andrewes's descendants 
 in church doctrine and in English preaching I 
 should earnestly advise him to send to Edinburgh 
 for Robert Bruce's Sermons. He would find in 
 that noble volume what we in Scotland believe to 
 be the true New Testament teaching on the Lord's 
 Supper, and he would see that doctrine put forward 
 in an ancient Scottish style not wholly unworthy 
 of the great subject. Keble gives us at the end of 
 his Hooker a sermon of Hooker's which was found 
 among Bishop Andrewes's papers. Found in such 
 company, it was as if a sermon of Newman's had 
 got in among Simeon's skeletons. It is enough 
 for one man that he can pray as Andrewes alone 
 can pray, but let no beginner in the pulpit go to 
 Andrewes to learn how to preach. 
 
 It is no blame to Andrewes that he cannot 
 preach like Bruce or Hooker or Donne or Taylor ; 
 great preachers like them are born and not 
 made. But no man has any business to tune and 
 tamper with his pulpit to please either his king or 
 his congregation, and a true preacher will never 
 do it. I do not complain of Andrewes because 
 I find his sermons unreadable and unprofitable, but 
 I cannot excuse him for his Gowrie and Gunpowder 
 Plot series, and too many other sermons like them. 
 Could James not have got some other of his Court 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 19 
 Chaplains to curse the hanged and dismembered 
 Gowries every fifth of August, and leave Andrewes 
 to his proper work and to his private prayers ? But 
 no. James, born fool as he was in some things, was 
 a shrewd enough sovereign in some other things, 
 and he knew quite well what he was doing when 
 he commanded Lancelot Andrewes in England, 
 while never all he could do could command Robert 
 Bruce in Scotland, to preach or to pray to his policy 
 and to his passions. What a pity it is, I have 
 sometimes exclaimed to myself, that anything 
 of Andrewes's has been preserved besides his 
 Devotions ! And yet, may it not have been so 
 ordained in order to comfort and assure us every 
 night when we have to go with a continual con- 
 fession that is such a continual condemnation and 
 such a continual contrast to our everyday life. ' O 
 God,' prayed Andrewes in secret every night, 'save 
 me from making a god of the king.' On this 
 whole matter the simple truth is that the plainest 
 facts of history and of biography in Andrewes's case 
 have been so twisted about and so covered up 
 by party spirit and ecclesiastical pride that it is 
 impossible to draw them out into any light of day 
 without great pain and great regret. But what has 
 here been said has this for it at any rate, that it 
 was a very unwelcome and a very distressing dis- 
 covery to the present speaker when he made it. 
 It seemed to him like laying hands on one's own 
 father, as some one has said it somewhere in Plato. 
 
 Lancelot Andrewes was a fast-rising scholar of Bacon. 
 Pembroke when Francis Bacon went up to Trinity 
 in the ' pregnancy and towardness of his wit,' a boy 
 between twelve and thirteen years of age. And Lord 
 Bacon's name comes afterwards to be the symbol 
 
20 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 of so much, that we like to think of two such men 
 as Andrewes and Bacon being early and lifelong 
 friends. And, though I do not know that we have 
 documents for it, I like to think of the elder scholar 
 selecting the younger and taking him out to those 
 country walks and talks that Isaacson has told us 
 so delightfully about. That the rising divine and 
 the pushing young lawyer were intimate friends 
 early in life we have abundant evidence. Mr 
 Spedding, who has unearthed everything that 
 exists about Bacon, has produced an invitation that 
 Bacon sent to Andrewes when he was preacher in 
 St Giles', Cripplegate, asking him to come out to 
 Twickenham to share a holiday with a party of 
 young lawyers and other scholars. But Andrewes's 
 pulpit duties detained him at home. Andrewes all 
 his days loved good society and a hospitable table, 
 but not till his day's work was done. Throughout 
 life, Bacon's biographer assures us, the Lord Chan- 
 cellor held the bishop in special reverence. Indeed, 
 there is nothing either in Andrewes's best life or in 
 his best work that gives us such a high idea of his 
 intellect as the fact that Bacon submitted The 
 Advancement of Learning and some others of his 
 magnificent books to Andrewes, calling him his 
 inquisitor, and asking him for his criticisms and 
 corrections. ' You were wont to make me believe 
 that you took a liking to my writings ; will you 
 therefore mark what you think not current in my 
 style, or harsh to credit and opinion, or inconven- 
 ient to the position of the writer. For to write at 
 one's ease,' as Bacon said to Casaubon about another 
 book of his, ' that which others are to read at their 
 ease is of little consequence. The contemplations 
 I have in view are those which may bring about the 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 21 
 better ordering of man's life and business with all its 
 turmoil. How great an enterprise is this, and with 
 what small help I have attempted it.' This of Bacon 
 leads us into his Private Memoranda, where we see 
 him laying his lines to ' fish for testaments,' for loans, 
 for gifts, for bribes, and indeed for anything and 
 everything that would bring in money to a poor man 
 who had taken all knowledge for his province, a pro- 
 vince, as he often sadly said, that would take a king 
 or a pope to occupy and hold it. Bacon sets it 
 down among other like secret plots against his best 
 friends, — ' not desisting to draw in Bishop Andrewes, 
 he being single, rych, and sickly.' ' Bacon's was a 
 mind,' says Dr Abbott, ' unique and extraordinary ; 
 worldly, it is true, but not after the common fashion 
 of worldliness ; say rather an unworldly mind of 
 superhuman magnanimity, gradually becoming en- 
 slaved by the world while professing to use the 
 world as a mere tool. Bacon will place all the arts 
 of worldliness at the feet of Truth, and will master 
 them by first obeying them.' ' A man whose fall,' 
 as the same writer so truly and so finely says, 
 'shook men's confidence in humanity.' 
 
 Broken in health and broken in heart as Bacon 
 might well be by a fall that shook the world, and 
 the terrible shock of which we still feel to this day, 
 Bacon died at his desk. And, though Andrewes had 
 sat on his trial and had acquiesced in his sentence, 
 Bacon continues to acquaint Andrewes with all his 
 intended work, and consults him about it to the 
 end. Bacon's Holy War is not Bunyan's book of the 
 same name. ' There cannot but ensue a dissolution 
 of the state of the Turk, whereof the time seemeth 
 to approach. The events of time do seem to invite 
 Christian kings to a war in respect of the great 
 
22 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 corruption and relaxation of discipline in that 
 empire.' It would have been very interesting to us 
 in our day to have been able to read the mature 
 mind of Bacon on the rights and wrongs of a war to 
 be carried on by England and the united West 
 against 'the enemy of Christendom.' But Bacon 
 only lived to overtake a few pages of his Holy War. 
 Most happily, however, he had written the preface 
 before he began the body of the book, and he had 
 given to the preface the form of a Dedicator)' Letter 
 to Andrewes (now Bishop of Winchester), and a most 
 important piece of Bacon's mental autobiography 
 it is. Dante and Bacon and Milton were three 
 gigantic brothers in intellect, they were each sent 
 into a world wholly out of joint, and they all 
 three write about themselves in their disjointed 
 worlds as only giants are enabled and permitted 
 to write. Bacon's Dedication and Advertisement 
 to his Holy War stands beside Dante's classification 
 and comparison of himself with Homer and Virgil, 
 and beside Milton's magnificent proposals and pre- 
 parations for the work of his life. After comparing 
 his case with the cases of Demosthenes and Cicero 
 and Seneca, Bacon goes on to say to Andrewes this, 
 — 'These examples confirmed me in a resolution to 
 spend my time wholly in writing, and to put out 
 that poor talent or half talent, or what it is, that 
 God hath given me, not as heretofore to particular 
 exchanges, but to banks and mounts of perpetuity 
 which will not break. And therefore this work, 
 not for the City, but for the Temple, I have dedicated 
 to your lordship, in respect of ancient and private 
 acquaintance, and because I hold you in special 
 reverence.' Great Bacon, and noble in all his 
 ignobility ! ' In his great adversity I prayed,' says 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 23 
 Ben Jonson, ' that God would give him strength, for 
 greatness he could not want.' ' The most exquisitely 
 constructed intellect/ says Macaulay, ' that has ever 
 been bestowed on the children of men.' It is the 
 fashion to-day to run down Macaulay, but let all 
 gifted and ambitious young men read that great 
 writer's Essay on Bacon and lay it to heart once 
 every year. As for Spedding and Ellis they should 
 lie beside every young lawyer's Bible and Private 
 Devotions. 
 
 There is no finer picture of Andrewes to be seen Casaubon. 
 anywhere than that which is painted in Mark 
 Pattison's classical, if somewhat cold and super- 
 cilious, Life of Isaac Casaubon. Though the Rector 
 of Lincoln says some very severe things of Bishop 
 Andrewes, at the same time, in no other book that 
 I know is there such an altogether delightful 
 glimpse given us of the beauty and attractiveness 
 of Andrewes's private character. The truly episcopal 
 hospitality, — his lordship, it was said, kept Christmas 
 all the year, — the noble courtesy, the exquisite 
 geniality and tenderness, and the whole gracious- 
 ness and affectionateness of the bishop's nature 
 never came out better than all that did in his whole 
 connection with Casaubon. It is true there were 
 more things than one that went to attract and to 
 attach those two men to one another. ' Profound 
 piety,' says Pattison, 'and great reading, common 
 to both, placed them at once in sympathy.' But, 
 besides that, their ecclesiastical views also, their 
 attitude toward those questions of Church order and 
 public worship which were agitating and rending all 
 the churches in Christendom at that day, drew the 
 scholar and the bishop continually closer and closer 
 to one another. 'The Anglican ritual,' says his 
 
24 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 able biographer, ' exactly met Casaubon's aspirations 
 after the decent simplicity of primitive worship, 
 though his Presbyterian sentiment was at first in- 
 clined to find a little too much pomp and pride 
 mingling with some parts of the episcopal services. 
 But, on the whole, he preferred the Anglican 
 ceremonies to the bare and naked usages of his own 
 communion. At the same time, he never forsook 
 the French congregation of which he continued to 
 be a member. He attended the preaching from 
 time to time, though not seldom hearing doctrine 
 from which he differed, and philology which he 
 knew to be rotten.' But, besides all that, the two 
 scholars were continually thrown together at Court 
 in carrying on those loyal labours to which the king 
 had for so long yoked the bishop, and to assist 
 the bishop in which with his omnipotent pen the 
 greatest classical scholar in Europe had been 
 brought over from France. Chained to his task, 
 the best ecclesiastical scholar in England had been 
 toiling for years past at those controversies in which 
 the Crown and the Church of England had become 
 involved with the great Catholic theologians and 
 casuists of that day ; and Casaubon's arrival in 
 London was hailed as the advent of a heaven-sent 
 assistant to Andrewes and his cause. Long before 
 they had seen each other's faces Andrewes and 
 Casaubon were already at one in their intense 
 hatred of Bellarmine and Baronius, and no sooner 
 had they shaken hands than they sat down to work 
 to each other's hands at a task which was to them 
 at once the service of the Truth, of the Church, 
 and of the State ; the service of God, and of their 
 king and patron James the First. Casaubon's diary 
 of those delightful days is full of Andrewes, and 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 25 
 the admiration and the esteem are quite as much, 
 to his honour be it said, on the great bishop's side 
 as on the poor scholar's. 'Come and shoot a buck 
 with me. Throw aside your books this hot weather. 
 Shut up your Drury Lane lodgings, and let me see 
 your dear face. I am not well in my solitude, but 
 a visit from you will set me on my feet. Come 
 down at once if you would be in time for Stour- 
 bridge Fair, the finest thing of its kind in all 
 England. But, if you have no taste for an English 
 fair, then I have beside me at this moment a 
 Matthew in Hebrew that will make your mouth 
 water. Do be persuaded to come. Be so good as 
 to remember that the hand which writes these lines 
 is ill with the ague. Coming or going, God keep 
 you long to be an ornament to letters.' And then 
 when Casaubon did find his way to the palace at 
 Downham, — to see the two solitary scholars to- 
 gether is delightful. It is a rebuke and an inspira- 
 tion to open Casaubon's diary for those holiday 
 weeks. The two book-lovers read more in the 
 mornings of their holidays than other men read all 
 the year round. They breakfasted alone to gain 
 time and to keep the freshness of the day for their 
 private devotions and their peculiar studies. And 
 then they met, the best of company, at their early 
 mid-day dinner. Andrewes ' doubted/ so Isaacson 
 reports his master, ' they were no true scholars who 
 came to speak to a man before noon.' Casaubon was 
 happy in everything at Ely, the bishop's present 
 diocese, but in the distance of his books. The bishop 
 had a fine library, as the catalogue of it still proves ; 
 but, unhappily, it was nearly all in London, where 
 Andrewes spent the most part of every year in at- 
 tendance at Court and in writing controversies for the 
 
26 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 king. Both Casaubon and Andrewes were of Pericles' 
 mind, and held that not a Greek's best holiday only, 
 but an Englishman's and a Frenchman's best holiday 
 also, was that day on which he did most of his duty. 
 And accordingly the Master of Peterhouse was largely 
 requisitioned for the loan of his most learned books 
 when Andrewes and Casaubon were at Ely. Books 
 and manuscripts were the tools of Casaubon's life, 
 and even if he was not working at his full strength 
 while he was at Ely, at the same time he loved to 
 be feeling the edge of his tools, and to have them 
 and his whetstone always near him. When Casaubon 
 was not composing he was always collecting materials 
 for his next composition. His advice to all true 
 students is this : ' Remember that it is of no use 
 to have read a thing, unless you retain it in your 
 memory. Make notes therefore of everything you 
 read, as aids to your memory.' The books that 
 Casaubon read at Downham and made copious notes 
 of would stagger an ordinary student so much as 
 even to hear their bare names, and he always put 
 at the head of his sheet of notes this motto in 
 Greek, ' Alone and at work with God.' After their 
 mid-day dinner the two friends spent the afternoon 
 walking, riding, visiting the parishes of the diocese, in- 
 specting the church fabrics, entertaining friends, trans- 
 fixing a buck, but always their best recreation and 
 entertainment was to be talking of books together. 
 Still, with all that, there was nothing that went so 
 deep both into the hearts and into the characters of 
 those two good men as their life of faith, of prayer, 
 and of personal holiness. If there were two saints 
 of God in England that summer, they were surely 
 to be found under the roof of the episcopal palace 
 of Ely. Writing of thirty years before, Pattison's 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 27 
 somewhat grudging words are these : — ' The 
 religious sentiment was ever suggesting to young 
 Casaubon the futility of worldly knowledge, and the 
 superior value of religious studies. This impression 
 may be traced to the early years of the son of the 
 Huguenot pastor who had to fly to the hills. From 
 the first there were two men in Casaubon, the theo- 
 logian and the scholar.' And summing up his life, 
 his somewhat too aloof biographer says : — ' The 
 habitual attitude of Casaubon's soul was abandon- 
 ment ; not merely resignation, but prostration 
 before the Unseen. He moved, thought, and felt, 
 as in the presence of God. His family and 
 friends lay near to his heart, but nearer than all is 
 God. In all his thoughts the thought of God is 
 subsumed.' And again, 'his diary is one prolonged 
 litany.' Yes : so it is. David's Psalms were never 
 out of Casaubon's hands, and the best day he spent 
 at Downham was not the day when he transfixed 
 three bucks, but the day when all alone in the 
 bishop's copse he read the Hundred and Nine- 
 teenth Psalm over again with a rapturous heart. 
 Pleasantly as his holiday passed, and in spite of 
 the bishop's 'golden chains of courtesy,' Casaubon 
 began to be feverish for London and for his own 
 books. But the great scholar's life of books in this 
 world soon after that came to an end. ' In answer 
 to your questions,' writes Andrewes to Heinsius in 
 1614, 'regarding the departure of that illustrious 
 man. In the morning of the day on which he died 
 he received the Holy Sacrament from my hand ; 
 and that because three days before he had begged 
 it of me. After the sacrament he expressed a wish 
 that Simeon's Canticle should be chanted. There 
 was nothing in the whole world of the slightest 
 
28 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 interest to that Christian man Casaubon, unless 
 what related to piety and holiness, and that was 
 most evident amid his last tortures. His remains 
 were buried in Westminster Abbey in front of 
 the doors of that chapel in which the monuments 
 of our kings are seen.' 
 Summary. Lancelot Andrewes was born of honest and godly 
 parents in 1555. We find him a scholar of Pem- 
 broke in 1571, and Dean of Westminster in l601. 
 Hooker died in 1600 at the age of forty-six, and 
 on hearing of his death Andrewes wrote of him, 
 ' He hath not that I know left any near him.' 
 Queen Elizabeth died in March 1603, and four 
 months later Andrewes assisted at the coronation 
 of James. In 1605 he was raised to be Bishop of 
 Chichester, he was one of the translators of the 
 Bible in 1607, and in 1609 he published his very 
 learned Tortura Torti against Cardinal Bellarmine, an 
 uncongenial task, imposed upon him by the king. 
 In the end of the same year he was translated to 
 Ely, where Casaubon spent part of the summer of 
 1611 with the bishop. In 1613 he sat as one of the 
 judges on the Essex case. In 1617 he attended 
 the king on his visit to Scotland, and in 1618 
 he was translated from Ely to Winchester. In 
 1621 Bacon fell, and Andrewes was one of the 
 deputation of peers who attended on Bacon to 
 receive his confession and submission. In 1621 
 he sat on Archbishop Abbot's case also, and 'the 
 party,' says Thomas Fuller, ' whom the archbishop 
 suspected his greatest foe, proved his most firm 
 and effectual friend, even Lancelot Andrewes, 
 Bishop of Winchester.' In 1625 James died. On 
 his deathbed the king sent for Andrewes, but the 
 favourite Bishop was so ill himself at the time that 
 
A BIOGRAPHY 29 
 it was not possible for him to come to bid his royal 
 master farewell. On the 2nd of February 1626 
 Andrewes was able to be present at the coronation 
 of Charles the First, in which ceremony, both on 
 account of his high office and his personal accept- 
 ability, he took a foremost place. This was one of 
 the last public acts that Andrewes ever performed. 
 'His gratitude to men,' says his secretary, 'was 
 now changed into thankfulness to God. His 
 affability to incessant and devout prayers and 
 speeches with his Creator and Redeemer and 
 Sanctifier. His laborious studies to restless groans, 
 sighs, cries, and tears. His hands labouring, his 
 eyes lifted up, and his heart beating and panting to 
 see the living God, even to the last of his breath.' 
 Under Monday the 25th of September 1626 we read 
 in Archbishop Laud's diary this entry: 'About four 
 o'clock in the morning died Lancelot Andrewes, 
 the most worthy Bishop of Winchester, the great 
 light of the Christian world.' Andrewes has left 
 behind him five volumes of sermons, preached for 
 the most part at Court, and on special occasions ; 
 two or three volumes of controversial matter, a 
 volume of catechetical matter, and the Private 
 Devotions. The Private Devotions, as the name 
 indicates, was never intended for publication. 
 Andrewes wrote the little book for his own use, 
 and then, when he was done with it, he gave it to 
 his great friend Archbishop Laud. 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 
 
 The Book of Psalms is by far the oldest and it is 
 by far the best of all the books of public or of 
 private devotion that we possess. The Book of 
 Psalms is the model also as it is the mother of all 
 the excellent books of devotion that we possess in 
 addition to itself. In the Early Church and in the 
 Latin Church of the middle ages a great body of 
 liturgical and other devotional matter grew up and 
 lay scattered about throughout Western Christen- 
 dom of which the Roman Breviary is a compilation 
 and a condensation, — its own name and title tell us as 
 much. And taken as a whole, — in its immense size 
 and in its very real riches, as well as in its military- 
 like order and method and dramatic movement, — 
 with all its grave and obvious faults, the Roman 
 Breviary is not wholly unworthy of its great name. 
 And then the Book of Common Prayer is just a 
 R S ^v rayer P urer an£ l a mor e portable English Church Breviary. 
 
 The Bible, the Breviary, and the ancient liturgies, 
 both Greek and Latin and Anglo-Saxon, were the 
 authoritative and acknowledged sources out of 
 which the Book of Common Prayer was compiled at 
 first, and time after time improved. In the first 
 edition of Bishop Sparrow's Rationale of the Book 
 of Common Prayer there is an old print representing 
 
 The 
 
 Breviary. 
 
 The Eng- 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 31 
 the twelve compilers of the English Prayer-Book 
 sitting at work around a table. At the head of 
 the learned company Archbishop Cranmer is seen 
 with his hand on an open Bible. Bishop Ridley 
 sits at Cranmer's right hand with the Fathers open 
 before him, and on the archbishop's other side Bishop 
 Goodrich sits with the ancient Liturgies spread 
 open. 'These learned Bishops and Divines,' says 
 Downes in his preface to Sparrow, 'proceeded 
 to inspect and examine the missals, breviaries, 
 rituals, pontificals, graduals, psalters, antiphonals, 
 and all other service-books then in use.' 
 
 The Eastern Churches have a very noble devo- 
 tional literature, which has been made accessible to 
 the English student in the works of Maskell, Palmer, 
 Neale, Littledale, Hammond, Bright, and Robertson, 
 as well as in the Prayer-Books of Edward and 
 Elizabeth. And such heirs of such riches are we, 
 and such joint-heirs with all the Churches, that 
 we possess yet another great treasure in the more 
 private and more personal devotional books of all 
 ages and all nations. We have the Confessions of 
 Augustine, the Prayers and Soliloquies of Anselm, 
 the unfinished Holy Week and other great prayers 
 and praises of Jacob Behmen, the Golden Grove 
 of Jeremy Taylor, the Private Devotions of Lancelot 
 Andrewes, and William Laud, and Thomas Wilson, 
 and many other suchlike precious possessions. But, 
 for its peculiar purpose and for its special use, 
 Andrewes's Private Devotions stands out at the The 
 head of them all. There is nothing in the whole 
 range of devotional literature to be set beside 
 Andrewes's incomparable Devotions. Its author's 
 public and private life ; his intense conscience of 
 his past sins and of his abiding sinfulness; his 
 
32 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 keen, all-realising faith in God and in the grace 
 of God ; his soaring and adoring love ; his universal 
 scholarship, especially in the sacred schools; his 
 so original method and so peculiar plan in the con- 
 ception and in the composition of his book ; and 
 the long lifetime of profoundest penitential and 
 importunate prayer that he has put into his book, — 
 all these and many other things combine to make 
 Bishop Andrewes's Private Devotions to stand alone 
 and unapproached in the literature of the closet 
 and the mercy-seat. To myself one of the chiefest 
 compensations and off-sets for the reign of James 
 the First is this, that the Private Devotions of 
 Lancelot Andrewes were being continually com- 
 posed and were being continually employed, — 
 were being continually wrung out of him, — 
 during the whole course of that so mischievous 
 and insufferable reign. As the chief interest of 
 the reign of this and that king of Judah and 
 Israel lies in such and such prophets and psalmists 
 and righteous men who lived and wrote in the 
 reigns of those kings, so is it with us in our own 
 national history. Kings and queens, protectors 
 and presidents, and the times of their rule, are 
 ultimately memorable and honourable still by 
 nothing so much as by the good and the great men 
 they had among their subjects, the progress that 
 the Kingdom of Heaven made in their day, and 
 not least by the number and the quality of the 
 books belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven that 
 were written in their day. And that the English 
 Bible, the Five Sermons on the Sacraments, Donne's 
 Sermons, and the Private Devotions — not to speak in 
 this place of Macbeth, and Hamlet, and Lear, and the 
 Essays, and the Advancement — have all come down to 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 33 
 us out of James's day, that covers a multitude of the 
 sins of his day, and that will make his day to remain 
 rich and illustrious to all time in the estimation of 
 the Church of Christ in our land, and in all other 
 English-reading lands. It is to James's insight that 
 we owe it that John Donne ever was a minister, — of 
 whom Professor Saintsbury says that in the strength 
 and savour of his quality he has no rival in English, 
 no rival indeed anywhere but in the author of the 
 Confessions. 
 
 I shall not take time to enter on the Bibliography Biblio- 
 of the Private Devotions. I shall not stay to tell graphy - 
 how in 1648, twenty-two years after Andrewes's 
 death, Richard Drake published a translation of the 
 Devotions 'out of a fair Greek manuscript of the 
 bishop's amanuensis ' : how the Greek original on 
 which Richard Drake worked was printed at the 
 Oxford University Press in 1675 : how Stanhope, 
 and Hall, and Newman, and Neale, and Venables 
 have all followed Drake with their own translations 
 and transcripts of the Devotions : how at Newman's 
 hands ' the Devotio?is,' to borrow Dean Church's 
 words, ' has received in our own times one of those 
 rare translations which make an old book new': 
 and how, by a fortunate purchase, Mr Livingstone 
 of Pembroke College, Oxford, came into the posses- 
 sion of a small manuscript volume, bound in white 
 vellum much discoloured, and tied with four strings 
 of green silk ribbon, on the cover of which the 
 faded inscription is still to be read — My reverend 
 Friend Bishop Andrewes gave me this Booke a little 
 before his death. W: Bath et Welles. ' Had you 
 seen the original manuscript,' writes Drake, 'happy 
 in the glorious deformity thereof, being slubbered 
 with its author's pious hands and watered with 
 c 
 
34 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 his penitential tears, you would have been forced 
 to confess, that book belonged to no other than 
 to pure and primitive devotion.' Canon Medd has 
 published a careful edition of this precious relic, 
 and we only wait now for another Newman to arise 
 and to put it into fit and final English for us. 
 Method of In the composition of his Devotions, Lancelot 
 Composi- Anc i rewes had anticipated and had already fulfilled 
 all William Law's best counsels. ' When at any 
 time,' Law advises us, ' either in reading the Scrip- 
 tures or any book of piety, you meet with a passage 
 that more than ordinarily affects your mind, and 
 seems as it were to give your heart a new motion 
 toward God, you should try to turn it into the form 
 of a petition, and then give it a place in your 
 prayers. By this means you would be often im- 
 proving your prayers, and storing yourself with 
 proper forms of making the desires of your heart 
 known unto God.' And, again, returning in 
 another place to the same subject : ' if they were 
 to collect the best forms of devotion, and to use 
 themselves to transcribe the finest passages of 
 Scripture-prayers ; if they were to collect the 
 devotions, confessions, petitions, praises, resigna- 
 tions, and thanksgivings, which are scattered up 
 and down the Psalms, and range them under 
 proper heads, as so much proper fuel for the flame 
 of their own devotions ; if their minds were often 
 thus employed, sometimes meditating upon them, 
 sometimes getting them by heart, and making 
 them habitual as their own thoughts, how fervently 
 would they pray, who came thus prepared to pray ! ' 
 Now, this was exactly and to the letter what 
 Andrewes had already done a hundred years to a 
 day before Law so pleaded with his readers. When 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 35 
 Andrewes met with a verse or a clause or so much 
 as a word in any scripture that specially suited into 
 his own case; when David, or Asaph, or Job, or 
 Paul said anything, or hinted at anything, that went 
 to Andrewes' s heart, on the spot he took that word 
 down, and that too in its own native Hebrew or 
 Greek, as the case might be. And he did the 
 same thing when he would be reading any of the 
 ancients of the Latin or Orient Kirks, as Robert 
 Bruce called them. Such is the labour of those 
 who write the masterpieces in any branch of letters. 
 Andrewes made such a constant practice of this, 
 and had formed such a settled habit of it, that as 
 his life went on his book of secret prayer came to 
 be filled with all the best passages in the Psalms, 
 in the Prophets, in the Gospels, and in the Epistles, 
 as also in the sermons and litanies and liturgies of 
 the Fathers and the Saints, till we have a perfect 
 portrait before us of Andrewes's inmost soul, and 
 that too in lines and in colours borrowed from those 
 hands which could best draw such deep lines and 
 best mix such strong and lasting colours. Every 
 verse, every clause of a verse, every single word 
 and syllable, indeed, that Andrewes quotes has some 
 special and inspired reference to himself alone. It 
 is not quotation with him, it is assimilation ; it is 
 appropriation ; and it is the recovery and the re- 
 appropriation of that which is indisputably his own 
 wherever he comes across it. He passes over 
 whole chapters and whole books in silence and with 
 a dry pen. Only this one word in this whole Psalm 
 is his, and he straightway takes this one word 
 out of the whole Psalm and leaves to its author and 
 to its other readers all the rest of the Psalm. He 
 takes but what is demonstrably his own, and what 
 
36 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 has no such interest and no such value to any one 
 else, and he hides it ever afterwards in his heart. 
 He steals it down from all eyes into the book 
 which he never opens till after his door is shut. 
 And thus it is that all formality, all insincerity, all 
 mere lip-service, and all multiplying of sacred 
 words for the sake of their sound is excluded from 
 this severe, sincere, and serious little book. The 
 author's method with himself and with his Bible 
 excludes all that, and protects him and his readers 
 from their constant temptation to all that. 
 
 Andrewes carried out the same method of selection 
 and assimilation as he read the devotional books of 
 the Greek and the Latin Fathers. Only, I feel sure 
 that a great deal too much has been made of what 
 Andrewes owes to the Greek and the Latin litanists 
 and liturgists. Now and then you will come on a 
 passage that is plainly borrowed from Chrysostom, 
 or Basil, or the ' Liturgy of St. James,' but for one 
 word that Andrewes owes to Chrysostom he owes a 
 hundred to David. The truth is, the Devotions are 
 far more original, so to call it, than has ever been 
 allowed even by those who are tempted to sacrifice 
 the plain truth to their partiality and their praise 
 of Andrewes. All that Mozley says so uncritically 
 and so extravagantly about Andrewes's sermons, 
 with some chastening and some selecting, could 
 then be very well and very truly said about his 
 Devotions. And I venture to prophesy that when 
 the genuine and original Laudian text has been 
 translated, and when all the scriptural and liturgical 
 and other quotations, references, and allusions have 
 been traced up to their sources, by far the greatest 
 part, and by far the best part, of the bishop's book 
 will be seen to be absolutely his own. After the 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 37 
 Holy Scriptures and his own life, our author's own 
 Institutional Pice was one of his chiefest sources in 
 the composition of his Devotions. The Institutiones 
 is a little volume of clear, simple, sweet English 
 writing, not at all equal in depth or in strength to 
 the Devotions, but a great improvement on the style 
 of the sermons. The Manual for the Sick also is 
 laid under contribution for the composition of the 
 Devotions. Both of these excellent little books 
 were the product of Andrewes's personal religion 
 and of his pastoral work when he was as yet an 
 obscure and a single-hearted young minister with 
 his whole time and his whole strength given up to 
 his pulpit and to his pastorate. 
 
