which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet;

All sheep and oxen: yea, and the beasts of the field;

The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord: how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Day unto day uttereth speech: and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language: where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors: cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight: O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up: above mine enemies round about me.

Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me: put not thy servant away in anger.

Thou hast been my help: leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me: then the LORD will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O LORD and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted: unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

For thou art the God of my strength, why dost thou cast me off: why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out thy light and thy truth, let them lead me: let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

GOD

SELECTION XXIV PALM 67

Deus misereatur

OD be merciful unto us, and bless us: and cause his face to shine upon us. That thy way may be known upon earth: thy saving health among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.

Then shall the earth yield her increase: and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us: and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

E that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler: and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers,

and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day..

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness: nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold: and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge: even the Most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee: neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him: and show him my salvation.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.

BL

SELECTION XXVII PSALM 103

Benedic, anima mea

LESS the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and forget not all his benefits;

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment: for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses: his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious: slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth: so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west: so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children: so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame: he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep his covenant: and to

those that remember his commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments: hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts: ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Collects and Prayers

1. A GENERAL CONFESSION

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father,

unto whom all hearts are open, and all desires are known, all whose commandments are just, necessary, and good; we confess unto Thee, that we have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep.

4. FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH

and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. But enter not, we beseech Thee, into judgment with us; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. As Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but that he may turn from his wickedness and live-have mercy, O Lord, upon us, miserable offenders. Spare Thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore Thou those who are truly penitent, according to Thy gracious promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name, through Thy blessed Son, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

2

LORD God, heavenly Father, we give thee thanks, that of thy great goodness and mercy, thou didst suffer thine

dost will that not one of these little ones should perish, and hast sent thine only Son to seek and to save that which was lost, and through him hast said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God: most heartily we beseech thee so to bless and govern the children of thy Church, by thy Holy Spirit, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of thy word; protect and defend them against all danger and harm, giving thy holy angels charge over them; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GLO

5

LORY be to thee, O God most holy. Glory be to thee, O God most high. Glory be to thee, O King of heaven and earth, who, as a father pitieth his children, pitiest us. Fill us with joy and gladness in the Holy Ghost, that when thou shalt render to every man according to his works, we may be found acceptable before thee, through him who hath redeemed us from the shame and curse of sin, even Jesus Christ, thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen.

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of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

II. A COLLECT FOR PEACE

GOD, from whom all holy desires, all

good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

12. THANKSGIVING

LORD God, heavenly Father, from

whom without ceasing we receive exceeding abundantly all good gifts, and who daily of thy pure grace guardest us against all evil; grant us, we beseech thee, thy Holy Spirit, that acknowledging with our whole heart all this thy goodness, we may now and evermore thank and praise thy loving kindness and tender mercy; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

13. A PRAYER FOR MISSIONS

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God,

who hast given thy only Son to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, help thy Church to fulfil the command to preach the gospel to every creature. Send forth more laborers into the harvest. Direct and defend all missionaries in their work, and grant them abundant success. Open the hearts of the heathen, that they may receive thy word and believe on him whom thou hast sent. Let the nations speedily be given to thy Son for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. Cause thy people to consecrate to this service more of the possessions which thou dost give them, that the triumphs of thy kingdom may be hastened and the earth be filled with thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.