of knowledge divine whilst we read together the Holy Scriptures. Minister. Send down upon us now, O our Father, and our God, thy Holy Spirit that we may clearly perceive the light that shines upon us from this Sacred Book. Take away our darkness, let the scales fall from our eyes, and may thy Spirit directly and powerfully apply to our understandings, our hearts, and our consciences, all the words now to be read in our hearing. Congregation. O Lord, give us thy Spirit, that we may now be enlightened by thy Holy Word. Minister.-We beseech thee also, O our God, to remember our forwardness so often manifested in hearing thy word, whilst we in practice neglect it. O let it not be with us any longer after this manner; but make us, we earnestly pray thee, to be doers of thy word, and not hearers only; and let us stir ourselves up more, and more every day diligently to keep thy commandments. Congregation.-O Lord, make us doers of thy word, and not hearers only. Minister.-Hear us, O God of all grace, in these our petitions, and grant us, that we may see the true light, and walk in the light, and give light to all around us; and to thy name shall be all the glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord: amen. Congregation. Amen, and amen. - [The Minister standing the Congregation sitting.] Minister.-The First Portion of our Scripture Reading is in the Book of [Genesis] the [Eighth] Chapter. [When the Minister has spoken these words, let all the Congregation open their Bibles at the place mentioned, and diligently attend whilst God's Holy Word is read in their hearing.] Minister. [At the close of the chapter,]-Here endeth the First Portion of our Scripture Reading. [After the same manner the Second and Third Portions are to be read, the Minister saying at the close of the last,-" Here conclude our Present Readings of the Word of God."] [The Minister still standing; and the Congregation sitting.] Minister.-Let us now praise God for all his blessings to us in the Holy Scriptures.—The hymn following: or, the hymn No.-[pronouncing as before the two first lines.] [Still standing.] Minister-Let us now attend to the Preaching and Hearing of God's Holy Word,-commencing by Prayer. [All kneel.] Minister. O Lord God, look down upon us from thy throne in heaven compassionately. Here we are before thee involved in ignorance, and sinfulness, and weakness. O how little is our knowledge of thee, and of thy kingdom, and ways. How great is our need of instruction, and how unfit are we to instruct each other. Thou, O Lord God, and thou only, canst instruct us. Unto thee do we therefore come: to thy volume of Revelation do we look, for knowledge in heavenly things, and to thy Spirit are our eyes directed, that we may be made willing and anxious to receive thy communications, and that we may be truly instructed thereby. Congregation.-O Lord, we are all very ignorant, and weak, and sinful: O do thou thyself instruct us, by thy word and Spirit. Minister. Compassionately regard, O Father of mercies, thy unworthy Servant whom thou hast now commanded to stand up in this place, and to instruct this audience. Thou knowest, O God, his weakness and inefficiency: give him thy spirit to fit him for all that thou hast commanded him to do. Make him faithful in his ministrations unto this people, that he may not be ashamed thereof in the day of the Lord Jesus. Give him also for his work an understanding heart, a clear judgment, and all wisdom, and strength, that thy name may be glorified in him in the kingdom of thy Son Jesus Christ. Congregation-O Lord, be pleased to give much grace and strength to thy Servant now to speak unto us in the name of the Lord. Minister. And now, O Lord, behold this congregation open the eyes of all, fill every soul with heavenly food, and bring us all to thy Blessed Self, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour: to whom be glory for evermore: amen. Congregation.-Amen, and amen. [The Congregation sit.] [The Sermon is now delivered; and is succeeded by the following Prayer, which concludes the Service.] Minister.-Let us Pray. [All kneel.] Minister.-Lord God Almighty, pitifully regard us, and mercifully deal with us, we earnestly beseech thee. We have now heard the instructions of thy word, and have had depicted to us the way of mercy, and salvation, and righteousness, through thy only and Beloved Son Jesus Christ. But, alas, O Lord, how slender has been the attention of many here present to these things. O God, have mercy on all such, forgive them, and grant them grace to act otherwise in the time to come. O Lord, graciously preserve the impressions which thou hast now made, as we trust, on others and many in this house. O let these impressions be permanent and everlasting, and may they be conducted hereby to heaven and everlasting glory. Feed, O thou who art the shepherd and bishop of souls, feed thine own people now before thee with the food which has been set before them from thine own word: O feed and keep those whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood, those who have fled to thee for refuge from the wrath to come, who have confessed themselves before thee in all their guiltiness, who have received pardon and peace from thee, and who are now, in all their life, and in all their ways, devoting themselves to thy service, thy honour, and glory, in this dark, miserable, and sinful world. O Lord, our Shepherd and King, deal most graciously with thy flock, fill them with the Holy Ghost, with grace upon grace, and with life evermore. Congregation.-O Lord Jesus, feed thy people evermore, and have mercy upon us all. Minister.-0 Most Gracious and Ever Blessed God, look on us now, we beseech thee, in thy great goodness in our dismission at this time. Carry us safely to our abodes, and there bless us : and O carry us all safely at length to thy heavenly abodes, and bless us with glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Congregation.-O God, be with us in our dismission, carry us safely to our homes, and bring us at length to the everlasting mansions of heaven. Minister. May the Lord bless us, and keep us: may the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: may the Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace: both now, and for evermore: amen. Congregation.-Amen, and amen. |