THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.

For God's Providence and Grace.

GREAT source of power! of wisdom infinite,
Full well thou know'st man's hard but helpless state;
Our own poor strength unfit for combat quite,
While direst foes for our destruction wait!

Keep, mighty Lord, beneath thy wakeful eye,
While Satan round us prowls,

Our bodies outwardly

And inwardly our souls,

So while hell's ministers about us swarm,

Couched in each varying guise to work us harm,
We still may pass our days, shielded by thee,
In holiest security;

E'en our frail bodies, fed by thine own hand,
Year after year, vigorous and fresh shall stand,
Glad helpmates of the mind;

Whilst that consorted so, and fitly enshrined,

Pure from all sensual lust,

Waxing each day more holy, wise, and just,

Shall grow full meet to walk with spirits on high; Then these few days of trial gone,

Well borne through faith in God's incarnate Son, "Twill sweetly pass into a calm eternity.

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT.

For Protection.

O GOD, in whom alone concentered lie

The treasures of all power and might; to thee In each hard struggle still with humble cry, And fervent vows thy helpless servants flee, For wonted aid in their extremity!

Look down, all gracious Lord, and cover us, Whilst through this perilous wilderness we go, Still let our Father's hand be over us,

Baffling each bodily or ghostly foe;

And poor, infirm, unworthy as we are,

Make us for Jesus sake, blest objects of thy care.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

For the comfort of God's grace.

O God, whose power, illimitably great,
Is guided still by love commensurate;
Accept with favour our repentant prayer,
And spare thy people, Lord, in mercy spare ;
And though we know full many an evil deed
Doth cry for vengeance, let thy love exceed
And mitigate thy wrath; what hope of bliss!
Wert thou extreme to mark what's done amiss;
Of no deserts thy humbled servants speak,
'Tis pardon, Lord, forgiveness that we seek ;
Let the refreshing dew of spiritual grace,
Softly descending from thy dwelling place,
Recomfort our sad hearts; bid them be stay'd
On that atonement Jesus Christ has made;
For 'tis through his almighty power to save,
Thy grace and favour, Lord, we sinners crave.

THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT.

That we may be under God's keeping.

ALMIGHTY GOD! whose power immense Can work whate'er thy wisdom wills, Stand forth, thy people's sure defence, From this world's ever threatening ills.

Guide them, O Lord, to favoured ground, And on their lot abundance pour; There let full streams of goodness round, Well forth both now and evermore.

So may they dwell in quiet place, Their bodies by thy care supplied, Their spirits cheered by his rich grace,

Who for their peace and pardon died.

THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

MARY.

For faith in Christ.

WHILST in the flesh, good Lord, how all obscure

Our intellectual sight!

These eyes too feeble meetly to endure

Truth's pure and vivid light!

The grace thou giv'st asks further bounty still,

"Tis not enough, thou shew'st thy holy will,

We yet need thee to help us to believe!

On softest wing the glowing angel came,
And hailed the lowly maid;

"Of all the blessed that bear woman's name,

Most blest art thou;" he said,

"Fear not thou favoured one, for of thy womb, As elder prophets tell,

The mighty Saviour of mankind shall come,

Thence Jesus fitly named-Emmanuel.”