A NEW DIRECTORY FOR THE 
 PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD 
 
A NEW 
 
 DIRECTORY FOR THE 
 
 PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD 
 
 FOUNDED ON THE BOOK OF COMMON ORDER 
 (1560-64) AND THE WESTMINSTER DIRECTORY 
 (1643-45), AND PREPARED BY THE "PUBLIC 
 WORSHIP ASSOCIATION IN CONNECTION WITH 
 THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND" 
 
 Let all things be done unto edifying." — i CoR. xiv. 26. 
 
 Let all things be done in seemly form, and according to order." 
 
 — I Cor. xiv. 40. 
 
 MACNIVEN & WALLACE 
 1898 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The Association by which this Directory for PubHc 
 Worship has been prepared, was formed at a Conference 
 of Ministers and Elders of the Free Church of Scotland, 
 held at Edinburgh in May 1891. The object of the 
 Association, as stated in its Constitution, is "to pro- 
 mote the ends of edification, order, and reverence in 
 the public services of the Church, in accordance with 
 Scripture principles, and in the light especially of the 
 experience and practice of the Reformed Churches 
 holding the Presbyterian system." The suggestion 
 that such an Association should be formed, and 
 the invitation to the Conference, were contained in a 
 Circular signed by eighteen ministers, namely : — Drs 
 Bannerman, Blaikie, Bruce, A. O. Johnston, Laidlaw, 
 Macmillan, Reith, Ross Taylor, Salmond, Walter C. 
 Smith ; Messrs T. Crerar, Lewis Davidson, J. T. 
 Ferguson, W. A. Gray, T. B. Kilpatrick, D. M. Ross, 
 David Somerville, and George Steven. 
 
 In this Circular, those who signed it said they felt 
 that the subject of the Public Worship of the Church 
 called for special consideration at the present time, and 
 that in connection with it there was room and need for 
 improvement in various directions. Their desire was 
 that all efforts for such improvement " should proceed 
 upon lines in harmony with the past history, and best 
 traditions of the Scottish Church in the matter of 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 worship, and should be — to use the language of the 
 Solemn League and Covenant — ' in accordance with the 
 Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed 
 Churches,' as represented, for instance, in the General 
 Presbyterian Alliance. In particular, all of us hold 
 strongly that the duty and privilege of free prayer in 
 the public Worship of God should be jealously guarded 
 and maintained, and that nothing in the least approach- 
 ing to a compulsory Liturgy, as in the Anglican and 
 Roman Communions, should be even proposed. 
 
 " In the event of union between our own Church and 
 one or both of the other great branches of Presbyterian- 
 ism in Scotland, which in our opinion is much to be 
 desired, a Revision of the old Scottish Book of Common 
 Order, and of the Westminster Directory for Worship, 
 would probably have to be undertaken by the United 
 Church. In view of such a work in the future, it is 
 of great importance that the mind of the Free Church 
 of Scotland as a whole, and especially of its ministers, 
 should be seriously and prayerfully turned to this 
 question, and that our Church should be in a position 
 to take an intelligent and influential part in the ulti- 
 mate re-adjustment and improvement of the common 
 standards for worship." 
 
 On these lines, the work of the Association has gone 
 forward in a very harmonious and encouraging way for 
 the past seven years. It has sought to call attention, 
 — and has done so, it is believed, with good results 
 — on the one hand, to the danger of hasty and ill- 
 considered action, and of merely imitative movements 
 in the direction of Anglican forms and usages ; and on 
 the other hand, to the need of improvements in various 
 respects in the ordinary Public Worship and in the 
 Special Services of the Church, and to the lines on 
 
PREFACE. vii 
 
 which such improvements may best be carried out, in 
 accordance with Scriptural and confessional principles, 
 and in the light of the practice and experience of sister 
 Reformed Churches both in Great Britain, America, 
 and the Continent of Europe. Papers have been issued 
 yearly for private circulation among the members of the 
 Association ; but this " Directory for Worship " is its 
 first publication for general use. 
 
 The two well-known Service-books of the Scottish 
 Church, on which this little work is based, may be 
 described respectively as an optional Liturgy and a 
 Directory for Worship. 
 
 The Book of Common Order arose out of the form of 
 service drawn up by John Knox, Whittingham, and 
 others for the use of the English exiles at Frankfort in 
 1554. It was first published at Geneva in 1556, and 
 used in the Church there, in which both Knox and 
 Whittingham were ministers. After Knox's return to 
 Scotland in 1559, ''if not earlier, the Book of Geneva 
 began to be used by some of the Reformed Congrega- 
 tions in this country. In the First Book of Discipline, 
 adopted by the Church in 1560, it is said to be 'already 
 used in some of our Churches,' and is spoken of as 
 ' the Book of Our Common Order, called the Order of 
 Geneva.' In 1562 the General Assembly enjoined its 
 uniform use in ' ministration of the Sacraments and 
 solemnisation of marriages and burial of the dead.'^ It 
 was reprinted in Edinburgh in that year with some 
 additions. Between 1562 and 1564 it was modified and 
 enlarged ; new prayers were added from Continental 
 sources, others, which had been used in Scotland pre- 
 viously, were incorporated with it, and the Psalter was 
 completed. In this form it was printed in Edinburgh 
 
 1 Book of the Universal Kirk, p. 13. Sess. V. Dec. 31, 1562. 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 in 1564; and the Assembly of that year 'ordained that 
 every Minister, Exhorter, and Reader shall have one of 
 the Psalm books, lately printed in Edinburgh, and use 
 the Order contained therein in Prayers, Marriage, and 
 Ministration of the Sacraments.'^ 
 
 " The Book of Geneva, thus remodelled, is known as 
 Knox's Liturgy or Book of Common Order ; and it 
 embodied the law of the Church as to worship from 
 1564 to 1645-" 2 
 
 The " Book of Common Order," however, is a better 
 and more accurately descriptive name for the first 
 Service-book of the Scottish Reformed Church than 
 "Liturgy," which is apt to suggest a fixed and com- 
 pulsory form of ritual. In " The Book of Our Common 
 Order," the place and rights of free prayer are carefully 
 vindicated and guarded, an outline of the order of wor- 
 ship is given, with specimen forms of prayer, confession 
 of sins, thanksgiving, and intercession, which, " or such 
 like," the minister is to use. We have an " Order of 
 Baptism," " The Manner of the Administration of the 
 Lord's Supper," "The Form of Marriage," etc., with 
 examples of suitable exhortations, and prayers ; and the 
 officiating minister is enjoined to use "either the words 
 following, or like in effect." "The minister exhorting 
 the people to pray, saith in this manner, or such 
 like." "The minister prayeth for the assistance of God's 
 Holy Spirit, as the same shall move His heart, and so 
 proceedeth to the sermon." " After sermon he either 
 
 ^ Calderwood, Hist, of the Kirk of Scotland {'^odiXO-w Soc. ed.), 
 ii. 284. 
 
 ^ See Sprott and Leishman's admirable edition of the Book of 
 Common Order and the Westminster Directory, with Historical 
 Introductions and Illustrative Notes. Edin. and London, i868- 
 Preface, p. xv. 
 
PREFACE. ix 
 
 useth the ' Prayer for all Estates,' or else prayeth as the 
 Spirit of God shall move his heart." ^ 
 
 It is unnecessary to refer here in detail to the contents 
 of the Westminster Directory, which may be assumed to 
 be in the hands of our ministers generally. We may 
 venture to say, in passing, that it deserves, and will 
 repay, much more careful study on their part than it 
 often receives. It is not indeed of full authority in the 
 Church, and has no direct place in the Ordination 
 vows of her office-bearers ; but it contains a great deal 
 that is of very high and permanent value, both in the 
 way of guidance and suggestion in matters of worship. 
 The Westminster Directory traverses, so far, the same 
 ground as the Book of Common Order, but does not 
 give the same amount of help as regards special services. 
 It says nothing whatever, for example, of Ordination 
 Services, — a lack which is somewhat inadequately sup- 
 plied in the reference to the subject in the other West- 
 minster document known as " The Form of Church 
 Government." As regards the ordinary public worship 
 of the Lord's day, however, the Directory furnishes a 
 considerable amount of valuable material and suggestion 
 for Confession, Adoration, Thanksgiving, Petition, and 
 Intercession, so prepared and arranged that they can, 
 with very little difficulty, be turned into direct forms of 
 prayer.2 
 
 In the Directory for Public Worship now issued, we 
 follow the Book of Common Order in giving specimen 
 forms for certain parts of the ordinary service, e.g.^ 
 Prayers of Invocation, of Thanksgiving, and " for all 
 
 ^ See Dr Jas. Bannerman's account of the Book of Common 
 Order, Chtuch of Christy ii. 414-420. 
 
 2 Compare Sprott and Leishman's Book of Coinmo)i Order and 
 Directory^ p. 325. 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 Estates," giving also somewhat fuller forms for such 
 special services as Baptism, the Lord's Supper, Ordina- 
 tion of Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, Church Dedica- 
 tion, Marriage, and Burial of the Dead. In accordance 
 with the example of the Westminster Directory, a large 
 amount of space has been devoted to materials and 
 suggestions for Confession, Thanksgiving, Petition, and 
 Intercession. It would, of course, have been com- 
 paratively easy to provide set forms of prayer under 
 these various heads. To provide and arrange suitable 
 material, which, while not repressing or hampering free 
 prayer, should serve to guide and stimulate it, was a much 
 more difficult task. 
 
 The Committee wish to draw special attention to the 
 Confession of Sins, the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the 
 Litany, and the Marriage Service, taken from " Her- 
 mann's Consultation." ^ These have been specially trans- 
 lated from the original Latin for this volume. They have 
 not, so far as the Committee are aware, been brought 
 before the Church since the publication of two English 
 editions — both now extremely rare — of the "Pia De- 
 liberatio " in 1547 and 1548. 
 
 The very interesting Reformation Service-book, known 
 as " Hermann's Consultation," was prepared by Bucer 
 and Melanchthon at the request of Hermann, the Pro- 
 testant Elector and Archbishop of Cologne, in the first 
 half of the sixteenth century. It appeared first in German 
 in 1543, then in Latin in 1545, and in English in 1547 
 and 1548. A fine copy of the Latin edition is preserved 
 in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, dated '' Bonnae, 
 ex officina Laurentii Mylii Typographi, anno mdxxxxv." 
 The translations in this volume are made from that 
 edition, with comparison of the renderings in the two 
 1 See below, pp. 35-38 ; 73 ; 94-97 ; 160- 164. 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 English editions. One copy of each of these (that of the 
 earher edition being imperfect) exists in the Bodleian 
 Library at Oxford.^ Both editions are beautifully printed 
 in black letter. The title of the copy of the first edition, 
 and some pages at beginning and end, are gone.^ The 
 title of the second edition is as follows : — " A simple and 
 religious Consultation of us Herman by the grace of 
 God, Archbishop of Colone and prince Electoure, &c. 
 by what meanes a Christian Reformation and founded on 
 God's Worde of doctrine administration of devine Sacra- 
 ments, of Ceremonies and the whole cure of soules and 
 other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men 
 committed to our pastorall charge, until the Lord graunte 
 a better to be appointed, &c. Perused by the translator 
 thereof and amended in many places, 1548. Imprinted 
 at London by Jhon Daye and William Seres, dwellynge 
 in Sepulchres paryshe at the singe of the Resurrection 
 a lytle above Holbourne Conduit." 
 
 ^ It is interesting for Scottish readers to remember that this 
 magnificent library is largely due to the munificence of the son of 
 one of John Knox's Elders in the English Church at Geneva. John 
 Bodley, or Bodleigh, was admitted to the Eldership there in 1557. 
 He aided in the translation of the Geneva Bible, and is said to have 
 borne the whole expense of printing it. His eldest son, Thomas, 
 was educated chiefly at Geneva. He was on diplomatic service 
 under Queen Elizabeth, and was knighted by James VI. He 
 endowed and largely increased the University Library at Oxford, 
 hence known, from the name of its chief benefactor, as "the Bodle- 
 ian." Comp. Livre des Anglois, or Register of the English Church 
 at Geneva, 1555-1559— edited by Prof. Mitchell, St Andrews, pp. 
 5, 9, 12 f. 
 
 2 One perfect copy of the edition of 1547 is preserved, accordmg 
 to the catalogue, in the British Museum Library ; but the editor of 
 this work had not an opportunity of consulting it. He desires to 
 acknowledge the great courtesy of the librarians of the Advocates' 
 Library and of the Bodleian, in connection with his references to 
 the copies of the Latin and English editions of Hermann's " Con- 
 sultation," which are so well cared for by them. 
 
xii PREFACE. 
 
 Melanchthon states in one of his letters that the 
 doctrinal part of this Service-book was due to himself, 
 while the prayers and forms of service were prepared by 
 Bucer. He mentions, in particular, that " the Order of 
 Baptism and of the Lord's Supper were composed by 
 him " (Bucer).i 
 
 The Committee of the Association, on whom the 
 work of preparing this Directory has devolved,^ are 
 conscious of various defects in what they now submit to 
 the Church, and especially to its ministers. They are 
 the more grateful for the large measure of expressed 
 approval with which several parts of their work have 
 already met, mingled with some kindly and candid 
 criticism from individual members of the Association. 
 
 The Committee trust they may be forgiven if they add 
 here a few words of counsel especially to the younger 
 ministers of the Church. We do well to prize and hold 
 fast the freedom which we have in the matter of pubhc 
 prayer, and in the lesser details of the Order of Service. 
 Our Scottish Church since the Reformation has shown 
 practically in this field that she " believes in the Holy 
 Ghost, the Lord, and the Giver of Life," and in His 
 perpetual presence wherever God's people meet for 
 worship in the name of Christ. By her plan of worship, 
 alike under the Book of Common Order and the West- 
 minster Directory, our Church has called upon each of 
 
 ^ The passage is quoted by Shields, Lifurgia Exptirgata {The 
 Prayer book as amended by the Westinhister Divines), 4th ed., p. 80. 
 
 2 The names of the Executive Committee to whom this work has 
 been entrusted are : — Rev. Dr Bannerman, Perth {^Convener) ; Rev. 
 Prof. Martin, D.D., New Coll., Edinburgh; Revs. J. T. Ferguson, 
 Cupar-Fife ; J. Henderson, Glasgow ; D, Purves, Gourock ; F. J- 
 Rae, Newport ; D. M. Ross, Glasgow ; R. S. Simpson, Edin- 
 burgh ; D. Somerville, Edinburgh {Secretary!) ; G. Stevens, Edin- 
 burgh ; Wm. Cowan, Esq., Edinburgh. 
 
PREFACE. xiii 
 
 her ministers to " stir up the gift of God which is in 
 him " for all the work of the ministry, to which he was 
 solemnly set apart by prayer, " with the laying on of the 
 hands of the Presbytery." She shows that she expects 
 him not only to preach the Gospel, but to cultivate the 
 power of leading the devotions of a congregation in such 
 a way as really to meet and give expression to the 
 spiritual wants and cravings of the earnest and living 
 members of the Church. He is thereby shut up, in a 
 most wholesome way, by the very necessities of the case, 
 to "take heed to himself" and his own spiritual life, 
 and to cast himself very specially on the promise and 
 help of the Holy Spirit. The result has been, with all 
 our defects, a decidedly high average of attainment 
 among the ministers of the Scottish Church, not only in 
 preaching — but in the gift of edifying and acceptable 
 public prayer. 
 
 But this liberty ought not to become license — as there 
 is sometimes a tendency for it to do — in the hands of 
 any of our ministers. It was always meant by the Church 
 to be "freedom in the bounds of law,"— "the law of the 
 Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," the law which bids us 
 "consider one another in love," and "look not to our 
 own things merely, but the things of others." In the 
 order and manner of public worship, the general historical 
 usages of the Scottish Church ought not to be rashly 
 and needlessly departed from. Even the local traditions 
 and customs of a congregation or district ought to be 
 duly considered, and no hasty changes made, however 
 reasonable in themselves these may appear to a young 
 minister. 
 
 Above all, every minister should beware of obtruding 
 his own personal moods and experiences upon the 
 people in prayer, of varying the accustomed Order of 
 
xiv PREFACE. 
 
 Service without special and intelligible reasons, of par- 
 tial and capricious choice of topics in prayer. Ministers 
 ought, in short, to realise their high position and respon 
 sibility as the leaders of public worship, and seek by 
 suitable preparation to fulfil the functions of their position 
 intelligently and sympathetically. In the Westminster 
 Directory, which, under EngHsh Puritan influences as 
 to worship, went further in the direction of freedom than 
 the earlier Service-book of the Scottish Church, the 
 importance of general uniformity of order, and of meeting 
 the stated spiritual necessities of the congregation in the 
 prayers of the ordinary Lord's Day Service, were dis- 
 tinctly recognised and provided for. " Our meaning is," 
 the Westminster Divines say in their Directory, "that 
 the general heads, the sense and scope of the prayers, 
 and other parts of public worship being known to all, 
 there may be a consent of all the Churches in those 
 things that contain the substance of the Service and 
 Worship of God; and the ministers may be hereby 
 directed, in their administrations, to keep like soundness 
 in doctrine and prayer, and may, if need be, have some 
 help and furniture; and yet so as they become not 
 hereby slothful or negligent in stirring up the gifts of 
 Christ in them; but that each one, by meditation, by 
 taking heed to himself and the flock of God committed 
 to him, and by wise observing the ways of Divine Pro- 
 vidence, may be careful to furnish his heart and tongue 
 with further or other materials of prayer and exhortation, 
 as shall be needful upon all occasions." 
 
 In name of the Committee, 
 
 D. Douglas Bannerman, 
 
 President of the Ptiblic Worship Association 
 in connection with the Free Church of Scotland. 
 Edinburgh, April, 1898. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PART L 
 
 ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE LORD'S DAY 
 WITH NOTES ON CERTAIN PARTS OF IT. 
 
 Order of Service at Ordinary Diet of Worship 
 Section I. Prayer of Invocation 
 II. Confession of Sins 
 
 III. Petition 
 
 IV. Thanksgiving 
 V. Intercession . 
 
 PAGES 
 
 1-3 
 4-13 
 
 13-38 
 38-59 
 
 59-74 
 74-97 
 
 VI. Prayer for Illumination, or for the Holy Spirit 97-100 
 
 PART II. 
 THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 Section I. Baptism — (A) Baptism of Infants . . 101-118 
 
 (B) Baptism of Adults . 11 8- 124 
 
 ,, II. The Lord's Supper, or the Communion . 124-145 
 
xvi CONTENTS. 
 
 FART III. 
 ORDER OF SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS. 
 
 PAGES 
 
 Section I. Admission of Baptized Persons to the full 
 Communion of the Church — Young 
 Communicants .... 147-154 
 
 ,, II. Marriage ..... 154-164 
 
 „ III. Burial of the Dead .... 165-185 
 
 „ IV. Ordination and Induction of a Minister . 185-205 
 
 ,, V. Ordination and Admission of Elders and 
 
 Deacons .... 205-219 
 
 ,, VI. Licensing of Probationers . . . 219-225 
 
 ,, VII. Dedication of a Church . . . 226-238 
 
Director? for tbe public Morebip 
 
 of (Bob: 
 
 Founded on the Book of Common Order {i ^60-64), and t/ie Westminsier 
 
 Directory (1643-45), and prepared by the ''Public Worship 
 
 Association iti connection with the Free Church of Scotland" 
 
 part I. 
 
 ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE 
 LORD'S DAY. 
 
 Order of Service at an Ordinary Diet of Worship. 
 
 T. One or more Sentences of Scripture. 
 
 I. 2. Prayer of Invocation (brief). 
 
 II. 3. Praise — Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 III. 4. First Reading of Scripture (O.T.), or after 
 
 (5) — i.e. 4 and 5 transposed. 
 
 IV. 5. Prayer of — 
 
 Adoration, Thanksgiving and Con- 
 fession ; for pardon and cleansing ; 
 for grace and every blessing. 
 6. Praise — Psalm sung or chanted, Hymn 
 or Anthem. 
 
 V. 7. Second Reading of Scripture (N.T.). 
 8. Praise. 
 
 VI. ^ Prayer of Intercession, ending with 
 Lord's Prayer. 
 a 
 
ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP. [pt. 
 
 VII. 
 
 lO. 
 
 Praise. 
 
 
 11. 
 
 Prayer for Illumination (brief). 
 
 III. 
 
 12. 
 
 Sermon or Lecture. 
 
 
 13- 
 
 Praise. 
 
 IX. 
 
 14. 
 
 Prayer for blessing on the preaching of 
 the Word, for Guidance and Pro- 
 tection. 
 
 X. 
 
 15- 
 
 Praise — Doxology. 
 
 XI. 
 
 16. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Note. — (i) Words to children may follow either Reading of Scrip- 
 ture or may be founded on a children's text and 
 hymn after 9. 
 
 (2) Intimations either before 10 or before 15. 
 
 (3) Collection or offertory may be taken during 10 or 
 
 15. The English Presbyterian Directory puts it 
 before 15. 
 
 (4) Those portions of the above order not found in the 
 
 first column of figures are to be regarded as less 
 essential than the rest. 
 
 Order of Service recommended 
 
 IN 
 
 -The Book of Conwwji Order : — 
 
 1. Prayer of Invocation. \ 
 
 2. Reading of Old Testament Scriptures. ( Reader's 
 
 3. Reading of New Testament Scriptures, f Service. 
 
 4. Psalm. ^ 
 
 5. Prayer of Confession : for pardon, cleansing and 
 
 grace. 
 
 6. Psalm. 
 
 7. Prayer, especially for the Holy Spirit. 
 
 8. Sermon or Lecture. 
 
ORDER OF SERVICE. 3 
 
 9. Prayer for the whole estate of Christ's Church, for 
 nations and rulers, &c. 
 
 10. Lord's Prayer. 
 
 11. Repetition of Apostles' Creed. 
 
 12. Psalm. 
 
 13. Benediction. 
 
 II, — The West ?ninster Directory for Public Worship: — 
 
 1. Prayer of Invocation. 
 
 2. Reading of Old Testament Scriptures. 
 
 3. Reading of New Testament Scriptures. 
 
 4. Exposition, "if judged necessary, after the 
 
 Chapter or Psalm be ended . . . regard being 
 had always unto the time . . . which rule is to 
 be observed in all other public performances." 
 
 5. Psalm. 
 
 6. Prayer of Confession : for pardon and cleansing ; 
 
 for the Holy Spirit ; [Thanksgivings ; Special 
 Petitions and Intercessions] ; for blessing on the 
 Word to be preached."^ 
 
 7. Sermon or Lecture. 
 
 8. Prayer : Thanksgivings; [Intercessions and Special 
 
 Petitions] ; for blessing on the preaching of the 
 Word. 
 
 9. Lord's Prayer. 
 
 10. Psalm. 
 
 11. Benediction. 
 
 * The parts included in brackets in 6 and 8 may be transposed, 
 "as the minister shall think meet." 
 
4 OR DINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DAY, WITH 
 NOTES ON CERTAIN PARTS OF IT. 
 
 Section I. 
 
 PR A YER OF INVOCA TION. 
 
 "The Congregation being assembled, the Minister, 
 after solemn calling on them to the worshipping of the 
 great Name of God, is to begin with prayer." — (West- 
 minster Directory for Public Worship.) 
 
 The call to worship may be conveyed in the simplest 
 form : " Let us worship God," " Let us pray," or in an 
 Introductory Sentence or Sentences of Scripture, fol- 
 lowed by a brief Prayer of Invocation, such as those now 
 
 given : — 
 
 I 
 
 How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God ; there- 
 fore do the children of men put their trust under the 
 shadow of Thy wings. Satisfy us now with the good- 
 ness of Thy House. In Thy light make us to see light. 
 May Thy Holy Spirit be with us in prayer and praise, 
 in speaking and hearing from Thy Holy Word. And do 
 Thou bless us with all spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ, 
 for His name's sake. Amen. 
 
 2 
 
 O God, the preparation of the heart and the opening 
 of the lips are from Thee. Quicken us after Thy loving- 
 kindness, that we may call aright upon Thy name. 
 Meet with us in prayer and praise and in the Word. 
 Make this a day of grace and blessing to us all in Thy 
 House, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
 
SEC. I.] PRA YER OF INVOCATION. 5 
 
 3 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, teach us to worship 
 Thee who art a Spirit in spirit and in truth. Take away 
 all blindness of heart, all coldness and backwardness of 
 spirit. Open Thou our lips, and our mouth shall show 
 forth Thy praise. Open our hearts to receive Thy truth 
 in the love of it. May Christ be glorified in the preach- 
 ing of His Gospel, and in all the services of His House 
 this day, for His name's sake. Amen. 
 
 4 
 O God, the Father of Mercies and the God of all 
 grace, let all those who seek Thee in this Thy House 
 to-day rejoice and be glad in Thee. If there are some 
 here who feel that they are poor and needy, make them 
 to know that Thou the Lord thinkest on them. Be their 
 Help and Deliverer now. Prepare our hearts for praise 
 and prayer, and for Thy Holy Word. And bless us all, 
 above our askings, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
 
 Here follow Scriptures ivhich may be viade use of in 
 Prayers of Invocation : — 
 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? 
 or who shall stand in His holy place ? 
 
 He that hath clean hands and a pure heart 
 who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity 
 nor sworn deceitfully. 
 
 Cleanse us from all our iniquities 
 
 and cause us to dwell in Thy presence. 
 
 The eyes of all things wait upon Thee 
 
 and Thou givest them their meat in due season 
 Thou openest Thy hand, 
 
 and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 
 
6 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, 
 to all that call upon Him in truth. 
 Ps. cxlv. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him. 
 
 God is our king of old, working salvation in the midst of 
 the earth. 
 The day is Thine, the night also is Thine : 
 Thou hast prepared the light and the sun : 
 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth : 
 Thou hast made summer and winter. 
 
 O forget not the life of Thy poor for ever, 
 Ps. Ixxiv. let the poor and needy praise Thy name. 
 
 Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hear us, 
 for we are poor and needy. 
 Preserve our souls, for we are Thy children 
 OThou our God, save Thy servants that trust in Thee, 
 Rejoice our souls, for unto Thee do we lift them up, 
 for Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive 
 and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call 
 Ps. Ixxxvi. upon Thee. 
 
 Thou hast ascended on high : 
 
 Thou hast led Thy captivity captive 
 Thou hast received gifts among men, 
 yea, among the rebellious also 
 
 that the Lord God might dwell with them. 
 Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden 
 Ps. Ixviii. even the God who is our salvation. 
 
 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord 
 and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High 
 to show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning 
 and Thy faithfulness every night. 
 
SEC. I.] PRA YER OF INVOCATION. 
 
 For Thou, Lord, hast made us glad thro' Thy work 
 we will triumph in the works of Thy hands. 
 How great are Thy works, O Lord : 
 Ps. xcii. Thy thoughts are very deep. 
 
 O Lord, open Thou our lips 
 
 and our mouth shall show forth Thy praise. 
 
 For Thou desirest not sacrifice, else would we give it 
 
 Thou delightest not in burnt offering 
 the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; 
 
 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt 
 Ps. H. not despise. 
 
 This is the day which the Lord hath made, 
 we will rejoice and be glad in it. 
 This is the gate of the Lord : 
 
 the righteous shall enter into it. 
 Open unto us the gates of righteousness, 
 we will enter into them 
 Ps. cxviii. and will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord. 
 
 The Lord is a great God 
 
 and a great king above all gods. 
 In His hand are the deep places of the earth : 
 the heights of the mountains are His also, 
 the sea is His, and He made it 
 and His hands formed the dry land. 
 
 O come, let us worship and bow down 
 let us kneel before the Lord our Maker 
 For He is our God, 
 Ps. xcv. and we are the people ot His pasture. 
 
8 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 The Lord is our light and our salvation : whom shall we 
 
 fear? 
 the Lord is the strength of our life : of whom shall we be 
 afraid ? 
 Though an host should encamp against us, 
 
 our heart shall not fear : 
 though war should rise against us, 
 
 even then will we be confident. 
 Hide not Thy face from us : 
 Thou hast been our help, leave us not, 
 neither forsake us, O God of our 
 Ps. xxvii. I, 3, 9. salvation. 
 
 The Lord is in His holy temple : 
 the Lord's throne is in heaven : 
 His eyes behold, His eyelids try the children of men. 
 He trieth the righteous. 
 
 O God, try us and know our thoughts 
 and see if there be any wicked way in us, 
 and lead us in the way everlasting. 
 Ps. xi. 139. 
 
 Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle ? 
 
 who shall dwell in Thy holy hill ? 
 He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness and 
 
 speaketh the truth in his heart. 
 
 Create in us a clean heart, O God, 
 
 and renew a right spirit within us. 
 
 As the hart panteth after the water-brooks 
 so panteth our soul after Thee, O God. 
 
 O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead us 
 let them bring us unto Thy holy hill 
 and to Thy tabernacles. 
 
SEC. I.] PRA YER OF INVOCATION. 9 
 
 Then will we go unto the altar of God 
 unto God our exceeding joy 
 and upon the harp will we praise Thee, 
 Ps. xlii., xhii. O God our God. 
 
 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
 trouble. 
 Therefore will we not fear, tho' the earth be removed 
 and tho' the mountains be carried into the midst of 
 the sea. 
 For Thou, O Lord of hosts, art with us, 
 Ps. xlvi. Thou, O God of Jacob, art our refuge. 
 
 How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts : 
 Our soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts 
 
 of the Lord, 
 Our heart and our flesh cry out for the living God. 
 Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, 
 
 they will be still praising Thee. 
 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee, 
 Ps. Ixxxiv. in whose hearts are the highways to Zion. 
 
 O Lord God of Hosts, hear our prayer : give ear, O 
 God of Jacob, 
 A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. 
 We had rather stand at the threshold of Thy 
 house 
 than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 
 O Lord, be our sun and shield ; 
 give us grace and glory. 
 Withhold no good thing from us. 
 O Lord of Hosts, bless us who trust in 
 Ps. Ixxxiv. Thee. 
 
lo ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens : 
 
 Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds 
 Thy righteousness is hke the great mountains 
 Thy judgments are a great deep. 
 How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God, 
 [therefore we] the children of men take refuge 
 Ps. xxxvi. under the shadow of Thy wings. 
 
 How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God, 
 therefore the children of men take refuge 
 
 under the shadow of Thy wings. 
 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the 
 
 fatness of Thy house 
 and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of 
 
 Thy pleasures. 
 For with Thee is the fountain of life : 
 in Thy light shall we see light. 
 O continue Thy lovingkindness to them that know Thee 
 and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 
 Ps. xxxvi. 
 
 O God, Thou art our God, early will we seek Thee, 
 our soul thirsteth for Thee, our flesh longeth for Thee 
 
 in a dry and weary land, where no water is. 
 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life 
 our lips shall praise Thee : 
 so will we bless Thee while we live : 
 we will lift up our hands in Thy name. 
 Ps. Ixiii. 
 
 Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Zion : 
 and unto Thee shall the vow be performed. 
 O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall 
 all flesh come. 
 
SEC. I.] PRA YER OF INVOCA TTON. 
 
 Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest 
 
 and causest to approach unto Thee, 
 
 that he may dwell in Thy courts. 
 
 O, satisfy us with the goodness of Thy house, 
 
 Ps. Ixv. even of Thy holy temple. 
 
 O Lord, when our spirit is overwhelmed within us 
 then Thou knowest our path : 
 when refuge fails us, and no man cares for our soul 
 then Thou art our refuge, our portion 
 in the land of the living, 
 attend unto our cry, O Lord, and deliver us. 
 Bring our souls out of prison 
 Ps. cxlii. that we may give thanks unto Thy name. 
 
 Lord, we stretch forth our hands unto Thee, 
 
 our soul thirsteth after Thee, as a weary land. 
 Cause us to hear Thy lovingkindness in 
 the morning, 
 for in Thee do we trust. 
 Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, 
 Ps. cxliii. for we lift up our soul unto Thee. 
 
 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised ; 
 His greatness is unsearchable. 
 One generation shall praise Thy works to another, 
 and shall declare Thy mighty works. 
 We will speak of the glorious honour of Thy 
 majesty 
 Ps. cxlv. and of Thy mighty works. 
 
1 2 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 They that trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion 
 which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever. 
 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem 
 so the Lord is round about His people 
 from this time forth and for evermore. 
 Do good, O Lord, unto those that be 
 
 good 
 and to them that are upright in their 
 Ps. cxxv. hearts. 
 
 We wait for the Lord, our soul doth wait, 
 and in His word do we hope. 
 Our soul waiteth for the Lord 
 
 more than they that watch for the morning 
 yea, more than they that watch for the morning. 
 O Lord, we hope in Thee 
 for with Thee there is mercy 
 and with Thee there is plenteous redemp- 
 tion. 
 And Thou shalt redeem us from all our 
 Ps. cxxx. iniquities. 
 
 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, 
 upon them that hope in His mercy, 
 to deliver their soul from death 
 and to keep them alive in famine. 
 
 Our souls wait for Thee, O Lord ; 
 
 be Thou our help and our shield. 
 Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us 
 Ps. xxxiii. according as we hope in Thee. 
 
 We will bless the Lord at all times ; 
 
 His praise shall continually be in our mouth. 
 Our souls shall make their boast in the Lord. 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 13 
 
 O magnify the Lord, and let us exalt His name together 
 who hath delivered us from all our fears 
 and saved us out of all our troubles. 
 Ps. xxxiv. 
 
 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, 
 and His ears are open unto their cry. 
 They cry, and the Lord heareth 
 
 and dehvereth them out of all their troubles. 
 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken 
 heart 
 and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
 The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants 
 and none of them that trust in Him shall be 
 Ps. xxxiv. desolate. 
 
 Section IL 
 
 CONFESSION OF SINS. 
 
 Although the materials and suggestions for Confession 
 in the following pages are almost entirely for the con- 
 fession of special sins, this is not because sin itself is 
 thought to be a less important subject of confession 
 either in public or private prayer. On the contrary, 
 it rightly holds a foremost place in those two noble 
 "Confessions of Sin," from the Reformation period, 
 which are given in the Appendix. But the sense of 
 sin comes to most men through the commission of 
 particular sins, or the omission of particular duties. 
 The leading forms of sin and shortcoming are, there- 
 fore, here specified, in order that the minister may touch 
 every conscience in turn, and awaken in every heart the 
 
1 4 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i. 
 
 sense of sin, and the desire to confess and to forsake it, 
 and to receive forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal. 
 
 As will be seen at once, the Ten Commandments 
 have guided the general arrangement ; and the sub- 
 divisions have been taken from the very full and 
 suggestive exposition of the Commandments in the 
 Larger Catechism. Details .have been gathered from 
 the works of the best devotional writers, especially 
 Bishop Andrews, and Bishop Jeremy Taylor. 
 
 ^ Titles of Invocation in Confession. 
 
 1. O Lord, O Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- 
 suffering and abundant in goodness and truth. 
 
 2. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity 
 and transgression and sin. 
 
 3. Who art a God, ready to pardon, gracious and 
 merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. 
 
 4. Who art a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time 
 of trouble, who will never forsake them that seek Thee. 
 
 5. Who art nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, 
 and savest such as be of a contrite spirit. 
 
 6. Whose mercy is in the heavens, and Thy faithful- 
 ness reacheth unto the clouds. 
 
 7. Who art rich in mercy. 
 
 8. Who will not always chide, neither wilt Thou keep 
 Thine anger for ever. 
 
 9. Who dost not deal with us after our sins nor 
 rewardest us according to our iniquities. 
 
 10. Whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting 
 upon them that fear Thee. 
 
 J I. Who hast made known the exceeding riches of 
 Thy grace. 
 
SEC. I I.J CONFESSION OF SINS. 15 
 
 1 2. Who art good to all, and Thy tender mercies are 
 over all Thy works. 
 
 13. Who is a God like unto Thee that pardonest 
 iniquity and passest by the transgression of the remnant 
 of Thy heritage. 
 
 14. Who will turn again and have compassion 
 upon us. 
 
 15. Subduing our iniquities and casting all our sins 
 into the depth of the sea. 
 
 Pleadings. 
 
 1. Plead the mercy of God. 
 
 His readiness to forgive. 
 His invitation to sinners. 
 
 that we are his children : 
 that we are more to Him than the 
 birds of the air or the flowers of 
 the field: 
 that He has no pleasure in the death 
 of the wicked. 
 
 2. Plead the promises of God. 
 
 that we shall not seek His face in vain : 
 that He is faithful and just to forgive. 
 
 3. Plead the merits of Christ. 
 
 that our salvation was His purpose : 
 by His birth, temptations, trials : 
 by His agony, crucifixion, resurrection. 
 
 4. Plead our own frailties. 
 
 What is man. . . . 
 
 as the flowers of the field, as grass, 
 
 shadow. 
 The weakness of our flesh, nature, will. 
 Our sense of guilt, unworthiness. 
 
i6 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i 
 
 5. Plead the power and dominion of sin. 
 Our captivity. 
 
 Our corruption — in imagination, affections. 
 Subtlety of sin. 
 Strength of temptation. 
 
 Scripture Pleadings. 
 
 1. Blot out our transgressions as a cloud. 
 
 2. Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies, and Thy 
 loving-kindness, for they have been ever of old. 
 
 3. For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon our iniquity, 
 for it is great. 
 
 4. Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Thy 
 loving-kindness, according to the multitude of Thy 
 tender mercies blot out our transgressions. 
 
 5. Wash us throughly from our iniquity and cleanse 
 us from our sin. 
 
 6. Purge us with hyssop and we shall be clean, wash 
 us and we shall be whiter than snow. 
 
 7. Hide Thy face from our sins and blot out all our 
 iniquities. 
 
 8. O remember not against us our former iniquities. 
 
 9. Let Thy tender mercies speedily prevent us. 
 
 10. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of 
 Thy name. 
 
 11. Heal our backslidings, and love us freely. 
 
 &c., &c. 
 
 Forms. 
 
 For . . . '1 
 
 For all our ' Have mercy upon us. 
 
 For the sins of I 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 17 
 
 We confess that 
 We mourn over 
 We lament 
 
 O God, Who art, 
 Who hast, 
 
 But we repent : 
 
 Spare us : 
 
 We plead for mercy, 
 
 \ Have mercy upon us. 
 
 I. — Confession of Sins against God. 
 
 1. Our ignorance of God. 
 
 We have not desired Thee or cared to know Thee : 
 nor sought for Thee as for hid treasure : 
 nor meditated on Thy truth. 
 
 2. Our unfaithfulness to God and His truth. 
 
 We have not acknowledged Thee to be our God 
 not worshipped Thee in sincerity and truth : 
 not submitted to Thy will ; 
 not followed in Thy way. 
 We have said we knew Thee, and yet denied 
 Thee in our deeds : 
 had unworthy thoughts of Thy ways : 
 had rebellious thoughts of Thy dealings with 
 us. 
 
 3. Our living without God. 
 
 We have forgotten Thee in the hour of prosperity : 
 not trusted Thee in danger, want : 
 not brought our burdens and fears to Thee : 
 marred our lives with anxiety, as if we had 
 
 no Father in heaven, 
 with needless fears, as if all things did not 
 work for good to those who loved Thee : 
 trusted more in man's help than in Thine : 
 more in wealth than in righteousness : 
 
 B 
 
1 8 ORDINA R V SER VICE OF L ORHS DA K [PT. i. 
 
 in talent than in holy living : 
 in anger than in meekness. 
 Sometimes when we obeyed Thy law, we in heart 
 
 disliked it. 
 We have never fully trusted to overcome evil 
 with good, or been able to accept wrong 
 and injury and mockery in patience. 
 We have believed more in self-assertion than in 
 self-sacrifice, 
 more in boasting than in humility. 
 We have loved our own way more than Thine ; 
 our own opinion more than the peace of Thy 
 people. 
 We have sought the glory of our own name, 
 even when we said we were seeking Thine. 
 
 4. Our want of love. 
 
 We are too easily turned from Thee by mockery 
 
 or fear of earthly loss : 
 too easily turned aside by hopes of gain or 
 
 praise. 
 We have little time for Thee because we are so 
 
 busy with the world. 
 We find it hard to love one another, but hardest 
 . of all to love Thee. 
 
 We care more for the friendship of Thine 
 
 enemies than the friendship of thy Son. 
 We find time for converse with any one but 
 
 Thee ; to read any book but thine. 
 
 5. Our want of zeal for God and his Kingdom. 
 
 We do little for Christ's cause and yet are 
 content, 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 19 
 
 We have little sorrow over our meanness : 
 worldliness ; 
 little interest in the saving of the world. 
 We are seldom grieved by the thought of 
 
 others' sins. 
 We do little for the heathen abroad or at our 
 
 doors. 
 We have wronged good causes by our indiffer- 
 ence, suspicions, 
 and by our cold and critical words. 
 Even when our zeal in Thy cause is kindled, 
 we are unwise, rash, self-willed, blind : 
 
 use unlawful means to accomplish Thy 
 
 purpose : 
 trust in worldly methods more than in 
 gentleness, mercy, long-suffering, &c. 
 
