Then may follow an Anthem or a Voluntary on the Organ, after which the minister shall read the FIRST LESSON, from the Old Testament; and at the end of it he shall say, Here endeth the First Lesson. Then shall be sung, or else said, by the Minister and People alternately, the song of the Virgin Mary, as followeth. LUKE, I. 46. MY soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. For he who is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him, throughout all generations. He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat; and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He, remembering his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. Or else this Psalm. PSALM 98. O SING unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm, hath he gotten himself the victory. The Lord declared his salvation; his righteousness hath he openly shown in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands; sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the Lord upon the harp; sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving; With trumpets also and shawms, O show yourselves joyful before the Lord the king. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is; the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands; and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Then shall the Minister read the SECOND LESSON, from the New Testament, and at the end of it he shall say, Here endeth the Second Lesson. Then shall be sung, or else said, by the Minister and People alternately, the song of Simeon, as followeth. GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us; and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us; That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad; for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. works do proceed; give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that being defended by thee from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through Min. The Lord be Jesus Christ our Saviour. THE COLLECT FOR PEACE. lords, who dost from thy O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth; most heartily we beseech thee with thy favor to be hold the President, Vice President, and Congress of the United States, and so replenish them with the grace of thy holy heavenly Father, for thine DITIONS OF MEN. Spirit, that they may al- A PRAYER FOR ALL CONways incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts, that in all their deliberations they may be enabled to promote the national prosperity, and to secure the peace, liberty, and safety of the United States throughout all generations. This we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE CLER GY AND PEOPLE. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art the author of every good and perfect gift; send down upon all ministers of the gospel, and upon all congregations committed to their charge, the needful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldst be wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for the good estate of thy holy church; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend thy fatherly goodness, all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee, to comfort and relieve them according to their several to ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants. do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord; in whose name we ascribe unto thee all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. A CONCLUDING PRAYER. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee, and hast promised by thy beloved Son, that where two or three are gathered together in his name, thou wilt grant their requests; fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. |