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50

SECOND SERIES.

ness.

SUNDAY MORNING.

ON the morning of this day, O Lord, we come before thee under a deep sense of thy manifold goodWe thank thee for the privileges of this day, for the hallowed rest it affords us from worldly employments, and for the renewed opportunities it bestows upon us, of uniting with our Christian brethren in thy worship and service.

We bless thee, gracious God, for the Sabbath day -for all that it commemorates, and for all that it prefigures. We rejoice that on this day, the first day of the week, the Saviour rose from the dead, and by his resurrection, was declared to be the Son of God with power. With gratitude we would call to remembrance the triumphs of Him, who for our sakes endured the cross and despised the shame, but who hath now sat down at the right hand of God. With joy we would believe that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

As risen with him, teach us to seek those things that are above, where he sitteth at the right hand of God. Looking up to him, who is highly exalted far above all principality and power, may we catch the elevated spirit which reigns in the place whither he hath ascended: may we rise above the love of this present evil world; and may we look down with sorrow and shame upon the pursuits of those who mind earthly things. Assured of his faithfulness and power, may we commit to him, with confidence, the keeping of our souls; and though our enemies be many, and our own weakness great, may we exult in the persuasion, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And, while thus we look back to the triumphs of the Saviour, and trust in him, and rejoice in him as invested with the power of an endless life, enable us also to anticipate with joy the period when he, who came once in the form of a servant, shall appear again the second time, in the glory of his Father and the holy angels; not to die upon a cross, but to sit upon a throne; not to be reproached of men and despised of the people, but to assemble all nations before him, and to be the judge both of the living and of the dead.

We rejoice in the rest which remaineth for his people; and we look forward with expectation and

triumph to the hour, when he shall gather together into one all the children of God that are scattered abroad, and when he himself shall dwell among them; when they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light upon them, nor any heat; when the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters, and God himself shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

O Grant that all our present Sabbaths may be spent with a view to this heavenly and eternal Sabbath. May the frame and temper of our minds be brought into conformity with the exalted exercises in which we hope to engage in thy house and kingdom above. From this day may we feel and act as those who have the prospect continually before them, of being one day united to that glorious company, who rest not day nor night in celebrating thy praises. And, in proportion to the number of our Sabbaths on earth, may our preparation for the eternal Sabbath of heaven advance; may our love of the world, our attachment to its pleasures and pursuits, our estimation of its vanities, our tendency to imbibe its spirit, or copy its examples, or act on its maxims, gradually be weakened and subdued; and may we at last be brought to an entire meetness for the engagements and the happiness of the inheritance of the saints in light.

This day, in an especial manner, may we enjoy the presence and grace of the Saviour. May he who is the head of the churches, and who hath pro

mised to be with his people always, even unto the end of the world, meet with us, and assist us in all the duties in which we shall engage. May we be in the Spirit on this day: may we rejoice and be glad on it; and, by devoting it wholly to thee and to thy service, may we experience from it all that advantage which it is fitted to afford, and be prepared for passing from the services of the earthly, to the enjoyments of the heavenly Sabbath.

Be with all thy worshipping people, and especially with thy ministering servants this day. May they find it good to wait upon thee in thy house, and in thine ordinances.

Add, we beseech thee, to the number of thy people. Give greater effect everywhere to the preaching of the Gospel. Let thy word have free course, and be glorified; and let the whole earth be filled with thy glory!

All that we ask is in the name and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, who is all our hope; and to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory for ever. Amen.

SUNDAY EVENING.

O LORD, thou art exceeding great thou art clothed with honour and with majesty. We bless thee, that though thou art high, thou hast respect unto the lowly. Enable us, we humbly beseech thee, to approach thy throne at this time, with true

hearts, and in the full assurance of faith, deeply affected by the sense of our own unworthiness, but relying with confidence on the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, who is the way and the truth and the life, and through whom thou hast promised to receive us graciously, and to love us freely.

We acknowledge, O Lord, that we are sinful creatures, unworthy of thy regard, deserving only thy displeasure, and of ourselves incapable of rendering to thee any service which can bear thine inspection, or be meet for thine acceptance. But our rejoicing and our confidence are not in ourselves. We prostrate ourselves before thee as sinners, and we acknowledge that we are altogether as an unclean thing; that in our flesh there dwelleth nothing that is good; that our very righteousnesses and best services and purest affections are defective and sinful, and require pardon. We acknowledge this, O Lord; and our language to thee is, "God be merciful to us sinners we have destroyed ourselves, and in thee and in thy compassion is all our help, and all our hope."

But, while thus we lie low before thee, we rejoice that thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and that thou hast assured us thou delightest in mercy. We rejoice that thou hast so loved the world, as to send thine only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but might have everlasting life. We rejoice that he also loved sinners, and gave himself for them a sacrifice and offering unto God, of a sweet-smelling savour: and now we rejoice and give thanks, that a way is opened

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