my Wash me throughly from wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn Thy face from my sins : and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God : and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. O give me the comfort of Thy help again and stablish me with Thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked : and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise. For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. WHEN HYMN 101 7HEN I survey the wondrous Cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the Cross of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His Blood. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. THE FIFTH WORD 'I thirst.' 'My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee; in a barren and dry land where no water is,' V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. O Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon us. O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, etc. V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins. R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities. SAVIOUR of the world, Who by Thy cross and Precious Blood hast redeemed us, save us and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee. Because by Thy Cross and Passion Thou hast redeemed the world. HYMN 530 (Capetown) ESUS, in Thy thirst and pain, While Thy wounds Thy life-blood drain, Thirsting more our love to gain : Hear us, Holy Jesu. Thirst for us in mercy still, All Thy holy work fulfil, Hear us, Holy Jesu. May we thirst Thy love to know: Where the healing waters flow: Hear us, Holy Jesu. SILENT MEDITATION AND Co PRAYER V 'ONSIDER that human beings dying from thirst often go mad and that unrequited human love sometimes unhinges human reason. The thirst of Jesus was more than the torture of human thirst. It was the consuming desire of God for the love of His creatures. Meditate therefore upon the agony you cause God in not returning His Divine love for you. SILENCE ALMIGHTY God, Who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; grant unto Thy people, that they may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD, Who hast prepared for those who love Thee such good things as pass man's understanding; pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. MOST beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Who for love of me didst suffer agonies on the cross, and Who, to all Thy shame and all Thy sufferings, wouldest if needful, willingly have added yet more, so that all men might be saved; since all the torments of Thy passion did not allay the thirst of Thy tender heart, have pity on all H |