FIRST SUNDAY MORNING.

THOU Lord of the Sabbath, graciously hear the prayers which we offer unto Thee on the morning of Thine own day. Thou hast blest this day and hallowed it, and hast commanded us to keep it holy. We thank Thee for so mercifully providing for our bodily and spiritual necessities.

And now, O Lord our God, grant that this may be a day of holy rest, of profitable instruction, and of spiritual refreshment. Prepare our hearts to approach Thee in the blessed exercise of prayer and praise.

Lord, our souls cleave unto the dust; we are encompassed and bowed down with all manner of earthly cares and anxieties; we need quickening, sanctifying grace. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name. Raise our hopes and affections heavenwards. Strengthen us to throw aside the cares that harass us, and the sins that beset us. Pour into our hearts fervent love towards Thee.

As Thou, O Lord, hast provided the ordinances of Thy sanctuary for the good of our souls, grant that they may be a rich blessing to us this day. Prepare our hearts as good ground to receive the precious seed of Thy holy word. May we have grace to worship Thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Enable us to offer up our prayers with earnestness, to sing Thy praise with thankfulness, and to listen to Thy word devoutly and attentively.

O blessed Saviour, fulfil to us, we beseech Thee, Thine own promise, that where two or three are gathered together in Thy name, there Thou wilt be in the midst of them. Be in the midst of us this day. Open our minds to understand the Scriptures. Make our hearts to rejoice whilst we wait upon Thee, and whilst we hear the welcome message of Thy love.

Almighty God, assist and prosper the labor of Thy ministers. May they declare all Thy counsel. Touch their lips with a live coal from off Thine altar. Cause them deeply to feel the truths which they proclaim, and fervently to love that Saviour whom they preach.

Bless the young who shall be gathered this day for instruction in our Sunday-schools. Let the seed of Thy truth take root in their hearts, and grant that every teacher may himself be taught of Thee. Through Thy word, O Lord, grant that many a child may be kept from the paths of the destroyer.

Be with us, O our God, throughout the day. Graciously help us so to keep Thy Sabbath on earth, that at the close of it we may be more anxious and better prepared for an eternal Sabbath above. Hear us, we humbly pray Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

SECOND SUNDAY MORNING.

ALMIGE

LMIGHTY God, who hast set apart one day in seven for the special good of our souls, enable us to keep this day holy. Thou hast bidden us to rest from our worldly labors and employments; do Thou also shut the world out of our hearts, and take full possession of them Thyself.

We confess, O Lord, that we have not rightly improved our past Sabbaths. Pardon us for our abuse of these holy seasons. Make this day, we beseech Thee, more profitable to us than any that we have yet spent. Give us Sabbath feelings, and a Sabbath blessing.

O Lord, enable us to bear in mind that this is Thy own day. Prepare us especially for Thy house. Make us to feel that a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand spent elsewhere; and that Thy house is indeed the house of God and the gate of heaven. Give us, when there, the enjoyment of Thy presence. Keep us from wandering and worldly thoughts, and grant that we may approach Thee in a devout and holy frame. Enable us to draw near to Thee this day as Thy accepted children. Let there be no cloud of guilt to hide Thee from us, and to hinder our communion with Thee.

Lord, we cannot pray to Thee aright without the help of Thy Holy Spirit. May He rest upon us abundantly, teaching us both what to ask, and how to ask it. And when Thy gospel is preached, give us the hearing ear and the understanding heart; and enable us to receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save our souls.

Bless, gracious God, the Church to which we belong: make it the instrument in Thy hands of leading many to heaven. Be with the pastors of Thy flock. Do Thou Thyself teach them, that they may teach others. Especially be with the minister of this parish, who is set over us in the Lord. Strengthen him for his work. Enable him rightly to divide the word of truth, giving to each of us our portion as we need it. And wherever Thy gospel is preached to-day, whether at home or abroad, grant that its influence may be felt, and that thousands may be turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Call many wanderers, Lord, into Thy fold this day; soften many hard hearts; and speak peace to Thy people.

Grant, Lord, that a blessing may rest upon our Sunday-schools, and all who are called to teach in them. Be with each one of our fellow-worshipers, and help us all this day on our way to heaven, for Christ's sake.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

THIRD SUNDAY MORNING.

MOST gracious God, our heavenly Father, who by Thy kind providence hast brought us to see the light of another Sabbath, give us grace to remember Thy day to keep it holy. Thou who art more ready to hear than we to pray, pour upon us this morning a spirit of true devotion. Enable us to unburden our hearts before Thee. Suffer us not this day to draw near unto Thee with our lips only, whilst our hearts are far from Thee. Keep us from offering Thee a cold and unmeaning service; but make us so deeply to feel our weakness, our ignorance, our sinfulness, and all our need, that we may come with earnest hearts to Thy throne of grace.