 6. Our want of joy in God's service. 
 
 Thy service has often been a weariness. 
 
 We have been slow to enter on it, ready to 
 be done. 
 We have felt it a relief when prayer was ended, 
 
 that we might return to work, play, book. 
 Glad when godly conversation ceased. 
 
 7. Our unthankfulness for God's mercies. 
 
 We have neglected Thee in times of joy, success, 
 and murmured against Thee in times of dis- 
 tress, trial. 
 When we failed we complained of Thee, 
 
 and when we succeeded we took the credit 
 to ourselves. 
 We ascribed Thy good gifts to our own efforts, 
 skill. 
 
20 ORDINAR Y SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Even when we thanked Thee we have been 
 
 grudging in our thanks. 
 Thy good gifts lead us not to repentance, but to 
 
 pride, vanity, boasting. 
 
 8. Our impatience. 
 
 We can hardly trust Thee where we must trust 
 Thee alone — where there are no signs of 
 success. 
 We have fretted under little trials, crosses, and 
 
 worries. 
 We are impatient under the cares of home, 
 ' the difficulties of daily work, discipline of 
 daily life. 
 We cannot believe that the Cross is the way of 
 Victory, 
 that trials are our opportunity of conquering 
 our hearts. 
 We can scarcely forgive once. 
 We do not try to forgive others as we ask Thee 
 to forgive us, every morning and every 
 evening. 
 [Our impatience in time of sickness, pain, sorrow, 
 great loss.] 
 
 9. Insincere worship. 
 
 We have served Thee that we might be seen of 
 men : 
 served Thee, but not in spirit and truth : 
 with our lips, when heart was far away : 
 in word, while our heart was with the 
 
 world : 
 with that which cost us nothing, the 
 sick, torn, lame. 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 21 
 
 We have found Thy service a weariness, because 
 our hearts were far from Thee. 
 
 We are not always thinking of Thee, the living 
 God, in our songs of praise. 
 
 A trifle detains us from thy worship, 
 
 We are easily distracted in it. 
 
 10. Sins in Prayer. 
 
 We pray too often that we may persuade Thee to 
 
 our way, desire ; and not that we attain to 
 
 Thy holy and loving will. 
 We desire not to will that which we hear from 
 
 Thee, so much as to hear from thee that 
 
 which we will. 
 We have often neglected to pray at all. 
 We omit it on a trivial pretext — because of our 
 
 work, fatigue, even Christian duties. 
 We acknowledge our want of thought during 
 
 prayer, want of attention, reverence. 
 We confess sin, yet without sorrow or shame. 
 We confess sin and then turn to it again. 
 We ask forgiveness, and refuse to forgive others. 
 We wrestle in prayer only when we are seeking 
 
 earthly blessings or fearing earthly loss. 
 We pray because we are afraid not to pray. 
 We pray, and yet live as if we never expected an 
 
 answer. 
 
 11. Sins in connection with God's Word and His 
 House. 
 
 We neglect Thy Word — the Bibles of some 
 unopened since last Sabbath. 
 
 We too often come to Church without a thought 
 of meeting Thee : 
 not hungering after righteousness : 
 
22 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 not caring to be humbler, meeker, holier : 
 not even desiring a better life. 
 
 We have sometimes come not to worship Thee, 
 or be taught of Thee, or be strengthened 
 to obey Thee ; but merely to be pleased 
 or interested, or from custom. 
 
 We come with our minds full of business. 
 
 We have been tempted to change Thy Word 
 into a jest. 
 
 We have forgot Thee as soon as the hour of 
 service was over. 
 
 We do not use the power of Thy fellowship in 
 Church for the work of the Week. 
 
 12. Irreverence. 
 
 We do not always speak of thee with godly fear. 
 We do not think of Thee as the Almighty God, 
 as the awful and righteous Judge, 
 as the Father of the Holy Jesus Christ. 
 We have often spoken lightly of things divine : 
 of things noble, pure, worthy, of good report : 
 of persons humble, gentle, brave, patient : 
 of persons deformed by Thy Act, afflicted 
 through no sin of theirs, marred by Thy 
 hand. 
 
 13. Sins in connection with Vows and Resolutions. 
 
 We have made vows that were unworthy, un- 
 christian. 
 We have broken vows that were good. 
 We have pledged ourselves in frivolous mood. 
 We have taken oaths that were unlawful, and so 
 have sinned : 
 we have fulfilled them, and have sinned the 
 more. 
 
SEC. n.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 23 
 
 14. Blasphemy. 
 
 We have mocked Thy ways in the lives of other 
 men : 
 scorned Thy methods when they were hard : 
 reviled Thy people for deeds that were 
 God-like, for their patience, meekness, 
 self-sacrifice : 
 opposed Thy way when taken by those we 
 disliked, hated, were jealous of. 
 
 II. — Confession of Sins against our 
 Fellowmen. 
 
 1. We have not regarded a brother's dignity, worth, 
 
 interests : 
 nor honoured or esteemed him better than 
 
 ourselves : 
 nor rejoiced in his gifts, advancement. 
 We have tried to undervalue him : 
 
 envied his success, talents, attainments : 
 grieved at his prosperity : 
 resented his outstripping us in life : 
 sacrificed his happiness to our own ends. 
 
 2. To superiors. 
 
 We have been undutiful, disobedient to those 
 
 over us. 
 We mourn over our slothfulness, unfaithfulness, 
 
 as servants. 
 We are slow to begin our work, eager to have done. 
 How easy for us all to be rude and grudging in 
 
 our service. 
 How hard to be patient, unmurmuring : 
 to be gentle to masters who wrong us : 
 
24 OR DINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 to be good to masters who are evil. 
 When reviled, we answer again. 
 We have flattered our superiors to serve our own 
 ends, and then we have disdained them. 
 
 3. To inferiors. 
 
 We have sometimes been careless to cruelty 
 
 towards the poor. 
 Because they were poor, we forgot they were 
 
 Thy children, and heirs of Thy Kingdom. 
 
 4. We have sometimes commanded things that were 
 
 unjust, untrue, unseemly. 
 We have encouraged and favoured what was evil : 
 discouraged what was good and worthy : 
 left our neighbour exposed to wrong, 
 
 temptation. 
 
 5. Duties to parents, children, &c. 
 
 6. God of all gentleness, have mercy upon us, for 
 
 being angry without a cause : 
 our desire of revenge, when vengeance is Thine : 
 our hatred against any child of Thine : 
 our speaking words that provoked to anger : 
 our prejudices against a brother : 
 our harbouring secret grudges against another : 
 our being implacable towards an enemy : 
 our spirit of strife, quarrelling, contention : 
 anything we have said or done that has broken 
 
 the peace of our home, our congregation. 
 
 7. O God, who art full of tenderness and sympathy 
 
 and mercy, forgive our unforgiving words : 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 25 
 
 our unkindly, unfeeling, unsympathetic conver- 
 sation : 
 our silence when others were unkind, cruel : 
 our own cruel words — resentful, revengeful : 
 our wounding souls through scandal : 
 our hurting a brother's feelings : 
 our words that were meant to cut and rankle. 
 
 8. O Father, whose thoughts towards us are love, for- 
 
 give our want of thought for one another : 
 our hardness of heart : 
 
 our shutting up our compassion for the needy : 
 our indifference to them, ignorance of them : 
 our quenching thoughts of kindliness, forgive- 
 ness : 
 our want of quietness of mind : 
 our uncharitable judgments of men : 
 that we are not gentle and courteous in speech 
 
 even to those who insult us : 
 our want of forbearance to the ignorant, the 
 
 slow, the wilful : 
 that we are not ready to be reconciled to those 
 who have wronged us or whom we have 
 wronged. 
 
 9. O Lord, Who art of purer eyes than to behold evil, 
 
 we mourn over all our impurity of life and 
 thought : 
 over all impurity in affections, imagination, 
 words, or behaviour : 
 our want of watchfulness over thought, heart, 
 conduct : 
 all unseemliness in speech and behaviour. 
 We lament that we have listened to corrupt com- 
 
26 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i. 
 
 munications when we should have rebuked 
 them : everything we have done that suggested 
 evil to others : idleness that ministers to thoughts 
 of evil. 
 As a nation we mourn and lament over foolish 
 jesting and talk that is unbecoming, over those 
 men and women made in Thine image who live 
 to debase and destroy their fellows. 
 
 10. O Lord, who alone art faithful and true, 
 
 we confess all our unfaithfulness. 
 Thou knowest what wrongs are done among us : 
 what unfairness in contracts : 
 what dishonesty in business : 
 what oppression of the poor, what ex- 
 tortion : 
 what bribery, what covetousness. 
 We think too much of gain and too little of men's 
 
 souls. 
 Men add field to field and drive Thy people from 
 
 the land : 
 make haste to be rich at the cost of a brother : 
 grow rich and despise Thee. 
 We mourn over our nation's luxurious living, pro- 
 digality, wastefulness. 
 
 11. Idleness. . 
 
 Almighty God, who art ever working for our 
 
 good, 
 we mourn over any neglect of work of which 
 we have been guilty : 
 our want of diligence in it : 
 our want of care in what thou bestowest : 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 27 
 
 our distracting care about the future, what 
 we shall eat and drink, and wherewithal 
 shall we be clothed. 
 
 12. Our love of money. 
 
 O Lord, who possessest all things and madest 
 thyself poor for men, 
 ; we mourn over our trust in money rather 
 
 than in Thy loving protection : 
 over our too eager desire to get it : 
 our discontent without it. 
 Men keep it as if Thou hadst not made them 
 stewards : 
 seek it as if it would never perish. 
 We have not given it freely even for the preach- 
 ing of Thy Gospel. 
 We have spent lavishly on our own desires 
 and grudged Thy Church a little. 
 
 13. O God, who art light and truth, and with Whom 
 
 is no darkness, 
 we mourn over our love of that which is not true : 
 
 that we have too often prejudiced or per- 
 verted the truth : 
 
 if we have hurt the good name of others : 
 
 if we have sometimes supported an evil 
 cause and have withstood and overborne 
 a good. 
 
 14. We have called evil good, and good evil : 
 
 sometimes praised, rewarded wickedness, ex- 
 cused or extenuated sin, censured right- 
 eousness. 
 
 We have been silent when we should have 
 defended the right or withstood the wrong : 
 
28 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 or when we spoke, we spoke unreasonably, 
 maliciously, or with a wrong intention. 
 
 15.0 God, have mercy upon us if at any moment we 
 have been guilty of slandering a brother : 
 back-biting, detracting : 
 tale-bearing, scoffing, reviling : 
 misconstruing his words, actions, intentions : 
 flattering him. 
 
 16. Have mercy upon us if we have at any time 
 spread a false report : 
 endeavoured or desired to impair the credit of 
 
 others : 
 rejoiced in their disgrace, loss, failure : 
 suspected evil of those who were good : 
 spoken against or felt contempt for any child of 
 
 Thine : 
 neglected to speak well of those who were 
 
 wrongly reviled, 
 or to hide the shame of a brother, 
 or to defend the innocent. 
 We mourn that we are so ready to believe evil 
 
 of men, so slow to believe good. 
 We mourn that it is hard to study and practise 
 
 those things that are true, noble, just, 
 
 pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, 
 
 praiseworthy. 
 
 17. Have mercy upon us, for we are often 
 discontented with our condition, 
 
 with Thy dealings, discipline, chastisement : 
 envying and grieving at the good of others : 
 vexed that others are better than we, that 
 they are placed in more favourable circum- 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 29 
 
 stances, born with fewer temptations in 
 
 body and soul : 
 uncharitable and unkindly in thought towards 
 
 others : 
 unwilling to further another's cause. 
 
 III. — Confession of Sins against the Gospel 
 AND the Holy Spirit. 
 
 1. O God, who hast commanded the light to shine out 
 
 of darkness, 
 we confess and lament that we have loved the 
 
 darkness rather than the light : 
 that we have turned away from the knowledge 
 
 of the Son of God : 
 that we have let sin gain dominion over us ; 
 not walked in the Spirit : 
 not cared to be saved from ourselves : 
 followed the judgments of men : 
 feared their blame and not Thine : 
 neglected Thy grace in our temptations : 
 not trusted Thy strength in our weakness. 
 
 2. Almighty Father, who hast so loved us that Thou 
 
 gavest Thy Son to death for us, 
 we mourn that His death has awakened so little 
 love in our hearts for Thee : 
 so little gratitude to Him : 
 that our sins do not alway bring us to His cross. 
 ; We have little desire to be wholly consecrated 
 
 to His service : 
 to live humbly working for Thee. 
 We can hardly work for Christ without 
 worldly recognition. 
 
30 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DAY. [pt. i. 
 
 3. O Heavenly Father, we mourn over our earthliness 
 of heart : 
 that we seek our own success even in Thy 
 
 work : 
 we care too much for pleasure, and too little 
 
 for Christ : 
 we fear punishment more than offending Him : 
 when burdened and distressed, we do not come 
 
 at once to Him for refuge and rest : 
 we have been ashamed to confess Him, be- 
 cause of the mocking of men : 
 when His cause was unpopular : 
 when it meant earthly loss : 
 that the love of Christ does not constrain us, 
 that our hearts are cold towards Him, 
 our hearts are so slow to trust Him. 
 
 4. O God, who hast sent Thy Spirit to bear witness 
 in our hearts to the truth and love of Thy Son, 
 and to work in us Thy Holy will, we lament 
 that we have not profited, as we ought to have 
 done, by His gracious ministry : 
 
 that we have, by our carnal and worldly desires, 
 crushed the good impulses, and turned aside 
 from the vision of a heavenly life, that have 
 come from Thine inspiration : 
 
 that we have not exercised the gifts of Thy Spirit, 
 or made use of the powers of usefulness in the 
 service of our fellow-men Thou hast bestowed : 
 
 that we have often resisted the gracious workings 
 of Thy Spirit, that we have hardened our hearts 
 against the good example of Thy servants, and 
 been deaf to their words of entreaty : 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 31 
 
 that we have grieved Thy Spirit by our coldness, 
 
 by our unwillingness to repent and believe in 
 
 Thy Son, by our wilful opposition to Thy 
 
 truth : 
 that we have often quenched Thy Spirit within us, 
 preferring the traditions of men, and the customs 
 
 of the world to the truth and holiness of Thy 
 
 Gospel, 
 holding by the forms of past thought when Thou 
 
 wouldst have led us unto a further knowledge 
 
 of Thy ways : 
 that we have not walked in Thy Spirit but have 
 
 often trusted to our own wisdom : 
 
 have been guided by worldly expediency and 
 
 the counsels of the flesh : 
 that we have indulged the appetite of the body 
 
 in opposition to holy impulse. 
 
 5. O Lord, who hast in Thy great mercy given us a 
 day of rest in which to meet Thee, 
 we mourn that we have often neglected it : 
 
 have not made it a time of fellowship with 
 
 Thee: 
 a day for thought and reverence : 
 an opportunity of rising into Thy pure life : 
 for rising above work and anxiety : 
 above self and our own needs and aims : 
 for the study of Thy Holy Word and the 
 
 lives of Thy Saints : 
 for the worship of our Father in Heaven : 
 for the examination of our hearts and lives : 
 for preparation for Eternity, and Thy judg- 
 ment. 
 
32 ORDINARY SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 6. O God, who art never weary in Thy loving 
 
 kindness to us, 
 we mourn that we grow weary of Thy day and 
 
 Thy service : 
 say when will it be done that we may buy 
 
 and sell : 
 men make it a day of sloth, or work, or 
 
 amusement, 
 we have in thoughtlessness sacrificed the 
 
 rest of others : 
 have forgotten the needs of our servants. 
 Thy claim on their worship. 
 
 7. O our Lord and Saviour, who alone art the 
 
 Bread of Life, 
 how little do we feed on Thee : 
 
 we come to Thy table with weak faith and 
 
 doubting hearts : 
 prepare ourselves so slightly for it : 
 although Thou dost so lovingly invite us, we 
 
 neglect it, absent ourselves without reason: 
 we sometimes partake carelessly, irreverently : 
 we make resolutions and straightway forget 
 
 them : 
 we come without expecting new grace of 
 
 Thee: 
 we depart without regret that we have missed 
 
 it. 
 
SEC. IT.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 33 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 I. 
 
 The Reformation Confession of Sins, 1525. 
 
 Heavenly Father, merciful and everlasting God, we 
 acknowledge and confess before Thy Divine Majesty 
 that we are poor miserable sinners, conceived and 
 brought forth in sin and corruption. We are prone to 
 all evil. We cannot, without Thee, do anything that 
 is good. And we daily, and in many ways, transgress 
 Thy holy commandments. Thereby we provoke Thine 
 anger against us, and draw down upon ourselves, by 
 Thy just judgment, death and destruction. 
 
 But, O Lord, we repent and are sorry from our hearts 
 that we have so displeased Thee. We condemn our- 
 selves and our misdoings, and pray that Thy grace may 
 bring help to our distress and misery. 
 
 Be pleased, therefore, to have mercy upon us, O 
 most gracious God and Father. Forgive us all our sins, 
 through the holy sufferings of Thy dear Son, our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Forgive us our sins ; and grant us now 
 the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit. Increase these in us from 
 day to day ; so that we, acknowledging with our whole 
 hearts our own unrighteousness, may truly repent us 
 of the same ; that sin may be destroyed in us ; and that 
 we may bring forth the fruits of righteousness and a 
 pure life which are well pleasing unto Thee, through 
 Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Historical Note. 
 
 This Confession of Sins — "die offne Schuld," as it 
 is called in German-speaking Reformed Churches — is 
 
 c 
 
34 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 ascribed to CEcolampadius, the friend of Zwingli, and 
 the Reformer of Basel. It appears in the liturgy of the 
 Protestant Church of Ziirich, in 1525. It occurs in the 
 French liturgy which was published by Calvin at 
 Geneva, in 1541, but which had been drawn up by him 
 previously, and had been used by Protestant pastors of 
 Geneva for several years before it was printed. It is 
 the second " Confession of Sins " in the " Book of 
 Geneva," used in that city in the EngHsh Congregation 
 of which John Knox was minister. It is first in the 
 Scottish Book of Common Order. Calvin's Service- 
 book, republished in Latin in 1545, was the chief source 
 from which this Confession passed rapidly into use in 
 the Reformed Church catholic, and even in several of the 
 Lutheran Churches. It stands, for example, in the present 
 Liturgy of the National Church of Wiirtemberg as the 
 first Confession of Sins for Days of Fasting, being taken 
 from the Service-book of the Church of the Palatinate. 
 It appears in English, among other prayers, at the end 
 of an edition of Sternhold and Hopkins' Psalms, in 
 1566, under the title of "A Confession for all Estates 
 and Times." Some writers have erroneously ascribed 
 it to Beza, who used it in a striking scene at the 
 Colloquy of Poissy, in 1561. 
 
 This ancient Confession of Sins is used in the 
 Waldensian Church, both in the Valleys and in Italy. 
 It is repeated in all the various branches of the Church 
 of Holland and of the Church of the Huguenots, both 
 in the Old World and in the New. It stands in all the 
 Swiss, all the French, all the Rhineland Liturgies to this 
 day. For wellnigh four hundred years this Confession 
 has been on the lips and in the heart of the Reformed 
 Church all over the world. 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 35 
 
 The " General Confession " in the Anglican Com- 
 munion Service, which appears in the first Prayer-book 
 of Edward VI. (1549), is closely akin to the Reforma- 
 tion Confession of Sins, especially in the form given 
 below, in which it appears in the document known 
 as '' Hermann's Consultation." The " General Con- 
 fession " in the Morning and Evening Services of 
 the Church of England is drawn, like much else 
 in the Prayer-book, from Presbyterian sources. It 
 comes from Calvin's Service-book of 1545 through 
 the liturgies of Pollanus and Alasco. Comp. Banner- 
 man, Worship of the Preshyteriaii Churchy pp. 79, 80, 
 and 1 1 3- 1 1 9, with the references there given. 
 
 II. 
 
 The Confession of Sins in " Hermann's 
 Consultation," ed. 1545.^ 
 
 " JIoiv the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated.'''' 
 "When the people are gathered together for this 
 action (ad hanc actionem 2), as it is in accordance with 
 true piety, that, as often as we appear before God in 
 His Church, we should before all things acknowledge 
 and confess our sins, and pray for forgiveness ; let the 
 minister who is to dispense the Lord's Supper, when he 
 comes to the altar, make confession in the name of the 
 whole Church, and that in the German tongue, so that 
 all may understand, after this manner : 
 
 ^ See statement at end of Preface regarding this interesting 
 Reformation Service-book. The confession begins : " Omnipotens 
 seterne Deus, Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Creator rerum 
 omnium, Judex cunctorum hominum, agnoscimus et deploramiis 
 nos in peccatis conceptos et natos." 
 
 ^ Comp, our old Scottish phrase, the Action Sermon. 
 
36 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y, [pt. i. 
 
 " Almighty, Everlasting God, the Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men, we 
 acknowledge and lament that we were conceived and 
 born in sins, and so are prone to all evil and averse to 
 all that is truly good. We have transgressed Thy holy 
 commandments without measure and without end, 
 through contempt of Thee and of Thy Word, through 
 distrust of Thy help and trust in ourselves and in 
 worldly things, through evil impulses and actions, where- 
 by we have most grievously offended against Thy Divine 
 Majesty and against our fellows. We have thus more 
 and more buried ourselves and lost ourselves even unto 
 death eternal. This grieveth us to the very heart ; and 
 we pray Thee to forgive us for all the things wherein we 
 have sinned against Thee. We beseech Thy help 
 against the sin that dwelleth in us, and against Satan 
 who ever stirreth it up. Save us from sinning further 
 against Thee. Cover all our iniquities with the 
 righteousness of Thy Son. Subdue them in us by Thy 
 Spirit, and cleanse us throughly from them in the end. 
 
 "Have mercy upon us, O most good and merciful 
 Father, for Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. 
 Grant unto us, and increase in us, Thy Holy Spirit, that 
 He may teach us inwardly and truly to acknowledge 
 our sins, to mourn over them with lively repentance, and 
 to receive and hold fast, with a true faith, the forgiveness 
 of them in Christ our Lord, so that, dying daily more 
 and more unto sin, we may serve and please Thee in 
 newness of life, to the glory of Thy name, and the profit 
 of Thy Church. 
 
 "These things we acknowledge that Thou justly 
 requirest of us, wherefore we desire to do them. Be 
 pleased, O Thou our Heavenly Father, who hast given 
 
SEC. II.] CONFESSION OF SINS. 37 
 
 us this desire, to grant also that we be diligent to do 
 with our whole heart those things which pertain to our 
 salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 
 
 {Comfortable Words.) 
 
 Hear the Gospel from John iii. 16. 
 
 God so loved the world that He gave His only be- 
 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life. 
 
 Or from i Tim. i. 15. 
 
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 
 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 
 
 Or from John iii. 35 and t,6. 
 
 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things 
 into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath ever- 
 lasting life. 
 
 Or from Acts x. 43. 
 
 Unto Christ give all the prophets witness, that through 
 His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive 
 remission of sins. 
 
 Or from i John ii. i and 2. 
 
 My little children, if any man sin we have an Advocate 
 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; and He is 
 the propitiation for our sins. 
 
 (Ab5olutio7i.) 
 
 When the pastor shall have proclaimed one of these 
 Gospel words to the people, he shall add : 
 
38 ORDINAR V S£R VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. I. 
 
 Seeing that our blessed Lord hath left this power 
 unto His Church that she should absolve from their 
 sins, and restore to the grace of our heavenly Father, all 
 those who repent of their sins, and truly believe in Christ 
 our Lord ; I, as a minister of Christ and of His Church, 
 do now declare unto all here present whose sins are 
 grievous unto them, and who truly believe in Christ our 
 Lord, and desire to follow Him as His disciples, the 
 forgiveness of all their sins, the grace of God, and 
 life everlasting, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Section HL 
 PETITION. 
 
 The order of the Petitions in the Lord's Prayer has 
 been followed in the arrangement of the following 
 materials and suggestions for Petition. 
 
 The subdivisions are mainly those of the Larger 
 Catechism. Different sources have been used, especi- 
 ally the Book of Psalms, the devotional writings of 
 Augustine, and those of Jeremy Taylor. The collec- 
 tion here presented is but the gleanings of a field which 
 is practically as wide as human life itself. 
 
 Two short Litanies have been added, one of prayer 
 to Christ, and one to the Holy Spirit. ^ Reference 
 may also be made to the first part of Bucer's Litany, 
 given below in Appendix to " Intercession." 
 
 1 These are taken, with one or two slight verbal changes, from 
 Fosbery's " Voices of Comfort," 3rd ed. pp. 56, 248. 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 39 
 
 I. — Our Father. 
 
 1. Give us Trust and Assurance. 
 
 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, 
 Grant that we may leave all things in Thy care, commit 
 
 our way and our happiness to Thy keeping, and be 
 
 content to fill a little space for Thy glory. 
 Grant that, knowing our ignorance and weakness, we 
 
 may rely on Thy wisdom and strength. 
 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer : 
 
 my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. 
 
 Thou who art the confidence of all the ends of the 
 
 earth, be Thou our hope now and evermore, and 
 our portion in the land of the living. 
 
 1 will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, 
 
 my God, in Him will I trust. 
 How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O Lord, therefore 
 the children of men put their trust under the shadow 
 of Thy wings. 
 
 2. Inspire us. 
 
 Most gracious Father, 
 Unto Thee do we lift up our souls. 
 God, light of the hearts that see Thee, life of the 
 
 souls that love Thee, strength of the thoughts that 
 
 seek Thee, grant that with a holy love we may 
 
 cleave to Thee. 
 As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth 
 
 my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for 
 
 God, for the living God. 
 When the shadows lengthen upon our path, and sorrow 
 
 rests upon our heart, O reveal Thyself in mercy. 
 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art 
 
40 ORDINAR V SEE VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 thou disquieted within me ? Hope in God, for I 
 shall yet praise Him Who is the health of my 
 countenance and my God. 
 
 3. Grant us joy in God. 
 
 Let all those that put their trust in Thee, rejoice ; let 
 
 them also that love Thy name, be joyful in Thee. 
 O satisfy us early with Thy mercy that we may rejoice 
 
 and be glad all our days. 
 Grant that we may have the joy of those who are re- 
 deemed, 
 that our days may be bright with gladness, be- 
 cause of Thy love. 
 Fill us with joy even when we fall into trial, because 
 Thy strength is made perfect in our weakness. 
 
 II. — Hallowed be Thy Name. 
 I . We beseech Thee, shew us Thy glory. 
 
 Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name. 
 
 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, 
 bless His holy name. 
 
 O Lord our God, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth. 
 
 O God, who art the Giver of all good, grant that we may 
 praise Thee, with penitence, purity, and gladness of 
 heart. 
 
 Give us great and solemn apprehensions of Thy glory and 
 power, of Thy majesty and mercy that we may adore 
 Thee as our Creator and love thee as our Redeemer. 
 
 O Thou who art the Author and Fountain of all per- 
 fection, teach us to praise Thee. 
 
 Give us hearts bold, constant and valiant to confess 
 Thee before the world, that we may choose rather 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 41 
 
 to suffer shame and loss than stain our conscience 
 
 or renounce Thee. 
 Grant that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be 
 
 glorified in us and we in Him. 
 Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him 
 
 that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for 
 
 ever and ever. 
 
 2. May we glorify Thee in our daily life. 
 
 Grant that all we do, say, or think may be to Thy glory, 
 that men seeing our deeds may glorify Thee, 
 that by our life, men may grow stronger in faith, 
 
 purer in thought, nobler in action, 
 that we may glorify God in our body and in our 
 
 spirit which are thine, 
 that we may bring honour to Thy name by walk- 
 ing in the footsteps of Christ in all lowliness 
 and meekness. 
 Let not our outward mercies make us careless of Thy 
 service and honour. 
 
 HL — Thy Kingdom Come. 
 I. Overthrow the Kingdom of Sin. 
 
 O Lord God, who reignest a great King in all the earth, 
 
 let Thy grace break down all the strongholds of sin 
 
 and Satan. 
 O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but 
 
 establish the just. 
 Have respect unto the covenant, for the dark places of 
 
 the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. 
 Subdue in us every evil desire and inordinate affection, 
 
 deliver us from pride and from all inward rebellion 
 
 and repining of heart. 
 
42 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i. 
 
 2. Spread the Knowledge of the Gospel. 
 
 God, be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause Thy 
 
 face to shine upon us, that Thy way may be known 
 
 upon earth, &c. 
 Ask of Me and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine 
 
 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for 
 
 Thy possession. 
 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as 
 
 showers that water the earth. He shall have 
 
 dominion also from sea to sea ; all nations shall 
 
 call Him blessed. 
 Let all nations come and worship Thee, laying their 
 
 proud wills at Thy feet, submitting themselves to 
 
 the obedience of Christ, and conforming their 
 
 affections to Thy holy laws. 
 Let the sound of the Gospel go into all the earth, may 
 
 Thy people everywhere be ministers of Thy 
 
 Kingdom, advancing Thy honour and furthering 
 
 the salvation of all men. 
 Grant that all nations may fear Thee and give Thee 
 
 praise, so that when Thou shalt come to judge 
 
 the world they may receive Thy everlasting 
 
 mercies. 
 Extend Thy blessings and Thy dominion from sea to 
 
 sea, even unto the world's end, that all kings of the 
 
 earth may fall down before Thee, and all nations do 
 
 Thee service. 
 
 3. Edify and Equip Thy Church. 
 
 O blessed Lord, the rock upon whom Thy Church is 
 built, be unto us a fountain of comfort when our 
 hearts are in heaviness. 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 43 
 
 Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Zion ; for the time 
 
 to favour her is come. 
 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper 
 
 that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and 
 
 prosperity within Thy palaces. 
 Be pleased, according to Thy gracious promise, to 
 
 uphold Thy Church for ever ; let not the gates of 
 
 hell prevail against her. 
 O God, Whose mercy reacheth unto the heavens, in 
 
 mercy teach us to abhor everything that is evil, and 
 
 to set ourselves in every good way. 
 Send a gracious rain, even the dew of Thy divine 
 
 favour, upon Thine inheritance to refresh us in 
 
 our weariness. 
 
 4. May Thy Saints be Confirmed, Comforted, 
 Encouraged. 
 
 O Lord, Who art the health of our countenance and our 
 God, when our hearts are cast down and disquieted 
 within us, pity and comfort us. 
 
 Comfort and encourage us by the expectation of those 
 glories which Thou hast laid up for them that love 
 the appearing of our Lord. 
 
 Bring us at last to Thine eternal Kingdom, where no 
 enemies shall assault or disturb our peace. 
 
 Grant that we may dwell with Thee for ever, and 
 rejoice in the blessings of Thy Kingdom, who 
 livest and reignest for ever one God, world with- 
 out end. 
 
 Grant that we may all live before Thee in righteousness, 
 waiting for the great day of Christ's appearance, and 
 that we may not be ashamed before Him at His 
 coming. 
 
44 ORDINARY SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 O Lord God, who dwellest in Zion, and delightest to 
 have Thy habitation in the hearts of men, make us 
 fit for Thy abiding. 
 
 IV.— Thy Will be Done. 
 
 1. That we may know Thy Will. 
 
 Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous 
 
 things out of Thy law. 
 Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, 
 
 for in Thee do I trust ; cause me to know the way 
 
 wherein I should walk, for I lift my soul unto 
 
 Thee. 
 May my whole spirit, my whole heart, my whole life live 
 
 to Thee Who art my life. 
 What thou hatest in me put far from me, and implant 
 
 within me a spirit of purity and self-restraint, that 
 
 nothing I desire may offend Thee. 
 May no selfish passion hinder us from knowing Thy 
 
 will, and no weakness from doing it. 
 May we love to sit at Thy feet, and hearken to Thy holy 
 
 words. 
 Open every window of our souls, that we may be full of 
 
 light, and see the excellency of the love of Christ, 
 
 and the merits of His sacrifice. 
 
 2. That we may do it. 
 
 O eternal God, Who hast made all things for man and 
 man for Thy glory, sanctify our body and soul, our 
 thoughts and intentions, our words and actions, 
 that all we think, or speak, or do may be to the 
 glory of Thy name. 
 
 O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes ; 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 45 
 
 with my whole heart have I sought Thee ; O let me 
 
 not wander from Thy commandments. 
 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. 
 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall 
 
 keep it to the end. 
 O eternal God, fountain of all truth and holiness, take 
 
 from us all disobedience and perversity of spirit, all 
 
 ambition, all private and base interests. 
 Remove from us all prejudice, and strengthen in us all 
 
 true conviction, that we may resign ourselves to Thy 
 
 persuasion. 
 Thy will is the measure of our holiness and peace ; make 
 
 it also the measure of our desires. 
 Grant that the Spirit of Grace may draw us to Him 
 
 Who is meek and lowly, that we may take His yoke 
 
 upon us and learn of Him. 
 O that in every passage of life we may reflect on Thy 
 
 example and copy Thee. 
 Thou who workest in us, both to will and to do of Thy 
 
 good pleasure, teach us to obey all Thy com- 
 mandments. 
 Grant that we may imitate the holy example of our Lord 
 
 Jesus Christ, and renounce our wills for Thine. 
 
 3. That we may Submit to it. 
 O Thou who didst bear the burden of the cross, be 
 
 pleased to lighten our load by strengthening our 
 
 spirit. 
 Thy ways are a great deep and not to be searched out. 
 
 O teach us to submit to Thy will in all things. 
 Teach us to be content in all changes, to read our duty 
 
 in Thy Providence, and in adversity to be steadfast, 
 
 patient, hopeful. 
 
46 ORDINAR Y SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Give us grace to say from the heart, " Thy will, not 
 
 mine, be done." 
 Grant that the yoke of Christ may become easy to us, 
 
 and His burden light. 
 
 5. That we may be humble. 
 
 O holy and most gracious Master, Who by Thy example 
 
 and Thy precept didst command us to be meek and 
 
 humble, be pleased to give us the grace as Thou 
 
 hast given the commandment. 
 Give what Thou commandest, and command what Thou 
 
 wilt. 
 Teach us to imitate the gracious condescension of Thy 
 
 Son when He washed His disciples' feet. 
 When we are praised for doing our duty, grant that we 
 
 may give the glory to Thee, and remember that 
 
 Thou knowest our imperfections. 
 Save us from all proud thoughts and vain opinions of 
 
 ourselves. 
 Keep us from boasting ourselves of what Thou hast freely 
 
 bestowed. 
 May our glory be in the Cross of Christ and the lowly 
 
 service of men, that so thinking little of ourselves 
 
 we may be honoured by Thee. 
 
 6. Faithfulness/ 8. Sincerity. 
 
 7. Zeal. 9. Constancy. 
 
 V. — Give us Each Day our Daily Bread. 
 I. That we may wait on God's Providence. 
 
 O Thou upon whom the eyes of all do wait, give unto us 
 our meat in due season. Open Thou Thine hand 
 and satisfy the desire of every Uving thing. 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 
 
 47 
 
 O God, the giver of every good and every perfect gift, 
 
 keep us from all distrust of Thy providence, and all 
 
 doubtings of Thy kindness and care. 
 O God, Who art the portion of our inheritance, preserve 
 
 and maintain all those good things which Thou hast 
 
 wrought in us and for us. 
 O merciful Father, Who hast the keys of life and death, 
 
 dispose of us as Thou pleasest and give us grace to 
 
 trust Thee always. 
 
 2. That we may enjoy God's goodness. 
 
 O God, the hope of all the ends of the earth, make the 
 earth plenteous and bless the increase of it ; crown 
 the year with Thy goodness. 
 
 Let Thy loving-kindness and mercy follow us all our 
 days that we may dwell in Thy house for ever. 
 
 O blessed Jesus, Thou great Shepherd and Bishop of our 
 souls, feed us with the Word and Sacraments, and 
 refresh us with the comforts of Thy Holy Spirit. 
 
 Grant that we being refreshed with the multitude of Thy 
 blessings may praise Thee, and at last be satisfied 
 with the pleasures of Thy house where Thou livest 
 and reignest one God world without end. 
 
 3. That we may trust in God's care. 
 
 O Thou Who hast clothed the flowers with glory greater 
 than Solomon's, and feedest the birds of the air, 
 teach us that we are more precious in Thy sight 
 than they, and that Thou wilt care for us with a 
 Father's care. 
 
 Give us grace to think little of earthly things and to put 
 our trust in Thee. 
 
48 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. I. 
 
 Teach us to lay up our treasure in heaven by charity 
 and actions of piety : unmoved by the terrors of the 
 world : unaltered by its allurements and seduction : 
 not ambitious of its honours or wealth. 
 
 Grant that we may not place our joys and hopes upon 
 the good things of this life which perish and cannot 
 satisfy, but in the eternal fountain of all true felicities. 
 
 O God, from whom all grace and safety and glory do 
 proceed, hear our prayers whenever we call upon 
 Thee in our trouble, for our trust is in Thee alone. 
 
 4. That we be Contented. 
 
 O Lord our God, let no riches make us ever forget our- 
 selves and no poverty ever make us forget Thee. 
 
 Let us never envy any man's goods, nor deserve to be 
 despised ourselves. 
 
 Give us neither poverty nor riches, feed us with food 
 convenient for us. 
 
 Teach us to think lightly of the world, to labour for the true 
 riches, and to be content with what Thou providest. 
 
 Grant that we may never envy the prosperity of anyone, 
 but rejoice to honour him whom Thou honourest, 
 and to love him whom Thou lovest. 
 
 Let it not be ill with us when it is well with others ; but 
 grant that we may promote their good and give 
 Thee thanks for it. 
 
 Let the employment of our day leave no sorrow, nor the 
 remembrance of it an evil conscience at night. 
 
 5. That we may have the Spirit of Christ. 
 
 Conform our mind and will to Thy holy precepts, that 
 we may imitate Thy Son in all things : 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 49 
 
 His devotion in prayer, His obedience to Thee, 
 His zeal tempered with meekness, 
 His patience heightened with charity. 
 That we may ever grow in grace till we come to the 
 measure of the fulness of the stature in Christ. 
 
 VI. — Forgive us our Debts. 
 
 1. Acquit us. 
 
 Have patience with us, O Lord, yet as we have not 
 wherewith to pay, forgive us the whole debt, we 
 beseech Thee. 
 
 By the riches of Thy grace, by the exceeding abundance 
 of Thy mercy, by the great love wherewith Thou 
 hast loved us, be merciful to us sinners — to us of 
 all sinners the greatest, the most wretched. 
 
 Lord, remit the guilt, heal the wound, blot out the stains, 
 deliver from the shame and from the tyranny of our 
 sin. 
 
 Pardon all our sins, our foolish and rash words, the 
 vanity and worldliness of our thoughts, our unjust 
 and uncharitable actions, and whatsoever we have 
 done against Thee this day. 
 
 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, according to Thy loving- 
 kindness; according unto the multitude of Thy 
 tender mercies, blot out our transgressions. 
 
 2. Pardon our daily failings and keep us from sin. 
 Most gracious God, if Thou permittest us at any 
 
 time to fall, let us not sleep in sin, but recall us 
 by conscience and the working of Thy Holy 
 Spirit. 
 Uphold us, that we may not fall again into those great 
 sins by which we have so offended against Thee. 
 
 D 
 
50 ORDINAR V SERVICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Let our hearts be so cleansed and kept by Thy grace 
 that we may never, by deliberation and purpose, or 
 by levity and thoughtlessness, sin against Thee. 
 
 Let Thy Spirit keep us in all our ways from the occasions 
 and opportunities of evil, from all the paths of 
 shame, from a sinful life, and from despair in the 
 hour of death. 
 
 Let us not continue our days in folly and vanity, lest our 
 years be spent in trouble. 
 
 When, through infirmity, we fall, let Thy gentle cor- 
 rection call us home, that we may turn us early and 
 seek after Thee Who art our God. 
 
 3. Give us peace, joy, assurance. 
 
 O Thou God of peace, grant that our peace may be in a 
 
 good conscience, and our joy in Thee. 
 Grant that, since Thou alone art our treasure, our hearts 
 
 may be fixed upon Thee by the bonds of love and 
 
 obedience. 
 Restore unto us the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold us 
 
 in a free spirit. 
 Build our faith upon Thy promises in Jesus Christ, and 
 
 our hopes upon Thy goodness and mercy. 
 Lead us from grace to grace, from imperfection to 
 
 strength, and from effort to glory. 
 Give us the assistance of Thy grace, that we may always 
 
 walk before Thee without offence, fearing even the 
 
 approach of sin. 
 
 4. Give us grace to forgive others. 
 
 O God, Who delightest in mercy, give us merciful hearts, 
 that we may forgive even as we are forgiven : 
 that we may suffer with suffering men ; 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 51 
 
 that we may do all things, and bear all things, to 
 
 deliver them from misery or sin. 
 
 O God, who didst love us while we were enemies, teach 
 
 us to love those that hate us, 
 
 do good to those that wrong us, and offer all 
 
 kindness, tenderness, and rehef to our enemies. 
 
