Prayer.

LORD Most Holy, O God Most Mighty, we would offer this our evening sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving with joyful lips and grateful hearts. We come to Thee, O Father, because Thou in love hast bidden us come. In ourselves we are unworthy, but our trust is in Thy mercy. We remember that like as a father pitieth his children. so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. Hear us, and when Thou hearest forgive. Grant us the help of Thy Holy Spirit that we may walk before Thee with a perfect heart. As walkers in the light may we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. In Thy light may we see light, the light of Thy unfailing love, and of Thy great salvation. Strengthen and sanctify our wills, and keep them Thine for ever. Choose our path, and guide us with Thy loving hand. Look in mercy, O Lord, upon our relations, friends and neighbours, and bless them. May they rejoice in knowing Thee as a Friend above all others. Be with the sick, the sad, and the suffering; comfort them and grant them Thy peace. And now Gracious Father we commend ourselves and our dear ones to Thy care and keeping. Let Thy strong hand guard and shield us, both in our lying down and our rising up, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

O 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.

O blessed Jesu, our Life, our Saviour, our King, be Thou ever with us that we may be ever with Thee. Be Thou with us in joy and in sorrow, in strength and in weakness, in life and in death. Be Thou with us as we walk through the tangled paths of this sinful world; be Thou with us as we enter the valley of the shadow of death; be Thou with us in the peace of Paradise and the glories of Heaven. Amen. [Bp. Walsham How.]

Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c.

Praise.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.-GAL. 2. 20.

THE sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;

Let love awake and pay
Her evening sacrifice.

As Christ, upon the cross
In death reclined,

And to His Father's hands
His parting soul resigned.

So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge

In Whom all spirits live;

So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest-
Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast,

Save that His will be done
Whate'er betide-

Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.

Thus would I live; yet now

Not I, but He

In all His power and love
Henceforth alive in me;

One Sacred Trinity,

One Lord Divine,

May I be ever His,

And He for ever mine.

E. Caswell (trans.)

Prayer.

LORD our Father, Who dwellest in heaven, look down and hearken to the prayer of Thy children. We just come as we are, having no goodness of our own to plead, but only Thy exceeding love. Receive us graciously, grant us pardon and peace, and put upon us the robe of righteousness. We know not how to pray as we ought. Blessed Saviour, teach us as Thou taught Thy disciples of old. Gracious Spirit, inspire our souls, and prompt our desires. May we realise more fully that God is indeed our Father, and that we are His children by adoption and grace. So shall we look up with confidence, and say, "Abba, Father." O Loving

Father, we are wilful and sinful children, and cannot put away our sins, but Christ has died, died for sinners, died for us. Clinging to His cross we rest in His love. He loved us and loves us still. We ask Thee to receive us, to renew us, to sanctify us, and to uphold us for His sake. Father, mercifully look upon us, and banish every fear. Guard us through the hours of darkness. Protect and bless all who are dear to us. Be with sick and sorrowful souls, comfort them, and grant them a happy issue out of all their afflictions. Grant us grace to do Thy will, and abide with us evermore, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

O God, merciful Father, that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful; Mercifully look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of Thy Name turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved; and grant, that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in Thy mercy, and evermore serve Thee in holiness and pureness of living, to Thy honour and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c.

Praise.

What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for ?-DEUT. 4. 7.

PRAISE to our God, Whose bounteous hand
Prepared of old our glorious land,-

A garden fenced with silver sea,
A people prosperous, strong and free.

Praise to our God! through all our past
His mighty arm hath held us fast,
Till wars and perils, toils and tears,
Hath brought the rich and peaceful years.

Praise to our God! the vine He set
Within our coasts is fruitful yet;
On many a shore her seedlings grow;
'Neath many a sun her clusters glow.

Praise to our God! His power alone
Can keep unmoved our ancient Throne,
Sustained by counsels wise and just,
And guarded by a people's trust.

Praise to our God! though chastenings stern
Our evil dross should throughly burn,

His rod and staff, from age to age,

Shall rule and guide His heritage.

Lie still in the darkness,
Sleep safe in the night,
The Lord is a Watchman,
The Lamb is a Light.

All's well in the darkness,
All's well in the light,
The Lord is a Watchman,
The Lamb is a Light.

J. Ellerton.

Prayer.

LMIGHTY Father, as darkness deepens we come to Thee for light and comfort. We would close another week with a thankful remembrance of Thy great goodness. Undeserving as we are, ungrateful as we have been, Thou hast not forgotten us. For all Thy loving care we praise Thee. We remember our sins, and confess our shortcomings. Often have we wandered from Thy path, and sinned in thought, word, and deed. We heartily repent, and are truly sorry for all our misdoings. Have mercy upon us, Merciful Father, and for Christ's sake forgive all our misdeeds. Grant us grace that we may serve Thee in newness of life. Blessed Spirit, renew our souls, and confirm and strengthen us in all goodness. Possessing life and peace in Christ may we have fulness of joy. Holy Father, prepare us for the approaching Sabbath rest, and enable us to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. May every Sabbath be to us a day of sacred joy and willing service. May the name of Jesus be sweet to our ears, and His love manifest in our lives. Keep us faithful, humble, and hopeful. May we daily seek to live the life Thou wouldst have us live, the consecrated life, the life of loving service. Father, we now commit ourselves to Thy care and keeping. Preserve us and ours from evil. When we rise grant to us a Sabbath blessing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty God, be pleased to remember with Thy mercy and love, those who minister before Thee in holy things. Prosper the great and blessed work in which they are engaged. Enable them faithfully to preach Thy Word, and rightly and duly to administer Thy Holy Sacraments. May they uphold Christ both by their words, and in their lives. Raise up, we pray Thee, faithful and true men for the work of Thy Church. O Thou Lord of the harvest, prepare Thy own Labourers, and send them forth into Thy harvest. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. [Bp.Oxenden] Our Father, &c. The grace of our Lord, &c.