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The Congregation being
assembled\ the Sendee is begun by singing to the praise of God.
Psalm XLIII
O SEND Thy light forth and Thy truth;
let them be guides to me,
And bring me to Thine holy hill,
even where Thy dwellings be.
4 Then will I to God's altar go,
to God my chiefest joy:
Yea, God, my God, Thy name to praise
my harp I will employ.
5 Why art thou then cast down, my soul?
what should discourage thee?
And why with vexing thoughts art thou
disquieted in me?
Still trust in God; for Him to praise
good cause I yet shall have:
He of my countenance is the health,
my God that doth me save.
Let us pray.
We will wash our hands in
innocency, so will we compass Thine Altar, O Lord.
Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean: Wash us, and we shall be whiter
than snow. Make us to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast
broken may rejoice.
We will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. We
will pay our vows unto the Lord, now in the presence of all his people.
Father of Lights, Thou that dwellest in light which is unapproached and
uncreated, do Thou send forth Thy light now to guide us, as in our great
weakness and unworthiness we approach Thy footstool, and lift up to Thee a
voice of prayer. We give Thee thanks for that outward light, the rays of the
natural sun, which shine upon our homes and our paths, which direct our
steps, and gladden our hearts. But much more we thank Thee for that better
light which shines in upon the mind, the light of Thy grace, Thy Word, Thy
Spirit. Grant that that holy light may now shine inward in our hearts: and
so in Thy light we shall see light, and m the light of Thy countenance we
shall be safe and happy. Blessed be Thy name for this light, which no
darkness ever overspreads; for this sun, which never goes down. It is in the
name of Jesus that we now approach Thee, all unworthy as we are, and all
pure and holy as Thou art: For His sake hear us: for His sake accept of us:
and make us happy and contented by the grace of Thy Blessed Spirit as we
join in prayer to Thee. Forgive what Thou seest amiss in us: and grant that
the prayers which we offer up to Thy divine Majesty, in the name of our
common Redeemer, may be presented by Him, acceptable unto Thee.
O our God, we acknowledge that we have nothing but what is the effect of Thy
bounty: bless the Lord, O our souls, and declare His loving-kindness to all
generations. We humbly and heartily thank Thee for all the graces and
favours which Thou hast freely bestowed upon us: for making us rational
creatures, and for securing our preservation by the constant effects of Thy
Providence; for redeeming us by the death of Thy Son, and for providing the
grace of Thy Holy Spirit to sanctify our corrupted nature: for bringing us
to the knowledge of the Christian religion: for blessing us with the
plentiful means of salvation: and for preparing a glorious inheritance for
those that love Thee and keep Thy commandments: for Thy preservation of us
all our days from innumerable accidents and dangers: Oh may we always
delight to praise and glorify Thy Holy Name: and above all Thy benefits, to
love Thee, our great Benefactor.
Glory be to God in the highest, the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth,
the Preserver of all men, the Father of mercies: Glory be to Thee, O God,
who didst so love mankind, when we had forsaken and forgotten Thee, as to
send Thine only-begotten and well-beloved Son into this world to redeem us
from sin and misery, and to obtain for us everlasting life. Glory be to
Thee, Thou Eternal Son of God, Who for our sakes wast made man, Who didst
dwell among us, and die for us: we praise and bless Thee that Thou didst
purge away our sins by the sacrifice of Thyself, and didst give Thy body and
blood to be our spiritual food and sustenance. O blessed Jesus, Thou who art
the image of the invisible God, the Light of the World, the Lamb of God that
takes away sin, our great High Priest, our Advocate with the Father, our
Intercessor within the veil: we adore and worship Thee as God this day: we
look for all blessings through Thy hand alone, who hast all power in heaven
and earth. Out of Thy fulness may we receive grace for grace: pardon, and
peace, and purity, and complete redemption: Give us humility and meekness,
give us holiness and patience: weanedness from the world, resignation to Thy
holy will, and contentedness in all conditions: sincerity and uprightness of
heart towards Thee, and towards all men. May that Holy Spirit which Thou
didst promise should visit Thy people after Thou hadst gone, regenerate and
sanctify us and unite us to Thee: May He enlighten our understanding, and
dispose our will: may He help our infirmities, fortify us against all
temptation, and enable us to fulfil our duty: may He direct us in doubts,
and comfort and support us in troubles: and so sanctify us throughout, that
our whole spirit, soul, and body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. O heavenly Father, of Thine infinite mercy grant,
that nothing in this world may ever be able to separate us from a state of
favour and communion with Thee, and Thy Son our Saviour, through the
preparations of the Spirit of holiness. Thy favour, O Lord, is better than
life, and the communications of Thy grace are more to be desired than all
earthly treasure: Thy service is perfect freedom, Thy laws the sure path to
eternal bliss: O do Thou strengthen, stablish, and settle us in the practice
of them for ever; that being through Thy grace faithful unto death, we may
through Thy mercy obtain everlasting life.
