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FIRST MORNING SERVICE

FOR A FAMILY.

The following Anthem, principally selected from the Psalms, is to be said by the Head of the Family, or Reader, in alternate verses with the other Members of the Family.

BLESSED art thou, O Lord, our God, and the God of our fathers, who turnest the shadows of death into the morning, and renewest the face of the earth;

Who scatterest the darkness by this return of light, and hast commanded night to give place to day;

Who hast delivered us from the terror by night, and from the pestilence that walketh in darkness;

Who makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to praise thee;

For that we laid down

and slept, and rose up again, because thou, O Lord, didst make us to dwell in safety;

For that we awaked, and beheld, and our sleep

was sweet unto us.

Blot out, we pray thee, as a cloud, our transgressions, and as the thickness of the morning cloud, our sins.

Grant us to walk as children of the light and of the day.

O let us hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is our trust.

Show thou us the way

that we should walk in, for we lift up our souls unto thee.

Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God;

Be honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

If a portion of Scripture is to be read, let it be preceded by the following Sentences, said alternately as before.

BLESSED are they who are undefiled in the way, and walk in the law of the Lord.

Blessed are they who keep his testimonies, and seek him with their whole heart.

Early in the morning do we cry unto thee, for in thy word is our trust.

Let our prayer come before thee, O Lord; give us understanding according to thy word.

Here shall the portion of
Scripture be read.
Then shall the Person who
conducts the Service

say;

The Lord be with you; Answer. And with thy spirit.

Reader. Let us pray.

Then shall he read eith-
er of the following
Prayers, or make a
Prayer extempore.

O GOD, whose light again shines upon us, we desire to unite with thy whole family in heaven and earth, to offer up to thee, the eternal Fountain of light, our morning adoration, and pay our tribute of gratitude and praise to thee our Preserver. O shine into our hearts with the light of truth, and disperse the shades of error and prejudice and sin. Inspire us with the hopes and comforts of true religion, and implant within us thy likeness, the image of our Creator, in righteousness and true holiness. Give us clear and consoling views of thy Providence, which SO mercifully regards us, and our minutest concerns. Warm our hearts with love to thee; with the love of goodness, of purity, and of all thy moral perfections; that by these our faith and trust in thee may be increased and strengthened, and that we may rejoice that all

the different dispensations of our lives are in thy hand, the hand of our heavenly Father.

Enlighten our minds, O God, with bright views of immortality; and dispel from them the clouds of doubt and uncertainty. Encourage us in the faithful discharge of our duties. Guide us by thy counsel; support us in our journey by thy strength; hold us up by thy promises. Animate us with the patience and perseverance of our blessed Lord and master, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. In his name we offer our prayers, and in his words conclude them.

Or this.

O LORD our God, who hast brought us out from the shades of night to see another day, assist and accept our morning devotions which we offer up to thee, who both by night and by day art our Guardian and Deliverer. We thank thee that thou

hast preserved us from the dangers of the past night, and we pray thee to continue thy goodness to us through the present day, and preserve us from all perils both of body and soul. We thank thee for all the time thou hast given us, and acknowledge that we have greatly wasted and misused it. May we do so no more. Make us each day to remember that every day is thy gift, to be used in thy service, and in doing the work of our salvation. Let the Sun of Righteousness arise upon our souls with healing in his wings. Make us children of the light and of the day, and show us the way wherein we should walk. Quicken our dulness in thy service. Release our hearts from the bondage of sin and the fetters of temptation, and so assist us in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, that when the few days of this our mortal life are ended, we may inherit that endless life which thou hast prepared for all who love and fear thee.

The blessings, which we ask for ourselves, we ask

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The following Sentences are to be said alternately, as in the First Service, by the Reader and the Family.

THE Lord hath brought us safe to the beginning of this day; let us give him thanks for this his goodness, and for all his mercies and loving kindnesses to us and to all men.

Every day will we give

thanks unto thee, O Lord, and praise thy name for ever and ever.

Let all those who put their trust in thee rejoice; they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they who love thy name shall be joyful in thee.

For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto thy people; and with thy favourable kindness wilt

thou defend them as with a shield.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God;

Be honour and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever, and ever. Amen.

If a portion of Scripture is to be read, let it be preceded by the following Sentences, said alternately as before.

THE heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work.

Day unto day uttereth speech; night unto night showeth knowledge.

The law of the Lord is an undefiled law, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes.

The word of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever; the judgments of the Lord are true, and righ teous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine

gold; sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them are thy servants taught; and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Here the portion of Scrip

ture is to be read. Then shall the Person who conducts the Service, say;

LET us pray to God. Let us pray that we may live in his fear, and in love and charity with our neighbours; that his holy Spirit may direct and rule our hearts, teaching us what to do and what to avoid; that his grace may ever be with us, to support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; that the Lord may bless all our honest endeavours, and make us content with what his providence shall order for us; and that we may continue his faithful servants this day, and all the days of our life.

Answer. Let our prayers and meditations be always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.

Reader. Let us pray.

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