M. Let our prayer, O Lord, be set forth in thy sight as incense.

A. And let the lifting up of our hands be as an evening sacrifice.

M.

Or,

Both now and ever, vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ.

A. Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ.

FIRST COLLECT.

For Acceptance of our Prayers. ALMIGHTY God and Heavenly Father, we beseech thee favourably to regard us thy servants, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray. Enlighten and strengthen our faith, that we may present our petitions according to thy holy will and gracious promises, without wavering or presumption, without self-will or self-dependance. 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. Enliven and elevate our hopes, that steadfastly pursuing heavenly things, we may rejoice in the gladness of thy people; and living daily in thy fear, may rest every night in thy peace, and finally rise in thy glory at the morning of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or this,

O GOD, King of Heaven and Earth, who art

both able and willing to give us far more than we desire or deserve, grant that we may ever seek only such things as are for the glory of thy holy name. Deliver us from coming to thy mercy-seat with rebellious hearts, unsanctified affections, or wandering minds. Let the Spirit of filial confidence enable us to cry unto thee, Abba, Father: and may we be strengthened in a gracious dependance to cast all our care upon thee, and to say, Thy will be done. Grant us our petitions according to thine infinite wisdom and love for his sake, in whom all thy promises are Yea and Amen, even Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.

SECOND COLLECT.

For a Blessing on the Word of God.

O GOD, the Protector and Guide of all that trust in thee, who hast graciously brought us to the close of this day, let the truth of thy word, which we have now been hearing with our outward ears, enlighten our understandings and sanctify our hearts. May it abide with us through the silent watches of the night, and be the sword of the Spirit to guard our souls from vain and corrupt imaginations. Especially, &c. Inwardly reveal in us, by thine own Divine teaching, him whom the Scriptures testify to be the only wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption of all who believe. May the name of Jesus be as ointment poured forth, to refresh us, who burdened with our weakness, and wearied with our sins, cry unto thee for pardon,

peace, and strength, through his merits and mediation, who is thy beloved Son, and the sole foundation of all our faith and hopes, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or this,

ALMIGHTY and Everliving God, we most humbly intreat thee at this time to enlighten our understandings, and to open our inward ear by the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that the sacred words we have heard with the outward hearing, may abide with us, and bring forth fruit in our life and conversation. Especially, &c. May we be fully instructed by all Holy Scripture to do good, and avoid evil; and to live religiously, soberly, and godly, that thy honour and glory may be increased, the Devil and all the enemies of our souls vanquished, and that at the last we may appear with boldness at the tribunal of Christ, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. And that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us ever to love what thou dost command, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A Confession to be repeated by the whole family.

MOST Gracious God and Father, turn unto us, that we may return unto thee. We have this day broken thy laws; we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts: We have neither stedfastly done, nor cheerfully submitted to, thy holy will. O good Lord, enter not into judgment with us. Deal not with us after our deserts,

but after thy great goodness. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Heal our disordered souls; blot out our transgressions; and grant us pardon and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A GENERAL PRAYER.

O GOD, abundant in mercy and truth, look down upon us; and destroy in each of us the whole body of sin. Bring our understandings into the obedience of the truth, our affections under the dominion of Christ our Saviour, our wills under the sweet and easy yoke of thy Holy Spirit. Renew us to a fervent love of thee. Make our hearts thy habitation. Adorn us with all spiritual graces. Take from us ambition, and love of worldly pomp, all inordinate conceit of ourselves, and all selfish and haughty disregard of the wants and welfare of others. Mortify and kill in us fleshly lusts, neither let us give place to the devil. Bless us as a family, and unite all our hearts to fear thy name. rest from the business of the day, but, O God, cause us to rest from worldly thoughts and anxious cares, and relying on thy gracious promises, to commit our souls, and all our concerns, into thy keeping. We ask all these blessings in the name of thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Or this,

We

ALMIGHTY and Everliving God, by whose goodness we are preserved and defended day by

day, cause thy face now to shine upon us and lighten our darkness. Set us free from the bondage of inordinate worldly desires, and from all carnal lusts. Heal all the diseases of our souls, and sanctify all the dispensations of thy will to our growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Make us truly meek and courteous, in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than ourselves. May we have grace to seek the good of others, and not only our own welfare. May thy peace ruling in our hearts quell and subdue all our rebellious affections, and thy grace bring forth all the fruits of righteousness in our lives. Crucify in each of us the old man. Make us ever mindful of the uncertain measure of our days, that pressing towards the mark for the prize of our high calling, and the crown of eternal life, we may daily be found looking for, and hasting unto the coming of our Saviour. And when at last thou makest up thy jewels, may we be found in the number of thine elect, and inherit thy glorious kingdom through the merits and mediation of the same, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR TEMPORAL BLESSINGS.

O GOD, who givest sweet sleep to refresh our wearied spirits and bodies, grant us a due measure of it through the coming night. While thou spreadest the curtain of darkness over our dwelling, hide us under the shadow of thy wing. Be thou our keeper, and suffer no calamity to come nigh us, nor any terror to make us afraid. And as, according