cially for the miffion of thy well-beloved Son. We rejoice in him as the way, the truth, and the life; and we blefs thee for all the benefits we derive from the glad tidings he publifhed, the excellence of his doctrine, the purity of his character, the fufferings he endured, the death to which

he

gave himself up, his refurrection from the dead, and his exaltation to thy right hand.

People.

Bleed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, for his wonderful works to the children of men.

Minifler.

How precious are thy thoughts unto us, O God, how great is the fum of them. The bleffings we receive from thy hands, the benefits which refult from the exercise of our various powers, the advantages and comforts we derive from the feveral rela

tions we bear to our fellow creatures, and the kind offices of brotherly love, every good we now enjoy, and every hope of future good, are alike the gifts of thy paternal bounty. Our help cometh from thee alone, and to thy great name be the glory and the praise for ever. Amen.

Here the Thanksgivings on any particular occafions may be introduced.

Then let the Minifter read the Second Lesson taken out of the New Teftament; after which a Pfalm or Hymn may be fung, and then the Service to proceed as follows:

Minifter.

SURELY it is meet to be said unto God, we have done iniquity.

Let us therefore unite in the penitent acknowledgment of our offences, and in fupplicating the divine pardon, affistance, and bleffing.

The

The General Confeffion; the People kneeling.

O THOU righteous and holy Sovereign of heaven and earth, we acknowledge ourfelves unworthy of the leaft of thy mercies; we have been too forgetful of thee, in whofe hand our life is. We have acted in many inftances contrary to the dictates of our confciences, and the precepts of thy holy word. We have not made a proper improvement of the time and talents entrusted to us. We lament, heavenly Father, that we have done evil in thy fight, and are unworthy to be called thy children. We cannot plead ignorance of our duty, as an excufe for our offences; for thou haft fhewed us what is good, and what thou the Lord requireft of us. Should we attempt to juftify ourselves, our own hearts would condemn us. Our only hope is in thine everlasting goodnefs, especially as manifefted by Jefus Christ our Lord. Grant us, we beseech thee, the aid of thy fpirit,

that we may readily comply with the gracious terms of the gofpel. Sincerely humbled for our paft fins, may we with true faith turn unto thee, and walk in newness of life to the glory of thy holy

name.

People.

O Lord, deal not with us after our fins but fhew us thy mercy, and grant us thy falvation, through Jefus Chrift.

Then let the Minifter read the following Prayers, the People ftill kneeling.

For Divine Afistance.

FATHER of mercies, thou givest grace unto the humble; with deep humility we would feek thy bleffing upon every good purpose we form, and on all our endeavours after holiness of heart and life.

Help us to fubdue the power of every finful habit, to purify our hearts from all defilement,

defilement, to abftain from cvery prefumptuous tranfgreffion, and to fly from every appearance of evil.

Ceafing to do evil, may we learn to do well. Henceforth may the fame mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. May we make hafte and delay not to keep all thy commandments; may thy law become our delight; and, forgetting the things which are behind, may we prefs forward toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. Amen.

For Piety.

THOU, who art fupremely great and good, lead us to a wife improvement of the advantages we enjoy for acquiring the knowledge of thyfelf. As far as our limited capacities will admit, may we fee thee as thou art, all excellence in thyfelf, and all goodness to thy creatures; may we be ever mindful of thy continual prefence; and may reverence and gratitude, truft