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FIFTH SATURDAY EVENING.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, whom all Thy saints in heaven delight to worship; we, who are not worthy to take Thy name upon our lips, whose very natures are unholy, and whose sins testify against us, desire, nevertheless, to join with all the heavenly host in blessing and praising and magnifying Thy holy name; imploring, at the same time, that the light of Thy reconciled countenance may shine upon us; and that we may be pardoned and accepted in Thy sight.

O God, we praise Thee, we bless Thee, we glorify Thy name, that Thou hast not left us in our low estate, but hast sent salvation to us. We adore Thee for Thine infinite love and mercy, that Thou hast not spared Thine only-begotten Son, but hast freely given Him up for us all; that this Lamb hath been slain, and this atoning sacrifice hath been made for the sins of the world; and that God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing our trespasses unto us.

We now beseech thee to bless unto us Thy approaching Sabbath. May our hearts be warmed with love to Thee. May our prayers and our praises ascend with acceptance to the throne of Thy grace. May heavenly things occupy our thought, and may the world lessen in our esteem.

O God, we lament with shame and sorrow before Thee, that notwithstanding all the means of grace, we have so little improved our time and talents, have so little honored Thee by our lives, or advanced in true holiness. Day after day we propose to amend our lives, to repent of all our past sins, and to forsake them henceforth for ever; but how soon do our hearts again return to the world, and our temptations again come upon us and overpower us, for our own utmost strength is weakness.

To Thee, the God of all might and mercy do we, therefore, now pray for grace to serve Thee. Thy face, O Lord, would we seek ; on Thee do we humbly wait, beseeching Thee to deliver us from the power and dominion of our sins, and to make Thy strength perfect in our weakness.

Make us henceforth to be more fervent in prayer, and more conscious of our entire dependence on Thee, and of our infinite obligations to Thee; that so obtaining from Thee the help of Thy holy Spirit, we may be established in Thy most holy ways, and may be carried safely through all the dangers and trials of this mortal life, till at length we shall sit down with Christ in His heavenly kingdom. We offer up these our imperfect prayers in the name of that blessed Mediator.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

CHRISTMAS MORNING.

ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly be

seech Thee to accept our hearty thanks for the manifold mercies which Thou hast poured upon us. We bless Thee especially this day for sending us Thy well-beloved Son to take our nature upon Him, and to be made in the likeness of sinful flesh. We rejoice that unto us a Child is born, that unto us a Son is given. And we would join the multitude of the heavenly host in ascribing glory to Thee in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men. We praise Thee for revealing to us the way in which mercy and truth have met together, in which righteousness and peace have kissed each other. And we account it a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Help us, O Lord, to employ this day in meditating on this great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, which Thy holy angels desire to look into. And as, when Thou didst bring Thy first-begotten into the world, Thou didst command all the heavenly host to worship Him, so may we also give unto Him the glory which is due unto His name.

O Thou great and glorious Redeemer, who art wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, we praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, Lamb of God, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, King of kings, and Lord of lords, Emanuel, God with us. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. But chiefly, at this time, we adore Thee for leaving the glory which Thou hadst with the Father before the world began. We know Thy grace, O Lord Jesus Christ, that though Thou wast rich, yet for our sakes Thou didst become poor, that we, through Thy poverty, might be made rich. We beseech Thee, by the mystery of Thy holy incarnation and nativity, good Lord, deliver us. Thou who didst come that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly, be gracious unto us.

Grant, O Lord, that the glad tidings which we commemorate this day may be made known unto all people. In Him who hath arisen to rule over the Gentiles, let the Gentiles trust, and find His rest to be glorious. Mercifully with Thy favor look upon the whole Christian world. May all that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity. We ask all through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we further pray :

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

CHRISTMAS EVENING.

HOLY and merciful God, with Thy own arm Thou hast wrought out redemption for us. Thou hast not sent Thy Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

We bless Thee for revealing to us this great mystery, which was hid from ages and generations, but is now made manifest unto the sons of men. We rejoice that unto us was born, as on this day, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Our souls do magnify the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest !

Praised be Thy name for sending forth in the fulness of time Thy onlybegotten Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Glory be unto Thee for causing Thy loving-kindness towards us to appear. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to Thy mercy Thou hast saved us.

