2. Draw nigh unto my soul and deliver me, because of mine enemies. 3. Iniquities prevail against me; as gressions thou shalt purge them away.

redeem it; lxix. 1, 18. for our trans

lxv. 3. 4. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

5. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me; teach me thy statutes.

6. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

7. Remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously.

8, I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. cxix. 25, 26, 28, 29, 32.

Glory be, &c.

As it was, &c.

Let a portion of the New Testament be here read, and if time allow, commented upon.

M.

turned.

A.

Turn thou us, O Lord, and so shall we be

Help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

Or,

M. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage.

A. Govern them, and lift them up for ever.

FIRST COLLECT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF OUR

PRAYERS.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of mercies, we thy sinful and helpless creatures, brought safely by thy care to the close of another day, beseech thee graciously to accept our evening sacrifice of praise and prayer. May our strength be renewed by waiting upon thee; may the Holy Spirit revive, enlighten, and comfort our souls! may thy pardoning love be shed abroad afresh in all our hearts! While we use the appointed means of grace, may we find the promised grace of the means. Thus having true communion with thee, the Father of Spirits, through thy blessed Son, our only Mediator and Advocate, may we be built up unto him in all things who is the head over all to his church, and who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Or this,

O ALMIGHTY and everliving God, heavenly Father, who knowest how inconstant and wandering the minds of men are in any good actions, and how easily we are carried away from contemplation of thee, by intruding distractions and unseasonable thoughts, have pity upon us at this time. Send to us thy Holy Spirit, to teach us how to pray according to thy holy will. May he allay all troublesome and wandering thoughts in us, while we are at thy footstool. Suffer us not to serve thee with our lips, and be absent in heart from thee;

and vouchsafe to grant our petitions to the glory and honour of thy most holy name, and the endless comfort of our souls, for the sake of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

SECOND COLLECT FOR A BLESSING ON THE

WORD OF GOD.

O GOD, the giver of every good gift, who hast granted us the light of thy truth, more precious than the light of day, cause it by the power of the Holy Ghost, to make us truly wise unto salvation. So settle our souls in belief of the testimony which it gives of thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may daily rejoice in him, as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. May we so mark, read, learn, and inwardly digest thy holy word, that walking obediently according to thy holy will and commandments, we may bring forth daily in larger measure, the fruits of scriptural piety, and finally through thy mercy obtain everlasting life. Especially, &c. We ask these and all other blessings in the name, and for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Or this,

O GOD, the giver of all grace, strengthen our faith, and give us grace now and at all times to profit in the knowledge and understanding of thy holy word. Apply it to our hearts and consciences, nor suffer the things which we hear from it to slip from us. Especially, &c. So govern all our actions by thy Holy Spirit, that both our lips may approve

our knowledge, and also that we may daily show forth the fruits of whatsoever we have learned out of thy word, by a religious life and conversation. Give us a firm and assured hope in thee, and because thy promises are sure, keep us from doubt or despondency, from timidity and vain terrors, from all self-confidence, and self-righteous neglect of him, in whose only name we ask these and all other mercies, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A CONFESSION.

O ALMIGHTY and ever-blessed God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive, receive our humble petitions. We have erred and strayed from thy ways. We have not walked before thee this day as we should have done, but have rebelled against thee. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. But thou art the same God whose property is always to have mercy. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, and for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake pardon our offences. We wait for thee, and in thy word do we hope.

Oh! give us and make us

to drink of the cup of thy salvation, glad with the light of thy countenance, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A GENERAL PRAYER.

O ETERNAL and all-sufficient God, who alone canst satisfy the desires of our souls, manifest thyself to us, we beseech thee, as thou dost not unto the world. Enable us to rejoice and be glad in thee as

our Father, and the God of our peace and salvation. May the fact that we are one day nearer our latter end, excite us to seriousness, watchfulness, and renewed dedication to thy service. Quicken our steps in the pursuit of eternal things. Direct, sanctify, and govern our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments. Keep our minds in a right frame, amidst prosperous or adverse events, having grace entirely to comply with all thy dispensations, and so as to please and honour thee under them. May that grace also subdue in us every evil temper and affection, so that the fruits of the Spirit may appear and abound in our whole walk and conversation. Bless us as a family, and grant that we may live in godly affection, laying aside all envyings, emulations, wrath, malice, and all evil-speakings. May we show all good fidelity towards thee, and towards all men in the discharge of our different stations. May we so live here, that we may be acknowledged by Christ, as his true servants and disciples, in that day when he shall make up his jewels, and be admired in all them that believe. To him, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world with end. Amen.

Or this,

LORD of all power and might, the giver of all grace, teach us to do thy will; to know our own weakness and vileness, and to lean wholly on thy heavenly help. Let us not receive that needful strength in vain, but may we daily grow in grace,