The Twenty- sixth Sunday after Whitsunday.

THE COLLECT.

O LORD, we beseech thee to encourage the hearts of thy faithful people, that they, always relying on thy power, and trusting in thy grace, may bring forth plenteously the fruit of good works, and of thee be plenteously rewarded, both in the world which now is, and that which is to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. John, x. 22.

AND it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me; but ye believe not; because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Jer. xxiii. 5.

BEHOLD, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice on the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby the Lord shall call him, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt ; but, The Lord liveth who brought up, and who led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them, that they might dwell in their own land.

If there be any more Sundays before Advent Sunday, the Service of some of those Sundays which were omitted after the Epiphany, shall be used. And if there be fewer, the over plus may be omitted; provided that this last Collect, Gospel, and Epistle, shall always be read upon the Sunday next before Advent.

SELECTIONS FROM SAINTS’ DAYS.

Saint Stephen’s Day.

December 26.

THE COLLECT.

GRANT, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and being filled with the holy Spirit, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of the first martyr, Saint Stephen, who cried for his murderers to thee, and commended his spirit into the hands of the blessed Jesus, who standeth at the right hand of God, to succour all those who suffer for him, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Matt, xxiii. 34.

BEHOLD I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Acts, vii. 55.

O STEPHEN, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling out, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The Innocents’ Day.

December 28.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths; mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Matt, ii. 13.

THE angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Rev. xiv. 1.

I LOOKED, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts and the elders; and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The Conversion of St. Paul.

January 25.

THE COLLECT.

O GOD, who through the preaching of the blessed apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world; grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Matt. xix. 27.

PETER answered, and said unto Jesus, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Acts, ix. 1.

AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven; and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus; and he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street, which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus; for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hast sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith , and arose and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strenghtened. Then was Saul certain days with disciples, who were Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all who heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he who destroyed them who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priest? But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, providing that this is very Christ.

Saint John Baptist’s Day.

June 24.

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son, our Saviour, by preaching repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, after his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Luke, i. 57.

NOW Elisabeth’s full time came, that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, his name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all who dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea. And all they who had heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts, till the day of his showing unto Israel.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Isaiah, xl. 1.

COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field; the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever. O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

All Saints’ Day.

November 1.

THE COLLECT.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect, in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOSPEL.

St. Matt. v. 1.

JESUS seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

FOR THE EPISTLE.

Rev. vii. 2.

AND I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen; blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

END OF THE COLLECTS, GOSPELS, AND EPISTLES.

COLLECTS AND PRAYERS,

TO BE USED BEFORE OR AFTER SERMON.

The following Collects and Prayers are adapted to various subjects of discourse, and are arranged, for the sake of convenience, under several heads. The Minister is at liberty to use, instead of these Forms, Extemporary Prayer.

GENERAL COLLECTS.

O GOD, the eternal source of wisdom and purity, from whom all good counsels, all holy desires, and all just works do proceed; we offer up our humble prayers unto thee, beseeching thee to enlighten our minds, and sanctify our hearts by thy heavenly truth. What we know not, teach thou us; whatever is amiss in us, dispose us to reform; whatever in us is good, assist us to carry forwards to perfection; which we ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctity, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

ASSIST us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; we beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the sake of thine infinite mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSIST us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants toward the attainment of everlasting salvation; that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears, may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living, to the honour and praise of thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE offer these our prayers unto thee, O God of mercy, with a humble confidence in thine unerring wisdom and perfect goodness. We beseech thee to overlook the imperfection, and to accept the sincerity of our devotions. Of thy great mercy, grant unto us such things as shall be good for us, though we may neglect to pray for them; and deny us such things as would be hurtful to us, though we should earnestly desire them. Order all things for us, as seemeth right in thy sight; and do us good, both now and for evermore, according to thy promises declared unto us by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son’s name; we beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us who have made now our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, giver of all temporal and spiritual good, grant unto us thy grace, we beseech thee, so to speak, so to hear, and so to learn, that the Word of Christ may dwell in us richly in all wisdom, that our minds may be enlightened, our fears banished, our faith confirmed, and our way directed unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TRUST AND SUBMISSION.

