Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.-HEB. 13. 8.

O GOD, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure :
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;

Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come;

Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

Isaac Watts.

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; grant unto Thy people that they may love the thing which Thou commandest, and desire that which Thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, we beseech Thee, merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we, who seek the shelter of Thy protection, being defended from all evils, may serve Thee in peace and quietness of spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [Ancient Collect.]

New Year's Day.

The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will bless us.-PSALM 115. 12.

STANDING at the portal
Of the opening year,

Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken through the silence
By our Father's voice,
Tender, strong, and faithful,
Making us rejoice.

Onward, then, and fear not,
Children of the day,
For His word shall never,
Never pass away.

I, the Lord, am with thee,
Be thou not afraid:
I will help and strengthen,
Be thou not dismay'd;
Yea, I will uphold thee,
With My own right hand;
Thou art call'd and chosen
In My sight to stand.'
He will never fail us,

He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant

He will never break.
Resting on His promise
What have we to fear?
God is all-sufficient

For the coming year.

F. R. Havergal.

O Thou that sittest on the throne, make all things within us new this New Year. Renew our faith, and hope, and love. Renew our wills that we may serve Thee more gladly and watchfully than ever. Renew our delight in Thy Word and Thy worship. Renew our joy in Thy blessed Self. Renew our longings that all may know Thee. Renew our desires and labours to serve others in the Lord. And so take care of us Thy people, who embrace the Cross of Thy dear Son, and desire to walk in the light and power of Thy Spirit; now and evermore, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. [Dr. H. C. G. Moule.]

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.-ST. LUKE 2. 32.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.-ST. MATT. 2. 10.

AS with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At Thy cradle rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun, which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Hallelujahs to our King!

W. C. Dix.

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest Thy onlybegotten Son to the Gentiles; mercifully grant, that we, which know Thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of Thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the God of Abraham, look upon Thine everlasting covenant, and remember Thy people Israel. Be Thou their Saviour, that all who love Jerusalem and mourn for her may rejoice with her; for Jesus Christ's sake, their Saviour and ours. Amen.

(MISSIONS.)

So shall He sprinkle many nations.-IsA. 52. 15. Jesus said: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. -ST. MATT. 28. 19.

SAVIOUR, sprinkle many nations,
Fruitful let Thy sorrows be;

By Thy pains and consolations,
Draw the nations unto Thee.

Of Thy Cross the wondrous story,
Be it to the nations told;
Let them see Thee in Thy glory
And Thy mercy manifold.

Far and wide, though all unknowing,
Pants for Thee each mortal breast;
Human tears for Thee are flowing,
Human hearts in Thee would rest.
Thirsting as for dews of even,

As the new-mown grass for rain,
Thee they seek, as God of heaven,
Thee, as Man for sinners slain.
Saviour, lo! the isles are waiting,

Stretched the hand, and strained the sight,

For Thy Spirit new creating,

Love's pure flame and wisdom's light.

Give the word! and of the preacher
Speed the foot and touch the tongue,
Till on earth by every creature

Glory to the Lamb be sung.

Bp. A. C. Coxe.

Almighty God, Who by Thy Son Jesus Christ didst give commandment to the Apostles that they should go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, look with compassion upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and on the multitudes that are scattered as sheep having no shepherd. Raise up, we beseech Thee, men of faith and prayer, and send them forth to preach amongst Jew and Gentile the unsearchable riches of Christ. Be present with all who have gone forth in His Name to proclaim in distant lands the Gospel of Salvation. Be with them in perils by land or by water, in sickness and distress, in weariness and painfulness, in disappointment and persecution. Comfort their hearts, and prosper the work of their hands. May we ever be ready to help them by our prayers, our sympathy, and our offerings. Perfect Thy work, and hasten the coming of Thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God be merciful to me a sinner.-ST. LUKE 18. 13.

SINFUL, sighing to be blest;

Bound, and longing to be free;
Weary, waiting for my rest;
God be merciful to me.

Goodness I have none to plead,
Sinfulness in all I see,

I can only bring my need;
God be merciful to me.

Broken heart and downcast eyes
Dare not lift themselves to Thee;
Yet Thou canst interpret sighs:
God be merciful to me.

From this sinful heart of mine
To Thy bosom I would flee:
I am not my own but Thine :
God be merciful to me.

There is One beside the Throne,
And my only hope and plea
Are in Him, and Him alone:
God be merciful to me.
He my cause will undertake,
My Interpreter will be;

He's my all; and for His sake

God be merciful to me.

7. S. B. Monsell.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against Thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most Merciful Father; For Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please Thee In newness of life, To The honour and glory of Thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, we beseech Thee, grant Thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow Thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.