All unequal to the strife; Thou to aid us art the LIFE. Who would reach his heavenly home; BP. MANT SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY. - COLLECT. JUNE 24. 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; Prepare a passage,- form it plain and broad`; And through the desert make a highway for our God!” Thine, BAPTIST, was the cry, In ages long gone by, Heard in clear accents by the prophet's ear; And with imperial state Herald some Eastern monarch's proud career; And speed through trackless wilds his unresisted way. But other task hadst thou Than lofty hills to bow, Make straight the crooked, the rough places plain. To smooth the human heart, The wilderness where sin had fixed his reign; Bring down high-vaulting pride, and lay ambition low. Such, Baptist, was thy care, Might check the progress of the King of kings; Might welcome the array Of heavenly graces which his presence brings; BP. MANT. COLLECT. SAINT PETER'S DAY. JUNE 29. O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; make, we beseech thee, all pastors diligently to preach thy holy word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN. LORD! when thy PETER, weak in faith, Failed in thine hour of threatened death, When thrice his ear the challenge heard, More loud and more impassioned came; One look from thee his fault reproved, And made his slumbering conscience start; One look from thee, so dearly loved, And sent him forth a prey to grief, Unheeded all his former fears, To seek in solitude relief From bitter and repentant tears. Lord! when by human frailty led, And thee forsake, and thee deny; Grant us to feel the keen rebuke, That pitying look! O may it melt May Peter's grief by us be felt, BP. MANT. ANOTHER. "When Herod would have brought him out, the same night Peter was sleeping." Acts xii. 6. THOU thrice denied, yet thrice beloved, In sharpest perils faithful proved, The prayer is heard, else why so deep His slumber on the eve of death? And wherefore smiles he in his sleep |