 Enable us to take Thy mercy for the pattern and measure 
 
 of our forbearance. 
 Give us a readiness to bear each other's burdens, a spirit 
 of meekness and modesty, trembhng at our own 
 infirmities, fearful in our brother's dangers and joy- 
 ful in his success. 
 Give us a great love, that we may truly forgive all that 
 
 trouble or injure us. 
 Give us a meek and gentle spirit, that we may be easy 
 to be entreated to mercy and forgiveness. 
 
 VII. — Lead us not into Temptation. 
 
 I. Subdue the world, the flesh, and the devil. 
 
 From sin and shame, from the malice and fraud of the 
 devil, from the falseness and greed of men, from all 
 Thy wrath, and from all our impurities, good Lord, 
 deliver us. From the lust of the flesh, the lust of 
 the eye, and the pride of life ; from earthly minded- 
 ness and frivolity, from all indolence in holy things, 
 from all unbelief and hardness of heart, &c. &c., 
 good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 Make haste and help us, O God, against all these that 
 seek after our souls to destroy them. 
 
 To this day and all days, vouchsafe, O Lord, a perfect, 
 holy, peaceful, sinless course. 
 
52 ORDINAR y SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Thou Who upholdest the falling and liftest the fallen, 
 let us not harden our hearts in provocation, or 
 temptation, or in any deceitfulness of sin. 
 
 Deliver us from the recollection of evil things. 
 
 2. Strengthen us in temptation. 
 
 Be not far from us, when trouble is near, and there is 
 
 none to help; O, our Strength, haste Thee to 
 
 help us. 
 Hold up our goings in Thy paths, that our footsteps slip 
 
 not. 
 Thou art our hiding-place ; Thou shalt preserve us from 
 
 trouble; Thou shalt compass us about with songs 
 
 of deliverance. 
 Suffer us not to be tempted above that we are able. 
 O God, the Giver of all grace and the Author of all 
 
 spiritual strength, strengthen us so with Thy grace 
 
 that we may fight a good fight and conquer, and be 
 
 crowned with a crown of righteousness. 
 When Thou shalt try us and suffer us to be tempted, 
 
 be on our side, that we may fight valiantly, endure 
 
 patiently, and persevere unto the end. 
 Leave us not, neither forsake us, when we are assaulted 
 
 by enemies without and temptations within. 
 
 3. Perfect us through temptation. 
 
 Grant, O most merciful Father, that even our temptations 
 may tend to make us perfect and entire. 
 
 O gracious Saviour, do Thou plead for us when we 
 are tempted, that our faith fail not, but rather be 
 strengthened. 
 
 Grant that the trying of our faith may be found unto 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 53 
 
 praise and glory and honour at the revelation of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 May the memory of the temptation, and the sufferings 
 of our Lord and Saviour, teach us to rejoice in 
 ours. 
 
 O God, Who art faithful, and Who wilt with the tempta- 
 tion make a way of escape, grant that we may 
 be able not only to endure, but to reach a higher 
 grace. 
 
 4. Make us watchful against temptation. 
 
 Teach us to give most earnest heed lest we drift away 
 
 from Thee. 
 Set Thou a watch before our mouth, that we sin not with 
 
 our lips. 
 Teach us to watch over all our ways, that we may never 
 
 be surprised by sudden temptation. 
 Give us a wise and watchful spirit, that we may omit no 
 
 opportunity of serving Thee. 
 Give us watchfulness over our words, that we speak no 
 
 guile, and over our actions that we eschew all evil. 
 
 5. May Christ reign in our hearts. 
 
 Grant that our affections be guided by the mind of 
 Christ, our understandings enlightened by His word, 
 our wills persuaded and strengthened by His Spirit, 
 and that in our lives we may be made perfect as 
 He is. 
 
 Be pleased to enter into our souls with triumph, tramp- 
 ling down all Thine enemies. 
 
 Give us grace to entertain Thee with joy and adoration. 
 
 Take captive our thoughts and desires and imaginations. 
 
54 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DA V. [PT. i. 
 
 Bind us with bands of love, so that our union with Thee 
 
 may break the bands of sin. 
 Give us grace to look for Thy coming in humility and 
 
 love. 
 When Thy Kingdom is established within us, grant that 
 
 Thy Kingdom of Glory may come speedily. 
 
 VIII. — Deliver us from Evil. 
 I. Overrule the ills of life for our good. 
 
 O merciful Jesus, Who for our sakes didst suffer Thyself 
 to be betrayed, tormented, spit upon, crucified, and 
 to die that Thou mightest purchase redemption for 
 us, deliver our souls from evil. 
 
 Let those victories which Thou hast obtained over 
 Satan, and hell, and the grave, bring us peace and 
 righteousness, and victory over our enemies, and a 
 crown of glory in the heavens. 
 
 Thou shalt compass us about with songs of deliver- 
 ance. 
 
 O Lord, command Thy loving-kindness in the day-time, 
 and in the night let Thy song be with us, and our 
 prayer unto the God of our life. 
 
 Let strength be made perfect in weakness. 
 
 Let nothing separate us from Thy love, which is in Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 2. Give courage amid the ills of life. 
 
 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 
 
 trouble. 
 From the end of the earth will we cry unto Thee when 
 
 our heart is overwhelmed. Lead us to the rock 
 
 that is higher than we. 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 55 
 
 O Lord, Who art a merciful High Priest and art touched 
 with a feehng of our infirmities, let Thy mercy sup- 
 port us and Thy Spirit guide us. 
 
 In the midst of darkness, make us strong in the Lord, in 
 hope of pardon, in expectation of glory and in the 
 sense of Thy mercies. 
 
 Assure us that Thou wilt hide us under the shadow of 
 Thy wings, and hold up our goings in Thy paths 
 that our footsteps slip not. 
 
 3. Give victory in trial, suffering, sorrow. 
 
 In the midst of our afflictions, teach us to remember 
 Thine, O our Master, that we may bear them 
 patiently and gain Thy victory over all. 
 
 By Thine agony and bloody sweat : by Thy cross and 
 passion, good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 When Thou Who art the Head wast crowned with 
 thorns, shall we Thy unworthy members live at 
 ease? Shall we complain of our hardships when 
 Thou hadst not where to lay Thy head ? 
 
 Try us as gold is tried : and as a refiner do Thou 
 purify us. 
 
 Let neither hope nor fear, tribulation nor anguish, plea- 
 sure nor sorrow separate us from Thy love. 
 
 We wear the badge of a crucified Saviour, grant that 
 we shrink not back at every cross we meet. 
 
 Let no sickness or cross, no employment or weariness 
 make us angry or ungentle, discontented or un- 
 thankful. 
 
 Grant that when Thou hast tried us as silver is tried, we 
 may come forth pure and fit for Thy holy service. 
 
 Let Thy merciful hand lead us through the fire of our 
 affliction that we may not be consumed. 
 
56 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i. 
 
 IX. — Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and 
 THE Glory for ever. 
 
 O Lord God our strength, Whose mercies are infinite, 
 Whose majesty is glorious. Whose goodness is above 
 all that is good on earth, enlarge our hearts with 
 joy and rejoicing in Thy glories. 
 
 Grant that we, looking for Thee in holiness of living, 
 longing and thirsting after Thee with fervent de- 
 sires, may for ever behold Thy power and glory, 
 and our life and hearts praise Thee to all eternity. 
 
 Grant that we may tell of Thy greatness and declare 
 Thy salvation from day to day. 
 
 Grant that when Thou comest with righteousness to 
 judge the earth and all people with Thy truth, we 
 may rejoice in Thee everlastingly. 
 
 O Great God, King of Heaven and Earth, Thou that 
 sittest between the cherubim, give unto us an 
 adoration of the sanctity and perfections of Thy 
 name, which is great and wonderful and holy. 
 
 Let a sense of Thy dread majesty check every irreverent 
 thought in us, and teach us to make our approach 
 unto Thee in humility and fear. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 Litany, chiefly to Christ. 
 
 O God, the Father of Heaven : O God, the Son, 
 Redeemer of the world ; O God, the Holy Ghost, the 
 Comforter ; O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity : 
 
 Have 7nercy upo?t us. 
 
SEC. III.] PETITION. 57 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who for us didst endure a hfe 
 of suffering upon earth : 
 
 Give lis grace to take up our cross aiidfolloiv Thee. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who was lifted up from the earth 
 that Thou mightest draw all men unto Thee : 
 Draiv us also unto Thyself. 
 
 By Thy fasting and temptation. Thy homeless wander- 
 ings, Thy lonely watchings on the mountains; by the 
 weariness and painfulness of Thy ministry among men : 
 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 By Thine unknown sorrows and sufferings ; by Thine 
 agony and bloody sweat; by Thy cross and passion; 
 by the power of Thy blood shed for sinners : 
 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, that we, 
 being dead unto sin, may live unto righteousness : 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord, 
 
 That we may be ready to endure hardness as good 
 soldiers of Jesus Christ : 
 
 We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That we may use this world, as not abusing it : 
 We beseech Thee to hear us^ good Lord. 
 
 That our hearts may be wholly Thine in prosperity as 
 in adversity: 
 
 JVe beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord. 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy 
 name. . . . 
 
S8 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. 
 
 11. 
 
 Litany to the Holy Spirit. 
 
 O God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father 
 and the Son : 
 
 Have mercy upofi us. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, Comforter of the weary and the sad : 
 Comfort us, we beseech Thee, in all our tribulations. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, Illuminator of Thy people : 
 Give us lights ive beseech Thee, in the darkness of this 
 world. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of Thine elect : 
 Keep us, we beseech Thee, from all sin. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, Advocate with the Father : 
 Intercede for us, we beseech Thee, according to the will 
 of God 
 
 O Holy Spirit of Love : 
 
 Teach us, we beseech Thee, more and ??iore of the love of 
 Christ. 
 
 O Holy Spirit of Truth : 
 
 Lead us, 2ve beseech Thee, into all truth, and bring 
 always to our refnembratice the words of Jesus. 
 
 O Holy Spirit of Counsel : 
 
 Guide us, ive beseech Thee, through the trials and per- 
 plexities of life. 
 
 O blessed Spirit, who art the Lord and the Giver of 
 Life, dwell with us and in us, according to our Saviour's 
 own promise. Without Thee we are as orphans in this 
 world ; leave us not comfortless, we beseech Thee. We 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 59 
 
 are poor and needy ; we know not what we should pray 
 for as we ought ; pray Thou for us, we beseech Thee, 
 according to the will of God. Help our infirmities — 
 Purify our hearts — Breathe into our souls ever more the 
 breath of Thy Divine life ; that our whole body and soul 
 and spirit may be made and kept blameless, unto the 
 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask all for His 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 Section IV. 
 THANKSGIVING. 
 
 There must be many in every congregation who come 
 to church in a spirit that can hardly be called devotional ; 
 and perhaps the least common mood even for a de- 
 votional spirit is that of thanksgiving. We are all more 
 or less conscious of our sins and of our wants ; but it is 
 with an effort that we recall our mercies. One of the 
 difficulties, therefore, of public prayer must be to evoke 
 gratitude in the heart of the worshipper. Again, we 
 cannot well do it by general expressions of thanks. 
 A prayer of general thanksgiving, however fine and 
 impressive it may be to a spiritual mind, often seems 
 to minds not spiritual only exaggerated and unreal. 
 Its power is due to its touching chords that are sen- 
 sitive and quick to respond, to its awakening memories 
 that have been often renewed and are never far to seek. 
 In order to do a like service to the less devout, we must 
 mention and dwell upon the special mercies of God, we 
 must touch those points of their life where they cannot 
 but acknowledge the hand of a loving Father. As we 
 
6o ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 all learn to know the sinfulness of our hearts only through 
 individual acts of sin, so we learn to be thankful through 
 perceiving the specific acts of God's goodness in our 
 daily lives. By specifying them in prayer, then, we 
 awaken memories in hearts dull and slow, and by means 
 of that lift them to gratitude and the ascription of all 
 praise to the Giver of all good. 
 
 The combining of the general and the special thanks- 
 giving will take very different forms with different men ; 
 but because we tend to neglect the details of mercy, so 
 necessary for the devotion of the ordinary Christian, or 
 to a monotonous repetition of the more striking among 
 them, greater space has been given to the " Enumeration 
 of Mercies," than to general expressions of thanks. They 
 are but specimens of the rich materials that lie ready to 
 our hands. 
 
 The sections have been taken from many sources 
 — Bishop Andrews, Jeremy Taylor, Dr Hunter, &c., 
 and have been modified quite freely to suit our 
 purpose. 
 
 I. — Forms. 
 
 For r We praise Thee, O God. 
 
 -l We thank and praise Thee. 
 For all Thy . . . v We praise Thy holy name. 
 
 Blessed art Thou who . . . 
 Glory be to Thee who . . . 
 
 Blessed be Thy holy name for . . 
 Thou art worthy to receive praise, for 
 Accept our thanks for all Thy . . 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 6i 
 
 II. — General Thanksgiving. 
 
 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and 
 to sing praises unto Thy name, O most high : to show 
 forth Thy loving-kindness in the morning and Thy faith- 
 fulness every night. 
 
 We will extol Thee, our God, O King, and praise Thy 
 name for ever and ever. Every day will we bless Thee, 
 and we will praise Thy name for ever and ever. 
 
 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and His 
 greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise 
 Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty 
 acts. 
 
 We will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty 
 and of Thy wondrous works. Men shall speak of 
 the might of Thy terrible acts : and we will declare Thy 
 greatness. 
 
 O Lord, Thou art good to all : and Thy tender mercies 
 are over all Thy works. 
 
 All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy 
 saints shall bless Thee. 
 
 The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest 
 them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine 
 hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 
 
 While we live we will praise Thee, O Lord • we will 
 sing praises unto Thee, our God, while we have any 
 being. 
 
 &c., &c. 
 
62 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 III. — Enumeration of Mercies. 
 
 1. For our birth and being : 
 
 born in a land where Thy name is feared : 
 
 where we are free to read Thy holy word : 
 where we can worship and serve Thee in peace : 
 in homes where prayer was daily offered to 
 Thee: 
 
 where we were sheltered from 
 
 temptation : 
 where we were trained to reverence 
 and love Thee. 
 
 2. That Thou madest us but a little lower than the 
 
 angels : 
 able to understand something of Thy way : 
 able to love Thee, obey Thee, help Thee : 
 that Thou hast blest us with a knowledge of Thyself : 
 given us Reason that we may think 
 Thy thoughts, follow Thy won- 
 drous working : 
 hearts that are pained by wrong, and 
 
 made glad by kindness : 
 wills that can be conformed to Thine : 
 souls that are made strong by service, 
 and changed into the likeness of 
 Christ by faith and love, 
 
 3. For our Education : 
 
 by men who loved righteousness, truth, honour : 
 who taught us to scorn idleness, deceit, 
 
 cruelty, vice : 
 who taught us to seek Thee and Thy help; 
 to trust Thy mercy and 
 Thy care. 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 63 
 
 to live not for ourselves 
 but for Christ and 
 our fellow-men : 
 
 to rejoice in the glory 
 and the beauty of 
 Thy works : 
 
 to find pleasure in what 
 is lovely and true 
 and good in books, 
 art, noble activities 
 of men. 
 
 4. For Thy Preservation of us : 
 
 in times of danger when our companions fell : 
 when no eye was watching over us but Thine : 
 when as children Thou didst take us into Thine 
 arms, put Thy hands upon us and bless us : 
 when the pestilence walked in darkness : 
 covered with Thy feathers : 
 led us beside still waters. 
 
 5. For our Friends : 
 
 who strengthened our hands when we were 
 weak : 
 pointed us to higher duties and nobler lives : 
 encouraged us when faint-hearted : 
 quickened our hearts, purified our minds : 
 rebuked our vanity, our uncharitable judg- 
 ments : 
 taught us to scorn baseness and to fear sin. 
 
 6. For our daily work : 
 
 that has taught us perseverance : 
 
 helped us to forget ourselves : 
 
 taught us to seek higher ends than self : 
 
64 ORDINAR V SFR VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 healed our wounds and soothed our 
 
 sorrows : 
 made us helpers of Almighty God. 
 
 7. For the world : 
 
 its unending beauty : 
 
 for the glories of the day and of the night : 
 
 summer and winter, seed-time and harvest : 
 for Thy works so unsearchable : 
 
 Thy glory in the heavens, earth, and sea. 
 
 8. For the gift of Thy Son : 
 
 Thine eternal purpose of grace : 
 
 the great love wherewith Thou hast loved us : 
 
 Christ's lowly birth in a manger : 
 
 His patient toil as a working man : 
 
 His obedience that has taught us how to obey : 
 
 His loving service of the humblest and the 
 
 worst : 
 His temptation, giving us courage to draw near, 
 
 and hope to struggle on : 
 His weariness, teaching us patience : 
 His sufferings, that give us victory over ours : 
 that when reviled. He reviled not again : 
 when mocked, He was silent : 
 when hated. He loved the more : 
 when condemned. He endured : 
 when crucified, He blessed and prayed for 
 enemies. 
 
 for all the good deeds He did, loving words He 
 spoke, which now give hope to the hope- 
 less and life to the dead : 
 
 for His prayers in behalf of friends and enemies : 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 65 
 
 His example in days of quietness and of 
 
 disaster : 
 His gentleness to the base and the rude : 
 His agony in Gethsemane : 
 His sufferings on Calvary that have saved 
 
 the world : 
 His resurrection, giving us a living hope. 
 
 9. For Thy Holy Spirit : . 
 
 all His guidance of Thy people in the past — of 
 
 us to-day : 
 His taking the things of Christ and shewing 
 
 them to us : 
 every holy thought that comes to our mind : 
 every aspiration after a worthier life : 
 every struggle against self and sin : 
 every endeavour to attain the likeness of Christ : 
 our times of deep repentance : 
 
 hours of communion : 
 
 moments of silent prayer : 
 
 visions of a life spent for God and man : 
 
 resolutions and vows to follow Christ. 
 
 10. For opportunity of Christian work : 
 
 our desires to do something for Christ : 
 
 to be fellow-workers with Thee for 
 men : 
 our power to speak Thy truth : 
 
 tell the wonders of Thy grace : 
 labour and suffer for Christ : 
 every opportunity of manifesting Thy grace in 
 
 our hearts : 
 every gift dedicated to Thy service : 
 
66 OR DINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 every word spoken gently to the tried and 
 tempted : 
 spoken bravely against iniquity : 
 every cup of cold water given in Christ's name. 
 
 II. For the discipline of life: 
 
 trials that have trained us to patience : 
 temptations that have taught us to trust only 
 
 in Thy strength : 
 troubles that lift us nearer to Thee : 
 wrongs, insults, slights, that we have been 
 
 able to bear patiently in the Spirit of 
 
 Christ : 
 burdens that have forced us to turn to Thee 
 
 for help : 
 enmity of men that has brought us to Thee 
 
 in prayer : 
 sorrows that have lifted our treasure to 
 
 Heaven and set our affection on things 
 
 above : 
 sacred ties that bind us to the world 
 
 unseen : 
 faith that walks without fear through the 
 
 valley of the shadow of death : 
 
 that sees beyond the darkness to the 
 light eternal : 
 
 that can rest quietly in Thy arms even 
 though the earth be shaking. 
 
 1 2. For Thy calling of us 
 
 out of sin — from the power of Satan unto God : 
 into the fellowship of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our 
 
 Lord : 
 calling not the wise and mighty and noble only, 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 67 
 
 but the poor and contrite and broken- 
 hearted : 
 convincing us of the sinfuhiess of sin : 
 
 of the misery of a life spent apart 
 from Thee : 
 for the prize of Thy high calHng : 
 calling us to the very perfection of our Father : 
 calling us into the peace of God : 
 
 into lowliness and meekness of Jesus : 
 to obtain the glory of our Lord. 
 
 13. For the lives of Thy saints : 
 
 every one whose faith was strong : 
 
 in whose heart was charity : 
 the patriarchs and their faith : 
 the prophets and their unquenchable hope : 
 the apostles and their unwearied labours : 
 the evangelists and their gospel of Thy Son : 
 the martyrs and their courage, endurance, blood 
 the confessors and their zeal. 
 
 every sinner whom Thou hast saved : 
 
 the publican who left all and followed Thee 
 
 the thief who on the cross prayed to Thee. 
 
 14. Blessed be Thy name, O holy Jesus, for 
 
 Thou wentest about doing good : 
 
 working miracles of mercy, healing the sick : 
 
 comforting the distressed, instructing the 
 
 ignorant : 
 raising the dead, enlightening the blind : 
 reconciling sinners by the mightiness of Thy 
 
 loving power. 
 
68 ORDINARY SER VICE OF LORDS DA Y. [pt. l 
 
 15. Blessed be Thy name, O holy Jesus, 
 
 content to be conspired against by Thine own 
 people : 
 
 to be sold for money by a disciple : 
 
 to wash the feet of Him who was 
 betraying Thee : 
 
 to sit near Him and give Him bread and 
 wine : 
 
 to become a sacrifice for the sins of 
 men — even for the sin of their be- 
 trayal and denial and forsaking Thee : 
 
 for all our sins who have betrayed Thee, 
 and denied Thee, and crucified Thee 
 afresh : 
 
 for sins we should be afraid to think of, 
 but that their greatness reveals the 
 greatness of Thy mercy. 
 
 16. Blessed be Thy holy name, O patient and loving Lord, 
 
 who, when Thy disciple denied Thee, and for- 
 sook Thee, and forswore Thee, didst look 
 upon him and by Thy gracious and chiding 
 look didst call him to himself and Thee : 
 
 who wert found without fault and yet sentenced 
 to death : 
 
 who, when malice roared about Thee like a 
 stormy sea, wert calm and silent and 
 forgiving. 
 
 17. Blessed be Thy name, O holy Jesus, and blessed be 
 
 Thy patience and love 
 by which Thou wert content that that face 
 which angels with wonder do behold, 
 should be spit upon by men : 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 69 
 
 content that Barabbas should be counted 
 worthier and preferred to Thee : 
 
 that Thou shouldst be struck and mocked 
 and scourged and crushed under the 
 weight of Thy cross, and yet shouldst 
 pity not Thyself, but the women 
 weeping beside Thee. 
 
 1 8. Blessed be Thy name, O holy Jesus, and blessed be 
 Thy holy sorrow which Thou sufferedst 
 for us : 
 that Thou prayedst for Thy murderers : 
 that Thou wouldst not soothe Thy suffer- 
 ings, but didst drink the cup Thy Father 
 gave Thee to the dregs : 
 
 Lord what is man that Thou shouldst be thus mindful 
 of him or the son of man that Thou shouldst 
 thus visit him ? 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 I. 
 
 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and 
 honour and power, for Thou hast created all things, and 
 for Thy pleasure they are and were created. O Lord, 
 open Thou our lips, and our mouth shall show forth Thy 
 praise. 
 
 Our soul doth praise Thee, for the goodness Thou hast 
 done to the whole race of men ; for Thy mercies towards 
 us, in soul and body and estate ; for Thy gifts of grace. 
 
70 ORDINARY SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. l 
 
 and nature, and fortune ; for all benefits received ; for 
 all successes, now or heretofore; for any good thing 
 done; for health, credit, competency, safety, gentle 
 estate, quiet. Thou holdest our soul in life, and 
 sufferest not our feet to slip. Thou hast rescued us 
 from perils, sicknesses, poverty, bondage, public shame, 
 evil chances. Thou hast kept us from perishing in our 
 sins, patiently waited our conversion, left in us return 
 into our heart, remembrance of our latter end, shame, 
 horror, grief, for our past sins. Fuller and larger, larger 
 and fuller, more and still more, O our Lord, Thou hast 
 stored us with good hope of their remission, through 
 repentance and its works. 
 
 Wherefore day by day, for these Thy benefits towards 
 us which we remember; and for very many which we 
 have let slip, from their number and from our forgetful- 
 ness : for those which we wished and knew, and asked, 
 and those we asked not, knew not, wished not, we give 
 thanks to Thee, we bless and praise Thee every day. 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee for Thine in- 
 comprehensible goodness, and Thy pity towards sinful 
 and unworthy men, and towards us, of all sinners far 
 the most unworthy. For this, O Lord, and for the rest, 
 glory be to Thee, and praise, and blessing, and thanks- 
 giving. 
 
 Andrews {co7idensed). 
 
 II. 
 
 O most merciful and gracious God, Thou fountain of 
 all mercy and blessing. Thou hast opened the hand of 
 Thy mercy to fill us with blessings, and the sweet effects 
 of Thy loving-kindness ; Thou feedest us like a shepherd, 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 71 
 
 Thou governest us as a king, Thou bearest us in Thy arms 
 like a nurse, Thou dost cover us under the shadow of Thy 
 wings and shelter us ; Thou wakest for us like a watch- 
 man, Thou providest for us Hke a husband. Thou lovest us 
 as a friend, and thinkest on us perpetually, as a careful 
 mother on her helpless child, and art exceedingly merci- 
 ful to all that fear Thee. And now, O Lord, Thou hast 
 added this great blessing of deliverance from . . . ; it 
 was Thy hand and the help of Thy mercy that relieved us ; 
 the waters of affliction had drowned us, and the stream 
 had gone over our soul, if the Spirit of the Lord had not 
 moved upon these waters. Unto Thee, O Lord, we ascribe 
 the praise and honour of our redemption. We will be 
 glad and rejoice in Thy mercy, for Thou hast considered 
 our trouble and hast known our soul in adversity. As 
 Thou hast spread Thy hand upon us for a covering, so 
 also enlarge our heart with thankfulness, and fill our 
 mouth with praises, that our duty and returns to Thee 
 may be great as our needs of mercy are : and let Thy 
 gracious favours and loving-kindness endure for ever and 
 ever upon Thy servants ; and grant that what Thou hast 
 sown in mercy may spring up in duty : and let Thy grace 
 so strengthen our purposes, that we may sin no more, 
 lest Thy threatening return upon us in anger, and Thy 
 anger break us into pieces : but let us walk in the light 
 of Thy favour, and in the paths of Thy commandments ; 
 that we, living here to the glory of Thy name, may at 
 last enter into the glory of our Lord, to spend a whole 
 eternity in giving praise to Thy exalted and ever glorious 
 name. 
 
 Jeremy Taylor. 
 
72 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 III. 
 A General Thanksgiving. 
 
 Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we Thine un- 
 worthy servants do give Thee most humble and hearty 
 thanks for all Thy goodness and loving-kindness to us 
 and to all men. We bless Thee for our creation, pre- 
 servation, and all the blessings of this life ; but above 
 all, for Thine inestimable love in the redemption of the 
 world by our Lord Jesus Christ ; for the means of grace 
 and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech Thee, give 
 us that due sense of all Thy mercies, that our hearts 
 may be unfeignedly thankful ; and that we shew forth 
 Thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, 
 by giving up ourselves to Thy service, and by walking 
 before Thee in holiness and righteousness all our days ; 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with Thee and 
 the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 Historical Note. 
 
 The author of this beautiful prayer of thanksgiving 
 was Dr Edward Reynolds, a very eminent divine of 
 the seventeenth century, "the pride and glory of the 
 Presbyterian party in the city of London," as Wood 
 calls him. He was a member of the Westminster 
 Assembly of Divines, and took a prominent part in 
 all its work, being noted for the great regularity of 
 his attendance. He was a Member of the Committee 
 on the Catechism, of which Herbert Palmer, then 
 Master of Queen's College, Cambridge, was chairman. 
 Dr Reynolds was often appointed to preach before the 
 Long Parliament, and held various important positions 
 under their authority. He was made Dean of Christ 
 
SEC. IV.] THANKSGIVING. 73 
 
 Church, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor of the University 
 there. After the Restoration, he became Bishop of 
 Norwich, and died in 1676.1 
 
 There is some resemblance between his "General 
 Thanksgiving " and part of a Thanksgiving Prayer 
 ascribed to Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Thanksgiving before the Communion : — " Vere 
 dignum et justum est, ^quum et salutare." 
 
 {frofn Hermatm^s " Consultation^'' slightly shortened and 
 adapted. ) 
 
 It is very meet and right, just and wholesome that we 
 should at all times and in all places give thanks unto 
 Thee, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, through 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. We bless Thee that through 
 Him Thou didst make us at the first in Thine image ; 
 and that when we, falling away from Thee through sin, 
 had become Thine enemies, and so subject unto death 
 and eternal judgment. Thou of Thine infinite mercy 
 and love, didst send Thy Son to be our Saviour from 
 sin and death and all the power of the devil. We 
 thank and praise Thee for His Cross and Passion, for 
 the Holy Ghost whom Thou didst send to us from 
 Him, and that Thou hast made us in Him to be sons 
 and daughters of the Lord Almighty. Wherefore, with 
 all Thy holy angels and dear children, we would ever- 
 more praise Thee, saying : Holy, holy, holy. Lord God 
 of hosts; heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : glory 
 be to Thee, O Lord Most High. Amen. 
 
 ^ See Reid, Memoirs of the West minster Assembly Divines^ II. 
 128-131. Neal, Hist, of the Puritans^ II. 487, III. 204. 
 
74 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. I. 
 
 V. 
 
 Thanksgiving for the Communion of Saints. 
 
 {from liUirgy of Germ mi Reformed Church of America^ 
 
 O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom 
 the whole family in heaven and earth is named, we 
 rejoice before Thee in the blessed communion of all 
 Thy Saints, wherein Thou givest us also to have part. 
 We praise Thee for the holy fellowship of patriarchs and 
 prophets, apostles and martyrs, and the whole company 
 of the redeemed of all ages, who died in the Lord, and 
 now live with Him for evermore. We give thanks unto 
 Thee for all Thy grace and goodness to them and for 
 Thy gifts bestowed upon them. Enable us to follow^ 
 their faith, that we may enter at death into their joy, 
 and abide with them in rest and peace, until both they 
 and w^e shall reach our common consummation of re- 
 demption and bliss in the glorious resurrection of the 
 last Day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Section V. 
 INTERCESSION. 
 
 No part of public prayer is generally listened to with 
 such attention and joined in with such readiness as 
 Intercession. Everyone can follow it; for everyone 
 understands the references, and probably has a personal 
 interest in them. No part stimulates Christian affection 
 and brotherly love so much. It is here that the sympathies 
 of a congregation can be widened and deepened, and the 
 
SFX. v.] INTERCESSION. 75 
 
 most difficult of Christian graces — to forgive an enemy, 
 and to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful — 
 can be learned. 
 
 The edifying power of Intercession is incalculable; 
 and for this reason much space has been assigned to it 
 here, and both range of topic and variety of expression 
 have been sought for. 
 
 Definiteness and variety of request form part of the 
 strength and attractiveness of that fine form of the 
 litany which is familiar to most of us in the Anglican 
 Book of Common Prayer. Its weakness lies in its 
 length, in a certain amount of needless repetition at the 
 beginning and end, and, as regards the Anglican Church 
 and its offshoots in America and elsewhere, in its being 
 used without adaptation to times and circumstances, and 
 to the exclusion of free prayer. A good illustration of 
 this last point was given by the late Bishop Phillips 
 Brooks of Massachusetts, when pleading before a con- 
 gress of his own church (the American Episcopal) in 
 behalf of greater freedom in prayer. A large Episcopal 
 Convention was in session, he said, when they learned 
 that the great city of Chicago was on fire, and that 
 thousands of people were houseless and exposed to 
 extreme danger. With a natural and praiseworthy im- 
 pulse, all agreed that it was right to join in prayer for 
 their fellow-countrymen suffering under such a calamity. 
 The business in hand was adjourned accordingly ; when, 
 behold, a fatal difficulty emerged. There was no form 
 of prayer in the liturgy for such a case, and it was, of 
 course, impossible to depart from it. The assembled 
 bishops and clergy had to content themselves with going 
 devoutly over the htany, "laying before God almost 
 every woe but the woe of a burning city! " "Surely," 
 
76 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [PT. i. 
 
 Dr Brooks said, " bishops, clergy, and laity should have 
 liberty to pour out their souls to God, wherever they be, 
 for the very things they need, instead of compelling 
 them to go in a roundabout way, praying for other 
 things, and trusting Omniscience to give them the 
 things which are in their hearts ! " 
 
 An older and shorter form of the litany is given in the 
 Appendix. It was prepared by Bucer for Hermann's 
 "Consultation" in 1543. 
 
 I. — For all Men. 
 
 O God who art the Hope of all the ends of the Earth, 
 
 Remember the whole Creation for good. 
 
 Pity our race whose portion is sin, and misery, 
 and shame, and death. 
 
 Fulfil Thy purpose of love toward mankind. 
 
 Save this world for whom Thou gavest Thine only 
 begotten Son. 
 
 Thou hast promised thy Son the nations for an 
 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
 earth for His possession, 
 bring them speedily into His kingdom. 
 
 Grant that the nations of the Earth may no 
 longer use their strength to work desola- 
 tion : that all men may acknowledge Thou 
 art King, and honour and obey Thee, 
 world without end. 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. yj 
 
 II. — Our Native Land. 
 
 Almighty God, on Whom our fathers hoped, and Thou 
 didst deliver them, 
 
 1. Grant that religion and virtue may be found in all 
 
 our land : 
 that there may be peace and plenty within our 
 
 coast. 
 In peace, so preserve us that we grow not 
 
 corrupt : 
 in plenty, grant that we be not proud and 
 
 forget Thee : 
 in want, teach us to be humble and patient, 
 
 and to remember that the Kingdom of God 
 
 is righteousness and peace and joy in the 
 
 Holy Ghost. 
 That we may continue a people to love and serve 
 
 Thee. 
 That the men and women of our nation be sober, 
 
 pure, and righteous ; brave to act, patient 
 
 to bear, and earnest in obeying Thy will. 
 
 2. The Queen and Royal Family. 
 
 O God most high. Who art King of kings and 
 Lord of lords, 
 replenish our queen with the grace of Thy 
 Spirit, that she may always incline to Thy 
 holy will : 
 endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts. 
 
 O God in whose hand are the hearts of kings. 
 
 govern our queen with Thy wisdom, that all 
 her counsels may be pleasing in Thy sight : 
 grant her success in all that is good. 
 
78 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF L ORUS DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Preserve the Royal Family in the dangers and 
 temptations of their high estate. 
 In all humility and godly fear, may they serve 
 Thee faithfully, that they may inherit the 
 crown of everlasting life. 
 
 3. All rulers, statesmen, magistrates, and judges. 
 
 O Lord, Who art the Counsellor, the mighty 
 
 God, give them the spirit of wisdom and 
 
 godly fear : 
 
 inspire them with the love of Christ and 
 of men, that they may seek the enlighten- 
 ment and welfare of all who are under 
 their sway : 
 
 raise up for the service of our nation wise 
 and faithful men who honour Thee : 
 
 that they may have grace to cast from them 
 all self-seeking and unworthy ambition : 
 
 that they may be the defence of the op- 
 pressed, and the help of the orphan and 
 the widow and the helpless. 
 
 4. Parliament. 
 
 O God Who art the fountain of ail wisdom, guide 
 our legislators. 
 
 Overrule their deliberations for the welfare 
 of this great nation. 
 
 May the laws of our country reflect Thy will. 
 
 Prosper their counsels to the advancement of 
 true religion, so that peace and happiness 
 through Thy faith and fear may continue 
 among us through all generations. 
 
 Give them as their end and aim the brother- 
 hood of all men. 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 79 
 
 III. — Our City or Town, or Parish. 
 
 1. The People. 
 
 May the least among us seek the honour of our 
 
 town. 
 May true religion spread among us, sobriety, &c. 
 May all misery and vice and shame pass away. 
 
 2. Magistrates. 
 
 May they as men of honour and uprightness 
 
 consecrate their opportunities of serving 
 
 men, 
 use their position for the raising of the 
 
 fallen and the protection of the innocent : 
 strengthen the hands of the honest and 
 
 upright : 
 destroy the power of deceit and greed and 
 
 vice. 
 
 IV. — Classes. 
 I. The poor. 
 
 O Lord Who has been a strength to the poor, 
 a strength to the needy in his distress, 
 visit in Thy tenderness the needy in our 
 infirmaries, and asylums, hospitals, poor- 
 houses, and orphan homes. 
 Give tenderness to those that wait upon 
 
 them. 
 Teach us to see in them thy brethren, and 
 
 to pity and serve them. 
 May we learn to serve Thee in our service of 
 them, 
 visit the sick and the prisoner as those for 
 whom Christ died. 
 
8o ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA K [pt. i. 
 
 minister unto the sorrowing and friendless 
 as Thou hast ministered unto us. 
 
 2. The rich. 
 
 O God Who hast commanded us to lay up for 
 ourselves treasures in heaven, 
 
 give to the rich grace to use their riches for 
 Thy glory. 
 
 Make them good stewards of Thy bounty. 
 
 Keep far from them all pride, luxury, sloth. 
 
 Let them not be high-minded or neglectful 
 of the poor. 
 
 Awaken in all the joy of blessing the needy. 
 
 Make them ready to give of their abundance 
 for every noble work and Christian enter- 
 prise. 
 
 3. Grant grace to all who are in high station, all whose 
 
 words are honoured, all whose example 
 is imitated, that their words and their 
 conduct may be wise and honourable : 
 that in nothing they may lead any to stumble 
 or to doubt Thy truth, or dishonour Thy 
 name. 
 
 4. Working men and women. 
 
 That they may be faithful and diligent, serving 
 
 Thee: 
 that they may not be eye-servants. 
 Bless them in their callings and in their families. 
 May they use their great power in our nation 
 
 for good — to establish the Kingdom of 
 
 Heaven. 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 8i 
 
 5. Give guidance to all engaged in the lawful callings 
 
 of life, 
 
 that all men may perform their duties as unto 
 
 the Lord : 
 that having gifts that differ, all may labour with 
 
 one mind for one end. 
 That all may rejoice with those that prosper, and 
 
 be kind and helpful to those that fail. 
 That in the struggle of life, we may all rejoice 
 
 in hope, be patient in tribulation, and 
 
 continue instant in prayer. 
 
 6. Professors and teachers. 
 
 That they may be disciples of Thy wisdom, and 
 
 obedient to Him who is the loving and 
 
 wise Teacher of all. 
 That their example may lead many to love what 
 
 is noble, and to live for the honour of 
 
 Thy name. 
 Make them all seekers after truth, and with all 
 
 their learning, may they know the fear and 
 
 love of God. 
 Enable them to train the rising generation for 
 
 the service of God and of man. 
 
 7. Men and women of influence. 
 
 Lead them by Thy light and truth. 
 
 Make them obedient to that heavenly teaching 
 
 of Thine. 
 Guide those who are guiding our nation, and 
 
 teach those who, by their words and 
 
 writings, are forming public opinion. 
 Give them a deep sense of their responsibility 
 
 to Thee. 
 
82 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORDS DA V. [pt. i . 
 
 Fearing God, may they know no other fear. 
 May they be brave defenders of all that is true, 
 
 pure, honourable, lovely, and of good 
 
 report. 
 
 8. O Father, Who in Thy mercy hast never left us 
 without witnesses of Thy truth. 
 raise up many who are full of faith and Thy 
 Holy Spirit : 
 whose hearts are filled with the love of 
 
 men : 
 who visit the fatherless and seek the lost : 
 who spend their days to dispel the darkness, 
 and the sin of the world. 
 Grant them grace to persevere without wearying. 
 Give them strength to pray for those who resist 
 their good work, and to rejoice when they 
 are reviled and opposed in the service of 
 truth. 
 
 V. — Home. 
 
 I. Our homes. 
 
 O Father, Who in Thy lovingkindness hast 
 
 set us in families, 
 teach us to realise the sacredness of home. 
 May every home among us be a nursery of 
 
 piety and of noble youth. 
 May the influence of our home life be for 
 
 God, and love and hohness. 
 May every home be a shelter from care and 
 
 sin, a place where Thy Spirit rules. 
 May the memory of home follow the absent 
 
 into far lands, chastening their hearts, 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 83 
 
 keeping them unspotted, and bringing 
 them to Thee. 
 
 2. The children. 
 
 Give them love and reverence for their parents, 
 
 that they may learn to love and reverence 
 
 their Father in heaven. 
 Grant that they grow up into holiness, and 
 
 strength, and fruitfulness, in all things 
 
 just, true, and noble, before God and 
 
 man. 
 Guard their purity and innocence; and when 
 
 they learn what sin is, teach them to 
 
 hate and fear it. 
 Keep them from the sins that have marred our 
 
 lives. 
 May they find their happiness in seeking the 
 
 happiness of each other. 
 May Thy Spirit Whose seal was set upon them 
 
 in Baptism be with them always : 
 confirming in them the love of all that is good 
 
 and noble and fair : 
 ripening in them the faith and love of Jesus 
 
 Christ. 
 Satisfy them early with Thy mercy, that they 
 
 may rejoice and be glad all their days. 
 Give them health and happiness. 
 Watch over them at school, in play, in tempta- 
 tion. 
 Put Thy hand upon them and bless them. 
 
 3. Young men and women. 
 
 Make them a joy to their parents, at home or 
 absent. 
 