 To the question why the best part of the Devotions Why in 
 was written in Greek, I have no better answer to Greek? 
 offer than that which honest Stationer Moseley 
 offered to the Christian reader from his shop in 
 St. Paul's Churchyard in 1647. 'He penned them 
 in Greek, and in that language presented them to 
 his God ; the reason is not for me to determine ; 
 whether it were for that the evidences of our 
 salvation are delivered to us in that tongue, or 
 whether amongst those fifteen he was master of, 
 he chose this language as the most copious to 
 express the fulness of his soul.' To which let me 
 add this out of the Preface to Dean Stanhope's 
 translation : ' Such of his prayers as were brought 
 nearest to perfection he wrote in Greek, either 
 because the New Testament, the Septuagint, and 
 most of the ancient Fathers and Liturgies, whence 
 he extracted a good deal, were in that language, or 
 because that language had some advantage for 
 devotion, as the many compound words it contains 
 strengthen the ideas they convey to us, and make 
 
38 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 a more lively impression on the mind.' The fulness 
 of the Greek spirit also, in its form, order, elevation, 
 taste, beauty, music, falls on Andre wes, and for the 
 first time takes full possession of Andrewes, when 
 he enters his closet. And thus it is that, when we 
 take Andrewes's method and manner of composi- 
 tion along with his sources and with the language 
 he wrote in, we have before us in his Private 
 Devotions a perfect portrait of that man of prayer. 
 We have Andrewes, in his Devotions, if not altogether 
 as God saw him, at any rate as he saw himself when 
 he felt himself to be more immediately under the eye 
 of God. And thus it is that it is not David we see 
 even in the most Davidic of Andrewes's prayers, nor 
 Asaph in the most Asaphic of them, nor Paul nor 
 James nor Chrysostom : but what we see there is what 
 was true of Andrewes in them all, with something 
 added that was in none of them all, and is in no 
 one else but in Lancelot Andrewes in all the world. 
 His Week The First Chapter of Genesis supplies to Andrewes 
 of Prayer. t j lg mou ] c ] am j (. ne f ramew0 rk upon which he shapes 
 and constructs his book, and a right noble use he 
 makes of the majestic movement and the splendid 
 scenery of that superb chapter. With that superb 
 and splendid chapter open before him, Andrewes 
 addresses himself to prepare a week of prayer and 
 praise somewhat corresponding to the week of 
 creation. And he opens and begins each successive 
 day of his devotional week with an entranced and 
 adoring meditation on the divine work of each succes- 
 sive day, as that divine work is described to him in 
 The First the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis. And 
 Day. GoA said, Let there be light : and there was light. 
 
 And God saw the light, that it was good : and God 
 divided the light from the darkness. And God 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 39 
 called the light Day, and the darkness He called 
 Night. Andrewes reads that on the morning of 
 the First Day. He tarries over what he reads. 
 He meditates upon it. He is present at it. He 
 sees it. He hears it. And or ever he is aware his 
 heart has burst out of him with this adoration, — 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord. Glory be to Thee, Thou 
 Creator of the light, Thou Enlightener of the world. 
 Creator of the visible light, the sun's radiance, the 
 flame of fire. Creator also of the light invisible 
 and intellectual, — the revelation of God, the writ- 
 ings of the holy law, the oracles of sacred prophecy, 
 the music of sacred psalmody, the instruction of the 
 sapiential books, and the experience of Scripture 
 history — on all of which a light shines which shall 
 see no night. As it is sung every First Day of the 
 Week in the Roman Breviary : 
 
 Father of Lights, by whom each day 
 
 Is kindled out of night, 
 Who, when the heavens were made, didst lay 
 
 Their rudiments in light. 
 Thou, who didst bind and blend in one 
 
 The glistening morn and evening pale, 
 Hear Thou our plaint, when light is gone, 
 
 And lawlessness and strife prevail. 
 
 In his magnificent adoration for the First Day 
 Andrewes is above himself. On the First Day he 
 stands beside Hooker and Milton. Here Andrewes 
 is as good as Hooker is at his seraphic best. This is 
 Hooker's immortal First Book set to temple music. 
 This is Bacon also in his great prayer after his fall : 
 in that great prayer of which Addison says that it is 
 the devotion of an angel rather than a man. 'Thy 
 creatures have been my book, but thy scriptures 
 much more. I have sought Thee in the courts, in 
 the fields, and in the garden, but I have found Thee 
 
40 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 in Thy holy temple.' Andrewes's First Day will 
 always be written on the margin of the First Chapter 
 of Genesis and on the margin of the Nineteenth 
 Psalm in my Bible. 
 The Second On the morning of the Second Day Andrewes 
 Day ' opens Moses again. Let there be a firmament in 
 the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters 
 from the waters : and it was so. And as he reads and 
 sees what he reads, he recollects what he had seen 
 written in the 'divine liturgy of St. Clement,' and 
 he turns to that ancient devotional writer and thus 
 meditates with him and thus prays with him : ' My 
 voice shalt Thou hear betimes in the morning, O 
 Lord. Blessed art Thou who didst create the 
 firmament of heaven, and the powers of the in- 
 tellectual heaven, the angels, the archangels, the 
 cherubim, and the seraphim : the waters also above 
 the heavens, mists, dews, showers, snow as wool, 
 hoar frost as ashes, ice as morsels, clouds in the 
 sky, winds and waters out of Thy treasure-houses 
 and out of Thy chambers.' And then Clement 
 continues : ' Thou didst establish the great deep 
 also, and didst cast a mound of sea-shore round 
 about it, till a world of salt water stands up as an 
 heap bounded on every side with Thy great barriers 
 of rock and sand. Sometimes Thou dost swell the 
 sea with a wind so as to lift it up into great 
 mountains, and sometimes Thou dost smooth it out 
 into a plain for the ease and the delight of mariners.' 
 And after much more of that same elevated and 
 eloquent kind, all the people answer in a chant : 
 ' Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Sabaoth : the 
 heavens, and the earth, and the seas are all full 
 to us of His glory. Blessed be the name of the 
 Lord for evermore. Amen.' 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 41 
 And on the Third Day God said, Let the earth The Third 
 bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the Day> 
 fruit tree yielding fruit, whose seed is in itself: and 
 it was so : and God saw that it was good. And 
 straightway Andrewes sees all creation with a sacra- 
 mental eye, in the light and in the unction of which 
 he sings, 'O God, Thou art my God. Blessed art 
 Thou, O Lord, who gatheredst the water into the sea, 
 and broughtest to light the earth, and madest to 
 sprout all herbs and all fruit-bearing trees. There at 
 Thy word are the oceans and the seas with their lakes 
 and rivers and fountains. There also are the moun- 
 tains, the hills, and the vales ; glebe lands, meadow 
 lands, and glades; there are pastures, and corn fields, 
 and grass for cattle; herbs for food and for medicine; 
 flowers for beauty; and fruit trees, and vines, and 
 olive-trees, and spices ; trees for timber also, and 
 stones for building, and metals for all arts, and coal, 
 and fire, and vapour of smoke.' 
 
 And then on the morning of the Fourth Day The Fourth 
 Andrewes offers this adoration : I have meditated Day ' 
 on thee, O Lord, in the night watches, for Thou 
 hast been my help. Or as it is in a Breviary 
 Matin : 
 
 Be Thou the first on every tongue, 
 
 The first in every heart ; 
 That all our doings all day long, 
 
 Holiest ! may from Thee start. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, who madest the two great 
 lights, sun and moon, and the stars also, for light, for 
 signs, and for seasons : for spring, summer, autumn, 
 winter : for days, and weeks, and months, and years. 
 The sun to rule the day and the moon to rule 
 the night. ' O Lord,' so runs the Breviary Hymn 
 for Wednesday, a hymn which has received one 
 
42 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 of those rare translations that make an old hymn 
 
 new : 
 
 Who didst on the Fourth Day, in heaven, 
 Light the fierce cresset of the sun, 
 
 And the meek moon at even, 
 
 And stars that wildly run ; 
 
 That they might mark and arbitrate 
 'Twixt alternating night and day, 
 
 And tend the train sedate 
 
 Of months upon their way ; 
 
 Clear, Lord, the brooding night within, 
 And cleanse these hearts for thy abode, 
 
 Unlock the spell of sin, 
 
 Crumble its giant load. 
 
 The Fifth ' Thursday, next to Sunday/ says Dr Cazenove in 
 Day- a valuable paper of memoranda that my revered 
 friend has favoured me with, 'is the most jubilant 
 day of the week. There is the intense triumph of 
 our fallen nature having been renewed and exalted 
 in the person of the ascended Lord above all angels 
 and archangels to the right hand of the Father. 
 Moreover, it is the day of the institution of the 
 sacred feast of Holy Communion. Christ's advocacy 
 for us, the graces taught in the beatitudes, the 
 gifts bestowed upon His saints, especially upon His 
 holy mother, are blended with intercessions, and 
 that day's prayer is concluded with a wonderful 
 list of thanksgivings.' 
 The Sixth And God said, Let us make man in our image, 
 Da y- after our likeness : so God created man in His own 
 image, in the image of God created He him : 
 male and female created He them. I have 
 always thought Andrewes's extraordinarily com- 
 pressed meditation on that passage to be one of 
 his finest things. In a few noble words he rises to 
 the full height of Moses' great argument : ' Early 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 43 
 shall my prayer come before Thee. Blessed art 
 Thou, O Lord, who broughtest forth of the earth 
 beasts, cattle, creeping things for food, for the 
 clothing and for the assistance of man. And 
 then Thou madest man himself after Thine own 
 image, and blessedst him, and didst put all things 
 under his feet. The fore-counsel concerning man ; 
 the hand that fashioned him ; the image of God 
 within him ; the putting of all things under him ; 
 and the charge to the angels to guard him, to 
 cherish him, and to minister to him. His heart, 
 his reins, his eyes, his ears, his tongue, his hands, 
 his feet, his life, his reason, his spirit, his free will, 
 his memory, his conscience, the revelation of God 
 made to him, the written law put into his hands, 
 oracles of prophets also, melody of psalms, instruc- 
 tion of proverbs, experience of histories, worship and 
 sacrifice. Blessed art Thou also for Thy great and 
 precious promise made on this day concerning the 
 life-giving Seed, and for the fulfilment of that 
 promise in the fulness of time.' 
 
 And then under each successive day of creation, Heads of 
 and after the proper meditation and adoration for Devotlon - 
 the dav, there comes a series of devotions arranged 
 under tne five heads of Confession of sin, Prayer 
 for mercy to pardon and grace to help, Confession 
 of faith, Intercession, and Thanksgiving ; ' so uni- 
 versal,' as Stationer Moseley says, 'was Lancelot 
 Andrewes in all holy dimensions.' Every day of 
 his holy week begins with a meditation and an 
 adoration on the creation of the world till all 
 creation is crowned on the sixth day with the 
 creation of man. And then immediately after each 
 day's proper meditation there follows a most Confession 
 poignant confession of sin : ' They continue this of Sin - 
 
44 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 day according to Thine ordinances : for all are 
 Thy servants. But/ adds Andrewes, ' I have de- 
 stroyed myself. For, two things I ever see in 
 myself, human nature which Thou hast made in 
 Thine own image, and my sin by which I have 
 depraved and destroyed myself. My sin and my 
 self-destruction are new again every morning before 
 me.' Scripture completely ' disables our nature,' 
 as Andrewes says in his first sermon on Prayer, and 
 the Devotions follows hard after Scripture in that. 
 Andrewes confessed every morning with Bacon, 
 ' thousand have been my sins, and ten thousand my 
 transgressions. As Thy favours have increased 
 upon me, so have Thy corrections ; and ever as my 
 worldly blessings were exalted, so secret darts from 
 Thee have pierced me, and when I have ascended 
 before men, I have descended in humiliation before 
 Thee.' When Hacket praised Andrewes for his 
 extraordinary kindness and attention to the students 
 of Westminster, their old dean only the more 
 remembered the many young men of promise who 
 had gone astray owing to his forgetfulness and 
 neglect. He had taught them to read and to 
 write in Latin and in Greek, but he had over- 
 looked to teach them to pray and to know them- 
 selves. When Bacon fell, and when Andrewes had 
 to sit in judgment upon the Lord Chancellor's 
 distractingly sad case, he remembered how that 
 great man had been used to call him his inquisitor, 
 but Andrewes had secret remorse to the day of his 
 death that he had not early enough and often 
 enough been Bacon's intercessor. When men 
 talked everywhere of his hospitality and of his 
 bountifulness, Andrewes remembered how much of 
 that of which he was only the steward he had 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 45 
 spent upon himself, and how much upon masks 
 and feasts and progresses to his over-feasted, over- 
 amused, and over-flattered king. And as scandal 
 after scandal leaped to light out of the wide-spread 
 corruption and crime of the Essex case, Andrewes 
 took all the condemnation of that miserable case 
 home to himself. Had I acted like Abbot I should 
 certainly have shared with Abbot in the hatred and 
 the revenge of the king and the court, but I 
 should have stopped that dreadful crime, and I 
 should have saved the souls of all concerned in it. 
 Who can understand the reach and the longevity 
 of his errors? Andrewes cried out all his days, 
 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned ! There is 
 nothing that has ever been felt by any of God's 
 saints that Andrewes feels so much as that he is 
 the chief of sinners. Paul must have felt that, else 
 he would never have said it. Bunyan also must 
 have felt it, else he would never have penned the 
 title-page of his Grace Abounding. But Andrewes's 
 Devotions convinces me that he felt that as much as 
 any great saint of God of them all. There is 
 something about the way that Andrewes says it 
 that makes me believe what he says, out to the 
 uttermost stretch and strain of it. ' God be 
 merciful to me a sinner, the chief of sinners. . . . 
 Lord be merciful to me a sinner, even unto me, 
 O Lord, of sinners chief, chiefest and greatest. . . . 
 The just man falleth seven times a day, and I, an 
 exceeding sinner, seventy times seven, a fearful 
 and a horrible thing, O Lord. Thine incompre- 
 hensible and unimaginable goodness toward sinners 
 and unworthy men, and toward me of all sinners 
 far away the most unworthy, — an unworthy, 
 wretched, and abject sinner. ... Be merciful to 
 
46 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 me a sinner, be merciful to me of all sinners the 
 greatest and the most wretched. . . . Have mercy 
 on me a sinner, the greatest of sinners, and for 
 that very reason in need of the greatest mercy. . . . 
 I then, trusting in Thy mercy, that forgiveth at the 
 least seventy times seven, stand afar off, and bowed 
 to the very dust I say again and again, God have 
 mercy on me a sinner, on me a most wretched 
 sinner, on me the chief of sinners, on me who am 
 altogether made of sin, on me, who am a very 
 hyperbole of sin.' There is no doubt about 
 language like that. That is not imitation. That 
 is not repetition. That is not so many words. That 
 is the very sacrifice with which God is well pleased. 
 With that man will I dwell, saith the Lord, wherever 
 he sees or hears the like of that. You would think 
 that was surely enough. But no. The grave, and 
 the two daughters of the horseleech, may say, That 
 it is enough, but not Bishop Andrewes's sinful 
 heart. ' I need more grief,' he cries. ' I plainly 
 need more grief. I am far from that grief which I 
 ought to have. I can sin much, but I cannot 
 repent much. O my dryness and my deadness ! 
 Woe unto me ! Would that I had more grief and 
 sorrow of heart. But of myself I cannot obtain it. 
 I am parched like a potsherd. Open in me, O 
 Lord, a fountain of tears. Give me a molten heart. 
 ... I despise and bruise myself that my penitence, 
 O Lord, is not deeper, is not fuller. Help Thou 
 mine impenitence, and more, and still more pierce 
 Thou, rend, and crush my heart. I am a burden 
 to myself in that I cannot sorrow more. I beseech 
 from Thee therefore a contrite heart, groanings that 
 cannot be uttered, tears of blood. More and more 
 bruise, and wound, and pierce, and strike my heart. 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 47 
 Thou canst turn even the hard rock into a pool. 
 Give tears then : give the grace of tears. Give me, 
 
 0 Lord, this great grace. Tears such as Thou didst 
 give to David, to Jeremiah, to Peter, and to Mary 
 Magdalene.' 'Tears gain everything,' says Santa 
 Teresa in her Autobiography, and Andrewes would 
 seem to have been of her belief. And because he 
 had such sin, so much sin, and so little sorrow for so 
 much sin, he cursed himself, he spat in his own face, 
 and he cast himself into the ditch. 'Despise me 
 not utterly, O God, who am an unclean worm, a 
 dead dog, a putrid corpse.' You will remember the 
 prayer that was found in William Law's handwriting 
 among his papers : ' Sanctify, O Lord, I beseech 
 thee, this punishment to the benefit of my soul. 
 That by Thy blessing it may heal my sores, take 
 out the stains, deliver me from the shame, and 
 rescue me from the tyranny of sin. But, O my God, 
 
 1 am an unclean worm, a dead dog, a stinking car- 
 case, justly removed from that society of saints who 
 this day kneel about thine altars. Let me be 
 blessed and sanctified, as thou blessest and sancti- 
 fiest those that lament in sackcloth and ashes.' 
 Lancelot Andrewes and William Law would seem 
 to have been well read in the Missal of Matthias 
 Illyricus ; or rather, all three were well read in 
 their Bible. 
 
 There is a very remarkable argument carried on 
 in the early part of the Eighty-sixth Tract for the 
 Times, — a Tract which could only have been written 
 by one of two men. And the argument is to the 
 effect that the Reformation was the outcome of a 
 universal call to repentance on the part of God, and 
 that on the part of the Church of England it was 
 a response to that call in a great act of national 
 
48 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 humiliation and sorrow for sin. And the subtle and 
 skilful writer of the Tract, having taken that thesis 
 in hand, goes on to trace the proof of that and the 
 effect of that in the changes made in the Collects 
 of the English Prayer-Book at the time of the Refor- 
 mation. And he points out what he calls a lowering 
 of the voice, a descent of the mind, and a humbling 
 of the heart of the Church from the high choral 
 tone of the missals and the breviaries and the 
 early liturgies, till the Book of Common Prayer has 
 become the cry of a returning prodigal rather than 
 an expression of the liberty and the joy of obedient 
 children. And it cannot be denied that Bishop 
 Andrewes is a true son of the English Church in 
 this respect. He is at his best in repentance and 
 confession. He prays and praises in many places 
 like a son also. But like volcanic rock thrusting 
 itself up through a harvest field, so does Andrewes's 
 acute and abiding remorse for sin pierce up through 
 his finest and fullest psalms of thanksgiving. 
 Andrewes comes again with rejoicing, bringing his 
 sheaves with him, but all his harvest field has been 
 sown in tears, and so reaped, and so gathered in, 
 and so garnered, till it is the bread of tears. ' His 
 piety has not softened his heart/ says Mark 
 Pattison in a cruel and revengeful passage. But 
 Andrewes would have said with John Foxe that what 
 his piety had not done his impiety had completely 
 accomplished. I owe far more to my sins, says the 
 old martyrologist, than I owe to my good works. 
 Andrewes has three Acts of Confession in his Latin 
 Devotions, and all three are out of the same still 
 broken heart. But the second of the three, begin- 
 ning with— 'O God, Thou knowest my foolishness,' — 
 it exceeds. I shall not touch it. I shall not attempt 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 49 
 to give examples out of it. The page would run 
 blood if I broke off a single sentence of it. Only, 
 if ever God got at the hands of a sinful man a 
 sacrifice that satisfied Him and made Him say on 
 the spot, Bring forth the best robe, it was surely 
 in Lancelot Andrewes's closet, and after that great 
 Act of Confession. 
 
 One of the acknowledged masters of the spiritual 
 life warns us against 'an untheological devotion. 
 True spirituality,' he insists, ' has always been ortho- 
 dox.' And the readers of the Grammar of Assent Confession 
 will remember with what masterly power and with of Failh - 
 what equal eloquence it is there set forth that the 
 theology of the Creeds and of the Catechisms, when it 
 is rightly understood and properly employed, appeals 
 to the heart quite as much as to the head, to the 
 imagination quite as much as to the understanding. 
 And we cannot study Andrewes's book, his closet 
 confession of his faith especially, without discovering 
 what a majesty, what a massiveness,what a depth, and 
 what a strength, as well as what an evangelical fervour 
 and heartsomeness his theology has given to his devo- 
 tional life. Take in illustration this profound apos- 
 trophe — the sum of so much that is contained in the 
 Devotions : ' Essence beyond essence : Essence every- 
 where, and wholly everywhere ! ' Let the intellect 
 and the imagination take that of God truly, fully, and 
 long enough up, and forthwith Andrewes's words will 
 take rank not unworthily with John's words, 'No man 
 hath seen God at any time,' and with Paul's words, 
 ' Dwelling in light which no man can approach unto.' 
 To some minds those three words in which Andrewes 
 describes the Divine Nature will flash a new light 
 on many an old expression of the Scriptures and 
 the Catechisms and the Creeds. Let any devout and 
 
 D 
 
50 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 thoughtful man take up Andrewes's confession of 
 faith for the Fourth Day imaginatively and affection- 
 ately, and let each strong heaven-laden word be 
 meditated and prayed over, and he will experience 
 in himself what is meant by the power and the pro- 
 fitableness of a theological devotion. ' I believe 
 in the Father's lovingkindness ; in the Almighty's 
 saving power ; in the Creator's providence for 
 guarding, ruling, perfecting the universe. In Jesus, 
 for salvation ; in Christ, for the anointing of his Holy 
 Spirit ; in the only-begotten Son, for sonship ; in his 
 conception and birth, for the cleansing of our unclean 
 conception and birth ; in His sufferings, endured that 
 we, whose due they were, might not suffer ; in His 
 cross, for the curse of the law removed ; in His death, 
 for the sting of death taken away ; in His descent 
 whither we ought, that we might not go ; in His re- 
 surrection, as the first fruits of them that sleep ; in 
 His ascension, to prepare a place for us ; in His sitting, 
 to appeal and to intercede ; in His return, to take unto 
 Him His own ; in His judgment, to render to every 
 man according to his deeds ; in the Holy Ghost, for 
 power from on high, transforming unto sanctity, from 
 without and invisibly, yet effectually and evidently ; in 
 the Church, a body mystical of those called out of the 
 whole world into a commonwealth of faith and holi- 
 ness ; in the communion of saints — members of this 
 body, a mutual participation in holy things, for confi- 
 dence of remission of sins, for hope of resurrection 
 and translation to life everlasting.' In the Grammar 
 its author says that for himself he has ever felt the 
 Athanasian Creed to be the most devotional formulary 
 to which Christianity has given birth. We certainly 
 feel something not unlike that when Andrewes 
 takes up the Apostles' Creed, or the Nicene Creed, 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 51 
 or the Life of our Lord, or His Names, or His Titles, 
 or His Attributes, or His Offices. When Andrewes 
 takes upanyof these things into his intellect, imagina- 
 tion, and heart, he has already provided himself and 
 his readers with another great prayer and another 
 great psalm. So true is it that all true theology is . / 
 directly and richly and evangelically devotional. 
 
 No one can have any idea of the power and the interces 
 beauty, the breadth and at the same time the par- sion - 
 ticularity of Andrewes's intercessions, who has not 
 for long made use of them as the coal of this so much 
 neglected altar in his own devotional life. William 
 Law is always insisting on particulars, and instances, 
 and specifications ; on names of people, names of 
 places, and names of things in all prayer, and 
 especially in intercessory prayer. And, even with 
 Law himself open before me, I know no master of 
 instances and particulars in intercessory prayer like 
 Andrewes. Those who have not discovered the 
 Devotions have a great start forward still before 
 them when they begin to make constant use of that 
 great book. I shall rejoice if these weak words of 
 mine shall succeed in persuading even one man to 
 take Andrewes for his teacher and his pattern in 
 his life of intercessory prayer. 
 
 And then his thanksgivings. Read them, sing Thanks- 
 them, carry them about with you, drink in their S lvin £' 
 spirit, and offer your own thanksgivings on their 
 noble plan. The Thanksgiving for the Fifth Day 
 is an absolutely unique piece of sacred song. It is 
 an all-embracing, absolutely exhaustive, autobio- 
 graphic psalm. It is written by a man of God for 
 God alone to read and to hear. And as we are 
 chosen and privileged to read it and to hear it we 
 come to understand something of the secret life of 
 
52 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 a man who was said to spend five hours of the day 
 sometimes over a prayer and a psalm. We ourselves 
 will spend as many hours, and we will not be done 
 with our praise, when we have learned Andrewes's 
 divine art of writing and reading our own autobio- 
 graphy to God. ' O God, for my existence, my life, 
 my reason ; for nurture, protection, guidance, educa- 
 tion, civil rights, religion ; for thy gifts to me of 
 grace, nature, fortune ; for redemption, regeneration, 
 nurture in the truth ; for my call, recall, yea, many 
 calls all through life; for Thy forbearance, long- 
 suffering, long long-suffering to me-ward, up to this 
 time ; for all good things received, for all successes 
 granted to me, for all good deeds I have been 
 enabled to do ; for my parents honest and good, for 
 teachers kind, for benefactors never to be forgotten, 
 for religious intimates so congenial and so helpful, 
 for hearers thoughtful, friends true and sincere, 
 servants faithful ; for all who have helped me by 
 their writings, sermons, conversations, prayers, ex- 
 amples, rebukes, and even injuries ; for all these, and 
 for all others which I know, and which I know not, 
 open, hidden, remembered, forgotten ; what shall I 
 render to the Lord for all His benefits ! ' And, 
 then, on an altogether other key, An Act of 
 Thanksgiving in the Latin Part. ' If I were com- 
 pelled to make a choice,' says Dr Cazenove, 'I should 
 select the Act of Thanksgiving.' Before I knew 
 Dr Cazenove' s choice, I find I had already spoken 
 of it as 'that magnificent Act of Thanksgiving. 
 Surely the noblest service of that kind that ever 
 rose from earth to heaven. Yes, it is wholly worthy 
 to be taken up word for word by the great multi- 
 tude that no man can number. They cannot sing 
 a better song. It is in every word of it worthy of 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 53 
 them and of the place where they stand.' And if 
 any man think that too much to say about a book 
 whose very title he has never heard till to-night, 
 let him begin from to-night to learn to thank God 
 with Lancelot Andrewes. Those who are staggered 
 and offended to be told that any man should spend 
 hours upon hours alone with himself and with his 
 Maker should study such prayers and psalms as 
 those of Andrewes ; and if they once enter into 
 their genius, and come under their spell, they will 
 have discovered a new way of redeeming and laying 
 out the dregs of their days. 
 
 In trying to account for Andrewes having composed Single 
 the most finished parts of his Devotions in Greek, Mr. ^° r ^ s S g 
 Hutton, Dean Stanhope's editor, says that the com- tences. 
 pound and emphatic words of that language greatly 
 strengthen the ideas they convey to us, and thus make 
 a deeper impression on our minds. Now no adequate 
 justice can at all be done to Andrewes' s Devotions till 
 attention has been called to the power and the im- 
 pressiveness of some of his single words and short 
 sentences. The weight, the concentration, the solidity, 
 and the impact of the style is one of the foremost 
 features of Andrewes's Devotions. I have never for- 
 gotten the impression that one word of his in one of 
 his confessions of sin made on my own imagination 
 and heart the first time it leaped out upon me. ' I ' 1 have 
 have neglected thee, O God ! ' Andrewes cried, and Ttae? 6 
 I trembled as I heard him cry it. And I have never 
 come upon that awful word from that day to this with- 
 out a shudder. That I should neglect God ! A man 
 who has all his life neglected God, — Andrewes has 
 made me see that to be my true description. If I make 
 my bed in hell at last Andrewes has made me hear 
 them pointing me out and saying, That is the man 
 
54 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 tying there who neglected God ! It is this neglect 
 of God that makes so many men infidels and atheists 
 and outcasts. You neglect God till you come to 
 say, and that not without some reason, that there 
 simply cannot be such and such a God else it would 
 be a sheer impossibility that you could have neglected 
 Him as you have done. You look within, and you 
 look around, and you see yourself and all men 
 absolutely pushing God aside till it is as good as 
 demonstrated to you that there can be no God. 
 ' God,' said John Donne in a sermon that Andrewes 
 may very well have heard, ' God is like us in this 
 also, that He takes it worse to be slighted, to be 
 neglected, to be left out, than to be actually in- 
 jured. Our inconsideration, our not thinking of 
 God in our actions, offends him more than our sins.' 
 ' Pardon,' cries Bishop Wilson in his Sacra Privata, 
 ' that I have passed so many days without admiring, 
 without acknowledging and confessing Thy wonder- 
 ful goodness to the most unworthy of Thy servants. 
 Preserve in my soul, O God, such a constant and 
 clear sense of my obligations to Thee, that upon 
 every new receipt of Thy favour, I may immediately 
 turn my eyes to Him from whom cometh my salva- 
 tion.' And in an evening prayer that Andrewes 
 draws out for a family in his Holy Devotions, — 
 he makes them all say, ' We have fled from Thee 
 seeking us : we have neglected Thee loving us : 
 we have stopped our ears against Thee speaking to 
 us : we have forgotten Thee doing good to us : we 
 have despised Thee correcting us.' And then in his 
 Manual for the Sick he makes the dying man say, — 
 ' I have not studied to seek and know Thee as I 
 ought. Knowing Thee, I have not glorified Thee, 
 nor given thanks to Thee accordingly.' And again 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 55 
 when Andrewes cries in another confession, — ' I 
 have withstood Thee, O God,' that makes almost 
 as terrible an impression on my mind, as well it 
 may. ' I will confess my sins, for I have trans- 
 gressed and neglected Thee, O Lord. Set not my 
 misdeeds before Thee, nor my life in the light of 
 Thy countenance. I have withstood Thee, O God, 
 but I return to Thee. I take with me words, and 
 I return to Thee and say, Take away all my iniquity, 
 and receive me graciously.' And still, after all 
 that, we see Andrewes still struggling with some 
 ' relics of reluctancy/ to the end of his seraphic old 
 age. 
 
 ' I am made of sin,' Andrewes cries out in one of ' I am made 
 his great acts of confession. ' I have sinned, and 0 sm ' 
 of a truth I am made of sin, and my whole life 
 maketh it manifest.' Only those out of whose 
 broken heart the echo comes : And so am I ! — only 
 they will believe that Bishop Andrewes can be in 
 honest earnest and in his sound senses when he 
 says that. But they who feel that to be true of 
 themselves, — literally and absolutely true and far 
 short of the truth, — they will be drawn irresistibly 
 to the man who first made such a discovery as that 
 in himself, and who had the truth and the talent 
 to put the discovery into such answering words. 
 Andrewes belongs to the family of Abraham, and 
 Isaiah, and Paul, and Neri, and Pascal, and Bunyan, 
 and Law, and all the evangelical succession. ' I am 
 made of dust and ashes,' Abraham said. 'From 
 the head to the foot I am made up of putrefying 
 sores,' said Isaiah. ' In me there dwelleth no good 
 thing,' said Paul. ' Begone, I am a devil, and not 
 a man,' said Philip. ' I defy the devil himself to 
 equal me,' said the author of Grace Abounding. 
 
56 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 'We are made up of falsehood, duplicity, and in- 
 sincerity,' said Pascal, ' and we cloak up these things 
 in ourselves from ourselves.' ' Man is only a com- 
 pound of corrupt and disorderly tempers,' says 
 William Law. ' I am made of sin,' groans Andrewes, 
 and with that one awful word he lets us down into 
 the whole bottomless pit of sin and shame and pain 
 and misery that is in his own evil heart. ' I am a 
 burden to myself/ he continues, still on his face 
 before God, 'I am a ruined, wretched, excessive 
 sinner.' Nor are these the mere ink-horn terms of 
 which our prayer-books are full, or the usual insincere 
 devotions of which our public worship is full. It is 
 the truth, it is the sincerity, it is the intensity, it is 
 the absolute agony of Andrewes's supremely sinful 
 and supremely miserable heart that so fascinates us, 
 and holds us, and makes us like clay in his hands. 
 
 Small is the blind man's grief to theirs who see 
 Nothing at all but their own misery. 
 
