O make my heart a temple meet for Thee. Behold, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and Thy servant shall be healed. . So speak that I may hear. Be.. hold, Lord, my heart is before Thee that Thou mayest enter in,--open Thou the ears thereof, and say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. After this voice let me haste and take hold on Thee, that I may forget all my ills, and embrace Thee, my sole Good. Or to Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it. It is ruinous; build Thou it up again. It has that within which must offend Thine eyes; I confess and know it. But who save Thou shall cleanse it? whom shall I cry save to Thee? I believe, and therefore do I speak. Lord, Thou knowest. . . . I have confessed against myself all my transgressions, and Thou, O my God, hast forgiven the iniquity of my sin. I contend not in judgment with Thee, Who art the Truth. I fear to deceive myself. My heart bitterly condemns me-but Thou art greater than my heart, and Thou knowest all things. Therefore I contend not in judgment with Thee; for if Thou, Lord, shouldest be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who should abide it? But there is mercy with Thee, and therefore do I fear Thee. . . . Even yet wilt Thou return and have compassion upon me. O Lord, make no long tarrying. O Saviour of the world, Who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast redeemed me, save me and help me, O Lord God. A PRAYER FOR PREPARATION Be diligent that ye be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless BLES OLESSED Lord Jesu, give me grace so to approach Thee now in reverence and godly fear, that in the last day I may behold Thee without fear. Cleanse my heart to receive Thee, and so dwell in me, whom Thou hast cleansed. So pour Thy Love into my heart that I may not be ashamed in the Day of Thine appearing. Hear me, O Christ, graciously hear me, O Lord Christ. PRAYER FOR GRACE Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace LOVE, O Infinite Power, guided by Infinite Wisdom, knowing no limit save Thine own holy Will, O Lord God Almighty, give me grace evermore to love the Father for His Fatherly Love, to reverence the Almighty for His Power, as a faithful Creator to commit my soul to Him in well-doing. Grant me to partake from Jesus of Salvation, from Christ of Anointing, from the Only-begotten of Adoption; to present before the Virgin-born my gifts: for gold, love; for incense, the prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips; for myrrh, the bitter tears of repentance; to worship the Lord— For His Conception,-in faith. For His Burial,-sharing with Him a For His Descent,—looking for the Rest that remaineth. For His Resurrection,—waiting for the For His Ascension,—seeking the Heav- For His Sitting on High,-mindful of For His Coming again,-with godly For Judgment,-mindful to judge myself ere I be judged. Amen. PRAYER FOR GROWTH IN GRACE Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God OR His Sake Who came to do Thy more to worship and give thanks unto the Eternal Spirit, Who with groans tongue cannot tell calls on us to fulfil our Maker's Will, Thy Will, even our sanctification. O mercifully grant that Thy Blessed Spirit may cleanse the defilements over which I mourn; may help me to obey Thy secret drawings to look up to Thee; may create in me a penitent and thankful, a gentle and sympathizing heart; may soothe my fears; may succour me in trouble; may hallow the mute shrinking of my will, may raise and direct it, may make it Thine; may enlighten the eyes of my understanding that I may behold the wonders of Thy Law; may assist me to hide within my heart the precious jewel of Thy Word, for my everlasting comfort, that it may reprove me, may renew me after Thine own Image, may build me up and edify me unto the perfect building of Thy Christ; that no subtle persuasion of man's wisdom may pluck me from Thy Truth, but that I may remain in the same continually, come life, come death: that Thy Spirit's most blessed fruits-love, peace, joy, gentleness, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance—may live and grow within, may expand with my soul's growth; may make me like unto that good land which brought forth great increase; unto the glory of Thy blessed Name. Amen. PRAYER FOR GRACE This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith BLESSED and most loving Saviour, O grant me by the same Spirit, that good and perfect Gift,-the love of Thine appearing, and the lifegiving Breath of His salutary grace to show forth that love in deeds and prayers; to work in me that true |