The Twentyfifth Sunday The Twentysixth Sunday after Whitsunday. after Whitsunday. THE COLLECT. O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins which by our frailty we have committed, and be brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for thine infinite mercy's sake in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. THE GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 18. 26. WHILE Jesus spake these things unto John's disciples, behold, &c. went abroad into all that land. THE EPISTLE. Coloss. i. 3 13. WE give thanks to God and the Father, &c. hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. BEHOLD, the days come, &c. they might dwell in their own land. If there be any more Sun days before Advent Sunday, the Service of some of those Sundays which were omitted after the Epiphany, shall be used. And if there be fewer, the overplus may be omitted; provided that this last Collect, Gospel, and Epistle, shall always be read upon the Sunday next before Advent. SELECTIONS FROM SAINTS' DAYS. Saint Stephen's Day. December 26. THE COLLECT. GRANT, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of the first martyr, Saint Stephen, who cried for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God, to succour all those who suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son, our Saviour, by preaching repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, after his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. All Saints' Day. November 1. THE COLLECT. O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect, in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow thy bless ed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those un speakable joys, which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our our Lord. Amen. END OF THE COLLECTS, GOSPELS AND EPISTLES. COLLECTS AND PRAYERS, TO BE USED BEFORE OR AFTER SERMON. The following Collects and Prayers are adapted to various subjects of discourse, and are arranged, for the sake of convenience, under several heads. The Minister is at liberty to use, instead of these Forms, Extemporary Prayer. GENERAL COLLECTS. O GOD, the eternal source of wisdom and purity, from whom all good counsels, all holy desires, and all just works do proceed; we offer up our humble prayers unto thee, beseeching thee to enlighten our minds, and sanctify our hearts by thy heavenly truth. What we know not, teach thou us; whatever is amiss in us, dispose us to reform; whatever in us is good, assist us to carry forwards to perfection; which we ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty |