Then he says the Thanksgiving Prayer: ALMIGHTY God, who observest all the actions, thoughts, and secret motions of our hearts, and who watchest over us with an incomparable love, every moment bestowing favours and shielding us from evil, blessed be Thy holy name: and may all creatures bless Thy goodness, for the benefits we have ever received from Thee, especially this day; but above all, for the surpassing riches of Thy mercy, in creating and preserving, redeeming and sanctifying us. And, Lord, we beseech Thee, never permit us to be so base and wicked as to repay Thy bounties with ingratitude, or Thy blessings with offences and injuries: but inflame our reins and hearts with the fire of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a clean heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then he says the two Collects following, and Prayer for a WE blessing. E pray Thee, O Lord, graciously continue to visit this habitation; drive far from it all snares of the enemy; and give us a quiet night and a perfect end; for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. ASSIST, we beseech thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always from Thee, and by Thee may happily be ended; through Christ our Lord. Amen. MAY AY the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Amen. Majesty the first-fruits of this season, that the godly purposes which Thou puttest into our hearts may have their full effect in our lives, to Thy glory and our souls' health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD, who doest good to all men, making the sun to rise on the just and on the unjust, favourably behold Thy people who call upon Thy name, and send us Thy blessing from heaven, in giving us fruitful seasons, and filling our hearts with food and gladness; that both our hearts and mouths may be continually filled with Thy praises, giving thanks to Thee in Thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good and per such health of body as Thou knowest to be needful for us; that both in our bodies and souls we may evermore serve Thee with all our strength and might; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY MORNINGS. All standing, the head of the family (or the priest or deacon, if present) says: . O Lord, open Thou our lips, Ry. And our mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. . O God, make speed to save us. Ry. O Lord, make haste to help us. . Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Ry. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Then he says one of the following Psalms: Godliness described. PSALM 15. LORD, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle or who shall rest upon Thy holy hill? Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour and hath not slandered his neighbour. He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes and maketh much of them that fear the Lord. His leaf also shall not wither: He that sweareth unto his neigh-and look, whatsoever he doeth, it bour, and disappointeth him not shall prosper. though it were to his own hindrance. He that hath not given his money upon usury: nor taken reward against the innocent. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment :heart: that I should not sin against neither the sinners in the congre- Thee. gation of the righteous. But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly shall perish. : Blessed art Thou, O Lord : O teach me Thy statutes. With my lips have I been tellof all the judgments of Thy ing mouth. O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity and quicken Thou me in Thy way. O stablish Thy word in Thy servant: that I may fear Thee. Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of: for Thy judgments are good. Comfort in God's word, and keep-commandments: O quicken me in Behold, my delight is in Thy ing His commandments. PART OF PSALM 119, v. 9. WE HEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way : Thy righteousness. Penitential. PSALM 6. even by ruling himself after Thy O LORD, rebuke me not in word. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not go wrong out of Thy command ments. Thy words have I hid within my | Thine indignation: neither chasten me in Thy displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak : O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. My soul also is sore troubled : AVE mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou are judged. O give me the comfort of Thy help again and stablish me with Thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the God of my health and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord and my mouth shall shew Thy praise. For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee : but Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt Thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations : then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar. Thanksgiving for God's mercy to Behold, I was shapen in wicked-and all that is within me praise ness and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. : His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits; Who forgiveth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmities ; Who saveth thy life from destruction: and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things making thee young and lusty as an eagle. The Lord executeth righteous- | for he flourisheth as a flower of the ness and judgment for all them field. that are oppressed with wrong. He shewed His ways unto Moses: His works unto the children of Israel. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy long-suffering, and of great goodness. He will not always be chiding neither keepeth He His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth : so great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him. Look how wide also the east is from the west so far hath He set our sins from us. Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children: even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him. For He knoweth whereof we are made He remembereth that we are but dust. The days of man are but as grass : For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear Him and His righteousness upon children's children; : Even upon such as keep His covenant and think upon His commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared His seat in heaven and His kingdom ruleth over all. O praise the Lord, ye angels of His, ye that excel in strength : ye that fulfil His commandment, and hearken unto the voice of His words. O praise the Lord, all ye His hosts: ye servants of His that do His pleasure. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of His, in all places of His dominion: praise thou the Lord, O my soul. Then all say, I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. MAY Then he says, AY the reading of the Holy Word (or Holy Gospel) be unto us salvation and protection. Amen. |