Let a portion of the New Testament be read, and, if time permit, commented upon.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

M. Defend us, O God, against the face of our enemies.

A. Make haste to help us, O Lord.

Or,

M. Save us and help us, O Lord, that we may glorify thee.

A. O Lord, arise and deliver us for thy mercies' sake.

FIRST COLLECT, FOR ACCEPTANCE of our

PRAYERS.

O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, we humbly implore thee to give us thy Holy Spirit, to teach us at this time how to pray, and what to pray for. May He quicken our souls, that we may worship thee in spirit and in truth, and present an acceptable service before thee through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ. May He cause us unfeignedly to praise thee, by giving us a more lively sense of thy mercies, especially of thy goodness continued to us through another day. And stir us up, we beseech thee, to true repentance for our manifold transgressions, and hearty desires after real godliness, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Saviour and Advocate. Amen.

Or this,

UNTO thee lift we up our eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Enable us also to lift up our hearts with our voices, and to come before thee as truly spiritual worshippers, accepted in the Beloved. Cast us not away from thy presence, though we are unworthy and sinful creatures. But lift thou up, O Lord, the light of thy countenance upon us, that our faith being strengthened, our hope enlivened, and our love of thee, our God and Father, confirmed, we may joyfully adore thee, and present our supplications in the confidence of thy ready help. Grant us these needful blessings for the sake of thy dear Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

SECOND COLLECT, FOR A BLESSING ON THE

WORD OF GOD.

O LORD, we beseech thee, grant to us thy servants, grace so to ponder the shortness and uncertainty of this life, and the importance of that which is to come, that we may not loiter in our spiritual course, but be ever pressing towards the mark for the prize of our high calling. May the duties and precepts of thy word give us a right understanding in all things, that guided by the clear light of truth, and upheld by thy powerful aid, we may fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life. Especially, &c. Thus quickened by thy testimonies, may we daily grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ, in whose name alone we ask these and all other mercies. Amen.

Or this,

and

BLESSED Lord God, who in thy holy scriptures dost set before us the way of pardon, of peace, of true consolation, bring us daily by the teaching of the Holy Ghost through the word, to a clearer knowledge of this great salvation. Open our eyes to see the things which belong to our peace, and our hearts to receive them. Direct us in every way of duty by thy leading providence, conducting grace, and sure word. Especially, &c. Keep our eyes continually directed to the Lamb of God, who only taketh away the sins of the world, that being established in the faith of thy mercy in Christ Jesus, we may purify ourselves as he is pure, and glorify thee more and more, through the same, our Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

A CONFESSION.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we again acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time most grievously have committed by thought, word, and deed, against thy Divine Majesty. Especially we now confess before thee the sins of the day and week, to the close of which thou hast mercifully brought us. We have abused thy favours; we have disregarded thy mercies; we have slighted thy warnings and admonitions. We have not taken heed to walk according to thy holy will: it is of

thy compassion that we are not consumed. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously. Heal our backslidings; love us freely; and let thy just anger be turned away from us, and that not for any thing in us, who are vile and polluted dust and ashes, but for the sake of the most precious death and merits of thy dear Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A GENERAL PRAYER.

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O LORD, we pray thee, that we may cious acceptance in thy sight at this time. Glorify thine own covenant of redeeming love in cleansing and refreshing our consciences with the application of the blood of sprinkling. Grant us the comfort and unction of the Holy Ghost. Renew whatever is decayed in us through the fraud and power of Satan, the snares of the world, or the evil of our own hearts. Revive and strengthen our faith and hope. Enkindle our love to thee by fresh views of the cross of Christ, as manifesting thy love to sinners, and as the solid foundation of our peace. Deliver us from being ever sinfully ashamed of the gospel, or presumptuously abusing its free grace. Make us upright before thee, eschewing our own evil, and steadfastly pursuing the way of thy testimonies. Oh, quicken our souls in all true godliness. Order our whole conversation by thy word, and let no wickedness have dominion over us. Help us to a closer communion with thee. Keep us watching unto prayer, and in every thing giving

thanks. We ask all for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Or this,

O MOST mighty God, and merciful Father, grant to us we beseech thee, pardon and peace, that evermore rejoicing in thy love, and satisfied with thy favour, we may cease from all inordinate and worldly affections. Keep us from all hurtful things, and ready both in body and soul to accomplish what thou wouldst have done. Grant us power and strength to have victory and to triumph over the devil, the world, and the flesh. Grant us ever to have fellowship with thee, O Heavenly Father, and with thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. May we henceforth redeem the time, and walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure. May we follow after purity, meekness, temperance, loving-kindness, and true godliness of life and conversation, aiming in every thing to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. Make us to increase and abound in love, one towards another, and towards all. Bless us as a family, and unite us all in the union of our great head, Jesus Christ, and by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Let not mercy or truth forsake us; but write them upon the tables of our hearts, that we may be living epistles of Christ, known and read of all men ; finding favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. These and all other mercies we