LORD our God, the bountiful source of all good; we bless thee for our lives, and the gifts of grace, of nature, and of society; for instruction in divine truth; for the voice of thy calling, repeated so often; for thy patience, thy long-suffering, thy forbearance towards us, who often and grievously have sinned against thee; for all the benefits we have received; for all the little good we may have done; for the enjoyment of present good; for thy promise and our hope of good to come; for loving parents, for wise teachers, for benefactors never to be forgotten; for brethren of one mind with us; for kind friends, for faithful servants, for all who by their writings, or words, or example, have helped us in our heavenward way. For all these, and for all other known or unknown, remembered or forgotten mercies, we praise thee, and will praise; we bless thee, and will bless; we thank thee, and will give thee thanks, now and for ever. Amen.

A

LMIGHTY God, who didst send thy Son to

establish a kingdom of righteousness on earth; we earnestly beseech thee for the whole Christian Church. Fill it with all truth, and in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in

want, supply it; where it is divided and rent asunder, unite and heal it. And we beseech thee, most dear Father, for all such as labor in the ministry of thy blessed gospel; that it would please thee so to guide them by thy Holy Spirit, that they may be found wise, steadfast, and zealous of thy glory; directing always their studies. unto this end, that the poor sheep who have gone astray out of thy flock may be sought out and brought again unto the chief shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, the comfort of the sad, the strength of all who suffer: let the prayers of those that cry out of any tribulation come unto thee, and may they rejoice to find that thy mercy is present with them in their afflictions. Let all who are beset by fears, troubled by poverty, worn down by illness, given over to punishments, all who are wronged and oppressed, the lonely, the suffering, the weary and heavy laden, be sustained by thy might, consoled by thy tenderness, and cherished by thy fatherly compassion. Amen.

HEAVENLY Father, who hast commanded

us to love one another as thy children, and hast ordained the highest friendship in the bond of thy Spirit; we beseech thee to maintain and

preserve us therein, with all those to whom we are bound by any especial tie. Send down upon us the dew of thy heavenly grace, and pour thy Spirit into our hearts, that, walking in thy way all the days of our lives, we may have joy in each other that passeth not away; and, having lived together in love here, may hereafter live for ever together in that blessed kingdom, to which thy glorified Son will welcome all his faithful disciples. Amen.

THOU whose help is always nearest when most needed; comfort those who mourn and are oppressed with their afflictions, or labor under the burden of a troubled mind: relieve the poor, and defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow: strengthen those who languish on the bed of sickness, and those who are departing from this world. Keep them all from sinning against thee, and from being overwhelmed by too heavy Let the events of their lives be under the control of thy Holy Spirit, and end in holiness, in peace, and joy eternal. Amen.

a sorrow.

TERNAL God, in whom the spirits of just men

ETE

do rest in peace from their labors; we bless and praise thy holy name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; and especially for those most dear to us, of whom we have

good hope that they are fallen asleep in Jesus; and we beseech thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that even here we may be united to them in fellowship of spirit, and that finally we may be gathered together with them into the bosom of thy love. Amen.

LORD, who art King of all the earth, and Father of mankind; now of thine infinite goodness accept the offerings, which with a free and joyful heart we bring to thee; and do thou grant that the blessings thou mayest vouchsafe to us may be devoted to thy service and the welfare of thy people, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

THE

HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.

G

Or,

Amen.

RACE and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

16

SECOND FORM OF SERVICE.

WH

HEN the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. (Ezek. xviii. 27.)

I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. (Ps. li. 3.)

Hide thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities. (Ps. li. 9.)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Ps. li. 17.)

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. (Joel ii. 13.)

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us. (Dan. ix. 9, 10.)

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. (Jer. x. 24; Ps. vi. 1.)