preserves a singular coherency and force, and a no less remarkable fervour and spirituality of tone. It is, first, (a) a declaration of the sure and searching character of God's judgments, falling suddenly on the wilfully blind and impenitent, and vainly deprecated in remorse, when the hour of repentance has passed away. (See Mat. iii. 8, 10; Ps. xi. 7; Mal. iii. 2; Mat. iii. 12; 1 Thes. v. 3; Prov. i. 28-30; Mat. xxv. 10, 11, 31). (b) Next a call to timely penitence, while the day of salvation lasteth, enforced by the most gracious promises of forgiveness from Old Testament prophecy (see 2 Cor. vi. 2; John ix. 4, 5; xiii. 36; Is. i. 18; Ezek. xviii. 30-32). (c) Lastly, the Gospel call to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Advocate, as ready to receive and willing to pardon, calling us to take His yoke upon us and find rest, promising us a place on His right hand and His blessing at the Great Day (1 John ii. 1, 2; Is. liii. 5, 6; Matt. xi. 29, 30; xxv. 33, 34). Nothing can more fully express the threefold "conviction of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment" given by the Holy Spirit (John xvi. 711).

the other six being now used as Proper Psalms for Ash Wednesday. It is the Psalm of David's penitence after his great sin, and has been for centuries the deepest and most fervent expression of "the godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salva. tion," For, while it is full of profound humility, of sense of sin, and of the most intense supplication for the cleansing and renewing grace of the Holy Spirit, it still cherishes an unshaken faith in God's un failing mercy, a sure hope of restoration through that mercy to purity and gladness, and a confidence that He will accept the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart. In these lies the distinction between true repentance and remorse; and to us these convictions should be even more vivid than to David, be cause we know the perfect Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The SERVICE OF PRAYER then opens, as usual, with the Kyri and the Lord's Prayer.

The VERSICLES are again like those of the other Occasional Services, with, however, the insertion of the fifth and sixth, which are especially penitential (from Ps. lxxix. 9).

Of the COLLECTS, the former (a) is a simple prayer for God's absolution to those who feel and confess their sins; the latter (b) is a fuller and more fervent expression of the same prayer, opening with a preamble (like that of the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday Collects) of confi dence in God's mercy to all that He has made, and crying to Him to forgive, to receive and comfort, to spare our weakness and misery even in chastisement. and to prepare us for communion with Him in the world to come.

unto themselves; which despised the goodness, patience, and long-sufferance of God, when he calleth them continually to repentance. Then shall they call upon me, (saith the Lord,) but I will not hear; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; and that, because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and despised my correction. Then shall it be too late to knock when the door shall be shut; and too late to cry for mercy when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of most just judgment, which shall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be said unto them, Go, ye cursed, into the fire everlasting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of salvation lasteth; for the night cometh, when none can work. But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light; that we be not cast into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment, and of his endless pity promiseth us forgiveness of that which is past, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him. For though our sins be as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow; and though they be like purple, yet they shall be made white as wool. Turn ye (saith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your sin shall not be your destruction: Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done : Make you new hearts, and a new spirit: Wherefore will ye díe, O ye house of Israel, seeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord' God? Turn ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have sinned, yet have we an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins. For he was wounded for our offences, and smitten for our wickedness. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent sinners; assuring ourselves that he is ready to receive us, and most willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his easy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowliness, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; seeking always his glory, and serving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving: This if we do, Christ will deliver us from the curse of the law, and from the extreme malediction which shall light upon them that shall be set on the left band; and he will set us on his right hand, and give us the gracious bene

diction of his Father, commanding us to take possession of his glorious kingdom: Unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy. Amen.

Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Priests and Clerks kneeling (in the place where they are accustomed to say the Litany) shall say this Psalm.

Miserere mei, Deus. Psalm 51.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.

Wash me throughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived

me.

But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Turn thy face away from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.

Make me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

O give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew thy praise.

For thou desirest no sacritice, else would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son; and to the Holy Ghost:

The CONFESSION, called an 'Anthem," (or Antiphon) in 1549, is drawn almost entirely from the expressions of penitence in the Old Testament (see Lam. v. 21; Joel ii. 12, 13,17, &c.) It is one of great fervour in confession of sin, expression of sorrow, and cry for pardon.

In

comparison with those of the Morning and Communion Services, it is perhaps of even greater intensity, but of less comprehensiveness of idea.

The BLESSING, added in 1662, is a shortened form of the old Jewish Blessing (Num. vi, 24

26).

1

Ans. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR

UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Min. O Lord, save thy servants;
Ans. That put their trust in thee.
Min. Send unto them help from above.
Ans. And evermore mightily defend

them.

Min. Help us, O God our Saviour. Ans. And for the glory of thy Name deliver us; be merciful to us sinners, for thy Name's sake.

Min. O Lord, hear our prayer.
Ans. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister. Let us pray.

LORD, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

MOST mighty God, and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made; who wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from his sin, and be saved; Mer

cifully forgive us our trespasses; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins. Thy property is always to have mercy; to thee only it appertaineth to forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed; enter not into judgment with thy servants, who are vile earth, and miserable sinners; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our faults, and so make haste to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the people say this that followeth, after the Minister. TURN thou us, O good Lord, and so

shall we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be favourable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying. For thou art a merciful ing, and of great pity. Thou sparest God, Full of compassion, Long-sufferwhen we deserve punishment, And in thy wrath thinkest upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them, And let not thine heritage be brought to confusion, Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us; Through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minister alone shall say, THE Lord bless us, and keep us; the

Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen.