in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christ was for us made obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He is the propitiation of our sins, and not for our's only, but for the sins of the whole world. THE PSALM. We are thine, O God, by creation; for thou hast made us after thine own image. We are thine, O God, by redemption; for thou hast bought us by the blood of thine only Son. To redeem us he humbled himself to this low world, and the infirmities of our miserable nature. He patiently endured hunger and thirst, and the malicious affronts of enraged enemies, His precious blood he shed in the garden; where his soul was overwhelmed in agony unutterable. His precious blood he shed on the cross; where meekly bowing his fainting head, he yielded up the ghost. Lord, how does the world requite thy love! how ungrateful are we to thy blessed memory! We negligently forget thy sacred passion; or rather, far worse, our sins renew thy sufferings. If we deprive others of their right, what do we but strip thee of thy garments? While we delight in strife and schisms, what do we else but rend thy seamless coat? If we despise the least of thy servants, are we not as so many Herods that scorned thee? If we through fear act against our conscience, how are we better than Pilate who condemned thee? By forsaking thy will to follow our own, do we not choose a murderer before thee? By cherishing a sharp and bitter malice, do we not give thee vinegar and gall to drink? By showing no mercy to the poor and afflicted, do we not pass by the cross as strangers unconcerned? Thus we again crucify the Lord of glory, and put him afresh to an open shame. Are these the returns we make to that blessed Redeemer, who came into the world to seek and to save us when we were lost? We sought not him, but he came from far to find us out; we looked not towards him, but his mercy called us after him. He called aloud in words of tenderness, Why will ye perish, O ye children of men? Return, and I will receive you; repent, and though you have crucified me, I will forgive you. Behold, O blessed Jesus, to thee we come, and on thy holy cross fasten all our confidence. Never will we depart from this standard of our hope, till our troubled consciences are comforted by thy mercy. Crucify the world to us, and us to the world; that dead to it, we may live only to thee. Enter into our hearts, and fill them with thyself; reign in us for ever our Redeemer and Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Like blood-hounds, to surround me, they As spoil, my garments they divide, Therefore approach, O Lord, my strength, To Father, Son, &c. O HOLY and immaculate Lamb of God! who, by thy obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, hast made an all-sufficient atonement for the sins of the world; mercifully grant, that by thy precious blood we may be cleansed from our guilt, and by the power of thy grace be crucified unto the world; that thus, through thy mercy, we may be prepared for the inheritance of glory which thou hast purchased for us. Grant this, we beseech thee, O blessed Jesus, who having once suffered, dost now reign with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, in glory for ever. Amen. Our Father, &c. [Add the Collects for the Day.} Devotions for Easter Even. THE body of the Saviour rests in the grave, while his soul triumphantly passes into the place of departed spirits. In holy confidence thou dost address, O Saviour, thy Almighty Father-" Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption." Joyful is the assurance which thou dost direct to thy Church "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body they shall arise." 66 Awake, and sing ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Our Saviour is dead, but he shall rise again. Come, let us adore the glorious Conqueror of death and hell. GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; so, by continual mortifying our corrupt affections, we may be buried with him; that through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our joyful resurrection, for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GIVE us grace, O Lord, so to order our conversation in the world, that we may come to the close of life in thy fear and favour; and receive death not as our curse, but our deliverance, as an entrance upon a life without sorrow and without sin. Whenever thou dost visit us with bodily sickness, teach us to resign ourselves to thee; to show forth devotion of spirit, humble patience, faith, and confidence. Bless us on our sick-bed with the benefit of a spiritual guide, and with an opportunity of receiving the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, that the strength of that heavenly food may cheer our fainting spirits, and carry us with joy to our journey's end. In our last agonies, O Lord, do thou support us; and when our strength and our heart faileth, be thou the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate. Amen. Office of Devotion for Easter Day. THE Lamb of God that was slain, is alive again; and he liveth for ever. Come, let us adore him. Alleluja. Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. The Lord of Life is risen again, and hath clothed himself with immortal glory. Come, let us adore him. Alleluja. He loosed the bands of death and hell; for it was impossible he should be holden by them. Come, let us adore him. Alleluja. He that raised up Jesus, will also raise us up; and refine our vile flesh into a likeness of his glorious body. Come, let us adore him. Alleluja. WORTHY is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and honour, and worship, blessing, and glory. Therefore, blessing, honour, glory, power be to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Alleluja. O death, I have been thy plagues. O grave, I have been thy destruction. 0 grave, where is thy victory? PSALM. Sing unto our Lord a psalm of joy; sing praises to the God of our salvation. Sing with a loud and cheerful voice; sing with a glad and thankful heart. Say to the weak in spirit, Be strong; and unto the sorrowful, Be of good comfort. Tell all mankind this soul-reviving truth; and may their hearts within them leap to hear it. Tell them-The Lord of life is risen again, and has clothed himself with immortal glory. He made the angels messengers of his victory; and vouchsafed even himself to bring us the joyful news. How many ways did thy mercy invent, O thou wise contriver of all our happiness To convince thy followers of the reality of thy resurrec tion, and to settle in their hearts a firm belief of this glorious truth? Thou didst appear to the holy women in their return from the sepulchre; and didst open their hearts to know and adore thee. Thou didst overtake in the way the two that discoursed of thee, and made their hearts burn within them to hear thee. Through the doors, though shut, thou didst swiftly pass, to carry peace to thy comfortless friends; To allay their fears by thy blessed presence, and to secure their faith by thy powerful arguments. How often didst thou condescend to eat before them, and invite them to touch thy impassable body! How didst thou sweetly invite the incredulous Thomas, to thrust his hand into thy wounded side! O how adorable are thy counsels! O Lord, how endearing are the ways of thy love! Say now my soul, is not this evidence sufficient to satisfy our darkest doubts? |