5th Sunday after Easter.
The Gospel before promised a Comforter. The Epistle and Gospel this
day direct us what to do to obtain that promise. Two conditions are required
on our parts for the receiving of that promised Comforter: First prayers
or Rogations, this the Gospel teaches, Ask and ye shall receive that your
joy may be full. Secondly to love God and keep his Comandments, S. John
14. 15. This the Epistle exhorts to, See that ye be doers of the Word,
&c. The Collect prayes that we may feel the fruits and comforts of
this holy Spirit in our hearts by good thoughts and abilities to perform
them.
Of Rogation week.
This is called Rogation Sunday: because upon the three following days
Rogations and Litanies were used, and Fasting, for these two reasons. 1.
Because this time of the year, the fruits of the earth are tender and easily
hurt: therefore Litanies extraordinary are said to God to avert this judgement.
2. Because our LORDS Ascension is the Thursday following, therefore these
three days before are to be spent in prayers and fasting. Conc. Aurelian.
that so the flesh being tamed, and the soul winged with fasting, we may
ascend with Christ.
The Gospel is concerning Rogations, teaching us how to ask of God, so
as we may obtain, and withal foretels his approaching Ascension.
The Fast this week is voluntary: for there is no Fast commanded betwixt
Easter and Whitsunday, as hath been observed before.
The Service formerly appointed in the Rogation days of Procession was
the 103 and 104. Psal. with the Litany, and Suffrages, and the Homily of
Thanksgiving. Artic. Eliz. in the 7. year of her reign. The 2. Psalms were
to be said at convenient places, in the common perambulation: the people
thus giving thanks to God, in the beholding of Gods benefits, the increase
and abundance of his fruits upon the Earth. At their return to the Church,
they were to say the rest of the Service mentioned, Eliz. Injun. 18, 19.