84 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Give them the grace of sobriety, purity, service. 
 Deepen their early piety and prayerfulness. 
 May they consecrate the freshness of their years 
 
 and strength to God. 
 Be with them when they leave home : when sur- 
 rounded by danger. 
 Keep those who are in our great cities when 
 
 tempted. 
 Deliver those who are being led away by evil. 
 Give them all high conceptions of duty and the 
 
 worth of life. 
 Suffer them not to forget the God of their 
 
 fathers. 
 Give them grace to remember their aged fathers 
 
 — widowed mothers — brothers and sisters. 
 May the prosperous never forget a struggling 
 
 brother or sister. 
 Be with those in foreign lands. 
 Keep them in health and in holiness. 
 
 4. All relatives and friends. 
 
 Bless all who have been kind to us in past years : 
 who have helped, warned, encouraged us : 
 who have comforted us in our hours of 
 
 sorrow : 
 who by their sympathy have given us hope : 
 who have patiently borne with our failings : 
 who have forgiven us our offences : 
 whose charity has covered our sins. 
 
 5. The aged and infirm. 
 
 O Eternal God, to Whom the years bring no 
 change, 
 pity those whose strength is failing fast : 
 
SEC. v.] ■ INTERCESSION. 85 
 
 those going down the valley and are near 
 
 the gate : 
 that, when the way seems dark, they may 
 
 see beyond to the glorious light of Thy 
 
 presence. 
 Be Thou their refuge and their support. 
 May they walk, leaning on Thy arm, and fearing 
 
 no evil. 
 Grant that the closing years of their pilgrimage 
 
 be spent in peace and the joy of Thy 
 
 presence. 
 
 6. The homeless, the poor and needy. 
 
 O Lord Who hadst not where to lay Thy head, 
 yet art now a shelter from the storm to all 
 the weary, 
 take under thy protecting care all who are 
 homeless : 
 who have no friend to succour them : 
 who have no human heart to pity them. 
 Give bread to the hungry. 
 Pity men and women who can find no work, 
 
 and their children who are starving. 
 Pity the poor who are held down by adversity, 
 and the weak who are baffled in struggle 
 with the strong. 
 Find a home and tenderness for children who 
 have been deserted by their parents. 
 
 7. Our enemies. 
 
 O Lord Who didst pray for Thy murderers, 
 give us grace to pray from the heart for those 
 who hate us, wrong us, persecute us. 
 
86 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Bless those who hate us without cause ; 
 who are estranged from us because we have 
 
 reproved their sin : 
 who hinder thy work by thoughtless speech. 
 Take away all anger from them, and all bitter- 
 ness from us. 
 Remove all misunderstandings and jealousies, 
 and unite us to one another in increasing 
 love. 
 
 VI.— Commerce, Business, and Social Life. 
 
 O God Who canst bring forth spiritual blessings 
 out of all our conditions, 
 teach us both how to abound and to be in 
 
 want. 
 Grant Thy presence to the prosperous that 
 they may be humble : 
 and to those once prosperous that they 
 complain not. 
 Take from us both the love of money and the 
 
 fear of poverty. 
 Save us alike from courting the rich and 
 
 despising the poor. 
 Give us grace to use all wealth and every 
 talent as Thy stewards, 
 as those who must render an account to 
 Thee: 
 to put out to usury for Thy glory even our 
 poverty and our weakness. 
 
 O God Who wilt not be served deceitfully by any 
 man," 
 purify the politics of our nation : 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 87 
 
 calm the angry strife of men : 
 
 change bitterness of speech into charitable 
 judgment : 
 
 make us with all our differences lovers of our 
 country, and fellow-workers for its highest 
 welfare. 
 
 Purify our social life, and grant 
 
 that we may honour only that which is 
 
 honourable : 
 deliver us from vanity, self-indulgence : 
 
 multiply the number of brave, earnest, self- 
 sacrificing followers of Christ : 
 
 grant that we may encourage one another in 
 pursuing all that is good. 
 
 O Lord, righteous and true. Whose cause and 
 kingdom cannot be helped by evil, 
 
 p2irify our I'eligious life from error and ignor- 
 ance and self-will : 
 
 bring us nearer to the loving, holy life of Thy 
 Son. 
 
 O God Who hast called Thy people to be the salt 
 
 of the earth, 
 preserve us from those blemishes and failings 
 
 that make the young and the ignorant to 
 
 stumble : 
 grant us simplicity, truth, and fervour in our 
 
 faith, and self-denial in our daily lives : 
 save us from all hypocrisy, insincerity, and 
 
 formality. 
 
88 ORDINAR V SERVICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 VII.— The Church. 
 
 I. The Church Universal, and our own branch of it. 
 
 O Lord Who hast loved the Church and given 
 Thyself for it, 
 sanctify and cleanse it by Thy Word. 
 Where it is corrupt, purge ; where in error, 
 
 direct it. 
 Where it is divided, heal the breaches thereof. 
 Suffer not those whom thou hast redeemed 
 
 with precious blood to be rent asunder. 
 Make Thy strength perfect in our weakness. 
 
 O Lord Who hast redeemed Thy Church that it 
 
 should be holy and without blemish, 
 remove all needless divisions, and unite us 
 
 all in Thy holy work. 
 Take away the spirit of rivalry, jealousy. 
 Rebuke all our uncharitable judgments of one 
 
 another. 
 Teach us all to bear with one another where 
 
 we differ, and to labour with one heart 
 
 for the salvation of men. 
 Bless all who love the Lord Jesus Christ by 
 
 whatever name they are called. 
 Guide them all into closer fellowship with 
 
 Thee. 
 Preserve Thy Church in unity and peace, free 
 
 from persecution, or glorious under it. 
 Keep her from trusting in the favour of 
 
 princes, or the power of riches, or the 
 
 ways of the world. 
 Give her increasing trust in the power of 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 89 
 
 prayer and holiness, and the unfailing 
 guidance of Thy spirit. 
 Grant that Christ may be more manifest in 
 the lives of thy people, 
 and through their service and sacrifice 
 work ever more powerfully upon the 
 world. 
 
 2. Our Congregation. 
 
 O God Who givest grace unto every one of us 
 
 according to the measure of the gift of 
 
 Christ, 
 dwell with us and be our God. 
 Accept the worship we offer Thee this day. 
 Grant a blessing on all our efforts. 
 May Thy Spirit be the Teacher of all our 
 
 classes. 
 May His presence be felt, and His voice heard 
 
 in all our meetings : 
 Go Thou forth in Thy resistless might with 
 
 those who work among the sinful, the 
 
 degraded. 
 In all our work may we seek peace, giving 
 
 place to one another, forbearing one another. 
 May each of us fear strife and covet the 
 
 blessing of the peace-maker. 
 
 3. Our office-bearers. 
 
 O Thou Who art the wise and loving Shepherd, 
 grant Thy Spirit to those who bear rule here 
 
 in Thy name. 
 Give them the mind of the Good Shepherd, 
 
 that they may faithfully and lovingly care 
 
 for the flock. 
 
90 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Give us a sense of our responsibility to Thee, 
 that we may be faithful stewards of Thy 
 Word. 
 Grant zeal and wisdom and patience to all 
 who plead for Thee : 
 
 an unwavering faith in Thy promised 
 
 victory over sin and death : 
 bestow upon us all the Spirit of prayer. 
 Grant in mercy that our lives may commend 
 
 the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 Give tender, loving hearts to understand the 
 sorrows of men : 
 
 courage and wisdom to speak the word 
 in season. 
 
 4. Our members and fellow-worshippers. 
 
 Almighty God, who by Thy spirit helpest our 
 
 infirmities, 
 enlighten those who are perplexed in faith. 
 Give peace in believing to those troubled in 
 
 conscience. 
 To those who are tried in Spirit, give comfort. 
 Support those who are struggling against 
 
 temptation. 
 Arouse the negligent, strengthen the penitent. 
 Deliver those who are in the bonds of sin, 
 
 and are fighting for deliverance. 
 Give victory to those who are pressing toward 
 
 Christ, who through all their failures and 
 
 sins seek the perfect life of the Lord. 
 Grant the aid of Thy counsel to all who teach 
 
 the ignorant and minister to the sick and 
 
 sorrowing, who are seeking the lost, giving 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 91 
 
 hope to the despairing, and are encouraging 
 those ready to faint. 
 
 May they know the blessedness of those 
 who are fellow-workers with God. 
 
 5. Mourners. 
 
 O merciful and gracious Father, Who lovest whom 
 Thou chastenest, 
 
 look down in pity upon those in sorrow. 
 
 Grant that, by the strength of Thy Spirit, they 
 may not murmur in their hearts, but humbly 
 submit unto Thy holy will. 
 
 Bless to them this hour of anguish, and make 
 it the preparation for a life of greater near- 
 ness to Thee. 
 
 Lift up their hearts unto that home where 
 there is no parting, and where Thou shalt 
 wipe away all tears from their eyes. 
 
 In their darkness may thy light shine, and in 
 their loneliness may Thy presence be felt. 
 
 The sorrows of death are but for a little while, 
 comfort them with the living hope of a 
 union that shall not be broken. 
 
 May we who remain behind a little longer 
 keep ever clear and bright the memory of 
 lives now passed into Thy presence. 
 
 As we try in our sorrow to follow them into 
 the world unseen, grant that we may meet 
 with Thee and know the comfort of Thy 
 love. 
 
 6. The sick, the burdened and friendless. 
 
 O Father Who ever governest Thy children in 
 mercy, look upon the sick with tender pity. 
 
92 ORDINARY SERVICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 Sanctify Thy Fatherly correction. 
 
 May their weakness give strength to their 
 
 faith and sincerity to their repentance. 
 Let Thy mercy encompass Thy afflicted 
 
 children. 
 Make their affliction seem light and but for a 
 moment compared with the eternal weight 
 of glory hereafter. 
 Let the day of affliction be to them a holy 
 
 messenger from Thee. 
 Forbid that their trials should lead them to 
 doubt Thy care or Thy unceasing love of 
 them. 
 Be the unfailing strength of those who are 
 bearing crosses too heavy for them : 
 
 whose sufferings make them weary for 
 
 death : 
 to whom the day brings no brightness 
 
 and the night no rest : 
 say to them, I will give thee rest : 
 on whose hearts lie burdens none dare 
 
 know but Thou : 
 whose earthly future is without a ray of 
 
 hope : 
 who have lost their earthly friends and 
 
 have not yet found Thee : 
 who are in the snares of those who seek 
 
 their ruin : 
 over whom no one watches, for whom no 
 one prays, whom no one seeks to save. 
 
 7 . The tempted and all who have gone astray. 
 
 Visit in mercy speedily the sons and daughters of 
 our home who are living in sin : 
 
SFX. v.] INTERCESSION. 93 
 
 parents whose lives are leading their children 
 ; astray : 
 
 grant that those who have known and yet have 
 forgotten Thee may not perish but return 
 to Thee again : 
 that those who follow Thee afar off may not 
 deny Thee. 
 The outcasts of our cities. 
 In mercy rescue those 
 
 for whom the name of Christ is nothing 
 but an oath. 
 
 O Father of the fatherless, 
 
 pity those who are trained by parents to a life 
 of vice and crime, 
 who have known an earthly father's love 
 and to whom Thy love is no more 
 than a name. 
 Have mercy upon the great multitude of the 
 Christless around our doors : 
 the criminals for whom we have done 
 little, of whom we seldom think with 
 tenderness : 
 the men and women abandoned by them- 
 selves and by us, that Thy spirit may 
 never forsake them : 
 those who name the name of Christ, yet 
 are too busy with the world for prayer: 
 who are ashamed to confess Thee, 
 who can be mocked and jeered into sin. 
 
 8. The heathen — our missions. 
 
 O God Who hast given Thy Son the heathen for 
 His inheritance. 
 
94 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 bless all who are labouring to bring them to Thee. 
 Give them the courage and wisdom of Christ : 
 
 His patience and tenderness, His spirit of 
 
 sacrifice. 
 As the fields ripen to the harvest, send forth 
 
 labourers chosen by Thee. 
 More and more may Christ's Church take upon 
 
 her heart the burden that lies on His. 
 Send forth many labourers in this great cause, 
 
 feeling that it is Thine. 
 Gladden and sustain them till the promised day 
 
 comes. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A Litany for Special Days of Prayer. 
 
 (from Hermann's " ConstiUafion/' slightly shorte7ied and 
 adapted. ) 
 
 O God the Father of Heaven, O God the Son, Re- 
 deemer of the world, O God the Holy Ghost : 
 
 Have mercy upon us. Be gracious unto iis^ and spare 
 us, good Lord. 
 
 From all sin, all error, and all evil : 
 Good Lord J deliver us. 
 
 From pestilence and famine, from lightning and tem- 
 pests, from sedition and privy hatred, from murder and 
 war, from dying an evil death suddenly and unprepared, 
 from the snares of the devil, and from everlasting death : 
 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation ; by Thy holy 
 Nativity ; by Thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptations : 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
SEC. v.] INTERCESSION. 95 
 
 By Thine Agony and Bloody Sweat ; by Thy Cross 
 and Passion ; by Thy Death and Burial ; by Thy Resur- 
 rection and Ascension; by the Coming of the Holy 
 Ghost, the Comforter : 
 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our pro- 
 sperity ; in the hour of death, and in the Day of Judg- 
 ment : 
 
 Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord God ; 
 and that it may please Thee to rule and govern Thy 
 holy Catholic Church in the right way : 
 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to keep all bishops, pastors, 
 and ministers of Thy Church in wholesome doctrine and 
 holy life, and to give unto all who hear increase of Thy 
 Word and the fruit of Thy Spirit : 
 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to send forth faithful 
 labourers into Thy harvest ; to take away divisions and 
 all offences ; and to bring back into the way of truth 
 all those that err and are deceived : 
 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee, to Hft up them that be fallen, 
 to strengthen them that stand, to comfort and help the 
 weak-hearted and the tempted, and finally to tread down 
 Satan under our feet : 
 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give to all kings, rulers, 
 and princes peace and concord ; that Thou wilt graciously 
 guide and keep our own [Queen] and all [her] Council- 
 
96 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 lors j and that Thou wilt bless and guard our Magis- 
 trates and all our people : 
 
 JVe beseech Thee^ hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee mercifully to look upon and 
 save all that are in affliction and danger ; all women in 
 their time of peril ; and that Thou wouldst cherish and 
 care for all little children and sick folk : 
 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give deliverance to 
 prisoners, to defend and provide for all widows, and all 
 fatherless and motherless children : 
 
 IVe beseech Thee^ hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to have mercy upon all men : 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to forgive our enemies, per- 
 secutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts : 
 We beseech Thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 That it may please Thee to give and preserve for us 
 the fruits of the earth : 
 
 We beseech thee, hear us, good Lord. 
 
 O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the 
 world, have mercy upon us. Gra?it us Thy peace. 
 
 Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have viercy upon 
 us. Amen. 
 
 A Prayer after the Litany. 
 
 O God, from whom all holy desires, all right purposes, 
 and all just works do proceed, grant unto Thy servants 
 that peace which the world cannot give, that so our 
 hearts being set on Thy precepts, and delivered from the 
 
SEC. VI.] PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION. 97 
 
 fear of our enemies, we may live in peace and gladness 
 under Thy Fatherly keeping, through our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 Section VI. 
 
 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION. 
 
 According to our standards and the teaching of the 
 Reformed Church generally, the Word of God holds the 
 first place among "the means of grace." The "preach- 
 ing of the Word " is so important, and the responsibilities 
 both of preacher and hearers are so great, that it is 
 fitting and desirable that the sermon or lecture should 
 have a brief prayer specially assigned to itself. This is 
 commonly known as the " Prayer for Illumination," or 
 for the special presence and power of the Holy Spirit 
 with the Word. We strongly recommend that such 
 prayer should be offered. Its place is, of course, im- 
 mediately before the sermon. Specimens of what is 
 meant are given.^ A hymn, or part of one, containing 
 petitions and aspirations for the Spirit, may sometimes 
 take the place of this prayer, e.g., " Come, Holy Ghost, 
 our souls inspire"; "Spirit blest, who art adored"; 
 " Holy Spirit, hear us." 
 
 Most Gracious God and Father, in whom dwelleth all 
 fulness of light and wisdom : enlighten our minds, we 
 beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, in the true under- 
 standing of Thy Word. Give us grace to receive it with 
 
 ^ The sources of some of these prayers are noted in Appendix. 
 G 
 
98 ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA V. [pt. i. 
 
 all reverence and humility. May it teach us to put our 
 whole trust in Thee only, and so to serve and honour Thee 
 that in all our life we may glorify Thy Holy name and be 
 profitable to our fellow-men. And inasmuch as it hath 
 pleased Thee to number us with Thy servants and 
 children, grant that we may render unto Thee the love 
 and obedience which we owe Thee, as children to their 
 Father, and servants to their lord. We ask all for the 
 sake of Jesus Christ our only Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Mighty God, to whom all glory and honour do justly 
 appertain : Since it hath pleased Thee to make us under- 
 stand Thy will by Thy Holy Word, grant hkewise that 
 we may receive the same with all reverence, and that we 
 may have a feeling of the force and strength thereof; 
 that thereby we may be renewed unto all holiness of life ', 
 that in the end we may enjoy the heritage promised to 
 all them that are adopted in Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 3 
 
 O God, in whose wisdom Thy children become wise : 
 Illumine our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may 
 receive Thy truth in the love of it. May the fruit be 
 unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, for the sake 
 of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 4 
 
 O God, who of old didst send forth Thy messengers 
 
 to make rough places smooth and crooked paths straight, 
 
 to prepare the way of the Lord : Prepare our hearts now 
 
 to receive Thy Truth in the love of it. May the truth 
 
SEC. VI.] PRA YER FOR ILLUMINA TION. 99 
 
 make us free from the bondage of error and evil with 
 the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
 
 5 
 
 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast given 
 us Thy Holy Word to be a light to our feet and a lamp 
 to our path : Grant us grace and faithfulness now to use 
 it aright. Open our understandings and our hearts by 
 Thy Holy Spirit that we may understand the Scriptures. 
 Bless us in speaking and in hearing this day for Jesus' 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 6 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who art the Father of 
 lights : shine into our hearts and minds that we may 
 understand aright Thy message to us in the Scriptures. 
 Bless him who speaks and those who hear. May the 
 Gospel come to us now, not in word only, but in power, 
 and in the Holy Ghost. May He guide us into all truth, 
 and strengthen us unto all obedience, so that we may 
 be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the 
 Saints in light, through Jesus Christ our Lord : To whom 
 with Thee, and with the Holy Ghost, be all honour 
 and glory, dominion and praise, now and for evermore. 
 Amen. 
 
 7 
 O God, who didst speak of old unto the fathers by 
 the prophets, and hast spoken unto us in these last days 
 by Thy Son : speak to us now in Thy Holy Word. 
 Make our hearts to be as good and prepared soil for the 
 good seed of Thy Kingdom. Teach us to know Thy will 
 and to do it in all things. May Thy Holy Spirit be with 
 us now as a Spirit of light and life. May Christ be 
 
loo ORDINAR V SER VICE OF LORD'S DA Y. [pt. i. 
 
 glorified in the preaching of His Gospel this day. And 
 may grace and peace be multiplied unto us all through 
 the knowledge of Thee and of Jesus our Lord : for His 
 name's sake. Amen. 
 
 O Lord, as Thou feedest all creatures with temporal 
 food and pasturage, make us to feel inwardly the effect 
 of Thy holy Word ; and grant that we, following Thy 
 will declared therein, may in the end enjoy the heritage 
 prepared for Thy people in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The first of the Prayers for Illumination given above 
 is from Calvin; the second and eighth are from the 
 Scottish Collects of 1595. Comp. Henry, Lebe?i Calvins 
 n., 156; Beilage 8, p. 65 ; Baird, Chapter on Liturgies^ 
 37 ; Bannerman, Worship of Presbyt. Churchy loi ; 
 Presbyt. Forms of Service^ 2nd ed., 70. 
 
part II. 
 
 THE SACRAMENTS. 
 Section I.— BAPTISM. 
 
 K.—BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 
 
 The Sacrament of Baptism should, as far as possible, 
 be administered in Church, and in presence of the 
 Congregation.^ It is an ordinance which concerns the 
 whole Congregation, and not merely the child to be 
 baptised and its parents ; and ought, therefore, to be so 
 administered as to be a means of grace to all present. 
 The custom of requiring the father to stand up in 
 presence of the Congregation during the address of the 
 minister is not to be commended. It tends to convey 
 the impression that the Congregation are mere spectators 
 of a ceremony, and besides is largely responsible for 
 the prevalent reluctance of parents to bring their children 
 for public administration of the rite. Were the address 
 directed to all the worshippers, although with special 
 reference to parents, and the father asked to stand only 
 when the baptismal vow was laid upon him, these evils 
 might be greatly lessened. 
 
 1 * * Nor is it to be administered in private places or privately, 
 but in the place of public worship, and in the face of the congrega- 
 tion, where the people may most conveniently see and hear " 
 (Westminster Directory for Public Worship). 
 
I02 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. il 
 
 I. — Order of Baptismal Service. 
 
 1. Prayer. 
 
 2. Praise. 
 
 3. Passages from Scripture. 
 
 4. Address to the Congregation. 
 
 5. Prayer. 
 
 6. Baptism (all standing). 
 
 7. Anthem, '' The Lord bless thee." 
 
 8. Prayer. 
 
 II. — Notes on Above Order. 
 
 1. Prayer invoking God's blessing upon all the 
 worshippers in the administration of the Sacrament. 
 This may form part of the prayer following the dis- 
 course. 
 
 2. A suitable Psalm, Hymn, or Anthem shall be sung, 
 such as Ps. xc. 14-17, cxv. 12-18 — "A little child the 
 Saviour came " ; " Blessed Jesus, here we stand " ; " O 
 Father, Thou who hast created all"; "Suffer the httle 
 children." 
 
 3. One or more passages of Scripture bearing on the 
 Sacrament of Baptism may be read. These may form 
 the subject of the Address. See Appendix I. 
 
 4. Exhortation : to be addressed to all the worshippers, 
 to parents, to the young people on the significance of 
 the Sacrament. See pp. 108- 11 6. 
 
 5. The Baptismal Prayer: including Thanksgiving 
 for the grace signified and sealed in the ordinance, along 
 with supplication for a blessing on its administration. 
 
 6. As Baptism is the ordinance by which the Congrega- 
 tion solemnly recognises the child as a member of the 
 Church, and receives it into Christian fellowship, it is 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 103 
 
 seemly that all should rise when the father rises to 
 take the baptismal vow, and remain standing till after the 
 singing of the Anthem. 
 
 The minister shall then put the following question to 
 the father : 1 In presenting your child for Baptism, 
 do you profess your faith in God the Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghost, and do you promise in dependence upon 
 divine grace to train this child in the nurture and 
 admonition of the Lord ? 
 
 The answer of the father may be given either by bowing 
 his head or by an audible " I do." 
 
 Sprinkling water on the child's face, the minister, 
 naming the child, shall then say : " I baptise thee into 
 the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," 
 and may pronounce the apostolic benediction over him, 
 " the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with thee now 
 and evermore. Amen." 
 
 The minister shall then turn to the Congregation and 
 say : This child is now received into the fellowship of 
 the Church of Christ. " Whoso," said the Lord, " shall 
 receive one such little child in My name, receiveth 
 Me." 
 
 7. The Congregation invoke God's blessing on the 
 child in the words of the anthem : " The Lord bless 
 thee and keep thee." 
 
 ^ The parents should be advised beforehand of the terms of this 
 vow which they make on behalf of the child. Such a vow as is 
 implied in the above question may be considered sufficient. In the 
 Baptismal service in the Book of Common Order the father is called 
 upon to repeat the Apostles' Creed, so as to "declare before God 
 and His congregation the sum of that faith which ye believe, and 
 wherein ye will instruct this child." 
 
104 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. il 
 
 8. The Prayer after Baptism may include — 
 
 {a) Thanksgiving for the love of God in Christ to 
 the children, and for the seal of this love in Baptism : 
 
 {b) Prayer for the child that God's fatherly love may 
 shine upon his earthly path, that Christ may be his 
 Redeemer and King, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell 
 in him as his Teacher, Comforter, and Sanctifier : that 
 he may be spared to be the joy of his parents and a 
 strength to the Church, that grace may be given him to 
 be a good soldier and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, 
 and that he may at last attain an entrance into the 
 heavenly kingdom : 
 
 ic) Prayer for parents^ that their new joy may be 
 sanctified, that grace may be given them for new respon- 
 sibilities, that they may consecrate themselves afresh to 
 God's service, and be baptized afresh with Christ's spirit 
 of wisdom, faithfulness, and love : 
 
 {d) Prayer for their home, that Christ's presence may 
 shed joy and peace abroad in it, that husband and wife, 
 parents and children, brothers and sisters, may be drawn 
 closer to each other in the bonds of divine love : 
 
 {e) Prayer for all the homes of the co?igregation, that 
 the God of all the families of the earth would dwell in 
 them ; that he would sanctify and bless the ties of kin- 
 ship ; and that through His grace family discipline may 
 serve to foster in all His children the spirit of trust, 
 obedience, and love: 
 
 (/) Prayer for the children of the congregation, that they 
 may be preserved from the evil that is in the world ; may 
 grow up in the Kingdom of God from the beginning ; 
 and may early be led into the conscious faith and willing 
 service of Jesus Christ their Lord. 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 105 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 I. 
 
 Passages from Scripture. 
 
 {See above. No. 3. ) 
 
 Go ye therefore and teach [make disciples of] all 
 nations, baptizing them in [or into] the name of the 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : teaching 
 them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded : 
 and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the 
 world. (Matthew xxviii. 19-20.) 
 
 And they brought young children to Him, that He 
 should touch them : and His disciples rebuked those 
 that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much 
 displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children 
 to come unto Me, and forbid them not : for of such is the 
 Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever 
 shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, 
 he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His 
 arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them. 
 (Mark x. 13-16.) 
 
 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in 
 Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 
 (Matt, xviii. 14,) 
 
 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; 
 for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always 
 behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 
 (Matt, xviii. 10.) 
 
 The promise is unto you, and to your children. . . . 
 Ye are the children of the covenant which God made 
 
io6 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 with our fathers, saying unto Abraham : And in thy seed 
 shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. . . . That 
 the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles 
 through Jesus Christ. . . . If ye be Christ's, then are ye 
 Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. . . . 
 I will establish my covenant between me, thee and thy 
 seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting 
 covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after 
 thee. ... It (circumcision) shall be a token of the 
 covenant betwixt Me and you. (Gen. xvii. 7, 1 1 ; Acts 
 ii. 39 ; iii. 25 ; Gal. iii. 29.) He is a Jew which is one 
 inwardly ; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the 
 spirit, not in the letter. . . . The circumcision of Christ, 
 buried with Him in baptism. (Rom. ii. 29 ; Col. ii. 11.) 
 
 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlast- 
 ing upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness 
 unto children's children ; to such as keep His covenant, 
 and to those that remember His commandments to dO' 
 them. (Ps. ciii. 17-18.) 
 
 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the 
 baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. . . . 
 And he preached, saying : There cometh one mightier 
 than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not 
 worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have 
 baptized you with water : but He shall baptise you with 
 the Holy Ghost. (Mark i. 4, 7-8.) 
 
 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into 
 Jesus Christ were baptized into His death ? Therefore 
 we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like 
 as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the 
 Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 
 (Rom. vi. 3-4.) 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 107 
 
 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ 
 Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into 
 Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. iii. 26-27.) 
 
 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye 
 shall be clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your 
 idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give 
 you, and a new spirit will I put within you : and I will 
 take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will 
 give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit 
 within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and 
 ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezek. xxxvi. 
 25-27-) 
 
 And Hannah said : I am the woman that stood by 
 thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I 
 prayed ; and the Lord hath given me my petition which 
 I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him to the 
 Lord ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. 
 (1 Sam. i. 26-27.) 
 
 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 
 and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these 
 words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine 
 heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy 
 children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in 
 thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and 
 when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 
 (Deut. vi. 5.) 
 
 Ye fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest 
 they be discouraged. (Colossians iii. 21.) 
 
 Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but 
 bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. (Ephesians vi. 4.) 
 
io8 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 11. 
 
 TOPICS FOR ADDRESS} 
 
 {See above, No. 4.) 
 
 Significance of Baptism. 
 
 The sacraments as signs and seals of the covenant of 
 grace — Baptism the initial sacrament of the Christian 
 Church as circumcision of the Jewish one — The funda- 
 mental promise of the covenant in all ages is : "I will be 
 a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee " (Gen, xvii. 7 ; 
 comp. Rev. xxi. 3). "The blessing of Abraham," the 
 Apostle teaches, " has come upon the Gentiles in Jesus 
 Christ. ... If ye be Christ's, ye are Abraham's seed, 
 and heirs according to the promise." Therefore the 
 children of believers, " born within the Church," as the 
 Westminster Directory says, " have, by their birth, interest 
 in the covenant, and right to the seal of it, and to the 
 outward privileges of the Church, under the Gospel, no 
 less than the children of Abraham in the time of the 
 Old Testament; the covenant of grace, for substance, 
 being the same, and the grace of God and the consolation 
 of believers more plentiful than before. . . . Children, 
 by baptism, are solemnly received into the bosom of the 
 visible Church, distinguished from the world and them 
 that are without, and united with believers. . . . They 
 are federally ' holy ' before baptism, and therefore are 
 they baptized." (i Cor. vii. 14.) 
 
 The Sacraments. — Christ's legacy to the Church — 
 Comparison of Baptism with Lord's Supper — Baptism a 
 
 1 Some of these may better be taken up in a Sermon on "The 
 Children's Day," or other suitable occasion. The Address should 
 be short and clear, and selection of topics made accordingly. 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 109 
 
 pledge of God's redeeming love, of the forgiveness of 
 sin, of cleansing, and of new life through the Spirit. 
 
 The Great Name (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) 
 points to the spiritual heritage of baptized persons — God 
 meeting the children on the threshold of their lives, 
 and claiming to be their Father, their Redeemer, their 
 Sanctifier. 
 
 The Work of the Spirit — Regeneration — Dying to 
 sin, and living to God — The Symbolism of Baptism 
 — The need of Spiritual Cleansing — Washing away the 
 stains of the past, and emerging into a fresh, clean life 
 — Putting on Christ. 
 
 Engagement to be the Lord's — Renouncing the world, 
 the flesh, and the devil. 
 
 Children of Christian parents, members of the 
 Christian Church, received by Baptism into the fellow- 
 ship of the Church. " The inward grace and virtue of 
 Baptism is not tied to that very moment of time wherein 
 it is administered; but the fruit and power thereof 
 reacheth to the whole course of our life." Children 
 expected to grow up in the love and obedience of Christ 
 — The duty of the Church towards the children. 
 
 The administration of the ordinance admonishes all 
 that are present "to look back to their baptism, to 
 repent of their sins against their covenant with God, 
 to stir up their faith, to improve and make right use 
 of their baptism, and of the covenant sealed thereby 
 betwixt their souls and God." 
 
 Exhortation to Parents. 
 The Sacrament a comfort to Christian parents as a 
 seal of the promise which is " unto them and unto their 
 children." 
 
no THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 Greatness of trust committed to their keeping — An 
 immortal spirit to educate — Possibilities in a child — 
 Hopes that centre in a child — Reverence for a 
 child. 
 
 Baptism the solemn consecration of the child to God 
 and to God's service — " I have lent him unto the Lord " 
 — No magical efficacy in baptism — Efficacy bound up 
 with religious training on the part of the parents — 
 Consecration in baptism but the key-note of the whole 
 training of the child — Fathers and mothers to consecrate 
 their children daily. 
 
 Home training — The importance of early training — 
 Children to be trained in obedience, reverence, and the 
 love of Christ — Precept and example — Spirit of the 
 home — Family religion — The power of home life — Its 
 memories — Parents speaking to older children of the 
 meaning of their baptism. 
 
 Personal consecration — The influence of children in 
 the spiritual training of parents — Fresh dedication of 
 the household to God — Need of divine help — Prayer. 
 
 Exhortation to the Young. 
 
 Baptized into the name of the Father— God's fatherly 
 love— Christ's love for children — Stories in the Gospel. 
 He called you by name in baptism ; is calling you still. 
 Have you answered to your name ? 
 
 Dedicated to God in infancy your parents brought 
 you — Samuel — Vow still resting upon you — The fulfilling 
 of the vow — Engaged to be Christ's, and to fight against 
 the world, the flesh, and the devil. 
 
 Enrolled in God's school — The teacher — The lessons. 
 
 Enlisted in God's army — The Captain of salvation — 
 Enemies — Daily fight — Promise of victory. 
 
SEC. 1.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. in 
 
 III. 
 
 SPECIMEN FORMS OF PRAYER AND ADDRESS. 
 
 Prayer at Beginning of Baptismal Service. 
 
 Almighty and most merciful Father, who hast re- 
 vealed Thy gracious purpose towards Thy children in 
 Jesus Christ our Saviour, and who hast given us the 
 sacraments of Thy Church as seals of Thy redeeming 
 love, cleanse our hearts by the inspiration of Thy holy 
 Spirit, that the administration of this ordinance may 
 bring us a blessing, and quicken our faith, that we may 
 lay hold of the grace set forth in the outward symbol for 
 our growth in holiness, and to the praise of Thy great 
 name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 An Address to the Congregation. 
 
 i^See above. No. 4. ) 
 {Adapted from the Book of Covimon Order.) 
 
 This Baptism with water doth signify and set forth 
 unto us the virtue of Christ's blood and righteousness, 
 for cleansing our souls from the guilt and deadly poison 
 of sin, that being born again of the Spirit we may walk 
 in newness of life, of which grace Baptism is the covenant 
 sign and seal. 
 
 Moreover, ye that be fathers and mothers may take 
 from hence most singular comfort in seeing your children 
 thus received into the bosom of Christ's Church ; and 
 by this also ye are daily admonished that ye bring up 
 in piety and virtue these children of God's favour and 
 mercy, over whom His fatherly providence watcheth 
 continually. 
 
112 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ll. 
 
 Wherein if ye be negligent, ye shall not only do injury 
 to your children, hiding from them the good pleasure of 
 Almighty God their Father, but ye shall bring judgment 
 upon yourselves, in suffering His children, bought with 
 the blood of His dear Son, so traitorously, for lack of 
 knowledge, to turn back from Him. 
 
 It much profiteth oft to be present at the administra- 
 tion of Baptism, that we being put in mind of the league 
 and covenant made betwixt God and us, — that he will 
 be our God and we His people, He our Father and we 
 His children, — may have occasion to try our past lives 
 as well as our present conduct, and to examine ourselves, 
 whether we stand fast in the faith of God's elect, or con- 
 trariwise have strayed from Him through unbelief and 
 ungodly living ; whereof if our consciences do accuse 
 us, yet by hearing the loving promises of our Heavenly 
 Father (who calleth all men to mercy by repentance) 
 we may from henceforth walk more warily in our 
 vocation. 
 
 Another Address to the Congregation and to the 
 Parents of the Child to be Baptised.^ 
 
 I. Baptism, like the Lord's Supper, is a sign and seal 
 of the covenant of grace. Every covenant which God 
 made with men from the first had a sign as well as a 
 word of promise connected with it, the sign making the 
 
 1 There are occasions M^hen it is desirable to give an address, 
 such as this, indicating, rather more fully than usual, the nature 
 and grounds of Infant Baptism. When that is done, the ordinary 
 forenoon or evening service should be correspondingly shortened, 
 so as to give due time for all connected with the Baptism, without 
 any appearance of hurry, and without going beyond the usual limits 
 of public worship. 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 113 
 
 word clearer and surer. And every covenant included 
 the child with the parent. So it was in the covenant 
 with Adam, with Noah, with Abraham, with Israel ; and 
 so with believers now under the Gospel. 
 
 " If ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and 
 heirs according to the promise." Listen to it : "I will 
 establish My covenant between Me and thee, and thy 
 seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting 
 covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after 
 thee." In baptism, as now administered, "the promise" 
 comes " to you and to your children " both in word and 
 sign. God says to you to-day, as of old to Abraham, 
 "the father of all them that believe": "This is the 
 token of the covenant between Me and thee and thy 
 seed after thee." He is "a gracious God and merciful." 
 He thinks still of all the little ones " who cannot discern 
 between their right hand and their left." But He has a 
 special love and care for the children of His believing 
 people. This is a perpetual witness in His Church that 
 it is so. 
 
 See, then, that you have an interest in the covenant. 
 Take hold afresh of Christ, in whom all its promises 
 have their yea and amen, as you seek the sign of the 
 covenant now for your child, or as you remember how 
 you brought your little ones for baptism, as our brother 
 brings his to-day. This is a believet^s privilege. It is on 
 the ground of a profession of faith in Christ and obedi- 
 ence to Him that I administer this sacrament to-day. 
 The covenant promises and blessings are sure as the 
 faithfulness of God, if there is faith on our part to lay 
 hold of them. It is a disciple's ordinance, a token from 
 the Lord's own hand of His love for you and yours. 
 Remember a disciple means one who has come into the 
 
 H 
 
114 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 school of Christ, and is wiUing to learn of Him and to 
 follow Him in all things. 
 
 2. Baptism shews the kind of blessing needed by our 
 children from the first, and provided for them in God's 
 covenant of grace and peace. It is " a visible sermon " 
 on sin and cleansing and consecration. It teaches us that 
 we are born with sinful natures,— a sad inheritance from 
 fathers and mothers, themselves sinful; that even such 
 little ones as these need, in God's sight, to be washed 
 and purified. And it points to the great Divine remedy, 
 to the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 The Lord Jesus speaks to us by the signs of His sacra- 
 ment to-day, saying : " Ye must be born again . . . born 
 of water and of the Spirit." . . . "In Him we have redemp- 
 tion through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Among 
 the promises of the new covenant these stand chief: 
 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall 
 be clean, from all your filthiness will I cleanse you. A 
 new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
 within you. I will put My spirit within you, and cause 
 you to walk in My statutes and do them. . . . And ye 
 shall be my people, and I will be your God."^ As 
 parents present their little ones for baptism in God's 
 house — making this their first public act with respect to 
 them — they profess anew their faith in these great founda- 
 tion truths of the Gospel. They seek these covenant 
 blessings for themselves and their children. The signs 
 repeat the words to us to-day. They seal the promises 
 to faith. 
 
 3. The Lord meets you, fathers and mothers, now 
 with a very gracious message, and with His hands full of 
 
 ^ John iii. 5-7 ; Eph. i. 7 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 25-28, 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 115 
 
 gifts. It is at His invitation that you bring your little 
 ones to Him in His house, as of old the earthly parents 
 of the Holy Child Jesus brought Him, as an infant, to 
 the Temple to present Him to the Lord. There is a 
 special blessing prepared for you also as you do this, in 
 the midst of His worshipping people, who join with you 
 in prayer that all covenant promises may be fulfilled for 
 you and your children. The Lord himself is here to 
 meet with you and them for good. He bids you now 
 cast all your cares for them upon Him, for He careth 
 for them. 
 
 "They brought their babes unto Jesus that he would 
 touch them. ..." And He took them up in His arms, 
 put His hands upon them, and blessed them." ^ We 
 cannot see His look and gesture now as those mothers 
 did, but surely faith may see in this ordinance the Lord's 
 hand stretched out once more to receive and bless the 
 little ones thus brought to Him for blessing, and may 
 hear His voice saying to each believing father and 
 mother : " According to thy faith be it unto thee. Take 
 this child and train it for Me, and I will give thee thy 
 wages." 
 
 In Baptism the Lord gives to the children of His 
 people a place and a name in the fellowship of His 
 Church on earth, a right to all its privileges, so far as 
 their age allows, a claim to Christian instruction and 
 loving Christian oversight. He gives these little ones 
 [this little one] to-day a special right to our prayers on 
 their [his] behalf both now and henceforth. We see the 
 Good Shepherd now putting His mark on these lambs 
 of the flock. They are specially dear to Him, and should 
 
 ^ Luke xviii. 15 ; Mark x. 16. 
 
ii6 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. il. 
 
 be so to us also. Let us see that we shew it more and 
 more in this congregation. In token of our receiving 
 and welcoming these little ones to-day, let us all rise now 
 and remain standing during the administration of the 
 ordinance.^ 
 
 4. Encouraged by such tokens for good from the Lord 
 in His house to-day, you, the father [and mother] of this 
 little one, take upon you all the duties of Christian 
 parents. The charge which Christ once gave to an 
 apostle He gives now to you: "Feed my lambs." Ask 
 the food from the Lord Himself. " Suffer these little 
 children to come unto Him, and forbid them not." See 
 that there is nothing in yourselves, or in your home life, 
 to keep the little ones from coming to the Lord Jesus, 
 but everything to help and encourage them to come. 
 Remember the duties of "the Church in the house." 
 Train up your children in the knowledge of God's Word, 
 and especially of the great truths of the Gospel. Bring 
 them afresh to the Lord day by day in prayer, lead them 
 in His ways by example and counsel. Seek that, from 
 the first, there may be always around them the pure and 
 healthful atmosphere of a Christian home, where there is 
 God's fear and God's love, and the blessing promised to 
 the families that call upon His name. 
 
