us of our constant obligation to love and obey thy commandments. Continue, we entreat thee, the benefactions of thy mercy, and direct our feet in the path of duty and enjoyment. May, our lives be devoted to thy service; and grant, we humbly beseech thee, that thy divine wisdom may direct our steps in all the duties of this day; and in faithful obedience to the precepts of thy will, may we spend the residue of our lives. Graciously enable us to repent of all our sins, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world. Let thy compassion, we humbly pray thee, be upon all the children of thy creation, and pour out the spirit of thy grace upon all flesh; until the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God, and every tongue be made vocal with thy praise. And when our days shall be numbered and finished beneath the sun, wilt thou in mercy call us to enjoy the bliss of eternity; and at last to join with angels, and all the ransomed creation, in ascriptions of unbounded glory to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever. Here the Lord's prayer may be added:] "Our Father," &c. FOR EVENING. O THOU who inhabitest eternity; who art a Being of infinite wisdom, power, and love; the great Author of our lives, and of all our blessing's. We rejoice that we are permitted to rear a domestic altar, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. Thou causest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to rejoice, and crownest our lives with thy goodness. We would present unto thee the offering of our evening gratitude for thy creative benevolence, and for the innu merable blessings of thy providence. We thank thee, O our God, for thy paternal care and faithfulness which have attended us through the day; and that thou hast brought us in safety to the present hour, and permitted us the privilege of reverently bowing before thee, to acknowledge our dependence, and humbly to solicit the continuance of thy mercy. Pardon, we beseech thee, the multitude of our transgressions, and in the rich abundance of thy grace, forgive the follies of this day. Wilt thou warm our hearts by the indwellings of thy love, and may we realize the blessings of thy presence. In mercy wilt thou cleanse us from secret faults; and may it be our chief concern to understand thy will, and to walk in all thy commandments blameless. May thy peace abide within our hearts, and, may we keep the example of thy goodness alway in view; that we may love our enemies, and do good to them that despitefully use and persecute us. Mercifully remember the poor, and bless all the afflicted of thy creation. May those who are blindly pursuing the paths of iniquity in search of happiness, be turned from the folly of their ways to the path of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. And now, O Lord our God, we commit.ourselves to thee, trusting in thy mercy to protect our slumbering hours, and humbly imploring thy grace to assist us in discharging with fidelity, the duties of the coming day, and all the duties of life. Through the uneven journey of time, wilt thou be our guide; in the gloomy vale of death wilt thou support our trembling hearts; and through the infinite riches of thy grace, wilt thou finally crown us, and all the intelligent creation, with immortality and endless life, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. FOR A FUNERAL. OUR Father which art in heaven; who hast created all things by the word of thy power, and for thy good pleasure, they are, and were created. We rejoice that thy character is displayed in thy works, and revealed in thy word of truth: For the heavens declare the glory of thy wisdom and power, and the innumerable blessings of thy providence testify in accordance with the voice of inspiration, that thou art good unto all, and thy tender mercies are over all thy, works. In the day of prosperity thou hast taught us to rejoice with gratitude, and in the hour of adversity to look unto thee for comfort and support. We acknowledge, O our heavenly Father, that our lives, and all the blessings which we enjoy in time, are favours with which we are indulged by the wisdom of thy provi dence; and that the same unerring wisdom may in justice withhold their continuance, or remove from our enjoyment the objects of our fond affections. But we confess thy goodness, O eternal God, in rendering even affliction's stormy sea subservient to the purposes of thy benevolence and grace; and hast in mercy taught us, that although n☛ affliction for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; yet nevertheless, it afterwards yieldéth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby. As dependent beings, we desire that thou wouldst suitably impress our minds with the solemnity of the present occasion, and seal instruction to our hearts by the dispensation in which thou art passing before us. Forbid, O most holy Father, that we should visit the house of mourning with cold indifference; but may we be solemnly impressed with a sense of our own frailty, and so number our days, as to apply our hearts unto wisdom. May we be enabled to mingle our sympathies with the afflictions of thy mourning children, and while we weep with them that weep, may the assurance of a future resurrection inspire us with the consoling hope, that the bond of social affection will again be renewed and perpetuated in a happier and better life. And, O most merciful God, wilt thou impart the rich consolations of thy grace and truth, to comfort the hearts of those bereaved friends, who are called to drop afflictions parting tear over the silent remains of kindred dust, and to witness the certain destiny of all human glory, and the end of all our sublunary enjoyments. We beseech thee to sanctify this afflictive dispensation of thy providence to their spiritual welfare, and render it subservient to their improvement in a life of virtue. Wilt thou reconcile them to thy will, and in mercy prepare them for whatever may await them in the journey of life, and finally, through the infinite riches of thy grace, raise them to the enjoyment of the blissful society of their departed friends, in that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We would remember before thee, O our God, the case of all that mourn, and of all that are afflicted and oppressed. We pray that thou wouldst suit, out of thy tender mercies, those blessings and comforts best adapted to their respective conditions, and prepare them and ourselves for all the changes of life: And when we are called to repose in the dreary recesses of the tomb, may our spirits find acceptance at thy throne, and with all the purchased possession, be raised to the everlasting enjoyments of thy love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A TABLE, TO FIND ANY PSALM OR HYMN BY THE FIRST LINE. AGAIN the Lord of life and light Again the cheerful beams of day All nature speaks, let men give ear Absurd and vain attempt! to bind Abide with us, the ev'ning shades As show'rs on meadows newly mown Awake the song that gave to earth As the good shepherd gently leads Ah, wretched souls, who strive in vain ́All nature feels attractive pow'r Affliction's faded form draws nigh All nature dies, and lives again A God, a God, the wide earth shouts All hail, victorious Saviour, hail Almighty goodness, pow'r divine All-pow'rful, self-existent God All-seeing God! 'tis thine to know All hail the pow'r of Jesus' name A voice from the desert comes awful and shrill Awake, my soul! rouse ev'ry pow'r Awake, each soul! stretch every nerve 33 Awake, ye saints! and raise your eyes 34 35 And now my soul, another year 43 And will the great eternal God Awake, our souls; away our fears Awake, each soul; awake, each tongue Another fleeting day is gone 44 45 46 47 Behold th' amazing sight Behold the Prince of peace Behold the light! now see it rise Bless'd is the man who fears the Lord Behold, what joy through Israel's host Behold, what wondrous grace Blest is the man, whose tender care |