Devotions for St. Stephen's Day. T. Stephen, full of grace and courage, resolutely proclaimed the gospel of his Master; and none could resist the wisdom and spirit with which he spake. He boldly set before the Jews their awful guilt, and the awful guilt of their forefathers, as betrayers and murderers of the just One, and of those who foretold his coming. When they expressed against him their rage and fury, he looked steadfastly up, and saw the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. While they stoned him, he triumphantly called upon his Saviour, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit; and, kneeling down, implored the pardon of his murderers, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Most great and glorious Lord God, the bountiful bestower of all blessings, who in thy first martyr St. Stephen, has vouchsafed to thy Church an eminent example of all Christian graces, kindle in our hearts, we beseech thee, a zealous emulation of his faith and courage, his zeal and constancy, his patience and resignation, his meekness and love; that imitating his constancy in maintaining thy truth, and his charity in forgiving our enemies, we may finally be received into the everlasting kingdom of peace and love, there to enjoy the exalted vision of the face and excellency of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to whom be glory and power, honour and adoration, thanksgiving and praise, now and for ever. Amen. [Add the Collect for the Day.] Devotions for St. John the Evangelist's Day. THIS is the favourite disciple who leaned on our Lord's breast at his last supper, and to whom were revealed the secrets of heaven. This is he, in whom meet all those glorious titles of Apos tle, Evangelist, Prophet, and Confessor. This is he, who, above all those glorious titles, delights in this one, incomparably greater than they all-the disciple whom Jesus loved. He alone had the sympathy and courage to assist at the cross the mourning mother of Jesus; he alone had the glory to hear himself and her bequeathed to one another as mother and son. God, by the prerogative of whose special grace the bless ed apostle St. John obtained the transcendent title of the beloved of his Master, and afterwards became the great teacher of charity throughout the world! grant, we beseech thee, that his sacred memory may excite us to attain the same purity of body and mind, the same steady love of thee, and sincere charity one for another; that so we may possess a humble claim to the same blessed title, the beloved of our Master; and share in its happy consequences, thy grace here, and thy glory hereafter; through Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth, one God, with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. [Add the Collect for the Day.] Devotions for the Holy Innocents' Day. The wonderful Providence of God! which overruled the purpose of cruelty in the tyrant Herod, to the immortal glory of the innocent children whose blood he shed. For these were brought from amongst men as the first fruits of God and the Lamb; and in their mouths there was found no guile; they are without spot before the throne of God. A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation, and great mourn→ ing; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Weep not for thy children, Rachel! behold they live. Be comforted; they are exalted to glory; they reign with their Saviour for ever and ever. Blessed and Eternal God! who, by the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, has taught thy Church, that no age or occasion of suffering for the Saviour is exempt from high reward; grant, we beseech thee, that our celebration of this festival may lead us supremely to adore thy mysterious Providence. O do thou stir up our hearts sincerely and faithfully to glorify thee by an innocent and holy life; humbly to submit to thy will; to trust in thy goodness; and, contemnBb ing the world, to aspire after thy favour; that thus finally, by thy mercy, we may be admitted to the participation of the immortal felicities of that heavenly kingdom where these innocent martyrs are exalted, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Devotions for the Circumcision, or New-Year's Day. TO-DAY our Lord was circumcised, and received the divine and saving name of Jesus. Alleluja. Come, let us adore him. Come, let us adore him. To-day our blessed Saviour, who was Lord of the law, and by his perfect purity, absolutely exempt from its penalties, submitted for us to the painful rite of circumcision, and dishonour of being reckoned among sinners. To-day was given the name above every name, that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow of things in heaven, of things on earth, and things under the earth. O blessed Jesus, make good to us thy precious name, and save us from our sins; that now we may begin a new year of piety and holiness, and cancel by our repentance the failings of the old. 0 Most blessed God! who, for our example, didst command thy beloved Son to submit his pure and innocent flesh to the rigour of the law; and for encouragement of our hope, didst make choice of the divine and tender name of JESUS; teach us, we beseech thee, with readiness and humility to obey thy sacred laws, howsoever averse they may be to our unmortified passions; and in all our necessities, to call with joy and confidence on that holy name, through which whatsoever we ask, we are promised shall be granted. Endue us with courage and resolution to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; that being rescued from the dominion of sin, and turned from darkness to light, we may evermore live as thy servants and subjects. Mindful of the shortness and uncertainty of life, may we diligently employ the allotted term of our probation in working out our salvation; that so, at the last and awful day of account, we may be accepted and blessed through the merits of him, who is the only Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [Add the Collect for the Day.] TO-DAY him. Devotions for the Epiphany. O-DAY the wise men brought presents to our Lord. To-day the wise men were led by a star to the cradle of our Lord, and falling down adored him, and offered him their royal presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now were the first fruits of the Gentiles consecrated unto the Lord, and that prophecy happily fulfilled; "The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." Alleluja! Alleluja! Alleluja. God! who, by the guidance of a miraculous star, didst lead the Gentiles to the eternal Sun of Righteousness, newly risen upon the world; we beseech thee to lead us by thy grace to a spiritual knowledge and love of this Saviour, the only hope and refuge of fallen man. O let thy holy Spirit illuminate our understandings with the knowledge of him, incline our wills to obey him, and our affections to desire and seek after him. May we render him homage by our wealth employed in his service, and for the good of others ; by our prayers and praises devoutly offered to hin; and by our souls and bodies presented as a holy and living sacrifice to him; and may we, with ardour, look forward to the glorious period, when thy chosen people the Jews, with the fulness of the Gentiles, shall come to the saving knowledge of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. [Add the Collect for the Day.] Devotions for the Festival of the Conversion of St. Paul. TOI O-DAY let us remember the great Apostle of the Gentiles, miraculously converted to the Christian faith. Come let us adore the Almighty God who hath made this Apostle great in the Church. Alleluja. This day we commemorate, how our Lord, in a glorious light, appeared from heaven to the greatest persecutor of his name; and made him, with trembling and astonishment, cry out, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do! He was made V blind that he might see; and from a most bitter persecutor, he straight became a most zealous disciple; not a disciple only, but an Apostle. Alleluja. . We celebrate this day one of the most stupendous changes that ever was wrought; a conversion, the most wonderful of all conversions; and from which millions of others have been derived. The illustrious convert preaches undauntedly the faith he had once opposed; and he, who had persecuted ethers to death, even lays down his life in defence of the same faith, Alleluja. Alleluja. Thou art a vessel of election, O Paul! teacher of the Gentiles! the great preacher of truth throughout the world. We bless thee, O God, for having caused, through the preaching of thy blessed Apostle Paul, the light of salvation. to shine on the nations that sat in darkness and the shadow of death. Alleluja. He fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith. And therefore there was laid up for him a crown of righte ousness. Almighty God! may we ever devoutly praise thy grace, whereby thou didst make this Apostle a vessel prepared unto glory; may we ever adore that incomprehensible love whereby thou didst enable him to promulgate the blessed gospel throughout the world. Encouraged by thy mercy to him, may we never despair of obtaining forgiveness from thee. Always keeping in mind the doctrines which he taught, resolutely following his zealous and holy example, continuing in thy service faithful unto death, may we, at last, receive a crown of life and glory in the highest heavens, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. [Add the Collect for the Day.] Devotions for the Festival of the Purification, &c. TO-DAY our blessed Lord was presented in the temple. Alleluja. Come, let us adore him. To-day the blessed and holy mother of God, in most humble obedience, performed the common rites of purification, and presented her first-born Jesus in the temple; redeem. ing him, according to the law, for the price of five shekels of silver. |