gold: sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward.* We thank thee, O Father, that we hear in our own tongue the wonderful works of God; for thou hast put thy word into our hands, and into our mouths; and in it we have eternal life revealed,and it testifies of thy Son.+ We bless thee, that all scripture has been given by inspiration of God,—and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,-for correction,—and for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work.‡ And thou, O Lord, hast given unto us a sure word of prophecy, unto which it becomes us to take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place,— until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts.§ We thank thee, O Father, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast * Psalm xix. 7-12. + John v. 19. § 2 Pet. i. 19. revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it hath seemed good in thy sight.* O Lord, open thou our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things in thy law.† * Luke x. 21. 24. + Psalm cxix. 18. THANKSGIVING FOR CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS AND ORDINANCES. BLESSED be the Lord God of Jacob, that the tabernacle of God is with men,*-that he hath set his sanctuary in the midst of them,t-and will dwell with them for ever. Enable us, O our God, to call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable,not seeking our own pleasure,-nor thinking our own thoughts, nor speaking our own words, on thy holy day. But may we ever be in the spirit on thy day; and do thou, O Lord, grant us thy blessing. We have all been baptized in thy name, and dedicated to thy service. Grant that we may be washed, and justified, and sanctified by the Spirit * Rev. xxi. 3. + Ezek. xxxvii. 26. Isaiah lviii. 13. of God, and by the blood of Christ; and, like newborn babes, may we desire the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby.* Thou hast also, O Lord, prepared a table before us,t-and hast called us to sit down with thy Son, that we may eat of his bread and drink of his cup, —and that, amidst the wearisome journey of this life, our souls may be refreshed and live. Help us, O Lord, to pay that which we have vowed; and having feasted on that wine which is on earth the pledge of thy forgiving grace, may we all drink it new in the kingdom of God. Now unto thy name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory, dominion, and praise, for ever more. Amen. * 1 Pet. ii. 2. † Psalm xxiii. 5. Matt. xxvi. 29. CONFESSION OF SIN. O LORD our God, we are ashamed, and blush to lift up our faces before thee,*-for thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and canst not look upon sin;†—the heavens are not clean in thy sight, -and thou chargest thine angels with folly. then shall we, who are sinful dust and ashes, be just before God,§-for our iniquities are increased over our heads, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. How To us belong shame and confusion of face, because we have sinned against thee.|| Behold, O Lord, we are vile; what shall we answer thee?We will lay our hand upon our mouths, and our mouths in the dust, crying out, Unclean, unclean.¶ If we should justify ourselves, our own mouth Ezra ix. 6. § John ix. 2. + Heb. i. 13. + John iv. 18. Lev. xiii. 45. |