 1 But I have an Advocate with Thee to Thee, 
 and may He be the propitiation for my sins who 
 is also the propitiation for the whole world.' As 
 much as to say that the whole world and Lancelot 
 Andrewes together will complete the propitiation. 
 As much as to say that Lancelot Andrewes is a 
 whole guilty world in himself, and that to be the 
 propitiation for Lancelot Andrewes is more than to 
 redeem and restore the whole world apart from 
 him. Whom God hath set forth to be the propitia- 
 tion for the whole world and Lancelot Andrewes. 
 His infamy. You will sometimes see in the wall of a church 
 or in the wall of a house or in the wall of a garden 
 a stone with the smooth mark of the boring-iron 
 still upon it — the boring-iron by means of which 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 57 
 the blast was let in which shattered the hard rock 
 into a thousand pieces. And many such significant 
 marks occur all up and down the Private Devotions. 
 'I have perverted that which was right, and yet 
 Thou hast not overwhelmed me with infamy.' Now, 
 ' infamy/ remarkably enough, is the very word that 
 an able historical writer of our day has applied to 
 Andrewes's share in the Essex case. Sometimes 
 one single sin will blast and ruin a man's whole 
 after-life to himself. Sometimes one single sin 
 will still leave its mark on a man long long after it 
 has been forsaken, repented of, atoned for, and for- 
 given. One single sin will so explode and shatter 
 his conscience, it will so bruise and break his heart 
 into a thousand pieces, that like one of the Children 
 of Israel a true penitent will feel the taste of the dust 
 of the golden calf in every cup he ever after drinks 
 — in his sweetest as well as in his bitterest cup. The 
 Essex case followed Andrewes about all his days, 
 as his drunkenness followed Noah, and his adultery 
 David, and the sins of his blasphemy and injurious- 
 ness Paul, and our sins us. ' God often permits sin, 
 even in the elect,' says Bishop Wilson, 'that He 
 may make their fall instrumental to their conversion 
 and salvation. We have reason to bless God for 
 those sins that awaken us, lead us to repentance, 
 and make us to love much because so much has 
 been forgiven us.' 'Wherewithal a man sinneth,' 
 says the Son of Sirach, ' by the same also shall he 
 be punished. Thou, O God, tormentest men with 
 their own abominations.' Or as Andrewes has it, 
 ' Let not my ungodliness be for my punishment. 
 Destroy me not in mine iniquities, nor reserve evil 
 for me, nor make me a public shame.' We stare 
 at the length and at the number of the hours that 
 
58 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 Andrewes spent every clay with sweating hands, 
 but when God begins to torment us with our own 
 abominations, and to make our ungodliness our 
 punishment, all Andrewes' s hours will have flown 
 past, and we shall neither have numbered them nor 
 grudged them. 
 
 His power < I return into my own heart, and with all my 
 
 over us 
 
 heart I turn to Thee, O God of penitents, O 
 Saviour of sinners. Evening by evening will I 
 return in the innermost marrow of my soul. I 
 turn from my evil ways, and I turn into my evil 
 heart, and with my whole heart I turn to Thee, 
 saying, I know, O Lord, the plague of my heart. 
 Since the days of my youth have I been in a great 
 trespass unto this day, and I cannot stand before 
 Thee, by reason of this. I am branded by sin. 
 I conceal nothing. I make no excuses. I have 
 destroyed myself. I am without plea. Thou art 
 just in all that has come upon me. Thou hast done 
 right, but I have done wickedly. I remember my 
 sins in the bitterness of my soul. I have no rest 
 because of them. I turn away from them and 
 groan. I despair and hate myself. Forgive me, 
 for I knew not, truly I knew not what I did when 
 I sinned against Thee. I can sin much, but I 
 cannot return from my sins. Only, I will always 
 remember my latter end. I will give myself up 
 to prayer. I will give up the rest of my life to 
 repentance, because Thou art waiting for my full 
 conversion.' How his words transfix us ! How our 
 past comes back upon us at his words ! How our 
 hearts melt in us as Andrewes takes us by the 
 hand, and as we kneel beside him ! The secret of 
 the Lord and His best power are with this penitent 
 in a most singular way, till that wonderful book 
 
AN INTERPRETATION 59 
 of his in every page of it pierces us, solemnises 
 us, and subdues us to tears and to prayer and to 
 obedience as no other book of its kind has ever 
 done. Every page, almost every line, of the Private 
 Devotions has some strong word in it, some startling 
 word, some selected, compounded, and compacted 
 word, some heart-laden clause, some scriptural or 
 liturgical expression set in a blaze of new light and 
 life, and ever after to be filled with new power as we 
 employ it in our own prayers and praises. It is true 
 genius; it is a gift of God and a grace of His 
 Spirit of no common kind to be able in this way 
 to make the old and familiar language of devotion 
 so new, so quick, so powerful, and so prevailing, 
 as Andrewes makes it in this fine book of his 
 which is now open before us. 
 
A TRANSCRIPT OF 
 THE DEVOTIONS 
 
Ctmcs of IJragcr. 
 
 Always. — Our Lord. 
 Without ceasing. — Paul. 
 At all times. — Paul. 
 
 He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, 
 and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he 
 did aforetime. — Daniel, 
 
 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, 
 and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. — David, 
 
 Seven times a day do I praise Thee. — David. 
 
 1. In the morning, a great while before day. — 
 Our Lord. 
 
 2. At daybreak.— David. 
 
 3. The third hour of the day. — Peter. 
 
 4. About the sixth hour. — Peter. 
 
 5. The hour of prayer, the ninth. — Peter and John. 
 
 6. The eventide. — Isaac. 
 
 7. By night. — The Servants of the Lord. 
 At midnight. — David. 
 
 Hares of Stager. 
 
 In all places where I record My name, I will 
 come unto thee, and I will bless thee. — The Lord 
 to Moses. 
 
 Let Thine eyes be open towards this house night 
 and day, even toward the place of which Thou hast 
 said, My name shall be there : that Thou mayest 
 hearken unto the prayer which Thy servant shall 
 make toward this place. — Solomon. 
 
 63 
 
64 LANCELOT ANDREWES 
 
 As for me, I will come into Thy house 
 in the multitude of Thy mercy : 
 and in Thy fear will I worship 
 toward Thy holy temple. 
 Hear the voice of my supplications, 
 when I cry unto Thee ; 
 when I lift up my hands 
 toward Thy holy oracle. 
 We have thought of Thy loving kindness, O God, 
 in the midst of Thy temple. — David. 
 
 1. In the assembly of the upright, and in the 
 congregation. — David. 
 
 2. Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast 
 shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in 
 secret. — Our Lord. 
 
 3. They went up into an upper room. — The 
 Disciples. 
 
 4. He went up upon the housetop to pray.— Peter. 
 
 5. They went up together into the temple. — 
 Peter and John. 
 
 6. We kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 
 — Paul and the Disciples at Tyre. 
 
 7. He went forth over the brook Cedron, where 
 was a garden. — Our Lord. 
 
 8. Let them rejoice in their beds. — The Saints. 
 
 9- He departed into a desert place, and there 
 prayed. — Our Lord. 
 
 10. In every place lifting up holy hands without 
 wrath and doubting. — Paul. 
 
ACCOMPANIMENTS OF PRAYER 65 
 
 (Etrcumstanccs anti accompaniments of $ragct. 
 
 He kneeled down and prayed. — Our Lord. 
 
 He went a little further, and fell on His face, 
 and prayed. — Our Lord. 
 
 Our soul is bowed down to the dust, 
 
 our belly cleaveth unto the earth. — David. 
 
 I blush to lift up my face. — Ezra. 
 
 He smote upon his breast. — The Publican. 
 
 He came trembling. — The Pkilippian Jailor. 
 
 We mourn like doves. — Isaiah. 
 
 I stretch forth my hands. — David. 
 
 I am plagued all day long, and chastened eveiy 
 morning. — David. 
 
COURSE OF MORNING PRAYERS FOR THE 
 SEVEN DAYS OF THE WEEK. 
 
 €f)e dFtrst Bag. 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 Through the tender mercies of our God 
 the day-spring from on high hath visited us. 
 
 Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory to Thee, 
 Creator of the visible light, 
 
 the sun's ray, the flame of fire ; 
 Creator also of the light invisible and intellectual : 
 that which is known of God, 
 writings of the law, 
 oracles of prophets, 
 melody of psalms, 
 instruction of proverbs, 
 experience of histories : 
 a light which never sets. 
 God is the Lord, Who hath shewed us light : 
 bind the sacrifice with cords, 
 even unto the horns of the altar. 
 
 By Thy resurrection raise us up 
 unto newness of life, 
 
 supplying to us frames of repentance. 
 The God of peace, 
 
 that brought again from the dead 
 our Lord Jesus, 
 
FIRST DAY: CONFESSION 67 
 that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 
 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
 make us perfect in every good work 
 
 to do His will, 
 working in us that which is well pleasing in His 
 sight, 
 
 through Jesus Christ ; 
 
 to whom be glory for ever and ever. 
 
 Thou who didst send down on Thy disciples 
 on this day 
 Thy Thrice-Holy Spirit, 
 withdraw not Thou the gift, O Lord, from us, 
 but renew it, day by day, in us, 
 who ask Thee for it. 
 
 2. CONFESSION OF SIN. 
 
 Merciful and pitiful Lord, 
 long-suffering and full of compassion, 
 I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned against Thee ; 
 
 0 wretched man that I am, 
 
 I have sinned, Lord, against Thee 
 
 much and grievously, 
 in regarding vanities and lies. 
 I conceal nothing : 
 I make no excuses. 
 I give Thee glory, O Lord, this day. 
 I denounce against myself my sins. 
 Truly I have sinned before the Lord, 
 and thus and thus have I done. 
 
 1 have sinned and perverted 
 
 that which was right, 
 and it profited me not. 
 And what shall I now say ? 
 or with what shall I open my mouth ? 
 What shall I answer, seeing I have done it ? 
 
68 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 Without plea, without defence, self-condemned am I. 
 I have destroyed myself. 
 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, 
 but unto me confusion of face. 
 And Thou art just in all that is come upon me ; 
 for Thou hast done right, 
 but I have done wickedly. 
 And now, Lord, what is my hope ? 
 Art not Thou, Lord ? 
 Truly my hope is even in Thee, 
 if hope of salvation remaineth to me, 
 if Thy loving-kindness vanquisheth 
 
 the multitude of my iniquities. 
 O remember what my substance is, 
 the work of Thy hands, 
 the likeness of Thy countenance, 
 the cost of Thy blood, 
 a name from Thy name, 
 a sheep of Thy pasture, 
 a son of the covenant. 
 Forsake not Thou the work of Thine own hands. 
 Hast Thou made in vain 
 Thine own image and likeness ? 
 In vain, if thou destroy it. 
 And what profit is there in my blood ? 
 Thine enemies will rejoice. 
 May they never rejoice, O Lord. 
 Grant not to them my destruction. 
 Look upon the face of Thine Anointed, 
 and in the blood of Thy covenant, 
 in the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. 
 Lord, be merciful to me a sinner, 
 even to me, O Lord, of sinners 
 the first, the chief, and the greatest. 
 For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, 
 
FIRST DAY : CONFESSION 69 
 for it is great : it exceeds. 
 For Thy name's sake, that name 
 beside which none other under heaven 
 is given among men, 
 whereby we must be saved, 
 the Spirit Himself helping our infirmities, 
 and making intercession for us 
 with groanings that cannot be uttered. 
 For the fatherly yearnings of the Father, 
 
 the bloody wounds of the Son, 
 the unutterable groanings of the Spirit, 
 
 0 Lord, hear ; O Lord, forgive ; 
 
 O Lord, hearken and do ; 
 defer not, for Thine own sake, 
 O my God. 
 For I acknowledge my transgressions : 
 and my sin is ever before me ; 
 I remember my sins in the bitterness of my soul, 
 I am sorry for them ; 
 I turn away and groan, 
 
 1 have indignation and revenge 
 
 and wrath against myself. 
 I abhor and bruise myself 
 that my penitence, Lord, O Lord, 
 is not deeper, is not fuller ; 
 Lord, I repent, 
 help Thou mine impenitence ; 
 and more, and still more, 
 pierce Thou, rend, crush my heart ; 
 and remit, pardon, forgive 
 what things are grief to me, 
 and offence of heart. 
 Cleanse Thou me from secret faults, 
 keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins. 
 Magnify Thy mercies towards the utter sinner ; 
 
70 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 and in season, Lord, say to me, 
 Be of good cheer ; thy sins are forgiven thee ; 
 My grace is sufficient for thee. 
 Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? 
 and why art thou disquieted in me ? 
 Return unto thy rest, O my soul ; 
 for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 
 O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, 
 neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure. 
 I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord ; 
 and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 
 Lord, all my desire is before Thee ; 
 and my groaning is not hid from Thee. 
 Have mercy upon me, O God, 
 according to Thy lovingkindness : 
 according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies 
 blot out my transgressions. 
 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy on me, O Lord, 
 for the time to favour me, 
 yea, the set time, is come. 
 If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 
 O Lord, who shall stand ? 
 Enter not into judgment with Thy servant : 
 for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 My hands will I lift up 
 unto Thy commandments, which I have loved. 
 Open Thou mine eyes and I shall see, 
 incline my heart and I shall desire, 
 order my steps and I shall walk 
 in the way of Thy commandments. 
 O Lord God, be Thou to me a God, 
 and besides Thee let there be none else, 
 
FIRST DAY : PRAYER FOR GRACE 71 
 no other, nought else with Thee. 
 Vouchsafe to me, to worship Thee and serve Thee 
 according to Thy commandments : 
 
 in truth of spirit, 
 
 in reverence of body, 
 
 in blessing of lips, 
 
 in private and in public ; 
 to pay honour to them that have the rule over me, 
 
 by obedience and submission ; 
 to shew affection to my own, 
 
 by carefulness and providence ; 
 to overcome evil with good ; 
 to possess my vessel in sanctification and honour ; 
 to be free from the love of money, 
 
 content with such things as I have ; 
 to speak the truth in love ; 
 to be desirous not to lust, 
 
 not to lust passionately, 
 
 not to walk after lusts. 
 
 SOME HEDGES OF THE LAW. 
 
 To bruise the serpent's head. 
 
 To consider my latter end. 
 
 To cut off occasions. 
 
 To be sober. 
 
 To cease standing idle. 
 
 To shun the wicked. 
 
 To cleave to the good. 
 
 To make a covenant with the eyes. 
 
 To bring the body into subjection. 
 
 To find time for prayer. 
 
 To come to repentance. 
 
 Hedge up my way with thorns, 
 that I find not the path 
 for following vanity. 
 
72 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 Hold Thou me in with bit and bridle, 
 when I depart from Thee. 
 O Lord, compel me to come in to Thee. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I believe, O Lord, in Thee, 
 Father, Word, Spirit, One God ; 
 that by Thy fatherly love and power 
 
 all things were created ; 
 that by Thy goodness and love to man 
 
 all things have been begun anew 
 in Thy Word, 
 Who, for us men and for our salvation, 
 was made flesh, 
 was conceived, was born, 
 suffered, was crucified, 
 died, was buried, 
 descended, rose again, 
 ascended, sat down, 
 will return, will repay ; 
 that by the forth-shining and operation 
 of Thy Holy Spirit 
 hath been called out of the whole world 
 a peculiar people, into a commonwealth, 
 through belief of the truth, 
 through holiness of life, 
 in which we are partakers 
 
 of the communion of saints 
 and forgiveness of sins 
 in this world, 
 and in which we look for 
 
 the resurrection of the flesh 
 and the life everlasting 
 in the world to come. 
 This most holy faith 
 
FIRST DAY : ACT OF FAITH 73 
 once delivered to the saints 
 
 I believe, O Lord ; 
 help Thou mine unbelief. 
 Increase thou my little faith, 
 and vouchsafe to me 
 
 to love the Father for His love, 
 to reverence the Almighty for His power, 
 as unto a faithful Creator, to commit my soul to 
 Him in well doing. 
 Vouchsafe to me to partake 
 from Jesus of salvation, 
 from Christ of anointing, 
 from the Only-begotten of adoption ; 
 to worship the Lord 
 
 for His conception, in faith, 
 for His birth, in humility, 
 
 for His sufferings, in patience and in impatience 
 of sin, 
 
 for His cross, to crucify incentives, 
 for His death, to mortify the flesh, 
 for His burial, to bury evil thoughts in good 
 works, 
 
 for His descent, to meditate upon hell, 
 
 for His resurrection, upon newness of life, 
 
 for His ascension, to mind things above, 
 
 for His sitting on high, to mind the better things 
 
 on His right hand, 
 for His return, to fear His second appearing, 
 forHis judgment, to judge myself erelbe judged. 
 From the Spirit 
 
 vouchsafe to me the breath of saving grace. 
 In the holy Catholic Church 
 to have my own calling, and holiness, and portion, 
 and a fellowship of her sacred rites, 
 prayers, fastings, 
 
74 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 groanings, watchings, 
 tears, sufferings, 
 for assurance of remission of sins, 
 for hope of resurrection and translation 
 to eternal life. 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 O Hope of all the ends of the earth, 
 
 and of them that are afar off upon the sea : 
 O Thou in Whom our fathers trusted, 
 and Thou didst deliver them : 
 in Whom they trusted, 
 and were not confounded : 
 Thou Who didst make me hope 
 when I was upon my mother's breasts : 
 on Whom I have been cast from the womb, 
 be Thou my hope 
 now and evermore, 
 and my portion in the land of the living. 
 In Thy nature, 
 in Thy names, 
 in Thy types, 
 in Thy word, 
 in Thy deed, 
 my Hope, 
 disappoint me not of this my hope. 
 O Hope of all the ends of the earth, 
 
 remember Thy whole creation for good, 
 visit the world in Thy compassion. 
 O Guardian of men, O loving Lord, 
 remember all our race ; 
 Thou Who hast concluded all in unbelief, 
 have mercy upon all, O Lord. 
 O Thou Who to this end didst die and rise again 
 to be Lord both of the dead and living, 
 
FIRST DAY: INTERCESSION 75 
 live we or die we, 
 Thou art our Lord ; 
 Lord, have pity on living and dead. 
 O Helper of the helpless, 
 
 seasonable aid in affliction, 
 remember all who are in necessity 
 and need Thy succour. 
 O God of grace and truth, 
 
 establish all who stand in truth and grace; 
 restore all who are sick with heresies and sins. 
 O saving strength of Thine anointed, 
 
 remember Thy congregation 
 which Thou hast purchased and redeemed of old ; 
 O grant to all that believe 
 to be of one heart and one soul. 
 Thou that walkest in the midst of the golden 
 candlesticks, 
 remove not our candlestick 
 out of its place ; 
 set in order the things that are wanting, 
 strengthen the things which remain, 
 which are ready to die. 
 O Lord of the harvest, 
 
 send forth labourers, made sufficient by Thee, 
 into Thy harvest. 
 O portion of those 
 
 who wait in Thy temple, 
 grant to our clergy 
 rightly to divide the word of truth, 
 and to walk uprightly according thereto ; 
 
 grant to thy people who love Thee 
 to obey and submit themselves to them. 
 O King of nations unto the ends 
 of the earth, 
 strengthen all the states 
 
76 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 of the inhabited world, 
 as being Thine ordinance, 
 though a creation of man ; 
 scatter Thou the peoples that delight in war ; 
 make wars to cease unto the end of the earth. 
 O Expectation of the isles, and their Hope, 
 Lord, save this island, 
 and all the country in which we sojourn, 
 from all affliction, peril, and need. 
 Lord of lords, Ruler of rulers, 
 
 remember all rulers 
 to whom Thou hast given rule in the earth ; 
 and O remember specially 
 our divinely-guarded king, 
 and work with him more and more, 
 and prosper his way in all things ; 
 speak good things unto his heart, 
 for Thy Church, and all Thy people ; 
 grant to him profound and perpetual peace, 
 that in his tranquillity 
 we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 
 in all godliness and honesty. 
 O Thou by Whom the powers that be are ordained, 
 grant to those who are chief in court 
 to be chief in virtue and Thy fear ; 
 grant to the council Thy holy wisdom ; 
 to our mighty men, to have no might against 
 but for the truth ; 
 to the courts of law Thy judgments, 
 to judge all in all things 
 without preference, without partiality. 
 O God of hosts, 
 
 give a prosperous course and strength 
 to all the Christian army 
 against the enemies of our most holy faith. 
 
FIRST DAY : INTERCESSION 77 
 Grant to our population 
 
 to be subject unto the higher powers, 
 not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 
 Grant to farmers and graziers good seasons ; 
 to the fleet and fishers fair weather ; 
 to tradesmen, not to overreach one another ; 
 to mechanics, to pursue their business lawfully, 
 down to the humblest workman, 
 down to the poor. 
 O God, not of us only but of our seed, 
 bless our children among us, 
 that they may grow in wisdom as in stature, 
 and in favour with Thee and with men. 
 Thou who wouldest have us provide for our own, 
 
 and hatest those without natural affection, 
 remember, Lord, my kinsmen according to the flesh ; 
 grant me to speak peace concerning them, 
 and to seek their good. 
 Thou who wiliest us to make return 
 to our benefactors, 
 remember, Lord, for good 
 all from whom I have received good ; 
 keep them alive and bless them upon the earth, 
 and deliver them not 
 unto the will of their enemies. 
 Thou who hast noted 
 
 the man who neglects his own as worse 
 than an infidel, 
 remember in Thy good pleasure 
 all those in my household ; 
 peace be to my house, 
 children of peace be all who dwell in it. 
 Thou who wouldest that our righteousness exceed 
 the righteousness of sinners, 
 grant me, Lord, to love those who love me ; 
 
78 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 my own friends, and my father's friends, 
 and my friends' children 
 never to forsake. 
 Thou who wouldest that we overcome 
 evil with good, 
 and pray for those who persecute us, 
 have pity on mine enemies, Lord, 
 
 as on me ; 
 and lead them together with me 
 to Thy heavenly kingdom. 
 Thou who grantest the prayers thy servants make 
 one for another, 
 remember, Lord, for good, 
 and pity all those 
 who remember me in their prayers, 
 or whom I have promised to remember in mine. 
 Thou who acceptest the willing mind in every good 
 work, 
 
 remember, Lord, as if they prayed to Thee, 
 those who for any sufficient cause 
 have not time for prayer. 
 Arise, and have mercy 
 
 on those who are in the last necessity ; 
 for the time to favour them, 
 yea, the set time, is come. 
 Thou shalt have mercy on them, O Lord, 
 as on me also, when in extremities. 
 Remember, Lord, 
 
 infants, children, the growing youth, the young men, 
 the middle-aged, the old, the decayed, 
 hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, 
 captives, friendless strangers, 
 possessed with devils and tempted to suicide, 
 troubled by unclean spirits, 
 the sick in soul or body, the weak-hearted, the 
 down-hearted, 
 
FIRST DAY: INTERCESSION 79 
 all in prison and chains, all under sentence of death, 
 orphans, widows, foreigners, travellers, voyagers, 
 women with child, women who give suck, 
 all in bitter servitude, or mines, or galleys, 
 or in loneliness. 
 
 O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. 
 How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God ! 
 Therefore the children of men put their trust 
 under the shadow of Thy wings. 
 The Lord bless us, and keep us : 
 the Lord make His face shine upon us, 
 and be gracious unto us : 
 The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, 
 and give us peace. 
 I commend to Thee, O Lord, 
 
 my soul, and my body, 
 my mind, and my thoughts, 
 my prayers, and my vows, 
 my senses, and my members, 
 my words, and my works, 
 my life, and my death ; 
 my brothers, my sisters, 
 and their children ; 
 my friends, my benefactors, my well-wishers, 
 those who have a claim on me, 
 my kindred, my neighbours, 
 my country, and all Christendom. 
 I commend to Thee, Lord, 
 my impulses, and my incentives, 
 my intentions, and my attempts, 
 my going out, and my coming in, 
 my sitting down, and my rising up. 
 
80 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 How truly meet, and right, and comely, and due, 
 in all, and for all, 
 in all times, places, manners, 
 in every season, every spot, 
 everywhere, always, altogether, 
 to remember Thee, to worship Thee, 
 to confess to Thee, to praise Thee, 
 to bless Thee, to hymn Thee, 
 to give thanks to Thee, 
 Maker, Nourisher, Guardian, Governor, 
 Healer, Benefactor, Perfecter of all, 
 Lord and Father, 
 King and God, 
 Fountain of life and immortality, 
 Treasure of everlasting goods, 
 Whom the heavens hymn, 
 and the heaven of heavens, 
 the angels and all the heavenly powers, 
 
 one to other crying continually, — 
 and we the while, weak and unworthy, 
 under their feet, — 
 Holy, holy, holy, 
 Lord God of Hosts : 
 full is the whole heaven, 
 and the whole earth, 
 of the majesty of Thy glory. 
 Blessed be the glory of the Lord 
 out of His place, 
 for His Godhead, His mysteriousness, 
 His height, His sovereignty, His almightiness, 
 His eternity, His providence. 
 The Lord is my strength, my strong rock, my defence, 
 my deliverer, my succour, my buckler, 
 the horn of my salvation, my refuge. 
 
SECOND DAY: ADORATION 81 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; 
 in the morning 
 ■will I direct my prayer unto Thee, 
 and will look up. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 who didst create the firmament of heaven, 
 the heavens and the heaven of heavens, 
 the heavenly powers, 
 angels, archangels, 
 cherubim, seraphim; 
 the waters above the heavens, 
 mists, vapours, and exhalations, 
 for showers, dew, hail, snow as wool, 
 hoar frost as ashes, ice as morsels, 
 clouds from the ends of the earth ; 
 lightnings, thunders, winds out of Thy treasures, 
 storms ; 
 
 the waters beneath the heavens, 
 water to drink, 
 water to wash in. 
 
 2. CONFESSION OF SIN. 
 
 I will confess my iniquity, 
 and the iniquity of my fathers, 
 
 F 
 
82 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 for I have transgressed, and neglected Thee, O Lord, 
 
 and walked perversely before Thee. 
 Set not, O Lord, set not mine iniquities before Thee, 
 nor my secret sins in the light of Thy countenance, 
 but pardon the iniquity of Thy servant, 
 according to Thy great mercy, 
 as Thou hast been merciful to him from a child, 
 even until now. 
 I have sinned ; what shall I do unto Thee, 
 O Thou preserver of men ? 
 Why hast Thou set me as a mark against Thee, 
 so that I am a burden to myself? 
 O pardon my transgression, 
 and take away mine iniquity. 
 Deliver me from going down to the pit, 
 for Thou hast found a ransom. 
 Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David. 
 Lord, help me. 
 Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs 
 which fall from their masters' table. 
 Have patience with me, Lord ; 
 yet I have not wherewith to pay, 
 I confess to Thee ; 
 forgive me the whole debt, I beseech Thee. 
 How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord ? for ever ? 
 How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me ? 
 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, 
 having sorrow in my heart daily ? 
 How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me ? 
 
 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God ; 
 lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death ; 
 lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him ; 
 and those that trouble me 
 rejoice when I am moved. 
 But I have trusted in Thy mercy ; 
 
SECOND DAY : PRAYER FOR GRACE 83 
 my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. 
 I will sing unto the Lord, because He 
 hath dealt bountifully with me. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 Remove from me : 
 
 all iniquity and profanity, superstition and 
 
 hypocrisy ; 
 worship of idols and worship of men ; 
 rash oath and curse j 
 neglect or indecency of worship ; 
 haughtiness and recklessness ; 
 strife and wrath ; 
 passion and corruption ; 
 indolence and fraud ; 
 lying and injuriousness ; 
 
 every evil notion, every impure thought, every 
 base desire, every unseemly thought. 
 Grant to me : 
 
 to be godly and devout ; 
 
 to worship and to serve ; 
 
 to bless and to swear truly ; 
 
 to confess becomingly in the congregation ; 
 
 affection and obedience ; 
 
 patience and good temper ; 
 
 purity and temperance; 
 
 contentedness and goodness ; 
 
 truth and incorruptness ; 
 
 good thoughts, and perseverance to the end. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I believe in God 
 the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 
 And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our 
 Lord, 
 
84 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
 
 born of the Virgin Mary, 
 
 suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
 
 was crucified, 
 
 dead, 
 
 and buried : 
 
 He descended into hell ; 
 He rose again from the dead ; 
 He ascended into heaven, 
 and sitteth on the right hand ; 
 to return thence 
 to judge both quick and dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Ghost ; 
 in the Church, 
 holy, 
 Catholic, 
 
 communion of saints , 
 in the forgiveness of sins, 
 the resurrection of the flesh, 
 and the life everlasting. 
 
 And now, Lord, what wait I for ? 
 
 My hope is in Thee ; 
 in Thee, O Lord, have I trusted, 
 let me never be confounded. 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 Let us pray the Lord 
 for the whole creation : 
 for the supply of seasons, 
 healthful, fruitful, peaceful ; 
 for the whole race of mankind : 
 for those who are not Christians, 
 
 that atheists, ungodly, Pagans, Turks, Jews 
 may be converted ; 
 
SECOND DAY: INTERCESSION 85 
 for all Christians : 
 for restoration of all 
 
 who languish in errors and sins ; 
 for confirmation of all 
 who have been granted truth and grace ; 
 for succour and comfort of all 
 
 who are dispirited, infirm, distressed, unsettled 
 men and women ; 
 for thankfulness and sobriety in all 
 
 who are hearty, healthy, prosperous quiet, 
 men and women ; 
 for the Catholic Church, 
 
 its establishment and increase ; 
 for the Eastern, 
 
 its deliverance and union ; 
 for the Western, 
 
 its adjustment and peace ; 
 for the British, 
 
 the supply of the things that are wanting in it, 
 the strengthening of the things that remain 
 in it ; 
 
 for the episcopate, presbytery, Christian people ; 
 for the states of the inhabited world ; 
 for Christian states, 
 
 far off, near at hand ; 
 for our own ; 
 for all in rule ; 
 
 for our divinely-guarded king, 
 the queen and the prince ; 
 for those who have place at court ; 
 for council and judicature, 
 
 army and police, 
 commons and their leaders, 
 
 farmers, graziers, fishers, merchants, 
 traders, and mechanics, 
 
86 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 down to mean workmen, and the poor ; 
 for the rising generation : 
 
 for the good nurture of all the royal family, 
 of the young ones of the nobility ; 
 for all in universities, in inns of court, 
 in schools, in handicrafts, 
 in town or country ; 
 for those who have a claim on me 
 from kinship, — 
 
 for brothers and sisters, 
 
 that God's blessing may be on them, 
 and on their children ; 
 or from benefits conferred, — 
 
 that Thy recompence may be on all 
 who have benefited me, 
 who have ministered to me in carnal things ; 
 or from trust placed in me, — 
 for all whom I have educated, 
 all whom I have ordained, 
 for my college, my parish, 
 Southwell, St. Paul's, Westminster, 
 dioceses of Chichester, Ely, and my present, 
 clergy, people, helps, governments, 
 the deanery of the chapel royal, 
 the almonry, 
 
 the colleges committed to me ; 
 or from natural kindness, — 
 for all who love me, 
 
 though I know them not ; 
 or from Christian love, — 
 
 for those who hate me without cause, 
 some, too, even on account of truth and righteous- 
 ness ; 
 
 or from neighbourhood, — 
 for all who dwell near me 
 
SECOND DAY : INTERCESSION 
 peaceably and harmlessly ; 
 or from promise, — 
 
 for all whom I have promised to remember 
 in my prayers ; 
 or from mutual offices, — 
 
 for all who remember me in their prayers, 
 and ask of me the same ; 
 or from stress of engagements, — 
 
 for all who for any sufficient cause fail to call 
 upon Thee ; 
 for all who have no intercessor 
 
 in their own behalf ; 
 for all who at present are in agony 
 
 of extreme necessity or deep affliction ; 
 for all who are attempting any good work 
 
 which will bring glory to the name of God, 
 or some great good to the Church ; 
 for all who act nobly 
 
 either towards things sacred or towards the poor 
 for all who have ever been offended by me 
 either in word or in deed. 
 God be merciful unto me, and bless me ; 
 God make His face to shine upon me, 
 and have mercy on me. 
 God bless me, even our God ; - 
 God bless me, and receive my prayer. 
 O direct my life towards Thy commandments, 
 hallow my soul, 
 purify my body, 
 correct my thoughts, 
 cleanse my desires, 
 soul and body, mind and spirit, 
 
 heart and reins. 
 Renew me thoroughly, O Lord, 
 for, if Thou wilt, Thou canst. 
 
88 
 
 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 The Lord, the Lord God, 
 merciful and gracious, 
 long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 
 keeping mercy for thousands, 
 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin ; 
 and that will by no means clear the guilty ; 
 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. 
 I will bless the Lord at all times : 
 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 
 Glory to God in the highest, 
 and on earth peace, 
 goodwill towards men. 
 
