LESSON XXIII.

CONFESSION OF SINS.

S. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

P. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: S. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me.

P. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

S. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

P. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

S. O Lord, open thou my lips;

P. And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

S. For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would

I give it; thou delightest not in burntofferings.

P. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart thou wilt not despise.

S. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

P. And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

S. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

P. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

S. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place; P. With him also that is of a contrite and

humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

LESSON XXIV.

IMPLORING MERCY.

S. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear

me:

P. Preserve my soul; O thou my God, save thy servant, that trusteth in thee. S. Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I cry unto thee daily:

P. Rejoice the soul of thy servant; for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

S. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive:

P. And plenteous in mercy to all them that thee.

call upon

S. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer:

P. And attend to the voice of my supplications.

S. Teach me thy way, O Lord:

P. I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

S. I will praise thee, O Lord, my God, with all my heart:

P. And I will glorify thy name for ever.

S. For great is thy mercy towards me:
P. And thou hast delivered my soul.

S. Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious; long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth:

P. Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

S. Thou hast holden me by my right hand: P. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,. and afterward receive me to glory.

S. Whom have I in heaven but thee?

P. And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

S. My flesh and my heart fail:

P. But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

S. For lo! they that are far from thee shall perish:

P. Thou hast destroyed all them that go astray from thee.

S. But it is good for me to draw near to God:

P. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

S. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:

P. For his mercy endureth for ever.

LESSON XXV.

CHOOSING GOD FOR OUR PORTION.

S. Thou art my portion, O Lord:
P. I have said that I would keep thy words.
S. I entreated thy favor with my whole
heart:

P. Be merciful unto me, according to thy word.

S. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies:

P. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts; quicken me in thy righteousness S. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law: P. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judg

ments.

S. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: P. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.