 These truths concerning God the Father, the Son, and 
 the Spirit, and the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, you 
 believe ; and these duties, God helping you, you desire 
 and purpose to perform, — do you not ? 
 
 [The answer may be given either by bowing reverently, 
 or by an audible " I do."] 
 
 ^ The parents should, of course, rise also at this point, and this 
 should be explained to them beforehand. See above, p. 103. 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF INFANTS. 117 
 
 Baptismal Prayer. 
 
 {^See abovey No. 5.) 
 
 {Adapted from the Book of Common Order.) 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, who of Thine infinite 
 mercy and goodness hast promised unto us that Thou 
 wilt be not only our God, but the God and Father of 
 our children, we beseech Thee to sanctify with thy 
 Spirit and to receive into the number of Thy children 
 this infant, whom we are now to baptise according to 
 Thy word. Grant that he, coming to mature age, may 
 confess Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom 
 Thou hast sent, and may serve Thee and be profitable 
 unto Thy Church all the days of his life. And when 
 this life is ended may he be brought unto the full fruition 
 of Thy joys in the heavens, where Thy son, our Saviour 
 Christ, reigneth with Thee the Father and with the Holy 
 Ghost, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Baptismal Prayer. 
 
 {Adapted from the Directory for Public Worship.) 
 
 O God, who hast not left us as strangers without the 
 covenant of promise, graciously vouchsafe to sanctify and 
 bless this ordinance. Be pleased, we beseech Thee, to 
 join the inward baptism of the Spirit with the outward 
 baptism of water. Make this baptism to this child a 
 seal of adoption, remission of sin, regeneration and 
 eternal life, and all other promises of the covenant of 
 grace. May he be planted into the likeness of the death 
 and resurrection of Christ, and the body of sin being 
 destroyed in him, may he serve Thee in newness of life 
 all his days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
ii8 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ik 
 
 Prayer after Baptism. 
 
 {Adapted from the Book of Common Order ^ 
 
 Most holy and merciful Father, we give Thee most 
 humble thanks for Thine infinite goodness, who has not 
 only numbered us amongst Thy Saints, but also of Thy 
 free mercy dost call our children unto Thee, marking 
 them with this Sacrament as a singular token and badge 
 of Thy love. Wherefore, most loving Father, we beseech 
 Thee, for Christ's sake, that Thou wilt confirm this Thy 
 favour more and more towards us, and take into Thy 
 tuition and defence this infant whom we offer and present 
 unto Thee with common supplications. Suffer him not 
 so to fall away from Thee, as to lose the force of his 
 baptism, but through the Holy Spirit working in his 
 heart may he know Thee His merciful Father, and pre- 
 vail against Satan, that in the end he may obtain the 
 victory and be exalted into the freedom of Thy Kingdom. 
 Amen. 
 
 -Q.— BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 
 
 As in the Jewish Church in our Lord's time, and for 
 centuries previous, the circumcision of infants was the 
 rule and that of adults the exception, so in our own 
 Church, save in its mission fields, the Baptism of Adults 
 is of comparatively rare occurrence. It is the more 
 desirable, accordingly, that all due care be taken to 
 render the observance of it as impressive and edifying 
 as possible. The Catechumen must be duly instructed 
 as to the meaning of the faith of which he is to make 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 119 
 
 profession, and the nature of the obligations it lays 
 upon him. When practicable, the ordinance should be 
 celebrated in presence of the Congregation ; the whole 
 service should culminate in its celebration ; and gener- 
 ally, as in the administration of Infant Baptism, every 
 means should be used to lead all to realise afresh 
 the gracious privileges and responsibilities it carries 
 with it. 
 
 I. — Order of Baptismal Service. 
 
 1. Prayer. 
 
 2. Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 3. Passages from Scripture. 
 
 4. Address to the Congregation. 
 
 5. Address to the person to be baptized. 
 
 6. Profession of faith on the part of the person to be 
 baptized. 
 
 7. Baptismal Prayer. 
 
 8. Baptism. 
 
 9. Anthem, "The Lord bless thee," &c. 
 
 10. Post-baptismal Prayer. 
 
 11. Charge to the newly-baptized person. 
 
 II. — Notes on the above Order. 
 
 1. Prayer at beginning of Service, as in order of 
 Infant Baptism. 
 
 2. Psalm or Hymn. Psalms li. ; cxvi. 1-8; cxix. t-8, 
 57-60. Hymns, "O for a heart to praise;" "Come, 
 Holy Spirit;" "O Jesus, I have promised;" "Jesus, 
 Master, whose I am;" "Fight the good fight;" "Soldiers 
 of Christ, arise;" "O happy day that fixed my choice." 
 
I20 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 3. Passages from Scripture to be read. 
 
 Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatso- 
 ever I have commanded you ; and, lo, I am with you 
 alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matt, 
 xxviii. 19, 20.) 
 
 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the 
 baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. . . . 
 And he preached, saying, There cometh one mightier 
 than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not 
 worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have 
 baptized you with water ; but He shall baptize you 
 with the Holy Ghost. (Mark i. 4, 7, 8.) 
 
 Know ye not, that so many of you as were baptized 
 into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death ? There- 
 fore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; 
 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the 
 glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in 
 newness of life. (Rom. vi. 3, 4.) 
 
 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ 
 Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into 
 Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. iii. 26, 27.) 
 
 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye 
 shall be clean ; from all your filthiness, and from all 
 your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will 
 I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you ; and 
 I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, 
 and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put 
 my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my 
 statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do 
 them. . . . And ye shall be My people, and I will be 
 your God. (Ezek. xxxvi. 25-28.) 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 121 
 
 4. Address to the Congregation. 
 
 Topics for Address, as in order of Infant Baptism, 
 omitting what refers to children. 
 
 The administration of this ordinance should remind 
 all who are present that *' the needful but much neglected 
 duty of improving our baptism is to be performed by us 
 all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, 
 and when we are present at the administration of it 
 to others : by serious and thankful consideration of 
 the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ 
 instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and 
 sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein ; by 
 being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling 
 short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, 
 and our engagement; by growing up to assurance of 
 pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in 
 that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death 
 and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, 
 for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace ; and 
 by endeavouring to live by faith, to have our con- 
 versation in holiness and righteousness, as those that 
 have therein given up their names to Christ ; and to 
 walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the 
 same spirit into one body." (Larger Catechism, Q. 
 
 .67.) 
 
 5. Address to the person to be baptized. 
 
 You aj-e about to be baptized, according to the ordin- 
 ance of Christ, into the name of the Father and of the 
 Son and of the Holy Ghost. This implies that you 
 solemnly dedicate yourself to the loving service of the 
 God into whose name you are baptized, the one living 
 and true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, taking the 
 Father to be your Father, the Son to be your Saviour 
 
122 THE SACRAMENTS. [PT. IL 
 
 and Lord, the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier and 
 Comforter. 
 
 And while you thus dedicate yourself to the Lord, He 
 conveys to you by means of this ordinance the gladdening 
 assurance that the blessings which the water of baptism 
 represents are freely given to you. He invites you to 
 rejoice in the assurance that the blood of Jesus Christ 
 His Son cleanseth you from all sin, and that the Spirit 
 of Christ is given to you to renew you in holiness, to fit 
 you for the work and warfare to which you are called, 
 and to make you meet for the inheritance of the saints 
 in glory. 
 
 6. The adult to be baptized should then be asked to 
 make solemn profession of his faith and of his engage- 
 ment to be the Lord's. 
 
 The profession of faith may be made in such terms as 
 those of the Apostles' Creed, the minister asking the 
 person to be baptized : 
 
 "Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?" &c. 
 Or, more briefly : 
 
 Do you desire, by receiving Christian baptism, to 
 make public profession of your faith in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ as your Saviour, and of your devotion to Him as 
 your Divine Master and Lord. 
 
 Do you promise and engage, in humble dependence 
 upon Divine grace, to live as a faithful servant of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, seeking to adorn the doctrine of God your 
 Saviour in all things, and to show forth in your life the 
 praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into 
 His marvellous light ? 
 
 7. Baptismal prayer. 
 
 Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christy 
 who hast called us to be partakers of Thy great mercy in 
 
SEC. I.] BAPTISM OF ADULTS. 123 
 
 the fellowship of faith, and hast appointed this ordinance 
 of baptism to be a precious means of grace to Thy 
 believing people, graciously vouchsafe to bless this 
 ordinance to him who is about to be baptized. Be 
 pleased, we beseech Thee, to join the inward baptism of 
 the Spirit with the outward baptism of water. Make this 
 baptism unto him a seal of adoption, remission of sin, 
 regeneration and eternal life. And grant, most merciful 
 Father, that being conformed to Thy Son in His death 
 and resurrection, he may walk before Thee in newness 
 of life all his days, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 8. Baptism. 
 
 Sprinkling water on the head of Catechumen (who 
 kneels) the minister, naming him (or her) shall say : " I 
 baptize thee into the name of the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost," adding either the words : " The very 
 God of peace sanctify thee wholly ; and I pray God thy 
 whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless 
 unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ; " or the 
 Apostolic Benediction : " The grace of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ," &c. 
 
 The Minister shall then turn to the Congregation and 
 say : " Our brother (or sister) is now received into the 
 fellowship of the Church of Christ. Wherefore receive 
 ye one another as Christ also received us, to the glory 
 of God." 
 
 9. The Congregation invoke God's blessing in the 
 words of the anthem : " The Lord bless thee," &:c. 
 
 10. Post-baptismal Prayer. 
 
 Almighty and ever-blessed God, we render unto Thee 
 most humble and hearty thanks for Thy great goodness 
 in giving us a place within Thy Church and marking us 
 with the seal of Thy love in this ordinance of Baptism. 
 
124 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 We pray for him who has now been baptized, that Thy 
 fatherly love may shine upon his earthly path, that the 
 grace of the Lord Jesus Christ may make him strong for 
 the work and warfare to which he is called, and that the 
 blessed Spirit of all grace may dwell within him as his 
 Guide and Teacher, his Comforter and Sanctifier. May 
 he have grace given him to be faithful to the engagements 
 into which he has entered, and to live as befits one who 
 has been called unto Thy Kingdom and glory and who 
 has solemnly dedicated himself unto Thee. Strengthened 
 by Thy Spirit in the inner man, may he fight the good 
 fight of faith, and endure unto the end, and have an 
 entrance ministered to him abundantly into Thy heavenly 
 kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord, unto whom, with 
 Thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory ever- 
 lasting. Amen. 
 
 II. Brief charge to the newly baptized person, urging 
 to fidelity to the Master Whose name he now bears, to 
 the Kingdom in which he is a member, and to the body 
 of the faithful with whom he is united in Jesus Christ. 
 
 Section IL 
 THE LORD'S SUFFER, OR THE COMMUNION. 
 
 L — Preparation. 
 
 I. As the Westminster Directory recommends, on the 
 Lord's Day before that on which the Communion is to 
 be administered, " something concerning the Ordinance, 
 and the due preparation thereunto, and participation 
 thereof, should be taught : that by the diligent use of 
 all means, public and private, all may come better 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 125 
 
 prepared to that heavenly Feast." One may generally 
 count upon a very full attendance of the congregation 
 on that Sabbath. For the "Fencing," in several aspects 
 of it, this is a specially suitable time. 
 
 2. Where the old Sacramental Fast-day has disap- 
 peared, one or more Preparation Services should be held 
 towards the end of the week. Friday evening and 
 Saturday afternoon are usually found specially suitable 
 for this purpose. At one or other of these Services, or 
 on the Sabbath evening preceding, the Young Com- 
 municants should be received and welcomed to the 
 Fellowship of the congregation in name of the Kirk- 
 Session. Care should be taken to have the subjects 
 of sermon or address, the prayers, psalms, and hymns, 
 in keeping with the objects of a season of "recollec- 
 tion " and self-examination before the Communion. 
 
 II. — Communion Sabbath Services. 
 Special pains should be given to have the whole of 
 the praise, prayers. Scripture readings, and sermon in 
 harmony with the spirit of a Communion time as a 
 Christian festival, a time of special religious privilege 
 and gladness. Such psalms and hymns may be used as 
 Psalm xliii. 3-5—" O send Thy light forth." 
 „ xxiii. — "The Lord 's my Shepherd." 
 „ xlv. 2-8— "Thou fairer art than sons of men." 
 „ xcvi. or xcviii.— "O sing a new song to the 
 
 Lord." 
 „ c— " All people that on earth do dwell." 
 „ ciii.— "O thou my soul, bless God the Lord." 
 „ cvi.— "Give praise and thanks unto the Lord. 
 „ cvii. — " Praise God for He is good." 
 
126 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 Psalm cxvi. — " I love the Lord, because my voice." 
 „ cxvi. 13-19 — "I'll of salvation take the cup." 
 „ cxviii. 19-29 — " O set ye open unto me." 
 „ cxxii. — " I joyed when to the House of God." 
 „ cxxxii. 13-18 — "For God of Zion hath made 
 
 choice." 
 ,, cxxxvi., I St or 2nd version. 
 „ cxlv., 2nd version, 9-16 — "Good unto all men 
 
 is the Lord." 
 
 Hymns : — 
 
 "According to Thy gracious word." 
 
 " Twas on that night." 
 
 " By Christ redeemed." 
 
 " Here, O my Lord." 
 
 " Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts." 
 
 " Sit down beneath His shadow." 
 
 " Till He come— O let the words." 
 
 Such themes are in season as the glory of Christ in 
 His Person and Work, the Atonement, the Resurrection, 
 the Ascension, the Second Coming, and the glory of the 
 inheritance of the saints in Christ here and hereafter, 
 the privileges and possibilities of the Christian life. 
 Action Sermons and Table Addresses may be founded 
 on such passages of Scripture as those which describe 
 the marriage union of Christ and His Church, our Lord's 
 last words to His disciples in the Gospel of St John, 
 the prayers and doxologies in the Pauline Epistles, the 
 songs of heaven in the Book of the Revelation. 
 
 "The dispensation of the Sacrament" should, as a 
 rule, follow closely upon "the dispensation of the 
 Word," as a "seal" to the gospel preached. The old 
 custom of three Table Services following the Action 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORDS SUPPER. 127 
 
 Sermon was open to some objections, but was strong in 
 respect of the continuity of the impression made. The 
 plan which best preserves this advantage, besides having 
 other recommendations, is that of "simultaneous Com- 
 munion." The method of having an ordinary forenoon 
 service, followed by an interval of considerable length 
 and an afternoon Communion service, involves the loss 
 of continuity of impression and other practical disad- 
 vantages. If an interval is felt desirable to allow 
 members of the same family to communicate on the 
 same Sabbath without inconvenience (although experi- 
 ence shows that the difficulty supposed to exist in this 
 direction may easily be exaggerated), the best plan is to 
 make the interval not too long, and either to conduct the 
 afternoon service as a " Second Table " in continuation 
 of the forenoon Communion service, the consecration 
 prayer being referred to as already offered, or to repeat 
 the warrant for the ordinance and the consecration 
 prayer, if the communicants at the Second Table were 
 not for the most part present in the forenoon. In this 
 case, while the Assistant Minister takes the Second 
 Table, the Minister of the congregation may with ad- 
 vantage take the concluding prayer. 
 
 There ought to be thought and consultation with the 
 Elders beforehand as to all arrangements bearing on the 
 order and seemliness of the whole service. Changes 
 even in what may seem trifling details should not be 
 hastily made. Tender and sacred associations gather 
 for the worshippers round every part of the Communion 
 Services. The 103rd Psalm and the 35th Paraphrase, 
 for example, have a quite peculiar power from their use 
 at Communion seasons in Scotland from generation to 
 generation. Many do not realise — to give another illus- 
 
128 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. il 
 
 tration — how impressive, especially to young people and 
 children, is the effect of the "fine linen, clean and 
 white," covering not the Table before the Minister only, 
 but all the Tables where the communicants sit. It is 
 very desirable that this simple ceremonial, all the more 
 impressive because of its rarity in the worship of the 
 Reformed Church, should not be abolished. In some 
 instances, in which this old custom, after being disused 
 for a time, was restored, Ministers and Elders have been 
 surprised at the warmth of approval with which the 
 restoration was hailed by some of the most devout and 
 intelligent worshippers in the congregation. 
 
 The Act of Assembly, 1645 ^ "ordains that," besides 
 the Action Sermon, " there be a Sermon of Thanksgiv- 
 ing after the Communion is ended." The "Monday 
 Thanksgiving Service" has associations with John 
 Livingstone's sermon at the Kirk of Shotts, on a Monday 
 after the Communion there in 1630, and with other 
 times of special blessing. Where there is no such ser- 
 vice on the following day, it is the more desirable that 
 the element of thanksgiving, along with practical direc- 
 tions and exhortations bearing on the Christian life, 
 should have a prominent place in the service of the 
 Communion Sabbath evening. 
 
 III. — Outline of Order of Communion. 
 
 1. Words of Institution read. 
 
 2. Fencing. 
 
 3 Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 4. Thanksgiving and Consecration Prayer. 
 
 5. [Short Table Address. Optional, may precede 4.] 
 
 ^ See note infra, p. 131. 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 129 
 
 6. Distribution of elements, with our Lord's words 
 
 repeated. 
 
 7. Short Table Address. 
 
 8. Psalm ciii. 
 
 9. Closing Prayer. 
 
 10. Psalm, Hymn, or Doxology. 
 
 11. Benediction. 
 
 IV — Notes on above Order. 
 
 After the Action Sermon and singing of a psalm or 
 hymn,^ the Minister continuing in the pulpit : ^ 
 
 1 . Words of Institution read, as our warrant for the 
 Ordinance, from i Cor. xi. 23-32, or the Gospels. 
 
 2. Fencing, or "Exhortation, Warning, and Invita- 
 tion " [Westminster Directory]. These three elements, 
 however briefly, should enter into this part of the 
 service. See the specimen forms given in Appendix, 
 
 PP- 133-139- 
 
 3. Psalm, or Paraph, xxxv. : " 'Twas on that night." 
 Elements brought forward and placed on the Table. 
 
 Minister and Elders take their places there.^ 
 
 ^ In the service of the Book of Common Order in Knox's time, 
 as in Calvin's Order of Geneva, the "Apostles' Creed" was re- 
 hearsed at the end of the prayer after sermon. This might well 
 form part of our Communion Service, where found for edification. 
 The Lord's Prayer should also come in at an earlier part of the 
 morning service. 
 
 2 So both in the Book of Common Order and the Directory until 
 afUr the Fencing. The former puts the words of Institution before 
 the Fencing ; the latter makes them the first words after it, " the 
 Minister being now at the Table." 
 
 ^ Where there are two Table Services with an interval, the 
 Minister who presides, and the Elders who serve, at the first Table, 
 communicate at the second. Where tlierc is simultaneous Com- 
 
 I 
 
I30 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 4. Thanksgiving and Consecration Prayer. 
 
 This should, as a rule, embrace the following ele- 
 ments — 
 
 (i) Adoration and confession of sin (briefly). 
 
 (2) Thanksgiving, especially for redemption, the 
 
 sacrifice of Christ, the Church and means of 
 grace, the Lord's Supper, the fellowship of 
 saints on earth and in heaven. 
 
 (3) Prayer for special access and blessing in the 
 
 Sacrament, for the presence of the Father, Son, 
 and Spirit, for sanctification of the elements, for 
 faith to receive Christ now in His ordinance, 
 for living union and fellowship with Him. 
 
 (4) Offering and consecration of ourselves to God in 
 
 Christ. 
 
 (5) Doxology. 
 
 See specimen forms given in Appendix, pp. 140-143. 
 
 5. Short Table Address [Optional — may be given 
 before the Thanksgiving and Consecration Prayer, if 
 preferred]. A few words may offer themselves naturally 
 from the subject of sermon with special appHcation to 
 the Ordinance. As has been suggested, our Lord's own 
 directions for right communicating may be helpful, (i.) 
 
 munion one or other of two plans may be followed: — (i.) The 
 Minister gives the Bread and Wine to an Elder seated on each side 
 of him. They partake and give back the elements to him. He 
 partakes, and after a short pause gives the Bread and the Cup to the 
 rest of the Elders, who serve the communicants, return with the 
 elements to the Table before the Minister, and take their seats 
 there. The two Elders, who first partook, then rise, and serve 
 their brethren. (2.) The Minister gives the Bread and Wine to the 
 Elders seated round the Table at which he stands. The elements 
 pass round the Elders and return to the Minister, who receives them 
 from one of the Elders and partakes himself. Then, after a short 
 pause, the Elders rise and serve the rest of the communicants. 
 
SEC. IT.] THE LORDS SUPPER. 131 
 
 "Remember Me." {2.) "Take" what He offers to us 
 here and now in Himself. (3.) " Eat." Feed on Him 
 by faith for the supply of all spiritual needs. (4.) 
 " Drink." Receive all covenant blessings, the wine of 
 refreshment and gladness in His Kingdom. (5.) " This 
 do." Mode and results of appropriating Christ. The 
 union a vital one. " Quis separabit ? " The first and 
 last of these might suitably form subject of Post-Com- 
 munion address. 
 
 6. Distribution of the elements, with the words : 
 "The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was 
 betrayed, took bread : and when He had given thanks 
 He brake it, and said. Take, eat ; this is My body which 
 is broken for you : this do in remembrance of Me. 
 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He 
 had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in 
 My blood : this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance 
 of Me." [The Minister should add the words of the 
 Apostle] : " For as often as ye eat this bread and drink 
 this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come." 
 Thereafter there should, as a rule, be silence at the 
 Table, until all have partaken. ^ 
 
 1 This was the judgment of the General Assembly of 1645, in an 
 important Act which is " virtually an Appendix to the Directory," 
 in which they "approve of the opinion of their committee . . . 
 in some points of public worship." See Sprott and Leishman's 
 ed. of Book of Common Order and Directory, p. 267, also Acts 
 of General Assembly (Church La vi^ Society ed.), p. 120. *' That 
 there be silence during the time of the Communicants' receiving," 
 seems to be laid down as the general rule, qualified by a certain 
 discretion given to the Minister, '* except only when he expresseth 
 some few short sentences, suitable to the present condition of the 
 communicants . . . that they may be incited and quickened in 
 their meditations in the Action." 
 
132 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 7. Short Table Address. [This should be chiefly of 
 a practical sort, bearing on Christian life and service. 
 "The Directions" — to use the suggestive name which 
 this address received in olden days of the Scottish 
 Church — may be drawn from such passages as Rom. xii.; 
 Eph. iv. 1-5, v. 1-20; Phil. ii. t-8, iv. 1-9; Col. iii. 1-17; 
 Titus ii. 11-14; Heb. X. 23-25, xii. ii,xiii. 20/; i Peter 
 ii. 1-5 ; 2 Peter i. 3.] 
 
 8. Psalm 103: "O thou my soul, bless God the 
 Lord." 1 
 
 9. Closing Prayer. — (i.) Thanksgiving for blessing 
 received, and prayer for the communicants, and all the 
 congregation, especially the children and young people 
 present. (2.) Prayer for our own Church, and for the 
 Catholic Church of Christ, militant here on earth. (3.) 
 Thanksgiving for the Church triumphant, and prayer for 
 the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.^ 
 [Comp. Appendix, pp. 143-145, and Euchologion, 6th 
 ed., p. 299-302, for selection?^ 
 
 10. Closing Psalm, Hymn, or Doxology. 
 
 11. Benediction. — Heb. xiii. 20 /, with Apostolic 
 benediction. 
 
 ^ This is the psalm especially recommended for use when " the 
 Action is ended " in Knox's Book of Common Order. It has held 
 its place in Scotland for nearly three centuries and a half. 
 
 ^ Topics (2) and (3) are introduced at this point in the " West- 
 minster^Directory " as revised by Committee of Presbyterian Church 
 of England in 1892 ; so also in the " Order for the Celebration of 
 the Communion," used in St Giles', Edinburgh (2nd ed., p. 168), 
 and in the ' ' Order for Administration of the Lord's Supper in 
 Presbyterian Forms of Service," issued by the " Devotional Service 
 Association" of the United Presbyterian Church (2nd ed., p. 106), 
 and in Euchologion as above. 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 133 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Consisting of the Specimen Forms to which reference 
 is made above. 
 
 I. — Fencing or Exhortation before the 
 Communion. 
 
 {From Book of Common Order, revised and shortened.) 
 
 Dearly Beloved in the Lord, as we are now met to 
 keep this ordinance of Christ, let us consider these words 
 of the Apostle spoken concerning it, and how he exhorteth 
 us to examine ourselves before we eat of this bread and 
 drink of this cup. For as the benefit is great if with 
 true, penitent, and believing hearts we receive this holy 
 sacrament, so is the danger great if we receive the 
 same unworthily. 
 
 Therefore, in the name and authority of God, and of His 
 Son Jesus Christ, I forbid from this Table all blasphemers 
 of God, all unclean and intemperate persons, all who 
 cherish anger or envy against their fellows, or who live a 
 life directly fighting against the will and commandment of 
 God, charging them, as they will answer in the presence 
 of Him who is the righteous Judge, that they presume 
 not to profane this holy Table. And yet this I pronounce 
 not to seclude any penitent person, how grievous 
 soever his sins before have been, if so be that he feel in 
 his heart repentance for the same, and hath turned 
 from them, but only such as continue in sin without 
 repentance. 
 
 Neither arc they excluded, but rather are they en- 
 
134 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. II. 
 
 couraged to come, who long after a greater perfection 
 than they can in this present life attain unto. For albeit 
 we feel in ourselves much frailty and wretchedness, in 
 that our faith oftentimes faileth, and we rebel and 
 murmur against God's will toward us, and have need 
 daily to fight against the lusts of our flesh ; yet seeing 
 that our Lord hath printed His Gospel in our hearts, so 
 that we are kept from falling into despair and unbelief, 
 seeing also that He hath given us some desire to with- 
 stand our own evil affections and some longing after 
 holiness, we may now be right well assured that our 
 sins and manifold shortcomings shall not hinder Him 
 from accepting us as worthy to come to His Table. 
 For the end of our coming thither is not to make pro- 
 testation that we are upright or pure in our lives ; but 
 contrariwise, we come to seek our life and perfection in 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Let us consider, then, that this Sacrament is a singular 
 medicine for all poor sick creatures, a comfortable help 
 to weak souls, and that our Lord requireth no other 
 worthiness on our part, but that we unfeignedly acknow- 
 ledge our need of His healing and strengthening, and do 
 truly cast ourselves upon Him. 
 
 Let us then render all praise, thanks, and glory unto 
 God the Father, that it hath pleased Him to grant unto 
 us sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receive 
 us by His Spirit into the fellowship of His dear Son, 
 Jesus Christ our Lord, whom He delivered unto death 
 for us, and giveth Him also unto us now as our neces- 
 'sary food and nourishment unto everlasting life. And 
 let us lift up our minds and hearts now by faith 
 unto the Lord who hath said, " This do ye in remem- 
 brance of Me ; " saying also unto all them that obey 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 135 
 
 Him, " Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of 
 the world." Amen. 
 
 II. — Exhortation, Warning, and Invitation, from 
 Westminster Directory. 
 
 {Revised^ chiefly as by Committee of English Presbyterian 
 Synod in 1892.) 
 
 Dear Brethren, it is meet that those who purpose to 
 come to the Lord's Table should consider the meaning 
 and ends of this Sacrament, wherein Christ and all the 
 blessings of the new Covenant are set forth and sealed to 
 believers, and the great necessity of having our comforts 
 and strength renewed thereby in this our pilgrimage and 
 warfare. And as the benefit is great, if we come to this 
 Table with knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and pur- 
 pose of new obedience, and with souls hungering and 
 thirsting after Christ : so also is the danger great, if we 
 eat and drink unworthily. 
 
 Therefore, in the name of Christ, I do, on the one 
 part, warn all such as are scandalous and profane, or that 
 live in any sin against their conscience, that they pre- 
 sume not to come to this holy Table, inasmuch as he 
 that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
 judgment to himself. But, on the other part, I do in 
 an especial manner invite and encourage all who labour 
 under a sense of the burden and defilement of their sins, 
 and who desire to reach out unto a greater progress in 
 grace than they have yet attained unto, to come to the 
 Lord's Table, assuring them in His name of welcome, 
 and of refreshment and strength to their weak and 
 wearied souls. 
 
136 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 III. 
 
 Instead of Fencing the Tables, a selection from the 
 following passages of Scripture may be read : — 
 
 I. The Ten Commandments : — 
 
 " And God spake all these words, saying : I am the 
 Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land 
 of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have 
 no other gods before Me. 
 
 " Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 
 or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or 
 that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under 
 the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor 
 serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 
 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto 
 the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me ; 
 and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me 
 and keep My commandments. 
 
 "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God 
 in vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that 
 taketh His name in vain. 
 
 " Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six 
 days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work : but the 
 seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God : in 
 it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor 
 thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, 
 nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy 
 gates : for in six days the Lord made heaven and 
 earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 
 seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath 
 day, and hallowed it. 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 137 
 
 " Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy days 
 may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God 
 giveth thee. 
 
 " Thou Shalt not kill. 
 
 " Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 " Thou shalt not steal. 
 
 " Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
 neighbour, 
 
 " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou 
 shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man- 
 servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, 
 nor anything that is thy neighbour's" (Exod. xx. 1-17). 
 
 2. The Summary of the Law : — 
 
 "And one of the scribes asked Him, Which is 
 the first commandment of all ? And Jesus answered 
 him. The first commandment is, Hear, O Israel ; the 
 Lord our God is one Lord : and thou shalt love the 
 Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
 and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength : this 
 is the first commandment. And the second is like, 
 namely this. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
 There is none other commandment greater than these " 
 (Mark xii. 28-31). 
 
 3. The Beatitudes :— 
 
 "And seeing the multitudes. He went up into a 
 mountain : and when He was set, His disciples came 
 unto Him: and He opened His mouth, and taught them, 
 saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the 
 kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn : for 
 they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek : for 
 they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do 
 
138 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 hunger and thirst after righteousness : for they shall 
 be filled. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall 
 obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart : for they 
 shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers : for they 
 shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they 
 which are persecuted for righteousness' sake : for theirs 
 is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men 
 shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all 
 manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 
 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad : for great is your 
 reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets 
 which were before you. 
 
 " Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have lost 
 his savour, wherewith shall it be salted ? it is thenceforth 
 good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden 
 under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A 
 city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do 
 men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a 
 candlestick ; and it giveth light unto all that are in the 
 house. Let your light so shine before men, that they 
 may see your good works, and glorify your Father which 
 is in heaven" (Matt. v. 1-16). 
 
 4. The works of the flesh, and the fruit of the 
 Spirit : — 
 
 " Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are 
 these : Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, 
 strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunken- 
 ness, revellings, and such like : of the which I tell you 
 before, as I have also told you in time past, that they 
 which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of 
 God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 139 
 
 long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
 temperance : against such there is no law " (Gal. v. 
 19-23)- 
 
 5. Words of Comfort, " For God so loved the world, 
 that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 
 believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever- 
 lasting life" (John iii. 16); "Come unto me, all ye that 
 labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am 
 meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto 
 your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is 
 light " (Matt. xi. 28-30) ; " This is a faithful saying, and 
 worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
 the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (i Tim. 
 i. 15); "There is therefore now no condemnation to 
 them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the 
 flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. viii. i) ; "My little 
 children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
 And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : and He is the pro- 
 pitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also 
 for the whole world" (i John ii. 1-2); "Behold, I stand 
 at the door, and knock : if any man hear My voice, and 
 open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with 
 him, and He with me. To him that overcometh will I 
 grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also over- 
 came, and am set down with My Father in His throne. 
 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith 
 unto the Churches" (Rev. iii. 20-22). 
 
HO THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 IV. — Thanksgiving and Consecration Prayer at 
 THE Communion. 
 
 {^Founded on Westminster Directory^ which again draws 
 from Book of Conwion Order.) 
 
 Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, we 
 bless Thee for all Thy mercies to us sinners. We are 
 not worthy of the least of Thy gifts, how much less of 
 the greatest, in that Thou didst give Thine only begotten 
 Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish 
 but have everlasting life. We praise Thee for redemption 
 through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, and the eternal 
 inheritance, for the love of God the Father, the Son, and 
 the Spirit, through which redemption comes to us. 
 
 Especially we bless Thee this day for the obedience 
 and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all that He 
 purchased for His people, and lives to bestow, for His 
 Word and Sacraments, and for all the ordinances of His 
 house. We give thanks unto Thee for the fellowship of 
 Thy people on earth, and for the memory of Thy saints 
 in heaven. For all Thy servants known to us, who 
 have departed this life in Thy faith and fear, we praise 
 Thee, O God — we beseech Thee that we may be enabled 
 to follow them as they followed Christ. Glory be to 
 Him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Glory be to 
 Him in the Church which waiteth for Him, and in the 
 Church which is around Him. 
 
 Heavenly Father, from whom cometh down every 
 good and perfect gift, we bless Thee now for our access 
 to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ, that we are 
 called this day to eat and drink with Him at His Table 
 here, and that we are called to the marriage supper of 
 the Lamb above. We pray Thee, the Father of mercies. 
 
SEC. II. THE LORD'S SUPPER. 141 
 
 and the God of all comfort, to grant us now Thy gracious 
 presence, and the effectual working of Thy Holy Spirit 
 in our hearts. Sanctify these elements of bread and 
 wine. And so bless this Thine ordinance to us, that we 
 may receive by faith the body and blood of Christ, even 
 our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, as once crucified for our 
 sins, but now risen and living for our life. May we so 
 feed upon Him this day that He may be one with us, 
 and we one with Him, that He may live in us and 
 we live in Him. 
 
 Most gracious God and Father, accept, we beseech 
 Thee, this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and 
 receive the offering and consecration which we now 
 make of ourselves, our souls and bodies, unto Thee, 
 through Jesus Christ. 
 
 And unto Him who loveth us, and hath loosed us 
 from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us 
 kings and priests unto God and His Father, unto Him be 
 the glory and the dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.^ 
 
 V. — Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration. 
 
 {Suggested by^ aitd in part takeiifrom ^^ An Order for 
 the Cofmnunion,^^ used in St Giles\ Edinburgh, 
 2nd ed., pp. 163-169.) 
 
 Thanksgiving. 
 Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, for ever and ever. 
 Thou hast made heaven and earth, the seas, and all 
 
 ^ Instead of this closing doxology, the ancient Hymn known as 
 the Ter-Sanctus may be used : And now with Angels and Arch- 
 angels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify 
 Thy glorious Name: evermore praising Thee, and saying: Holy, 
 holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy 
 glory : Glory be to Thee, O Lord most High. Amen. 
 
142 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. it. 
 
 things that are therein : and Thou preservest them all : 
 and all the host of heaven worshippeth Thee. Thine, 
 O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, 
 and the victory, and the majesty : for all that is in the 
 heaven and in the earth is Thine. Now, therefore, our 
 God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. 
 
 Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we praise and 
 bless Thee for all Thy gifts and benefits towards us ; but 
 above all else we thank Thee for Jesus Christ, Thine 
 unspeakable gift. Not as we ought, but as we are able, 
 we praise Thee for His birth in our nature, for His life 
 on earth, for His sufferings and obedience unto death, 
 even the death of the Cross, for His resurrection from 
 the dead, and His ascension to Thy right hand. We 
 give thanks for the coming of the Holy Ghost, and for 
 His abiding Presence and work in the Church and in the 
 world. We praise Thee for the Word and Sacraments, 
 for the fellowship of Thy House on earth, and for the 
 hope of heaven. Blessing and honour and glory and 
 power be unto Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and 
 unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. With Angels and 
 Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud 
 and magnify Thy glorious Name : evermore praising 
 Thee and saying : Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, 
 heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : Glory be to 
 Thee, O Lord most High. 
 
 Prayer of Consec7-ation. 
 Father of mercies and God of all grace, we beseech 
 Thee draw nigh to each of us now in Thy love, and 
 grant us the effectual working of Thy Holy Spirit in our 
 hearts. Sanctify these elements of bread and wine. And 
 so bless this Thine ordinance that we may receive by 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORUS SUPPER. 143 
 
 faith the body and blood of Jesus Christ crucified for 
 us, with all His benefits, to our spiritual nourishment 
 and growth in grace. Amen, 
 
 VI. — Prayer after Communion. 
 
 God, our H^venly Father, from whom cometh 
 down every good and perfect gift, we give Thee hearty 
 thanks for all the blessings we have received this day at 
 the Lord's Table. Having received Christ Jesus afresh 
 as our Lord and Saviour, may we walk in Him ; may we 
 be rooted and built up in Him, and established in the 
 faith, as we have been taught, abounding therein with 
 thanksgiving. Make Thy grace sufficient for us day by 
 day. Teach us to fight the good fight of faith, to the 
 which we are called, and have professed a good profession 
 before many witnesses. [Here special petitions may be 
 offered for the congregation, the young people, and 
 children present.] 
 
 Prayer for the Church Militatit} 
 Remember graciously, O Lord, all those with whom 
 we are one this day in the body of Christ, the multitudes 
 of every name, who are joined with us in the one house- 
 hold of faith, and love, and hope, our brethren and 
 sisters in Christ throughout the world. [Special inter- 
 cessions may follow for our own Church, and the cause 
 of God in our own land.] 
 
 Tha7iksgiving for the CJiiirch Triumphant} 
 
 And rejoicing this day in the communion of saints, we 
 bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy servants who, having 
 
 1 Taken, with a few slight changes, from " Order of Communion " 
 in St Giles', mentioned above. 
 
144 THE SACRAMENTS. [pt. ii. 
 
 accomplished their warfare, are at rest with Thee. We 
 bless Thee for all Thy saints in every age, for those 
 dear to our own souls — our fathers, mothers, brethren 
 and sisters, our dear kindred and friends who have fallen 
 asleep in the Lord. We rejoice to believe that we are 
 still one with them in the same hojy fellowship. We 
 pray Thee to enable us so to follow their faith and good 
 example, that we with them may finally be partakers of 
 Thy Heavenly Kingdom at the Coming of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ with all His saints. Hear us, O Heavenly 
 Father, for His sake, to whom, with Thee, and with the 
 Holy Ghost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 VH. — Another Prayer after Communion. 
 
 {From M. Bersier's ^^ Frojet de Revision de la 
 Liturgie des Eglises Reformees de Fya?ice. 
 Service de Comimmion — Friere fifiale.) 
 
 Heavenly Father, Thou hast given us, in the Sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's Supper, the sign and seal of our 
 being in covenant with Thee through Jesus Christ. 
 Thou hast taken us to be Thy children and Thine 
 inheritance. What shall we render unto Thee for all 
 Thy benefits ? Thou hast redeemed us with a great 
 price. May we, therefore, glorify Thee with our bodies 
 and spirits, which are Thine. Be pleased, O Lord, to 
 strengthen us to keep the vows which we have made this 
 day, and to be faithful even unto death. Teach us to 
 do Thy will. May the life that we now live in the flesh 
 be by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave 
 Himself for us. May Thy Holy Spirit make us new 
 creatures in Him. Do thou, the God of peace, sanctify 
 us wholly, and may our whole spirit, and soul, and body, 
 
SEC. II.] THE LORD'S SUPPER. 145 
 
 be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. And unto Him who is able to keep us 
 from falling, and to present us faultless before the 
 presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only 
 wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion 
 and power, both now and ever. Amen. 
 
patt III. 
 
 ORDER OF SERVICES ON SPECIAL 
 OCCASIONS. 
 
 Section I. 
 
 ADMISSION OF BAPTISED PERSONS TO 
 THE FULL COMMUNION OF THE 
 CHURCH; " YOUNG COMMUNICANTS:' 
 
 I. — Preparation. 
 
 It is of great importance that much care be given to 
 the due Preparation of Candidates for Communion. 
 I. A Class should be formed by the Minister, 
 at which instruction may be given on such 
 subjects as the following : 
 The Sacrament of Baptism : 
 
 Its meaning and benefits. Why infants 
 are baptized. The place of the Baptised 
 in the Church. The relation of the 
 Sacrament of Baptism to the Sacrament 
 of the Lord's Supper. 
 Faith and Repentance : 
 
 How they make Baptism a blessmg, 
 and unite us to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 The work of the Holy Spirit in this, and 
 of our Wills. Conversion. The need of 
 Decision. 
 
1 48 SER VICES ON SPECIAL OCCA SIONS. [pt. hi. 
 
 The Christian Creed : 
 
 As expressed in The Apostles' Creed, 
 
 The Nicene Creed, or The Catechisms 
 
 of the Church. 
 The Christian Character : 
 
 As in the Ten Commandments, our 
 
 Lord's Teaching, and the Epistles of the 
 
 New Testament. The Imitation of Christ. 
 
 Service in the Kingdom of God. 
 The Inner Life : 
 
 Prayer. Self-discipline. The need of 
 
 cultivating the Inward Life. 
 The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper : 
 
 Its institution. Its meaning. Its order. 
 
