The Sermon ended, a Hymn may be sung. After the singing, the Minister shall give such Proclamations and Notices as circumstances may require. Then the Congregation kneeling, the Minister shall offer some portions of the following Prayers: Let us give thanks unto the Lord. 1. Almighty God and Heavenly Father, we offer Cabrera. unto Thee through Jesus Christ the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to Thy Name. We remember Thy loving kindness in the manifold gifts Thou hast vouchsafed unto us, and Thy goodness towards us, declared in the multitude of Thy mercies, which endure for ever. In Thee we 2. O Lord, how gracious art Thou! have our being, and Thou dost watch over us in Thy Providence. Thou girdest us with strength and crownest us with benefits. Thou blessest the work of our hands, and dost protect our dwellings. But yet more, O Lord, Thou hast filled us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, revealing Thy wisdom in Him, by Whom Thou art pleased to save mankind, not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to Thy mercy; and hast chosen us that we should be holy and without blame before Thee in love, making these our bodies Thy temples, and our souls the dwelling-place of Thy Holy Spirit. 3. We give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, for all Thy mercies. We glorify Thee, that abiding in the light, we have fellowship one with another, even with all that in every place call on the Name of Jesus, both their Lord and ours. We bless Thee because Thou hast given unto us opportunity to freely praise Cabrera Thee, serve Thee, and worship Thee according to Thy will, in our own country, and we magnify Thee because Thou hast permitted us to gather together this day to adore Thee in spirit and in truth, to sing Thy praises, and to lift up unto Thee our supplications. 4. And now, O Lord, vouchsafe to accept this our worship which we offer unto Thee as a spiritual sacrifice, through Jesus, and to pardon all the imperfections to which we are subject by reason of our many infirmities. Grant that the teaching we have this day received by meditation upon Thy Word may remain rooted in our hearts [and here may be added some petitions referring to points of the Sermon.] 5. Make us, O Lord, day by day wiser and better during our sojourning in this world. Watch over our dwellings and protect our households. Comfort us in tribulation, and arm us against every temptation by which we may be assailed, so that we may at all times and in everything both bless Thee and glorify Thee. We plead not for ourselves alone, O Father, but for all our brethren also in the faith, wheresoever they may be, that they with us may be made partakers of all thy blessings. 6. Bless Thy Church throughout the world. Send peace and prosperity to Thy spiritual Jerusalem. Let Thy Word have free course and be glorified. May the people that sit in darkness see a great light, and to them that sit in the region and shadow of death let light spring up, so that from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same spiritual sacrifices and the incense of pure hearts may be offered to Thy Name. O let Thy salvation and Thy righteousness be openly shewed in the sight of the heathen, and let all the ends of the earth see Thy salvation. 7. Bless the Bishops and other Ministers of Thy Word. Make them shining lights, faithful to the Cabrera mission they have received from Thee. Unite them (continued). with all Thy saints in the bonds of truth and mutual love. Shed abroad upon them the spirit of charity, patience, meekness, humility, and holy zeal. Give to them grace and wisdom to extend the interests of their Lord and Master, and make them useful in winning precious souls unto Thyself. 8. Bless that portion of Thy Church Universal to which we belong. We pray, O Lord, for Thy Fatherly care. Give unto us more faith, more solid virtues, that freed from all hindrance we may publish the glories of Thy Name. Behold, the harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Do Thou, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, send forth many new labourers. Raise up men of faith and godliness, of wisdom and power, that they may come and work with us in Thy vineyard, and thus greater fruit be given unto Thee. Do Thou Thyself direct our Schools. Give words of wisdom to those who instruct, and fill the hearts of our scholars with godliness and holy reverence. 9. Hasten, O Lord, the time when the mystery of iniquity shall cease to work. Bring Thou to nought every design, and subdue Thou every power, which opposeth and exalteth itself against Thee or would usurp Thy throne. Have compassion upon any who wander amid the byways of error, and let them receive the Truth in the love of it. And do Thou so guide them unto Thyself, and keep them with Thy grace, that at the last they may be found among the blessed whose names are written in the Book of Life, and whom in Thy mercy Thou wilt cause to sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 10. Thou, Lord, art the Governor and Ruler Cabrera among the nations. (continued). King of nations? Who shall not fear Thee, O Thou sittest in Thy throne judging right; therefore in righteousness do Thou judge the world and minister judgment to the people in uprightness. Hasten the time when Thou wilt make wars to cease to the ends of the earth, and grant that from henceforth those who govern the nations may be nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the Israel of God. 11. Thou hast given unto us for our country in this world a pleasant and fertile land, and we give Thee thanks for the same. But we sigh and mourn because of our sins as a nation, and we beseech Thee, O Thou Saviour of Israel, not to be as a stranger in our land, or a wayfaring man that turns aside to tarry but for a night; but be Thou always in the midst of us, and although our iniquities would turn Thee away, yet do Thou abide with us for Thy Name's sake and save us. Grant that the righteousness which exalteth a nation may abound in our land, and the sin which is a reproach to any people may disappear. Make us a people holy unto Thyself, and do Thou establish Thy throne among us from generation to generation. 12. Bless, we pray Thee, the Chief Ruler of our land and his Ministers. Inspire them with wisdom and holy fear, so that in all things they may work according to Thy righteousness, and with Thy Divine will for their guide. Bless the Judges and Magistrates, that they may speak truth and execute justice. Prosper our Universities, Schools, and Colleges, and implant in them Thy fear, which is the beginning and fountain of all true wisdom. 13. Bless all our countrymen, that they may seek to be citizens of a nobler-an eternal country. Bless the rich, that they trust not in the things that perish, Cabrera but rather may give of their substance unto Thee, (continued). and unto the poor, laying up for themselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Bless the poor, and make them rich in faith and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but do Thou, good Lord, deliver them out of them all. 14. Bless the widow and the orphan; those who travel by land or water; all prisoners, and as many as are in any way afflicted or distressed. Specially do Thou bless such as are nearing the valley of the shadow of death, and to each and all do Thou give according to their necessity and according to the abundant riches of Thy mercy. 15. Bless our enemies, and all who hate us; forgive them, for they know not what they do; lay not their malice to their charge, but rather grant unto them repentance and remission of their sins. And to all such as have shown us love, give Thou prosperity in all their ways; enrich them with Thy gifts, and grant unto them health of body and soul unto life everlasting. 16. Thou, O God, art the Father of lights, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift. Hear, then, we pray Thee, these our petitions, grant those things which we ask of Thee, and fill our hearts with hope, joy and peace, for the sake of Jesus Christ our blessed Master and Saviour, Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth for ever and Amen. ever. A Doxology may be sung, and then the Minister shall pronounce the Divine Benediction in the words of one of the following Texts: |