He hath obtained for us. Send down a double portion of Thy Spirit upon all those whom Thou hast set apart to minister in holy things; that they may do it with clean hands, and pure hearts; and work in them and us sincere resolutions to dedicate ourselves entirely to Thine obedience and service. And, O Lord, do Thou consecrate us both in soul and body to be holy temples to Thyself; that Thou dwelling in our hearts by faith and love, we may be cleansed from all sinful affections, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy blessed Name and our own everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to Whom with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. Psalm and Prayer to be used just after we are returned from Morning Service. How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God; therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings'. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful'. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done His marvellous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance *. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart; that I might not sin against Thee '. 5 Stablish Thy word unto Thy servant, who is devoted to Thy fear 6. 1 Psalm xxxvi. 7. Ibid. ver. 4. 2 Ibid. cxvi. 5. 5 Ibid. cxix. 10, 11. 3 Ibid. cxi. 2. 6 Ibid. ver. 38. Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight'. I have declared Thy faithfulness, and Thy salvation I have not concealed Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation. : Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let Thy loving kindness and Thy truth continually preserve me 2. Let all those that seek Thee, be glad and rejoice in Thee: let such as love Thy salvation, say continually, The Lord be magnified3. I render Thee most humble and hearty thanks, O holy and merciful Father, for that notwithstanding my great sinfulness and unworthiness Thou hast again admitted me into Thy holy temple, to worship and praise Thee in the congregation of Thy saints. Forgive, I humbly beseech Thee, whatever Thou hast seen amiss in me, or any of Thy servants; and grant that the prayers and thanksgivings which we have offered up to Thy divine Majesty, in the name of our common Redeemer, may be presented by Him acceptable unto Thee. Enable us faithfully to apply the reproofs and instructions we have heard, to the increase of our knowledge, and the amendment of our lives. And may the whole Church militant always so sanctify these Thy holy days, that its state triumphant may be hastened, when Thy saints shall enjoy an eternal sabbath of rest and glory. Amen. 1 Psalm exix. 35, 2 Ibid. xi. 10, 11. 3 Ibid. ver. 16. FOR THE AFTERNOON. Passages of Scripture declaring the respective acts and operations of each PERSON in the ever-blessed TRINITY towards the accomplishment of man's redemption. GOD THE FATHER gave His Only-begotten Son to die for our sins: and having raised Him from the dead, He exalted Him to be a Prince, and a Saviour; and to be the Head over all things to the Church; see below. GOD THE SON came down from heaven, and took our nature upon Him, and suffered death upon the cross for our redemption: and being set down on the right hand of the Father He ever liveth to make intercession for us; p. 196. GOD THE HOLY GHOST conferred miraculous gifts upon the Apostles to fit them to convert the world to Christianity: and He still continues to confer such gifts and graces on all Christian believers, as are necessary to guide them into the knowledge, and to dispose and enable them to the practice of those duties which God hath made a condition of eternal salvation; p. 198. God the FATHER gave His Only-begotten Son to die &c. BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved'. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him 2. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ". For God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them*. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons". In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His Only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it". And set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, 1 Eph. i. 3-6. 4 Ibid. ver. 19. 2 Ibid. ver. 10. 3 2 Cor. v. 17, 18. 61 John iv. 9, 10. : not only in this world, but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church'. God the SON suffered death for our redemption &c. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth 2. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross 3. That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people *. And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance". For all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and in Him A en, unto the glory of God. 1 Eph. i. 20-22. 4 Heb. ii. 14-17. 2 John i. 14. 6 2 Cor. i. 20. 3 Phil. ii. 6-8. 5 Ibid. ix. 15. |