At sight of the cross, say :— By Thy Cross and Passion, good Lord, deliver us. And of the altar lights : All praise be to Thee, eternal Son of God, who hast come to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel. Let the vestments of the priest suggest some such meditations as these: Yes, Lord, that "white shining robe," which Herod put on Thee in mockery, was in reality Thy kingly robe of innocence, and proved Thee in truth to be " a Lamb without blemish and without spot." O suffer me to hide the nakedness of my soul under its holy skirts. Blessed Jesus, I am diseased with sin; from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in me, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores nevertheless, if I may but touch the hem of Thy garment, I shall be whole. Yes, even by Thy stripes I shall be healed. The cords and bands which held Thy sacred person fast, shall release me from the bondage of Satan. And Thy purple robe is indeed a "vesture dipped in blood," even the blood which was shed to wash away my crimson sins. Infinite love! who didst submit even to be blindfolded for my sake, that I, who was spiritually blind from my birth, might see. O grant that my eyes may be opened now at the breaking of bread to know Thee clearly as my God and Saviour. The Priest standing at the north side of the Table shall say the Lord's Prayer, with the Collect following, the people kneeling. Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.' And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us, And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. The Collect. Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, 1 Anciently this was often translated supersubstantial bread, in reference to the Holy Eucharist. 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. Then shall the Priest, turning to the people, rehearse distinctly all the Ten Commandments; and the people still kneeling shall, after every Commandment, ask God mercy for their transgression thereof for the time past, and grace to keep the same for the time to come, as followeth : Minister. God spake these words, and said: I am the Lord thy God: Thou shalt have none other gods but me. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minist. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in hea ven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my command ments. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minist. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh His Name in vain. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minist. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minist. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. People. Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. Minist. Thou shalt do no murder. |