Compline.

BENEDICTION.

AY the Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night,

M and a perfect end.

R. Amen.

Then is read a Homily, or some portion of the writings of a Father or Doctor of the Church, or the Life of a Saint, at the discretion of the President, or else this Short Lesson, which here followeth :

THE SHORT LESSON. 1 S. Peter, v. 8, 9.

RETHREN, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, stedfast in the faith. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Thanks be to God.

R.

PRES.

R.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Who hath made heaven and earth.

V. Turn us, O God, our Saviour.

R. And let Thine anger cease from us.
Come to our aid, O God.

4.

R. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father.

H

PSALM IV.

EAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness," Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme Mine honour, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?

Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to Himself the man that is godly: * when I call upon the Lord,

He will hear me.

Stand in awe and sin not; commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, trust in the Lord.

There be many that say,

good?

* and put your

* Who will show us any

Lord, lift Thou up * the light of Thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart,* since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased. I will lay me down in peace, and take it is Thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

PSALM XCI.

rest; my

*for

HOSO dwelleth under the defence of the most

Almighty.

I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold;* my God, in Him will I trust.

For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall defend thee under His wings, and thou shalt be safe under His feathers;* His faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

*

For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.

A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come nigh thee. Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold,* and see the reward of the ungodly.

For Thou, Lord, art my hope: * Thou hast set Thine house of defence very high.

There shall no evil happen unto thee,* neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For He shall give His angels charge over thee,

keep thee in all thy ways.

*

to

They shall bear thee in their hands, not thy foot against a stone.

* that thou hurt

**

Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.

Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him;* I will set him up, because he hath known My Name.

*

He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him; yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.

With long life will I satisfy him,* and show him My salvation.

PSALM CXXXIV.

EHOLD now, praise the Lord,

the Lord.

*

all ye servants of

Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord, * even in the courts of the house of our God.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,* and praise the Lord.

The Lord that made heaven and earth,* give thee blessing out of Sion.

ANTHEM. I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is Thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

THE HYMN.

(For which see the HYMNAL.)

THE LESSON.

(For the Lesson see the Second Part of this Manual.) V. Let our prayer come up before Thee, O Lord. R. Even as the incense in Thy sight.

V. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit ;

R. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit; for Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth. V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of an eye.

R.

Hide us under the shadow of Thy wings.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father.

V. O Lord, hear our prayer.

R. And let our cry come unto Thee.

Let us pray.

¶Then is said the Prayer for the Guild, which varies according to the day of the week, as follows;—

UNTO

SUNDAY.

Thee, O Lord, do we pour out the desire of our hearts, for ourselves and all the brethren and sisters of this Guild, praying Thee to hear the voice of our crying, and to perform our petitions. Be Thou, O Lord, our most ready Helper in all good works, our speedy Deliverer in dangers. Drive from us all hostile deceits, and destroy all evil within us. Make Thou the right way ever sweeter to us. Let Thy longsuffering lead us on to amendment: receive our prayers: forgive our offences: fill us with faith: nourish us with Thy grace protect us by Thy mercy: take away our adversity, and grant to us prosperity. Let us possess in this world the testimony of good works, the gift of chastity, the habit of charity, the warmth of holy love; and in that which is to come, grant us to have peace, and to dwell with the holy angels in Thy glorious kingdom: for Thy mercy's sake, O Lord. Amen.

MONDAY.

RACIOUSLY hear our supplications, O Lord; and let Thy blessing rest continually upon this Guild of Saint Alban the Martyr; that those things only may be undertaken, which are according to Thy will; and that Thy glory, and the good of Thy Church may be always sought. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

TUESDAY.

LOOK down upon this Guild of Saint Alban, we

beseech Thee, O Lord; and grant unto us Thy heavenly light, that we may ever see clearly what we ought to do; and amidst all dangers and difficulties, give us grace to persevere; so that in this life we may perform Thy blessed will, and finally obtain everlasting happiness in the life to come; through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

WEDNESDAY.

LORD, Who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, bless this Guild of Saint Alban to which we belong; that all its affairs may be administered with wisdom and prudence, zeal and discretion, and in entire subservience to Thy holy will. Let all passion, and prejudice, and self-will be far from us; and grant that in all we do, we may be intent on promoting Thy glory, the extension of Thy Church, and our own salvation: O Lord, hear our prayer, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

THURSDAY.

GOD, without Whose help and protection the builder buildeth, and the watchman waketh but in vain; assist us by Thy Holy Spirit in all that we undertake for Thy greater glory, and prosper Thou the work of our hands. Defend us against all the designs of wicked men, and all assaults of evil spirits; and grant that we, and all our fellow-members of this Guild, having humbly laboured in Thy service here, may receive hereafter the reward of an abiding work; through Thy mercy, Who livest, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FRIDAY.

LORD Jesu Christ, Who [hast chosen this house for Thy service, and for the keeping of Thy com