 Its privileges. Its responsibilities. 
 It is desirable that careful instruction be given 
 concerning the order of The Sacrament; the 
 Thanksgiving Prayer, and the significance of the 
 elements and actions. It will be found a relief to 
 troubled souls, and a profitable exercise to all, to ex- 
 pound with care S. Paul's words in i Cor. xi. 27, <S:c. 
 At the closing meeting of this Class it will be 
 found helpful to suggest to intending Communicants 
 suitable exercises before Communion : at Com- 
 munion : and after Communion. 
 
 2. The names of candidates for Communion should 
 be made known to the Elders of the District in 
 which they reside, and the Kirk-Session being 
 satisfied of their fitness to receive the full 
 privileges of the Church, a service for their 
 Admission should be publicly intimated, and 
 held. 
 
SEC. I.] YOUNG COMMUNICANTS. 149 
 
 3. It is not desirable that this service should be 
 conducted in private, or in a hurried way at the 
 close of any other service. It is good that it be 
 held in Church, in presence of the Congregation, 
 the Elders being present with the Minister, and 
 the Candidates being seated together in front of 
 the Communion Table. Experience points to 
 the Sabbath evening before the Communion, the 
 second part of the Friday evening Preparation 
 Service, or the Saturday afternoon or evening 
 before the Communion Sabbath, as suitable 
 times. 
 
 11. — Order of Admission Service. 
 
 1. Shortened Evening Service. 
 
 2. The Names of Candidates read to the Congre- 
 
 gation. 
 
 3. Questions to Candidates. 
 
 4. Prayer. 
 
 5. Act of Admission. 
 
 6. The Lord's Prayer. 
 
 7. Hymn of Consecration. 
 
 8. Short Address to Catechumens and to the Con- 
 
 gregation. 
 
 9. Prayer. 
 
 10. Hymn and Benediction. 
 
 III. — Notes on Above Order. 
 I. Short Evening Service. 
 
 This Service may be conducted in the usual 
 form, up to the singing of the Anthem or 
 Hymn that follows the second Scripture 
 Lesson. 
 
ISO SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iii. 
 
 Appropriate Psalms and Hymns are — 
 
 Psalm Ixvii; xxv. 4-10; ciii. 13-18: "Holy, 
 Holy, Holy"; "Jesus, Thou Joy of loving 
 hearts " ; " Jesus calls us " ; " Come, Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 Appropriate Lessons are — 
 
 Josh. xxiv. 14-27 ; Psalm xv. ; xvi. ; cvii. 1-15 ; 
 cxvi. ; cxix. 1-16; Matt. v. 1-16; John i. 35-46; 
 xxi. 15-22; Rom. xii. ; Col. iii. 1-17. 
 
 2. Names of Candidates read, after which the Minister 
 
 shall address the Congregation thus : 
 
 These persons have been already received 
 into the visible Church by Baptism; and 
 the Kirk-Session are satisfied as to their 
 knowledge of Christian truth, and as to the 
 sincerity of their profession of faith in Christ. 
 We are now met, therefore, to receive and 
 welcome them to the privileges of full 
 Communion. 
 
 3. Questions to Candidates. 
 
 Next, the Minister shall address the Candidates 
 in these or other suitable words : 
 
 You have been received into the visible 
 Church of Christ by Baptism. You have 
 been instructed in the Faith once delivered 
 to the Saints ; and you now desire to take 
 upon you the responsibilities of full member- 
 ship in the Church, to come to the Table of 
 the Lord, and to partake of all the benefits 
 
SEC. I.] YOUNG COMMUNICANTS. 151 
 
 which He has appointed for those who are 
 in the membership of " His Body, the 
 Church." 
 
 If this is your desire, be pleased to signify 
 it now by standing up. 
 
 [All the Candidates stand up.] 
 
 A. 
 
 The Minister shall then say : 
 
 This act implies that you profess your faith 
 in the Lord Jesus Christ, and your desire 
 and purpose henceforth to be His disciple. 
 
 "Whosoever shall confess Me before men, 
 him will I confess before My Father in 
 heaven." "With the heart man believeth 
 unto righteousness, and with the mouth 
 confession is made unto salvation." 
 
 or, B. 
 The Minister may say : 
 
 Do you believe in God, the Father 
 Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth ? 
 
 And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our 
 Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy 
 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered 
 under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and 
 buried. He descended into Hell (Hades) : 
 the third day He rose again from the dead : 
 He ascended into Heaven : and sitteth at 
 the right hand of God the Father Almighty: 
 from thence He shall come to judge the 
 quick and the dead ? 
 
 Do you believe in the Holy Ghost : 
 
1 52 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 the Holy Catholic Church : the Communion 
 of Saints : the Forgiveness of Sins : the 
 Resurrection of the body : and the Life 
 Everlasting ? 
 Each shall reverently answer, " I do." 
 
 [Or the response may be made after each 
 of the three divisions of the Creed.] 
 
 The Minister shall continue — 
 
 Do you desire to be Christ's disciple; and, 
 in humble dependence on the Holy Spirit, 
 do you promise to trust Him, to follow Him, 
 to learn of Him, and to serve Him unto the 
 end? 
 
 Each shall reverently answer, " I do." 
 
 4. Prayer. Then shall be offered a short Prayer 
 
 of Thanksgiving for Grace, with special entreaty 
 for the Holy Spirit. 
 
 5. Act of Admission. 
 
 The Minister shall then come near to the Candi- 
 dates, giving to each "the right hand of 
 fellowship," in name of the Session and 
 Congregation, with words such as these : 
 
 M. or N. (naming the person) — 
 
 I give thee the right hand of fellowship, 
 receiving thee into the full communion of 
 the visible Church of Christ. 
 The Lord be with thee. 
 If it is thought desirable, a text of Scripture may 
 be added. 
 
 6. The Lord's Prayer may then be said by all. 
 
SEC. I.] YOUNG COMMUNICANTS. 153 
 
 7. A Psalm or Hymn of Consecration shall then be 
 
 sung, such as — 
 
 Psalm cxvi. 1-8, 13-19; cxix. 57-60; "O, Jesus, 
 I have promised " ; " I'm not ashamed to own 
 my Lord"; "Jesus, still lead on"; "Rock of 
 Ages " ; " O, happy day." 
 
 8. Address. 
 
 The Minister shall then shortly address those who 
 have been received into full Communion, on 
 such subjects as the following : — 
 
 Their relation to Christ as the Head of 
 the Church. 
 
 Their relation to the Church Catholic. 
 
 Their relation to their own Church. 
 
 Their relation to their Congregation. 
 
 Special features of the Christian Life. 
 
 Special graces of the Christian Character. 
 It will be well to refer to the grace of Liberality : 
 
 to Temptation : and to the call to Service. 
 And finally, the Minister shall shortly address the 
 Congregation, bidding them "receive" these 
 new members as Christ has received them 
 " to the glory of God," and calling them to 
 " sanctify " their congregational life, and 
 their personal life, for the brethren's sake. 
 
 9. Then shall follow Prayers for Grace, 
 
 and 
 10. The Service shall conclude in the usual form. 
 
 Appropriate Psalms and Hymns are — 
 
 Psalm xc. 14-17 ; cxxi. ; cxxii. 6-9; "O God 
 
1 54 SFR VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 of Bethel"; "Father of peace and God of 
 love." 
 
 The plan of this Service should be explained 
 beforehand to the Catechumens. 
 
 It will be well if the Minister arrange to meet 
 from time to time in conference those who 
 were prepared by him for Communion, after 
 they have become Communicants, address- 
 ing them on some devotional or practical 
 subject, and tenderly enquiring how it fares 
 with them in their Christian life and ex- 
 perience. 
 
 Section II. 
 MARRIAGE. 
 
 Whether held in the Church or in the house, it is of 
 great importance that the marriage service be conducted 
 with due solemnity and decorum. It is desirable to 
 return to the ancient custom of the Scottish Church by 
 celebrating marriage, as a rule, " in the place appointed 
 by authority for public worship " (Directory for Public 
 Worship). 
 
 It is enacted by Statute that before proceeding to the 
 celebration of marriage the officiating Minister must have 
 evidence produced to him in a Registrar's or Session- 
 Clerk's certificate that notice of marriage has been duly 
 given in the Registrar's Office or the Parish Church. 
 
SEC. II.] MARRIAGE. i55 
 
 Order of Service."^ 
 
 1. Scripture Sentences. 
 
 2. Hymn. 
 Declaration by Minister. 
 Prayer. 
 Vows. 
 
 The Marriage Ring. 
 Declaration of Marriage. 
 
 8. Blessing. 
 
 Passages from Scripture. \ or () and i o may 
 Address to Bridegroom \ be taken 
 
 and Bride. J between 4 and 5. 
 
 Prayer. 
 Hymn. 
 
 Lord's Prayer. 
 Benediction. 
 
 Notes on the Service. 
 
 1. Scripture Sentences. 
 
 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made 
 heaven and earth. 
 
 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain 
 that build it. 
 
 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we 
 hope in Thee. 
 
 2. Hymn. 
 
 Such Psalms and Hymns are suitable as : — 
 Ps. c. ; ciii. 1-5; cvi. 1-5 ; cxv. 12-18; cxxi. 
 " O God of Bethel," " The Voice that breathed o'er 
 Eden," " O Father, all creating." 
 
 I The shorter form, indicated by the figures on the left, may 
 suffice for marriages in the house. 
 
 L 
 
 3- 
 
 H. 
 
 4- 
 
 HL 
 
 5- 
 
 IV. 
 
 6. 
 
 V. 
 
 7. 
 
 VL 
 
 8. 
 
 VH. 
 
 9- 
 
 J\\\. 
 
 10. 
 
 IX. 
 
 II. 
 
 
 12. 
 
 
 13- 
 
 X. 
 
 14. 
 
156 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iii. 
 
 The Bride^ with Bridal party, enters the Church and 
 takes her place on the left hand of the Bridegroom 
 before the C07nmenceme7it of the Service^ while a wedding 
 march is played ; or she and they may e7iter during the 
 si?iging of the first hym7i. Bi that case i and 2 are 
 transposed, the hy 77171 C077ii7ig first, and the Scripture 
 sente7ice being spoken by the Minister before he begi7ts 
 his declaration. 
 
 3. Declaration by Minister. 
 
 The Mi7tister 77iay use these or like words: — We are 
 here met in the sight of God and in the face of this 
 congregation [before these witnesses] to join together 
 this man and this woman in the honourable estate of 
 matrimony. 
 
 Marriage is a divine ordinance whose sanctity is to be 
 jealously guarded. It is the foundation of the Christian 
 home with its priceless blessings. It is ordained for the 
 mutual help and comfort of husband and wife, and their 
 edification in the Christian life. The sacredness of the 
 marriage bond is used in Scripture as a fitting symbol of 
 the mystical union between Christ and His Church. 
 
 Into this holy estate these two persons now desire to 
 enter, and no reason has been alleged why they may 
 not lawfully be joined together. Let us therefore unite 
 in prayer for God's blessing on what is now to be done 
 in His Name. 
 
 4. Prayer. 
 
 All k7ieeling ; the Bridegr 00771 a7id Bride, with their 
 im77iediate frie7ids, in fro7it of the Co77i77mnion Table, if 
 that can be C07ive7iie7itly arranged. 
 
 The prayer 7nay i7iclude — 
 
 (i) Thanksgiving for God's manifold goodness; His 
 
SEC. II.] MARRIAGE. i57 
 
 love towards sinners in Jesus Christ; the gladness of 
 human life ; the sympathies which bind us to each 
 other ; the joys of family affection ; the sacred influ- 
 ences of the Christian home ; the love of husband 
 and wife; the strength and comfort of Christian 
 marriage. 
 
 (2) Supplication for the Bride and Bridegroom, that 
 they may have the aid of God's Spirit to make their 
 vows to each other in His strength and fear ; and that 
 God, "whose presence is the happiness of every con- 
 dition, and sweetens every relation, would be their 
 portion ; and that as He hath brought them together 
 by His providence. He would sanctify them by His 
 Spirit, giving them a new frame of heart fit for their 
 new estate, enriching them with all graces, whereby 
 they may perform the duties, enjoy the comforts, 
 undergo the cares, and resist the temptations which 
 accompany that condition as becometh Christians." 
 
 5. Vows. 
 
 All statiding. The congregation should be reminded 
 of this^ if needful. 
 
 The Minister shall say to the Bridegroom a fid Bride: — 
 
 In token of the covenant which you are now about to 
 make, take each other by the right hand. 
 
 The Minister shall say to the Bridegroom : — 
 
 Do you, A. B., take C. D., to be your wedded wife, 
 and do you, in the presence of God and before this con- 
 gregation [these witnesses], promise and covenant to be 
 to her a loving, faithful and dutiful husband, until God 
 shall separate you by death ? 
 
 The Bridegroom shall answer — 
 
 I do. 
 
1 58 SER VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 T/te Minister shall say to the Bride : — 
 
 Do you, C. D., take A. B., whom you hold by the 
 hand, to be your wedded husband ; and do you, in the 
 presence of God and before this congregation, promise 
 and covenant to be to him a loving, faithful and dutiful 
 wife, until God shall separate you by death ? 
 
 The Bride shall answer — 
 
 I do. 
 
 \In the Directory the vows made by Bridegroom and 
 Bride do not take the form of a response to questions by 
 the Minister^ but are a direct statement in the first person, 
 the words being repeated after the Minister?^ 
 
 6. The Marriage Ring. 
 
 The Bridegroom and Bride shall loose hands, and the 
 Minister shall say : — 
 
 As a pledge of the covenant you have made with each 
 other, the marriage ring is now given and received. 
 
 The Bridegroom shall place the ring on the third finger 
 of the Bride^s left hand. 
 
 7. Declaration of Marriage. 
 
 The Mi7iister shall say : — 
 
 I declare these two to be husband and wife, In the 
 name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Whom therefore God hath joined together, let not man 
 put asunder. 
 
 8. Blessing. 
 
 The Minister may say : — 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
 and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you. 
 
 or, 
 The Lord sanctify and bless you ; the Lord pour the 
 
SEC. II.] MARRIAGE. 159 
 
 riches of His grace upon you, that you may please Him, 
 and hve together in holy love to your lives' end. 
 
 The Anthem " The Lord bless you," may then be 
 sung. All stafiding. 
 
 9. Passages from Scripture. 
 
 The Minister may read passages of Scripture bearing on 
 the duties of husbands and wives. 
 Ephes. V. 22-33; ' Pet. iii. 1-7. 
 Col. iii. 12-19. 
 I Cor. xiii. 4-7 ; Matt. xix. 4-6. 
 
 10. Address. 
 
 The Minister may add a brief address on such topics 
 as these : the consecration of wedded life by love to God, 
 marriage as a means of grace, the sanctification of the 
 life of the home, mutual encouragement in the service 
 of Christ, the cultivation of conjugal love by sympathy, 
 trustfulness, patience, forbearance, mutual consideration, 
 and thoughtfulness. 
 
 11. Prayer. 
 
 This prayer may include — 
 
 (i) Thanksgiving on behalf of the Bridegroom and 
 Bride for the enrichment and enlargement of life which 
 God in His goodness has bestowed upon them. 
 
 (2) Supplication that they may be faithful to their new 
 responsibilities, that their love for each other rooted in 
 the love of Christ may grow in strength, that as heirs 
 together of the grace of life they may encourage each 
 other in all godly living and Christian service, that 
 Christ's presence may sanctify their new home, and be 
 their strength and comfort amid temptations and trials, 
 that they may fulfil God's holy will in this life, and be 
 prepared for His service and His joy in the life to come. 
 
1 60 SER VICES ON SPEC I A L OCCA SIONS. [pt. hi. 
 
 12. Praise. 
 
 Psalms cxxi. ; Ixvii. ; cxxv. i and 2 ; cxxxvi. (2nd Ver- 
 sion), 1-4, 23-26. 
 
 Hymns : " Kow welcome was the call," " O perfect 
 love," " O happy home," " Now thank we all our God." 
 
 13. The Lord's Prayer. 
 
 At the close of the service the Lord^s Prayer may 
 suitably be used. 
 
 14. Benediction. 
 
 Thereafter the Bridal party pass into the Vestry for the 
 necessary signatures, the co?igregation being asked to keep 
 their seats till their return. On their re-appearance, the 
 wedding march is begun. All now rise, and remain 
 standing until the Bridal company have passed out of the 
 Church. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Marriage Service. 
 
 {fovni Hermann's ^^Consultation,'' ed. 1545. Slightly 
 
 shortetied and adapted.) 
 
 The Minister shall say to the Bridegroom a?id Bride : — 
 
 You are here present before God our Father and our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and in the face of this congregation 
 of His people, to plight your faith publicly one to another 
 in marriage, and to seek the blessing of the Lord thereon, 
 through the Ministry of His Church. Is not this your 
 purpose and desire ? 
 
 Answer: It is. 
 
 Then the Minister shall say further : — 
 Seeing then that, after open publication of this your 
 u r po se, no one hath come forward to gainsay the same, 
 
SEC. II.] MARRIAGE. i6i 
 
 or to allege any lawful impediment to your being joined 
 together in holy wedlock, may our heavenly Father be 
 pleased to confirm and bless that which we now do in 
 His name. And that ye may the better understand what 
 marriage in the Lord is, hear first how it was ordained 
 of God in the beginning : 
 
 " And the Lord God took the man, and put him into 
 the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. . . . And the 
 Lord God said : It is not good that the man should be 
 alone ; I will make him an help meet for him. . . . And the 
 Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and 
 he slept ; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the 
 flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God 
 had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought 
 her unto the man. And Adam said : This is now bone 
 of my bones and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called 
 woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore 
 shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall 
 cleave unto his wife ; and they shall be one flesh." ^ 
 
 Now hear ye the voice of Christ out of the Gospel : 
 
 " The Pharisees came unto Him, tempting Him, and 
 saying unto Him : Is it lawful for a man to put away his 
 wife for every cause ? And He answered and said unto 
 them : Have ye not read that He which made them at the 
 beginning made them male and female, and said : For this 
 cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave to 
 his wife ; and they twain shall be one flesh ? Wherefore 
 they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore 
 God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." - 
 
 Hear also the commandment of the Holy Ghost by the 
 Apostle Paul concerning the duties of marriage, for thus 
 he prescribeth to married folk : 
 
 ^ Gen. ii. 15, 18-24. ^ Matt. xix. 3-6. 
 
 L 
 
i62 SEjR vices on special occasions, [pt. III. 
 
 " Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands 
 as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the 
 wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church ; and He 
 is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is 
 subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own 
 husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, 
 even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself 
 for it. So ought men to love their wives as their own 
 bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For 
 no man ever yet hated his own flesh ; but nourisheth 
 and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church : for we 
 are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 
 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother 
 and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be 
 one flesh. This is a great mystery : but I speak con- 
 cerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let every 
 one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; 
 and the wife see that she reverence her husband." ^ 
 \ Consider then, dearly beloved, how holy a kind of 
 life, and how acceptable to God matrimony is. For by 
 these Scriptures we know that God Himself instituted 
 holy wedlock, and that in Paradise, man being yet 
 upright and without sin. Also He hath greatly blessed 
 this estate, and Himself joineth together all those who 
 are wedded in His name. For he giveth the husband 
 to be an head and helper to the wife, even as Christ is 
 the Head and Saviour of the Church ; and giveth also 
 the wife to be an help meet, yea, even another self, unto 
 the husband, so that here in this world they may lead a 
 godly, honest, and joyous life together. 
 
 God is Love ; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth 
 in God. Also the whole law is fulfilled in this, that we 
 ^ Ephes. V. 22-33. 
 
SEC. II.] MARRIAGE, 163 
 
 love our neighbour as ourselves. But there is no surer 
 faithfulness, no warmer love, no nearer friendship, no 
 prompter will to serve one another than that which is 
 among such married folk as be joined together in the 
 Lord, and among their children, and all those whom 
 marriage hath thus allied together on both sides. 
 AVherefore all they whom God hath thus united ought 
 to give great thanks unto Him for this so great a benefit, 
 that He hath called them to so holy and blessed a kind 
 of life, and so acceptable to Himself. 
 
 Neither must the husband otherwise receive his wife, 
 nor the wife her husband, than as given, each to each, 
 by the Lord's own hand. And whatsoever trouble or 
 adversity may befall them in married life, let them flee 
 to God with sure confidence, and seek help and comfort 
 from Him. For our most loving Father will not forsake 
 His children in that kind of life in which He Himself 
 hath set them. He cannot but assuage the difficulties, 
 and uphold under the exercises of obedience, which He 
 seeth good to appoint for them in this estate, to try and 
 to stir up their faith, and not to afflict them. 
 
 Let exhortation be given after this fashion^ in more or 
 fewer words, according as the case seemeth to 7'equire. 
 Thereafter, let prayer be made, that God would bless 
 these twain now to be joined together in marriage, and 
 would grant unto them both to begin aright now, and 
 to hold fast to their life's end all the commands and 
 counsels given them from the Word of God. Then, 
 after a brief space alloived for silent prayer in the Church, 
 the Minister shall cause the Bridegroom and the Bride to 
 join hands, and shall say to the Bridegroom : — 
 
 John N., hast thou then determined, before the Lord, 
 to take Anne N. to be thy wife in the Lord, and so to 
 
i64 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iii. 
 
 live with her all thy days, as thou heardest even now 
 that it is required of a Christian husband ? 
 
 Answer — I have so determined, trusting in the Lord's 
 help. 
 
 Then shall he say to the Bride : — 
 
 Anne N., hast thou also determined, before the Lord, 
 to take John N. to be thy husband in the Lord, and so 
 to live with him all thy days, as thou heardest even now 
 that it is required of a Christian wife ? 
 
 Answer — I have so determined, trusting in the Lord's 
 help. 
 
 Then shall the weddi7ig ring be put by the Bridegroom 
 on the third finger of the Bride's left hand^ and the 
 Minister, making them to join their right hands, shall 
 say: — Whom God hath joined together, let not man 
 put asunder ; a?td shall add with a loud voice so that 
 all may hear : Forasmuch as these twain have plighted 
 their troth to each other as husband and wife before 
 God and this congregation, as ye have heard and seen 
 them do, I, therefore, as a Minister of Christ and of His 
 Church, hereby declare that they are joined together in 
 lawful and Christian marriage in the name of the Father, 
 the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 The7i let a Psalm or Hynui be sung, and thereafter let 
 the Minister conclude the whole inatter with prayer. 
 
 Section HI. 
 
 THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 The following selection of Scripture passages is 
 arranged under four heads — Mortality, Confidence in 
 God, The Resurrection, Victory ; and it will perhaps 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 165 
 
 be found convenient in most cases to read from each 
 of the four. In this way, an ascent will be made from 
 sorrow over the dead to triumph over death in Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Although the Service will usually be in private, there 
 will come occasions when it must be public, and when, 
 in addition to reading and prayer, the congregation may 
 engage in singing. The following order may then be 
 observed : — 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Singing. 
 
 Reading from Old Testament (i., ii.). 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Singing. 
 
 Reading from New Testament (iii., iv.). 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Singing. 
 
 Benediction. 
 
 Such Psalms and Hymns as these may be sung — 
 
 Psalms: xc. 1-4, 14-17; xci. 14-16; cii. 2nd Version, 
 23-8; ciii. 13-18; cxxi. ; xxxix. 4-12; Ixii. 5-8; xxiii. 
 
 Hymns: "A few more years shall roll"; "For ever 
 with the Lord"; "The sands of time"; "Now the 
 labourer's task is o'er " ; " Brief life is here our portion " ; 
 " Now lay we calmly in the grave " ; " Gentle Shepherd, 
 Thou hast stilled"; "Safely, safely gathered in"; "For 
 all the saints" ; "Come let us join our friends above"; 
 " How bright these glorious spirits shine." 
 
 With regard to the prayers offered at this Service 
 either in public or private, the main point to be observed 
 is, that while they naturally start from the frailty of man 
 
i66 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 and the sorrow of such a moment, they should chiefly 
 dwell upon the grace and power of Christ who has brought 
 life and immortality to light by the Gospel. It is this 
 which ought to occupy the mind of believers in the 
 presence of death, as it is this that affords them comfort. 
 And it is the comfort of the mourning, not pathos, that 
 is the end and aim of the Service. 
 
 It may seem necessary sometimes to make more 
 distinct reference to the hfe or the work of the deceased, 
 but such reference ought to be made with the utmost 
 reserve and delicacy. For the laudation of any one, 
 however saintly, in words addressed to Him who knows 
 the heart, can hardly be appropriate. 
 
 The service at the grave, when there is one, ought, 
 above all things, especially in view of our climate, to be 
 short, and confined to a sentence or two from Scripture 
 and a few words of prayer, which, if well chosen, 
 will be none the less impressive that they are few. 
 
 I. — Mortality. 
 
 Job xiv. I, 2, Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and 
 II, 12. ^^^Y\ of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower and is 
 
 cut (iown : he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth 
 not. Man dieth and wasteth away : yea, man giveth up 
 the ghost, and where is he ? As the waters fail from the 
 sea, and the river decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth 
 ^ down and riseth not : Till the heavens be no more, they 
 
 shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep. 
 
 Job Hi. 17, 18, There the wicked cease from troubling, and there 
 
 ^9- the weary be at rest. There the prisoners are at ease 
 
 together : they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 167 
 
 The small and great are there : and the servant is free 
 from his master. 
 
 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so job vii. 9, 10. 
 he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. 
 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his *" 
 
 place know him any more. 
 
 It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this Heb. ix. 27. 
 the judgment. 
 
 By one man sin entered into the world, and death by Rom. v. 12. 
 sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all 
 have sinned. 
 
 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure Ps. xxxiv. 4-6. 
 of my days, what it is; let me know how frail I am. 
 Behold thou hast made my days as an handbreadth, and 
 mine age is as nothing before thee : surely every man at ^ 
 
 his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man 
 walketh in a vain show : surely they are disquieted in 
 vain. When thou with rebukes dost correct man for 
 iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a 
 moth. Surely every man is vanity. 
 
 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all genera- Ps. xc. 1-8. 
 ( tions. Before the mountains were brought forth, or 
 ' ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even 
 from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. Thou 
 turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Return, ye 
 children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight 
 are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in 
 the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; 
 they are as a sleep : In the morning they are like grass 
 which groweth up : in the morning it flourisheth and 
 
i68 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iii. 
 
 Ps. xc. 9, lo. 
 
 14. 
 
 Ps. ciii, 13-17 
 
 7^ 
 
 groweth up : in the evening it is cut down and withereth. 
 e spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of 
 our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason 
 of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength 
 labour and sorrow : for it is soon cut off and we fly 
 away. So teach us to number our days, that we may 
 apply our hearts unto wisdom. O satisfy us early with 
 thy mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 
 
 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord 
 pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame : 
 he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his ways 
 are as grass : as a flower of the field so he flourisheth. 
 For the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the 
 place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of 
 the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them 
 that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's 
 children. 
 
 Eccles. xii. 1-7. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
 while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, 
 when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them ; while 
 the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be 
 not darkened ; nor the clouds return after the rain : in the 
 day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the 
 strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease 
 because they are few, and those that look out of the 
 windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the 
 street, when the sound of the grinding is low, and one 
 shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters 
 of music shall be brought low. Yea, they shall be afraid 
 of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way : 
 and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 169 
 
 shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man 
 goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about 
 the streets : or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the 
 golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the 
 fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then 
 shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the 
 spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 
 
 It came to pass the seventh day that the child died ; 2 Sam. xii. 18- 
 and the servants of David feared to tell him that the ^^' 
 child was dead. But when David saw that the servants 
 whispered, he perceived that the child was dead ; there- 
 fore David said unto the servants, is the child dead ? 
 and they said. He is dead, j Then David arose from the 
 earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed 
 his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord and 
 worshipped : then he came to his own house ; and he 
 did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What is this 
 that thou hast done ? thou didst fast and weep for the 
 child while it was alive ; but when the child was dead 
 thou dost arise and eat bread. And he said, while the 
 child was yet alive I fasted and wept ; for I said, who 
 can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the 
 child may live ? But now he is dead, wherefore should 
 I fast ? can I bring him back again ? I shall go to him, 
 but he shall not return to me. 
 
 Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid Mark x. 14. 
 them not. I say unto you that in heaven their angels do Matt, xviii. 10. 
 always behold the face of my Father who is in Heaven. 
 
 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, He shall Isaiah xi. n. 
 gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His 
 bosom. 
 
I70 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Lukevii. 11-16. And it came to pass that He went into a city called 
 Nain, and many of His disciples went with Him, and 
 much people. Now when He came nigh to the gate of 
 the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the 
 only son of his mother, and she was a widow : and much 
 people of the city was with her. And when the Lord 
 saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her,. 
 Weep not. And He came and touched the bier : and 
 they that bare him stood still, and He said, Young man, 
 I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up 
 and began to speak. And He delivered him to his 
 mother. And there came a fear on all, and they 
 glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen 
 up among us, and, That God hath visited His 
 people. 
 
 John xi. 32-35. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw 
 Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, 
 if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 
 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews 
 also weeping, which came with her. He groaned in the 
 spirit and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid 
 him ? They said unto Him, Lord, come and see. 
 Jesus wept. 
 
 H. — Confidence in God. 
 
 Job ii. 10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall 
 
 Ps. xxxix. 9. we not receive evil ? I was dumb, I opened not my 
 I Sam. iii. 18. mouth, because Thou didst it. It is the Lord, let Him 
 do what seemeth Him good. 
 
 Ps. xxiii. The Lord is my shepherd : I shall not want. He 
 
 maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; He leadeth 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 171 
 
 me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul : He 
 leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's 
 sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with 
 me ; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou 
 preparest a table before me in the presence of mine 
 enemies : Thou anointest my head with oil ; my cup 
 runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow 
 me all the days of my life ; and I will dwell in the house 
 of the Lord for ever. -— — 
 
 The ey es of the Lord are upon the righteous, and Hisj's. xxxiv. 15, 
 ears are open unto their cry. The Lord is nigh unto ^ ' ^^' ~'" 
 them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as 1 
 
 be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the 
 righteous : but the Lord delivereth him out of them 
 all. He keepeth all his bones : not one of them is 
 broken. The Lord redeemeth the soul of His ser- 
 vants : and none of them that trust in Him shall be 
 desolate. -^ 
 
 God j^our refuge and strength, a very present help in Ps. xlvi. 1-5. JJ 
 trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth 
 be removed, and though the mountains be carried into 
 the midst of the sea \ though the waters thereof roar 
 and be troubled ; though the mountains shake with the 
 swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof 
 shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the 
 tabernacle of the most high. God is in the midst of 
 her ; she shall not be moved ; God shall help her and 
 that right early. 
 
 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most Ps. xci. 1-4. , 
 
 (^ 
 
172 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [p^. ill. 
 
 High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my 
 fortress; my God, in Him will I trust. He shall 
 cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings 
 shalt thou trust; His truth shall be thy shield and 
 buckler. 
 
 Ps. xci. 9-1^. * Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, 
 even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil 
 befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy 
 dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over 
 thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear 
 thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against 
 a stone. 
 
 4-16. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will 
 
 I deliver him : I will set him on high, because he hath 
 known my name. He shall call upon Me, and I will 
 answer him : I will be with him in trouble ; I will 
 deliver him and honour him. With long life will I 
 satisfy him, and show him My salvation. 
 
 + 
 
 Ps. ciii. 1-5. Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me, 
 
 bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 
 forget not all His benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniqui- 
 ties, -who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy 
 life from destruction, who^ crowneth thee with loving- 
 kindness and tiender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth 
 % with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like^the 
 
 eagle's. 
 ^^^ The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 
 plenteous* in mercy. He will not always chide ; neither 
 8-13. will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt 
 
 . with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our 
 iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 173 
 
 so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As 
 far as the east is from the west, so far hath He re- 
 moved our transgressions from us. Like as a father 
 pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear 
 Him. 
 
 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; Ps. cxliii. i, 4, 
 in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteous- - 7- • ' 
 ness. For my spirit is overwhelmed within me, my 
 heart within me is desolate. I stretch forth my hands 
 unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty 
 land. Hear me speedily, O Lord, my spirit faileth ; 
 hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them 
 that go down to the pit. Cause me to hear Thy loving- 
 kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust ; cause 
 me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift 
 up my soul unto Thee. It is of the Lord's mercies that Lam. iii. 22. 
 we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
 They are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness. 
 The Lord is good unto them that wait upon Him, to 
 the soul that seeketh Him. The Lord will not cast Ps. xliv. 23. 
 off for ever; but though He cause grief, yet will He 
 have compassion according to the multitude of his 
 mercies. But He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve Lam. iii. 33. 
 the children of men. 
 
 Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 
 worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight ^ ' 
 of glory ; while we look not at the things which are 
 seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the 
 things which are seen are temporal, but the things 
 which are not seen are eternal. 
 
174 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Heb. xii, 7, 11. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as 
 sons. Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to 
 be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless afterward it 
 yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. 
 
 III. — Resurrection and Eternal Life. 
 
 I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall 
 stand at the latter day upon the earth ; and tho' after 
 my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I. 
 see God. 
 
 Since by man came death, by man came also the 
 resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, 
 even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every 
 man in his own order : Christ the first-fruits ; after- 
 ward they that are Christ's at His coming. Then 
 cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up 
 the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He 
 shall have put down all rule and all authority and 
 power. For He must reign till He hath put all 
 enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall 
 be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things 
 under His feet. But when He saith all things are 
 put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, 
 which did put all things under Him. And when all 
 things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son 
 also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things 
 under Him, that God may be all in all. 
 
 It is sown in corruption ; it is raised in incorruption ; 
 it is sown in dishonour ; it is raised in glory ; it is sown 
 in weakness ; it is raised in power ; it is sown a natural 
 body ; it is raised a spiritual body. ... Now this I say, 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 175 
 
 brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kine- 
 dom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 
 Behold, I show you a mystery ; we shall not all sleep, 
 but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling 
 of an eye, at the last trump ; for the trumpet shall sound, 
 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall 
 be changed/ For this corruptible must put on incorrup- 
 tion, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when 
 this corruption shall have put on incorruption, and this 
 mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be 
 brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is 
 swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting ? 
 O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is 
 sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be 
 to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be 
 ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the 
 work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your 
 labour is not in vain in the Lord./ 
 
 But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, con-li Thessal. 
 cerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,r3-i8. 
 even as others which have no hope. For if we 
 believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them 
 also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 
 For this we say unto you by the word of the LorST 
 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming 
 of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 
 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with 
 a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the 
 trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise first : 
 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up 
 together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in 
 
 i'^ 
 
 IV. 
 
176 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord, 
 fore comfort one another with these words. 
 
 Where- 
 
 ') 
 
 19. 
 
 i) 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath 
 begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection 
 of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incor- 
 ruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved 
 in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God 
 through faith unto salvation^ ready to be revealed in the 
 last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now. for a 
 season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold 
 trials ; that the trying of your faith, being much more 
 precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried 
 with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and 
 glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ : whom having not 
 seen ye love : in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet 
 believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 
 
 Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, 
 believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many 
 mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you. I 
 go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare 
 a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto 
 Myself : that where I am, there ye may be also. I will 
 not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. Yet a 
 little while, and the world seeth Me no more : but ye 
 see me : Because I live ye shall live also. Peace I leave 
 with you. My peace I give unto you ; not as the world 
 giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, 
 ^„.— neither let it be afraid. 
 
 %^ 
 
 . / For we know that if our earthly house of this taber- 
 nacle were dissolved we have a building of God, an 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 177 
 
 1 house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst 2 Cor. v. 6-10. 
 we are at home in the body, we are absent from the 
 Lord, for we walk by faith not by sight : we are con- 
 fident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the 
 body and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we 
 i labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be ac- 
 'cepted of Himy^ Imr we must all appear before the 
 judgment seat of Ch^st, that every one may receive the 
 things done in his body\ according to that he hath done, 
 whether it be good or baH; 
 
 IV. — Victory. 
 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall Rom. viii. 35- 
 tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or ^^" 
 nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things 
 we are more than conquerors through Him that loved 
 us.^For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, 
 nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
 present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor 
 any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the 
 love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. / 
 
 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which Rev. vii. 9-17. 
 no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and 
 people, and tongues stood before the throne and before 
 the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their 
 hands : and cried with a loud voice saying. Salvation to 
 our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 
 LamlwCnd all the angels stood round about the throne, 
 and about the elders and the four living creatures, and 
 fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped 
 God, saying. Amen; Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, 
 
 M 
 
 -jr 
 
178 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS [pt. hi. 
 
 and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, 
 be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one 
 of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these 
 which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came 
 they ? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And 
 he said to me, These are they which came out of great 
 \^ tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them 
 \ I white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they 
 (before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night 
 in His temple ; and He that sitteth on the throne shall 
 dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither 
 thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor 
 any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the 
 , throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living 
 j fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears 
 ' from their eyes. 
 Rev. XX. 11-14. And I saw a' great white throne, and him that sat on 
 it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away : 
 and there was found no place for them. And I saw the 
 dead, small and great, stand before God ; and the books 
 were opened : and another book was opened which was 
 the book of life : and the dead were judged out of those 
 things which were written in the books according to 
 their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were 
 in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which 
 were in them : and they were judged every man accord- 
 ing to their works. And death and hell were cast into 
 the lake of fire. 
 Rev. xxi. 1-5. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth : for the 
 first heaven and the first earth were passed away ; and 
 there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy 
 city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of 
 heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 
 
 179 
 
 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, 
 the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell 
 with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself 
 shall be with them and be their God. And God shall 
 wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be 
 no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall 
 there be any more pain ; for the former things are 
 
 passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, 
 
 Behold, I make all things new. V^ 
 
 And he shewed me a river of water of life, clear aSfccv. xxii. 1-5. 
 crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the] 
 Lamb. In the midst of the street of it and on either 
 side of the river was there the tree of life, which bare 
 twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : 
 and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the 
 nations. And there shall be no more curse : but the 
 throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it ; and his 
 servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face 
 and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there 
 shall be no night there ; and they need no light of lamp, 
 neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth them 
 light : and they shall reign for ever and ever. / 
 
 lis! 
 
 At the Grave. 
 
 What profit hath a man of all the labour which Eccies. 
 he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away ^' ^^' 
 and another generation cometh : but the earth abideth 
 for ever. All things are full of weariness ; man cannot 
 utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear 
 filled with hearing. There is no remembrance of the 
 former generations : neither shall there be any remem- 
 brance of the latter generations that are to come among 
 
 3. 4 
 
i8o SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. ill. 
 
 Eccles. viii. 8. those that shall come after. There is no man that hath 
 power over the spirit to retain the spirit : neither hath 
 he power over the day of death, and there is no discharge 
 in that war. 
 
 r Pet. i. 24, 25. All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is 
 as the flower of the field : the grass withereth, the flower 
 fadeth, because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : 
 surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the 
 flower fadeth : but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 
 
 3en. iii. 19. ' Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. But 
 s. X IX. 15. ^^^ ^^.j^ redeem my soul from the power of the grave, 
 for He shall receive me. 
 
 fohn V. 28, 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the 
 graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth : they 
 that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they 
 that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment. 
 
 John vi. 39. This is the Father's will who hath sent me, that- of all 
 
 which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but 
 should raise it up at the last day. 
 
 2 Pet. iii. 8-io.\ Forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is 
 with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years 
 as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His 
 promise, as some count slackness : but is longsufl'ering 
 to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but 
 that all should come to repentance. But the day of 
 the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 
 
 Heb. xiii. 20, Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the 
 
 ^^- dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the 
 
 sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
 made you perfect in every good work to do His will, 
 working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, 
 
SEC. III.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. i8r 
 
 through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and 
 ever. Amen. « 
 
 As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness : I Ps. xvii. 15. 
 shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness. 
 Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence Ps. xvi. w. 
 is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures 
 for evermore. 
 
 Wa know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle 2 Cor. v. 1. 
 were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not 
 made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ died for us that, whether i Thessai. v. 10. 
 we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 
 
 I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me. Write, Rev. xiv. 13. 
 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
 forth : yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their 
 labours ; and their works do follow them. 
 
 Jesus saith, I am the Resurrection and the Life ; John xi.' 25. 
 he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet 
 shall he Hve : and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me 
 shall never die. 
 
 So teach us to number our days that we may apply Ps. xc. 12. 
 our hearts unto wisdom. 
 
 Whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether Rom. xiv. 8. 
 we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore, 
 or die, we are the Lord's. • 
 
 Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to Heb. xiii. 14. 
 come. 
 
i82 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burn- 
 ing ; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their 
 Lord, when He will return from the wedding ; that, when 
 He Cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him 
 immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the 
 Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching : verily I 
 say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make 
 them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and 
 serve them. And if He shall come in the second watch, 
 or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed 
 are those servants. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 For the service at the grave, two or three suitable 
 sentences may be read, and then prayer offered in such 
 words as the following : — 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, the Father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who in Thy holy providence hast 
 called us together at this time, grant, we pray Thee, that 
 as Thy blessed Son came unto the sisters who mourned 
 for their beloved laid in the grave at Bethany, so by 
 Thy gracious Spirit He may be revealed in the midst 
 of us, saying, " I am the resurrection and the life : he 
 that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
 live : and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall 
 never die." And since Jesus Christ is the same 
 yesterday and to-day and for ever, may we, in this 
 our day of sorrow, receive of Thee everlasting con- 
 
SEC. HI.] BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 183 
 
 solation and good hope through grace in the 
 name of Him who is gone to that house of Thine 
 where are many mansions, there to prepare a place 
 for us. 
 
