and Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be glory for ever.

Against Spiritual Apathy.

Amen.

O God, the sovereign good of the soul, who requirest the hearts of all Thy children; deliver us from all sloth in Thy work, all coldness in Thy cause; and grant that by looking unto Thee we may rekindle our love, and by waiting upon Thee may renew our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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IV.

Collects and Prayers for Natural and Sacred Seasons.

The Advent of our Lord.

1.

ALMIGHTY GOD, we beseech Thee, grant

unto Thy people grace that they may wait with vigilance for the advent of Thy Son our Lord, that when He shall arise from Thy right hand to visit the earth in righteousness and Thy people with salvation, He may not find us sleeping in sin, but diligent in Thy service, and rejoicing in Thy praises, that so we may enter in with Him unto the marriage of the Lamb; through His merits, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

2.

God of all grace and comfort, who hast not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ; aid us, we beseech Thee, at this time, to repent heartily and truly of all our sins, and so to humble ourselves that when He cometh we may be prepared to receive Him with childlike faith, and join in the glad cry, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!

3.

Amen.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which Thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility, that in the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

4.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at Thy first coming didst send Thy messenger to prepare the way before Thee, grant that the ministers and stewards of Thy mysteries may likewise so pre

pare and make ready Thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at Thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in Thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

5.

O Almighty God, grant that those necessary works wherein we are engaged, whether in the affairs of Thy Church or of this world, may not prevail to hinder us; but that, at the appearing and advent of Thy Son, we may hasten with joy to meet Him, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

6.

O Lord, raise up, we pray Thee, Thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, Thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Thy Son our Lord, to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Incarnation of our Lord.

A.

Most merciful God, who hast so loved the world as to give Thine only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life; vouchsafe unto us, we humbly pray Thee, the precious gift of faith, whereby we may know that the Son of God is come; and, being always rooted and grounded in the mystery of the Word made flesh, may have power to overcome the world, and gain the blessed immortality of heaven; through the merits of the same incarnate Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

2.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us Thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we, being regenerate and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit after the image of this same blessed and glorious Christ; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.