The Introductory Prayer; the People kneeling. LORD, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the return of this day, and haft gracioufly permitted us, by prayer and fupplication, with thanksgiving, to make known our requefts unto thee, fulfil, we beseech thee, to thine unworthy fervants thy gracious promife, that thou wilt draw nigh unto all them who draw nigh unto thee. Grant that our minds may be impreffed with a lively sense of thine infinite greatness and excellence. May we confefs our fins before thee with that humility and contrition which will influence our future conduct, and induce us to avoid whatever is difp'eafing in thy fight. While we attempt to recount thy various mercies, may our hearts unite with our lips in fhewing forth thy praife. May thy people attend with feriousness, candour, and meekness, to the reading and preaching of thy holy word, concerned above all things to improve in the the knowledge and practice of religion. Dispose all who profefs to worship thee, to be fincere and upright, ferving thee with a pure heart, and faithfully performing thy will, that they may be united together to the glorious fociety of thy worshippers in heaven. This we humbly beg in the name of Jefus Chrift our Lord. People. O thou that beareft prayer, unto thee do we lift up our fouls. Let the Minifter and People, ftanding, alternately recite the following Pfalm of praife. Minifter. LORD our God, thou art very great : Thou art clothed with honour and majesty : Thou coverest thyfelf with light as with a garment: Thou stretcheft out the heavens like a curtain: Thou layeft the beams of thy chambers in the waters: Thou makest the clouds thy chariot, and walkeft upon the wings of the wind. People. People. Thou makeft the winds thy messengers, and flames of fire thy minifters. Minifter. Thou haft laid the foundations of the earth, that it fhould not be removed for ever: Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains; at thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. People. Thou haft fet a bound that they may not pass over, that they turn not again to cover the earth. Minifter. Thou caufeft grafs to grow for cattle, and herbs for the ufe of man; thou appointeft the moon for feafons; the fun knoweth his going down. People. People. O Lord, how manifold are thy works, in wisdom haft thou made them all! Minifter. The earth is full of thy riches; fo is the great and wide fea, wherein are things moving innumerable, both small and great : These all wait upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in due season, People. That thou giveft them they gather; thou openeft thine hand, they are filled with good. Minifter. Thou hideft thy face, they are troubled; thou takeft away their breath, they die and return to their duft; thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created, and thou renewest the face of the earth. People. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever; the Lord fhall rejoice in his works. Minifter. O all ye hofts of heaven, blefs ye the Lord, praife and magnify him for ever. O ye fons of men, blefs ye and magnify him for ever. all People. the Lord, praise O all ye works of God, in all places of his dominions, blefs ye the Lord, praise and magnify bim for ever. Minifter. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory for ever. Amen. Then let the First Leffon be read; after which the Service to proceed as follows; the People flanding. LET Minifter. us now, brethren, with grateful heart, praise the Moft High for all his mercies. The |