at length, bring us to join the countless multitude around thy throne in singing: "unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Grant these peti- tions for Christ's sake. FOR EASTER DAY. O Lord our GOD, we appear before thee with thanksgiving and praise, for the revelation of thy mercy to us, through Christ Jesus. He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. We approach thee, therefore, in his name, and plead his righteousness. We, by nature and practice, "are miserable sinners, who lie in darkness and the shadow of death." O Lord Jesus, thou art "the resurrec tion and the life, in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die, and whosoever liveth, and believeth in thee, shall not die eternally. We beseech thee to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness. Thou hast overcome the sharpness of death, and hast opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers;" enable us to believe in thee, to the saving of the soul. "O merciful God, grant, we beseech thee, that the old Adam may be so buried in each of us that the new man may be raised up in us. Grant that all carnal affections may die in us, and that all things belonging to the spirit may live and grow in us." O make us partakers of the benefits of the death of thy Son, that we may also be partakers of his resurrection. Grant that we may daily seek those things which are above, that when he who is our life shall appear, we also may appear with him in glory. Enable us, O Lord, at all times, to say: "blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." Grant that we may daily live by faith on the Son of God, who hath loved us, and given himself for us; looking forward with a blessed hope of a joyful resurrection. "Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;" to whom with thyself and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world Amen. without end. |