of it he shall say, Here endeth the Second Lesson. Then shall be sung, or else said, by the Minister and People, alternately, the song of Simeon, as followeth. Nunc dimittis. ST. LUKE, II. 29. L ORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; have seen For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles; and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Or else this Psalm. Deus misereatur. PSALM LXVII. GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us; and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all na tions. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad; for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. THE COLLECT FOR PEACE. GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that, being defended by thee from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. THE COLLECT FOR AID AGAINST ALL PERILS. LIGHTEN our dark ness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the honour of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Advocate. Amen. A PRAYER FOR RULERS. LORD, our heavenO ly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth; most heartily we beseech thee with thy fa vour to behold the President, Vice President, and Congress of the United States, and so replenish them with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts, that in all their deliberations they may be enabled to promote the national prosperity, and to secure the peace, liberty, and safety of the United States throughout all generations. This we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE. ALMIGHTY and ever lasting God, who art the author of every good and perfect gift; send down upon all ministers of the gospel, and upon all congregations committed to their charge, the needful and spirit of thy grace; that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, Ŏ heavenly Father, for thine infinite mercy's sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR ALL CONDITIONS OF MEN. GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of thy holy church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness, all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee, to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions; and this we humbly ask as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If any desire the Prayers of the Congregation, the Notes are to be read here, by the Minister, followed by the appropri ate Prayers or Thanksgivings. A GENERAL THANKSGIVING. ALMIGHTY God, Fa ther of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord; in whose name we ascribe unto thee all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. A CONCLUDING PRAYER. fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world know ALMIGHTY God, who ledge of thy truth, and in hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common sup plications unto thee, and hast promised by thy beloved Son, that where two or three are gathered together in his name, thou wilt grant their requests; the world to come life everlasting. Amen. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. END OF THE FIRST FORM OF EVENING PRAYER. SECOND FORM OF EVENING PRAYER. The Minister shall begin the Service with the following Sentences of Scripture, addressed to the People. FROM the rising of the ished and brought us up as sun, unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together; for with him is the fountain of life, and in his light shall we see light. Let our prayers be set forth in his sight as incense; and the lifting up of our hands be an evening sacrifice. We will go into his tabernacle; we will worship at his footstool; we will worship, and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is kind to all, even unto the evil and unthankful. He has nour children, though we have rebelled against him. Let us then go unto our Father, and say unto him, Father, we have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and are no more worthy to be called thy children. |