 The angels, guardianship ; 
 
 archangels, illumination ; 
 powers, wonders ; 
 
 thrones, judgment ; 
 
 dominions, beneficence ; 
 principalities, government ; 
 authorities, against devils ; 
 cherubim, knowledge ; 
 
 seraphim, love. 
 In all the thoughts of our hearts, 
 
 words of our hps, 
 
 deeds of our hands, 
 
 paths of our feet. 
 
THIRD DAY : ADORATION 89 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 O God, Thou art my God, 
 early will I seek Thee. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 who gatheredst the water into the sea, 
 and broughtest to sight the earth, 
 and madest to sprout 
 herbs and fruit trees. 
 There are the depths and the sea as an heap, 
 lakes, rivers, springs ; 
 earth, continent, and isles, 
 mountains, hills, and valleys ; 
 glebe, meadows, glades, 
 green pasture, corn, hay ; 
 herbs and flowers 
 for food, enjoyment, medicine ; 
 fruit trees bearing fruits, 
 wine, oil, and spices, 
 and trees for timber ; 
 things under the earth, 
 stones, metals, minerals, coals ; 
 blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke. 
 
 2. CONFESSION OF SIN. 
 
 Who can understand his errors ? 
 Cleanse Thou me from secret faults. 
 Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, 
 let them not have dominion over me. 
 
90 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 For Thy name's sake, O Lord, 
 pardon mine iniquity, 
 for it is great. 
 My iniquities have taken hold upon me, 
 
 so that I am not able to look up ; 
 they are more than the hairs of my head, 
 therefore my heart faileth me. 
 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me ; 
 
 O Lord, make haste to help me. 
 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, 
 O Thou that savest them that trust in Thee. 
 
 I said, Lord, have mercy upon me, 
 heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. 
 I have sinned, but I am confounded, 
 and I turn back from my evil ways ; 
 I return unto mine own heart, 
 and with my whole heart I return unto Thee ; 
 and I seek Thy face, 
 and I beseech Thee, saying, 
 I have sinned, I have committed iniquity, 
 
 I have done unjustly. 
 I know, O Lord, the plague of my heart, 
 and lo, I return to Thee with all my heart, 
 and with all my strength. 
 And Thou, O Lord, now from Thy dwelling-place, 
 and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom 
 in heaven, 
 hear the prayer 
 and the supplication of Thy servant : 
 and be merciful to Thy servant, 
 
 and heal his soul. 
 God be merciful to me a sinner, 
 be merciful to me the chief of sinners. 
 Father, Ihave sinned against heaven, and before Thee 
 and am no more worthy to be called Thy son, 
 
THIRD DAY: PRAYER FOR GRACE 
 make me one of Thy hired servants ; 
 make me one, even if the last, 
 or the least among all. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 What profit is there in my blood, 
 when I go down to the pit ? 
 shall the dust praise Thee ? 
 shall it declare Thy truth ? 
 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me ; 
 Lord, be Thou my helper; 
 turn my mourning into dancing, 
 my dreamings into earnestness, 
 my falls into clearings of myself, 
 my guilt, into indignation, 
 my sin into fear, 
 my transgression into vehement desire, 
 my unrighteousness into zeal, 
 my pollution into revenge. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 Godhead : love, power, 
 
 providence. 
 Salvation : anointing, adoption, 
 dominion ; 
 conception, birth, sufferings, 
 cross, death, burial ; 
 descent, resurrection, ascension, 
 sitting, return, judgment. 
 Breath : holiness, 
 
 calling, hallowing, 
 communion of saints, and of saintly things, 
 forgiveness of sins, 
 resurrection, 
 life eternal. 
 
92 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 For all creatures : 
 
 for the people : 
 
 men, 
 
 he rising generation, 
 
 persons compassed 
 
 schools, 
 
 with infirmity ; 
 
 those at court, 
 
 for Churches : 
 
 in cities, 
 
 Catholic, 
 
 in the country : 
 
 Eastern, 
 
 for those who minister 
 
 Western, 
 
 to the soul, 
 
 our own ; 
 
 to the body, 
 
 for the episcopate, 
 
 food, 
 
 presbytery, 
 
 raiment, 
 
 clergy, 
 
 health, 
 
 Christian people ; 
 
 things that pertain 
 
 for the states 
 
 to this life ; 
 
 of the whole earth, 
 
 for those who have 
 
 Christian, 
 
 a claim on me : 
 
 neighbouring, 
 
 by birth, 
 
 our own ; 
 
 through benefits, 
 
 for rulers : 
 
 from trust 
 
 kings, 
 
 now or formerly, 
 
 (jrodiearing, 
 
 through friendship, 
 
 our own ; 
 
 love, 
 
 for councillors, 
 
 neighbourhood, 
 
 judges, 
 
 from promise, 
 
 nobles, 
 
 mutual offices, 
 
 men of war, 
 
 want of leisure, 
 
 on land, 
 
 destitution. 
 
 on sea ; 
 
 extremity. 
 
THIRD DAY: THANKSGIVING 93 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 We praise Thee, O God, 
 for Thy goodness, grace, love, 
 kindness, and love toward men ; 
 for Thy meekness and gentleness, 
 Thy forbearance and long-suffering ; 
 for Thine abundant mercy, 
 Thy mercies, the multitude of Thy tender mercies, 
 bowels of mercies. 
 
 The Lord is pitiful, 
 very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 
 He passeth by the transgression of the remnant of 
 His heritage. 
 The times of ignorance God overlooked. 
 Have not I held My peace even of long time ? 
 Many times didst Thou deliver them. 
 Many years didst Thou bear with them. 
 He doth not afflict willingly. 
 He did not stir up all His wrath. 
 He hath not rewarded us according to our iniquities. 
 He retaineth not His anger for ever. 
 In wrath He remembereth mercy. 
 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, 
 that her warfare is accomplished, 
 that her iniquity is pardoned : 
 for she hath received of the Lord's hand 
 double for all her sins. 
 I will render double unto Thee. 
 The Lord is ready to forgive, 
 to be reconciled, 
 to be propitiated. 
 
94 
 
 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 I have meditated on Thee, O Lord, 
 in the night watches, 
 for Thou hast been my help. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 who madest the two lights, sun and moon, 
 greater and lesser, 
 and the stars 
 for light, for signs, for seasons, 
 spring, summer, autumn, winter, 
 days, weeks, months, years, 
 to rule over day and night. 
 
 Behold, Thou art wroth ; for we have sinned : 
 we are all as an unclean thing, 
 and all our righteousnesses 
 as filthy rags. 
 We all do fade as a leaf ; 
 and our iniquities, like the wind, 
 have taken us away. 
 But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father ; 
 we are the clay, and we all are the work of Thy han 
 Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, 
 neither remember iniquity for ever : 
 
FOURTH DAY: CONFESSION 95 
 behold, see, we beseech Thee, 
 we are all Thy people. 
 O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, 
 do Thou it for Thy name's sake : 
 for our backslidings are many ; 
 we have sinned against thee. 
 Yet Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, 
 and we are called by Thy name ; 
 leave us not. 
 O the Hope of Israel, 
 the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, 
 why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, 
 and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside 
 
 to tarry for a night ? 
 why shouldest Thou be as a man astonied, 
 as a mighty man that cannot save ? 
 Be merciful to our unrighteousness, 
 and our sins and iniquities remember no more. 
 Lord, I am carnal, 
 sold under sin ; 
 there dwelleth in me, that is, in my flesh, 
 no good thing ; 
 for the good that I would, I do not : 
 but the evil which I would not, that I do. 
 I consent unto the law that it is good, 
 I delight in it after the inward man ; 
 but I see another law in my members, 
 warring against the law of my mind, 
 and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin. 
 
 O wretched man that I am, 
 who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? 
 I thank God through Jesus Christ, 
 that where sin abounded 
 grace did much more abound. 
 O Lord, Thy goodness leadeth me to repentance : 
 
96 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 O give me, I beseech Thee, repentance 
 to recover me out of the snare of the devil, 
 who am taken captive by him 
 at his will. 
 Sufficient for me the time past of my life 
 to have wrought the will of lusts, 
 walking in lasciviousness, revellings, drunkenness, 
 and in other excess of riot. 
 O Lamb without blemish and without spot, 
 Who hast redeemed me with Thy precious blood, 
 in that very blood pity me and save me : 
 in that blood, 
 and in that very name, 
 besides which is none other under heaven 
 given among men, 
 whereby we must be saved. 
 O God, Thou knowest my foolishness ; 
 and my sins are not hid from Thee. 
 Lord, all my desire is before Thee ; 
 and my groaning is not hid from Thee. 
 Let not them that wait on Thee, 
 O Lord God of hosts, 
 be ashamed for my sake : 
 let not those that seek Thee be confounded 
 for my sake, 
 O God of Israel. 
 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink : 
 let me be delivered from them that hate me, 
 and out of the deep waters. 
 Let not the waterflood drown me, 
 neither let the deep swallow me up, 
 and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 
 
FOURTH DAY: PRAYER FOR GRACE 97 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 Defend me from 
 
 gluttony 
 lasciviousness 
 covetousness 
 sloth 
 
 pride 
 
 envy 
 wrath 
 
 Amorite. 
 
 Hittite. 
 
 Perizzite. 
 
 Girgashite. 
 
 Hivite. 
 
 Canaanite. 
 
 Jebusite. 
 
 Give me 
 humility, pitifulness, patience, 
 sobriety, purity, contentment, ready zeal. 
 One thing have I desired of the Lord, 
 that will I seek after ; 
 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord 
 all the days of my life, 
 to behold the beauty of the Lord, 
 and to enquire in His temple. 
 Two things have I required of Thee, O Lord ; 
 deny me them not before I die : 
 remove far from me vanity and lies : 
 give me neither poverty nor riches ; 
 feed me with food convenient for me : 
 lest I be full, and deny Thee, 
 and say, Who is the Lord ? 
 or lest I be poor and steal, 
 and take the name of my God in vain. 
 Let me learn to abound, 
 let me learn to suffer need, 
 in whatsoever state I am, 
 therewith to be content, 
 for nothing earthly, temporal, mortal, 
 to long or to wait. 
 
98 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 Grant me a happy life 
 in piety, gravity, purity, 
 in all things good and fair, 
 in cheerfulness, in health, in credit, 
 in competency, in safety, in gentle estate, in quiet ; 
 a happy death, 
 a deathless happiness. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I believe 
 In the Father's lovingkindness ; 
 
 in the Almighty's saving power ; 
 in the Creator's providence 
 for guarding, ruling, perfecting the universe. 
 In Jesus, for salvation ; 
 
 in Christ, for the anointing of His Holy Spirit ; 
 in the only begotten Son, for sonship ; 
 in His conception and birth, 
 for the cleansing of our unclean conception and birth ; 
 in His sufferings 
 endured that we, whose due they were, 
 might not suffer ; 
 in His cross, for the curse of the law removed ; 
 in His death, for the sting of death taken away; 
 in His burial, for endless corruption in the tomb 
 ended ; 
 
 in His descent, whither we ought, 
 that we might not go j 
 in His resurrection, 
 as the first fruits of them that sleep ; 
 in His ascension, to prepare a place for us ; 
 
 in His sitting, to appear and intercede 
 in His return, to take unto Him His own 
 in His judgment, to render to every man 
 according to his deeds. 
 
FOURTH DAY: INTERCESSION 99 
 In the Holy Ghost, for power from on high, 
 transforming unto sanctity 
 from without and invisibly, 
 yet effectually and evidently. 
 In the Church, a body mystical 
 
 of those called out of the whole world 
 into a commonwealth of faith and holiness. 
 In the communion of saints, members of this body, 
 a mutual participation in holy things, 
 
 for confidence of remission of sins, 
 for hope of resurrection and translation 
 to life everlasting. 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 Moreover, we beseech Thee, 
 remember all, Lord, for good ; 
 
 have pity upon all, O Sovereign Lord, 
 be reconciled with us all. 
 Give peace to the multitudes of Thy people ; 
 scatter offences ; 
 abolish wars ; 
 stop the uprisings of heresies. 
 Thy peace and love 
 vouchsafe to us, O God our Saviour, 
 the Hope of all the ends of the earth. 
 Remember to crown the year 
 
 with Thy goodness ; 
 for the eyes of all wait upon Thee, 
 and Thou givest them their meat in due season. 
 Thou openest Thine hand, 
 and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 
 Remember Thy holy Church, 
 
 from one end of the earth to the other ; 
 and give her peace, 
 
100 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood ; 
 and establish her 
 unto the end of the world. 
 Remember those who bear fruit, and act nobly, 
 in Thy holy Churches, 
 and who remember the poor and needy ; 
 reward them 
 with Thy rich and heavenly gifts ; 
 vouchsafe to them, 
 for things earthly, heavenly, 
 for corruptible, incorruptible, 
 for temporal, eternal. 
 Remember those who are in virginity, 
 
 and purity, and ascetic life ; 
 also those who live in honourable marriage, 
 in Thy reverence and Thy fear. 
 Remember every Christian soul 
 
 in affliction, distress, and trial, 
 and in need of Thy pity and succour ; 
 also our brethren in captivity, prison, chains, 
 and bitter bondage ; 
 supplying return to the wandering, 
 health to the sick, 
 deliverance to the captives. 
 Remember Godfearing and faithful kings, 
 
 whom Thou hast accounted worthy to bear rule 
 upon the earth ; 
 and especially remember, Lord, 
 our divinely-guarded king ; 
 strengthen his dominion, 
 subdue under him all adversaries ; 
 speak good things to his heart, 
 for Thy Church and all Thy people ; 
 vouchsafe to him deep and undisturbed peace, 
 that in his serenity 
 
FOURTH DAY: INTERCESSION 101 
 we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 
 with all godliness and honesty. 
 Remember, Lord, all power 
 
 and authority, 
 and our brethren at court, 
 those who are chief in council and judgment, 
 and all by land and sea 
 waging Thy wars for us. 
 Moreover, Lord, remember graciously 
 our holy fathers, 
 the honourable presbytery, and all the clergy, 
 rightly dividing the word of truth, 
 and walking uprightly according thereto. 
 Remember, Lord, our brethren around us, 
 praying with us in this holy hour, 
 for their zeal and earnestness* sake, 
 Rememberalso those who for sufficientcause areaway, 
 and pity them and us 
 according to the multitude of Thy mercy. 
 Fill our garners with all manner of store, 
 
 preserve our marriages in peace and concord, 
 nourish our infants, 
 lead forward our youth, 
 sustain our aged, 
 comfort the faint hearted, 
 gather together the dispersed, 
 restore the wanderers, 
 and knit them to Thy holy 
 Catholic Church. 
 Set free the troubled 
 
 with unclean spirits, 
 voyage with the voyagers, 
 travel with the travellers, 
 stand forth for the widow, 
 shield the orphan, 
 
102 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 rescue the captive, 
 heal the sick. 
 Those who are on trial, in mines, in exile, in galleys, 
 in whatever affliction, necessity, and emergence, 
 remember, O God ; 
 and all who need Thy great compassion ; 
 and those who love us, 
 and those who hate ; 
 and those who have desired us unworthy 
 to make mention of them in our prayers. 
 All Thy people remember, O Lord, our God, 
 and upon all pour out Thy rich pity, 
 to all fulfilling their requests for salvation. 
 Those of whom we have not made mention, 
 through ignorance, forgetfulness, or number 
 of names, 
 do Thou Thyself remember, O God, 
 who knowest the stature and the name of each, 
 who knowest every one from his mother's womb. 
 For Thou, O Lord, art the succour of the succourless, 
 the hope of the hopeless, 
 the saviour of the tempest-tossed, 
 the harbour of the voyager, 
 the physician of the sick; 
 do Thou Thyself become all things to all men, 
 Thou who knowest each man and his petition, 
 each house, and its need. 
 Deliver, O Lord, this city, 
 
 and all the country in which we sojourn, 
 from plague, famine, earthquake, flood, 
 fire, sword, hostile invasion, 
 and civil war. 
 End the schisms of the Churches, 
 
 quell the ragings of the nations, 
 and receive us all into Thy kingdom, 
 
FOURTH DAY: THANKSGIVING 103 
 acknowledging us as sons of light ; 
 
 and Thy peace and love 
 vouchsafe to us, O Lord, our God. 
 Remember, O Lord, our God, 
 
 all spirits and all flesh 
 which we have remembered, and which we have not. 
 And the close of our life, 
 
 Lord, Lord, direct in peace, 
 Christianly, acceptably, and should it please Thee, 
 painlessly, 
 
 gathering us together under the feet of Thy chosen, 
 when Thou wilt and how Thou wilt, 
 only without shame and sin. 
 The beauty of the Lord our God be upon us : 
 establish Thou the work of our hands upon us ; 
 yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. 
 Be, Lord, 
 within me to strengthen me, 
 without me to guard me, 
 
 over me to shelter me, 
 beneath me to stablish me, 
 before me to guide me, 
 after me to forward me, 
 round about me to secure me. 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel 
 our Father, 
 for ever and ever. 
 Thine, O Lord, 
 is the greatness, and the power, 
 and the glory, and the victory, 
 and the majesty : 
 for all that is in the heaven and in the earth 
 is Thine. 
 
104 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 The nations tremble at Thy presence, 
 every king and every nation. 
 Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, 
 and Thou art exalted as head above all. 
 Both riches and honour come of Thee, 
 
 and Thou reignest over all ; 
 and in Thine hand is power and might ; 
 and in Thine hand it is to make great, 
 and to give strength unto all. 
 Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, 
 and praise Thy glorious name. 
 
FIFTH DAY: ADORATION 105 
 
 5Tf)c dFtftf) 2Baj). 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 Satisfy us early with Thy mercy, O Lord. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 who broughtest forth from the waters 
 the moving creature that hath life, 
 and whales, 
 and winged fowl, 
 and didst bless them, saying, 
 Be fruitful and multiply. 
 
 Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens : 
 and Thy glory above all the earth. 
 By Thy ascension, O Lord, 
 draw us too after Thee, 
 that we set our affection on things above, 
 not on things on the earth. 
 
 By the marvellous mystery 
 of Thy holy body and precious blood, 
 on the evening of this day, 
 Lord, have mercy upon us. 
 
 2. confession of sin. 
 
 Thou who saidst, 
 ' As I live, saith the Lord God, 
 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked ; 
 
106 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 but that the wicked turn from his way 
 and live : 
 
 turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways ; 
 for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? ' 
 turn Thou us unto Thee, O Lord, 
 and we shall be turned. 
 Turn us from all our transgressions ; 
 so iniquity shall not be our ruin. 
 I have sinned, I have committed iniquity, 
 
 I have done wickedly, even by departing 
 from Thy precepts, and Thy judgments. 
 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, 
 and unto me confusion of face, 
 as at this day, 
 because of my trespass 
 that I have trespassed against Thee. 
 Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, 
 to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, 
 because we have sinned against Thee. 
 Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, 
 I beseech Thee, 
 let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away, 
 and cause Thy face to shine 
 upon Thy servant. 
 O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear : 
 open Thine eyes and behold my desolation. 
 O Lord, hear ; O Lord, forgive ; 
 O Lord, hearken and do ; 
 defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God : 
 for Thy servant is called by Thy name. 
 In many things we offend all ; 
 Lord, let Thy mercy rejoice against Thy judgment 
 in my sins. 
 
 If I say that I have no sin, I deceive myself, 
 and the truth is not in me ; 
 
FIFTH DAY : PRAYER FOR GRACE 107 
 but 1 confess my sins many and grievous, 
 and Thou, O Lord, art faithful and just 
 to forgive me my sins when I confess them. 
 Yea, for this too 
 I have an Advocate with Thee to Thee, 
 Thine only begotten Son, the Righteous. 
 May He be the propitiation for my sins, 
 Who is also for the whole world. 
 Will the Lord cast off for ever ? 
 
 and will He be favourable no more? 
 Is His mercy clean gone for ever ? 
 doth His promise fail 
 for evermore ? 
 Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? 
 Hath He in anger shut up His 
 
 tender mercies ? 
 And I said, This is my infirmity : 
 but I will remember the years of the right hand 
 of the Most High. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 Give grace and strength to lay aside 
 every weight, 
 and the sin which doth so easily beset us ; 
 all filthiness 
 and superfluity of naughtiness, 
 the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, 
 and the pride of life, 
 every motion of flesh and spirit 
 alienated from the will of Thy holiness : 
 to be poor in spirit, 
 that I have a portion in the kingdom of heaven ; 
 to mourn, that I be comforted ; 
 to be meek, that I inherit the earth ; 
 
108 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 to hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
 that I be filled ; 
 to be merciful, that I obtain mercy ; 
 to be pure in heart, that I see God ; 
 to be a peace-maker, that I be called the son of God ; 
 to be prepared for persecutions and revilings 
 for righteousness' sake, 
 that my reward be in heaven. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I, coming to God, 
 believe that He is, 
 and that He is a rewarder of them 
 
 that diligently seek Him. 
 I know that my Redeemer liveth, 
 that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, 
 that He is indeed the Saviour of the world, 
 that He came into the world to save sinners, 
 of whom I am chief. 
 We believe that through the grace of Jesus Christ 
 we shall be saved 
 even as our fathers. 
 I believe to see the goodness of the Lord 
 in the land of the living. 
 Our heart shall rejoice in Him, 
 because we have trusted in His holy name, 
 in the name of the Father, 
 of the Saviour, Mediator, 
 Intercessor, Redeemer, 
 of the two-fold Comforter, 
 the Lamb and the Dove. 
 Let Thy mercy, O Lord, 
 be upon us, 
 according as we hope in Thee. 
 
FIFTH DAY: INTERCESSION 109 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 Let us beseech the Lord in peace, 
 for the heavenly peace, 
 and the salvation of our souls ; 
 for the peace of the whole world ; 
 for the stability of God's holy Churches, 
 and the union of them all ; 
 for this holy house, 
 and those who enter it with faith and reverence ; 
 for our holy fathers, 
 the honourable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ 
 
 and all, both clergy and people ; 
 for this holy retreat, and all the city and country, 
 and all the faithful who dwell therein ; 
 for salubrious weather, fruitfulness of earth, 
 and peaceful times ; 
 for voyagers, travellers, 
 those who are in sickness, toil, and captivity, 
 and for their salvation. 
 Aid, save, pity, and preserve them, 
 O God, in Thy grace. 
 Let us commend ourselves, and each other, 
 and all our life, 
 to Christ our God. 
 To Thee, O Lord, for it is fitting, 
 
 be glory, honour, and worship. 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 
 be with us all. Amen. 
 I commend me and mine, and all that belongs to me, 
 to Him that is able to keep me from falling, 
 
110 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 and to present me faultless 
 before the presence of His glory 
 
 with exceeding joy, 
 to the only wise God our Saviour, 
 to Whom be glory and majesty, 
 dominion and power, 
 both now and ever. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, my Lord, 
 for my being, life, reason, 
 for nurture, protection, guidance, 
 for education, civil rights, religion, 
 for Thy gifts of grace, nature, fortune, 
 for redemption, regeneration, instruction, 
 for my call, recall, yea, many calls besides ; 
 for Thy forbearance, longsuffering, 
 long longsuffering 
 toward me, 
 many seasons, many years ; 
 for all good things received, successes granted 
 good things done ; 
 for the use of things present, 
 for Thy promise, and my hope 
 of the enjoyment of good things to come ; 
 for my parents honest and good, 
 
 teachers kind, 
 benefactors never to be forgotten, 
 fellow-ministers who are of one mind, 
 hearers thoughtful, 
 
 friends sincere, 
 domestics faithful ; 
 for all who have advantaged me 
 
FIFTH DAY: THANKSGIVING 111 
 
 by writings, sermons, converse, 
 prayers, examples, rebukes, injuries; 
 for all these, and all others 
 which I know, which I know not, 
 open, hidden, 
 remembered, forgotten, 
 done when I wished, when I wished not, 
 I confess to Thee and will confess, 
 I bless Thee and will bless, 
 I give thanks to Thee and will give thanks, 
 all the days of my life. 
 Who am I, or what is my father's house, 
 that Thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog 
 as I am ? 
 
 What shall I render unto the Lord 
 for all His benefits toward me ? 
 for all things in which He hath spared 
 and borne with me until now ? 
 Holy, holy, holy, 
 Thou art worthy, 
 O Lord and our God, the Holy One, 
 to receive glory, honour, and power : 
 for Thou hast created all things, 
 and for Thy pleasure they are 
 and were created. 
 
112 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 CJje Stiff) Bap. 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 In the morning shall my prayer prevent Thee. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 Who broughtest forth the beasts of the earth, and 
 cattle, 
 
 and every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 
 for food, clothing, help ; 
 and madest man after Thine image, to rule the earth, 
 and blessedst him. 
 The forecounsel, fashioning hand, 
 breath of life, image of God, 
 appointment over Thy works, 
 charge to the angels concerning him, 
 paradise. 
 
 Heart, reins, eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet ; 
 life, sense, reason, spirit, free will, 
 memory, conscience ; 
 the revelation of God, writings of the law, 
 oracles of prophets, melody of psalms, 
 instruction of proverbs, experience of histories, 
 service of sacrifices. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 for Thy great and precious promise 
 on this day, 
 concerning the life-giving seed, 
 and for its fulfilment in the fulness of time 
 on this day. 
 
SIXTH DAY: CONFESSION 1] 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 for the holy passion 
 of this day. 
 O by Thy sufferings for our salvation 
 on this day, 
 save us, O Lord. 
 
 2. CONFESSION OF SIN. 
 
 I have withstood Thee, Lord, 
 
 but I return to Thee ; 
 I have fallen by mine iniquity, 
 
 but I take with me words, 
 and turn unto Thee and say, 
 Take away all iniquity, and receive me graciously 
 so will I render the fruit of my lips. 
 Spare us, Lord, spare, 
 and give not Thine heritage to reproach, 
 to Thine enemies. 
 
 O Lord God, forgive, 
 I beseech Thee : 
 by whom shall Jacob arise ? 
 for he is small. 
 Repent, O Lord, for this, 
 and it shall not be. 
 
 While observing lying vanities 
 
 I forsook my own mercy, 
 and am cast out of Thy sight. 
 When my soul fainted within me, 
 I remembered the Lord : 
 yet I will look again toward Thy holy temple ; 
 yet hast Thou brought up my life from corruption. 
 
 Who is a God like unto Thee, 
 that pardoneth iniquity, 
 
114 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 and passeth by the transgression of the remnant 
 of His heritage ? 
 Thou retainest not Thine anger for ever, 
 because Thou delightest in mercy. 
 Turn again and have compassion upon us, O Lord ; 
 subdue our iniquities ; 
 and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, 
 according to Thy truth, and according to Thy mercy. 
 
 O Lord, I have heard Thy speech and was afraid : 
 in wrath remember mercy. 
 Behold me, Lord, clothed in filthy garments ; 
 
 behold Satan standing at my right hand ; 
 yet, O Lord, by the blood of Thy covenant, 
 by the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, 
 take away my iniquity, 
 and cleanse me from my sin. 
 Save me as a brand 
 plucked out of the fire. 
 
 Father, forgive me, for I knew not, 
 truly I knew not, what I did 
 in sinning against Thee. 
 Lord, remember me 
 when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. 
 Lord, lay not mine enemies' sins to their charge ; 
 Lord, lay not my own to mine. 
 By Thy sweat bloody and clotted, 
 Thy soul in agony, 
 Thy head crowned with thorns, bruised with staves, 
 Thine eyes swimming with tears, 
 Thine ears full of insults^ 
 Thy mouth moistened with vinegar and gall, 
 Thy face stained with spitting, 
 Thy neck bowed clown with the burden of the cross, 
 
SIXTH DAY: PRAYER FOR GRACE 115 
 Thy back ploughed with the wheals and wounds 
 of the scourge, 
 Thy pierced hands and feet, 
 Thy strong cry, Eli, Eli, 
 Thy heart pierced with the spear, 
 the water and blood thence flowing, 
 Thy body broken, 
 Thy blood poured out, 
 Lord, forgive the iniquity of Thy servant, 
 and cover all his sin. 
 Turn away all Thy wrath : 
 turn Thyself from the fierceness of Thine anger. 
 Turn us, O God of our salvation, 
 and cause Thine anger toward us to cease. 
 Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever, 
 wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generation. 
 Wilt Thou not revive us again : 
 that Thy people may rejoice in Thee ? 
 Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, 
 and grant us Thy salvation. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 The works of the flesh : 
 adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
 idolatry, witchcraft, 
 
 enmities, strifes, 
 emulations, wraths, 
 factions, divisions, 
 heresies, envyings, murders, 
 drunkennesses, revellings, and such like. 
 
 The fruit of the Spirit : 
 love, joy, peace, 
 longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, 
 faith, meekness, temperance. 
 The Spirit of wisdom, of understanding, 
 
116 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 of counsel, of might, 
 of knowledge, of the fear of the Lord. 
 The gifts of the Spirit : 
 the word of wisdom, of knowledge, 
 faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, 
 prophecy, discerning of spirits, 
 divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. 
 May Thy strong hand, O Lord, 
 be ever my defence ; 
 Thy mercy in Christ 
 my salvation ; 
 Thy word of truth 
 my instructor; 
 the grace of Thy life-giving Spirit 
 my consolation, 
 all along, and at last. 
 The soul of Christ hallow me, 
 and the body strengthen me, 
 and the blood ransom me, 
 and the water wash me, 
 and the bruises heal me, 
 and the sweat refresh me, 
 and the wound hide me. 
 The peace of God 
 which passeth all understanding, 
 keep my heart and mind 
 in the knowledge and the love of God. 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 I believe 
 that Thou hast created me : 
 
 despise not the work of Thine own hands ; 
 that Thou madest me after Thine image and likeness 
 
 suffer not Thy likeness to be blotted out ; 
 
SIXTH DAY: INTERCESSION 117 
 that Thou hast redeemed me in Thy blood : 
 
 suffer not the cost of that redemption to perish ; 
 that Thou hast called me Christian after Thy name : 
 
 disdain not Thine own title ; 
 that Thou hast hallowed me in regeneration : 
 
 destroy not Thy holy work ; 
 that Thou hast grafted me into the good olive tree, 
 the member of a mystical body : 
 the member of Thy mystical body 
 cut not off. 
 Remember the word unto Thy servant, 
 upon which Thou hast caused me to hope. 
 My soul fainteth for Thy salvation : 
 but I hope in Thy word. 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 For the welfare and prosperity 
 
 of the whole Christian army, 
 against the enemies of our most holy faith. 
 For our fathers in holy things, 
 
 and all our brotherhood in Christ. 
 For those who hate and those who love us. 
 For those who pity and those who minister to us. 
 For those whom we have promised 
 
 to remember in prayer. 
 For the liberation of captives. 
 For our fathers and brethren absent. 
 For those who voyage by sea. 
 For those who lie in sickness. 
 Let us pray also for fruitfulness of the earth ; 
 
 and for every soul of orthodox Christians. 
 Let us bless pious kings, 
 orthodox prelates, 
 
 the founders of this holy retreat, 
 
118 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 our parents, 
 and all our forefathers 
 and our brethren departed. 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 Thou Who, on man's transgressing Thy command, 
 and falling, 
 
 didst not pass him by, nor leave him, God of goodness, 
 but didst visit him in ways manifold, 
 as a tender father, 
 supplying him with Thy great and precious promise 
 concerning the life-giving seed, 
 opening to him the door of faith 
 and of repentance unto life, 
 and in the fulness of the time 
 sending Thy Christ Himself 
 to take on Him the seed of Abraham, 
 and in the oblation of His life 
 to fulfil the law's obedience, 
 and, in the sacrifice of His death, 
 to take off the law's curse, 
 and in His death 
 to redeem the world, 
 and in His resurrection 
 to quicken it : 
 Thou, Who doest all things 
 
 whereby to bring again our race to Thee, 
 
 that it may be partaker 
 of Thy divine nature and eternal glory : 
 Who hast borne witness 
 
 to the truth of Thy gospel 
 by many and various wonders, 
 in the ever memorable converse of Thy saints, 
 in their supernatural endurance of torments, 
 
SIXTH DAY: THANKSGIVING 119 
 in the overwhelming conversion of the whole world 
 to the obedience of faith, 
 without might, persuasion, compulsion : 
 blessed, and praised, and celebrated, 
 and magnified, and exalted, 
 and glorified, and hallowed 
 
 be Thy name, 
 its record, and its memory, 
 and every memorial of it, 
 both now and for evermore. 
 Thou art worthy to take the book, 
 and to open the seals thereof : 
 for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God 
 by Thy blood 
 out of every kindred, and tongue, 
 
 and people, and nation. 
 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 
 to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, 
 and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 
 Blessing, and honour, and glory, 
 and power, 
 be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, 
 and unto the Lamb, 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, 
 and unto the Lamb. 
 Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, 
 and thanksgiving, and honour, 
 and power, and might, 
 be unto our God 
 for ever and ever. 
 
