CHAPTER XLVII. EMBER DAYS. FASTS. Q. WHAT are the Ember days? A. The Ember days are certain days set apart for consecrating to God the four seasons of the year; and for imploring his blessing, by fasting and prayer, upon the ordinations performed in the Church at those times. It was the practice of the Apostles, when they set apart persons for the work of the ministry, to pray and fast before they laid on their hands. It will become us, therefore, to address Heaven at this time after the same manner; that God would be pleased so to govern the minds of the Bishops, that they may admit none into holy orders but those who are duly qualified for the discharge of that sacred function; and that those who shall be ordained to serve at the altar, may, by their exemplary lives and zealous labours, turn many to righteousness. Q. When are these Ember days observed in the Church? A. The Ember days are observed at the four seasons of the year, being the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, after Whitsunday, after the fourteenth of September, and after the thirteenth of December. The Sundays immediately following these days being the stated times of ordination appointed by the Church. Q. Why are these fasts called Ember days? A. There have been many conjectures about the origin of this name. Emb, or Embe, in Saxon, signifies a course or circuit; Embehtan, to administer, and Embehtman, a minister. Ember weeks may, therefore, signify the periodical times for appointing ministers. Q. Why was the ordination of ministers fixed at these seasons? A. The ordination of ministers was perhaps fixed at these seasons, first, that as all the people are concerned in the ordaining of a fit clergy, so all may have an opportunity of joining in fasting and prayer for the direction and blessing of God; secondly, that both Bishops and Clergy, knowing the time, may prepare themselves for this great work; and, lastly, that the people, knowing the times, may, if they please, be present, either to approve the choice made by the Bishop, or to object against those whom they know to be unworthy.* CHAPTER XLVIII. ALL FRIDAYS in the YEAR. A FAST. Q. WHAT weekly fast is enjoyed by the Church? A. The Church enjoins as fasts all Fridays in the year, except Christmas day; which, though it fall upon a Friday, is celebrated as a day of rejoicing. Q. Why was Friday celebrated as a day of fasting? A. The primitive Church observed Friday as a fast in commemoration of our Saviour's sufferings, who was cruci fied on this day of the week. On no day can we with more propriety humble ourselves on account of our sins, than on that when the blessed Jesus humbled himself even to the death upon the cross for us, miserable sinners. Q. In what manner should we observe this day? A. We should on this day (as the Church directs us) use "such a measure of abstinence as is more especially suited to extraordinary acts and exercises of devotion." Besides attending the public prayers of the Church, we should enlarge our private devotions, and employ some part of the day in the serious examination of our hearts and lives, comparing them impartially with the laws of God, searching out and acknowledging our sins both of omission and commission. Q. What are the considerations which should excite us to a thorough and impartial examination of ourselves? A. When we are inquiring into the state of our minds, we should recollect that we are in the presence of God, to whom our most secret thoughts are open and naked; and therefore we should impartially compare our most secret sctions by the standard of his laws; for though we may impose upon ourselves and others, we cannot devive an omniscient God. We should consider also that we must soon appear * The substance of the chapters in the original work of Nelson, on the Ember days, will be found in the present work, in the preliminay instructions on the Church. - before the dreadful tribunal of God, to render an account of all our thoughts, words, and actions. And we should endeavour to escape the terrors of that awful trial, by frequently reviewing our hearts and lives, and confessing our sins to God, that we may obtain, by repentance, his mercy and favour, through the prevailing intercession of his Son Jesus Christ. Q. In what manner should this examination be performed? A. We should supplicate the grace of God to enlighten us in the knowledge of ourselves, to expose to us our own unworthiness and guilt. We should try ourselves by some of the leading principles and duties of religion-Whether we have frequent and serious thoughts of God-whether we view with lively gratitude and faith, the exalted plan of salvation through his Son Jesus Christ-whether we cherish firm and lively resolutions of obeying him—whether we constantly perform the duties of public and private worship, and serve God with diligence and devotion-whether we discharge faithfully the duties of that station in which we are placed, both in reference to the public and our own private families -whether we are active and zealous in doing all the good in our power to the bodies and souls