O GOD, the high and holy One who inhabitest eternity, we pray thee so to enlighten and strengthen us, that we may make thee our refuge and trust, our confidence and joy; let us rest our hearts and our hopes upon thee, through all the scenes and trials of this our short and uncertain life; that, when heaven and earth shall pass away, we may be found in thine eternal dwelling-place, rendering to thee all power, and glory, and praise, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

O THOU, who alone art infinite in knowledge and wisdom, though thy ways are past our finding out, we are assured that they are just and right; and we would therefore submit all our desires to thy will, all our actions to thy government, and all our concerns to thy disposal; and in humility and self-abasement we would now and at all times offer up our prayers to thee, the only wise God, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

O THOU, who art the only living and true God, unchangeable in thy nature, universal in thy presence, and uncontrollable in thy dominion, we pray that we may have worthy conceptions of thy greatness; that we may entertain a deep and lasting sense of thy goodness; that we may fear thee as our Master, and honour thee as our Father; and that when we meet thee as our Judge, we may be accepted and pardoned, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE.

GOD of wisdom and truth, from whom proceed all the treasures of knowledge, and who by thy Spirit hast given us understanding we thank thee that thou hast enabled us to know thee in thy works, to study thy word, and to hold communion with thee, the Father of our spirits. May we at all times be sensible of our connection with thee, and above all things fear to degrade the nature which thou hast given us. Mercifully assist our weakness; reclaim us from our errors; enlighten our minds; purify our hearts, and give us true repentance for our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, the Author of nature, whose energy sustains, whose presence animates, and whose gracious influence blesses the universe; assist us, we beseech thee, to form worthy apprehensions of thy nature and character, and, as far as our faculties will permit, to become acquainted with thy perfections and providence. And let our conceptions of thee produce in us the sentiments of veneration, gratitude, and submission, and lead us to a diligent imitation of thy moral perfections, and a constant obedience to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GRANT unto us, O most merciful Father, the spirit of wisdom and knowledge. Teach us to judge aright concerning thee, our Maker, and the duties which thou requirest of us; and let all religious truths deeply impress our hearts, and have a lasting influence on our behaviour. Assist us to subdue every vicious affection, and to withstand every temptation; that we may manifest the sincerity of our repentance, by the steadfastness of our obedience; and that, not being weary of well doing, we may finally obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who givest understanding to man, and instructest him out of thy law, grant unto us thy servants such knowledge as may best enable us to do good, and a sincere disposition rightly to improve the knowledge we possess. Preserve in us a constant remembrance of thine all-seeing eye. Deliver us from irregular desires, vain hopes, and weak fears; and prepare us, by innocence and purity of manners, and a steadfast faith in thee, for all the events of this mortal life, and for our departure out of this world. By the constant exercise of piety, righteousness, and mercy; by an humble, resigned, and contented spirit, may we become fitted for the society of the just made perfect in thine heavenly kingdom; which we ask in the name, and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIVINE ASSISTANCE.

O GOD, who art ever more ready to hear than we are to pray, and who hast promised the assistance of thy holy Spirit to those who truly seek it, we humbly beseech thee to fulfil thy gracious promise to us thy servants, and grant us that light and help, without which we know nothing, and can do nothing; O guide us by thy counsel, defend us by thy might, purify us by thy Spirit, and keep us in thy fear and love continually; and thine shall be the honour, and the glory, and the praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE humbly beseech thee, O Father, to assist and direct us in the attainment of the happiness for which thou hast designed us. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, to illuminate our minds with thy heavenly truth, that, being purged from error, prejudice, and vice, our desires and passions may be under the continual guidance of reason, and our actions may be conformed to thy most holy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BIBLE.

O GOD, who in times past didst speak to the fathers by the prophets, and in these last days to us by thy Son; we thank thee for the volume of thy holy word; for the plain and ample directions it contains; for the sublime instructions it affords; for the consolations and hopes it presents to the penitent, the afflicted, and the dying; for the immortal life it reveals to man; for the eternal glory and happiness it promises to those who love, and strive to obey thee. May we be enabled, by the light and assistance which it gives to our ignorance and frailty, to order our steps aright; to keep thy laws and ordinances blameless; and steadily to pursue that path of virtue and true holiness which leads to everlasting life. And this we humbly beg in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

UNITY.

O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; take away from us we beseech thee, all bitter prejudice and uncharitableness, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that as there is but one body, and one spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may henceforth be all of one heart, and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith, and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY.