120 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 1. MEDITATION AND ADORATION. 
 
 O Lord, be gracious unto us ; 
 we have waited for Thee : 
 be Thou our arm every morning, 
 our salvation also in the time of trouble. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 who restedst on the seventh day 
 
 from all Thy work, 
 and blessedst and sanctifiedst it. 
 
 2. CONFESSION OF SIN. 
 
 O my God, I am ashamed, and blush 
 to lift up my face to Thee, 
 for mine iniquities are increased 
 over my head, 
 and my trespass is grown up unto the heavens ; 
 since the days of my youth 
 have I been in a great trespass 
 unto this day ; 
 I cannot stand before Thee because of this. 
 My sins are more in number than the sand of the sea, 
 my iniquities are multiplied, 
 and I not worthy to look up 
 and see the height of heaven, 
 from the number of my unrighteousnesses ; 
 
SEVENTH DAY: CONFESSION 121 
 
 and I have no relief, 
 because I have provoked Thine anger, 
 and done evil in Thy sight, 
 not doing Thy will, 
 not keeping Thy commandments. 
 And now my heart kneels to Thee, 
 beseeching Thy goodness. 
 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, 
 and I know mine iniquities ; 
 but I ask and beseech, 
 remit to me, O Lord, remit to me, 
 and destroy me not in mine iniquities, 
 nor be Thou angry for ever, 
 nor reserve evil for me, 
 nor condemn me 
 in the lowest parts of the earth. 
 Because Thou art God, the God of penitents, 
 and Thou shalt shew in me all Thy lovingkindness ; 
 for Thou shalt save me unworthy, 
 according to Thy much pity, 
 and I will praise Thee alway. 
 Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. 
 Lord, speak the word only, and I shall be healed. 
 
 Lord, save ; carest Thou not that we perish ? 
 Say to me, Be of good cheer ; thy sins are forgiven 
 thee. 
 
 Jesus, Master, have mercy on me. 
 Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me ; 
 Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 
 Lord, say to me, Ephphatha. 
 Lord, I have no man to put me into the pool. 
 Lord, say to me, Thou art loosed from thine 
 infirmity. 
 
 Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 
 Say unto ma, My grace is sufficient for thee. 
 
122 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 How long, Lord ? wilt Thou be angry for ever ? 
 shall Thy jealousy burn like fire ? 
 O remember not against us former iniquities : 
 let Thy tender mercies speedily prevent us : 
 for we are brought very low. 
 Help us, O God of our salvation, 
 for the glory of Thy name : 
 and deliver us, and purge away our sins, 
 For Thy name's sake. 
 
 3. PRAYER FOR GRACE. 
 
 All my failings, shortcomings, falls, 
 offences, trespasses, scandals, 
 
 transgressions, debts, sins, 
 faults, ignorances, iniquities, 
 impieties, unrighteousnesses, pollutions. 
 
 The guilt 
 be gracious unto, pardon, 
 remit, forgive, 
 be merciful unto, pass by, 
 
 impute not, charge not, remember not 
 
 the stain 
 
 pass by, pass over, 
 
 hide thy face from, overlook, 
 
 cover, wash away, 
 
 blot out, cleanse ; 
 
 the hurt 
 
 remit, heal, save from, 
 
 take off, remove, away with, 
 
 abolish, annul, disperse, annihilate 
 
 that they be not found, that they exist not. 
 
SEVENTH DAY: ACT OF FAITH 123 
 Supply 
 
 to brotherly kindness charity ; 
 and grant that, forgetting not the cleansing from ray 
 old sins, 
 
 I may give diligence to make my calling 
 and election sure 
 through good works. 
 
 I believe in Thee the Father ; 
 
 behold then, if Thou art a Father and we are children, 
 as a father pitieth his children, 
 be Thou of tender mercy towards us, O Lord. 
 I believe in Thee, the Lord ; 
 
 behold then, if Thou art Lord and we are servants, 
 our eyes wait upon Thee our Lord, 
 until Thou have mercy upon us. 
 I believe that though we are neither sons nor servants, 
 but dogs only, 
 yet we have leave to eat of the crumbs 
 That fall from Thy table. 
 I believe that Christ is the Lamb of God ; 
 
 O Lamb of God, Which takest away the sin 
 of the world, 
 take Thou away mine. 
 I believe that Christ Jesus came into the world 
 to save sinners ; 
 Thou Who earnest to save sinners, 
 
 to faith 
 to virtue 
 to knowledge 
 to temperance 
 to patience 
 to godliness 
 
 virtue ; 
 knowledge ; 
 temperance ; 
 patience ; 
 godliness ; 
 brotherly kindness ; 
 
 4. CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
124 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 save Thou me, of sinners 
 chiefest and greatest. 
 I believe that Christ came to save that which was 
 lost ; 
 
 Thou W 7 ho earnest to save the lost, 
 never suffer, O Lord, that to be lost which 
 Thou hast saved. 
 I believe that the Spirit is the Lord and Giver of 
 life; 
 
 Thou Who gavest rae a living soul, 
 grant me that I receive not my soul in vain. 
 I believe that the Spirit gives grace 
 in His holy things ; 
 grant me that I receive not His grace in vain, 
 nor hope of His holy things. 
 I believe that the Spirit maketh intercession for us 
 with groanings that cannot be uttered ; 
 grant me of His intercession and those groanings 
 to partake, O Lord. 
 Our fathers trusted in Thee : 
 they trusted, and Thou didst deliver them. 
 They cried unto Thee, and were delivered : 
 they trusted in Thee, and were not confounded. 
 As Thou didst our fathers 
 in the generations of old, 
 so also deliver us, O Lord, 
 who trust in Thee. 
 
 5. INTERCESSION. 
 
 O Heavenly King, 
 confirm our faithful kings, 
 stablish the faith, 
 soften the nations, 
 pacify the world, 
 
SEVENTH DAY: THANKSGIVING 125 
 guard well this holy retreat, 
 and receive us in orthodox faith and repentance, 
 as a kind and loving Lord. 
 The power of the Father guide me, 
 the wisdom of the Son enlighten me, 
 the working of the Spirit quicken me. 
 Guard Thou my soul, 
 strengthen my body, 
 elevate my senses, 
 direct my course, 
 order my habits, 
 shape my character, 
 bless my actions, 
 fulfil my prayers, 
 inspire holy thoughts, 
 pardon the past, 
 correct the present, 
 prevent the future. 
 Now unto Him that is able to do 
 
 exceeding abundantly 
 above all that we ask or think, 
 according to the power that worketh in us, 
 unto Him be glory 
 in the Church by Christ Jesus 
 
 throughout all ages, 
 world without end. Amen. 
 
 6. THANKSGIVING. 
 
 Blessed, and praised, and celebrated, 
 and magnified, and exalted, and glorified, 
 and hallowed, 
 be Thy name, O Lord, 
 its record, and its memory, 
 and every memorial of it, 
 
126 PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK 
 
 for the most honourable senate of the patriarchs, 
 the ever venerable band of the prophets, 
 the glorious company of the apostles, 
 
 the evangelists, 
 the illustrious army of the martyrs, 
 the assembly of confessors, 
 doctors, 
 ascetics, 
 the beauty of virgins, 
 for infants the delight of the world, 
 for their faith, their hope, 
 
 their labours, their truth, 
 
 their blood, their zeal, 
 
 their diligence, their tears, 
 
 their purity, their beauty. 
 
 Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee, 
 glory to Thee Who didst glorify them, 
 
 among whom we too glorify Thee. 
 Great and marvellous are Thy works, 
 Lord God Almighty ; 
 just and true are Thy ways, 
 Thou King of saints. 
 Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, 
 and glorify Thy name ? 
 for Thou only art holy : 
 for all nations shall come and worship 
 
 before Thee ; 
 for Thy judgments are made manifest. 
 Praise our God, all ye His servants, 
 and ye that fear Him, 
 both small and great. 
 Alleluia : 
 
 for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ; 
 let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him. 
 Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
 
SEVENTH DAY: THANKSGIVING 127 
 and He will dwell with them, 
 and they shall be His people, 
 and God Himself shall be with them, 
 and shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; 
 and there shall be no more death, 
 neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be 
 any more pain : 
 for the former things are passed away. 
 
MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 a Eraser on atoafcmg. 
 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee. 
 
 Glory to Thee who givest me sleep 
 to recruit my weakness, 
 and to remit the toils 
 of this toilful flesh. 
 To this day and all days 
 a perfect, holy, peaceful, healthful, sinless course 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 The angel of peace, a faithful guide, 
 
 guardian of souls and bodies, 
 to encamp around me, 
 and ever to prompt what is for salvation, 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 Pardon and remission 
 
 of all sins and of all offences 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 To our souls what is good and convenient, 
 and to the world peace, 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 Repentance and holy fear 
 
 for the residue of our life, 
 and health and peace to the end, 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
ANOTHER PRAYER ON AWAKING 129 
 Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are 
 honest, 
 
 whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are 
 pure, 
 
 whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things 
 are of good report ; 
 if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, 
 such thoughts, such deeds, 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 A Christian close, 
 
 without sin, without shame, 
 and, should it please Thee, without pain, 
 and a good answer 
 at the dread and awful judgment-seat 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 
 vouchsafe, O Lord. 
 
 &notf)ec Stager, on atoafemg. 
 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 
 Our God, 
 the God of our fathers ; 
 Who turnest the shadow of death into the morning, 
 
 and renewest the face of the earth ; 
 Who rollest away the darkness from before the light, 
 banishest night, and bringest back the day ; 
 Who lightenest mine eyes, 
 
 lest I sleep the sleep of death ; 
 Who deliverest me from the terror by night, 
 
 from the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; 
 Who drivest sleep from mine eyes, 
 
 and slumber from mine eyelids ; 
 Who makest the outgoings of the morning and 
 evening to rejoice ; 
 
130 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 because I laid me down and slept and awaked, 
 for the Lord sustained me : 
 because I waked and beheld, 
 and my sleep was sweet unto me. 
 Blot out as the thick cloud of night my transgressions, 
 
 and scatter as the morning cloud my sins. 
 Grant me to be a child of the light, and of the day ; 
 
 to walk soberly, spotlessly, honestly, as in the day. 
 Vouchsafe to keep me this day without sin. 
 Thou Who upholdest the falling and liftest the fallen, 
 let me not harden my heart in provocation, 
 or temptation or deceitfulness of any sin. 
 Moreover, deliver me this day 
 
 from the snare of the fowler 
 and from the noisome pestilence ; 
 from the arrow that flieth by day, 
 from the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 
 Defend this day against my evil, 
 
 against the evil of this day defend Thou me. 
 Let not my days be spent in vanity, 
 nor my years in sorrow. 
 Day unto day uttereth speech : 
 to-day some knowledge, or deed, unto yesterday. 
 Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the 
 morning ; 
 for in Thee do I trust : 
 cause me to know the way wherein I should walk ; 
 
 for I lift up my soul unto Thee. 
 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : 
 
 I flee unto Thee to hide me. 
 Teach me to do Thy will ; 
 
 for Thou art my God : 
 Thy Spirit is good; 
 lead me into the land of uprightness. 
 Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name's sake : 
 
ANOTHER PRAYER ON AWAKING 131 
 for thy righteousness' sake 
 bring my soul out of trouble. 
 Remove from me foolish imaginations, 
 
 inspire those which are good 
 and pleasing in Thy sight. 
 Turn away mine eyes 
 
 from beholding vanity ; 
 let mine eyes look right on, 
 and let mine eyelids look straight before me. 
 Hedge up mine ears with thorns, 
 
 lest they incline to undisciplined words. 
 Give me early the ear to hear, 
 
 and open mine ears to the instruction of Thine oracles. 
 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth : 
 
 keep the door of my lips. 
 Let my speech be seasoned with salt, 
 
 that it may minister grace to the hearers. 
 Let no deed be grief unto me, 
 
 nor offence of heart. 
 Let me do some work 
 
 for which Thou wilt remember me, Lord, for good, 
 and spare me according to the multitude of Thy 
 mercy. 
 
 Into Thine hands I commit 
 
 my spirit, soul, and body, 
 which Thou hast created, redeemed, regenerated, 
 O Lord, Thou God of truth ; 
 and together with me 
 all mine and all that belongs to me. 
 Thou hast vouchsafed them to me, 
 Lord, in Thy goodness. 
 Preserve us from all evil, 
 
 preserve our souls, 
 I beseech Thee, O Lord. 
 Keep us from falling, 
 
132 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 and present us faultless 
 in the presence of Thy glory 
 in that day. 
 Preserve my going out and my coming in 
 from this time forth and even for evermore. 
 Prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, 
 and grant him mercy 
 in the sight of those who meet him. 
 O God, make speed to save me, 
 O Lord, make haste to help me. 
 O turn unto me, 
 and have mercy upon me ; 
 give Thy strength unto Thy servant, 
 and save the son of Thine handmaid. 
 Shew me a token for good ; 
 that they who hate me may see it and be ashamed : 
 because Thou, Lord, hast holpen me, 
 and comforted me. 
 
 another $rager on atoafetng. 
 
 O thou that hearest prayer, 
 unto Thee shall all flesh come. 
 Evening, and morning, and at noon, 
 will I pray, and cry aloud : 
 and Thou shalt hear my voice. 
 My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; 
 in the morning 
 will I direct my prayer unto Thee, 
 and will look up. 
 Let my prayer be set forth 
 before Thee as incense. 
 I have remembered Thee upon my bed, 
 and meditated on Thee in the night watches, 
 because Thou hast been my help. 
 
ANOTHER PRAYER ON AWAKING 133 
 I give Thee thanks, Almighty Lord, 
 everlasting God, 
 for that Thou hast vouchsafed 
 
 to preserve me this night, 
 not according to my deserts, 
 but according to Thy holy compassion. 
 
 Grant unto me, O Lord, 
 so to pass this day in Thy holy service, 
 that the submission of my obedience 
 may be well pleasing unto Thee. 
 I lift up my heart with my hands unto God 
 in the heavens. 
 Behold, as the eyes of servants 
 look unto the hand of their masters, 
 and as the eyes of a maiden 
 unto the hand of her mistress ; 
 so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, 
 until that He have mercy upon us. 
 Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, 
 as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy name. 
 Give Thine angels charge over me, 
 to keep me in all my ways. 
 Shew me Thy ways, O Lord ; 
 
 teach me Thy paths. 
 Order my steps in Thy word : 
 and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 
 Hold up my goings in Thy paths, 
 
 that my footsteps slip not. 
 Put into my mouth words honest 
 and well chosen ; 
 that my conversation and my countenance, 
 my walk, and all my works, 
 may be pleasing unto all men that see and hear me ; 
 that I may find grace in all that I say and seek. 
 
134 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 a OTonfcssion anti Stager for ©race. 
 
 O Thou Lover of men, 
 Thou that art very pitiful, 
 the Father of mercies, 
 rich in mercy to all that call upon Thee, 
 I have sinned against Heaven and in Thy sight, 
 and am no more worthy to be called Thy son, 
 nor to be made one of Thy hired servants, 
 no, not the lowest. 
 
 But I repent ; 
 woe is me, I repent ; 
 help Thou mine impenitence ; 
 and if there be any comfort of love, 
 if any bowels and mercies, 
 by the multitude, by the riches, of Thy grace, 
 by the exceeding abundance of Thy mercy, 
 by the great love wherewith Thou hast loved us, 
 be merciful to me a sinner, 
 to me of all sinners the greatest, 
 the most wretched. 
 Deep calleth unto deep : 
 the deep of our misery 
 unto the deep of Thy mercy ; 
 where sin hath abounded, 
 there let grace much more abound ; 
 overcome our evil with Thy good ; 
 let mercy rejoice against judgment. 
 But above and before all things, 
 I believe that Thou art the Christ, 
 the Son of the living God. 
 Thou Who didst come into the world to save 
 sinners, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF CONFESSION 135 
 of whom I am chief, 
 save me. 
 
 Thou Who takest away the sin of the world, 
 take away mine. 
 Thou Who didst come to redeem the lost, 
 let not one whom Thou hast redeemed perish. 
 Deliver me from the recollection of evil things, 
 that what I have seen and heard 
 from the wicked, in this world, 
 I may not remember, 
 nor ever tell to others ; 
 that I may hate every evil way. 
 I have deserved death ; 
 but I appeal from the tribunal of Thy justice 
 to the thi-one of Thy grace. 
 
 another &ct of (ffonftsston. 
 
 Essence beyond essence, Nature increate, 
 Framer of the world, 
 I set Thee, Lord, before my face, 
 and I lift up my soul unto Thee. 
 I worship Thee on my knees, 
 and humble myself under Thy mighty hand. 
 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee, 
 my soul is as a thirsty land towards Thee. 
 I smite upon my breast, 
 and say, with the publican, 
 God be merciful to me a sinner, 
 
 the chief of sinners ; 
 to the sinner above the publican 
 be merciful, as to the publican. 
 Father of mercies, 
 I beseech Thy fatherly pity, 
 despise me not, 
 
136 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 an unclean worm, a dead dog, a body of death ; 
 despise not Thou the work of Thine own hands ; 
 despise not Thine own image, 
 though defiled with sin. 
 Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. 
 Lord, speak the word only, and I shall be healed. 
 
 And Thou, my Saviour Christ, 
 Christ my Saviour, 
 Saviour of sinners, of whom I am chief, 
 despise me not ; despise me not, O Lord, 
 who am purchased with Thy blood, 
 called by Thy name ; 
 but look on me with those eyes 
 with which Thou didst look upon 
 Magdalene at the feast, 
 Peter in the hall, 
 the thief on the cross : 
 that with the thief I may entreat Thee humbly, 
 Lord, remember me when Thou comest 
 into Thy kingdom ; 
 that with Peter I may bitterly weep and say, 
 O that mine eyes were a fountain of tears, 
 
 that I might weep day and night ; 
 that with Magdalene I may hear Thee say, 
 Thy sins are forgiven thee, 
 and with her may love much, 
 for my sins, which are many, 
 are forgiven. 
 
 And Thou, all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, 
 despise me not, Thy breath, 
 despise not Thine own holy things ; 
 but turn Thee again, O Lord, at the last, 
 and be gracious unto Thy servant. 
 
AN ACT OF INTERCESSION 137 
 
 &ct of Intercession. 
 
 Let us pray for the Catholic Church : 
 for the Churches throughout the whole world, 
 for their verity, unity, and stability, 
 that in all charity may flourish, 
 and truth may live ; 
 
 for our Church : 
 
 that what is wanting in it may be supplied, 
 what is unsound, corrected ; 
 that all heresies, schisms, scandals, 
 as well public as private, 
 
 may be removed. 
 Correct the wandering, 
 convert the unbelieving, 
 increase the faith of the Church, 
 destroy heresies, 
 expose the crafty enemies, 
 still the violent. 
 Pray we for the ministry : 
 
 that they may rightly divide, 
 that they may walk uprightly ; 
 that, while they teach others, themselves may learn ; 
 for the people : 
 
 that they seek not to be wise above measure ; 
 but may be persuaded by reason, 
 and yield to the authority of superiors ; 
 for governments : 
 
 their stability and peace ; 
 for our kingdom, corporation, city : 
 
 that they may fare well and prosperously, 
 and be freed from all danger and inconvenience ; 
 
138 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 for the king : 
 
 save him now, O Lord, 
 O Lord, send him now prosperity ; 
 crown him with the array of truth and glory ; 
 speak good things to his heart 
 for Thy Church and people ; 
 for the prudence of his counsellors, 
 
 the equity and integrity of the judges, 
 the courage of the army, 
 the temperance of the people, 
 and their godly simplicity ; 
 for the rising generation : 
 
 whether in universities, 
 or in schools, 
 that, as they increase in age, 
 they may also increase in wisdom, and in favour 
 with God and man ; 
 for them that shew themselves benevolent, 
 whether towards the Church, 
 or towards the poor and needy : 
 reward Thou them sevenfold into their bosom ; 
 let their souls dwell at ease, 
 and their seed inherit the earth. 
 Blessed be they who consider the needy. 
 That it may please Thee to reward all our benefactors 
 
 with eternal blessings, 
 that for the benefits they have bestowed on us upon 
 earth 
 
 they may obtain everlasting rewards in heaven ; 
 that it may please Thee to behold and to relieve 
 
 the miseries of the poor and the captives ; 
 that it may please Thee of Thy merciful compassion 
 to restore the frail lapses of the flesh, 
 and to strengthen them that are falling ; 
 that it may please Thee graciously to accept 
 our reasonable service ; 
 
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING 139 
 that it may please Thee to raise our minds 
 
 to heavenly desires ; 
 that it may please Thee to regard us 
 
 with the eyes of Thy compassion ; 
 that it may please Thee to preserve the souls 
 of us and ours 
 from everlasting damnation ; 
 that it may please Thee to grant unto me, 
 with those for whom I have prayed, 
 or for whom I am in any way bound to pray, 
 and with all the people of God, 
 an entrance into Thy kingdom, 
 there to behold Thy presence in righteousness, 
 and to be satisfied with glory : 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. 
 
 an act of ^Tijanfesgtbins. 
 
 Let all Thy works give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, 
 and Thy saints bless Thee. 
 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
 and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High : 
 to shew forth Thy loving-kindness 
 in the morning, 
 and Thy faithfulness 
 every night. 
 I will extol Thee, my God, O King, 
 and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever. 
 
 Every day will I bless Thee, 
 and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever, 
 Who didst call the things that were not, 
 as though they were ; 
 by Whom all things were made 
 in heaven and in earth, 
 visible and invisible ; 
 
140 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 Who upholdest all things by the word of Thy power ; 
 Who dost not leave Thyself without witness, 
 in that Thou doest good, and givest us 
 rain from heaven, 
 and fruitful seasons, 
 filling our hearts with food and gladness ; 
 in that all things continue this day 
 according to Thine ordinances, 
 for all are Thy servants ; 
 Who, having before taken counsel, 
 
 didst Thyself, with Thine own hands, 
 make man out of the dust of the earth, 
 and didst breathe into his nostrils the breath of life ; 
 and didst honour him with Thine image ; 
 and didst charge Thine angels concerning him ; 
 and didst set him over the works of Thine hands ; 
 
 and didst place him in a paradise of pleasure ; 
 and didst not despise him, even when he despised 
 Thy commandments ; 
 but didst open for him a door 
 unto repentance and life, 
 giving him Thy exceeding great and precious promise 
 
 concerning the seed of the woman ; 
 Who hast instructed our race, 
 
 by that which may be known of God, 
 by that which is written in the law, 
 by the rite of sacrifices, 
 by the oracles of the prophets, 
 by the melody of the psalms, 
 by the wisdom of the proverbs, 
 by the experience of the histories ; 
 Who, when the fulness of time was come, 
 didst send forth Thy Son, 
 Who took on Him the seed of Abraham, 
 and made Himself of no reputation, 
 
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING 141 
 taking the form of a servant ; 
 and, being made of a woman, 
 made under the law, 
 by the offering of His life accomplished its obedience, 
 by the sacrifice of His death removed its curse, 
 redeeming our race by His passion, 
 quickening it by His resurrection, 
 leaving nothing undone, that could be done, 
 to make us partakers of the divine nature ; 
 and hath manifested in every place 
 the savour of His knowledge, 
 by the preaching of the gospel, 
 
 bearing Himself witness 
 with divers signs and wonders, 
 by marvellous holiness of life, 
 by mighty power even unto shedding of blood, 
 by the incredible conversion of the world to the faith, 
 without aid of authority, 
 without help of persuasion ; 
 Who hast made us children of the saints, 
 and heirs of the same calling ; 
 Who hast granted to Thy Church 
 that she should be the pillar and ground of the truth, 
 and that the gates of hell 
 should not prevail against her ; 
 Who hast granted unto our Church 
 
 that she should keep that which was 
 
 committed unto her, 
 and should teach us the way of peace ; 
 Who hast confirmed the throne of Thy servant, 
 
 our king ; 
 Who makest peace in our borders, 
 
 and fillest us with the finest of the wheat ; 
 Who hast strengthened the bars of our gates, 
 and hast blessed our children within us ; 
 
142 MORNING PRAYERS 
 
 Who hast clothed our enemies with confusion ; 
 
 Who hast made us blessed for ever, 
 
 and hast made us exceeding glad with Thy 
 countenance ; 
 Who hast instructed our princes, 
 
 and taught our senators wisdom ; 
 Who hast given us pastors according to Thine heart, 
 
 that feed us with knowledge and understanding ; 
 Who hast turned our swords into ploughshares, 
 
 and our spears into pruning-hooks ; 
 Who hast caused that there should be no decay, 
 no leading into captivity, and no complaining 
 in our streets ; 
 Who didst bring me forth into this life, 
 and didst bring me to the washing of regeneration, 
 and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; 
 and hast made known to me Thy ways ; 
 and hast overlooked my sins, because 
 I should amend ; 
 and hast not shut me up into the hand of 
 
 mine enemy, 
 but hast waited to shew mercy upon me ; 
 Who hast not suffered my heart to be hardened, 
 but hast left me compunction of soul, 
 remembrance of my latter end, 
 conscience of sins committed ; 
 and to me confessing and imploring 
 hast opened a door of hope, 
 through the power of Thy mysteries and the keys; 
 Who hast not cut off like a weaver my life, 
 nor from day even to night made an end of me, 
 nor taken me away in the midst of my days, 
 
 but hast holden my soul in life, 
 and hast not suffered my feet to be moved. 
 
EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 JWrtttationjs Wore ©bating Urager. 
 
 In war there is the note of charge, fitted for the 
 onset ; of recall, whereby stragglers are recalled : 
 
 And the mind of man, as it must be stirred up in the 
 morning, so in the evening, as by a note of recall, 
 is it to be called back to itself and to its Leader by 
 a scrutiny and inquisition or examination of self, 
 by prayers and thanksgivings. 
 
 A good man would rather know his infirmity, 
 than the foundations of the earth, or the heights 
 of the heavens. 
 
 But that knowledge of our own infirmity is not 
 attained save by diligent inquisition, without which 
 the mind is for the most part blind, and sees nothing 
 of that which pertains to it. 
 
 There are many hiding places and recesses in the 
 mind. 
 
 You must come to the knowledge of, before you 
 can amend, yourself. 
 
 An ulcer unknown grows worse and worse, and is 
 deprived of cure. 
 
 The heart is deceitful above all things. 
 
 The old man is bound up in a thousand folds. 
 
 Therefore take heed to thyself. 
 
 143 
 
14 EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 This chiefly is to be inquired : 
 / done, read, 
 
 What hast thou 
 to-day 
 
 said, written, 
 
 /"befits a Christian, a priest, 
 
 a father, etc. 
 may confirm faith, obedience, 
 may increase knowledge, 
 
 the good govern- 
 ment of mind, 
 of body, 
 may work out the salvation 
 of thyself, 
 of others. 
 
 We see that God Himself concluded each day 
 of the old creation in no other manner than by a 
 review of the works of each, and he saw that all 
 were good. 
 
 Cato exacted of himself an account of every day's 
 business, and so also Pythagoras. 
 
 Ausonius from Pythagoras : 
 
 Nor let sweet sleep upon thine eyes descend, 
 Till thou hast judged its deeds at each day's end. 
 
 King David, when the day was over, meditated, 
 and searched out his spirit. 
 
 In this Areopagitic nightly examination, see that 
 thou shew thyself the judge, not the patron, of 
 thy sins ; and say in the tribunal of thy mind, say 
 with grief and indignation : I acknowledge my 
 transgressions, O Lord ; who will set scourges over 
 my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over 
 mine heart ? 
 
 If we judged ourselves, we should not be judged. 
 Prayer is the guardian of the sleeping, the con- 
 fidence of the waking. 
 
EVENING MEDITATIONS 145 
 We think him not safe who is undefended by the 
 arms and the guard of prayer. 
 Rightly therefore teacheth Rabbi Jarchi that 
 penitence must not be put off till the morrow. 
 Behold the hope of fruit and eternal salvation 
 shall have deceived itself for ever, unless 
 even in this very night thou shalt have freed 
 thy soul. 
 
 And if an examination of this kind takes place 
 for some days, or at farthest one month, with 
 penitence, it will suffice to form a perfect habit of 
 virtue. 
 
 K 
 
EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 ft Stager for ©race. 
 
 Having spent the day, 
 I give Thee thanks, O Lord. 
 Evening draws nigh ; 
 
 make it bright. 
 As day has its evening, 
 so also has life : 
 the evening of life is age ; 
 age has overtaken me, 
 make it bright. 
 Cast me not off in the time of old age ; 
 forsake me not when my strength faileth. 
 Even to my old age be Thou He, 
 and even to hoar hairs carry me ; 
 do Thou make, do Thou bear, 
 do Thou cany and deliver me. 
 Abide with me, Lord, 
 for it is toward evening, 
 and the day is far spent 
 of this toilful life. 
 Let Thy strength be made perfect 
 in my weakness. 
 
 The day is fled and gone ; 
 life too is going, 
 this lifeless life. 
 Night cometh ; 
 and cometh death, 
 the deathless death. 
 As the end of the day is near, 
 
 so too is the end of life ; 
 we then, also remembering it, 
 beseech of Thee, 
 
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING 147 
 
 for the close of our life, 
 that Thou wouldest guide it in peace 
 to be Christian, acceptable, sinless, shameless, 
 and, if it please Thee, painless, 
 Lord, O Lord, gathering us together 
 under the feet of Thy chosen, 
 when Thou wilt, and as Thou wilt, 
 only without shame and sin. 
 Let us remember the days of darkness, 
 for they are many, 
 lesb we be cast into outer darkness. 
 Let us remember to outstrip the night, 
 doing some good thing. 
 Near is judgment ; 
 a good and acceptable answer 
 at the dread and awful judgment seat 
 of Jesus Christ 
 vouchsafe to us, O Lord. 
 
 an act of SThanfesgibing. 
 
 By night I lift up my hands in the sanctuary, 
 
 and bless the Lord. 
 The Lord hath commanded His lovingkindness 
 in the daytime, 
 and in the night His song shall be with me, 
 and my prayer unto the God of my life. 
 I will bless Thee while I live, 
 and lift up my hands in Thy name. 
 Let my prayer be set forth before Thee 
 as incense ; 
 and the lifting up of my hands 
 as the evening sacrifice. 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, 
 the God of our fathers, 
 
148 EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 Who hast ordained the changes of day and night. 
 Who givest songs in the night, 
 Who hast delivered us from the evil of this day, 
 
 Who hast not cut off like a weaver my life, 
 nor from day even to night made an end of me. 
 
 art art of Ctonfrsston, ano 
 draper for ©rarr. 
 
