And we then, according to thy promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness: Lord, grant that seeing we look for such things, we may give diligence to be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless a. And then come, Lord Jesus, come quickly b.

(16.) For the sending of the Holy Spirit to supply the want of Christ's bodily presence, to carry on his undertaking, and to prepare things for his second coming.

We bless thee that when our Lord Jesus went away, he sent us another comforter to abide with us for ever, even the Spirit of truth c, who shall glorify the Son, for he shall take of his, and shall show it unto us d.

That being by the right hand of God exaltede, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he poured it forth as rivers of living water g.

Blessed be God for the signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, with which God bare witness to the great salvation h. And blessed be God for the promise, that as earthly parents, though evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, so our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask himi, that Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession k.

(17.) For the covenant of grace made with us in Jesus Christ, and all the exceeding great and precious privileges of that covenant, and for the seals of it.

We thank thee, that in Jesus Christ thou hast made an everlasting covenant with us, even the sure mercies of David 7, and that though the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, yet this covenant of thy peace shall never be removed m.

a 2 Pet. iii. 13, 14.

d John xvi. 14.

h Heb. ii. 4.

/ Isa. lv. 3.

b Rev. xxii. 20.
e Acts ii. 33.

i Luke xi. 13.
m Isa. liv. 10.

c John xiv. 16, 17.
g John vii. 38.
k Eph. i. 13. 14.

That thou hast given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of a divine nature a: and that Jesus Christ is the Mediator of this better covenant, which is established upon better promises b.

That though thou chasten our transgression with the rod, and our iniquity with stripes, yet thy loving kindness thou wilt not utterly take away, nor cause thy faithfulness to fail, thy covenant thou wilt not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of thy lips c.

That being willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of thy council, thou hast confirmed it by an oath. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us d.

That baptism is appointed to be a seal of the righteousness which is by faith, as circumcision was e; that it assures us of the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and that this promise is to us and our children g. And that the cup in the Lord's Supper is the blood of the New Testament, which was shed for many, for the remission of sins h.

(18.) For the writing of the scriptures, and the preserving of them pure and entire to our day.

We thank thee that we have the scriptures to search, and that in them we have eternal life, and that they testify of Christi, and that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness k.

That whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and

a 2 Pet. i. 4.

d Heb. vi. 17, 18. h Matt. xxvi. 28.

b Heb. viii. 6.
e Rom. iv. 11.
i John v. 39.

c Psal. lxxxix. 32-34.
g Acts ii. 38, 39.
k 2 Tim. iii. 16.

comfort of the scripture might have hopea: and that we have this most sure word of prophecy, as a light shining in a dark place b.

That the vision is not become to us as the words of a book that is sealed c, but that we hear in our own tongue the wonderful works of God d.

We thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that the things which were hid from the wise and prudent, and which many prophets and kings desired to see, and might not, are revealed to us babes: even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sighte.

(19.) For the institution of ordinances, and particularly that of the ministry.

We thank thee, that thou hast not only showed thy word unto Jacob, but thy statutes and judgments unto Israel, unto us, thou hast not dealt so with other nations, and as for thy judgments they have not known them g.

That the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them h, and that he hath set his sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore i, and there will meet with the children of Israel k.

We thank thee, that thou hast made known unto us thy holy sabbaths l, and that still there remains the keeping of a sabbath to the people of God m. And that when the Lord Jesus ascended up on high, he gave gifts unto men, not only prophets, apostles, and evangelists, but pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of

a Rom. xv. 4. d Acts ii. 11. h Rev. xxi. 3. / Neh. ix. 14.

b 2 Pet. i. 19.

e Luke x. 21, 24.
i Ezek. xxxvii. 26.
m Heb. iv. 9.

c Isa. xxix. 11.

Psal. cxlvii. 19, 20. k Exod. xxix. 43.

Christa. And that while they teach us to observe all things which Christ hath commanded, he hath promised to be with them always, even unto the end of the world b.

(20.) For the planting of the Christian religion in the world, and the setting up of the gospel church, in despite of all the opposition of the powers of darkness.

We thank thee, that the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, and the gospel which was made known to all nations for the obedience of faith c, was mighty through God to the pulling down of the strong holds d; that the Lord wrought with it, and confirmed the word by signs following e, so that Satan fell as lightning from heaven g.

That though the gospel was preached in much contention h, yet it grew and prevailed mightily i, and multitudes turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven k.

Now came salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christl. And the exalted Redeemer rode forth with his bow and with his crown, conquering and to conquer m, and nations were born at once n.

(21.) For the preservation of Christianity in the world unto this day.

We bless thee, that though the enemies of Israel have afflicted them from their youth up, have many a time afflicted them, yet they have not prevailed against them; though the ploughers have ploughed on their back, yet the righteous Lord has cut asunder the cords of the wicked o.

That Jesus Christ hath built his Church upon a rock, which the gates of hell cannot prevail againstp; but his

a Eph. iv 8, 11, 12, 13. b Matt. xxviii. 20.

d 2 Cor. x. 4.

h 1 Thess. ii. 2.
I Rev. xii. 10.
o Psal. cxxix. 1,2,3,4.

e Mark xvi. 20.
i Acts xix. 20.
m Rev. vi. 2.
p Matt, xvi. 18.

c Rom, xvi. 25,26. g Luke x. 18.

1 Thess. i. 9, 10. n Isa. lxvi. 8.

seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven a.

(22.) For the martyrs and confessors, the lights of the church, and the good examples of those that are gone before us to heaven.

We bless thee for all those who have been enabled to approve themselves to God in much patience, in afflictions, in distresses b, who, when they have been brought before governors and kings for Christ's sake, it has turned to them for a testimony, and God has given them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries were not able to gain-say or resist c.

That those who for Christ's sake were killed all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter, yet in all these things we are more that conquerors, through him that loved us d.

That they overcame the accuser of the brethren by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and not by the loving of their lives unto death e.

We bless thee for the cloud of witnesses with which we are encompassed about g, for the footsteps of the flock h, for the elders that have obtained a good reporti, and are now, through faith and patience, inheriting the promises l. Lord give us to follow them, as they followed Christ l.

(23.) For the communion of saints, that spiritual communion which we have in faith and hope, and holy love, and prayers and praises with all good Christians.

We bless thee, that if we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with anotherm, even with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours n.

b 2 Cor. vi. 4.
e Rev. xii. 11.
i Heb. xi. 2.

a Psal. lxxxix. 29.
d Rom. viii. 36, 37.
h Cant. i. 8.
I 1 Cor. xi. 1.

m 1 John i. 7.

c Luke xxi. 12, 13, 15.
Heb. xii. 1.
k Heb. vi. 12.
n 1 Cor. i. 2.