THE ASCENSION DAY. Lessons: Dan. vii. 9—15; 2 Kings ii. 1-16; St. Luke xxiv. 44; Heb. iv. For the Epistle: Acts i. 1-12. Gospel : St. Mark xvi. 14. THE COLLECT. GRANT, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." -St. Mark xvi. 19. Glory to the King of glory! Thou hast raised Thine only Son With Creation's Hallelujahs to Thy bosom and Thy throne; And the echo of that triumph through the centuries of years, Gathering strength with lapse of ages, falls to-day upon our ears. Lo, the Lamb of God, for sinners on the altar sacrificed, In the rapture of Thy presence lives for ever Lord and Christ. Lo, our great High Priest is pleading at the bloodstain'd mercy-seat All the love of His atonement, fragrance infinitely sweet. Jesus, Heir of all things, enters on His heritage of bliss; His the glory and the blessing, His the power, the wisdom His : Jesus reigns, and warrior angels strike their harps and sheath their swords, Crowning Him the mighty Victor, King of kings and Lord of lords. Who shall fix decline or limit to His government's increase, Father of the age of ages, Prince omnipotent of peace? Who the infinite horizon of His royalty shall span, On the throne of all dominion, Son of God and Son of man? Yea, amen. Thy Church triumphant and Thy pilgrim Church on earth Hail this day of Thine espousals and the new Creation's birth: Through the firmament of glory ring their everlasting songs; Ours are from the desert rising, feeble voices, faltering tongues. God, our God, Thou wilt not leave us in this far-off wilderness, Widow'd mourners for the Bridegroom, orphan children, comfortless : Send Thy Comforter, the Spirit, till our frail hearts heavenward rise, And we dwell, where Christ ascended dwells with Thee beyond the skies. THE SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY. Lessons Deut. xxx., xxxiv.; Joshua i. : Epistle Peter iv. 7-12. Gospel: St. John xv. 26 and xvi. I-5. THE COLLECT. O GOD the King of glory, who hast exalted Thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto Thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech Thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us Thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. "When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me."-St. John xv. 26. O Christ, Thou hast ascended And armies of the sky : Emmanuel, in glory, Ascends His Father's throne. Heaven's gates unfold above Thee : The little band who love Thee Nay, on Thy breast engraven There, there Thou standest pleading Our Advocate with God; Oh, for the priceless merit WHITSUNDAY. Lessons Deut. xvi. 1-18; Isaiah xi.; Ezek. xxxvi. 25; Rom. viii. 1-18; Gal. v. 16; Acts xviii. 24 to xix. 21. For the Epistle: Acts ii. 1-12. Gospel: St. John xiv. 15. THE COLLECT. GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever."-St. John xiv. 16. Creator Spirit, make Thy throne The hearts which Thou hast seal'd Thine own; With grace celestial fill and warm The bosoms Thou hast deign'd to form. To Thee, Great Comforter, we cry, O highest gift of God most High. Us with Thy sevenfold gifts endow, H |