 Lord, as we add day to day, so sin to sin. 
 The just falleth seven times a day, 
 and I, an exceeding sinner, 
 fall seventy times seven : 
 a wonderful, a horrible thing, O Lord. 
 But I turn with groans 
 from my evil ways, 
 and I return into my heart, 
 and with all my heart I turn to Thee, 
 O God of penitents and Saviour of sinners ; 
 and evening by evening I will return 
 in the innermost marrow of my soul ; 
 and my soul out of the depths 
 crieth unto Thee. 
 I have sinned, O Lord, against Thee, 
 
 heavily against Thee ; 
 alas, alas, woe is me for my misery. 
 I repent, O me, I repent ; spare me, O Lord ; 
 I repent, O me, I repent ; 
 help Thou my impenitence. 
 Be appeased, spare me, O Lord ; 
 be appeased, have mercy on me ; 
 I said, Lord, have mercy upon me, 
 heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. 
 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, 
 
 II 
 
AN ACT OF COMMENDATION 149 
 according to Thy lovingkindness, 
 according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies 
 blot out my transgressions. 
 Remit the guilt, 
 heal the wound, 
 blot out the stains, 
 deliver from the shame, 
 rescue from the tyranny, 
 and make me not a public example. 
 O bring Thou me out of my distresses, 
 cleanse Thou me from secret faults, 
 keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins. 
 My wanderings of mind 
 
 and idle talking 
 lay not to my charge. 
 Remove the dark and muddy flood 
 of foul and lawless thoughts. 
 O Lord, 
 I have destroyed myself ; 
 whatever I have done amiss, mercifully pardon. 
 Deal not with us after our sins, 
 nor reward us according to our iniquities. 
 
 Look mercifully upon our infirmities ; 
 and, for the glory of Thy all-holy name, 
 turn from us all those ills and miseries 
 which by our sins, and by us through them, 
 are most righteously and worthily deserved. 
 
 an act of (Kommeniiattori. 
 
 To my weariness, O Lord, 
 vouchsafe Thou rest ; 
 
 to my exhaustion 
 renew Thou strength. 
 
150 EVENING PRAYERS 
 
 Lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. 
 Deliver me from the terror by night, 
 the pestilence that walketh in darkness. 
 Give me sound sleep, 
 and to pass this night without fear. 
 
 O keeper of Israel, 
 who neither slumberest nor sleepest, 
 preserve me this night from all evil, 
 preserve my soul. 
 Visit me with the visitation of Thine own, 
 reveal to me wisdom in the visions of the night. 
 If not, for I am not worthy, not worthy, 
 at least, O loving Lord, 
 let sleep be to me a breathing time, 
 as from toil, so from sin. 
 Yea, O Lord, 
 nor let me in my dreams imagine 
 what may anger Thee, 
 what may defile me. 
 Let not my loins be filled with illusions ; 
 nay rather, let my reins instruct me in the night 
 season, 
 
 yet without grievous terror. 
 Preserve me from the black sleep of sin ; 
 every earthly and evil thought 
 put to sleep within me. 
 Grant to me light sleep, 
 rid of all imaginations 
 fleshly and satanical. 
 Lord, Thou, Who madest me, knowest 
 how sleepless are mine unseen foes, 
 and how feeble my wretched flesh, 
 let the wing of Thy pity shelter me ; 
 awaken me at the fitting time, 
 at the time of prayer ; 
 
AN ACT OF COMMENDATION 151 
 and give me to seek Thee early, 
 for Thy glory, and for Thy service. 
 Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commit myself, 
 
 my spirit, soul, and body : 
 Thou didst make, and didst redeem them ; 
 and, together with me, all my friends 
 and all that is mine. 
 Thou hast vouchsafed them to me, Lord, 
 
 in Thy goodness. 
 Guard my downsitting and mine uprising, 
 from henceforth and for ever. 
 Let me remember Thee upon my bed, 
 
 and search out my spirit ; 
 let me awake and be still with Thee ; 
 let me lay me down in peace, and sleep : 
 for Thou, Lord, only 
 makest me dwell in safety. 
 
MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 FOR VARIOUS TIMES 
 AND SEASONS 
 
O Thou, Who hast put in Thine own power 
 the times and the seasons : 
 give us grace that in a convenient and 
 opportune season we may pray to Thee ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who for us men and for our salvation, 
 wast born in the depth of night : 
 grant us to be born again daily by renewing 
 of the Holy Ghost, 
 until Christ Himself be formed in us, 
 to a perfect man ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who very early in the morning, 
 at the rising of the sun, 
 didst rise again from the dead : 
 raise us also daily to newness of life, 
 suggesting to us, for Thou knowest them, 
 methods of penitence ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the third hour didst send down 
 Thy Holy Spirit 
 on the apostles : 
 take not the same Holy Spirit from us, 
 but renew Him daily in our hearts ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the sixth hour of the sixth day 
 didst nail together with Thyself upon the cross 
 the sins of the world : 
 
 165 
 
156 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 blot out the handwriting of our sins 
 that is against us, 
 and, taking it away, deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the sixth hour didst let down 
 a great sheet from heaven to earth, 
 the symbol of Thy Church : 
 receive into it us sinners of the Gentiles, 
 and with it receive us up into heaven ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the seventh hour didst command 
 the fever to leave the nobleman's son : 
 
 if there be any fever in our hearts, 
 if any sickness, remove it from us also ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the ninth hour, for us sinners, 
 and for our sins, 
 didst taste of death : 
 mortify in us our members which are upon earth, 
 and whatsoever is contrary to Thy will ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who didst will the ninth hour to be 
 the hour of prayer : 
 hear us while we pray at the hour of prayer, 
 and grant unto us that which we pray for and 
 desire ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the tenth hour didst grant unto 
 Thine apostle 
 to discover Thy Son, 
 and to cry out with great gladness, 
 
 We have found the Messiah : 
 grant unto us also, in like manner, 
 to find the same Messiah, 
 and, having found Him, to rejoice in like manner ; 
 and deliver us. 
 
AN HOROLOGY 157 
 Thou, Who didst, even at the eleventh hour of the 
 day, 
 
 of Thy goodness send into Thy vineyard 
 those that had stood all the day idle, 
 promising them a reward : 
 grant unto us the like grace, 
 and, though it be late, 
 even as it were about the eleventh hour, 
 favourably receive us who return unto Thee ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at the sacred hour of the supper 
 wast pleased to institute 
 the mysteries of Thy body and blood : 
 render us mindful and partakers of the same 
 yet never to condemnation, but to the remission 
 of sin, 
 
 and to the acquiring the promises 
 of the new testament ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who at eventide wast pleased to be taken down 
 from the cross, 
 and laid in the grave : 
 take away from us, and bury in Thy sepulchre, 
 our sins, 
 
 covering whatever evil we have committed 
 with good works ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who late in the night, by breathing 
 on Thine apostles, 
 didst bestow on them the power 
 of the remission and retention of sins : 
 grant unto us to experience that power 
 for their remission, O Lord, not for their retention 
 and deliver us. 
 
158 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 Thou, Who at midnight didst raise David Thyprophet, 
 and Paul Thine apostle, that they should praise 
 Thee: 
 
 give us also songs in the night, 
 and to be mindful of Thee upon our beds ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who with Thine own mouth hast declared, 
 at midnight the Bridegroom shall come : 
 grant that the cry may ever sound in our ears, 
 
 Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, 
 that we may never be unprepared to go forth 
 and meet Him ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who by the crowing of the cock, 
 didst admonish Thine apostle, 
 and didst cause him to return to repentance : 
 grant that we, at the same warning, may follow his 
 example, 
 may go forth and weep bitterly 
 for the things in which we have sinned against Thee ; 
 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who hast foretold Thy coming to judgment 
 in a day when we think not, and in an hour 
 when we are not aware : 
 grant that every day and every hour 
 we may be prepared, and waiting Thy advent ; 
 and deliver us. 
 Thou, Who sendest forth the light, 
 
 and createst the morning, 
 and makest Thy sun to rise upon the evil 
 and the good : 
 illuminate the blindness of our minds by the 
 knowledge of truth, 
 lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us, 
 that in Thy light we may see light, 
 
AN HOROLOGY 159 
 and at length in the light of grace the light of glory. 
 Thou, Who givest food to all flesh, 
 
 Who feedest the young ravens 
 which cry unto Thee, 
 and hast held us up from our youth until now, 
 fill our hearts with food and gladness, 
 and establish our hearts with Thy grace. 
 Thou, Who hast made the evening the end 
 of the day, 
 
 so that Thou mightest bring the evening of life 
 to our minds : 
 grant us always to consider 
 that our life passeth away like a day ; 
 to remember the days of darkness, 
 that they are many, 
 that the night cometh 
 wherein no man can work ; 
 by good works to prevent the darkness, 
 lest we be cast out into utter darkness ; 
 and continually to cry unto Thee, 
 Abide with us, Lord, 
 for it is toward evening, and the day of our life 
 is far spent. 
 The work of the Creator is justice ; 
 of the Redeemer, pity ; 
 of the Holy Ghost, inspiration, 
 Who is the other Comforter, 
 the Anointing, 
 the Seal, 
 the Earnest. 
 
60 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 an act of Olcintasum. 
 
 Two things I recognise, O Lord, in myself : 
 nature, which Thou hast made, 
 sin, which I have added. 
 I confess that by sin I have depraved nature ; 
 but remember Thou that I am but a wind 
 that passeth away, 
 and returneth not again, 
 for of myself I cannot return again from sin. 
 Take away from me that which I have made ; 
 let that remain in me which Thou hast made, 
 that what Thou hast redeemed with 
 Thy precious blood perish not. 
 Let not my wickedness destroy 
 what Thy goodness hath redeemed. 
 O Lord my God, if I have been able so to do 
 as to become Thy culprit, 
 can I have been able so to do 
 as to cease to be Thy servant ? 
 If by my sin I have destroyed my innocence, 
 have I also by my sin destroyed Thy mercy ? 
 If I have committed that for which 
 
 Thou mightest condemn me, 
 hast Thou at all lost that by which 
 
 Thou art wont to save ? 
 Truth, Lord: in my own conscience 
 I deserve damnation, 
 but no offence is so great as Thy compassion. 
 Spare me therefore, 
 because it is not difficult to Thy power, 
 nor unbefitting Thy justice, 
 
AN ACT OF CONFESSION 
 nor unwonted to Thy mercy, 
 
 to spare the sinner. 
 Thou Who hast created me, 
 
 do not destroy me ; 
 Thou Who hast redeemed me, 
 
 do not condemn me. 
 Thou Who hast created me 
 by Thy goodness, 
 let not Thy work come to nought 
 through my iniquity. 
 What is Thine in me, acknowledge ; 
 what is mine, take away. 
 Look on me, the wretched, 
 O boundless Lovingkindness : 
 on me, the wicked, 
 O Compassion that extendest to all. 
 
 Infirm, I come to the Almighty, 
 wounded, I hasten to the Physician : 
 reserve for me the gentleness 
 of Thy compassion, 
 Who hast so long held suspended the sword 
 of Thy vengeance. 
 Blot out the number of my crimes, 
 renew the multitude of Thy compassions. 
 However unclean, Thou canst cleanse me ; 
 however blind, Thou canst enlighten me ; 
 however weak, Thou canst restore me ; 
 yea, though dead, Thou canst raise me. 
 Of what kind soever I am, be it good or bad, 
 
 I am ever Thine. 
 If Thou cast me out, who shall take me in ? 
 If Thou disregard me, who shall look on me ? 
 More canst Thou remit, than I commit ; 
 more canst Thou spare, than I offend. 
 Let not noxious pleasure overcome me, 
 
162 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 at the least let not any perverse habit overwhelm me ; 
 preserve me 
 from depraved and lawless desires, 
 from vain, hurtful, impure imaginations, 
 from the illusions of evil spirits, 
 from pollutions of mind and of body. 
 
 another &rt of (Confession. 
 
 0 God, Thou knowest my foolishness, 
 and my sins are not hid from Thee. 
 
 1 acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is 
 
 ever before me. 
 I cover not my transgressions, like Adam ; 
 nor do I incline my heart to words of wickedness, 
 
 to make excuses for my sins. 
 I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, 
 and all that is within me 
 and all my bones shall say, 
 I have sinned, I have sinned against Thee ; 
 I have gone astray, like a sheep that is lost ; 
 I have been perverse, as a bullock unaccustomed 
 
 to the yoke ; 
 I have returned like a dog to his vomit : 
 
 as a sow that was washed, to her wallowing 
 in the mire. 
 I give glory to Thee, Lord, and say, 
 
 I have sinned ; and thus and thus have I done. 
 Lord, break not the bruised reed ; 
 
 quench not the smoking flax ; 
 let not the waterflood overflow me, 
 neither let the deep swallow me up, 
 
 and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 
 Lord, Thou knowest all my desire, 
 
 and my groaning is not hid from Thee. 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF CONFESSION 163 
 Thou knowest, Lord, that I speak the truth in 
 Christ, and lie not, 
 my conscience also bearing me witness 
 in the Holy Ghost, 
 that I have great heaviness and continual 
 sorrow in my heart, 
 because I have thus sinned against Thee ; 
 that I am a burden to myself, in that I cannot 
 
 sorrow more ; 
 that I beseech from Thee 
 a contrite heart, 
 
 groanings that cannot be uttered, 
 tears of blood. 
 Woe is me for my leanness, 
 for the hardness of my heart, 
 for the dryness of my eyes. 
 Lord, I repent ; I repent, O Lord ; 
 help Thou mine impenitence, 
 and more and still more bruise, and wound, and 
 pierce, and strike my heart. 
 Behold, O Lord, 
 that I am indignant with myself 
 on account of the foolish and vain and mischievous 
 and perilous desires of my flesh ; 
 that I abhor myself 
 for the madness and baseness and vileness of 
 those desires, 
 worthy of confusion and reproach ; 
 that all the day long my confusion is before me, 
 and the shame of my face hath covered me. 
 Woe is me, 
 that I did not reverence nor dread 
 
 the incomprehensibleness of the Glory, 
 
 the tremendous Power, 
 
 the awfulness of the Presence, 
 
164- MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 the strict Justice, 
 the gentle Goodness. 
 How have I been drawn away by mine own 
 lusts ; 
 
 how have I hated reproof, 
 
 and have not obeyed the voice of my 
 teachers. 
 Behold, O Lord, 
 that fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, 
 and the fear of death hath fallen upon me. 
 What fear, what terror, what trembling, 
 what agony, what extremity have I yet to see ; 
 what confusion will seize me ; 
 what shades will surround me. 
 How terrible is Thy judgment seat, O God, 
 when the thrones are set and the angels in 
 presence, 
 
 and men brought in, and the books opened, 
 and the works investigated, 
 and the thoughts scrutinised, 
 and the hidden things of darkness made 
 known. 
 
 What will be the judgment against me ? 
 when there is the incorruptible Judge, 
 
 and the tremendous tribunal, 
 and the excuseless defence, 
 and the irrefragable accusation, 
 and the fearful punishment, and the eternal 
 Gehenna, 
 
 and the pitiless angels, and the open hell-mouth, 
 and the roaring river of fire, and that fire 
 
 inextinguishable, 
 and the prison of darkness, and that darkness 
 rayless, 
 
 and the bed of live coals, and the restless worm, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF CONFESSION 165 
 and the indissoluble chains, and the immeasurable 
 chaos, 
 
 and the wall that cannot be passed, and the 
 lament that cannot be consoled, 
 and none to assist, to advocate, to free. 
 
 Behold, O Lord, 
 I adjudge myself worthy of, and amenable to, 
 and guilty of, 
 eternal punishment, 
 yea, and all the straits of this world. 
 From Thee, O Lord, I have merited death, from 
 
 Thee, the Just One ; 
 but yet to Thee, O Lord, I appeal, to Thee the 
 Merciful One : 
 from the tribunal of justice to the mercy seat 
 of grace ; 
 permit, O Lord, this appeal ; 
 if Thou dost not, we perish. 
 
 And, O Lord, carest Thou not that we perish ? 
 Thou Who wilt have all men to be saved, 
 Who art not willing that any should perish. 
 
 Behold me, O Lord, 
 self-condemned. 
 
 Behold me ; and enter not Thou, O Lord, into 
 judgment with Thy servant. 
 I am less than the least of all Thy mercies ; 
 I am not worthy to be even the lowest of Thy 
 
 hired servants ; 
 I am not worthy to gather the crumbs that fall 
 
 from Thy table ; 
 I am not worthy to touch the hem of Thy garment. 
 And now, O Lord, humbling myself under 
 Thy mighty hand, 
 
166 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 I bend my knees to Thee, and fall down to the 
 ground, on my face. 
 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee ; 
 my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land. 
 I dare not so much as to lift up 
 mine eyes unto heaven, 
 but I smite upon my breast. 
 Out of the depths hath my soul cried unto Thee, 
 and all that is within me. 
 For Thy great mercy, and for the multitude of Thy 
 lovingkindnesses, 
 for Thy name's sake, for the glory of Thy name, 
 
 be merciful to my sin ; 
 for it is great, it is exceeding great. 
 For the multitude, the great multitude, the riches, 
 the abundance, 
 the superabundance of Thy lovingkindnesses, 
 be merciful unto me, O Lord, a sinner : 
 Lord, O Lord, be merciful unto me, chief of siimers. 
 Lord, let Thy mercy rejoice against Thy justice, 
 in my sin. 
 
 0 my Lord, where sin hath abounded, there let 
 
 grace more exceedingly abound. 
 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken, 
 and do ; 
 
 defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God. 
 
 a Otonfwaum of dFairtj. 
 
 1 believe that, for a great mystery of godliness, 
 for us men, and for our salvation, Jesus the Man, 
 the Son of the Father, the Anointed of the Spirit, 
 our Lord, both as Creator and Redeemer, 
 
 was God manifest in the flesh ; 
 that He worketh effectually and manifestly, 
 
A PRAYER FOR GRACE 167 
 by enlightenment of knowledge, and infusion of grace, 
 in rebuke, and doctrine, and longsuffering, 
 and assistance, and witnessing, and consolation : 
 the gifts and graces of the Spirit. 
 Give me grace unceasingly to return thanks 
 to Thy Word and only Son 
 
 as the Purifier of our nature, in His conception 
 and nativity, 
 the Deliverer of our persons, in His passion, 
 cross, and death, 
 the Conqueror of hell, in His descent, 
 over death, in His resurrection ; 
 our Forerunner, in His ascension, 
 our Advocate, in His session, 
 the Restorer of our faith, in His second advent ; 
 Who to our destroyer opposes Himself 
 as our Saviour, 
 to Abaddon, as Jesus, 
 to Satan, the adversary, as our Mediator, 
 to the Devil, the calumniator, as our Advocate, 
 to the accuser, as our Intercessor, 
 to him that leadeth us captive, as our Redeemer. 
 
 a $raj>er for ©rare. 
 
 Grant that Christ Himself may be formed in us, 
 that we may be made conformable to His image ; 
 
 when I am lukewarm in prayer, and stand 
 in need of any grace, or heavenly consolation, 
 
 may I remember Thy mercy seat ; 
 when I am inflamed by passion and evil desire, 
 may I never forget Thy dread judgment seat, 
 and may the last trump ceaselessly sound in 
 mine ears. 
 
 For Thine Anointed's sake, O Father, Who anointest, 
 
168 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 grant that I may receive Thine anointing, 
 
 the grace that bringeth salvation, Thy ineffable 
 gift of the Holy Spirit, 
 in saving compunction, in clearness of knowledge, 
 in fervent prayer, in love shed abroad, 
 in the witness of the seal and of the earnest ; 
 that I may never quench the Spirit, 
 
 nor strive against Him, nor grieve Him, nor do 
 Him despite, O Lord. 
 Grant that we may be called in Thy Church, 
 may be lively members thereof in wish and will, 
 
 as it is Catholic, 
 and may be partakers, as it is holy, in its communion 
 of holy things and persons, holy prayers and service, 
 uuto confident trust in the remission of sins, 
 and the hope of resurrection and translation 
 unto life eternal. 
 Lord, increase my faith as a grain of mustard-seed. 
 Let it not be dead, nor temporary, nor feigned ; 
 but a faith that worketh through love, and by 
 deeds, that ministers to virtue, and conquers the 
 world, a faith most holy. 
 
 &n &rt of Intercession. 
 
 O God of truth, the Prince of peace, 
 
 let there be peace and truth in our days ; 
 
 let all that believe be of one heart and of one soul. 
 
 0 Thou Who breakest not the bruised reed, 
 
 Who quenchest not the smoking flax, 
 establish all them that stand in truth and grace, 
 restore them that are falling through error or sin. 
 
 1 beseech Thee, O Lord, of Thy mercy, 
 
 let Thine anger be turned away from this city, 
 
 and from this house ; 
 for we have sinned against Thee. 
 
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING 169 
 Be Thou pleased favourably to regard this place and 
 all this land, 
 tempering justice with mercy. 
 Grant that I may love them that love me, even 
 
 though unknown to me ; 
 and bring them, as me, into Thy heavenly kingdom, 
 and grant that I may show them the mercy of God, 
 
 by remembering them in my prayers ; 
 that I, with those for whom I have prayed, 
 
 and those for whom I am in any way bound to pray, 
 and with all the people of God, 
 
 may have an entrance into Thy kingdom, 
 there to appear in righteousness, and to be satisfied 
 with glory. 
 
 &n &ct of Cftanftggtbtns. 
 
 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound ; 
 they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance ; 
 
 in Thy name shall they rejoice all the day, 
 and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 
 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, 
 
 and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever. 
 
 0 magnify the Lord with me ; 
 
 and let us exalt His name together. 
 Come and hear, all ye that fear God j 
 
 and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. 
 Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens ; 
 
 and Thy glory above all the earth. 
 
 1 will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with my 
 
 whole heart, 
 in the assembly of the righteous, and in the 
 congregation. 
 Open my mouth, that I may bless Thy name ; 
 set me free from all things else for the telling of 
 Thy praise ; 
 
170 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 I will sing unto Thee in the sight of the angels. 
 Accept the praises, which I desire to offer, 
 an unworthy sinner, verily unworthy, 
 
 who yet would fain offer them devoutly, and 
 acceptably to Thee. 
 Thou art worthy, Lord God, to receive them ; 
 Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee : 
 Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee ; 
 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live : 
 I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 
 Glory to God in the highest, 
 on earth peace, good will toward men. 
 Glory and blessing, strength and power, 
 honour and thanksgiving, riches and holiness, 
 praise and wisdom, power and salvation, 
 be to our God that liveth for ever, 
 that sitteth upon the throne, 
 and to the Lamb that was slain. 
 Amen : Hallelujah. 
 Hosanna in the highest : blessed is He 
 that cometh in the name of the Lord. 
 
 ^wither act of GTonfcsston. 
 
 Behold me, O Lord, behold me ; the greatest, the 
 worst, the most wretched of sinners. And what 
 shall I now say, or in what shall I open my 
 mouth ? What shall I answer, when I am guilty, 
 guilty, guilty ? I will go over my sins unto Thee in 
 the bitterness of my soul ; O that it may be in its 
 bitterest bitterness ! Behold, for my peace I had 
 great bitterness. O Lord, if by these things men 
 live, and if in all these things is the life of my 
 spirit, so wilt Thou recover me, and make me 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF CONFESSION 171 
 to live. Like a crane or a swallow, so will I 
 lament : I will mourn as a dove. I beseech 
 Thee, O Lord, by all Thy mercy, let Thy most 
 righteous indignation and fury be turned away 
 from me, because I have sinned, and that griev- 
 ously. I have sinned against Thee, most often 
 and grievously have I sinned against Thee. 
 O Father of mercies, I beseech Thy fatherly loving- 
 kindness, despise not an unclean worm, a dead 
 dog, a body of death : despise not me. Yea 
 rather regard me, O Lord, regard me with those 
 eyes wherewith Thou didst regard Magdalene in 
 the banquet, Peter in the hall, the thief on the 
 cross ; that with Peter 1 may weep, with the 
 thief may confess, with Magdalene may love, may 
 love Thee much, yea very much, as one to whom 
 many sins are forgiven. Spare me, O Lord ; spare 
 me, a penitent, at the least desiring to be a 
 penitent, and preparing thereto, recollecting my 
 sins with bitterness, indignant with myself con- 
 cerning them, remembering and laying hold of 
 Thy most bitter passion. Spare, O Lord ; have 
 mercy. Spare me, O Lord ; have mercy on me ; 
 pity me, because it is not difficult to Thy power, 
 nor unbefitting Thy justice, nor unwonted to Thy 
 clemency. 
 
 That I should thus, for leeks and garlick, have left 
 the Bread of angels : that I should thus, for the 
 husks of swine, have despised my Father's table : 
 O wretched, frenzied me ! Who bewitched 
 me to such foolishness? O that Thou wouldst 
 deign to receive me again ! My mind is wholly 
 to return : better was it with me then, than 
 now. Full therefore of confusion, unworthy to 
 name, or invoke, or think upon Thy name, 
 
172 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 were it not for Thine own proper goodness, yet 
 relying on that very goodness, suppliant, humble, 
 prostrate, I return to Thee ; nor ask I for any 
 thing, but that which Thou hast bestowed most 
 often, and bestowest most willingly ; which unless 
 Thou wert again and again to bestow, no flesh 
 could abide, none could stand. Have mercy 
 on me a sinner, the greatest of sinners, and for 
 that very reason needing the greatest mercy. 
 And Thy mercy is the greatest: it reacheth to 
 the heaven above, it freeth from the lowest hell : 
 it is marvellous. Magnify Thy mercy towards me ; 
 if Thou seekest to glorify it infinitely, extend it to 
 me ; at no time, in no place, hath it been, will it 
 be, more glorious in the pardon of any sinner. If 
 Thou wiliest, Lord, that I should leave Thee, 
 give me another Thyself ; else I will not give 
 Thee up. Let the Spirit of truth lead me into 
 truth. 
 
 To Thee, O Lord, I confess, because, if I would, I 
 cannot conceal : to Thee my very many, my very 
 great, my very heinous sins. I profess also to 
 grieve, as Thou knowest. But I need more grief: 
 I plainly need it. I am far from that which I 
 ought to have. I can sin much ; I cannot repent 
 much. Woe is me for my dryness, my dryness ; 
 I cannot much: I would much. I know that even 
 much is not enough. Would that I had such 
 grief, or even more ; but of myself I cannot 
 obtain it: I am dried up, I am dried up like a 
 potsherd : woe is me. Thou, O Lord, increase 
 the fountain of tears that I have ; supply that I 
 have not ; give me a molten heart, unutterable 
 groans. Meanwhile, since my mind is willing, 
 accept me according to that I have, not accord- 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF CONFESSION 173 
 ing to that I have not. I will prolong it, since I 
 cannot increase it, through all the years of my 
 life. 
 
 After so many backslidings, with what confidence 
 can I now return ? With none. Altogether con- 
 fused, altogether covered with confusion, I walk, 
 I sit, I lie down. Nor should I dare to do it, 
 nor could I do aught but despair, and act like the 
 desperate, unless there were yet a hope left. 
 And what hope ? That Thou wilt extend Thy 
 mercy to seventy times seven. That measure of 
 forgiveness Thou hast enjoined to us. Hast thou 
 enjoined this to us, and wilt not Thou Thyself 
 practise the same ? Yea, and much more. That 
 be far from Thee, that Thou shouldst require 
 more perfection in us than existeth in Thyself : 
 that we must forgive until seventy times seven 
 but Thou wilt not forgive. For Thy mercy sur- 
 passeth ours, as far as Thyself surpassest us. I 
 then, trusting in Thy mercy, that forgiveth at the 
 least seventy times seven, stand afar off; and 
 lowlily, as I ought, and most humbly smiting 
 upon my breast, say and repeat, again and again, 
 God have mercy on me a sinner, on me a most 
 wretched sinner, on me the chief of sinners, on 
 me who am altogether sin, on me, who am a very 
 hyperbole of sin, O Thou to Whom prayer can 
 never be made without a hope of pardon. 
 
 Shall God forgive, and thou not repent ? God for- 
 bid. I do in a sort repent : I fear me, not 
 sufficiently. I would that it were more : I should 
 rejoice, were it more ; I grieve that it is no more. 
 For I wish that I could more, and grieve that I 
 can no more. I confess that my very grief is to 
 be lamented ; and I grieve that it is thus to be 
 
174 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 lamented. And who will give me to lament it 
 more ? I would do so, were it in my power j but 
 it is not. It is in my power to know that I 
 ought, to wish that I did ; to will is present 
 with me ; but how to perform that which is good, 
 I find not. 
 
 Do Thou, O Lord, give me power : if Thou wilt, 
 Thou canst ; Thou canst turn even the hard rock 
 into a pool. Give tears, give a fountain of waters 
 to my head. Give the grace of tears. Drop 
 down, ye heavens, from above, and bedew the dry- 
 ness of my desert heart. Give me, O Lord, this 
 grace. None were more welcome to me ; neither 
 riches, nor all the good things of this world were 
 to be coveted in comparison of tears : tears, such 
 as Thou didst give David of old, or Jeremiah, or 
 Peter, or Magdalene. At least give me a drop- 
 ping eye ; let me not altogether be a flint. If I 
 may not water my couch, nor wash Thy feet ; if 
 I may not weep bitterly as Peter, plentifully as 
 Jeremiah (and yet, O that it might be even thus), 
 give me at least one or two little tears which 
 Thou mayest put into Thy bottle and write in 
 Thy book. But if I cannot gain this much, woe 
 is me, I am like a pumice, like very lime, fervent 
 in cold water ; careless of my state where I least 
 ought to be so ; mourning enough, when there 
 is no occasion ; cold, arid, dead, where there is 
 the greatest. 
 
 At least give me some of the tears of Christ, which 
 He shed plentifully in the days of His flesh. 
 Bestow on me from that store ; in Him there is 
 superfluity for my deficiency. 
 
AN ACT OF DEPRECATION 175 
 
 &n act of Beptecaticm. 
 
 O Lord, Thou knowest, and canst, and wiliest 
 
 the good of my soul. 
 O wretched man that I am : 
 
 I neither know, nor can, nor, as I ought, 
 will it. 
 
 Thou, O Lord, I beseech Thee, 
 in Thine unspeakable love, 
 so order concerning me, 
 and so dispose, 
 as Thou knowest to be most pleasing to Thee, 
 and most good for me. 
 
 Thine is 
 goodness, grace, love, 
 kindness, benignity, gentleness, 
 forbearance, longsuffering, 
 abundant mercy, 
 a multitude of tender mercies, 
 a heart of compassion. 
 The Lord is very pitiful 
 in passing by, 
 in overlooking, holding His peace, 
 many times delivering, many years forbearing ; 
 He doth not afflict willingly, 
 nor stir up all His wrath, 
 nor reward us according to our iniquities ; 
 in wrath He remembereth mercy, 
 He repenteth Him of the evil. 
 He rendereth double for all our sins ; 
 
176 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 He is ready to pardon, 
 to be reconciled, 
 to be propitiated. 
 
 another &ct of Deprecation. 
 
