stedfast constancy; console them; suffer not the rage of rapacious wolves to prevail against them; but enable them to glorify Thy Name, as well in life as in death. Preserve and defend all Thy Churches which at this day are labouring and fighting for the testimony of Thy blessed Name. Defeat and overturn all the counsels of their enemies, their machinations and devices. So may Thy glory be revealed, and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ more and more increased and promoted. All this we ask of Thee in the name of our Sovereign Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

III.

(Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer.)

UR Father which art in heaven! We draw near to

OUR

Thee with assured confidence through Thy beloved Son; earnestly beseeching that Thy great and holy Name may be glorified in every place. Extend Thy dominion over all the earth: leading Thy people by the sceptre of Thy Word, and the power of Thy Spirit and confounding all Thine enemies by the might of Thy justice and Thy truth. Be pleased to rule over and conduct us; that we may daily learn more and more to submit ourselves to Thy Majesty, as

our Governor and King. Destroy every power and principality opposed to Thy glory, until Thy Kingdom be perfectly established, and Thou appear for judgment in the person of Thy Son. Great God! make us able and willing to render Thee true and perfect obedience on earth, as do Thy heavenly angels, that seek only to execute Thy commands. Thus may Thy will without contradiction be fulfilled; and all men submit to Thee, renouncing their own purposes, and all the affections of the flesh.

Grant also, good Lord! that we, walking in the fear and love of Thy holy Name, may through Thy goodness be nourished day by day; and receive at Thy hands all things expedient and necessary for us, that we may use Thy gifts in quietness and peace. And observing Thy care of us, may we better acknowledge Thee to be our Father, expect all benefits at Thy hands only; and withdrawing our confidence from creatures, place it wholly in Thy favour and Thy love.

And because in this mortal life we are prone to wander from the right way, and do continually come short of our duty: We beseech Thee, Lord! forgive our faults, by which we have deserved Thy chastise

ment; deliver us from that everlasting death unto which we are justly exposed; impute not unto us the evil that dwells within us: and even so may we, according to Thy command, forgive the trespasses of others, and do good unto our enemies, rather than seek their hurt.

Finally, O Lord! Vouchsafe to uphold us henceforth by Thy power, lest we fall through the weakness of the flesh. And since of ourselves we are frail, and beset with foes, the world, the flesh, and the devil, that cease not to war against us: Be pleased to fortify us with Thy Spirit, and arm us with Thy grace; may we withstand all manner of temptation, and gain full victory in our spiritual warfare; so that at last we may triumph eternally in Thy Kingdom, with our Sovereign Head and Captain, Jesus Christ Thy Son. AMEN.

IV.

LORD our God, Father Everlasting and full of

compassion! Hear from the heavens our prayers and supplications, which we pour forth before Thy throne. In the multitude of Thy mercies Thou hast not only created us reasonable creatures, but also of Thine inestimable goodness Thou hast sent the great

Angel of the Covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem us. By Him Thy wrath is taken away, the Law is satisfied, the power of death, of hell, and of Satan is broken. Behold, when we lay in the shadow of death, in fearful darkness of the soul, Thou madest the light of Thy Gospel to shine upon us, showing us the way to life everlasting. With these spiritual benefits, it hath pleased Thee to continue temporal blessings. Thou hast been our hope, our fortress, and our God. Thou hast covered us with Thy feathers, and under Thy wings Thou hast made us to trust. Grant us, O Merciful Father, thankful hearts for these Thy manifold favours. Open our mouths to sound forth Thy praise, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, wherein Thou dost delight. And we most humbly beseech Thee, give us unfeigned repentance for our past unthankfulness to Thee; create in us new hearts, work in us sorrow for our sins, and hatred of the same, and a hearty love unto Thy righteousness: that we, being not conformed unto this wicked world, but making Thy will the order of our life, may offer ourselves up a living sacrifice unto Thee, consecrating to Thy glory both body and soul, with all our powers.

Preserve us, good Lord, from the thraldom of sin

and the bondage of unbelief. Thy glorious Gospel among us.

Continue the light of

violence, uncleanness, oppression,

Purge our land of all

and every other evil

that defiles Thine inheritance. Arm us Thy servants with Thy power, to strive against Satan, the flesh, and the world, and all things that would beguile us from our allegiance unto Thee: That, walking in Thy paths, and obeying Thy blessed ordinances, we may end our lives to the honour of Thy Name, and attain that immortality and crown of glory laid up for Thine elect in Jesus Christ, the God of immortality and the King of glory. AMEN.

W

CLOSING PRAYER.

I.

E most humbly beseech Thee, O Father of Mercy,

for Jesus Christ Thy Son's sake, that as Thou hast caused the light of Thy Word clearly to shine among us, and hast plainly instructed us by the external Ministry in the right way of salvation: So it may please Thee inwardly to move our dull hearts; and by the power of Thy Holy Spirit to write and seal in them that holy fear and reverence which Thou requir