of men--in short, whether the service of God be our supreme aim and highest enjoyWe should also consider the several aggravations of our transgressions-whether they were committed against the light of our minds, with the free consent of our wills, and in despite of the checks of our own conscience-whether they have been often repeated, and are transient acts or settled habits. And we should carefully note the previous steps by which we have been led into sin, and the peculiar infirmity of our own character, that we may, for the future, be on our guard against temptation. ment. Q. Should we not engage in self-examination every evening? A. We should every evening direct to our own consciences such inquiries as the following: How have we spent the day? What sins have we committed? What duties have we omitted? Have we regularly performed the duties of public and private devotion? Have we embraced every opportunity which offered of doing good? Has our intercourse with others been marked with candour and affability? Have we avoided the vices of evil-speaking and slander, the bane of society? Have we conducted our business with honesty and fidelity? Have we improved usefully our leisure time? Have our relaxations and amusements been confined within the bounds of Christian moderation? What mercies have we received; and how thankful have we been for them? What temptations have we resisted? What progress have we gained in overcoming, through divine grace, our sinful passions? Have we this day cherished a constant sense of the presence and inspection of God, and lifted up our souls to him in devout gratitude, as our Creator, Benefactor, Preserver, and Redeemer ?-Having thus reviewed the state of our minds and our conduct through the day, we should humbly supplicate the forgiveness of God for the sins which we have committed, and render him the glory and praise of all our good and virtuous actions. We should, through divine grace, resolve on better obedience for the future; and should make reparation to our neighbour for whatever injuries we have done him in his person, property, or character. Q. What are the great advantages of frequent self-ex amination? A. The frequent examination of our hearts and lives makes us thoroughly acquainted with ourselves, a knowledge of the greatest importance. It prompts us to repentance, as the only remedy for the guilt which, by our sins, we have contracted. It disposes us to humility, from a lively sense of our frequent errors and miscarriages. It keeps us in a state of constant preparation for death, by making us careful to avoid all sin, and by exciting us to the practice of those holy graces and virtues which will prepare us for heaven. *In addition to the foregoing Festivals and Fasts, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America has appointed the first Thursday in November (unless some other day be appointed by the civil authority) as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the fruits of the earth, and all other blessings of his merciful providence. And the Church nas prescribed a solemn form of service for the day, every way calculated to excite the sentiments of devout and holy gratitude, and to give expres sion to them. DEVOTIONS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, SUITED TO THE FEASTS AND FASTS OF THE CHURCH. The following Devotions may be used in families, in the way of responses, the persons present repeating audibly the parts printed in italics, while the master or mistress of the family, or some other person, repeats the other parts of the Devotion. All these Prayers may also be used by individuals, by changing the plural to the singular number. The following Introductory Devotions* may be used Morning and Evening immediately before the Family Prayers in the Prayer Book. But on Festivais and Fasts, instead of these Introductory Devotions, the Devotions appointed in this Book for those Festivals and Fasts may be used. DAILY DEVOTIONS. SUNDAY MORNING.. BEHOLD the angels assembled in their choirs, and the blessed saints ready with their hymns; behold the Church prepares her solemn offices, and summons all her children to bring in their praises. Come, let us adore our God and Saviour. The King of heaven himself invites us, and graciously calls us into his own presence; he bids us suspend our mean employments in the world, and enter his temple to hold sacred communion with him. Come, let us adore our God and Saviour. To him we owe all the days of our lives at least let us devote this one to his service; a service so sweet and easy in itself, and so infinitely rich in its eternal rewards. Come, let us adore our God and Saviour. Let us cheerfully ascend to the house of our Lord, the place he has chosen for our sakes to dwell in; let us reverently bow before his holy altar, where he comes to meet us and our prayers. far Come, let us adore our God and Saviour. SUNDAY EVENING. VISIT, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive away all snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell * Selected and altered from Hickes' Book of Devotions. |