 Father, the Creator, 
 Son, the Redeemer, 
 Spirit, the Regenerator, 
 destroy not me, 
 whom Thou hast created, redeemed, regenerated. 
 Remember not, Lord, my sins, 
 nor the sins of my forefathers ; 
 take not vengeance for our sins, theirs or mine. 
 Spare us, Lord, them and me, 
 spare Thy people, 
 and, among Thy people, Thy servant, 
 who is redeemed with Thy precious blood ; 
 
 and be not angry with us for ever. 
 Be merciful, be merciful ; spare us, O Lord ; 
 and be not angry with us for ever. 
 Be merciful, be merciful ; have pity on us, O LX>rd ; 
 and be not angry with us to the full. 
 Deal not, O Lord, 
 deal not with me after my sins, 
 neither reward me according to mine iniquities ; 
 but after Thy great pity 
 deal with me, 
 and according to the multitude of Thy mercies 
 reward me ; 
 after that great pity, 
 and according to that multitude of mercies, 
 which Thou shewedst to our fathers 
 in the times of old. 
 By all that is dear unto Thee, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF DEPRECATION 177 
 from all evil and adversity 
 in all time of need, 
 from this evil and this adversity 
 in this time, 
 raise me, rescue me, save me, O Lord. 
 Deliver me, O Lord, 
 and destroy me not. 
 On the bed of sickness, 
 
 in the hour of death, 
 in the day of judgment, 
 in that dread and awful day, 
 rescue me, Lord, and save me 
 from seeing the Judge's face overcast, 
 from being placed on the left hand, 
 from hearing the dreadful word, Depart from Me, 
 from being bound in chains of darkness, 
 from being cast into the outer darkness, 
 from being tormented in the pit of fire and brimstone, 
 where the smoke of the torments 
 ascendeth for ever. 
 Be merciful, be merciful, 
 spare us, pity us, 
 O Lord ; 
 and destroy us not for ever, 
 deliver and save us. 
 Let it not be, O Lord ; 
 and, that it be not, 
 take away from me 
 hardness of heart, 
 insensibility after sinning, 
 
 blindness of heart, 
 contempt of Thy warning, 
 a seared conscience, 
 a reprobate mind, 
 the sin against the Holy Ghost, 
 M 
 
178 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 the sin unto death, 
 the sins which forerun 
 the sin against the Holy Ghost. 
 Deliver me 
 from all evils and troubles of this world : 
 from plague, famine, war, 
 earthquake, flood, and fire ; 
 the stroke of immoderate rain and drought, 
 blast and blight, 
 thunder, lightning, and tempest; 
 sickness, epidemic and malignant, 
 sudden death ; 
 from ills and perplexities in the Church : 
 from private interpretation, 
 from innovation in things sacred, 
 from heterodox teaching; 
 from unhealthy inquiries and interminable disputes 
 from heresies, schisms, scandals, 
 public, private ; 
 from making gods of kings, 
 from flattering of the people, 
 from the indifference of Saul, 
 from the scorn of Michal, 
 from the greed of Hophni, 
 from the usurpation of Athaliah, 
 from the priesthood of Micah, 
 from the fraternity of Simon and Judas, 
 from the doctrine of men unlearned 
 and unestablished in the faith, 
 from the pride of novices, 
 from the people resisting the priest ; 
 from ills and difficulties in the state, 
 from anarchy, multitude of rulers, tyranny ; 
 from Asshur, Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Gallio, Hainan, 
 the profligate counsel of Ahithophe), 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF DEPRECATION 
 the no counsel of them of Zoan, 
 the statutes of Omri, 
 the judgments of Jezreel, 
 the excesses of Belial, 
 the plague of Peor, 
 the valley of Achor, 
 pollution of blood or seed, 
 incursion of enemies, 
 civil war, 
 
 bereavement of good and noble governors, 
 accession of the wicked and base ; 
 
 from an insupportable life 
 in despondency, sickness, ill fame, 
 distress, peril, slavery, tumult ; 
 from death 
 in sin, shame, torture, 
 despair, defilement, 
 by violence, by treachery : 
 from death sudden, 
 from death eternal. 
 
 another art of JBepwatton. 
 
 Look down, O Lord our God, from heaven, 
 from the habitation of Thy holiness and of 
 Thy glory. 
 
 Thou, Who dwellest on high, and beholdest 
 the humble, 
 look down upon us, and destroy us not ; 
 yea, rather deliver us from evil. 
 From all evil and misfortune 
 
 deliver us. 
 
 As of old time Thou didst deliver our fathers, 
 deliver us. 
 
180 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 By whatsoever is dear to Thee, or beloved by Thee, 
 deliver us. 
 
 In all our straits 
 
 deliver us. 
 From the evils of the future state, 
 from Thine anger, 
 
 but yet more from Thy ceasing to be angry, 
 
 from everlasting damnation, 
 
 from all the terrors of the world to come, 
 
 from the wrathful countenance of the Judge, 
 
 from being placed on the left hand, 
 
 from the hearing of that dread and terrible 
 
 word, Depart from Me, 
 from being cast into outer darkness, 
 from everlasting chains under darkness, 
 from the lake of fire and brimstone, 
 where the smoke of their torment goeth up 
 for ever and ever, 
 deliver us 
 
 Spare us, O Lord. Have mercy upon us. 
 Deliver us ; and let us never be confounded. 
 From spiritual evils : 
 
 from blindness and hardness of heart, 
 which lead to impenitence, 
 from hardness of forehead, 
 from a seared conscience, 
 
 and from being past feeling after sin, 
 from a reprobate mind, 
 from contempt of Thy threatenings, 
 from the sin unto death, 
 from the sin against the Holy Ghost, 
 have mercy upon us, and deliver us, O Lord, 
 that I be not parched among the tares and stubble, 
 nor grieve among those that are on the left hand, 
 nor wither in the tempest, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF DEPRECATION 181 
 nor lament in the fire that is never quenched, 
 nor be condemned to the flames, 
 nor suffer shame in Gehenna, 
 
 nor waste away among the overflowings of Belial, 
 
 nor weep in the chains of darkness, 
 
 nor gnash the teeth in the banishment of the 
 
 reprobate, 
 being miserable, thrice miserable, 
 with the fiends in darkness, 
 
 thrust down in the abyss, which even Satan him- 
 self dreadeth and abhorreth. 
 
 On the one hand 
 is the vision of God ; 
 on the other 
 the hiding of His face. 
 It is hard to be separated from the saints ; 
 harder to be severed from God. 
 It is shameful to be bound and cast out ; 
 woeful to be cast into the fire ; 
 grievous to call and not to be heard ; 
 bitter to ask unpitied 
 
 for a drop of water, and not obtain it. 
 Deliver me from all evil and misfortune, 
 from men of corrupt minds, 
 from Asshur, 
 from Jeroboam, 
 from Rehoboam, 
 from the valley of Achor, 
 from the evil spirit of the men of Shechem, 
 from every stumbling-block, grief, infamy, 
 from a deceitful tongue, 
 from perverse lips, 
 from snares, 
 
 from all enemies, visible, invisible, 
 corporeal, spiritual, 
 
182 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 from vices and sins, 
 
 from lusts and temptations, 
 
 from the attacks of demons, 
 
 from the spirit of fornication, 
 
 from the desire of vain glory, 
 
 from all defilement of flesh and spirit, 
 
 from anger and ill-will, 
 
 from polluted thoughts, 
 
 from blindness of heart. 
 O Thou, who didst once say to Thy destroying angel, 
 It is enough ; stay now thine hand : 
 hear me in my prayers and vows, 
 
 my straits and perils, 
 
 my infirmities and necessities, 
 
 my temptations and tribulations ; 
 repel the concupiscence of gluttony, 
 
 give the virtue of abstinence ; 
 drive away the spirit of fornication, 
 
 give the love of chastity ; 
 extinguish love of the world, 
 
 give poverty of spirit ; 
 restrain headstrong passion, 
 
 quicken in me the spirit of gentleness ; 
 remove the sorrow of this world, 
 
 increase spiritual joy ; 
 repel boastfulness of mind, 
 
 bestow compunction of heart. 
 Give strength of faith, 
 security of hope, 
 the defence of salvation. 
 Give contempt of the world. 
 Give me a place among those that shall enter into 
 
 j°y> 
 
 into the joy that is full, 
 
 into the joy that no man taketh away ; 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF DEPRECATION 1 
 that I may have a portion on the right hand, 
 in tranquillity, 
 
 in a place of verdure, of dew, 
 in paradise, 
 
 in a land of refreshment, 
 in Abraham's bosom, 
 in the tabernacles of the saints ; 
 that, being on the right hand of God, 
 I may be glad in His rest, 
 rejoice in His honour, 
 keep holy day in His eternity, 
 be glorified by Him that is Thrice Holy, 
 be blessed among His angels, 
 enjoy pleasure in His light, 
 amidst the psalms that are above, 
 and the songs of heaven. 
 Give me the girdle, the helmet, the breastplate, 
 the shield, the sandals, the sword, 
 above all things prayer. 
 Grant unto me the power and opportunity 
 of well doing, 
 that before the day of my decease I may have 
 wrought at least somewhat 
 whose good fruit may remain ; 
 that I may appear with righteousness, 
 and be satisfied with glory. 
 O Thou that didst add fifteen years 
 to the life of Hezekiah, 
 grant to me such a space of life, 
 at least a sufficient space, 
 wherein I may be able to bewail my sins ; 
 and, with Thy other blessings, send, 
 best gift of all, a good end : 
 a good and holy end of life, 
 a glorious and joyful resurrection. 
 
184 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 Bless our provision from the fruits of the earth 
 its fulness ; 
 make peace in our borders ; 
 fill us with the finest of the wheat ; 
 
 satisfy our poor with bread ; 
 
 strengthen the bars of our gates ; 
 
 bless our children amidst us ; 
 
 clothe our enemies with shame ; 
 
 grant us seasonableness of weather ; 
 
 bestow on us the fruits of the earth ; 
 
 repel carnal desires ; 
 
 restore health to the weak, 
 
 to the fallen grant restoration ; 
 
 to voyagers and travellers 
 
 a prosperous journey and a port of safety; 
 
 to the afflicted joy ; 
 
 to the oppressed ease ; 
 
 to the captives liberty ; 
 
 to all health of mind, 
 
 soundness of body. 
 
 Unotfter act of IBepmatton. 
 
 Cast not off Thy servant in anger, 
 nor turn away Thy face, 
 nor hide it, 
 
 nor cover Thyself with a cloud, 
 
 nor shut Thine ear, 
 
 nor forsake me, 
 
 nor leave me for ever, 
 
 nor despise me, 
 
 nor be silent, 
 
 nor slumber, 
 nor stand afar off, 
 nor repel me, 
 
AN ACT OF PLEADING 185 
 nor utterly take Thy lovingkindness from me, 
 nor make false Thy truth, 
 nor rebuke me in Thine anger, 
 nor chasten me in Thy hot displeasure, 
 nor cast me away from Thy presence, 
 nor count me a reprobate from among Thy 
 children, 
 
 nor take Thy Holy Spirit from me, 
 nor forget me for ever, 
 nor be wroth very sore, 
 
 nor shut me up nor consume me in the hand of 
 
 mine iniquity, 
 nor tarry Thou, 
 
 nor gather my soul with sinners. 
 If by Thy permission we suffer for a while the 
 power of the enemy, 
 yet let us not in any wise be swallowed up by his 
 devouring jaws. 
 Let the lion be conquered by the lamb, 
 the mighty spirit by feeble flesh. 
 
 an act of ^leaomfl. 
 
 I. As respects Gon. 
 
 1. FROM THE NATURE OF GOD. 
 
 Because the Lord is merciful and gracious, 
 
 slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy ; 
 He will not always chide, 
 
 neither will He keep His anger for ever ; 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, 
 
 nor rewarded us according to our iniquities ; 
 for as the heaven is high above the earth, 
 so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him ; 
 as far as the east is from the west, 
 
186 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 so far hath He removed our transgressions from us ; 
 like as a father pitieth his children, 
 so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 
 Because He is good and ready to forgive, 
 
 and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call 
 upon Him. 
 The Lord is good to all, 
 
 and His tender mercies are over all His works ; 
 He delighteth in mercy; 
 He is the Father of mercies ; 
 He is Mercy ; 
 
 His nature is to show mercy ; 
 and punishment is His strange and unaccustomed act. 
 
 2. FROM THE NAME OF GOD. 
 
 Let the power of my Lord be great, according as 
 Thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is long- 
 suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity 
 and transgression. 
 
 3. FROM THE NAME OF FATHER. 
 
 I ascend unto my Father, and your Father. 
 
 The Father of the prodigal son. 
 
 And what wilt Thou do unto Thy great name ? 
 
 4. FROM THE NAME OF CHRIST. 
 
 The typical Lamb. Behold the Lamb of God ! 
 The Redeemer. I know that my Redeemer liveth. 
 The Saviour. We know that this is indeed the 
 
 Saviour of the world. 
 The Mediator. There is one Mediator between 
 
 God and man. 
 The Advocate. We have an Advocate with the 
 
 Father. 
 
 The Intercessor. He ever liveth to make inter- 
 cession. 
 
 The High Priest. We have a great High Priest. 
 
AN ACT OF PLEADING 187 
 
 5. FROM THE NAME OF THE HOLY GHOST. 
 
 The typical Dove. I saw the Spirit descending 
 
 from heaven like a dove. 
 The Anointing. The same anointing teacheth you 
 
 of all things. 
 
 The Comforter. If I go not away, the Comforter 
 will not come. 
 
 6. FROM THE PROMISES OF GOD. 
 
 Remember the word unto Thy servant, 
 
 upon which Thou hast caused me to hope ; 
 which God, that cannot lie, promised, 
 and confirmed by an oath ; 
 which our unbelief shall not make of none effect ; 
 if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful ; 
 He cannot deny Himself. 
 
 7. FROM THE PRACTICE OF GOD. 
 
 Our fathers trusted in Thee ; they trusted in Thee, 
 and Thou didst deliver them. 
 Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies, 
 and Thy lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever 
 of old. 
 
 Lord, where are Thy former lovingkindnesses ? 
 Look at the generations of old, and see ; 
 did any ever trust in the Lord, and was confounded ? 
 did any abide in His fear, and was forsaken ? 
 
 II. As RESPECTS OURSELVES, RELATIVELY TO GoD. 
 1. AS THE WORK AND CREATION OF HIS HANDS. 
 
 Forsake not the work of Thine own hands. 
 
 We are the clay, and Thou our potter ; 
 
 and we are all the work of Thy hand. 
 Thou hatest nothing that Thou hast made. 
 
188 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 2. AS THE IMAGE OF HIS COUNTENANCE. 
 
 Destroy not. 
 
 Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. 
 Who is renewed in knowledge after the image 
 of Him that created him. 
 
 3. AS THE PRICE OF HIS BLOOD. 
 
 Despise not. 
 
 Ye are bought with a price, 
 With the precious blood of a Lamb 
 without blemish and without spot. 
 
 4. AS CALLED BY HIS NAME. 
 
 Despise not the express image of Thyself. 
 
 We are called by Thy name. 
 Thy people are called by Thy name. 
 A chosen vessel, to bear Thy name. 
 
 5. AS MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. 
 
 Cut not off. 
 
 Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 
 Know ye not that your bodies are the members 
 of Christ ? 
 
 Know ye not that your body is the temple 
 of the Holy Ghost which is in you ? 
 
 6. AS HAVING A TITLE IN CHRIST. 
 
 I am Thine ; save me. 
 
 0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant ; 
 
 1 am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid ; 
 
 an unprofitable servant, yet a servant ; 
 a lost son, yet a son ; 
 we are all Thy people. 
 Carest Thou not that we perish ? Yea, Thou carest. 
 
AN ACT OF PLEADING 189 
 
 III. As RESPECTS OURSELVES, RELATIVELY TO OUR 
 
 NATURE. 
 
 1. FROM OUR WEAKNESS. 
 
 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak. 
 
 Remember how short my time is. 
 He remembered that they were but flesh ; 
 
 a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 
 For he knoweth our frame, 
 
 He remembereth that we are dust. 
 As for man, his days are as grass ; 
 
 as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 
 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; 
 and the place thereof shall know it no more. 
 
 2. FROM THE MISERY OF OUR CONDITION. 
 
 We are brought very low. 
 
 And He looked upon them when they were in 
 trouble, 
 and heard their prayer. 
 
 IV. As RESPECTS OURSELVES, RELATIVELY TO OUR 
 
 DUE OBEDIENCE. 
 
 1. BECAUSE WE REPENT. 
 
 A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt 
 
 not despise. 
 For I will declare mine iniquity ; 
 
 I will be sorry for my sin. 
 
 2. BECAUSE WE PRAY. 
 
 For I cry unto Thee daily. 
 
 How long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of 
 Thy people? 
 
 I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst 
 Me. 
 
190 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 3. BECAUSE WE FORGIVE. 
 
 Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. 
 When ye stand praying, forgive, 
 
 if ye have aught against any : 
 that your Father also which is in heaven may 
 forgive you your trespasses. 
 But if ye do not forgive, 
 
 neither will your Father which is in heaven 
 forgive your trespasses. 
 
 4. BECAUSE WE PURPOSE FOR THE FUTURE. 
 
 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto 
 
 Thy judgments at all times. 
 My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, 
 
 which I have loved. 
 I have sworn, and I will perform it, 
 
 that I will keep Thy righteous judgments. 
 Thy servants, who desire to fear Thy name. 
 That servant, which prepared not himself, 
 
 neither did according to his Lord's will, 
 shall be beaten with many stripes. 
 
 V. As RESPECTS THE EVIL WHICH WOULD ARISE 
 FROM OUR DESTRUCTION. 
 
 1. IT WILL BRING NO ADVANTAGE. 
 
 What profit is there in my blood, 
 
 when I go down to the pit ? 
 Shall the dust praise Thee ? 
 shall it declare Thy truth ? 
 For in death there is no remembrance of Thee : 
 in the grave who shall give Thee thanks ? 
 Wilt Thou shew wonders to the dead ? 
 shall the dead arise and praise Thee ? 
 Shall Thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave ? 
 or Thy faithfulness in destruction ? 
 
AN ACT OF PLEADING 191 
 Shall Thy wonders be known in the dark ? 
 and Thy righteousness in the land 
 of forgetfulness ? 
 For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot 
 celebrate Thee : 
 they that go down into the pit cannot hope for 
 Thy truth. 
 
 The living, the living, he shall praise Thee. 
 
 2. OUR CREATION WILL HAVE BEEN IN VAIN. 
 
 Hast Thou made all men for nought ? 
 Enter not into judgment with Thy servant ; 
 
 for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. 
 If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 
 
 O Lord, who shall stand ? 
 If He will contend with him, 
 
 he cannot answer Him one of a thousand. 
 
 3. THE ENEMIES OF GOD WILL TRIUMPH. 
 
 Give not Thine heritage to reproach, 
 
 that the heathen should rule over them : 
 wherefore should they say among the people, 
 Where is their God ? 
 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, 
 O Lord, 
 
 and that the foolish people have blasphemed 
 Thy name. 
 
 The tumult of those that rise up against Thee 
 increaseth continually. 
 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, 
 
 For mischief did He bring them out, 
 to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them 
 from the face of the earth ? 
 
192 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 The nations which have heard the fame of Thee 
 
 will speak, saying, 
 Because the Lord was not able to bring this people 
 into the land which He sware unto them ; 
 therefore He hath slain them in the wilderness. 
 
 VI. As RESPECTS THE GOOD WHICH WILL ARISE FROM 
 OUR SALVATION'. 
 1. FOR THE GLORY OF GOD's NAME. 
 
 Deliver us, O Lord, for the glory of Thy name : 
 so we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture 
 will give Thee thanks for ever : 
 we will shew forth Thy praise 
 to all generations. 
 
 2. FOR THE CONVERSION OF OTHERS. 
 
 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways ; 
 and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. 
 
 3. FOR AN EXAMPLE. 
 
 For this cause I obtained mercy, 
 
 that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth 
 all longsuffering, 
 for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe 
 on Him 
 to life everlasting. 
 
 4. FOR THE SAKE OF GOD HIMSELF. 
 
 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions 
 
 for Mine own sake. 
 O Lord, hearken and do ; 
 
 defer not, for Thine own sake. 
 For His sake Whom God hath set forth to be 
 a propitiation. 
 Look upon the face of Thine Anointed. 
 
 Turn not away the face of Thine Anointed. 
 
HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST 193 
 
 5. FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SAVIOUR. 
 
 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath 
 anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor ; 
 He hath sent Me 
 to heal the brokenhearted. 
 I came to call sinners. 
 God sent His Son, that the world through Him 
 might be saved. 
 
 ^osanna in tfje f^igijost. 
 
 A PRAYER FOR THINGS SPIRITUAL. 
 
 Remember me, O Lord, 
 with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people ; 
 O visit me with Thy salvation : 
 that I may see the good of Thy chosen, 
 that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, 
 that I may glory with Thine inheritance. 
 There is a glory which shall be revealed ; 
 for when the Judge cometh 
 some shall see Thy face with joy, 
 shall be placed on the right hand, 
 shall hear that sweetest word, 
 ' Come, ye blessed.' 
 They shall be caught up in clouds 
 to meet the Lord ; 
 they shall enter into the joy of their Lord, 
 they shall enjoy the vision of Him, 
 
 they shall be ever with Him. 
 These alone, only these are blessed 
 among the sons of men. 
 O to me the lowest grant the lowest place, 
 there under their feet, 
 
 N 
 
194 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 under the feet of Thy chosen, 
 the lowest among them. 
 And that this may be, 
 let me find grace in Thy sight 
 to have grace 
 whereby I may serve Thee acceptably 
 with reverence and godly fear. 
 
 Let me find the grace also 
 not to receive that grace in vain, 
 not to come short of it ; 
 yea, not to neglect it, 
 so as to fall from it ; 
 but to stir it up, 
 so as to grow in it, 
 yea, to continue in it 
 till the end of my life. 
 And O, perfect for me what is lacking 
 of Thy gifts, 
 increase my little faith, 
 strengthen my trembling hope, 
 kindle the smoking flax of my love. 
 Shed abroad Thy love in my heart 
 so that I may love Thee, 
 my friend in Thee, my enemy for Thee. 
 O Thou Who givest grace to the humble, 
 give me also grace to be humble. 
 O Thou Who never failest those who fear Thee, 
 unite my heart to fear Thy name ; 
 let my heart rejoice in Thy fear. 
 Let me fear one thing only, 
 the fearing aught more than Thee. 
 As I would that men should do to me, 
 let me do also to them likewise ; 
 not to think more highly than I ought to think, 
 but to think soberly. 
 
HOSANNA ON THE EARTH 195 
 Shine upon them that sit in darkness 
 
 and in the shadow of death ; 
 guide our feet into the way of peace, 
 that we may be of the same mind 
 
 one toward another, 
 rightly to divide, to walk uprightly, 
 to edify one another, 
 with one accord, with one mouth 
 to glorify God ; 
 and, if in anything we be otherwise minded, 
 God shall reveal even this unto us : 
 only, whereto we have already attained, 
 to walk by the same rule ; 
 
 to maintain order, 
 decency, and steadfastness. 
 
 f^osamta on tfje ffiatti). 
 
 A PRAYER FOR THINGS TEMPORAL. 
 
 Remember, O Lord, 
 to crown the year with Thy goodness ; 
 for the eyes of all wait upon Thee, 
 and Thou givest them their meat in due season. 
 Thou openest Thine hand, 
 and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 
 On us also, O Lord, vouchsafe 
 the precious things of heaven and the dew above 
 and the deep that coucheth beneath, 
 the fruits of the sun, the growth of the moons, 
 the chief things of the ancient mountains, 
 the precious things of the everlasting hills, 
 the precious things of the earth and of the fruit 
 thereof, 
 
 good seasons, wholesome weather, 
 
196 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 full crops, plenteous fruits, 
 health of body, peaceful times, 
 mild government, equal laws, 
 wise counsels, just judgments, 
 loyal obedience, vigorous justice, 
 fertility, fruitfulness, 
 ease in bearing, happiness in offspring, 
 careful nurture, sound training, 
 that our sons may be as plants grownup in their youth, 
 our daughters as corner stones, polished after the 
 similitude of a palace : 
 that our garners may be full, 
 affording all manner of store : 
 that our sheep may bring forth thousands 
 and ten thousands in our streets : 
 that our oxen may be strong to labour : 
 that there be no breaking in, 
 nor going out : 
 that there be no containing in our streets. 
 Happy is that people that is in such a case : 
 yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 
 
 &n &rt of Cfjanfcsgtbtng. 
 
 Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion, 
 and unto Thee shall the vow be performed. 
 Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, 
 the Holy One, 
 to receive glory, and honour, and power. 
 O Thou that hearest prayer, 
 unto Thee shall all flesh come, 
 
 shall my flesh come. 
 Iniquities prevail against me : 
 as for my transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away, 
 that I may come and give thanks 
 with all Thy works, 
 
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING 197 
 and bless Thee with Thy holy ones. 
 O Lord, open Thou my lips, 
 and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. 
 My soul cloth praise the Lord 
 for the goodness He hath done 
 
 to the whole creation, 
 and to the whole race of men ; 
 for Thy mercies towards myself, 
 soul, body, and estate, 
 gifts of grace, nature, and fortune ; 
 
 for all benefits received, 
 for all successes, now or heretofore, 
 for any good thing done ; 
 for health, credit, competency, 
 safety, gentle estate, quiet. 
 Thou hast not cut off as a weaver my life, 
 nor from day even to night made an end of me. 
 He hath vouchsafed me life and breath 
 until this hour, 
 from childhood, youth, and hitherto, 
 even unto old age. 
 Thou holdest my soul in life, 
 and sufferest not my feet to be moved ; 
 rescuing me from perils, sicknesses, 
 poverty, bondage, 
 public shame, evil chances ; 
 keeping me from perishing in my sins, 
 
 fully waiting my conversion, 
 leaving in me return into my heart, 
 remembrance of my latter end, 
 some shame, horror, grief, 
 for my past sins : 
 may it be fuller and larger, larger and fuller, 
 more and still more, O my Lord : 
 giving me good hopes 
 
198 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 of their remission 
 through repentance and its works, 
 in the power of the thrice-holy keys, 
 and the mysteries in Thy Church. 
 
 Wherefore day by day 
 for these Thy benefits toward me 
 which I remember, 
 wherefore also for others very many 
 which I have let slip, 
 from their number, from my forgetfulness, 
 for those which I wished, knew, and asked, 
 and for those I asked not, knew not, wished not, 
 
 I confess and give thanks to Thee, 
 I bless and praise Thee, as is fit, and every day ; 
 and I pray with my whole soul, 
 and with my whole mind I pray : 
 Glory be to Thee, Lord, glory be to Thee, 
 glory to Thee, and glory to Thine all-holy name, 
 for all Thy divine perfections in them : 
 for Thine unspeakable and 
 
 unimaginable goodness, 
 and Thy pity toward sinners 
 
 and unworthy, 
 and toward me, of all sinners 
 far the most unworthy. 
 Yea, O Lord, 
 for this, and for the rest, 
 glory to Thee, 
 and praise, and blessing, and thanksgiving, 
 with the voices and concert of voices 
 of angels and of men, 
 of all Thy saints in heaven, 
 and of all Thy creatures in heaven or earth, 
 and of me, beneath their feet, 
 unworthy and wretched sinner, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 199 
 Thy abject creature, 
 now, in this clay and hour, 
 and every day till my last breath, 
 and till the end of the world, 
 and world without end. 
 
 another act of flTijanfesgibinfi. 
 
 1. FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF GOD's MAJESTY. 
 
 O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self 
 with the glory which I had with Thee before 
 
 the world was. 
 Melchisedek was priest of the Most High God. 
 
 2. HIS EXALTEDNESS. 
 
 He that is higher than the highest regardeth. 
 
 3. HIS ETERNITY. 
 
 The name of the Lord, the everlasting God. 
 
 4. HIS OMNIPRESENCE. 
 
 Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord ? 
 
 5. HIS OMNISCIENCE. 
 
 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit ? 
 
 or whither shall I flee from Thy presence ? 
 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there ; • 
 if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 
 Thou knowest all things. 
 For Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all 
 the children of men. 
 
 6. HIS OMNIPOTENCE. 
 
 With God nothing shall be impossible. 
 I am the Almighty God. 
 
200 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 7. THE HEIGHT OF HIS WISDOM. 
 
 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and 
 
 knowledge of God ! 
 how unsearchable are His judgments, 
 and His ways past finding out ! 
 
 8. HIS UNSHAKEN TRUTH. 
 
 The truth of the Lord endureth for ever. 
 Heaven and earth shall pass away, 
 
 but My words shall not pass away. 
 
 9. HIS PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS. 
 
 His righteousness endureth for ever. 
 
 10. THE FOUNTAIN, OCEAN, ABYSS OF HIS MERCY. 
 
 Deep calleth unto deep. 
 
 11. HE IS MERCIFUL IN PASSING BY AND OVER- 
 
 LOOKING SIN. 
 
 1 beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of 
 
 Christ. 
 
 He said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 
 
 He passeth by transgression. 
 
 The times of ignorance God overlooked. 
 
 12. HE IS PATIENT, LONGSUFFERING. 
 
 Or despisest thou the riches of His forbearance and 
 longsuffering? 
 
 13. PITIFUL. 
 
 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their 
 iniquity, 
 and destroyed them not. 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 201 
 
 14. HE PUNISHETH UNWILLINGLY. 
 
 0 Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee ? 
 
 O Judah, what shall 1 do unto thee ? 
 Many times didst Thou deliver them 
 
 according to Thy mercies. 
 Many years didst Thou forbear them ; 
 
 Thou didst not utterly consume them, 
 nor forsake them. 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, 
 
 neither rewarded us according to our iniquities. 
 She hath received of the Lord's hand double for all 
 her sins. 
 
 Like as a father pitieth his children, 
 
 so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 
 
 15. COMPASSIONATE. 
 
 He repenteth Him of the evil. 
 
 16. HIS ANGER IS SOON QUENCHED. 
 
 He will not always chide : 
 
 neither will He keep His anger for ever. 
 
 17. HE IS READY TO PARDON. 
 
 1 forgave thee all that debt, because thou 
 
 desiredst Me. 
 
 18. READY TO BE RECONCILED. 
 
 Reconciling the world unto Himself, 
 
 not imputing their trespasses unto them. 
 
 19. READY TO BE PROPITIATED. 
 
 Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him ; 
 
 and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet : etc. 
 
 He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 
 
202 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 20. MUNIFICENT. 
 
 Giving the reward of a day for the toil of an hour. 
 
 To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. 
 
 Giving sight to the blind, loosing the prisoners, 
 clothing the naked, raising the fallen, 
 
 upholding the falling, healing the sick, 
 gathering the dispersed, feeding the living, 
 raising up the bowed down, quickening the dead, 
 casting down the proud, setting up the humble, 
 redeeming the captives, helping in time of need. 
 
 Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods : 
 
 glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 
 
 ii. 
 
 Let us praise God for 
 
 angels, ministering spirits ; 
 archangels, bringing great tidings ; 
 virtues, doing wonders ; 
 
 powers, warding off fiends, at His command ; 
 
 principalities, perfect in government : 
 
 dominations, bestowing gifts in plenteousness ; 
 
 thrones, that judge ; 
 
 cherubim, shining with knowledge ; 
 
 seraphim, flaming with love ; 
 
 the morning stars, 
 
 rulers of the world, 
 
 lovers of men, 
 
 chief ministers of the divine will. 
 We praise God for the perseverance of angels; 
 we pray that we, going from strength to strength, 
 may be associated with their choirs. 
 
 m. 
 
 We praise God for 
 
 the patriarchs and their faith, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 203 
 the prophets and their hope, 
 the apostles and their labours, 
 the evangelists and their truth, 
 the martyrs and their blood, 
 the confessors and their zeal, 
 the doctors and their study, 
 the ascetics and their tears ; 
 the virgins, flowers of purity, 
 celestial gems, 
 
 brides of the immaculate Lamb ; 
 the innocents and their beauty, 
 
 flowers of the Church, 
 
 mirrors of virtue, 
 
 tabernacles of the Holy Ghost ; 
 for those whose faith was strong, and whose life 
 approved, 
 
 in whose heart was charity, 
 
 in whose mouth verity, 
 
 in whose life piety. 
 
 IV. 
 
