Jeremy Taylor, Bishop and Theologian, 1667

The Collect:

Rite I:
O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered: Make us, we beseech thee, like thy servant Jeremy Taylor, deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of human life; and let thy Holy Ghost lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered: Make us, like your servant Jeremy Taylor, deeply aware of the shortness and uncertainty of human life; and let your Holy Spirit lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Ecclesiastes 3:1–15

¹ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 
² a time to be born, and a time to die;
   a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 
³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;
   a time to break down, and a time to build up; 
⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
   a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
⁵ a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
   a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 
⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;
   a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 
⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;
   a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;
   a time for war, and a time for peace.

⁹What gain have the workers from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. ¹¹He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ¹²I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; ¹³moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. ¹⁴I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. ¹⁵That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

Psalm: Psalm 139:1–9

¹ Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *
       you know my sitting down and my rising up;
       you discern my thoughts from afar.
² You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
       and are acquainted with all my ways.
³ Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
       but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
⁴ You press upon me behind and before *
       and lay your hand upon me.
⁵ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
       it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
⁶ Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
       where can I flee from your presence?
⁷ If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
       if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
⁸ If I take the wings of the morning *
       and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
⁹ Even there your hand will lead me *
       and your right hand hold me fast.

Gospel: Mark 13:32–37

³²‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’ 

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