Let the same mind also in the form of God, and

O Thou who wast in Christ reconciling the world unto Thyself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, forgive us all our trespasses. Through Him who was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and came to seek and to save that which was lost, have mercy upon us. By the mystery of His holy incarnation and nativity, good Lord, deliver us. be in us which was in Christ Jesus, who, being thinking it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was found in fashion as a man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Help us continually to follow the example of His great humility. And give us grace so to walk in all holiness of living, that we may not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

We pray likewise, O heavenly Father, that through Thy tender mercies the Day-Spring from on high which hath visited us, may arise and shine upon the nations that are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the way of peace. Grant that it may both be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and be the glory of Thy people Israel. May the children of Zion be joyful in their King! And may they so truly follow the blessed steps of their Lord and Master that they may be saved by Him in the great day of His appearing and glory. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

ALM

THE CLOSE OF A YEAR.

LMIGHTY and eternal Lord of heaven and earth, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, who art the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, and whose years fail not throughout all generations; from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. Accept, we beseech Thee, our humble sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for Thy goodness and mercy which have followed us all our days. We especially bless Thee for delivering us from the dangers of the year that is now drawing to a close.

We humble ourselves before Thee, confessing and bewailing all that we have done amiss. Enter not into judgment with us, but spare us according to Thy great goodness. According to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out our offences. Pardon and accept us for the sake of Thy onlybegotten Son, whom Thou didst send into the world, as at this time, to take our nature upon Him, that He might redeem us unto Thee by His blood. Bless us in turning us away from our iniquities. Wash us thoroughly from our wickedness, and cleanse us from our sins; and let them all be buried with the closing year, to rise up against us no more for ever.

And keep us mindful, good Lord, as the years of our life pass away, that the end of all things is at hand, and make us sober and watchful unto prayer. May we never forget that we are strangers and pilgrims upon earth as all our fathers were, that we have no continuing city here, and ought diligently to seek one to come. Our years pass away like a shadow, or a vapor, which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. Lord, teach us so to number them that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Make us to know our end, and the measure of our days, that we may consider how frail we are, and may learn to redeem the time that remaineth. May we remember also that life is uncertain as well as short, and that in the midst thereof we are continually in death. Give us grace to watch and pray, since we know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. May we be always ready, with our loins girt about and our lights burning; that whenever He may say, Behold, I come quickly, we may be able to reply, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Help us to fight the good fight, to finish our course, and to keep the faith, that there may be laid up for us a crown of righteousness, which Thou, the righteous and merciful Judge, wilt give unto us in that day.

Hear us, O Lord, we further beseech Thee, while we make our hearty intercessions for all who are partakers of the same frail nature with ourselves. Look in mercy upon those who are in the morning of their years.

May they remember their Creator in the days of their youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which they shall say, there is no pleasure in them. As Thou hast promised that they who seek Thee early shall find Thee, do Thou graciously dispose them to seek Thee earnestly with all their hearts, that so they may become Thy sons and daughters, growing in wisdom as they grow in years, and in favor with Thee and man. Mercifully regard, also, such as are in the strength and vigor of life, and dispose them to give unto Thee the best of their days, and not to weary themselves for very vanity.

Lastly, we pray Thee to remember those whose strength is now but labor and sorrow. Enable them to bring forth fruit in their old age according to the ability which yet remaineth. May they come to their graves like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. When their flesh and their heart fail them, be Thou the strength of their hearts and their portion for ever. Fulfil, O Lord, these our petitions, for the sake of our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

The grace of our Lord, etc.

AL

NEW YEAR.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who livest and abidest for ever, with whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, who wast, and who art, and who art to come. Thou hast made our days, as it were, a span long. Our age is as nothing in respect to Thee, and, verily, every man living is altogether vanity.

But, O Lord, we bless Thee, that though in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. We praise Thee for the gift of Him who was manifest in the flesh that He might destroy death, and hath brought life and immortality to light by the gospel, in whom whosoever believeth shall live though he die, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Him shall not die eternally.

We give Thee thanks also, O heavenly Father, for sparing us from year to year, and for giving us further space for trial and amendment. And we beseech Thee still to spare us, O Lord most holy, O God most mighty; and at last to deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal death. Mercifully grant that Thy great goodness may lead us to repentance. With this new year help us to begin a new life. Quicken us in the way of righteousness that we may set out afresh in our Christian course.