Enlarge our hearts by faith,

That we may believe in the immortal world; Prepare our souls, by all thy wise admonitions, That we, being delivered from all sins,

And being strengthened in the love of all good, May be worthy to enter thine eternal inheritance. O God, we pray thee, comfort the afflicted; Visit their hearts with peace;

Wipe the tears from their eyes;

Let thy spirit dwell in their souls with love;
Help them to serve thee truly in this world,
And receive them at last to the loved and the lost,
Where there is no more sorrowing nor death;
And to thy great name, through Jesus Christ,
The dear Redeemer who hath abolished death,
Be praises everlasting. Amen.

XXVIII.

AT AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, Who hast made the heavens fair above our heads, And the earth beautiful beneath our feet;

Who hast given health to our bodies,

And hast filled our hearts with joy;

We bow with gladness before thy throne,

To worship thee, the Infinite and Holy One.

Bless us in this day of our assembling;

Bless the friends who are with us,

And the friends we love who are absent.

Teach us thy lessons from the scene around us;
In the midst of the young and the happy,
May our hearts be pure, gentle, and devout;
May the air of heaven breathe to us its purity,
The clouds above us tell of thy goodness,
And the lofty sky lift up our souls

To the heaven in which thou dwellest.

O God, in sparing our lives to this day,
We recognize thy fatherly goodness;
We thank thee for the year that is passed,
And for all its opportunities and lessons;
Forgive our neglects and sins;

Help us to mark this day

By a renewed consecration to thee.

We bless thee for gifts prolonged by thy love;
We bless thee for hopes of greater faithfulness
To mark our future way;

We bless thee for the memory of departed friends,
And for good people of all ages;

We bless thee for Christ, the dear Redeemer, Whose faithful disciples we pray that we may be, And by whom may we be accepted,

When we shall be called from this present world To thy world of unseen glory and blessedness.

Amen.

XXIX.

AT A RURAL CELEBRATION.

GOD of Nature, God of Grace,

Who hath made for us two great lights:
The glorious light of thy Works,

The glorious light of thy Word.

We thank thee for both of these teachers,

And that both are thy harmonious voice

To all the children of men.

While we read the page of thy elder scripture,

We bow down to worship thee.

Thine the sun, the light, the sky;

Thine the hills, the trees, the grass;

Thine the breath of flowers, the song of bird;
Thine the smile on the face of nature;

Thine this deep tide of life and joy;

Thine the fair, round world, full of thy riches: O God, in wisdom hast thou made thy works. For thy pleasure are they created,

To declare the invisible things of thee:

Thy Godhead, thy power, thy goodness;
To lift up all our hearts to thee

In grateful and adoring trust.

Father Almighty, to thee do we come. Let thy majesty humble our souls;

Let thy benignity give them joy;

And while we muse on the calm silence around,
May we thank thee that to it thou hast added
A voice, sublime as the stars,

Sweet as the breath of morn,

Which speaks pardon to repented sins,

And gives the promise of eternal life.
For Jesus we will here thank thee;

For the Christian's life, and the Christian's hope.
O God, may the moments here passed
Be moments of pure and devout joy.
Let thoughts of thy presence and love
Hallow our greetings and recreations.
May we go back to life's varied work
Refreshed for more dutiful toil;

Grateful for this beautiful world;

Grateful for all kindly affections;

Grateful for the hope of reunion in heaven.

Amen.