THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

Lessons: 1 Kings x. 1—25, xi. 1—15, xi. 26. Epistle 1 Cor. x. 1-14. Gospel: St. Luke xvi. 1—10.

THE COLLECT.

GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech Thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without Thee, may by Thee be enabled to live according to Thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able."—1 Cor. x. 13.

My Father and my God, behold
Thy wayward child before Thee;
And to Thy will my spirit mould
I now with tears implore Thee.

Without Thee I in plenty pine,

In throngs of men am lonely;
With Thee all earth and heaven are mine,
With Thee, my Father, only.

O search my bosom through and through
And strengthen my endeavour,
And make me always think and do
What pleases Thee for ever.

My love, my life, my all control
Henceforth by Calvary's story ;
Stamp here Thy image on my soul,
And fit me for Thy glory.

THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

Lessons I Kings xii., xiii., xvii. Epistle: I Cor. xii. 1-14. Gospel: St. Luke xix. 41—47.

THE COLLECT.

LET Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail."-1 Kings xvii. 14.

Our God, our Father, who hadst given
Thine own and only Son for man,
Ere shone the faintest star in heaven
Or earth was framed or time began,
And chosen us in Him to be

His Bride for all eternity ;

Thou, who hast deign'd for us to build
The mansions of Jerusalem,

With all Thy gifts of goodness fill'd
And rich with crystal gold and gem,
Whose gates and walls and streets declare
One glorious name, The Lord is there; "-

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Now in this little space between
Two vast eternities of love,

This narrow isthmus of things seen
Thy children cross to rest above,
Wilt Thou refuse to be our Guide
And all our daily needs provide?

K

O shame upon the faithless heart

Which harbours such a thought of Thee! My God, that Thou art what Thou art Is promise, aye and proof to me While passing through this shadowy vale The cruse of oil shall never fail.

From everlasting I am Thine

In Thy free covenant of grace; To everlasting Thou art mine

In faith's unchangeable embrace: The bond Eternal Wisdom plann'd Is held in Love's Almighty Hand.

THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER

TRINITY.

Lessons I Kings xviii., xix., xxi.

Epistle I Cor. xv. 1-12. Gospel : St. Luke xviii. 9—15.

THE COLLECT.

O GOD, who declarest Thy almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity; Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy_gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God."
I Kings xviii. 24.

Bring hither costliest sacrifice;
Slack not for labour or for price;
Let dance and revelry combine
To kindle this dark soul of mine;
Be garlands pluck'd of choicest flowers;
Let love and music lend their powers :-
O world, O self, O lordly pride,

If only your mysterious fires

Enflame and feed this heart's desires,

I ask no other god beside.

Days pass'd and years. No answer came ;
The altar knew no quickening flame :
No light was there, no warmth, no fire,
But sparks which, as they flash, expire:
Nothing but work and tortured will:
My soul was bare and dark and chill.

The wood was laid, the altar built,

The victim chosen, bound, and slain :
All, all was bitterly in vain

To chase my spirit's gloom and guilt.

In that my hour of self-despair
One stood beside me unaware.
With pierced hands and piercèd feet,
And form and face divinely sweet
He drew me to His wounded side,
And bade me there my anguish hide.
Lo, silently anew He rears

The ruin'd altar of my God:

He sprinkles it with precious blood;

I weep upon it floods of tears.

Then fell the sacred fire from heaven ;
Then heard I first the voice "Forgiven."
And ever from that hour of love,
Sustain'd and foster'd from above,
Though only by His eye discern'd,
The fire within my heart has burn'd.
I love Him, for He first loved me :

The God who answer'd me by fire,
My one delight, my one desire,
Shall be my God eternally.