Here the Firft Leffon is to be read out of the HOLY SCRIPTURES; after which the Service is to proceed with the fol lowing Thanksgivings; the congregation rifing up. Minifter. "LET us now offer up unto GOD our fincere and humble thanksgivings, "for his great goodness to us, and to "all mankind. "O give thanks unto the LORD ye his people, give thanks at the "remembrance of his goodness. "Let us meditate upon his mercies "with delight; and let the words of ἐσ our mouths, and the actions of our "lives, fhew forth his praise." People. Bless the LORD, O our fouls, and forget not all his benefits. General Minifter. of ThankyWE thank thee, O Father, giving LORD of heaven and earth, for the innumerable mer cies cies thou haft bestowed upon us. We acknowledge, with all gratitude and joy, the gift of life: thine almighty voice hath called for Creaus into being; and thy hand hath placed us in this part of thy glorious works. tion, Body and We thank thee for the wife and useful frame of our bodies; and for the nobler powers of our Powers of minds; by which we are enabled Mind, to contemplate the beauty of thy works, and the wonderful order of thy providence; and to attain to the knowledge, and love of thee, the Creator of the world, and the Author of all good. We thank thee that thou haft implanted in us a fenfe of good and evil; and the amiable affections of benevolence and compaffion; hereby leading us to the admiration and love of goodness; and to the enjoyment of that happiness, which arifes from the practice of virtue, and true religion. Preferva. tion and "O that men would praise the "LORD for his goodness; and "for his wonderful works to the "children of men." People. We praife the LORD for his goodness; and for his wonderful works to the children of men. Minifter. We thank thee, O ever boun Blefings of tiful and moft gracious GOD, Life, for the continual prefervation of our lives in thy hand is the life of every living creature, and the breath of all mankind: our food and raiment are the daily gifts of thy bounty: thou giveft us healthful and fruitful feasons, and fillest our hearts with joy and gladness; the blessings of friendship, liberty, and equal government, are thy wife and benevolent appointment. "O that men would praise the "LORD for his goodness; and "for his wonderful works to the "children of men. Peo People. We praife the LORD for his goodness; and for his wonderful works to the children of men. Minister. Immorta. We bless thee, O heavenly Fa- Hope of ther, that thy goodness to man- lity, kind is not confined to this prefent world; but that thou haft awakened in us the pleasing hope of immortality; and by the various means of thy providence and grace, art training us up for a heavenly and everlasting life. ment, We thank thee for the in- Means of ftructions and examples of wife Improveand good men in every age; and for every opportunity of attaining that measure of knowledge and virtue which is neceffary to our happiness. by 7ESUS But above all we praise and Salvation magnify thee, for the rich difplay CHRIST. of thy goodness, in the manifeftation of thy Son CHRIST JESUS; whom thou haft raised up up to blefs mankind; to turn them from darkness to light; and from the power of fin, to the worship and obedience of thee, the true GOD. We acknowledge with the highest gratitude, the perfect doctrine of our bleffed Saviour; that by him thou hast given us thy heavenly truth; to enlighten our minds, to fanctify our hearts, and guide our feet in the way of peace; and that in his life thou haft fet before. us an example of the moft exalted goodnefs, to animate our endeavours, and to encourage us to prefs forward continually. We thank thee for the promises of thy mercy and forgiveness, upon repentance, and newness of life; for the affurance of thy gracious influence to help our infirmities; and for the blessed hope of immortality, confirmed to us in the Gospel. We rejoice in the exceeding riches of thy grace; that thou haft exalted thy Son JESUS to be a Prince, and a Saviour; and that through thy wife and merciful |