 Unto Thee, Father of Hghts, from whom cometh every 
 good and every perfect gift, we render unto Thee our 
 heartfelt thanks for the work of faith and labour of love, 
 and patience of hope of our brother (sister) departed. 
 We give thanks unto Thee, who forgivest all our iniqui- 
 ties and healest all our diseases, forasmuch as Thou 
 hast in Thy great mercy granted unto him (her) release 
 from the pain of this life, its weakness, and its sorrow. 
 Now returneth the dust to the earth as it was, and the 
 spirit is returned unto God who gave it. We bless Thy 
 holy name, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose 
 again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus Thou wilt 
 bring with Him. 
 
 O God, who hast not appointed us unto wrath, but to 
 obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, grant 
 unto us that as He died for us, so whether we wake or 
 sleep, we may live together with Him. The night is far 
 spent, the day is at hand. Enable us therefore to cast 
 off the works of darkness and to put on the armour of 
 light. As Thou hast brought life and immortality to 
 light through the gospel, destroying the face of the 
 covering cast over all people, and the veil that was 
 spread over all nations, teach us to be steadfast, im- 
 moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 
 forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vain in 
 the Lord. 
 
 Our Father which art in heaven, etc. 
 
 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the 
 dead, etc. 
 
i84 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 11. 
 
 Almighty and Ever-blessed God, from this open grave 
 we lift up our hearts unto Thee. We bless Thee that 
 from the midst of death and sorrow we can look to Thee 
 as our Refuge and Strength, and know that Thou carest 
 for us. 
 
 We give Thee thanks on behalf of all those who have 
 lived in Thy holy faith and fear and now rest with Thee. 
 We thank Thee for this finished life, for all Thy good- 
 ness to our brother (sister) departed, and that Thou hast 
 released him (her) from the pain and weakness of this 
 mortal body. Blessed be Thy name for the assurance 
 Thou hast given us regarding them who fall asleep in 
 Jesus that they have entered on a fuller life beyond. 
 May our life be so hid with Christ in God, that when 
 Christ who is our life shall appear, we also may appear 
 with Him in Glory. 
 
 O Thou who art the God of all comfort, who healest 
 the broken in heart and bindest up their wounds, 
 mercifully look on those who are at this time bereaved. 
 Be near to them in their sorrow and let their sorrow 
 draw them nearer to Thee, and consecrate them for 
 Thy service. Let Thy grace enable them to say, not 
 my will but Thine be done, and in them let patience 
 have her perfect work. May their minds be stayed on 
 Thee, and be filled with Thy peace. 
 
 Grant, O God, unto every one of us that as we know 
 neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man 
 cometh, we may live as those who wait for their Master, 
 having our lamps burning and our loins girt. May we 
 be enabled to persevere and abound in every good work 
 and word, that sanctified by the Spirit, we may have an 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 185 
 
 entrance ministered to us abundantly into the ever- 
 lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour to whom in 
 the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory for 
 ever. 
 
 Now we commit dust to dust, ashes to ashes, 
 earth to earth, looking to Jesus who shall change 
 these bodies of humiliation and make them like 
 unto His own glorious Body, according to the power 
 that worketh in us. 
 
 Our Father who art in Heaven, etc. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God 
 the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with 
 us all for ever. Amen. 
 
 Section IV. 
 
 ORDINATION AND INDUCTION OF A 
 MINISTER. 
 
 \. — Preparatory. 
 
 On the day fixed for the Ordination, the Presbytery 
 meets in the session house or hall of the Church where 
 the service is to take place, some time before the hour 
 of public worship, and is constituted in the usual way. 
 The minister appointed to preach and preside at the 
 Ordination is Moderator /r^ tempore, if he does not hold 
 that position in the Presbytery in ordinary course. It is 
 strongly recommended (i) that at least two ministers 
 should take part in the service — the one to " preach and 
 ordain," the other, who should be a man of some minis- 
 terial experience, to address minister and people after 
 
1 86 SEJ^ VICES ON SPECIAL OCCA SIONS. [pt. hi. 
 
 the Ordination ; (2) that sermon and addresses should 
 be short, so that due time may be given for praise and 
 prayer, and that the whole service may be concluded 
 within a reasonable space. This ought to be matter of 
 arrangement beforehand between the ministers appointed 
 to conduct the service. 
 
 It is customary that ministers from a distance, and 
 those representing sister Churches in the parish or dis- 
 trict, should be "associated with the Presbytery," and 
 should join with them in the laying on of hands. 
 
 The service of praise should have special consideration. 
 Such psalms and hymns as the following may be used in 
 the first part of the service : — 
 
 Ps. Ixv. 1-4 — "Praise waits for Thee in Zion, Lord." 
 „ Ixviii. 7-1 1 — " O God, what time Thou didst go forth." 
 „ Ixviii. 18-20 — "Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious." 
 „ Ixxxiv. 1-7 — " How lovely is Thy dwelling-place." 
 „ Ixxxix. 1-5 — " God's mercies will I ever sing." 
 „ Ixxxix. 15-18 — " O greatly blessed the people are." 
 „ xcv. 1-6 — " O come, let us sing to the Lord." 
 „ c. — " All people that on earth do dwell." 
 „ oil., 2nd version, 13-22 — " Thou shalt arise, and mercy 
 
 yet." 
 „ cvi. 1-5 — "Give praise and thanks unto the Lord." 
 „ cxv. 12-18 — " The Lord of us hath mindful been." 
 „ cxxii. 1-5 — " I joyed when to the house of God." 
 „ cxlvii. 1-5 — " Praise ye the Lord ; for it is good." 
 Paraph. 20 — " How glorious Zion's courts appear." 
 Hymn — " The Church's one foundation." 
 „ — " Jesus, where'er Thy people meet." 
 „ — " We pray Thee, Jesus, who didst first." 
 ,, — " Pour out Thy spirit from above." 
 „ — " Jesus, with Thy Church abide." 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 187 
 
 Hymn — " O Jesus, Lord of heavenly grace." 
 ,, — " I love Thy kingdom, Lord." 
 „ — " As with gladness men of old." 
 „ — " Pleasant are Thy courts above." 
 ,, — '' The God of Abraham praise." 
 ,, — " Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." 
 „ — " God reveals His Presence." 
 Scripture Sentence or Anthem — " God is a spirit." 
 „ —" Holy, holy, holy." 
 ,, „ ,, — "He shall feed His 
 
 flock." 
 „ „ ,, — " They that be wise shall 
 
 shine." 
 ,, ,, „ — " Pray for the peace of 
 
 Jerusalem." 
 See also the psalms, hymns, &c., suggested below in con- 
 nection with the different points in the Ordination ser- 
 vice proper. 
 
 Such passages of Scripture may be read as Exod. 
 iii. 1-15 ; iv. 1-16 ; xxxiii. 12-19; xxxiv. 5-9; Josh. i. 
 1-9 ; Ps. xvi. ; xxv. 1-14 ; xxvii. ; cxix. 1-16 ; cxix. 89-104; 
 Isaiah vi. ; xl. i-ii, 26-31 ; Iv. ; Ixi. ; Jer. i. 4-19; Ezek. 
 iii. 1-2 1 ; xxxiii. 1-9; xxxiv.; Matt. ix. 35-38; x. 1-8; 
 xxiv. 42-51 ; xxv. 14-30; xxviii. 18-20; Luke ix. 57-62 ; 
 x. i-ii ; xii. 35-48; John x. 1-18 ; xxi. 15-22; Acts i. 
 i-ii ; ii. 1-2 1 ; xx. 17-38 ; Rom. i. 1-17 ; Eph. iv. 1-16 ; 
 Col. i. 9-29; I Tim. iii.; iv. 6-16; vi. 11-21 ; 2 Tim. 
 ii. ; iii. ; iv. 1-8 ; Titus i. ; Heb. xiii. 5-21 ; i Peter v. 
 I-II ; Rev. i. ; ii. ; iii. ; vii. 9-17 ; xxii. The sermon or 
 lecture should refer to some part of the teaching of 
 Scripture regarding Christ and the Church — the Church's 
 mission, privileges, and work in the world ; the work of 
 the Holy Spirit in the Church ; the nature and duties of 
 
i88 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 the Christian ministry ; its difficulties and encourage- 
 ments ; the mutual relations of minister and people, &c. 
 Such passages as those noted above may prove suggestive 
 of suitable texts. 
 
 An Ordination service is one of the occasions on 
 which special attention should be given to the Apostolic 
 canons for the worship and meetings of the Church : 
 " Let all things be done unto edification," and " Let all 
 things be done in seemly form, and according to order " 
 (i Cor. xiv. 26, 40). It is fitting and seemly, e.g., that all 
 the ministerial members of Presbytery should wear gown 
 and bands, as on the Lord's Day. They ought to come 
 into the Church together in an orderly way, following the 
 Moderator from the session house. They should sit 
 together, along with the Presbytery elders, beside or in 
 front of the pulpit or communion table, so that the 
 whole action may be visibly a Presbyterial one. Care 
 and thought should be given beforehand to all the minor 
 arrangements for good order in the Church in connection 
 with the different parts of the service — including even 
 such details as the provision of pen and ink for signing 
 the formula at the proper time. This implies, of course, 
 some consultation beforehand on the part of the offi- 
 ciating ministers, the Presbytery clerk and Presbytery 
 officer, with the interim Moderator of Session, the 
 Session Clerk, and the Church officer of the congregation 
 concerned. 
 
 IL — Outline of Ordination Service. 
 
 1. Narrative of steps taken by the Presbytery. 
 
 2. Questions put and Formula signed. 
 
 3. Prayer (brief) for grace to keep vows taken, and 
 pause for silent prayer. 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 189 
 
 4. Hymn of the Holy Spirit (" Veni Creator Spiritus " 
 or other). 
 
 5. Ordination prayer, and laying on of hands of the 
 Presbytery. 
 
 6. Admission to Pastoral Charge, and right hand of 
 fellowship given 
 
 7. Praise (Doxology, Scripture Sentence, Psalm, or 
 Hymn). 
 
 [8. Repetition of the " Apostles' creed."] 
 9. Charge to newly-ordained Minister and to Con- 
 gregation. 
 
 10. Prayer. 
 
 11. Praise. 
 
 12. Benediction. 
 
 13. Minister welcomed by his people at door of 
 Church. 
 
 14. Close of Meeting of Presbytery. 
 
 HI. — Notes on above Order of Service. 
 
 After the sermon and singing of a verse or two of a 
 psalm or hymn (see list for selection given above). 
 
 I. A brief narrative of proceedings of Presbytery in the 
 case, prepared by its clerk, is read from the pulpit by the 
 Moderator, ending with words to this effect : "All these 
 things having been done according to the law and usage 
 of the Church, the Presbytery are now prepared to ordain 
 the said Mr A. B. to the office of the holy ministry, and 
 to admit him to the pastoral charge of this congregation 
 (or, in the case of a minister who has been already 
 ordained, " to induct the said Mr A. B. to the pastoral 
 charge of this congregation "), as soon as he shall have 
 given satisfactory answers to the following questions, 
 
I90 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 appointed by the Church to be put to all who are 
 ordained to the ministry, or admitted to any charge." 
 
 2. Questions put and Formula signed} 
 
 The minister-elect stands- up, and the Moderator puts 
 the appointed questions to him from the pulpit. He 
 signifies his assent by bowing, or by audible response. 
 The Moderator then adds : " You will at this point sign 
 the Formula, which contains the substance of the ques- 
 tions now answered." After this has been done, it is 
 fitting that, with the approval of the Presbytery, the ques- 
 tion given in Appendix I. should be put to the Congre- 
 gation and answered by them, so as to bring out their 
 side of the mutual covenant entered into by pastor and 
 people, and publicly to confirm the promises already 
 made by them in the call addressed to their minister.^ 
 
 ^ See Appendix I. for questions to probationers before Ordination 
 and to ministers before Induction, with additional question for the 
 congregation, and with the formula to be signed 
 
 - This is in accordance with the "Form and Order of the Election 
 of the Superintendent, which may serve in Election of all other 
 ministers," as given in the Service book referred to in the First 
 Book of Disciplme (1560) as " The Book of our Common Order." 
 This Election and Ordination Service was in general use in the 
 Church of Scotland for fully sixty years after the Reformation. It 
 was first used "at Edinburgh, the 9th day of March 1560, John 
 Knox being Moderator," in connection with the appointment of 
 Mr John Spottiswood to be Superintendent of Lothian. Several 
 questions were put to the congregation and answered by them. 
 Inter alia : ' ' They were asked ' If they would have the said Mr 
 John as Superintendent ? If they would honour and obey him as 
 Christ's minister, and comfort and assist him in everything pertain- 
 ing to his charge ? ' They answered : * We will ; and we do pro- 
 mise him such obedience as it becometh the sheep to give unto 
 their pastor, so long as he remaineth faithful in his office.' " Knox^s 
 Works (Laing's ed.) ii. 145 ; Book of Common Order (Sprott and 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 191 
 
 3. Prayer for grace to keep the voivs taken. 
 
 After the answers both of the minister-elect and of 
 the people have been received, there may suitably follow 
 a short collect or sentence of prayer by the presiding 
 minister, such as is given in Appendix II., and an oppor- 
 tunity for a few moments of silent prayer on the part of the 
 Congregation 1 for their minister, for themselves, and for 
 the cause of Christ in the special circumstances of their 
 parish and neighbourhood. With a view to this, the 
 Moderator, after the brief petition offered by himself, 
 shall say : " let us now lift up our hearts in silent prayer 
 to God for His servant and people here, and for His 
 cause in this place." 
 
 4. Hymn of the Holy Spirit. 
 A hymn, such as the " Veni Creator Spiritus " (" Come, 
 Holy Ghost, our souls inspire "), or "Our blest Redeemer, 
 ere He breathed," may well come in here. Both in praise 
 and prayer there should be very special reference to the 
 Holy Spirit in every Ordination Service. During the sing- 
 ing of this hymn the Moderator leaves the pulpit and takes 
 his place in the centre of the Presbytery. The minister- 
 elect kneels in front of him. The other Members of Pres- 
 
 Leishman's ed.), pp. 19, 22. Questions of this sort are answered by 
 the congregation at the Ordination and Induction of Ministers in the 
 American Presbyterian Churches, and in the United Presbyterian 
 Church of Scotland. Comp. "Form of Service for the Ordination 
 of a Bishop and his Installation at the same time as Pastor of 
 a Church," in General Liturgy. New York and Chicago, 1883, 
 p. 77. This service book, drawn up by Prof. Hopkins, of Auburn 
 Theol. Seminary is on strictly Presbyterian lines. 
 
 1 So in the Ordination Service of the Church of England, and in 
 the Order for Ordination of a minister in the " Euchologion " of 
 the Scottish Church Service Society, 5th ed., p. 248. 
 
192 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iil 
 
 bytery and Ministers associated with them stand along 
 with the Moderator, the whole Congregation kneeling at 
 the words, " Let us pray." 
 
 5. Ordination Prayer and laying on of the ha?ids of 
 the Presbytery. 
 The Ordination Prayer may be on the lines of those 
 given in Appendix II. The essential points to be kept 
 in view are (i) Ordination to the Office of the Ministry 
 in the Church of Christ is always to be distinguished 
 from admission to the exercise to that office in a par- 
 ticular sphere. There ought, therefore, to be in the 
 prayer, first of all, a solemn setting apart to office in the 
 name of Christ and by the authority of the Church, and 
 thereafter prayer for blessing on the Minister ordained 
 in the Pastoral Charge into which he is now inducted. 
 (2) There should be special prayer that the Holy Spirit 
 may be given to the brother now ordained to fit him for 
 all the work of the Ministry, both in the particular sphere 
 on which he is this day entering, and wherever his lot 
 may be cast hereafter. Such petitions for the special 
 gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit come in with im- 
 pressive effect in the Ordination Service of 1560, referred 
 to above, — which was no doubt drawn up by John Knox, 
 — in the Ordination Prayer, in " the Benediction," and 
 in " The last Exhortation to the Elected." 1 
 
 6. Admission to Pastoral Charge ; right hand of 
 
 felloivship given. 
 
 The Ordination Prayer being ended, and the Minister 
 
 ordained having risen, the Moderator shall say : " In the 
 
 name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only King and Head 
 
 ^ See Appendix II. 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 193 
 
 of the Church, and by the authority of this Presbytery, I 
 declare you to be ordained to the office of the Holy 
 Ministry ; I receive and admit you to the Pastoral Charge 
 of this Congregation and to a seat in this Presbytery, 
 with all the rights and privileges belonging thereto : 
 And in token thereof I now give you the right hand 
 of fellowship." 
 
 The Moderator then gives his hand to the newly- 
 ordained minister, and is followed in this by the other 
 Members of the Presbytery. 
 
 In the case of a Minister already ordained, who is now 
 simply to be inducted into the Pastoral Charge of the 
 Congregation, the necessary changes and omissions in 
 prayer are slight, and can be easily made. The clause 
 " I declare you to be ordained to the office of the Holy 
 Ministry," is of course omitted ;. and there is no repetition 
 of the laying on of hands. 
 
 7. Praise after the Ordination and Admission. 
 The following may serve for selection : — 
 
 Ps. cvi. 48 — " Blessed be Jehovah, Israel's God." 
 „ cxvi. 17-19 — '' Thank offerings I to Thee will give." 
 „ cxxi. — " I to the hills will lift mine eyes." 
 Sentence — " The Lord bless thee and keep thee." 
 
 „ — " Cast thy burden on the Lord." 
 
 „ — '' Now unto Him that is able." 
 Hymn — " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." 
 
 „ — " Glory be to God the Father." 
 
 ,, —"Praise ye the Father, God the Lord, who 
 gave us." 
 
 „ — "O praise the Father, praise the Son." 
 
 N 
 
194 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 8. The Apostles' Creed. 
 
 After the singing at this point, which should be brief, 
 there may very suitably come in, where circumstances 
 allow of its being done to edification, a repetition of the 
 " Apostles' Creed " by Minister and Congregation and 
 Members of Presbytery together, as expressing their 
 common faith. This is in accordance w^ith John Knox's 
 " Order of the Election of Elders and Deacons in the 
 Kirk of Edinburgh," which was approved by the General 
 Assembly of 1582 (Sess. 12), and ordered to be of use in 
 the whole Church in the Ordination and Adaiission of 
 Elders.^ In this interesting little form of service, after 
 the Ordination Prayer, which ends with the Lord's 
 Prayer, there follows ^^fhe rehearsal of the Belief . After 
 the quhilk shall be sung this portion of the 103rd 
 psalm, verse 19 ('The heavens high are made the seat') 
 to the end of that psalm. After the quhilk shall this 
 short admonition be given to the elected : ' Magnify 
 God, who hath of His mercy called you to rule within His 
 Kirk,"^ &c., ending with prayer. — Knox's Works, ii. 154. 
 
 9. Charges to the newly ordained Minister ajid the 
 Congregatiofi. 
 
 These are delivered from the pulpit, the minister 
 appointed for this part of the Service having taken his 
 place there during the preceding singing. The minister 
 addressed should stand, the address being reasonably 
 short. 
 
 1 "Book of the Universal Kirk of Scotland" (ed. Peterkin), 
 p. 250. Andrew Melville was Moderator of this Assembly. 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 195 
 
 10. Concluding Prayer. 
 This may be on the lines of what is given in Appendix 
 
 II. 
 
 II. Praise. 
 
 Such Psahns and Hymns as the following are suit- 
 able : — 
 
 Ps. xxiii. — "The Lord's my Shepherd : I'll not want." 
 „ Ixxii. 17-19 — " His name for ever shall endure." 
 „ cxxii. 6-9 — "Pray that Jerusalem may have." 
 ,, cxxxii. 13-18 — " For God of Zion hath made choice." 
 „ cxxxiv. — " Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye." 
 ,, cxxxvi.j First or Second Version, 1-4, 23-26 — "Give 
 
 thanks to God, for good is He." 
 Paraph, ii. — " O God of Bethel by whose hand." 
 
 ,, Ixv. 5-9, 1 1 — " Hark how the adoring hosts above." 
 ,, Ixvii. 12 — "O may we stand before the Lamb." 
 Hymn — " Jerusalem the golden." 
 ,, — " Onward, Christian soldiers." 
 ,, — " Now thank we all our God." 
 Doxology — "From all that dwell beneath the skies." 
 ,, — " Now to Him that loved us, gave us." 
 —"Halleluiah! Halleluiah!" 
 — " To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 ,, — "Blessed, blessed be Jehovah." 
 
 12. Benediction. 
 
 Heb. xiii. 20-21 — " The God of peace," «S:c. 
 
 Or^ "The peace of God, which passeth all under- 
 standing, 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, rest upon you and abide with you 
 for ever." Amen. 
 
196 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. iii. 
 
 13. Mifiister welcomed by his people at door of Church. 
 
 While the closing Psalm or Hymn is being sung, the 
 newly-ordained or inducted minister takes his place in 
 the porch or vestibule of the Church, accompanied by 
 two or three of the Presbytery or other friends ; and the 
 people, as they retire after the benediction, have an 
 opportunity of shaking hands with him at the door. 
 
 14. Close of Meeting of Presbytery. 
 The Presbytery return to the session-house, and con- 
 clude their meeting there. The name of the newly- 
 ordained or inducted minister is added to the Roll. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 I. — Questions to be put to Probationers before 
 Ordination ; and also to a Minister already 
 ordained, at his admission to a Pastoral 
 Charge. 
 
 (i.) Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only 
 rule of faith and manners ? 
 
 (2.) Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doc- 
 trine contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by 
 former General Assemblies of this Church, to be founded 
 upon the Word of God ; and do you acknowledge the 
 same as the confession of your faith ; and will you 
 firmly and constantly adhere thereto, and to the utmost 
 of your power assert, maintain, and defend the same, 
 and the purity of worship as presently practised in this 
 Church? 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 197 
 
 (3.) Do you disown all Popish, Arian, Socinian, 
 Arminian, Erastian, and other doctrines, tenets, and 
 opinions whatsoever, contrary to, and inconsistent with, 
 the foresaid Confession of Faith ? 
 
 (4.) Are you persuaded that the Presbyterian govern- 
 ment and discipline of this Church are founded upon the 
 Word of God, and agreeable thereto ; and do you pro- 
 mise to submit to the said government and discipline, 
 and to concur with the same, and not to endeavour, 
 directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof, 
 but to the utmost of your power, in your station, to 
 maintain, support, and defend the said discipline and 
 Presbyterian government by Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries, 
 Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies ? 
 
 (5.) Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as 
 King and Head of the Church, has therein appointed a 
 government in the hands of Church-officers, distinct 
 from, and not subordinate in its own province to, civil 
 government, and that the Civil Magistrate does not 
 possess jurisdiction or authoritative control over the 
 regulation of the affairs of Christ's Church ; and do you 
 approve of the general principles embodied in the Claim, 
 Declaration, and Protest, adopted by the General Assem- 
 bly of the Church of Scotland in 1842, and in the 
 Protest of Ministers and Elders, Commissioners from 
 Presbyteries to the General Assembly, read in presence 
 of the Royal Commissioner on i8th May 1843, ^s declar- 
 ing the views which are sanctioned by the Word of God, 
 and the standards of this Church, with respect to the 
 spirituality and freedom of the Church of Christ, and her 
 subjection to Him as her only Head and to His Word 
 as her only standard ? 
 
 (6.) Do you promise to submit yourself willingly and 
 
198 SEJ? VICES ON SPECIAL OCCA SIONS. [pt. hi. 
 
 humbly, in the spirit of meekness, unto the admonitions 
 of the brethren of this Presbytery, and to be subject to 
 them, and all other Presbyteries and superior judicatories 
 of this Church, where God in His providence shall cast 
 your lot; and that, according to your power, you shall 
 maintain the unity and peace of this Church against 
 error and schism, notwithstanding of whatsoever trouble 
 or persecution may arise, and that you shall follow no 
 divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, 
 and government of this Church ? 
 
 (7.) Are not zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus 
 Christ, and desire of saving souls, your great motives and 
 chief inducements to enter into the function of the holy 
 ministry, and not worldly designs and interests ? 
 
 (8.) Have you used any undue methods, either by 
 yourself or others, in procuring this call ? 
 
 (9.) Do you engage, in the strength and grace of 
 Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, to rule well your 
 own family, to live a holy and circumspect life, and 
 faithfully, diligently, and cheerfully to discharge all the 
 parts of the ministerial work, to the edification of the 
 body of Christ ? 
 
 (10.) Do you accept of and close with the call to be 
 pastor of this congregation, and promise, through grace, 
 to perform all the duties of a faithful minister of the 
 gospel among this people ? 
 
 n. — Formula to be subscribed by all Ministers 
 AND Elders at the time of their admission. 
 
 I, do hereby declare, 
 
 that I do sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine 
 contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by former 
 General Assemblies of this Church to be the truths of 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 199 
 
 God ; and I do own the same as the confession of my 
 faith ; as Hkewise I do own the purity of worship pre- 
 sently authorised and practised in the Free Church of 
 Scotland, and also the Presbyterian government and 
 discipline thereof; which doctrine, worship, and Church 
 Government, I am persuaded, are founded on the Word of 
 God, and agreeable thereto : I also approve of the general 
 principles respecting the jurisdiction of the Church, and 
 her subjection to Christ as her only Head, which are 
 contained in the Claim of Right and in the Protest re- 
 ferred to in the questions already put to me; and I 
 promise that, through the grace of God, I shall firmly 
 and constantly adhere to the same, and to the utmost of 
 my power shall, in my station, assert, maintain, and de- 
 fend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and govern- 
 ment of this Church, by Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries, 
 Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, together 
 with the liberty and exclusive jurisdiction thereof; and 
 that I shall, in my practice, conform myself to the said 
 worship, and submit to the said discipline, government, 
 and exclusive jurisdiction, and not endeavour, directly or 
 indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same ; and 
 I promise that I shall follow no divisive course from the 
 doctrine, worship, discipline, government, and exclusive 
 jurisdiction of this Church, renouncing all doctrines, 
 tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or incon- 
 sistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, 
 government, or jurisdiction of the same. 
 
 III. — Question to be put to the Congregation 
 
 AFTER the Questions have been answered 
 
 AND Formula signed by the Minister-elect. 
 
 Do you, the Members and Adherents of this Congre- 
 
200 SER VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 gation, acknowledge and receive Mr A. B., in accordance 
 with the Call already given to him, to be your Pastor, 
 and the Minister of Jesus Christ unto you? And do 
 you promise to give him all due honour, encouragement, 
 and obedience in the Lord ? If so, be pleased to signify 
 this now by rising to your feet. 
 
 II. 
 
 Specimen Forms of Prayer at the Ordination of 
 A Minister. 
 
 I. Prayer for grace to keep vows taken. 
 
 After the questions to the minister-elect and to the 
 congregation have been put and answered, the presiding 
 minister may say : 
 
 " Almighty God, Avho hath put into your hearts these 
 good resolutions, enable you severally, as minister and 
 people, to fulfil the same, to the glory of His holy name 
 and the edifying of His Church, through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Amen.''^ 
 
 2. Ordinatioji Prayer. 
 
 Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who for the good 
 of Thine household dost set over them faithful and wise 
 stewards, who shall give them their portion of meat in 
 due season : Bless Thy servant now to be set apart to 
 the ministry of the Word and Sacraments in Thy House. 
 
 ^ From "Form of Receiving an Elder" in "The Liturgy and 
 other Divine Offices of the Church." London, i8So, p. 424 
 (slightly altered). 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 201 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst love Thy Church and 
 didst purchase it to Thyself with Thine own blood, and 
 who hast promised to be with Thy people always, even 
 unto the end of the world : Be with us now, we beseech 
 Thee, as in Thy Name, and by the authority of this 
 Presbytery (here the Moderator and other ministers of 
 the Presbytery shall lay their hands on the head of the 
 brother to be ordained), we ordain this Thy servant to 
 the office of the ministry with the laying on of hands. 
 May he be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power. 
 May the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the 
 Spirit, One God, rest upon him and fit him for all 
 service in the Church. 
 
 O God, the Father of Lights, the Giver of every good 
 and perfect gift, make this Thy servant wise to win 
 souls, strong in faith and hope and love — teach him 
 to follow Christ fully. May the joy of the Lord be his 
 strength. May he be among those who turn many unto 
 righteousness, who shall shine as the stars for ever and 
 ever. Make him helpful to his brethren and to all the 
 flock over which he is set this day in the Lord, as a 
 pastor and bishop. And in the end may he hear the 
 Master's voice saying to him : — " Well done, good and 
 faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few 
 things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter 
 thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, 
 and to present you faultless before the presence of His 
 glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our 
 Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
 now and ever. Amen.^ 
 
 ^ The opening sentence of this prayer is taken, with slight altera- 
 tion, from the liturgy above referred to, p. 424. 
 
202 SE7^ VICES ON SPEC I A L CCA SIONS. [pt. hi. 
 
 3. Prayer after Ordination and Admission of Minister. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast from the beginning chosen 
 and called a Church unto Thyself upon the earth, and 
 hast promised by the lips of Thy Son that the gates of 
 hell shall not prevail against it : we thank Thee for Thy 
 goodness to us this day in Thy House. Do Thou con- 
 tinue Thy loving-kindness to this Congregation and to 
 Thy servant who has now been set over them in holy 
 things. Give testimony to the Word of Thy grace 
 among them through him. May the Holy Spirit work 
 mightily and effectually among this people through 
 the ministry of the Gospel. May souls be born again 
 in this place. May the careless be awakened. May 
 sinners be converted unto God, and His own people 
 built up in holiness and comfort and in all Christian 
 service through faith unto salvation. Bless the elders 
 and deacons, those who lead in the service of praise, 
 those who teach the young, those who visit the sick, and 
 all workers for Christ and His Church in this Congrega- 
 tion. Prosper and guide all their work and witness 
 for Christ and for the Gospel in this parish and 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 Heavenly Father, with whom is the fulness of the 
 Spirit, we beseech Thee to bless Thy whole Catholic 
 Church in this land and throughout the world. Gather 
 Thy people more into one under Christ the Head. 
 May all bitterness and unkindness, all needless divisions 
 and misunderstandings between Thy true people, be 
 taken away. May grace, and mercy, and peace be 
 multiplied to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in 
 sincerity. We pray especially for that branch of Thy 
 Church with which we are connected, for all who hold 
 
SEC. IV.] ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 203 
 
 office therein, that they may fulfil their several ministries 
 aright, and for all the members of our Church, that 
 they may be living members in the body of Christ, and 
 may bring forth fruit to His praise. 
 
 Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all men. Hasten 
 the time when all nations shall be blessed in Christ, 
 and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover 
 the earth as the waters cover the sea. We ask all for 
 the sake of Him who hath taught us to pray, saying 
 — " Our Father, which art in heaven," etc. 
 
 John Knox's Prayers at the Ordination of the 
 FIRST Superintendent of the Lothians.^ 
 
 I. Ordination Prayer. 
 
 " O Lord, to whom all power is given in heaven and 
 on earth. Thou who art the Eternal Son of the Eternal 
 Father, who hast loved Thy Church and given Thyself 
 for it, and hast appointed therein Teachers, Pastors, and 
 Apostles to instruct, comfort, and admonish Thy people : 
 Look upon us mercifully, O Lord, and send unto this 
 our brother, whom, in Thy name, we now charge with 
 the chief care of Thy flock within the bounds of Lothian, 
 such portion of Thy Holy Spirit that he may rightly 
 divide Thy Word among them. Give unto him, good 
 Lord, a mouth and wisdom, whereby the enemies of 
 Thy truth may be put to shame, Thy sheep fed, and 
 the blind and ignorant illuminated with the knowledge 
 of Thy will for their salvation. All this we crave of 
 Thee, and the Father, and the blessed Spirit, as by 
 Thee, our Lord and King, and only Bishop, we are taught 
 
 ^ Shortened, and with some slight verbal changes. Comp. 
 Knox's Works. (Laing's ed.), ii. 143-150. 
 
204 SERJVCES OX SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 to pray, saying — 'Our Father, which art in heaven,' 
 etc. 
 
 The prayer ended, the rest of the Ministers and 
 Elders present, in sign of their consent, shall take the 
 elected by the hand, and then the chief minister shall 
 give the Benediction as followeth : — 
 
 2. Benedictio7u 
 
 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 
 commanded His Evangel to be preached to the comfort 
 of His elect, and hath called thee to the office of a 
 watchman over His people ; multiply His graces with 
 thee ; illuminate thee with His Holy Spirit ; comfort 
 and strengthen thee in all virtue ; govern and guide thy 
 ministry to the praise of His Holy Name, the further- 
 ance of Christ's Kingdom, and the comfort of His 
 Church; and finally, to the assurance of thine own 
 conscience in the day of the Lord Jesus, to whom, with 
 the Father, and with the Holy Ghost, be all honour and 
 glory, now and ever. Amen. 
 
 3. The last Exhortation to tJie Elected. 
 
 Take heed to thyself and unto the flock committed 
 to thy charge. Feed the same carefully, not as it were 
 by compulsion, but of very love, which thou bearest to 
 the Lord Jesus. Walk in simplicity and pureness of 
 life, as it becometh the true servant and ambassador of 
 Christ 
 
 Be not discouraged in adversity, but set before thee 
 the example of the prophets, apostles, and the Lord 
 Jesus, who in their ministry endured contradiction, 
 contempt, persecution, and death. Fear not to rebuke 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 205 
 
 sin. If anything succeed prosperously with thee, be 
 not puffed up with pride ; but ever let that word of the 
 Apostle remain in thine heart, ' What hast thou which 
 thou hast not received ? If thou hast received, why 
 gloriest thou ? ' 
 
 Comfort the afflicted; help the poor; exhort others 
 to mercy and good works. Be not solicitous for things 
 of this life, but be fervent in prayer to God for the 
 increase of His Holy Spirit. And finally, so behave 
 thyself in this holy vocation as that God may be 
 glorified in thy ministry. So shalt thou shortly obtain 
 the victory and receive the crown promised when our 
 Lord Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, shall appear in His 
 glory ; whose Almighty Spirit assist thee and us to the 
 end. Amen. 
 
 Then sing the 23rd Psalm." 
 
 Section V. 
 
 ORDINATION AND ADMISSION OF ELDERS 
 AND DEACONS. 
 
 I. — Preparatory. 
 
 On the Lord's Day appointed for the Ordination, the 
 Elders and Office-bearers elect meet in the Session-house 
 some time before the hour of public worship. The 
 Court having been constituted, and the order of pro- 
 cedure arranged, the Session enter the Church at the 
 hour of service, the brethren about to be ordained 
 seating themselves together in front of the pulpit. 
 
 The usual service should be shortened, so as to allow 
 
2o6 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 due time for the ordination. Such passages of Scripture 
 as the following may be read: — Exod. xviii. 13-27; 
 Numb. xi. 16, 17, 24-29; Psalm xxiv. ; Isaiah Ixii. 
 6-12; Acts vi. 1-7, XX. 17-32; Rom. xii. 1-18; Eph. 
 iv. 1-16; I Tim. i. 1-13, iii. ; i Peter v. i-ii. Psalms 
 and Hymns should be chosen suitable to the special 
 service of the day. The sermon or lecture should 
 bear on some aspect of the Scripture doctrine of the 
 Church, the nature of Church government, the duties 
 of office-bearers and members, &c. Besides the 
 passages noted above, such texts as the following 
 may prove suggestive: — Acts xiv. 23; i Cor. xii. 
 27, 28; I Thess. V. 12; Phil. i. i ; i Peter iv. 10. 
 
 II. — Outline of Ordination Service. 
 
 1. Narrative of steps taken. 
 
 2. Questions put [and Formula signed]. 
 
 3. Ordination Prayer. 
 
 4. Admission to office, and right hand of fellowship 
 given. 
 
 5. Scripture Sentence, Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 6. Charge to office-bearers and people. 
 
 7. Prayer. 
 
 8. Praise. 
 
 9. Benediction. 
 
 10. (Formula signed, if not at previous point.) Close 
 of Session. 
 
 III. — Notes on above Order of Service. 
 
 I. Minister reads from the pulpit a brief narrative of 
 steps taken in the election of Elders and Deacons,^ 
 naming those who have been chosen by the congrega- 
 
 ^ Comp. " Practice of Free Church of Scotland," chap, i, Part II. 3. 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 207 
 
 tion and have agreed to accept office ; ending thus : 
 " It is now my duty, in the name and by the authority 
 of the Kirk-Session, to ordain these brethren [naming 
 them] to the office to which they have been chosen, 
 [to induct to office in this congregation the following 
 (naming them), who have been already ordained else- 
 where], and to receive them as members of the Kirk- 
 Session [or Deacons' Court] when they have given 
 satisfactory answers to the following Questions appointed 
 by the Church." 
 
 2. The office-bearers elect stand up. The Moderator 
 puts to them from the pulpit the Questions appointed.^ 
 They signify their assent by bowing, or by audible 
 response. There may here suitably follow a Question 
 to the congregation — see Appendix i. — This is done at 
 the Ordination of Elders and Deacons, as well as of 
 Ministers, in the American Presbyterian Churches. 
 It is in accordance with the "Form and Order of 
 the Election of the Superintendent, which may serve 
 in election of all other ministers, at Edinburgh, the 
 9th day of March, 1560 ; John Knox being Moderator." 
 See quotation given above in connection with "Order for 
 Ordination of Ministers." — p. 190. The formula which 
 embodies the substance of the Questions put, may be 
 signed at this point in presence of the congregation, as 
 in the Ordination of Ministers. This, if it can be 
 conveniently done, forms an impressive part of the 
 service. If it is thought better to defer it, the signatures 
 should be appended before the Session is closed, after 
 the congregation has been dismissed.^ 
 
 1 See Appendix I. Questions for Elders and Deacons, with 
 additional Question for the Congregation. 
 
 - Comp. Act 1874, 2 ; 1892,4. In Appendix II., the Declaratory 
 
2o8 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 3. The questions having been duly answered, the 
 Moderator leaves the pulpit and takes his place in front 
 of the office-bearers-elect, who should kneel. The mem- 
 bers of Session should stand on either side of the 
 Moderator, to shew that the act of ordination is a 
 Sessional one, in which they all have a share. The 
 Moderator then offers the Ordination prayer. This may 
 be on the lines of the specimen forms of prayer given in 
 Appendix III. pp. 215-219. It ought always to include 
 an express setting apart of the new office-bearers in the 
 name of Christ and by authority of this court of His 
 Church to the office of Elder or Deacon, "commenda- 
 tion of them to the Lord for the work which they are 
 to fulfil," and prayer that the Spirit of God may be 
 specially given to them to make them faithful in duty 
 and serviceable to the Church. 
 
 As the Westminster Assembly's Form of Church 
 Government puts it, " Ordination is the solemn setting 
 apart of a person to some public Church office" by those 
 who represent the Church. In all ordinary circumstances, 
 this should be done by those already in office. The laying 
 on of hands is not essential to Ordination, although it is a 
 suitable and Scriptural accompaniment of it. The custom 
 of our Church has generally confined the imposition of 
 hands to the Ordination of Ministers only. But there is 
 no ground in principle for its not taking place also in 
 the case of Elders and Deacons. Where it is judged 
 expedient and for edification, the Moderator, as repre- 
 senting the Session, may lay his hands on the heads of 
 
 Act of 1892, and ihe further statement regarding it in Act ix. of 
 Assembly 1894, are given in full. All office-bearers are entitled 
 to answer the Questions and subscribe the Formula in view of these 
 
 Acts. 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 209 
 
 the brethren to be ordained at the point in the Ordina- 
 tion prayer at which they are formally set apart to office. 
 The other elders present may join with them in this 
 action, as is done in the United Presbyterian Church. 
 In the case of office-bearers already ordained, but now 
 to be admitted to the exercise of their office in this 
 particular congregation, there is no repetition of the 
 laying on of hands ; but there should be special reference 
 to them in prayer. 
 
 4. Prayer being ended, and the office-bearers now 
 ordained having risen, the Moderator shall say : " In the 
 name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of 
 the Church, and by the authority of this court in His 
 House, we hereby declare you to be ordained to the 
 office of Elder [or Deacon] ; and we admit you to the 
 exercise of that office in this congregation with all rights 
 and privileges belonging thereto. And in token thereof 
 we now give you the right hand of fellowship." The 
 Moderator shall then give his hand to each of the 
 brethren newly ordained (or admitted), and may be 
 followed in doing so by the other Elders present. 
 
 5. A Scripture Sentence (such as "The Lord bless 
 you and keep you" &c.), Psalm, or Hymn, may then be 
 sung. 
 
 6. The Minister gives from the pulpit, a brief exhorta- 
 tion (i) to the new office-bearers, who may stand, and 
 (2) to the congregation, as to their respective duties and 
 the spirit in which these should be discharged. 
 
