In every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts x. 35. COLLECT. No. 3. WE beseech thee, O Lord God, to be present with us at this time, and impress us with that reverence and fear of thee that we ought to feel, that we may humble ourselves before the Almighty, in attempting to address thine infinite Majesty. Give us grace to receive Christ as the gospel offers him as Lord and Saviour and enable us at all times to rejoice in the Lord, to joy in the God of our salvation. Give us a true sense and taste of religion, and a lively hope of eternal life, through the blood of the Lamb, that our hearts may be drawn to conformity with thy most righteous will; and be always inclined to serve thee in such à manner as shall be most agreeable to thyself, that pleasure and peace may be ours, by the bestowment of thy promised favour and blessing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our Father, &c. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.— 1 John v. 14. COLLECT. No. 4. O THOU eternal Jehovah, that savest all them who put their trust in thee, draw near unto us, we beseech thee, and teach us how to pray-turn unto us and pardon us-satisfy us early with thy mercy -let us not depart from thy sanctuary unrefreshed by the Holy Spirit; but let the light of thy countenance beam upon us now, and continue with us for Sanctify them them through thy truth; thy word is truth. John xvii. 17. COLLECT. No. 5. HOLY, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, we beseech thee to receive our grateful acknowledgments for thy great mercies vouchsafed unto us. We bless thee that thou hast given unto us the word of divine truth, which exposes sin,-convinces us of our wretched fallen condition,-speaks of thy boundless grace,-sets forth thy infinite love to poor sinners, proclaiming pardon to the penitent heart, and affording lasting food to the soul. Grant, O Lord, that thy word may be a continual light to our path, confirming our hope, and inflaming our love; that eventually we may be more than conquerors, through the alone merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who hath taught us when we pray, to say, Our Father, &c. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. ii. 13. COLLECT. No. 6. HEAVENLY Father, we entreat thee to shed the light of thy countenance upon us at this time, that we may offer an acceptable sacrifice unto thee, that the sins whereof we have been guilty, may be pardoned, that the graces of the Holy Spirit may be poured upon us,-that our inner man may be washed and sanctified, that our hearts may be renewed and made clean in the blood of the Lamb, -that God may dwell therein, and we in him by faith, that henceforth we may not live unto ourselves, but unto him who hath loved and died for us, that we through his death may be made partakers of everlasting life. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thyself and Holy Ghost, be all glory and dominion, world Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for lo, I come, I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. and Zech. ii. 10. COLLECT. No. 7. O GOD, whose presence in thy church is its glory and defence, draw near unto us, and humble our hearts before thee. Banish the cares of the world from us while we attempt to address thee. Collect our scattered thoughts, that we may reverence thee in thy sanctuary, and worship thee in spirit and in truth: remember us according to the favour that thou bearest unto thy people, that at last we may see the felicity of thy chosen, and rejoice in the gladness of thy children, and give thanks with thine inheritance, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, in whose most holy words we sum up our petitions, saying, Our Father, &c. |