we are poor and weak we can do little for others in giving or helping, but still we can console and sympathize. Even when we are not poor we can often in no other way comfort others. Not every one wants money, and afflicted hearts do not value it. Kind words, when real, are more than gold to the widow and to the orphan. And still more full of rejoicing is this power to God-ward. We who can do nothing else can praise Him. We can fill His courts with psalmody and thanksgiving. We can glorify Him in the humblest path of life, by shewing "out of a good conversation our works with meekness and wisdom." Children who have not a penny of their own to give, who cannot build God's temples, nor support His poor, can offer by a holy tongue what He Himself calls "perfect praise." Pure and gentle words from them, hymns from their hearts, and warm souls rise up to heaven and unite with angel praises: and thus the Gospel promise is fulfilled and the Gospel glory is accomplished, "the humble and the meek" raised up, and before heaven we are in heaven, and tune our hearts with our voices to the Holy, Holy, Holy, and the song of the redeemed. JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON. A LITANY FOR THE EMBER WEEKS. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.-St. Matt. ix. 37, 38. THE Ember days at the four seasons of the year have been set apart from very ancient times as days of devotion and fasting for various reasons in particular, to commend to the divine mercy those who as the canons direct, are then to be admitted by the bishops to the holy orders of the Christian ministry. The following litany has been drawn up with a view to assist persons who may be in want of some suitable prayers for these sacred seasons. It is intended for domestic as well as private use. If the whole should be thought too long to be repeated at one time, the first and second sections may be used on alternate days, or the head of the family may make any further abbreviation which pressure of time, and other circumstances, may render expedient. The Ember days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, after the first Sunday in Lent, the feast of Pentecost, September 14, December 13. us. A LITANY. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. O God, the Father of heaven, have mercy upon O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us. O God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us. O Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us. I. O God, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and livea, Who didst call Enoch, the seventh from Adam, to be a prophet and a preacher of righteousness", Who by the preaching of Noah didst warn the world before the flood, Who through just Lot didst preach to wicked Sodom of her ungodly deeds", Who by the mouth of Moses didst proclaim Thy name to the people of Israel®, Who didst separate Aaron and his seed Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us. that they might minister before Thee in the priest's office', Who didst assign unto him the tribe of Levi, that they might assist him in his ministry, and do the work of the tabernacle, Who didst send unto Thy people many prophets and wise men", Who through Nathan didst bring David to confess his fault', Who by Thy servant Elijah didst punish Ahab for his wickedness*, Who, hearkening unto the prayer of Elijah, didst shut up heaven three years and six months', Who, when he prayed again, didst command the heaven to give rain, and the earth to bring forth her fruits", Who didst send Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh", II. Who didst fill John Baptist with the Holy Ghost, from his mother's womb, Who when coming to redeem the world Have mercy upon us. didst commission John to preach repentance", Who from the company of Thy disciples didst choose twelve to be apostles and ministers of Thy word", Who didst breathe on them the Holy Ghost", Who didst give unto them the power of binding and remitting sins, Who to Peter, confessing the Faith, didst give the keys of the kingdom of heaven*, Who didst appoint divers orders in Thy Church", Who didst give some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers*, Who through Thine apostle didst command Timothy to lay hands suddenly on no man', Who three times didst exhort Peter to feed Thy sheep, and Thy lambs', O loving Jesu! who hast purchased to Thyself an universal Church by Thine own most precious blood", Ibid. Ephesians iv. |