: : THE MORNING PRAYER, FOR EVERY LORD'S DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, EXCEPTING SUCH DAYS AS THE LORD'S SUPPER IS ADMINISTERED. At the beginning of Morning Prayer, the minister shall read some one, or more, of these sentences of the scriptures that follow; after which, be shall read the Exhortation. WHEN the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth judgment and justice, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. xviii. 27. ; Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto JEHOVAH, for he will receive him with compassion: and to his GOD, for he aboundeth in forgiveness. Isaiah Iv. 7. The sacrifice in which God delights is a contrite mind; a broken and contrite heart God never despiseth. Psalm li. 17. Rend your heart, and not your garments; and return unto JEHOVAH your GOD: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil which he threateneth. Joel ii. 13. TO JEHOVAH our GOD belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; and have not hearkened to the voice of JEHOVAH our God, to walk in his laws which he hath set before us by his servants the prophets. Dan. ix. 9, 10. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us: but, if we confess our sins, God, faithful and just to his promise, will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John i. 8, 9. The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and in truth; and, indeed, the father is seeking such worshippers of himself. GOD is a spirit; and his worshippers must worship him in spirit and in truth. John iv. 23,24. Exhortation. DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, the scripture repeatedly exhorteth us to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, before the face of almighty GOD, our heavenly father, with a lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; that we may obtain forgiveness of the same by his infinite goodness and mercy. And as we ought, each of us, to make confession of our guilt and unworthiness, in our acts of private devotion, so ought we jointly to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks unto him, who is the creator and preserver of all, for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore, I beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, in supplication to almighty GOD; saying after me; |