choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LITURGY.

O God, by whose providence thy Church from ancient times has set apart four solemn seasons of conferring holy orders upon chosen persons, to supply the faithful with a succession of priests and deacons; and enjoined us all with extraordinary devotions to implore thy special assistance to a work which so much concerns us all; hear, we most humbly beseech thee, thy servants, who, by the mortification of our bodies, desire to increase the fervour of our prayers. O give the bishops of ours, and of all other Churches, the grace of discerning spirits, that they may ordain only such as are indeed fit for their sacred functions; and grant us the grace of reverence, and due subjection to those so ordained, as truly sent by thee for our edification, through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy only Son, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

HICKES.

171

Fast-Bays.

O LORD Jesus, who by thy holy doctrine hast taught us to fast, and watch, and pray, and by thy blessed example hast powerfully engaged us to follow thy steps; grant, I beseech thee, that I may have grace conscientiously to observe that wholesome discipline prescribed by thy Church; and with due mortification of my flesh, so to quicken my spirit by frequent devotion, that all my carnal appetites may be buried in thy grave, and all my affections rise with thee to immortality that I may henceforth avoid the broad and flattering road of present ease leading to death, and press resolutely forward in the rough and narrow path which leads to true life. May I so meditate on thine infinite mercies, and do thou so fill my soul with the memory of thy wonderful love, that I may imitate thy holy example, live in thy obedience, die in thy favour, and rise again finally to rejoice with thee in thy glory.

HICKES.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son, for our sakes, did fast forty days and forty nights, give me grace to use such abstinence, during this season dedicated to the exercise of repentance, that my flesh may be subdued to the spirit, and my mind the better dis

Let

posed to approach thee with ardour and fervency of affection. Inure me, by selfdenial, to bring my body into subjection, and to punish all those excesses I have been guilty of in the use of thy creatures. my retirement from the world make me see the vanity and emptiness of it, and teach me to relish the pleasures of spiritual enjoyments. Make me heartily to bewail my sins, and do thou work in me a godly sorrow unto salvation, not to be repented of; that, perceiving how bitter a thing it is to depart from the living God, I may no longer continue at a distance from the Fountain of joy and happiness; but, confessing and forsaking my sins, may be entirely devoted unto thee, through Jesus Christ, my only Saviour. Amen.

SPINCKES.

Good Friday.

O God, who by the mortifying discipline of Lent hast graciously disposed us for that solemn season of closer preparation to celebrate the memory of our Saviour's bitter passion; make us now, we beseech thee, so devoutly attend to, and so thoroughly meditate on, every circumstance of this dear mystery, that it may melt our hearts with such tender compassion as may kill in them

all sin, the sole cause of his sufferings, and fit us by perfect love of him for a happy part in his glorious_resurrection, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who once suffered, but now lives and reigns with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,

&c.

HICKES.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of the world, who didst foretell to thine apostles, that at the time of thy sufferings they should weep and lament, while the world rejoiced, and that they should be sorrowful, but their sorrow should be turned into joy; grant that during this time wherein thou didst suffer, and wast afflicted with extreme sorrow and anguish for the sins of the whole world, we thy unworthy servants may so weep and lament, and be sorrowful for our sins, the cause of all those thy sorrows and sufferings, that on the day of thy triumphant resurrection we may rejoice with that joy which no man can take from us: grant this, O blessed Lord and Saviour, who didst die for our sins, and rise again for our justification, and now livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

BISHOP COSIN.

Almighty God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; give us grace, that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.