THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Lessons Deut. iv. I-41, v. Epistle James i. 17-22. Gospel St. John xvi. 5—16. THE COLLECT. O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto Thy people, that they may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” – James i. 18. Be blessings on the little child, Which trusts because it loves alone Be blessings on the generous youth, Who has not learn'd the blush of shame, Be blessings upon those who bear And through this world of sin and care Be blessings on the cloudless brow And are these gleams of heaven on earth, But firstfruits of the Spirit's grace? The harvest of these seeds of love? One star in heaven's great firmament, Who will His Bride in bliss present; And will the Bride herself appear So runs the living Oracle, "His will begat the Church to be Creation's firstfruits." Who can tell The harvests of eternity? O God, it is enough, if we Will rest upon Thy word alone; And, taking what is known of Thee, Will trust Thee for the vast unknown. THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Lessons: Deut. vi., ix., x. Epistle James i. 22. Gospel : St. John xvi. 23. THE COLLECT. O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."James i. 27. "Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but Me ye have not always."St. Mark xiv. 7. "I go: the poor, My poor are with you still, Such was the legacy Incarnate Love Not gold or jewels, but His poor to claim No weary burden, but a rich bequest, Is it not ours to-day? Are not the poor, And does not many a sorer, deeper need The wounded soul, the broken heart's distress ; And He, who gave Himself for all, has given Kind thoughts and tender words and generous tasks, These for His sorrowing ones the Master asks. None are so poor but have some love to shower The Father claims of every heaven-born child. |