Lesson he shall say, Here endeth the Second Lesson. Then shall be sung or said the following Psalm. PSALM 136. O GIVE thanks unto the Lord; for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of all gods; for his mercy endureth for ever. O thank the Lord of all lords; for his mercy endureth for ever. Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens; for his mercy endureth for ever. Who laid out the earth above the waters; for his mercy endureth for ever. Who hath made great lights; for his mercy endureth for ever. The sun to rule by day; for his mercy endureth for ever. The moon and the stars to govern the night; for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembereth us when we are in trouble; and who crownest the year with thy goodness. We desire this day gratefully to recount thy mercies, and to ascribe blessing and honor, and glory and praise to thee our rock and fortress, our strength and redeemer. our How precious have been thy thoughts unto us, O God, how great has been the sum of them! We bless thee for preserving our houses from the ravages of fire, for all the health and pleasure which we have enjoyed in them, for the bread which has given strength to bodies, for the medicine which has arrested the progress of disease, for the tear of sympathy which has comforted us under trouble, for divine preservation in our journeys by land, for favorable winds on the ocean, for refreshing showers upon the fields. We thank thee for every cheerful sensation when alone, for the pleasures of friendly intercourse, for the benefits of good neighborhood, for the privileges of public worship, for the maintenance of civil order, the continuance of peace, the administration of justice, for every encouragement to well doing, every manifestation of useful truth, and for all the advantages of our condition. Graciously direct us, O God, to a right improvement of all thy mercies. Preserve us from the wicked indulgence of all fleshly lusts, and from wasting our substance in riotous living. May we enjoy our temporal possessions with temperauce, cheerfulness, and contentment. Protect us from the snares of prosperity. May we honor thee with our substance, be rich in good works, and duly esteem and praise thee the rock of our salvation. Continue to us the enjoyment of our civil rights; rule in the hearts of our rulers, and direct them in all their designs and measures by thy wisdom and grace; make our land a quiet habitation; grant peace, order, and plenty in our families, our villages and towns, and throughout our country; bless all fountains of useful science; heal and cleanse their waters; dispel the mists of ignorance; arrest the progress of profaneness and vice; make the people of our land humble before thee, peaceable in their civil and social relations, and zealous for the establishment of liberty, order, and truth. May we never by our ingratitude incur that censure, I have nourished and brought up children, but they have rebelled against me. Grant this, O Father, for thine infinite mercy's sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CONCLUDING PRAYER. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee, and hast promised by thy beloved Son, that where two or three are gathered together in his 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 know ledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. THE Lord bless us, and keep us; may he be gracious unto us, and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen. END OF SERVICE FOR DAYS OF THANKSGIVING. A SERVICE FOR DAYS OF FASTING AND HUMILIATION. The Minister may use the common Service for Morning or Evening Prayer, till he comes to the Psalm beginning, O come let us sing, &c. instead of which shall be said or sung, the following Anthem, from the fifty-fifth Psalm. FSALM 55. HEAR my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me; how I mourn in my prayer, and am troubled. My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. And I said, O that I had wings like a dove; for then would I flee away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I get me away far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would make haste to escape from the stormy wind and tempest. But yet I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. In the evening, and morning, and at noonday will I pray, and that instantly; and he shall hear my voice. O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever. And then, instead of the Psalms for the Day of the Month, shall be said the following Psalms. PSALM 6. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones tremble. My soul also is sore troubled; but Lord, how long wilt thou punish me? Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul; O save me for thy mercies' sake. Depart from me, all ye who work vanity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my petition; the Lord will receive my prayer. PSALM 42. AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God; when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul; and why art thou so disquieted within me; Put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance. The Lord hath granted his loving kindness in the day time; and in the night season did I sing unto him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is now thy God? Why art thou so cast down, O my soul; and why art thou so disquieted within me? O put thy trust in God; for I will yet thank him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. PSALM 80. HEAR, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; shine forth, thou that sittest upon the Cherubim. Turn us again, O God, show the light of thy |
