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rival, and bring thee to the holy city of Jerusa lem; may the choir of angels attend thee, and mayest thou enjoy eternal rest with the once wretched Lazarus.

If the Burial Place is not consecrated Ground, the Priest blesses it by the following Prayer, which is the same as used in this Kingdom in blessing the Mould we put into the Coffin in our private Burial Service.

O God, by whose tender mercy the souls of the faithful find rest, vouchsafe to bless this tomb, and depute thy holy angels to guard it, and absolve from all the bonds of sin, the souls of those whose bodies are here interred, that with thy saints, they may rejoice with thee to all eternity. Thro', &c.

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord, he that believeth, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. (John xi. 25.)

Benedictus, p. 16.

V. Lord have mercy upon us. R. Christ have mercy upon us. Our Father, &c. V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil. V. From the gates of hell. R. Deliver his soul, O Lord. V. Let him rest in peace. R. Amen. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. V. The Lord be with thee. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, this mercy to thy servant departed, that as he was desirous to hold fast by thy will, he may not receive the punishment due to his sins, but as true faith had joined him to the company of the faithful in this world, so may thy mercy admit him to the assembly of the angels in the next. Thro', &c. Amen. V. Eternal rest give to him, O Lord. R. And let

perpetual light shine upon him. V. Let him rest. in peace. R. Amen. V. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, thro' the mercy, of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

¶Then the Priest and Company returning from the Grave, recite the 129th Psalm, From the Depths, &c.

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THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN.* ¶ The Woman, at the usual Time after Delivery, coming to the Church or Chapel, to return Thanks to God for her safe delivery, and to receive the Blessing of the Lord from the Priest upon that Occasion, kneels down at the Door, or Entry, holding a lighted Taper, in her Hand, as an Emblem of her lively Faith, and the Priest vested with a Surplice and Stole, says to her ;

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P. OUR help is in the name of the Lord.

A. Who made heaven and earth.

Anth. This woman shall receive the blessing from the Lord.

Psal. xxiv. Domini est terra.

THE earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who stand in his holy place ?

The churching of women, like many other ceremonies of the Catholic Church, is an act of devotion, and not of any absolute obligation,

He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him: that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.

Who is the King of Glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory

shall enter in.

Who is this King of glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Anth. This woman shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of her salvation.

Then the Priest stretching out to her the End of the Stole, introduces her into the Church, saying;

Come into the temple of God, adore the Son of the blessed Virgin Mary, who has given to thee to be fruitful in thy offspring.

¶Then the Woman kneels down before the Altar, giv. ing Thanks to God for his Benefits bestowed upon her, while the Priest says:

Lord, have

mercy upon us. A. Christ have mercy upon us. P. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, &c. P. And lead us not into temptation. A. But deliver us from evil. P. O Lord save thy handmaid. A. Trusting in thee, O God. P. Send her help, O Lord, from thy holy place. A. And from Sion defend her. P. Let the enemy have no advantage over her. A. Nor the Son of iniquity approach to hurt her. P. O Lord, hear

my prayer. A. And let my cry come unto thee. P. The Lord be with thee. A. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who by the blessed Virgin Mary's happy bringing forth, hath changed into joy the pains of the faithful in their child bearings; mercifully look down upon this thy servant, who with joy cometh to the holy temple to return thee thanks, and grant, that after death, she may, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Mary, be partaker, together with her child, of the joys of everlasting glory. Amen.

¶ The Blessing.

May the peace and blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, come down upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

SPIRITUAL COLLOQUIES.

CHAP. i.

Of following Christ, and despising all the Vanities of the World.

He that followeth me, walketh not in darks ness, saith our Lord, (John viii. 12.) These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished that we must imitate his life and manners, if we would be enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

Let it then be our chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of Christ surpasseth all the doctrines of the saints: and whosoever hath the Spirit, will find therein a hidden manna.

But it happeneth that many, by frequent hear

ing the gospel, are very little affected: because they have not the spirit of Christ.

But he who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ: must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ.

What doth it avail thee, to discourse profoundly of the Trinity: if thou be void of humility, and consequently displeasing to the Trinity?

In truth, sublime words make not a man holy and just but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God.

I had rather feel compunction, than know its definition.

If thou didst know the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers: what would it all profit thee, without the love of God and his grace?

Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, besides loving God, and serving him alone.

This is the highest wisdom: by despising the world, to tend to heavenly kingdoms.

It is vanity therefore to seek after riches which must perish, and to trust in them.

It is vanity also to be ambitious of honours, and to raise one's self to a high station.

It is vanity to follow Justs of the flesh; and to desire that for which thou must afterwards be grievously punished.

It is vanity to wish for a long life and to take little care of leading a good life.

It is vanity to mind only this present life: and not to look forward into those things which are to come.

It is vanity to love that which passeth with all speed and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy remains.

Often remember that proverb: The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing, (Eccl. i. 8.)

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