E beseech thee, O Lord, that the solemnity of thy

W blessed Martyrs and Bishops N. and N. may be a

protection to us, and their venerable prayers recommend us to thy mercy. Thro'.

LESSON. Wisd. iii. 1, 8.

HE souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery and their going away from us, for utter destruction. But they are now in peace. And tho' in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in a few things, in many shall they be rewarded, because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace he tried them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath accepted them, and in due time there shall be respect had to them. The righteous shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge the nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

A

fed

GOSPEL.

Exod. xv.

Gloriosus Deus in sanctis suis, mirabilis in majestate, faciens prodigia. V. Dextera tua, Domine, glo. rificata est in virtute: dextera manus tua confregit inimicos.

Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Corpora sanctorum in pace sepulta sunt; et nomina eorum vivent in genera tione & generationem. Alleluia.

Luke xxi. 9, 19.

T that time; Jesus said to his disciples: And when you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terri; these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet presently. Then he said to them; Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Aud there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences and famines, and terrors from heaven, and there shall be great signs. But before all these things they will lay their hands on you; and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name's sake. And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.

Lay it up therefore in your hearts. not to meditate before how you shall answer. For I will give you mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist or gain-say. And you shall be betrayed by your parents, and brethren, and kinsmen, and friends; and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake; but a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.

OFFERTORY.

God is wonderful in his saints he is the God of Israel; he will give power and strength to his people; blessed be God. Alleluia.

A

Psalm lxv.

Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis: Deus Israel; ipse dabit virtutem & fortitudinem plebi suæ: benedictus Deus Alleluia.

SECRET.

TTEND, O Lord, to our earnest prayers, which we put up in memory of thy saints and since we trust not in our own righteousness, may we be helped by the merits of those, who were well pleasing to thee. Thro'.

COMMUNION.

Though they suffered torments in the sight of men, God only tried them: like gold in a furnace he proved them, and like an holocaust he accepted them.

POSTCOMMUNION.

EING

Wisd. iii.

Etsi coram hominibus tormenta passi sunt, Deus, tentavit eos; tanquam aurum in fornace probavit eos, & quasi holocausta accepit eos.

Quæsumus Domine.

filled with saving cla

thee, O Lord, that we may be helped by their intercession, whose festival we celebrate. Thro'.

II. VESPERS.

The PSALMS as on SUNDAYS, p. 69. Except the last, which is Credidi, p.

Anth.

TH

90..

STI sunt sancti,

qui

HESE are the Ant pro testamento Dei

saints, who gave up their bodies for the covenant of God, and washed their garments in the blood of the lamb,

1

Anth. The saints by their faith conquered kingdoms,

sua corpora tradiderunt, & in sanguine agni laverunt stolas suas.

Ant. Sancti per fidem vi cerunt regna, operati sunt

The LITTLE CHAPTER and HYMN, as in the first Vespers, p. xxiv.

V. The saints in glory V. Exultabunt sancti in shall be filled with joy. gloria. R. Lætabuntur in R. They shall rejoice on cubilibus suis. their couches.

COLLECT. Deus, qui nos concedis.

God, by whose favour we celebrate the festival of thy holy Martyrs N, and N. grant we may enjoy. their fellowship in eternal bliss. Thro'.

LESSON. Wisd. v. 16.

THE sha Love, and the care of them with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord; for with his right hand will he cover them, and with his holy arm will he defend them. His zeal will take its armour, and he will arm the creation to take revenge on his enemies. He will put on justice for a breast-plate, and he will take true judgement instead of an helmet ; he will take equity for an invincible shield.

HE righteous shall live for evermore; and their re

GRADUAL. Psalm cxxxiii.

Our soul, like the sparrow bath escaped from the hunters' snare. V. The snare is broken, and we are at liberty; our help is in the name of the Lord, who made both heaven and earth.

Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Ps. 67. Let the righteous feast, and rejoice in the presence of God; and let them be delighted in gladness. Alleluia.

AT

Anima nostra, sicut passer, erepta est de laqueo venantium. V. Laqueus contritus est, & nos liberati sumus adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit cœlum & terram.

Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Ps. 67. Justi epulentur & exultent in conspectu Dei: & delectentur in lætitia. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Luke vi, 17, 23.

T that time Jesus going down from the mountain stood in a P a plain place, and the company of the disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea-coast both of Tyre and Sidon, 'who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all. And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said; Blessed are ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now ; for you shall laugh. Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you,