 We praise God 
 for light, 
 
 the waters and the firmament, 
 
 the earth and the plants, 
 
 the lights in the firmament of the heaven, 
 
 the fishes and the fowls, 
 
 the wild and tame beasts, 
 
 the rest of the sabbath ; 
 for the making of man, 
 
 after counsel held, 
 
 with His own hands ; 
 for the breath of life, 
 
 the image of God, 
 
 the dominion over the creatures, 
 
201 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 the care of the angels, 
 
 the location in paradise ; 
 for that he was not forsaken, when he had sinned ; 
 for the promise of the seed ; 
 for that which may be known of God, 
 
 the work of the law written in the heart, 
 
 the oracles of the prophets, 
 
 the melody of the psalms, 
 
 the wisdom of the proverbs, 
 
 the experience of the histories ; 
 
 for our birth, 
 
 bringing up, 
 
 preservation, 
 
 direction, 
 
 instruction, 
 
 civilised state, 
 
 religion. 
 
 v. 
 
 We praise God 
 for redemption, 
 
 the great mystery of godliness, 
 
 His making Himself of no reputation, 
 
 His humiliation, 
 
 His taking on Him the seed of Abraham, 
 His union to it, 
 His oblation of life, 
 His sacrifice of death ; 
 for all the good that He did, 
 
 all the evil He suffered, 
 
 in His passage from the cradle to the cross ; 
 for the whole economy of grace, 
 
 His holy incarnation, 
 
 the poverty of His nativity, 
 
 His lying in the manger, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 205 
 His circumcision, subjecting Him to the law, 
 His precious name, Jesus, 
 His manifestation to sinners of the Gentiles, 
 His presentation in the temple, 
 His flight into Egypt, 
 His consecration of life, 
 
 His desire to hear, 
 
 His eagerness to inquire, 
 
 His humble obedience to His parents ; 
 for His holy baptism, 
 
 the appearance therein of the Trinity, 
 His fasting, 
 His temptation, 
 
 His poverty, in that He had not where to lay 
 His head, 
 
 the hunger and thirst that He endured, 
 the cold and heat, 
 
 the weariness, while He went about doing 
 good, 
 
 His watchings in prayer, 
 
 His continuance all night in prayer ; 
 for His meek conversation, 
 
 Who endured such contradiction of sinners, 
 when He was hurried to the precipice 
 
 for a good word, 
 when about to be stoned 
 
 for a good work. 
 
 We bless Thee, O Saviour, 
 
 Who didst endure to be insulted of men, 
 to be called a Samaritan, a glutton, 
 a demoniac, a deceiver, 
 
 and wast content that Barabbas should be 
 preferred to Thee, 
 for Thy sermons, homilies, 
 
206 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 conversations, discourses, 
 
 intercessions, prayers, 
 
 examples, 
 
 signs, 
 
 mysteries, 
 
 the power of the keys ; 
 for the blessings wrought in all the grace and 
 
 lovingkindness of Thy miracles ; 
 for the parables of 
 the two debtors, 
 the good Samaritan, 
 the publican and the Pharisee, 
 the servant that owed ten thousand talents, 
 the lost sheep, 
 the prodigal son, 
 the called at the eleventh hour ; 
 We bless Thee 
 for Thy sayings : 
 
 God sent not His Son into the world to 
 condemn the world ; but that the world 
 through Him might be saved. 
 I came not to judge the world, but to save 
 the world. 
 
 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners 
 
 to repentance. 
 The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's 
 
 lives, but to save them. 
 The Son of Man is come to seek and to save 
 
 that which was lost ; 
 and to give His life a ransom for many. 
 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are 
 
 heavy laden, 
 and I will give you rest. 
 Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise 
 
 cast out. 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 207 
 Father, forgive them; for they know not 
 
 what they do. 
 To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. 
 I will give unto this last even as unto thee. 
 We bless Thee 
 
 for the instances of Thy mercy : 
 The Syrophenician woman ; 
 the woman of Samaria ; 
 the woman with an issue of blood ; 
 the woman taken in adultery ; 
 Mary Magdalene ; 
 Zacchaeus ; 
 the thief; 
 Peter ; 
 Thomas ; 
 Paul; 
 
 Nicodemus. 
 
 This Man receiveth sinners. 
 We bless Thee 
 
 for Thy longsuffering when 
 they contradicted Thee ; 
 drew Thee to the brow of the hill ; 
 twice would have stoned Thee ; 
 for a good work blasphemed Thee ; 
 preferred Barabbas unto Thee j 
 gave Thee up unto the Gentiles to crucify 
 Thee. 
 
 VI. 
 
 We praise God 
 
 for the death of Christ : 
 
 His obedience unto the death of the cross, 
 His straitening till it was accomplished ; 
 for all that He suffered 
 
 in Gethsemane, in Gabbatha, in Golgotha; 
 
208 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 for the pain, the shame, the curse 
 
 of the cross. 
 We praise Him 
 
 that He deigned to be betrayed, 
 
 and that by His own disciple ; 
 
 that He deigned to be sold, 
 
 and that for thirty pieces of silver ; 
 
 to be troubled in His mind, 
 
 to be weary, 
 
 to fear, 
 
 to be exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, 
 to be in an agony, 
 with strong crying, 
 and tears, 
 
 to sweat great drops of blood, 
 
 even to the bedewing of the ground : 
 
 Gethsemane : 
 that His disciples should slumber, 
 one of them betray Him with a kiss, 
 the rest should be offended because of Him, 
 and flee ; 
 to be left alone, 
 and denied by Peter, 
 and that with an oath, 
 and a curse ; 
 
 to be subjected to the powers of darkness, 
 
 to be laid hands on, 
 
 taken as a thief, 
 
 bound, 
 
 earned away, 
 
 hurried to Annas, 
 
 Caiaphas, 
 
 Pilate, 
 
 Herod, 
 
 Pilate, the second time, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 209 
 the Praetorium, 
 Gabbatha, 
 the cross. 
 
 Golgotha : 
 
 Thou Who wast silent before the judge, 
 
 restrain my tongue ; 
 Thou Who didst deign to be bound, 
 
 restrain my hands. 
 
 We praise Thee in that 
 
 Thou wast struck with the palm of the hand 
 
 before Annas, 
 accused before Caiaphas, 
 attacked by false witnesses, 
 condemned for blasphemy, 
 derided oft, 
 
 mocked by the servants, 
 buffeted, 
 
 struck with the palm of the hand, 
 wast blindfolded, 
 stricken, spit upon, 
 reviled, blasphemed ; 
 We praise Thee in that 
 
 Thy head was crowned with thorns, 
 
 and struck with the reed, 
 Thine eyes were dim with tears, 
 Thine ears filled with reviling, 
 Thy mouth given to drink of gall and vinegar, 
 Thy face marred with spitting, 
 Thy back ploughed with the scourge, 
 Thy neck bent down with the cross, 
 Thy hands extended, 
 Thy knees bent as in prayer, 
 Thy feet pierced with nails, 
 Thy heart oppressed with grief, 
 o 
 
210 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 Thy side pierced with the lance, 
 Thy blood flowing in all sides plenteously 
 
 around Thee, 
 Thy soul in bitterness, 
 
 when Thou criedst in agony, Eli, Eli ! 
 
 We praise Him that 
 
 He deigned to be accused before Pilate of sedition, 
 
 to be denied by His own, 
 
 rejected for Barabbas ; 
 He deigned to be sent bound to Herod, 
 
 to be clothed with a white robe, 
 
 to be mocked ; 
 He deigned to be sent back to Pilate, 
 
 to be clamoured against for death, 
 
 to be condemned to a shameful death, 
 
 to be given up to the will of the soldiers, 
 
 to be arrayed in purple, 
 
 to be crowned with thorns, 
 
 to be mocked with a reed for a sceptre, 
 
 to be bowed the knee to, 
 
 to be called King in derision, 
 
 to be spit upon, 
 
 to be smitten on the head with the reed, 
 to be stripped of the purple ; 
 He deigned to be bound to a column in the 
 judgment-hall, 
 
 to be beaten with rods, 
 to be scourged, 
 
 to be baptized with a baptism of blood, 
 to suffer bruises and wounds, 
 to be demanded with clamour for crucifixion, 
 to be exhibited as a spectacle of woe, 
 
 Behold the Man ! 
 to be cried out against the more vehemently, 
 to be condemned to the cross ; 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 211 
 
 He deigned to be laden with the cross, 
 led to the place of punishment, 
 to sink under the cross, 
 to have myrrh given Him to drink, 
 to endure the shame of being stripped, 
 the agony of being extended on the cross, 
 to be pierced with nails, 
 to have hands and feet riven, 
 to be crucified between two thieves, 
 to be reckoned among the transgressors, 
 to be reviled by the passers by, 
 to be blasphemed by the very thieves, on Golgotha; 
 
 He deigned to be forsaken of God, 
 
 to be mocked in His cry to God, 
 
 to thirst, to have vinegar given Him to drink, 
 
 to bow His head, and give up the Ghost, 
 
 that His side should be pierced with the spear, 
 
 to be blasphemed after death, 
 
 to be called a deceiver, 
 
 to suffer unknown sufferings. 
 
 By Thy woes, which I unworthy here commemorate, 
 preserve my soul from the woes of hell. 
 
 We praise Him for 
 
 the Seven Last Words : 
 
 1. Father, forgive them; for they know 
 
 not what they do. 
 
 2. Woman, Behold thy Son ! 
 
 3. To day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise. 
 
 4. My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken 
 
 Me? 
 
 5. I thirst. 
 
 6. It is finished. 
 
 7. Father, into Thy hands I commend My 
 
 spirit. 
 
212 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 Thou, who didst deign 
 
 that Thy glorious head should be wounded : 
 forgive thereby whatever, by the senses 
 of my head, I have sinned ; 
 that Thy holy hands should be pierced : 
 
 forgive thereby, whatever I have done amiss 
 by unlawful touch, or unlawful act ; 
 that Thy precious side should be opened : 
 forgive thereby whatever I have offended 
 
 by lawless thoughts, in the ardour of passion ; 
 that Thy blessed feet should be riven : 
 forgive thereby whatever I have done 
 by the means of feet swift to evil ; 
 that Thy whole body should be extended : 
 
 forgive thereby whatever iniquity I have com- 
 mitted 
 
 by the help of any of my members. 
 
 And I too, O Lord, am wounded in soul ; 
 behold the multitude, 
 the length, the breadth, the depth, 
 of my wounds, 
 and by Thine heal mine. 
 
 We praise Thee 
 
 for Thy precious death, 
 Thy riven side, 
 
 the streams of water and blood, 
 the begging of Thy body, 
 Thy taking down from the cross, 
 Thy burial in the garden of another, 
 Thy three clays' sepulture. 
 
 By all these things I remind and beseech Thee. 
 I pray Thee that Thou wouldest deign to lay all 
 these things before Thy Father, 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 213 
 pleading them for my sake : 
 all the sufferings which Thou barest, 
 the love above all by which Thou barest. 
 
 VII. 
 
 We praise Him 
 
 for His exaltation ; 
 
 His triumph over principalities, and leading 
 them captive, 
 and over the powers of darkness in Himself ; 
 His mighty resurrection ; 
 His appearance to Mary Magdalene, 
 to the women, 
 to Peter, 
 
 to the two that went to Emmaus, 
 
 to the ten without Thomas, 
 
 to the eleven, 
 
 at the Sea of Tiberias, 
 
 to James, 
 
 to the five hundred, 
 
 in Bethany ; 
 His glorious ascension, 
 session at the right hand, 
 distribution of gifts, 
 continual intercession for us, 
 return to judgment. 
 
 vni. 
 
 Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, 
 
 And lighten with celestial fire ; 
 
 Thou the Anointing Spirit art, 
 
 Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart. 
 We praise Thee for 
 
 Thy moving upon the face of the waters, 
 Thy emission into all things living ; 
 
214 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 Thy inspiration of man, 
 of Bezaleel, 
 of the seventy elders, 
 Thy descent upon the prophets ; 
 Thy visible advent 
 as a Shadow, 
 
 Thy coming upon and overshadowing 
 at the incarnation of Christ ; 
 as a Dove, 
 
 Thy coming in the shape of a dove upon Christ 
 in baptism ; 
 
 as fiery Tongues, 
 after the ascension ; 
 Thy invisible advent 
 
 on the apostles gathered together in prayer, 
 on Cornelius, 
 on the twelve Ephesians ; 
 Thy often visitations thenceforth 
 in calling, 
 
 calling away from sin, 
 calling out of the world, 
 recalling from backsliding, 
 in our calling on Thee, 
 in Thy pleading for us ; 
 Thy distribution of graces, ministrations, opera- 
 tions ; 
 
 the graces, works, fruits, of the Spirit ; 
 the compunction caused by Thy reproof, 
 the unction of Thy teaching, 
 
 and of Thy bringing to remembrance, 
 Thy shedding abroad of love, 
 Thy helping our infirmities, in praying, 
 Thy witnessing our adoption, 
 Thy sealing in Thy mysteries, 
 the earnest of our inheritance ; 
 
ANOTHER ACT OF THANKSGIVING 215 
 Thy visiting us, visiting the heart, 
 dwelling in us, 
 purifying us, 
 
 shining on us, for our illumination, 
 strengthening us, 
 adorning us, 
 
 carrying us on unto perfection, 
 Who guidest us into all truth, 
 and givest us strength. 
 
 Enotfjer &ct of Cfjanftsfltbtnfl. 
 
 It would rather behove me, O Lord, 
 
 a sinner, and impenitent, and so, wholly unworthy, 
 
 to lie prostrate before Thee, 
 and with tears and groanings to entreat the pardon 
 of my sins, 
 than to praise Thee with polluted mouth ; 
 yet, trusting in Thine own goodness, I will adore 
 Thee. 
 
 O receive Thou the praises that it is in my 
 heart to sing. 
 I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I worship Thee, I 
 glorify Thee. 
 
 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive the praises and 
 the thanks, 
 Whom I, a sinner, am unworthy to invoke, 
 or to name, or even to conceive in my heart. 
 Blessed art Thou, O Lord, 
 
 Who hast created and brought me forth into 
 this life, 
 
 and hast ordered that I should be 
 
 a living soul and not senseless matter ; 
 a man, not a brute ; civilised, not savage ; 
 
216 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 free, not a slave ; legitimate, not spurious ; 
 
 of good parentage, not of vile extraction, and 
 
 as vile myself ; 
 endued with sense, not an idiot ; 
 sound in senses, not blind nor deaf ; 
 sound in limbs, not halt nor maimed ; 
 educated, not neglected ; 
 
 brought up to literature, not to a mechanical 
 trade ; 
 
 a Christian, not a pagan ; 
 
 preserved from dangers and infamy, not over- 
 whelmed thereby ; 
 in the days of peace, not tossed in tempestuous 
 struggles j 
 
 of competent fortune, so that I need neither to 
 
 flatter nor to borrow ; 
 set free from many sins ; 
 
 endued with the gifts of grace, in redemption 
 
 and calling, 
 with the gifts of nature and fortune ; 
 Who according to Thine abundant mercy hast 
 
 begotten us again unto a lively hope 
 by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 
 dead, 
 
 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, 
 and that fadeth not away, 
 reserved in heaven for us ; 
 Who hast blessed me with all spiritual blessings 
 
 in heavenly things in Christ ; 
 Who comfortest me in all my tribulation, 
 that, as the sufferings of Christ abound in me, 
 so my consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 
 To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks ; 
 Thee I praise, Who hast in some measure endued 
 me with wisdom and might, 
 
THANKSGIVING FOR THE LORD'S DAY 217 
 and hast made known unto me that which I 
 desired of Thee, and hast made known unto me 
 the king's matter ; 
 Who hast made me the work of Thine hands, 
 
 the price of Thy blood, 
 the image of Thy countenance, the servant of 
 
 Thy purchase, 
 the seal of Thy name, the child of Thine 
 adoption, 
 
 a temple of Thy Spirit, a member of Thy Church. 
 
 an act of Cfjanfessibins for the 
 EorVs Bag. 
 
 O Lord, I am not worthy of the least of all the 
 mercies, 
 
 and all the truth, which Thou hast shewed 
 unto Thy servant ; 
 and what can I say more unto Thee ? 
 
 for Thou, Lord God, knowest Thy servant. 
 What is Thy servant, Lord God, and what is 
 my house, 
 
 that Thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog 
 as I am, 
 
 that Thou hast loved me hitherto ? 
 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His 
 
 benefits toward me ? 
 What thanks can we render to God again 
 
 for all the joy wherewith we joy before Him ? 
 Thou who hast deigned, O Lord, to grant me on 
 this holy day and at this hour 
 to raise my mind to Thy praise, 
 
 and to offer Thee the glory due unto Thee, 
 receive, O Lord, this spiritual sacrifice from mysoul, 
 and, receiving it to Thee unto Thy spiritual altar, 
 
218 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 be pleased in its stead to send me the grace of 
 Thy Most Holy Spirit. 
 Visit me in Thy goodness ; 
 
 forgive me every sin, as well voluntary as 
 involuntary. 
 Deliver me from eternal punishment ; 
 
 yea, and from all the miseries of this world. 
 Change my thoughts into piety ; 
 sanctify my spirit, soul and body ; 
 
 and give me grace to worship and to please Thee 
 in piety and holiness of life 
 even unto the very end of my days. 
 Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 
 above all that we ask or think, 
 according to the power that worketh in us, 
 unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus 
 throughout all ages, world without end. 
 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness ; 
 and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips. 
 
 a Habitation on tfje aggravation of S>tn. 
 
 Its measure, 
 
 its harm, 
 
 its scandal, 
 its quality, 
 
 its iteration, how often ? 
 its continuation, how long ? 
 The person by whom : 
 
 his age, condition, state, enlightenment. 
 Its manner, 
 its motive, 
 its time, 
 its place, 
 
 its folly, ingratitude, hardness, contempt. 
 
ON THE AGGRAVATION OF SIN 219 
 The various kinds of sin : 
 the cord and the cart rope ; 
 in necessary things, 
 in things superfluous ; 
 omission or defect, 
 
 the not doing what ought to be done, 
 commission, or excess, 
 
 the doing what ought not to be done ; 
 by heart within, in thought ; 
 by mouth without, in word, 
 by deed without, in fact ; 
 against God, my neighbour, my own body ; 
 by knowledge and by ignorance ; 
 willingly and unwillingly ; 
 of old and of late ; 
 in boyhood and youth, 
 in mature and old age ; 
 things done once, 
 repeated often ; 
 hidden and open ; 
 things done in anger, 
 
 or from the lust of the flesh and the world ; 
 before and after my call ; 
 asleep by night, and awake by day ; 
 things concerning myself alone, 
 and things connected with others ; 
 things remembered, and things forgotten. 
 Whatsoever I have done amiss, from my youth 
 till now, till this moment, 
 knowingly or ignorantly, within or without, 
 
 asleep or awake, 
 by words, deeds, or thoughts, 
 through the fiery darts of the enemy, 
 through the unclean desires of the flesh, 
 have mercy on me, O God, and forgive me. 
 
220 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 & jUrtritatton on tfte Bag of Hmtiprntt. 
 
 Father unoriginate, only begotten Son, 
 
 lifegiving Spirit, 
 merciful, compassionate, longsuffering, 
 full of pity, full of tender yearnings, 
 Who lovest the just and pitiest the sinful, 
 Who passest by sins and grantest petitions, 
 God of penitents, 
 Saviour of sinners, 
 I have sinned before Thee, O Lord, 
 and thus and thus have I done. 
 Alas, alas ! woe, woe ! 
 how was I enticed by my own lust, 
 how I hated instruction, 
 nor felt I fear nor awe 
 at Thy incomprehensible glory, 
 Thy dread presence, 
 Thy terrible power, 
 Thy strict justice, 
 Thy winning goodness. 
 I will call if there be any that will answer me ; 
 to which of the saints shall I turn ? 
 O wretched man that I am, 
 who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? 
 How fearful is Thy judgment, O Lord. 
 When the thrones are set, 
 and angels stand around, 
 and men are brought in, 
 the books opened, 
 the works inquired into, 
 the thoughts examined, 
 and the hidden things of darkness, 
 what judgment shall be upon me ? 
 
ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 221 
 Who shall quench my flame, 
 who shall lighten my darkness, 
 if Thou pity me not ? 
 Lord, as Thou art loving, 
 give me tears, 
 give me floods, give them to-day. 
 For then will be the incorruptible Judge, 
 the awful judgment-seat, 
 the answer without excuse, 
 the inevitable charges, 
 the bitter punishment, 
 the endless Gehenna, 
 the pitiless angels, 
 the yawning hell, 
 the roaring stream of fire, 
 of fire unquenchable, 
 the dark prison, 
 the rayless darkness, 
 the bed of live coals, 
 the unwearied worm, 
 the indissoluble chains, 
 the measureless gulf, 
 the impassable wall, 
 the inconsolable cry : 
 none to stand by me, 
 none to plead for me, 
 none to snatch me out. 
 But I repent, Lord; O Lord, I repent; 
 help Thou mine impenitence, 
 and more, and still more, 
 pierce, rend, crush my heart. 
 Behold, O Lord, that I am 
 
 indignant with myself 
 for my senseless, profitless, 
 hurtful, perilous passions ; 
 
I MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 that I loathe myself 
 for the inordinate, unseemly, 
 deformed, deceitful, 
 shameful, disgraceful 
 thing that is in me ; 
 that my confusion is before me all the day, 
 and the shame of my face hath covered me. 
 Alas ! woe, woe ! 
 O me, how long ? 
 Behold, Lord, that I judge myself worthy 
 of punishment everlasting, 
 yea, and of all miseries of this world. 
 Behold me, Lord, self-condemned ; 
 behold, Lord, and enter not into judgment 
 with Thy servant. 
 
 And now, Lord, 
 I humble myself under Thy mighty hand ; 
 I bend to Thee, O Lord, my knees, 
 I fall on my face to the earth. 
 Let this cup pass from me. 
 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee ; 
 I smite upon my breast, upon my thigh. 
 Out of the depths my soul crieth unto Thee, 
 as a thirsty land, 
 and all my bones, 
 and all that is within me. 
 Lord, hear my voice. 
 
 a JSUtttatton on tije Sfjortnws of Htft. 
 
 Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak. 
 Remember, Lord, how short my time is ; 
 remember that I am but flesh, 
 wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 
 
ON THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE 223 
 My days are as grass, as a flower of the field ; 
 for the wind goeth over me, and I am gone, 
 and my place shall know me no more. 
 For I am dust and ashes, 
 earth and grass, 
 flesh and breath, 
 corruption and a worm ; 
 as a stranger upon the earth, 
 dwelling in a house of clay ; 
 
 few and evil my days, 
 to-day, and not to-morrow, 
 in the morning, yet not until night; 
 in a body of sin, 
 in a world of corruption ; 
 of few days, and full of trouble, 
 coming forth and cut down like a flower, 
 fleeing also as a shadow, and continuing not. 
 Remember this, O Lord, and suffer, pardon ; 
 for what profit is there in my blood, 
 when I go down to the pit ? 
 By the multitude of Thy mercies, 
 by the riches and exceeding abundance 
 of Thy compassions, 
 by all that is dear to Thee, 
 all that we should plead, 
 and, before and beyond all things, by Thyself, 
 by Thyself, O Lord, and by Thy Christ, 
 Lord, have mercy upon me, the chief of sinners. 
 O my Lord, let Thy mercy rejoice 
 against Thy judgment in my sin. 
 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; 
 O Lord, hearken ; 
 O Lord, hearken and do ; 
 do and defer not for Thine own sake ; 
 defer not, O Lord my God. 
 
224 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS 
 
 a ^raget of Cfiomas Staltoartine, 
 arcfifitisfiop of (tfantertiurp. 
 
 Thyself, my God, I love, Thyself for Thyself, above 
 all things. For Thyself I long. Thyself I 
 desire as a final end. Thyself, for Thyself, 
 not for aught else, I always and in all things 
 seek with my heart and whole strength, with 
 groaning and weeping, with continual labour 
 and grief. What therefore wilt Thou give me 
 as my final end ? If Thou dost not bestow on 
 me Thyself, Thou bestowest on me nothing. If 
 Thou dost not give me Thyself, Thou givest 
 me nothing. If I find not Thyself, I find 
 nothing. Thou dost not then reward me, but 
 torturest me. For even before that I sought 
 Thee, I hoped to find and possess Thee at 
 last. And with this honeyed hope I was 
 sweetly consoled in all my labours. But now, 
 if Thou denies t me Thyself, and that for ever, 
 and not for a season, whatever else Thou shalt 
 give me, shall I not always languish with love, 
 mourn with languishing, grieve with mourning, 
 weep with grieving, because I shall ever remain 
 void and empty? Shall I not mourn incon- 
 solably, complain unceasingly, grieve inter- 
 minably ? That is not Thy wont, God of 
 goodness, of clemency, and love ; it is in no 
 wise fitting, in no point seemly. Grant, there- 
 fore, O my gracious God, that in the present 
 life I may ever love Thyself, for Thyself, above 
 all things, seek Thee in all things, and in the 
 world to come may find Thee, and keep hold 
 of Thee for ever. 
 
COMMUNION PRAYERS AND 
 MEDITATIONS 
 
an act of Sclfstammation fieforc the 
 Hort's Supper. 
 
 Have I penitence, grief, shame, pain, horror, weari- 
 ness, for my sin ? 
 Do I pray, if not seven times, as David, 
 yet at least thrice, as Daniel ? 
 If not, as Solomon, at length, 
 
 yet shortly, as the publican ? 
 If not, like Christ, the whole night, 
 
 at least for one hour ? 
 If not on the ground, and in ashes, 
 
 at least not in my bed ? 
 If not in sackcloth, 
 
 at least not in purple and fine linen ? 
 If not altogether freed from all, 
 at least from immoderate, desires ? 
 Do I give, if not, as Zaccheus, four-fold, 
 
 at least, as the law commands, with the fifth 
 part added ? 
 if not as the rich, yet as the widow ? 
 if not the half, yet the thirtieth part ? 
 if not above my power, yet up to my power ? 
 
 an act of Meager, ocforc the ILorVs Supper. 
 
 Lord, I am not worthy, I am not fit, 
 that Thou shouldest come under the defiled roof 
 of my soul, 
 
228 COMMUNION PRAYERS 
 
 for it is all desolate and ruined ; 
 nor hast Thou in me fitting place 
 to lay Thy head. 
 
 But, as Thou didst condescend 
 to lie in the cavern and manger of brute cattle, 
 as Thou didst not refuse 
 to be entertained in the house of Simon the leper, 
 as Thou didst not disdain 
 the harlot, a sinner like me, 
 when she came to Thee and touched Thee, 
 as Thou abhorredst not 
 her polluted and loathsome mouth, 
 nor the thief upon the cross 
 confessing Thee : 
 So me too, the ruined, wretched, 
 and excessive sinner, 
 deign to receive to the touch and the partaking 
 of the immaculate, supernatural, lifegiving, 
 and saving mysteries 
 of Thy all-holy body 
 and Thy precious blood. 
 
 Listen, O Lord, our God, 
 from Thy holy habitation, 
 and from the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, 
 
 and come to sanctify us. 
 O Thou Who sittest on high with the Father, 
 and art present with us here invisibly, 
 come Thou to sanctify the gifts which lie before 
 Thee, 
 
 and those in whose behalf, and by whom, 
 and the things for which, 
 they are brought near Thee. 
 And grant to us communion, 
 unto faith without shame, 
 
A COMMUNION MEDITATION 229 
 love unfeigned, 
 fulfilment of Thy commandments, 
 alacrity for every spiritual fruit, 
 hindrance of all that is adverse, 
 healing of soul and body ; 
 that we too, with all saints 
 since the world began 
 who have been well pleasing to Thee, 
 
 may become partakers 
 of Thy undefiled and everlasting goods, 
 which Thou hast prepared, O Lord, for them that 
 love Thee ; 
 in whom Thou art glorified 
 for ever and ever. 
 Lamb of God, 
 that takest away the sin of the world, 
 take away the sin of me, 
 the utter sinner. 
 
 a Habitation outing this ££erbi« ano after 
 the Supucr. 
 
 A token of fellowship. Acts ii. 42. 
 A memorial of the dispensation. Luke xxii. 19, 20. 
 A shewing of the Lord's death. 1 Cor. xi. 26. 
 The communion of His body and blood. 
 
 1 Cor. x. 16. 
 A sharing in the Sjririt. 1 Cor. xii. 13. 
 Remission of sins. Mali. xxvi. 28. 
 A turning away of things contrary. 1 Cor. v. 7. 
 Rest of conscience. Matt. xi. 28. 
 Blotting out of debts. Col. ii. 14. 
 Cleansing of stains. Heb. ix. 14. 
 Healing of the soul's sicknesses. 1 Pet. ii. 24. 
 
230 COMMUNION PRAYERS 
 
 Renewing of the covenant. Psalm 1. 5. 
 Food of spiritual life. John vi. 27. 
 Increase of strengthening grace. Heb. xiii. 9 
 And of soul-winning consolation. Phil. ii. 1. 
 Compunction of penitence. 2 Cor. vii. 9. 
 Illumination of mind. Luke xxiv. 31. 
 Exercise of humility. John xiii. 11. 
 Seal of faith. 2 Cor. i. 22. 
 Fulness of wisdom. John vi. 35. 
 Bond of love. John xiii. 35. 
 Arming with endurance. 1 Peter iv. 1. 
 Liveliness of thanksgiving. Psalm cxvi. 1 2. 
 Confidence of prayer. Psalm cxvi. 13. 
 Mutual indwelling. «/o^k vi. 56. 
 Pledge of resurrection. John vi. 54. 
 Acceptable defence in judgment. 1 Cor. xi. 29. 
 Covenant of the inheritance. Luke xxii. 20. 
 Figure of our perfection. John xvii. 23. 
 
 Communion. 
 
 We then remembering, O sovereign Lord, 
 in the presence of Thy holy mysteries, 
 the saving sufferings of Thy Christ, 
 His lifegiving cross, 
 most precious death, 
 three days' burial, 
 resurrection from the dead, 
 ascension into heaven, 
 
 session at the right hand of Thee, the Father, 
 His glorious and terrible coming, 
 
 beseech Thee, O Lord, 
 that we, receiving in the pure testimony 
 of our conscience 
 our portion of Thy sacred things, 
 
AFTER COMMUNION 231 
 may be made one with the holy body and blood 
 of Thy Christ ; 
 and, receiving them not unworthily, 
 may hold Christ dwelling in our hearts, 
 and may become a temple 
 of Thy Holy Spirit. 
 Yea, O our God ; 
 nor make any of us guilty 
 of these Thy dread and heavenly mysteries, 
 nor infirm in soul or body 
 from partaking of them unworthily. 
 But grant us 
 until our last and closing breath 
 worthily to receive a hope of Thy holy things, 
 for sanctifying, enlightening, strengthening ; 
 for relieving the burden of my many sins, 
 safeguarding against all Satanic working, 
 averting and hindering my evil conscience, 
 mortifying passions ; 
 for fulfilment of Thy commandments, 
 growth in Thy divine grace, 
 and entrance into Thy kingdom. 
 
 after (Eommunton. 
 
 It is finished and done, 
 so far as in our power, 
 Christ our God, 
 the mystery of Thy dispensation ; 
 for we have held remembrance of Thy death, 
 we have seen the figure of Thy resurrection, 
 we have been filled with Thy endless life, 
 we have enjoyed Thy uncloying dainties, 
 of which graciously vouchsafe unto all of us 
 
232 COMMUNION PRAYERS 
 
 to be accounted worthy also 
 in the world to come. 
 The good Lord 
 pardon every one 
 that prepareth his heart to seek God, 
 the Lord God of his fathers, 
 though he be not cleansed 
 according to the purification of the sanctuary. 
 
 THE END 
 
 Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty 
 at the Edinburgh University Press 
 
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