By Precepts Taught Of Ages Past

By precepts taught of ages past,

Now let us keep again the fast,

Which, year by year, in order meet

Of forty days is made complete.

The law and seers that were of old

In divers ways this Lent foretold,

Which Christ Himself, the Lord and Guide

Of every season, sanctified.

More sparing therefore let us make

The words we speak, the food we take,

Deny ourselves in mirth and sleep,

In stricter watch our senses keep.

In prayer together let us fall,

And cry for mercy, one and all;

And weep before the Judge, and say,

O turn from us Thy wrath away.

Thy grace have we offended sore

By sins, O God, which we deplore;

Pour down upon us from above

The riches of Thy pardoning love.

Remember, Lord, though frail we be,

That yet Thine handiwork are we:

Nor let the honor of Thy Name

Be by another put to shame.

Forgive the ill that we have wrought,

Increase the good that we have sought;

That we at length, our wanderings o'er,

May please Thee now and evermore.

Blest Three in One, and One in Three,

Almighty God, we pray to Thee,

That Thou wouldst now vouchsafe to bless

Our fast with fruits of righteousness.