 7. Prayer (brief). 
 
 8. Praise, {e.g. Ps. ciii. 19-22 ; cvi. 1.5 ; cxxii. 6-9 ; 
 Hymns : " Pour out Thy Spirit from on high ; " " Come, 
 Holy Ghost ; " " Ye servants of the Lord.") 
 
 9. Benediction. — Heb. xiii. 20, 21 ; or 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 
 
 o 
 
2IO SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 lo. After the congregation has been dismissed, the 
 minister and office-bearers remain in the Church, or 
 return to the Session-house. The newly ordained office- 
 bearers sign the Formula, if this has not been done 
 previously. Any needful arrangements as to districts 
 are considered, if time allows; and the Meeting of 
 Session is closed with prayer. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 Elders. 
 Questions to he put before Ordination} 
 
 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament to be the Word of God, and the only rule of 
 faith and manners ? 
 
 2. Do you sincerely own and declare the Confession of 
 Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this 
 Church, to be the confession of your faith ; and do you 
 own the doctrine therein contained to be the true 
 doctrine, which you will constantly adhere to ? 
 
 3. Do you own and acknowledge the Presbyterian 
 Church Government of this Church by Kirk Sessions, 
 Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, 
 to be the only Government of this Church ; and do you 
 engage to submit thereto, concur therewith, and not to 
 endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or sub- 
 version thereof? 
 
 4. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as King 
 
 1 Practice, ed. 4th, p. 155. 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 211 
 
 and Head of the Church, has therein appointed a govern- 
 ment in the hands of Church officers, distinct from, 
 and not subordinate in its own province to civil govern- 
 ment, and that the Civil Magistrate does not possess 
 jurisdiction or authoritative control over the regulation of 
 the affairs of Christ's Church; and do you approve of 
 the general principles embodied in the Claim, Declara- 
 tion, and Protest, adopted by the General Assembly of 
 the Church of Scotland in 1842, and in the Protest of 
 Ministers and Elders, Commissioners from Presbyteries 
 to the General Assembly, read in presence of the Royal 
 Commissioner on i8th May 1843, as declaring the views 
 which are sanctioned by the Word of God, and the 
 standards of this Church, with respect to the spirituality 
 and freedom of the Church of Christ and her subjection 
 to Him as her only Head, and to His word as her only 
 standard ? 
 
 5. Do you promise to observe uniformity of worship 
 and of administration of all public ordinances within this 
 Church, as the same are at present performed and 
 allowed ? 
 
 6. Do you accept the office of an Elder of this Congre- 
 gation, and promise, through grace, faithfully, diligently, 
 and cheerfully, to discharge all the duties thereof ? 
 
 [Take in Question to the Congregation from next page, 
 unless Deacons are to be ordained at same time, in which 
 case the questions to the latter are to be put after No. 6 
 of the Questions to Elders. Thereafter the Question to 
 the Congregation and signing of the Formula follow. If 
 the Formula is to be signed before the Congregation, 
 the Minister adds : — " You will at this point sign the 
 Formula, which contains the substance of the questions 
 you have now answered."] 
 
212 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Deacons. 
 Questions to be put before Ordination} 
 
 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament to be the Word of God, and the only rule of 
 faith and manners ? 
 
 2. Do you sincerely own and receive, as in accordance 
 with Holy Scripture, the system of Evangelical Truth 
 taught in this Church, and set forth in the Westminster 
 Shorter Catechism ? 
 
 3. Do you approve of the Presbyterian government 
 and discipline of this Church ; and are you persuaded 
 that the Civil Magistrate has no jurisdiction or authorita- 
 tive control over the regulation of the affairs of Christ's 
 Church ? 
 
 4. Do you accept of your call to the office of Deacon 
 in this Congregation, and promise, through grace, faith- 
 fully, diligently, and cheerfully, to discharge all the duties 
 thereof? 
 
 Question to the Congregation. 
 
 Do you, the Members and Adherents of this Congre- 
 gation, acknowledge and receive these brethren as ruling 
 Elders (or as Deacons) ; and do you promise to give 
 them all due honour, encouragement, and obedience in 
 the Lord ? ^ If so, be pleased to signify this by rising to 
 your feet now. 
 
 1 Act I. 1884. 
 
 ^ When the ordination is one of Deacons only, the reference to 
 "obedience" shall be omitted, and the clause read, "all due 
 honour and encouragement in the Lord." 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 213 
 
 II. 
 
 I. Declaratory Act anent Confession of Faith — Act 
 xii., 1892 : — 
 
 "Whereas it is expedient to remove difficulties and 
 scruples which have been felt by some in reference to the 
 declaration of belief required from persons who receive 
 license or are admitted to office in this Church, the 
 General Assembly, with consent of Presbyteries, declare 
 as follows : — 
 
 That, in holding and teaching, according to the Con- 
 fession, the Divine purpose of grace towards those who 
 are saved, and the execution of that purpose in time, 
 this Church most earnestly proclaims, as standing in the 
 forefront of the revelation of Grace, the love of God — 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — to sinners of mankind, 
 manifested especially in the Father's gift of the Son to be 
 the Saviour of the world, in the coming of the Son to 
 offer Himself a Propitiation for sin, and in the striving of 
 the Holy Spirit with men to bring them to repentance. 
 
 That this Church also holds that all who hear the 
 Gospel are warranted and required to believe to the 
 saving of their souls ; and that in the case of such as do 
 not believe, but perish in their sins, the issue is due to 
 their own rejection of the Gospel call. That this Church 
 does not teach, and does not regard the Confession as 
 teaching, the fore-ordination of men to death irrespec- 
 tive of their own sin. 
 
 That it is the duty of those who believe, and one end of 
 their calling by God, to make known the Gospel to all 
 men everywhere for the obedience of faith. And that 
 while the Gospel is the ordinary means of salvation for 
 those to whom it is made known, yet it does not follow. 
 
214 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 nor is the Confession to be held as teaching, that any 
 who die in infancy are lost, or that God may not extend 
 His mercy, for Christ's sake, and by His Holy Spirit, to 
 those who are beyond the reach of these means, as it may 
 seem good to Him, according to the riches of His grace. 
 
 That, in holding and teaching, according to the Con- 
 fession of Faith, the corruption of man's whole nature as 
 fallen, this Church also maintains that there remain 
 tokens of his greatness as created in the image of God ; 
 that he possesses a knowledge of God and of duty ; that 
 he is responsible for compliance with the moral law and 
 with the Gospel ; and that, although unable without the 
 aid of the Holy Spirit to return to God, he is yet capable 
 of affections and actions which in themselves are virtuous 
 and praiseworthy. 
 
 That this Church disclaims intolerant or persecuting 
 principles, and does not consider her office-bearers, in 
 subscribing the Confession, committed to any principles 
 inconsistent with liberty of conscience and the right of 
 private judgment. 
 
 That while diversity of opinion is recognised in this 
 Church on such points in the Confession as do not enter 
 into the substance of the Reformed Faith therein set 
 forth, the Church retains full authority to determine, in 
 any case which may arise, what points fall within this 
 description, and thus to guard against any abuse of this 
 liberty to the detriment of sound doctrine, or to the 
 injury of her unity and peace." 
 
 2. Act anent Declaratory Act, 1892, on Confession of 
 Faith — Act ix. 1894 : — 
 
 "Whereas the Declaratory Act, 1892, was passed to 
 remove difficulties and scruples which had been felt by 
 some in reference to the declaration of belief required 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 215 
 
 from persons who receive licence, or are admitted to 
 office in this Church, the Assembly hereby declare that 
 the statements of doctrine contained in the said Act are 
 not thereby imposed upon any of the Church's office- 
 bearers as part of the Standards of the Church ; but that 
 those who are licensed or ordained to office in this 
 Church in answering the questions and subscribing the 
 Formula, are entitled to do so in view of the said 
 Declaratory Act." 
 
 III. 
 
 Specimen Forms of Prayer at Ordination of 
 Elders and Deacons. 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, the God and Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give praise and thanks 
 unto Thee for the fellowship of Thy Church on earth, 
 and for all the offices and ordinances of Thy House. 
 Bless, we beseech Thee, these Thy servants who have 
 been chosen and called by Thy people here to the office 
 of Elders [and Deacons] in Thy Church and in this 
 Congregation. Remember each one of them for good. 
 Supply in them all that they feel to be lacking. Grant 
 all that Thou seest they have need of for this ministry. 
 
 And as we now, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and by authority of this Court in His Church [here the 
 minister, as representing the Session, or the minister 
 and elders together, may lay his or their hands on the 
 heads of the office-bearers elect] do ordain these 
 brethren to the office of Elder [and Deacon], w^e com- 
 mend them to Thee and to the Word of Thy grace. 
 May the presence of the Great Shepherd and Overseer 
 
2i6 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 of souls be with them now and always. May the Holy 
 Spirit dwell in them richly, as a Spirit of power, and love, 
 and a sound mind. 
 
 [We commend unto Thee also our brother in the 
 Eldership [Deaconship] who is this day added to our 
 number, beseeching Thee to bless him also abundantly 
 with all needed blessing, and to prosper him in all work 
 for the Lord to which he shall set his hand among us. 
 May he, and all those whom Thou hast sent to take 
 part with us in this ministry in Thy Church, have much 
 encouragement in all their service for the Lord and for 
 His cause.] 
 
 2. 
 
 Almighty God, who art the only Author of all good 
 things, we bless Thee for the fellowship of Thy Church 
 on earth, and for all its ordinances and means of grace. 
 Especially we render thanks unto Thee at this time that 
 Christ, when He ascended to Thy right hand, received 
 gifts for men, and that He hath given some to be ministers 
 of the Word and some to be overseers and shepherds 
 of the flock, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work 
 of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 
 
 We thank Thee now for the gift to this Congregation 
 of these Thy servants who have been chosen to take 
 part with us in this ministry, and into whose hearts 
 Thou hast put it to accept the call. 
 
 And as we now, in the name of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the King and Head of the Church, [here the 
 Minister, or the Minister and Elders together, may 
 lay his or their hands on the heads of the Elders elect] 
 do ordain them to the office of Elder in Thy Church, we 
 commend them to Thee and to the Word of Thy Grace. 
 Grant unto them a double portion of Thy Spirit. May 
 
SEC. v.] ORDINATION OF ELDERS, ETC. 217 
 
 He fit them for the care and oversight of Thy flock 
 in this place. Make them ensamples to all that believe, 
 in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. 
 Teach them how to win souls to Christ, to comfort 
 the afflicted, to support the weak, to restore wanderers, 
 to feed the lambs of the flock. And when the Chief 
 Shepherd shall appear may they receive the crown of 
 glory, which fadeth not away. 
 
 Our heavenly Father, we beseech Thee to bestow 
 Thy grace also upon all the members of this congre- 
 gation, that they may receive these Thy servants with 
 gladness, and submit themselves to them as set over 
 them in the Lord. May they esteem them very highly 
 in love for their work's sake, counting the elders that 
 rule well worthy of double honour, and seeking to be 
 followers of them as they follow Christ. Now unto Him 
 that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that 
 we ask or think, according to the power that worketh 
 in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, 
 throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 
 
 [Partly from Presbyt. Forms of Service. 2nd ed. 147.] 
 
 3- 
 Almighty God our heavenly Father, the giver of all 
 good gifts, who hast appointed in Thy Church, besides 
 Ministers of the Word, rulers and helpers, for its over- 
 sight and government, we beseech Thee to bless these 
 Thy servants, chosen by this congregation to serve in 
 its Eldership. And as we now, in the name of Christ 
 and by authority of this Court in His Church, set them 
 apart to the work and office to whicli they have been 
 called, we pray that all needed gifts and grace may be 
 given them from Thyself. Fill them with Thy Holy 
 
2i8 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Spirit. Give them favour and influence with the people. 
 Make them diligent and faithful in all things, and wise 
 with that wisdom which cometh from above. May they 
 tend the flock of God in this place, taking the oversight 
 thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for worldly 
 advantage, but of a ready mind, according to Thy will. 
 May they in all things be ensamples to the flock ; and 
 when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, may they receive 
 the crown of glory that fadeth not away. 
 
 [Partly from Dr Vincent's Minister's Ha7idbook. New 
 York, 1882.] 
 
 4- 
 
 For Ordination of Deacons. 
 
 Almighty God our heavenly Father, who in Thy 
 Divine Providence hast appointed different offices in 
 Thy Church, and hast given by Thy Spirit diverse 
 gifts to men, fitting them for ministry therein; we 
 beseech Thee to bless these Thy servants now called 
 to the work and office of Deacon. 
 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, who, although Thou wert rich 
 yet for our sakes didst become poor that we through 
 Thy poverty might be made rich, do Thou own and 
 ratify what we do in Thy house, as now in Thy name 
 we set apart and consecrate these our brethren to this 
 office. Give them Thine own spirit of sympathy with 
 all human needs and sufferings, and of self-denying 
 service in behalf of all who are in want and affliction. 
 
 Holy Spirit of power and love, of counsel and of 
 comfort, guide Thou them in all their ministry of love 
 in the midst of us. Make them to be wise and faithful 
 in all the outward business of God's House entrusted to 
 them. Teach them how to foster the grace of liberality 
 
SEC. VI.] LICENSING OF PROBATIONERS. 219 
 
 among Thy people here, to watch over the treasury of 
 the Church and to care aright for the poor. So serving 
 well as Deacons, may they gain to themselves a good 
 standing in Thy Church and great boldness in the faith 
 which is in Christ Jesus. 
 [Partly from Dr A. A. Hodge's Manual of Forms, 1882.] 
 
 Section VI. 
 
 THE LICENSING OF PROBATIONERS. 
 
 I. — Preparation. 
 
 After the Presbytery has completed and sustained the 
 trials of students, it is well that a special public service 
 be held for the purpose of licensing the candidates as 
 preachers of the Gospel. This is specially appropriate 
 in towns, and in cases where more than one are to 
 receive license at the same time. 
 
 The Presbytery should appoint two or more ministers 
 to conduct the service. These ministers should carefully 
 arrange what parts of the service are to be taken by each. 
 Care should also be taken to prevent the sermon and 
 the addresses from covering the same ground. If it is 
 thought better to have no sermon, then Nos. 5 and 6 in 
 the following Order will be omitted. The presiding 
 minister may take Nos. i to 6 and 16 and 17, and the 
 other minister Nos. 7 to 15. 
 
 Great attention should be paid to the length of each 
 portion of the service. Without such care, the service is 
 apt to be unduly prolonged. 
 
 It will greatly help to secure reverence and decorum, 
 if arrangements are made whereby the Presbytery and 
 
220 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. in. 
 
 the candidates may be conveniently seated, and if a 
 table and chair with pen and ink are provided in a 
 suitable place for the signing of the formula. ^ 
 
 II. — Order of Service. 
 
 1. Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 2. Prayer. 
 
 3. Reading of Scripture. 
 
 4. Psalm or Hymn. 
 
 5. Short Sermon. 
 
 6. Hymn. 
 
 7. Prayer. 
 
 8. Announcement of names of candidates, with brief 
 narrative of procedure. 
 
 9. Questions to candidates. 
 
 10. Signing the Formula. 
 
 11. Declaration of License; right hand of fellowship 
 given. 
 
 12. Prayer. 
 
 13. Hymn or Anthem. 
 
 14. Address (i) to Licentiates. 
 
 (2) to Congregation. 
 
 15. Prayer. 
 
 16. Hymn. 
 
 17. Benediction. 
 
 ^ The signing of the Formula before the congregation was made 
 obligatory m the case of all "persons inducted into any spiritual 
 office or function in this Church" by Act II., 1874. The obliga- 
 tion was relaxed, as regards all office-bearers except Ministers, by 
 Act IV., 1892. It is optional at present, as regards Probationers, 
 Elders, and Deacons, whether the signing should take place in 
 public, immediately after the Questions have been answered, or in 
 private, before the Presbytery or Session, at the close of the service. 
 But it is desirable that it should be in public. 
 
SEC. VI.] LICENSING OF PROBATIONERS. 221 
 
 III. — Notes on above Order of Service. 
 
 I. Appropriate Psalms and Hymns : — Ps. xlvi. 1-5 ; 
 Ixv. 1-4. Hymns, " Lord God, the Holy Ghost " ; 
 "Breathe on me. Breath of God." 
 
 3. Appropriate Scripture Lessons are : — Isa. vi. ; 
 Isa. Iv. ; Isa. Ixi. 1-6; Acts i. r-14 ; Acts ii. 1-21 ; 
 2 Cor. V. 11-21; vi. i-io; i Tim. i. 1-17; 2 Tim. ii. 
 1-15 ; Rev. i. 4-18. 
 
 4. Appropriate Psalms : — Ps. Ixi. 4-8 ; Ixvii. 
 
 6. Appropriate Hymns : — " The Spirit breathes upon 
 the Word " ; " O Word of God incarnate." 
 
 7. This prayer should be very brief, consisting of 
 petitions for blessing on the Word preached, and for 
 the Divine Presence in the solemn actions that are to 
 follow. 
 
 8. The Candidates should stand up. Their names 
 should be distinctly read by the presiding minister. 
 He should state that the Candidates have duly com- 
 pleted the required course of study, that the Presbytery 
 has satisfied itself both as to their attainments in 
 scholarship, and as to their personal character and 
 their motives in seeking to enter the Ministry, and 
 that, with the sanction of the Provincial Synod, the 
 Presbytery is now to proceed to license them as 
 preachers of the Gospel. 
 
 9. When the statutory questions are read the 
 candidates should answer audibly " I do." (The latter 
 part of question 3rd requires the answer " I am.") 
 When there are several candidates they may signify 
 their assent by inclination of the head.^ 
 
 II. When the Moderator formally licenses the 
 
 ^ See the Questions in Appendix. 
 
222 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. in. 
 
 candidates, which should be done "in the name of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ as King and Head of the Church 
 and by authority of this Court in His House," all the 
 members of Presbytery should stand up, and thereafter 
 follow the Moderator in shaking hands with the 
 licentiates. The good order and impressiveness of this 
 part of the service will depend much on the previous 
 arrangements as to proper seating. 
 
 12. This prayer should include : — Thanksgiving for 
 the Word, and for the institution of preaching ; con- 
 fession of human weakness and imperfection in the 
 solemn work of preaching the Gospel; Petitions in 
 behalf of those now licensed to preach, that they may 
 be filled with the Spirit, that they may grow in grace 
 and in the knowledge of God, and that they may be 
 true ambassadors for Christ, and able ministers of the 
 New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. 
 Prayer should also be offered for their present guidance 
 in study and in work, and that they may be led in 
 God's own time to suitable spheres of usefulness at 
 home or abroad. 
 
 Note. — The helpfulness of this prayer will depend on 
 its relevancy to the special circumstances, and it should 
 be limited to these. 
 
 13. Appropriate Psalms and Hymns are: — Psalms 
 xliii. 3-5 ; cxxxii. 13-18. Hymns, "Pour out Thy Spirit 
 from on high," " Come, Holy Ghost, our souls in- 
 spire," " Blow ye the trumpet, blow." 
 
 14. The Address to the licentiates may deal wath 
 such points as the following: — The nobiHty and re- 
 sponsibility of the preacher's office ; present position of 
 the licentiates that of men putting on their armour 
 not putting it off. Need for continued study. The 
 
SEC. VI.] LICENSING OF PROBA TIONERS. 223 
 
 supreme importance of personal piety. The value of 
 the experience gained, should some time elapse before 
 settlement in a charge. A minister requires to be an 
 administrator as well as a student. Hence the need 
 for knowledge of men, of affairs, of ecclesiastical pro- 
 cedure, and of church management. The probationers 
 should also be exhorted to look upon their preaching 
 prior to being "called," as the work of EvangeHsts. 
 They are not to consider their preaching as merely an 
 effort to obtain a charge. In itself it is a distinct and 
 noble work. And they occupy a distinct and important 
 office. By preaching and working in this spirit, they 
 will be delivered from the self-consciousness and strain- 
 ing after outward effect which the system of popular 
 election sometimes produces. 
 
 The Address to the congregation, which should be 
 extremely brief, may be an exhortation to prayer for 
 Divinity Students and Professors, for Probationers, for 
 all whose relation to Divine things is endangered by 
 professionalism, and for congregations engaged in 
 choosing pastors, that wisdom and brotherly harmony 
 may be manifested in every step. 
 
 15. The concluding prayer should include: — Thanks- 
 giving for the Church and all ordinances of Divine 
 appointment, and for the privileges enjoyed in this 
 land ; prayer for blessing on the Church universal, and 
 especially on the Free Church of Scotland and all its 
 work at home and in the mission field, for her Colleges, 
 and for this Presbytery. 
 
 16. Appropriate Psalms and Hymns : — Psalms Ivii. 
 17-19; cxxii. 6-9. Hymns, "Jesus shall reign"; "O 
 Spirit of the living God " ; " For all the saints " ; " Thou 
 whose Almighty Word." 
 
224 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Questions to be put to Probationers before they 
 ARE Licensed to preach the Gospel.^ 
 
 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only rule 
 of faith and manners ? 
 
 2. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine 
 of the Confession of Faith, approven by the General 
 Assemblies of this Church, to be the truths of God, con- 
 tained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments ; 
 and do you own the whole doctrine therein contained as 
 the confession of your faith ? 
 
 3. Do you sincerely own the purity of worship presently 
 authorised and practised in this Church, and also own the 
 Presbyterian government and discipline, and are you 
 persuaded that the said doctrine, worship and discipline 
 and Church government, are founded upon the Holy 
 Scriptures, and agreeable thereto ? 
 
 4. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as 
 King and Head of the Church, has therein appointed 
 a government in the hands of Church-ofificers, distinct 
 from, and not subordinate in its own province to, civil 
 government, and that the Civil Magistrate does not 
 possess jurisdiction or authoritative control over the 
 regulation of the affairs of Christ's Church ; and do 
 you approve of the general principles embodied in the 
 Claim, Declaration, and Protest, adopted by the General 
 Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1842, and in 
 
 1 Act XIL, 1846. 
 
SEC. VI.] LICENSING OF PROBATIONERS. 225 
 
 the Protest of Ministers and Elders, Commissioners 
 from Presbyteries to the General Assembly, read in 
 presence of the Royal Commissioner on i8th May 
 1843, as declaring the views which are sanctioned by 
 the Word of God, and the standards of this Church, 
 with respect to the spirituality and freedom of the 
 Church of Christ, and her subjection to Him as her 
 only Head, and to His Word as her only standard? 
 
 5. Do you promise that, through the grace of God, 
 you will firmly and constantly adhere to, and in your 
 station, to the utmost of your power, assert, maintain, and 
 defend the said doctrine, worship, and discipline, and 
 the government of this Church by Kirk-Sessions, Presby- 
 teries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies ? 
 
 6. Do you promise that in your practice you will 
 conform yourself to the said worship, and submit your- 
 self to the said discipline and government of this 
 Church, and not endeavour, directly or indirectly, the 
 prejudice or subversion of the same? 
 
 7. Do you promise that you shall follow no divisive 
 courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and 
 government of this Church ? 
 
 8. Do you renounce all doctrines, tenets, or opinions 
 whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said 
 doctrine, worship, discipline and government of this 
 Church ? 
 
 9. Do you promise that you shall subject yourself to 
 the several judicatories of this Church ? 
 
 The presidmg Minister 7nay add : You will at this 
 point sign the Formula, which contains the substance of 
 the Questions you have now answered. 
 
226 SER VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Section VII. 
 DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 
 
 I. — Preparation. 
 
 As the Presbytery authorises the building of a Church, 
 and as the dedication usually takes place on a week day, 
 this service should be attended by the Presbytery in its 
 official capacity \ and it is desirable that the various 
 parts of the service should be assigned to different 
 officiating ministers. The suggestions made as to the 
 need of special attention to the apostolic canons in i Cor. 
 xiv. 26, 40 at Ordinations and Inductions (see above 
 p. 188) should be considered and applied here also. 
 Particular consideration should be given to the service 
 of praise, so that it may be suited both to the circum- 
 stances, and to the capacities of the congregation and its 
 choir. This implies judicious arrangement beforehand 
 between the Minister and the leader of the praise, 
 and with the representatives of the Presbytery or other 
 officiating Ministers. In view of the directions given in 
 the Reformed Liturgies and some recently published 
 Dedication Services, the following order is suggested : — 
 
 II. — Order of Dedication Service. 
 
 1. Scripture Sentences. 
 
 2. Prayer of Invocation. 
 
 3. Praise. 
 
 4. Prayer. 
 
 5. Old Testament Lesson. 
 
 6. Prose Chant. 
 
SEC. VII.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH, 227 
 
 7. New Testament Lesson. 
 
 8. Prayer of Intercession and the Lord's Prayer. 
 
 9. Praise. 
 
 10. [The Apostles' Creed.] 
 
 1 1. Prayer of Dedication. 
 
 12. Praise. 
 
 13. Sermon. 
 
 14. Prayer. 
 
 15. Praise. 
 
 16. Benediction. 
 
 in. — Notes on above Order. 
 
 1. A selection of Scripture Sentences as at p. 229. 
 
 2. Specimen forms of Prayer of Invocation are given 
 at pp. 231-233. 
 
 3. The Psalms of Praise most commonly used at the 
 opening of a Dedication Service are Psalm xxiv. 7-10 — 
 "Ye gates, lift up your heads on high," Psalm Ixv. 1-4— 
 "Praise waits for Thee," or Psalm c. — "All people that 
 on earth do dwell." 
 
 4. Prayer of Thanksgiving for means of grace and 
 confession of shortcoming in the use of them. This 
 prayer should be brief. 
 
 5. Suitable passages for an Old Testament lesson 
 are i Chron. xxix. 1-25, 2 Chron. vi., i Kings viii. 
 22-53- 
 
 6. The Psalms recommended in the Reformed Liturgies 
 for a Dedication Service are Psalms xlviii., Ixxxiv., Ixxxvii., 
 cxxxii. The prose version of one of these psalms may 
 be chanted, but where that is not possible, there might 
 be sung such hymns as " The Church's One Foundation," 
 " O Thou whose hand has brought us," " Christ is our 
 corner-stone." 
 
228 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIOA^S. [pt. hi. 
 
 7. Suitable passages to be read from the New Testa- 
 ment may be found in i Cor. iii., Eph. ii., Rev. xxi. 
 
 8. Prayer of Intercession : concluding with the Lord's 
 Prayer; for the minister, office-bearers, and congrega- 
 tion ; for the Church of our fathers, and the unity of 
 the whole Church of Christ ; for the coming of Christ's 
 kingdom and the blessing of God on all missions; 
 for the country and its rulers ; thanksgiving for the 
 faithful departed, and ascription of praise as in Eph. 
 iii. 20, 21, "Now unto Him that is able," etc. The 
 Congregation may be requested, at this stage in the 
 service, to offer The Lord's Prayer. 
 
 9. Praise. This song of praise should be a Hymn of 
 the Holy Spirit : " Veni, Creator Spiritus," " Our Blessed 
 Redeemer," "Spirit Divine, attend our prayers." 
 
 10. The minister may fitly at this point in the service 
 invite the congregation to join with the Church of Christ 
 throughout the world in making confession of their faith 
 in the words of The Apostles' Creed. 
 
 11. Prayer of Dedication — [See Appendix pp. 233- 
 238.] This prayer ought to include : — 
 
 (i) Adoration and Thanksgiving, specially for the 
 building of this House of Prayer, for God's 
 goodness in connection with the carrying out of 
 the work (freedom from accidents, etc.). 
 
 (2) Dedication of the building to God's service and 
 
 glory. 
 
 (3) Prayer for all who, in days to come, shall worship, 
 
 and for those who shall minister in holy things. 
 
 (4) Petitions — that the sacrifices of praise, confession 
 
 and supplication, may be according to God's will 
 — that the gospel may be preached with power 
 — that the sacraments may be observed with 
 
SEC. VII.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. ^.-ic^ 
 
 reverence, and honoured by Him who appointed 
 them — that this Sanctuary, now dedicated to 
 the worship of God, may be a place of holy 
 memories, and a birthplace of many souls. 
 (5) The prayer may be concluded with such words 
 as : " Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and 
 the ark of Thy strength " — or, " Now unto Him 
 that loved us," etc. 
 
 12. "Te Deum Laudamus" or the " Ter Sanctus" 
 may here be sung, or such Psalms as cvii. 1-9 ; cxi. 1-5 ; 
 cxxxiv. ; cxlviii. 2nd version ; cl. ; or such Hymns as 
 " Praise the Lord ! Ye heavens adore Him," " Praise ye 
 Jehovah ! Praise the Lord most holy," " The God of 
 Abraham praise," "Thou whose unmeasured temple 
 stands." 
 
 13. Sermon. 
 
 14. Brief Prayer for blessing on the services of the 
 day. 
 
 15. Concluding psalm or hymn of praise: Psalms 
 cxxii. 6-9; xc. 14-17; Ixxii. 17-19; "O God of Bethel," 
 "Now thank we all our God." 
 
 16. Benediction as in Hebrews xiii. 20; with Apostolic 
 Benediction, 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. — Scripture Sentences. 
 
 " But will God in very deed dwell with men on the 
 earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens 
 cannot contain Thee ; how much less this house which 
 we have built. Have respect therefore to the prayer of 
 Thy servants and to their supplication, O Lord our God, 
 
230 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which Thy 
 servants pray before Thee : that Thine eyes may be 
 open upon this house day and night, upon the place 
 whereof Thou hast said that Thou wouldst put Thy 
 name there : to hearken unto the prayer which Thy 
 servants pray in this place : hear Thou from heaven Thy 
 dwelling-place, and when Thou hearest forgive." 
 
 2 Chron. vi. 1 8-2 I. 
 
 "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 Ivii. 15. 
 
 " Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He 
 will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and 
 God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." 
 
 Rev. xxi. 3. 
 
 " Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain 
 that build it : except the Lord watch the city the watch- 
 man waketh but in vain." 
 
 Psalm cxxvii. i. 
 
 " The Lord hath chosen Zipn : He hath desired it for 
 His habitation. This is my rest for ever, here will I 
 dwell for I have desired it. Arise, O Lord, into Thy 
 rest. Thou and the ark of Thy strength. Let Thy priests 
 be clothed with righteousness, and let Thy saints shout 
 aloud for joy." 
 
 Psalm cxxxii. 14. 
 
SFX. VII.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 231 
 
 " Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion : and unto 
 Thee shall the vow be performed. O Thou that hearest 
 prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities pre- 
 vail against me : as for our transgressions, Thou shalt 
 purge them away. Blessed is the man whom Thou 
 choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he 
 may dwell in Thy courts : we shall be satisfied with the 
 goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple." 
 
 Psalm Ixv. 1-4. 
 
 " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord God of 
 hosts ; our soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the 
 courts of the Lord, our heart and our flesh crieth out 
 for the living God." 
 
 Psalm Ixxxiv. i, 2. 
 
 '' One thing have we desired of the Lord, that will we 
 seek after : that we may dwell in the house of the Lord 
 all the days of our life, to behold the beauty of the Lord 
 and to inquire in His temple." 
 
 Psalm xxvii. 4. 
 
 " O send out Thy light and Thy truth : let them lead 
 us, let them bring us to Thy holy hill, even to Thy 
 tabernacles : then will we go unto the altar of God, to 
 God our exceeding joy." 
 
 Psalm xliii. 3. 
 
 H. — Prayers of Invocation. 
 
 I. 
 
 (i) Almighty and most merciful God, without whose 
 grace no man can serve Thee acceptably, be pleased 
 now to pour out upon us Thy Holy Spirit as a spirit of 
 
232 SER VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 grace and supplications, that we may seek Thee with 
 a true heart and right spirit, worthily magnify Thy Holy 
 Name, and rejoice in Thy salvation, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 (2) Most gracious God, who art ever more ready to 
 hear us than we are to pray unto Thee, and hast pro- 
 mised that Thy tabernacle shall be with men, fill this 
 house, we beseech Thee, with Thy presence, inspire and 
 direct the worship that shall here be offered unto Thee, 
 hear and answer the prayers which from this place shall 
 ascend to Thy Throne, for the sake of Him whom Thou 
 hearest always, our only Advocate and Mediator, Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 II. 
 
 (i) Almighty and ever blessed God our Heavenly 
 Father, we beseech Thee, as we are now assembled for the 
 first time within this House which has been built for Thy 
 worship, to fulfil unto us the word of promise on which 
 Thou hast caused us to hope, that Thine eyes may be 
 open toward this House day and night, even toward the 
 place of which Thou hast said My Name shall be there. 
 In this service of dedication, as in all worship that shall 
 be offered to Thee here in days to come, give us grace 
 to seek the advancement of Thy glory, the good of our 
 fellowmen, and the salvation of our own souls. We ask 
 it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 (2) O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst vouchsafe Thy 
 presence at the feast of the dedication of the Temple, 
 be present, we beseech Thee, at the dedication of this 
 
SEC. VII.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 233 
 
 Sanctuary, and, as Thou hast given Thy people the 
 assurance that where two or three are gathered together 
 in Thy Name, Thou art in the midst of them, grant we 
 pray Thee that Thy promise may be fulfilled to us who 
 are assembled here to-day, and Thine shall be the 
 praise and the glory for ever. Amen. 
 
 (3) Most blessed and Holy Spirit of all grace, with- 
 out whose aid nothing is strong and nothing holy, who 
 alone by Thy presence canst hallow any place, grant, we 
 beseech Thee, that the souls of all true worshippers in 
 this house may be consecrated by Thine indwelling. 
 Who art the promise of the Father, by Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 " Glory be to the Father," etc. 
 
 III. — Dedication Prayer. 
 
 Almighty and ever-blessed God our Heavenly Father, 
 Who didst fulfil Thy Word unto our fathers, hear now the 
 prayer of their children, and as we give thanks to Thee 
 that in Thy Providence this house has been built for Thy 
 worship, be pleased, we beseech Thee, to accept now 
 our dedication of it to Thy praise. We thank Thee 
 for all the tokens of Thy Fatherly care and love which 
 are around us this day, that the workmen have been 
 kept from harm and disaster while the work went on, 
 and that their skill and labour have been crowned 
 by Thee with good success. Who are we that 
 we should be able to make this offering, for all things 
 are of Thee and of Thine own have we given Thee ? 
 But accept, we beseech Thee, the work of our hands, 
 and bless this House in every part of it, that the 
 very doorposts of the Sanctuary may be consecrated to 
 
234 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 Thy glory. Preserve in quietness and in the fear of 
 Thy Holy Temple, Thy children who shall come hither 
 in future days. May those who shall minister in holy 
 things be men after Thine own heart, clothed with power 
 and with the beauty of the Lord our God. When Thy 
 children come to make mention of the loving kindness 
 of the Lord in the House of the Lord, do Thou so fill 
 their souls with thanksgiving that they may sing Thy 
 praise with melody in their hearts. Do Thou, whose 
 ear is ever open to the cry of the penitent, listen to 
 every sincere confession of sin, and answer every prayer 
 for pardon that may be offered by Thy children, that 
 Thy peace may visit the troubled spirit and heal the 
 wounded conscience. When they lift up their hearts 
 and voices in supplication, hear Thou, in heaven Thy 
 dwelling-place, and when Thou hearest, forgive ; and 
 though they may often know not what to ask, do unto 
 them, we beseech Thee, exceeding abundantly above all 
 that they can ask or think. Let Thy consolations meet 
 the afflicted here, and may the mourner be comforted. 
 
 May the Word of the Truth of the Gospel, read and 
 preached from this place, be ever the quick and powerful 
 sword of the Spirit, the word also of comfort unto him 
 that is weary and of Hght to every darkened soul. 
 Honour the administration of the Sacraments in this 
 Church, according to Thy promise and according to our 
 hope. May little children who are dedicated to Thee 
 in holy baptism grow up in Christ, and when the Lord's 
 Table is spread from time to time, may the Master 
 meet with His disciples, to cheer their hearts, and 
 may He be known of them in the breaking of the 
 bread. Let this House be a true birthplace of souls, 
 a place of holy memories, a Sanctuary of fellowship 
 
SEC. VII.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH 235 
 
 with Thee our Father and with Jesus Christ Thy Son. 
 Listen, we beseech Thee, to the voice of this our 
 prayer. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and 
 Thy glory unto their children : and let the beauty of 
 the Lord our God be upon us : yea, the work of our 
 hands establish Thou it. 
 
 Now unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our 
 sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and 
 priests unto God and His Father : to Him be glory and 
 dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Another Dedication Prayer. 
 (From Directory for Public Worship, prepared by Com- 
 mittee of Synod of Presbyteria?i Church of E^igland 
 i7i 1892.) 
 
 After 9 or 10, the people still standing, the Minister 
 shall say : Beloved Brethren, this House which has been 
 built for the honour and service of Almighty God, we 
 now solemnly dedicate unto the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost, one living and true God ; to Whom be 
 glory and majesty, dominion and power, for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 Let us pray : O God our Father, most High, most 
 Holy, unto whom we have access by one Spirit through 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise Thee, we bless Thee, 
 we give thanks unto Thy name for Thy loving-kindness 
 and Thy truth. We humbly beseech Thee now to 
 accept our dedication of this House which we have built 
 for Thy service, and to grant that within its walls Thy 
 people may worship Thee in spirit and in truth from 
 generation to generation. 
 
 At what time soever Thy servants hold their solemn 
 assemblies in this place, may it please Thee so to inspire 
 
2*36 SERVICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 them with Thy Holy Spirit, that the words of their lips 
 and the meditations of their hearts may be acceptable in 
 Thy sight — receive their sacrifice of praise — when the 
 penitent pour out their hearts before Thee, hear Thou in 
 heaven Thy dwelling-place, and when Thou hearest, forgive. 
 
 Grant, we entreat Thee, that the true doctrine of Thy 
 gospel may be taught in this place, and the Sacraments 
 of Thy grace duly administered, that they who are 
 athirst may draw water with joy out of the wells of 
 salvation. May Thy Word work effectually here in the 
 hearts of them that believe, so that they may grow in the 
 grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, being 
 strengthened unto every good work and word. May 
 those who were dead in sins be made alive here unto 
 Thee, and such as have gone astray be brought back 
 unto the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Satisfy 
 Thy servants with the goodness of Thy house, that 
 young men and maidens, old men and children, may 
 praise and magnify Thy holy name. 
 
 And unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 
 above all that we ask or think, according to the power 
 that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church, by 
 Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. 
 Amen. 
 
 For Prayer at Taying the Foundation or Memorial 
 Stone of a Church, the following may be found 
 suggestive.^ 
 
 Almighty and everlasting God, by whom of old the 
 foundations of the earth were laid : we beseech Thee to 
 
 ^ It is the Prayer offered by Principal Dykes, at. the laying of the 
 Memorial Stone of Westminster College, Cambridge, on 25th May 
 1897. 
 
SEC. vii.] DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 237 
 
 prosper this work of our hands, which we have under- 
 taken for the upbuilding of Thy kingdom and the glory 
 of Thy holy name. Be pleased to guard the workmen 
 employed upon this building from harm to life or limb ; 
 and grant that their labour, being neither marred through 
 negligence, nor interrupted by any disaster, may find 
 through Thy goodness a successful issue. 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who art the only Head of Thy 
 Church and the Saviour of our souls, may it please Thee 
 to accept the offerings of Thy servants, and to fulfil the 
 counsels of their hearts \ so that this House, of which 
 we lay the foundations now, may stand for generations a 
 home of consecrated learning, and a training ground for 
 godly and able Ministers of Thy Gospel. Here let the 
 spirit of concord dwell, the spirit of knowledge and of 
 the fear of the Lord. May they who teach here, and 
 they who learn, alike be taught from Thy lively oracles 
 those mysteries of Divine truth, whereby men are made 
 wise unto salvation. 
 
 Most gracious God, the Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, we give Thee thanks for the indwelling of Thy 
 Holy Spirit in Thy universal Church. We entreat Thee 
 to favour with Thy continual benediction all colleges of 
 learning, especially those of this ancient University. 
 And upon all bishops and pastors of Thy flock, with all 
 who at home or abroad declare Thy Word, be pleased to 
 pour down the healthful influence of Thy grace. 
 
 O God, who art the blessed and the only Potentate, by 
 whom kings rule : we ask Thee to bless Thy servant our 
 sovereign lady Queen Victoria. Bless Albert Edward, 
 Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal 
 House. Grant wisdom to the Queen's Ministers, and to 
 all who are set in places of authority, especially the Mayor 
 
238 SEA' VICES ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, [pt. hi. 
 
 and Magistrates of this town. Be pleased to protect the 
 Army and Navy of this kingdom. Prosper its arts and 
 sciences, its commerce and agriculture. Through every 
 rank and calling among our people may peace and 
 temperance, justice and piety prevail to all generations. 
 
 These things we humbly ask of Thy Divine goodness 
 through the merits and mediation of Thy Son, our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; unto whom, with Thee and the Holy 
 Ghost, one God, be laud and honour, world without end. 
 Amen. 
 
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 TURNBULL AND SPEARS- 
 
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