September Embertide: Entering into Autumn with John Cosin

For the Ember Week in September

Almighty God, who givest to all life, and breath, and all things; and bringest forth good out of the earth for the use of man; Keep us ever in mind, that this world, with all the glory of it, fadeth, and the fashion thereof passeth away; and grant that we may so use the fruits of the ground which thou hast now given us, and all other temporal blessings wherewith thou crownest the year, as we abuse them not to the satisfying of our wanton and inordinate appetites; but may evermore serve thee in Christian temperance and sobriety, as it becometh those who, living on earth, have their conversation in heaven, that at the last we may be admitted into thy heavenly kingdom, where we shall never hunger or thirst again, being satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, and filled with the abundance of thy pleasures for evermore. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Amen.

John Cosin's prayer for September Embertide - from his A Collection of Private Devotions (1627) - is a beautifully evocative preparation for Autumn. The prayer begins by reminding us that the richness of Harvest is the gift of the Creator, who "bringest forth good out of the earth for the use of man". At Harvest we rejoice in the "temporal blessings wherewith thou crownest the year", a reference to Psalm 65, a psalm which was to become a staple feature of later Anglican provision for Harvest Thanksgiving. Autumn, then, begins with thanksgiving for the bounty of Harvest, the crowning of the year with the Creator's good blessings.

Amidst the riches, however, there is also the fading glory of Autumn and Fall. The falling leaves, the declining days, the gentle melancholy speak of that which passes, "this transitory life". Cosin's petition "Keep us ever in mind, that this world, with all the glory of it, fadeth, and the fashion thereof passeth away" is written for quiet Autumn days, as we savour the season's rich colours, knowing that they are passing, while yet pointing us to a glory which will not fade.

This glory is celebrated in the high festivals of Autumn, Michaelmas and All Saints' Day, both of which recall us to our vocation as "those who, living on earth, have their conversation in heaven, that at the last we may be admitted into thy heavenly kingdom, where we shall never hunger or thirst again". As we reflect on the season's intimations of mortality, at Michaelmas - in words taken from elsewhere in A Collection of Private Devotions - we rejoice in the hope that we will be "like the angels of God in heaven", followed by a "solemn day ... wherein to magnify God for the day generality of All His Saints together", rejoicing in "the glorious estate of thy chosen saints in heaven", beseeching "that, at the last day, we with them, and they with us, may attain to the resurrection of the just, and have our perfect consummation both of soul and body in the kingdom of heaven".

This draws us back to Autumn's riches, for, like Donne ("in heaven it is alwaies Autumne, his mercies are ever in their maturity"), Cosin reminds us that the season's bounty is an anticipation of the plentitude that we will enjoy: "being satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, and filled with the abundance of thy pleasures for evermore".

Cosin's prayer for September Embertide prepares us to discern the varied signs of Autumn, to see in them the abundant goodness of the Creator, reflections of our transitory life, and anticipations of the hope of glory. After the words of his prayer, therefore, may this season bring forth in us a harvest which prepares us for the life everlasting.

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