draw nearer to the grave, to draw nearer to himself, and to his heavenly kingdom. Answer. O thou who hearest prayer, unto thee will we lift up our souls. Reader. Let us pray. Then shall be read either of the following Prayers, or make a Prayer extempore. ́ O GOD, the light of every heart that sees thee, the life of every soul that loves thee, the strength of every mind that seeks thee; we seek thee now, O Father, thy children seek thee, and pray that thou wouldst enlighten our darkness, sustain our faintings, save us from the death of sin, and grant us life eternal. We are not worthy that thou shouldst come under our roof; but come, O Lord, and make us worthy; enter into our hearts, speak peace unto this house, and abide with us always. Let us be sheltered under the shadow of thy wings from the storms of worldly cares; and when the darkness gathers, and the winds blow, and the waves swell, be thou our harbour and secure repose. Keep us continually, O God, in thy faith and fear. May we be followers of that which is good, and followers of thy Son Jesus Christ, obeying his precepts, and imitating his example. Let our bodies be in constant subjection to our souls, our senses to our reason, and our reason to thy divine and gracious instruction; that so, both outwardly and inwardly, we may be fully disposed to do thy will. May we, thy children, know from our experience how good and how pleasant a thing it is to dwell together in unity. May we be kind and faithful to each other, and to all with whom we are in any way connected. And may we be always sensible of our relationship to thee, our heavenly Father; and feel that whether sleeping or waking we are still with thee. Keep and defend us this night. Grant unto us quiet and restoring slumbers. Bring us to the light of another morning in safety; and when our days and nights on earth are numbered and finished, grant that we may behold each other in the light of eternal day. And this we ask in the WE humbly thank thee, merciful Father, for thy goodness in conducting us to the close of this day, and for all thy mercies from day to day bestowed upon us. Add this to all thy favours, we beseech thee, that we may never forget to be thankful, but may constantly acknowledge thee as the source of all our blessings, and praise thee not only with our lips but in our lives. Write thy law upon our hearts, that all our desires, words and actions may be conformable to thy holy will. Remembering thy mercies hitherto vouchsafed to us, we do entirely trust thee for the time to come. For this only we are anxious, and do earnestly pray, that we may all our days serve and please thee in such a constant practice of piety and devotion, of righteousness and mercy, of temper Accept, O God, as the testimony of our love and charity, our hearty intercessions for all mankind. Let the glorious light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations; and grant that all who have already received it, may live as becomes it. O Lord, continue thy gracious protection to us this night. Into thy hands we commend ourselves, our souls and bodies, and all things belonging to us. And make us mindful, we pray thee, of that time when we shall lie down in the dust; and grant us grace always to live in such a state, that we may never be afraid or unfit to die. And now to thee, our God and Father, we ascribe all honour and glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Then shall the whole Family say the following Benediction, and the Service may be closed with a Hymn. THE Lord bless us and keep us; The Lord lift up ance, meekness, patience, the light of his countetruth and fidelity, as may adorn the religion and name of our Lord and Master. nance upon us, And give us peace, Now and evermore. Amen. END OF THE SECOND EVENING SERVICE. PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE PRECEDING FORMS OF PRAYER, AS OCCASION REQUIRES. FOR SUNDAY MORNING. BE graciously present with all who this day meet to serve thee; bless the labours of all those who watch for souls; and give us all grace to hear with attention, to receive the word with meekness, and to serve the Lord with gladness. Teach us all things necessary to salvation; enable us to understand and remember the sacred truths delivered to us, with full purpose of living accordingly, that our conversation may be holy, and our end everlasting life. ANOTHER. WE thank thee for the morning light of this day of rest, and for all the spiritual privileges which it brings with it. May we have rest and refreshment to our souls. May we read, and hear, and meditate with profit, and lift up our hearts to thee in prayer and praise with sincere devotion. And grant, most merciful God, that we may so improve all our sacred opportunities, that we fail not of a part in thine eternal rest, and in the hymns of angels and blessed spirits in the world to come. FOR SUNDAY EVENING. GLORY be to thy name for the especial blessings which this sacred day has brought to us. Pardon us, if in any manner we have abused its privileges. Cause the truths which we have heard to sink deep into our hearts, and bring forth in us the fruits of a holy and religious life, a peaceful and blessed death, and a glorious resurrection. ANOTHER. BLESSED be God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath vouchsafed to us the rest and the instruction of this Christian Sabbath. Blessed be God for the means of happiness and glory, that care, and diligence, and constancy that we ought to have done. Forgive, O Lord, our sins of ignorance and infirmity; but especially all our wilful transgressions of thy laws, the impurity of our hearts and thoughts, and every sinful practice and habit, of what kind soever. Work in us a hearty contrition for sin, and help us to live more worthily for the time to come; so that we may secure thy favour, and find eternal life. DREN. improvement, which have INTERCESSION FOR CHILbeen offered this day to us and our fellow Christians. Make us mindful, we pray thee, of our duty; that as we often hear how ought to walk and to please God, we may continue to do so unto our lives' end. A CONFESSION. we MOST gracious and merciful God, we humble ourselves before thee in a deep sense of our unworthiness. We acknowledge that we have not served thee with that purity of intention, that sincerity of heart, that fervency of spirit, that zeal for thy O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, bless the children of this household with healthful bodies, and understanding souls, and sanctified hearts, that they may remember their Creator all their days. Let thy grace preserve them from the temptations of the world; and may we never be wanting in any part of our duty to them, but instruct them in the faith and duties of a christian life, and convince them of their faults, and correct them in reason and love. Be thou, O God, their Father and portion, in this world, and in the world to come. ANOTHER. OUR Heavenly Father, we beseech thee to be a Father to our children. Take them into the arms of thy love. Strengthen them in the path of duty, and when they fall, raise them up again. Wherever they are, or may go, there be thou with them. Guide them; teach them; defend, pardon, and save them. ANOTHER. WE humbly and earnestly look to thee, O God, for a blessing, a plenteous blessing on our dear children. Grant them thy best gifts. Grant them health, and strength, and understanding. Grant them, above all, virtue, holiness, good dispositions, the knowledge and love of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Help us to do all our duty to them, and help them to do their duty to us. Lead them and guard them through life; be with them in death; and grant that we may all meet together at last in the house of our Heavenly Father. INTERCESSION FOR BENE FACTORS. God, ALMIGHTY fountain of all goodness and all excellency; extend thine abundant favour and loving kindness to all our friends and benefactors. Reward them for all the good which from thy merciful providence they have conveyed unto us. Let the light of thy countenance shine upon them, and never let them come into any affliction or sadness, but such as may be an instrument of thy glory, and their eternal comfort. Forgive them all their sins. Preserve them from spiritual dangers. Give supply to all their needs; guarding their persons; sanctifying their hearts; and leading them in the way of righteousness, by the waters of comfort, to the land of eternal rest and glory. FOR FRIENDS. O LORD, graciously accept our prayers for all our kindred and friends. |