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 that all  thy  saints  may  everywhere assist  us,  and  gladden us by  their  intercession,  that while we  celebrate  their merits, we  may  experience their patronage. Grant us peace  in  our  time,  and  cast away all  iniquity  out  of  thy Church. Prosper the  way, the wills,  and  the  actions  of us  and  of  all  thy  servants,  to the  attainment  of  thy  salvation. Requite our  benefactors with  endless  blessings, and give  eternal  rest  to  all  the faithful departed. Through thy Son  Jesus  Christ  our Lord. Amen.

There are  three  things  to he  attentively  considered  with regard to  the  festivals  of  the saints: first, the  saints  assistance; secondly, his  example; thirdly, our own  shame. His assistance, because, if  powerful on  earth, he  is  still  more powerful before  the  face  of the  Lord  his  God; for  if  he compassionated  sinners,  and prayed for  them  while  he  lived here, he  prays  the  Father  now for us  so  much  the  more  fully, in proportion  to  the  truer knowledge which  he  has  of our  miseries;  for  that  happy home has  not  lessened,  but enlarged, his charity. For though he  can  suffer  no  more, he can  still  have  mercy, which is all  the  more  tender  now  that his existence  is  passed  before the fountain  of  mercy  itself. His example,  too,  should  be considered; because,  as  long as he  was  seen  upon  earth, and conversed  with  men,  he swerved  neither  to  the  right nor to  the  left, but  kept  the royal road,  till  he  came  to Him  who  says,  I am  the  Way, the Truth,  and  the  Life. Remark the humility  of  his works and  the  authority  of his  words,  and  you  will  see how brightly  he  shone  among men, both  by  word  and  example, and  what  footsteps  he left  behind  him  for  us  to  walk in without  going  astray.

But we  should  reflect  even more earnestly  upon  our  own shame; because he  was  a man like us,  framed  with  the same passions, and  out  of  the  same clay as  ourselves. How is  it then  thought  not  only  difficult but impossible  to  do  the  works that he  did,  and  to  follow  in his  footsteps  f Brethren,  let these words  make  vs  ashamed and tremble  together,  that  possibly this  shame  may  bring us glory,  this  fear  give  birth in us  to  grace.

These are  they  who  have gone before  us,  whose  progress