And though our strictest fastings fail
To merit of themselves Thy grace,
Yet they to make for our avail,
By Thy deservings may have place.
4 True fastings helpful oft have been,
The wanton flesh to mortify;
But they take off no guilt of sin,
Nor can we merit aught thereby :

It is Thine abstinence, O Christ!
And Thine alone that merit must;
For when our works are at the best,
We perish if in them we trust.

HYMN XXXII.

For the Annunciation.

THE Church dedicates this day to commemorate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, who was about this time of the year saluted by the angel Gabriel : it mindeth us to praise God for the inexpressible mystery of our Saviour's conception, which was the happy news brought unto His mother by that angel. Sing this as the 100th Psalm.

UR hearts, O blessed God! incline
Thy true affection to embrace,
And that humility divine,

Which for our sakes vouchsafed was.

Thy goodness teach us to put on,
As with our nature Thou wert clad;
And so to heed Thy favours done,
That we may praise Thee and be glad.
2 For Thou didst not alone depute
Thy holy angel from above,
An humble virgin to salute
With an embassage of Thy love;

But Thou these glories laying by, Which none hath pow'r to comprehend, Didst also then most wondrously Into that virgin's womb descend. 3 Vouchsafe Thou, likewise, Thy respect To our despised and low degree; And, Lord! oh do not us neglect, Though worthy of contempt we be : But by Thy messengers prepare, And hallow so our hearts, we pray, That Thou may'st be conceived there, And that faith's fruits bring forth we may.

HYMN XXXIII.

For Palm Sunday.

PALM Sunday is called so, because it commemorates the day wherein Jesus Christ rode in triumph to Jerusalem, His way being strewed with garments and branches of the palm-tree. It was, indeed, the day of proclaiming Him King, though few considered it, as the Friday following was the day of His coronation; and worthily are these mysteries remembered this day.

Sing this as the Magnificat.

HEN Christ unto Jerusalem,

To suffer, meekly rode,

The ways and streets were then for Him

With palm and robes bestrow'd;

And though the steed He did bestride
Was but a silly ass,

Hosanna to the King, they cried,
As He along did pass.
2 His glory and His royal right
Through poverty did shine;

And show'd, in earthly pomp's despite,
A majesty divine.

For though His greatest foes did frown,
He exercised His power,

Till He Himself did lay it down
At His appointed hour.

3 Possession of His house He got,

The merchants thence expell'd;

Yea, though the Priests did rage thereat,
He there His lectures held;

And they in wit or faith were dull
Who doubted what he was,
When deeds they saw so powerful,
By weakness brought to pass.
4 Lord! when to us Thou drawest nigh,
Thee let us learn to know;
And to receive Thee joyfully,

Though mean in outward show.
Yea, though the rich and worldly-wise,
When we Thy praise do sing,
Both us and Thee therefore despise,
Declare Thyself our King.

HYMN XXXIV.

For Thursday before Easter.

On this day Christ instituted the Sacrament of His Last Supper; washed his disciples' feet; prayed for them and all the faithful; instructed, warned, exhorted, counselled and comforted them before His approaching death, and resurrection, &c. In commemoration of these, and other pertinent circumstances preceding His passion, we do yearly observe this day.

Sing this as the Lord's Prayer.

HOLY sacrament this day,

To us thou didst, O Lord! bequeath,

That by the same preserve we may

A due memorial of Thy death;

And that we might thereby to Thee
Mysteriously united be.

2 Thy holy supper being done,
Thou washedst Thy disciples' feet,
Thereby informing every one
What lowliness for those is meet,

Who Thy disciples would be thought,
Thy practice following as they ought.
3 This day thou didst moreover spend,
To counsel, comfort, and to pray,
That Satan might not gain his end,
While death removed Thee away:

Then, as by Thee it was foresaid,
That night Thy servant Thee betray'd.
4 Yea, they that night from Thee did fly
Who promised constant to abide;
Even he who vowed for Thee to die,
With oaths and curses Thee deny'd:

To show that we soon fall from grace,
If in ourselves our trust we place.

5 Sweet Jesus! teach us to conceive
What grief thou felt'st when Thou didst hear
Thy vowed friend his faith to leave,
And in Thy presence Thee forswear;

That we our vows may better keep,
And for our past denials weep.

6 Lord! every passage of this day
Within our hearts engrave
thou so,
That we thereby remember may
Our duties faithfully to do;

And let our love, O God! to Thee,
In life and death unchanged be.

HYMN XXXV.

For Friday before Easter.

THIS day we memorialise the insufferable Passion of Jesus Christ, who about this time of the year, and on this day of the week, was despitefully crucified by Pilate and the Jews: every day we ought to meditate the same. But this day most congregations meet in a public commemoration thereof, to provoke each other to compunction of heart, and to give an occasion to such as are heedless or ignorant thereof, to be better acquainted therewith.

Sing this as the 51st Psalm.

OU that regardless pass along,
And are unmindful of this day,
Give ear unto my doleful song,

And heedful be what now I say;
A tragic story sing I shall,
Which nearly doth concern us all;
The like was never heard before,
Nor shall be told for evermore.

2 The noblest prince that e'er wore crown,
Beyond all baseness was abused;

The truest friend that e'er was known,
Worse than the cruel'st foe was used:
He, that offended not in aught,
By deed, by word, or by a thought,
Tormented was for all the crimes,
Of present, past, or future times.
3 They for whose grief He sadly wept,
Pursued His life who sought their good;
To mischieve Him strict watch they kept,
And thirsted for His precious blood:

Yet He continued loving still,
To them repaying good for ill;
*To do him mischief.