SAINT MATTHIAS'S DAY.

FEBRUARY 24.

COLLECT. O Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve apostles; grant that thy church, being alway preserved from false apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

HYMN.

Who is God's chosen priest?

He who on Christ stands waiting day and night, Who traced his holy steps, nor ever ceased,

From Jordan banks to Bethphage height ; —

Who hath learned lowliness

From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross; Whom poor men's eyes and hearts consent to

bless;

To whom, for Christ, the world is loss;

Who both in agony

Hath seen him, and in glory; and in both
Owned him divine, and yielded, nothing loth,

Body and soul, to live and die,

In witness of his Lord,

In humble following of his Saviour dear.
This is the man to wield the unearthly sword,
Warring unharmed with sin and fear.

But who can e'er suffice

What mortal-for this more than angel's task, Winning or losing souls, Thy life-blood's price? The gift were too divine to ask,

But Thou hast made it sure

By thy dear promise to thy Church and Bride, That Thou, on earth, wouldst aye with her endure, Till earth to heaven be purified.

KEBLE.

A GOOD PRIEST.

Give me the Priest these graces shall possess;
Of an ambassador the just address;

A father's tenderness; a shepherd's care;
A leader's courage, which the cross can bear;
A ruler's awe ; a watchman's wakeful eye ;
A pilot's skill, the helm in storms to ply;
A fisher's patience; and a laborer's toil;
A guide's dexterity to disembroil;

A prophet's inspiration from above;

A teacher's knowledge—and a Saviour's love.

BP. KENN.

SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES'S DAY.

MAY 1:

COLLECT. O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life; grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that following the steps of thy holy apostles Saint Philip and Saint James, we may steadfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN.

Holy Jesus, Saviour blest,
As, by passion strong possest,
Through this world of sin we stray,
Thou to guide us art the way.

Holy Jesus, when the night
Of error blinds our clouded sight,
Round the cheering day to throw,
Saviour, then the TRUTH art thou.

* James the Less.

Holy Jesus, when our power
Fails us in temptation's hour,
All unequal to the strife;
Thou to aid us art the LIFE.

Who would reach his heavenly home;
Who would to the Father come;
Who the Father's presence see;
Jesus, he must come by thee.

BP. MANT.

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY.

JUNE 24.

COLLECT. Almighty God, by 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.

HYMN.

Hark through the lonely waste,
By foot of man unpaced,

"Prepare the way," a warning voice resounds! "Level the opposing hill,

The hollow valley fill,

Make straight the crooked, smooth the rugged

grounds;

-form it plain and broad;

-

Prepare a passage-
And through the desert make a highway for our

God!"