3.

At Evening Prayer.

O Thou whom cherubim and seraphim continually do praise, the heavens and all the powers therein; open Thou our mouths, that we may show forth Thy praise, and declare the greatness of Thy holy name. Grant unto us to have our portion with them who fear Thee in truth, and who obey Thy commandments; for to Thee is due all glory, honour, worship, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, throughout all ages.

O God Most High, who alone art exalted, having immortality, and dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Thou hast made all things by Thy wisdom, separating between the light and the darkness, setting the sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night. Thou hast given us grace to come before Thee at this time, to offer unto Thee our evening song of adoration and praise; grant unto us peace for the present evening and coming night; clothe us with the armour of light; and being enlightened by Thy law, give us with joy to persevere in glorifying Thy goodness, offering prayers and supplications to Thy compassion for our fellow-sinners, and for all Thy people: which do Thou grant, according to Thy goodwill towards men.

We remember in Thy presence all for whom we should beseech Thee, that they may receive the dew of Thy blessing, and the outpouring of Thy Holy Spirit. Revive us, O God; revive Thy Church, we pray Thee; have mercy upon all Thy creatures of mankind; gather all who shall be saved into Thy fold; bring in the fulness of the Gentiles; accomplish

the number of Thine elect; and unite and carry onward to perfection all Thy saints. Grant unto Thy servants who shall depart in the faith, rest and joy and peace, in the hope of a blessed resurrection; and hasten the appearing and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

These things we ask, O heavenly Father, in patient confidence and joyful hope, being assured that we ask them according to Thy will; that the voice of Thy Church is heard by Thee, that the intercessions of the Holy Ghost are known unto Thee, and that the mediation of Thy well-beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour, doth prevail with Thee.

Wherefore we glorify Thy name, we fall down before Thy throne, we worship and adore Thy glorious majesty; evermore praising Thee, and saying, Salvation be unto our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.

Amen.

VII.

Thanksgivings for Special Occasions.

In Time of Harvest.

LORD God Almighty, the fountain of all goodness, by whose word alone all things receive increase and are brought unto perfection, and by whose appointment the fruits of the earth are given for meat unto the children of men; we offer unto Thee our praises and thanksgivings that Thou hast brought us through the circuit of another year, and that, according to Thy promise, seed-time and harvest have not failed. [Thou hast crowned the year with Thy goodness; the earth at Thy commandment hath brought forth abundantly; and our barns are filled with plenty.] We give thanks unto Thy holy name, we rejoice before Thee and praise Thee for Thy goodness to us and to all the creatures of Thy hand; for Thou art the Giver of all good gifts, and unto Thee we render glory and praise, even unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, now and for evermore, world without end.

Amen.

For Fair Weather.

O Lord God, who hast justly humbled us by Thy late plague of immoderate rain and waters, and in Thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather; we praise and glorify Thy holy name for this Thy mercy, and will always declare Thy loving-kindness from generation to generation: through Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Amen.

For Rain.

O God, our heavenly Father, who by Thy gracious providence dost cause the former and the latter rain to descend upon the earth, that it may bring forth fruit for the use of man; we give Thee humble thanks that it hath pleased Thee, in our great necessity, to send at the last a joyful rain upon our land, and to refresh it when it was dry, to the great comfort of us Thine unworthy servants, and to the glory of Thy holy name: through Thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, O Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

Amen.

For Deliverance from Dearth.

We yield Thee abounding thanks, O most bountiful God and Father, who hast had compassion upon the multitudes that were ready to perish with hunger; and even as Thou didst make the few loaves and fishes enough for thousands, art now crowning the seed-time with harvest, and filling the land with plenty. And we beseech Thee, that unto this Thy miracle of earthly providence, Thou wilt add Thy richer miracle of heavenly grace, and evermore give us that bread which cometh down from heaven; whereof they that eat shall be nourished unto life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For Deliverance from Pestilence.

Amen.

O Lord God of our salvation, who turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye children of men; we yield Thee hearty thanks for that Thou didst not shut the ears of Thy mercy when we cried unto Thee, in the day of Thy terrible visitation, as out of the valley and shadow of death; but hast mercifully driven from our borders the wasting pestilence, and restored the voice of joy and health into our dwellings. Of Thy mercy it is, O Lord, that we were not utterly consumed and wasted away; and therefore, as the living from the dead, we return to bless, and praise, and magnify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

R