IN THE SEASON OF LENT. AT MIDNIGHT. Cast away from you all your transgressions; and make you a new heart, and a new spirit. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.-EZEK. Xviii. "Quod lex adumbravit vetus." It is the holy fast, Which Christ hath sanctified, Shadow'd of ages past For them who to the world have died. Let there be holy guard O'er word, and food, and sleep, 'That in her widow'd ward, The soul her strictest watch may keep. That so she best within Her rebel lusts may quell, Steal in and seize the citadel. Let us bow down and weep, His path with tears to steep Before the Judge be at the gate. Tremendous Judge, e'en now Our crimes like mountains rise, But yet a Father Thou, And mightier are Thy clemencies. Frail as the potter's clay, But yet Thy work are we : O leave us not a prey For whom Christ paid the penalty. Heal us from all our sin, Restore us to our place, With contrite hearts to win Thine all-abounding pitying grace. This boon on us confer, Our Father and our Lord, Of godly woe the fruits afford. L AT THE MATTINS. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. ISAIAH lviii. "Solemne nos jejunii." AND now the season grave and deep The priest laments, and sounds that weep, With prayers for mercy fill the walls. But vainly penitential cries To our offended God would rise, Unless the sounds that speak of sin But echo the deep voice that doth lament within. Nought ashes on the forehead spread, When He hath ta'en His shafts and bent the Thou Judge of justice, holy God, and past. AT THE VESPERS. If the wicked walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him.-EZEK. xxxiii. "Audi, benigne Conditor." MERCIFUL Maker, hear our call, On idle winds O let not all Our prayers and tears be spent In sacred Lent. Thou who dost know each hidden part, We unto Thee return, O, do not spurn. Much have we sinned, we confess, For Thy Name's sake. May the stern rein of abstinence * Grant, One in Three, blest Trinity, |