When we go up to the courts of Thy house, deliver us from a trifling and worldly spirit, from wandering thoughts, from vain desires and imaginations, from a cold and unbelieving heart. Enable us to join humbly and fervently in the services of Thy sanctuary. Blessed Saviour, fulfil to us Thine own most gracious promise, that where two or three are gathered together in Thy name, there Thou wilt be in the midst of them. May we know and feel by happy experience that Thou art in the midst of Thy worshiping people this day. May our hearts burn within us whilst we draw near to Thee in prayer, hearken to Thy word, and sing Thy praises. May we gain strength, and grace, and peace, and comfort, whilst we wait upon Thee. Be with all Thy ministering servants, O Lord, this day. Do Thou teach them, that they may be able to teach others. Fill them with light and love, with holy wisdom and heavenly zeal. Make them able ministers of the New Testament, faithful ambassadors for Thee. Let their words come forth with power, and with the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance.

And open, O God, our hearts to receive the truths which shall be delivered this day in Thy name. May we listen with a teachable spirit, and with a sincere desire to profit by what we hear. May the word preached be a word in season to every one of us.

Grant, O heavenly Father, that this day may prove to be a day rich in blessing to many souls. May it be for the awakening of sinners, and for the comfort, instruction, and refreshment of Thine own people. Oh that Satan's kingdom may this day be weakened, and Thine own kingdom and glory increased. Gather into Thy Church this day, O Lord, from young and old, from Jews and Gentiles, many who shall be eternally saved. And unto us who now kneel before Thee, grant Thy quickening, sanctifying, enlightening grace, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

Amen.

B'

FOURTH SUNDAY MORNING.

LESSED and glorious God, great in counsel and wonderful in operation, plenteous in goodness and abundant in mercy, how excellent is Thy name throughout all the world! Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.

Though we cannot glorify Thee as we ought, nor praise Thee as Thy holy angels who excel in strength, we desire to exalt Thy name, according to the ability wherewith Thou hast blessed us, and to pour out before Thee this morning the voice of joy and thanksgiving. Glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, that the day-spring from on high hath visited us, and the light of another Sabbath hath dawned upon our souls! This is the day which Thou hast made for Thyself; we would rejoice and be glad in it. How many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which we see, and have not seen them. Forgive, O Lord, we beseech Thee, our past abuse of Thy mercies, and teach us in future more diligently to improve them.

Grant, O merciful Father, that we may have grace whereby we may serve Thee acceptably this day. Give unto us that preparation of heart which cometh from Thee, and without which all our services will be nothing worth. Dispose us to love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy honor dwelleth; to go into Thy gates with thanksgiving, and into Thy courts with praise; to give thanks unto Thee, and speak good of Thy name. Sow in our hearts the seed of eternal life, and grant that it may bring forth in us the fruits of righteousness. Grant that we may improve not only the ordinances of Thy house, but every other advantage of this sacred day to the purpose for which Thou hast vouchsafed it. Help us to examine our hearts, to consider our ways, to search Thy holy word, to talk of Thy wondrous works, and to prepare ourselves for Thy kingdom.

We pray Thee also to pour down upon all who are called Christians, the abundance of Thy mercy. Bless especially such as shall assemble with us in the courts of Thy sanctuary. Do Thou graciously rehearse it, when Thou writest up Thy people, that many were born there and trained up for their heavenly inheritance. We beseech Thee, plenteously to endue with heavenly gifts such as shall stand up in Thy name this day. May they preach as those who stand between the living and the dead, and watch for souls, as they that must give account.

We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

ALA

FIFTH SUNDAY MORNING.

LMIGHTY and ever-blessed God, who didst send Thy Son Jesus Christ to redeem for ever from death and hell our immortal souls, and who hast given us an assurance of our own resurrection, by raising Him from the dead on the third day, we praise Thee for these Thy Sabbaths, on which we commemorate this victory of our once crucified and now ascended Lord; and are continually instructed by the ministers of His gospel in all things which concern our everlasting salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may this day hear Thy sacred word with reverence and holy fear, with serious and deep attention, and with all humility and thankfulness. Enable us to join in the prayers of Thy people with devout and contrite hearts; and be Thou pleased so to bless both our public worship and our private meditations, that we may be made partakers of Thine everlasting promises in Christ Jesus, and may advance in all holiness.

O Lord, strengthen our faith on this day by means of those religious exercises in which we shall engage; deliver us from every slavish fear of Thy wrath; fix our hope on our ever-blessed Redeemer; and give us joy and peace in believing.

Let Thy blessing everywhere accompany the preaching of Thy gospel on this day. May the God of grace pour forth the abundance of His Spirit on the ministers and on the hearers. May they who have lived in sin be awakened to a sense of their danger. May the unbelievers be convinced, the thoughtless be alarmed, and the weak be strengthened. May the young be guided in the right way, and the afflicted soul be comforted. May the foundations of Thy universal Church be enlarged, and may believers be built up in faith, and hope, and love.

Bestow Thy special blessing on those who are laboring to extend in foreign lands the knowledge of a crucified Redeemer. Assist them by Thy Providence and grace, that they may contend successfully against idolatry and superstition. Strengthen them by Thy Holy Spirit; and, in the midst of all their difficulties and trials, impart unto them the abundance of Thy consolations. Open the hearts of many to receive Thy gospel in the love of it. Let every wilderness at length blossom as the rose. Let the light spring up to them who have long sat in darkness; and let the days come when the lion shall lie down with the lamb, when wars shall cease, and the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Hear us, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.