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And the People, reverently bowing down, shall follow in their

hearts

THE GENERAL PRAYER.

¶ The Minister, leading the People in their Common Prayers, shall come with a heart prepared to offer unto God —

ADORATIONS: for His glorious perfection, and for the revelation of Himself in His works, in His Word, and in His Son, Jesus Christ:

THANKSGIVINGS: for all mercies of every kind, general and particular, spiritual and temporal, common and special; above all, for Jesus Christ, His unspeakable gift, and the hope of eternal life through Him.

SUPPLICATIONS: for the supply of all our needs temporal and spiritual, and for the aid and comfort of the Holy Ghost in all our duties and trials:

INTERCESSIONS: for the whole world of mankind; remembering especially our country and all who are invested with civil authority; the Church Universal and that with which we are particularly connected; all missionaries and ministers of the Gospel; and all others who are seeking to do good on earth; all poor and sick and sorrowful people, (especially those for whom our prayers are asked ;) all little children and the youth assembled in schools and colleges; those who are in the midst of great danger or temptation; and all who are bound to us by ties of kinship or affection:

In any or all of these Adorations, Thanksgivings, Supplications, and Intercessions, the Minister, if he will, may use any of the Prayers given in this Book, under the title of TREASURY OF PRAYERS. Or he may carefully order his thoughts and compose his spirit to utter with propriety the desires and petitions of the People, remembering what is suitable and necessary for them in their Common Worship. At the end of the General Prayer the Minister and People shall say together the LORD'S PRAYER.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

OUR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

THE OFFERING.

¶ The bringing of offerings for the service of God is to be performed as an Act of Worship Let the Minister, having made such ANNOUNCEMENTS as are needful and fitting, then say, Let us make our Offering to Almighty God for (naming the cause). If the choir sing a Canticle or Anthem it should be one proper for the occasion.

When the gifts are brought to the Table, the Minister shall dedicate them to God with a brief Prayer for His blessing; the church-officers who have gathered the gifts standing, and the congregation bowiny down.

¶ On special occasions the Offering may be made after the Sermon.

A PRAYER OF DEDICATION.

GOD, most merciful and gracious, of whose bounty we have all received; We beseech Thee to accept this Offering of Thy people. Remember in Thy love those who have brought it, and those for whom it is given; and so follow it with Thy blessing that it may promote peace and good-will among men, and advance the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then let the People stand up and sing

A HYMN.

Then the Minister, taking his text from the Word of God, and remembering that it is his office to instruct men in divine Truth, to hold forth Christ crucified as their Saviour, and to incite them to Christian faith and duty, shall preach

THE SERMON.

¶ The Sermon being ended, let the People stand up and sing A HYMN.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

Let us pray.

¶Then let the People reverently bow down while the Minister leads them in Prayer, using if he so desire one of the following as

THE CLOSING PRAYER.

GOD, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy, that, Thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord. Amen.

LORD, the Author of spiritual life, who hast given unto us the good seed of Thy Word; Grant that we may receive it into honest hearts and so guard it by Thy grace from the wiles of Satan and the cares of this life, that the faith and hope and love which Thou hast begotten, may be in us the beginning of life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, who hast sounded in our ears Thy divine and saving oracles; Enlighten the souls of us sinners to the full understanding of what has been spoken, that we may be not only hearers of spiritual words, but also doers of good works, following after faith unfeigned, blameless life, and irreproachable conduct; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MOST merciful God, we beseech Thee to grant unto us that we may earnestly desire, wisely search out, truly perceive, and perfectly fulfil those things which are wellpleasing in Thy sight, to the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.

GOD, who art the Author of peace and Lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us Thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in Thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time

:

with one accord to make our common supplications unto Thee and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in Thy Name Thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

The People remaining in the posture of prayer, the Minister shall pronounce

THE BENEDICTION.

THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

¶ Or this:

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

After the Benediction it is fitting that the Minister and People remain in silent prayer, beseeching God that none may leave His House without a blessing.

¶ Note that the last Hymn may be sung after the Prayer if such be the wish and usage of any church.

THE ORDER OF

EVENING SERVICE

ON THE LORD'S DAY.

Let a Hymn be sung, all the People standing, and then let the Minister read one or more of the following SENTENCES.

GRACE be unto you, and peace, from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians i. 3.)

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah lvii. 15.)

The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (St. John iv. 23, 24.)

Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm cxli. 2.)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth. (Psalm xcvi. 9.)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalm xix. 14.)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (St. Matthew vii. 7, 8.)

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