WE thank thee, O Father in heaven, for the blessed gospel of thy Son Jesus Christ; for the light it sheds on the nature, character and providence, on the path of our duty, and on the future world. May this glorious light shine into our hearts, and cheer and sustain us, lead us through the scenes and trials of this life, to the endless felicities of thy kingdom above. Which we ask in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, who wouldest have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of thy truth; regard in mercy, we beseech thee, those parts of the earth where the gospel is not known, and bring them to the knowledge, obedience, and love of the religion of thy dear Son. We also pray for the whole Christian world, that all who profess the faith of the gospel, may hold it in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in holiness of life. We entreat thee, more particularly, to assist us to govern our hearts by the blessed law of charity, that together with all our fellow Christians, we may continually become here on earth more worthy of the glorious society in heaven, where charity never faileth; which we beg in the name of Jesus Christ, the head of all things to the church, through whom we ascribe to thee blessing and praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

O THOU God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us grace, we humbly beseech thee, to act in every relation and condition of life, as thy children, disciples of thy Son, and members of the general family of mankind. May we love one another with pure hearts fervently; and heartily unite our endeavours to promote each other’s happiness; that, in this life, we may experience how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity; and that we may be prepared for an eternal abode in the regions of endless peace and joy, through thine infinite mercy, declared unto us by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given unto us thy Son Jesus Christ from heaven, give unto us also thy quickening grace, that we may be disposed to hear, and enabled to obey him; that we may become his disciples, not in name only but in deed; that we may surrender to his guidance the minds which he came to enlighten, and the souls which he came to save; and so follow him in this world, that we may reign with him in the world to come; and thine shall be the honour and the praise, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

RESIGNATION.

O MOST gracious and merciful Father, we desire to resign ourselves and all our interests to thy disposal, in the humble hope that thy mercy will never forsake us, and that thou wilt cause all things to work together for our good. We would submit patiently to thy will under all our afflictions; and we humbly pray that we may so pass through the changes of this world, as finally to be prepared for the enjoyment of perfect and eternal happiness in the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TEMPTATION.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, it is our earnest desire and humble prayer, that thou wouldest enable us to resist and overcome temptation. May neither the allurements of vicious pleasure, nor the difficulties of a virtuous course deter us from the practice of our duty. To whatever trials our integrity may be exposed, may we have strength to preserve it uncorrupted; that, having endured temptation, we may receive the crown of eternal life, which thou hast promised to the righteous by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PIETY AND MORALITY.

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace, we beseech thee, to keep thee and thy commandments continually before us; to live as in thy sight; to walk in thy fear; to make ourselves the objects of thy love. May our principles of duty be firm; our regard to thy laws constant; our desire of obeying and pleasing thee, the first desire of our souls. May all that we do, be done to thy glory; that when this transitory life is over, we may enter into thy joy, and continue to worship and serve thee for ever and ever in thy heavenly kingdom; which we humbly ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

REPENTANCE.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, who knowest our weakness, and art acquainted with every action of our lives, and every secret of our hearts; we acknowledge in thy presence our imperfections and sins, and fervently pray that thou wouldest be gracious unto us, and forgive us; and help us to forsake all that is evil, and cleave to all that is good, and to make thee and thy approbation the objects of our supreme regard; so that we fail not at last to attain that eternal happiness which thou hast promised to thy faithful servants, through thine infinite mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TIME, DEATH, AND ETERNITY.

GRANT, O Lord and heavenly Father, that as our days on earth are multiplied, our good resolutions may be strengthened, and our powers of resisting temptations increased. Relieve the infirmities of our minds and bodies; grant us such strength as our duties may require, and such diligence as may improve those opportunities of good that shall be afforded us. Deliver us from evil thoughts; give us true repentance for the sins of our past lives; and as we draw nearer and nearer to the grave, increase our faith, enliven our hope, extend our charity, and purify our desires; and so help us, by thy holy Spirit, that when it shall be thy pleasure to call us hence, we may be received to everlasting happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE humbly pray thee, O Father in heaven, to guide us through the darkness of this world, to guard us from its perils, to hold us up and strengthen us when we grow weary in our mortal way, and to lead us by thy chosen paths, through time and through death, to our eternal home in thy heavenly kingdom; which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LORD of life and death, of all ages and all worlds, give us to know the value of our fleeting years. While we have time, let us improve it as we ought; let us not forsake thee in life, nor fall from thee in death; and O keep us, we entreat thee, from that second death, which must come upon the heedless and impenitent. Save us, and bring us to dwell with thee, where weakness, danger, and death shall find no room. Grant this, O Lord, for thine infinite mercy’s sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CLOSE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.

ALMIGHTY God, we humbly thank thee for the privileges of religious worship and instruction which we have at this time enjoyed. Forgive whatever thou hast seen amiss in us, and whatever may have been said contrary to the truth and to thy holy word. Accept the sincerity of our devotions, and cause the good seed of thy word to spring up, and bear a hundred fold in our hearts and lives. Teach us to love thee more and serve thee better, day by day; that when our days on earth are ended, we may be received to thine eternal joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

END OF THE COLLECTS AND PRAYERS.

ANTE-COMMUNION,

OR