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preserve the sacred rights committed to their trust; for all that strive to propagate Thy Gospel; for a primitive zeal in all that fear Thy Name; for all that sit in darkness and error, or are destitute of necessary means of instruction ; for all that sincerely seek the truth; for all sinners, that they may have grace and strength to break their bonds; for all that are in adversity; for all that suffer wrongfully, or that are deprived of their just rights; for all that are in pain of body, or anguish of mind and spirit; for all that are tempted, or in danger of failing into despair; for all that are in slavery, under persecution, in prison or in poverty; for all persons and places in distress by the sword, pestilence, and famine; for all that are in their last sickness, that they may omit nothing that is necessary to make their peace with GOD; for all widows and fatherless children; for all that call upon GOD, and have none else to help them; for this land, and this Church, that the LORD may avert the judgments which we justly deserve; for our friends, our relations, our benefactors, and for our enemies; for all that have desired our prayers, and for the whole mystical Body of Christ; beseeching the Almighty GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all, to have mercy upon all whom He has made and redeemed, and to give unto all grace and help according to the necessities they labour under; for Thy sake, O LORD Jesus, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, dominion and power, for ever and ever. Amen..

Adapted from BISHOP WILSON.

In place of this Intercession, any of the special Intercessory prayers (pp. 124, 125, 143-163) may be used.

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Make an Act of Spiritual Communion with Christ.

BLESSED Jesus, my LORD and my GOD, I praise, worship, and glorify Thee for Thy many mercies, more than I can number and far greater than I can

express.

I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed. Come by Thy spiritual power, and strengthen and refresh my fainting spirit. Supply all my needs, and grant that I may soon again go forth into the House of GOD, there to appear before Thy Presence and behold Thy power and glory in the Sanctuary. For Thy mercies' sake. Amen.

Give Thanks.

The LORD's Prayer. The Gloria in Excelsis. Nunc Dimittis.

The

(The following Hymn may be said before Part II.)

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Instruction in Meditation.

Feed on Him by faith with thanksgiving.

This counsel of the Church must be diligently followed, if the Eucharist is to be a power in our life. In these days, when all the avenues of knowledge are opened out to us, there is a danger lest we should pursue them for their own sake rather than for His to Whom they all lead. Hence the growing necessity of the practice of meditation. No one, writes Bishop Westcott. absolve himself from the duty of spiritual thought.' The knowledge of truth," writes Dr. Hort, "is indispensable for the mature service of GOD; the desire and pursuit of truth is an essential part of a holy worship." This we cannot obtain without determination. "Can we

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suppose that the highest knowledge, and the highest knowledge alone, is to be gained without effort, without preparation, without discipline, and by a simple act of memory? Is it credible that the law of our nature, which adds capacity to experience and joy to quest, is suddenly suspended when we reach the loftiest field of man's activity?" Surely not. We must then take pains to know GOD, and labour for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give."

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Meditation is the name we give to that effort of thought which we make, under the direction of the Holy Ghost, to know GOD. In outline it is simple, in experience it is difficult, but its fruits are worth the seeking. The work may be divided into three parts.

(1) Preparation.-Realize the Presence of GOD. First say, Thou GOD seest me." ""Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer : then the "Veni Creator."

(2) Meditation.-Action of Memory, Imagination, Understanding. By the Memory we bring the subject

before us, by the Imagination we fill it with life, by the Understanding we think out its practical bearings.

(3) Devotion.-Now follows the exercise of the affections and will. Thank GOD for the fresh knowledge of His love that He has given you; ask that you may profit by it; and resolve to say or do something by which it may be stamped upon your soul.

SUGGESTIONS.

(Adapted from a Tract, "Meditation-What it is, and How to Make it."

Twenty minutes (or even fifteen) usually long enough for a Meditation.

Early in morning, best time.

Say, kneeling, the Preparation and latter portion; i.e., Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Resolution).

Make the rest of Meditation (ie., Part 2) in position least distracting; e.g., sitting.

Let the Resolution be simple, definite, and capable of being carried out during the day of Meditation.

Daily Meditation is best; but at least on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Colloquies or short prayers and ejaculations to GOD, and addresses to your own soul, interspersed throughout Meditation, are helpful.

Best subjects for Meditation: Christ's Life and His Parables and His Dealings with individuals.

Helpful Books.-A. G. MORTIMER: Helps to Meditation. CARTER Meditations on the Suffering, Glorified and Hidden Life. GOULBURN: An Introduction to the Devotional Study of the Holy Scriptures. EUGENE STOCK: Lessons on the Life of our LORD. LÜCKOCK:

Footprints of the Son of Man, as traced by S. Mark. WILKINSON: Instructions in the Devotional Life. T. T. CARTER: The Devout Christian's Help to Meditation on the Life of our LORD.

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II. SUNDAY. That we may quicken our hope of His coming by devotion to the Scriptures.— Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that

we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.

III. SUNDAY. For a faithful ministry to prepare His coming.-Grant that the ministers and stewards of Thy mysteries may prepare and make ready Thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.

IV. SUNDAY. For His present coming. O LORD, raise up, we pray Thee, Thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us.

Ep.-How to prepare. Gosp. The Preparation of Christ's cleansing.

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