But more particularly at this time, O merciful God, we bless Thee that Thou
hast suffered Thy people in this place once more to assemble themselves
about a Table of pure and holy Communion. We bless Thee for these pleasant
seasons, which come back to us time after time, wherein we are permitted by
Thy providence, and enabled by Thy grace, for a little while to withdraw
ourselves entirely from the cares of our daily life, and to sit down as it
were under the shadow of the Rock of Ages. We bless Thee, our Father, that
as we are travelling onwards through this world, as strangers and pilgrims,
to a happier, though yet an unseen land, Thou hast given us this rest in our
pilgrimage, this pause in our warfare, this peace in our souls. We thank
Thee for a day which brings back so plainly before our eyes and our hearts,
the dying love and the atoning sacrifice of our great Redeemer. We thank
Thee for the quiet and order in which Thou hast permitted us to meet
together, that we may do this in remembrance of
Him: and do Thou grant, for Christ's sake, that great peace and joy may now
be felt in all Thy people's souls; and consecrate us all in soul and body to
be holy temples to Thyself. Pardon the unworthiness which, in the case of
all, must mingle even with our best services; and as we are to be engaged
for a little space in speaking and in hearing from Thy word, grant that Thy
Spirit be poured out upon us, making it very comfortable and profitable
alike to speak and to hear. As we have felt Thy presence heretofore in the
sanctuary, so may we feel it now: grant that every heart be warmed, and
every soul be lifted up, in the remembrance of our Saviour's dying love: and
do Thou go on with us in this, and in all our duties, so long as we remain
in this world: yea, Father of Mercies, if Thy presence go not with us, carry
us not up hence.
And now, Almighty God, if there be other things which we need, but which we
in our ignorance and forgetfulness have failed to ask of Thee, still do
Thou, Who knowest our frame, grant them to us. And this we beg through Jesus
Christ Thy Son: to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour
and glory: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
Then is read the Lesson from the Old Testament.
Isaiah LIII.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a
dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there
is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed.
6 All we like sheep hare gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment and who shall declare his
generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the
transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;
because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth,
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his
hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their
iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death :
and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and
made intercession for the transgressors.
After which is sung Psalm CXVI
1 I love the Lord, because my voice
and prayers He did hear,
2 I, while I live, will call on Him,
who bow’d to me His ear.
3 Of death the cords and sorrows did
about me compass round;
The pains of hell took hold on me,
I grief and trouble found.
4 Upon the name of God the Lord
then did I call, and say,
Deliver Thou my soul, O Lord,
I do Thee humbly pray.
5 God merciful and righteous is,
yea, gracious is our Lord.
6 God saves the meek : I was brought low,
He did me help afford.
7 O thou my soul, do thou return
unto thy quiet rest;
For largely, lo, the Lord to thee
His bounty hath exprest.
8 For my distressed soul from death
deliver’d was by Thee :
Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears,
my feet from falling, free.
9 I in the land of those that live
will walk the Lord before,
10 I did believe, therefore I
spake:
I was afflicted sore,
11 l said, when I was in my
haste,
that all men liars be.
12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all His gifts to me?
13 I’ll of salvation take the cup,
on God’s name will I call:
14 I'll pay my vows now to the Lord
before His people all.
15 Dear in God’s sight is His saints’ death.
16 Thy servant, Lord, am I;
Thy servant sure, Thine handmaid’s son:
my bands Thou didst untie.
17 Thank-of'rings I to Thee will give,
and on God’s name will call.
18 I’ll pay my vows now to the Lord
before His people all;
19 Within the courts of God’s own house,
within the midst of thee,
O city of Jerusalem.
Praise to the Lord give ye.
The Lesson from the New Testament.—Rev. V.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts,
and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth
into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon
the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders
fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials
full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on
the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times
ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the
earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, he unto him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down
and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Then is sung Paraphrase LXV.
5 Hark how the adoring hosts above
with songs surround the throne!
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues;
but all their hearts are one.
6 Worthy the Lamb that died, they cry,
to be exalted thus;
Worthy the Lamb, let us reply,
for He was slain for us.
7 To Him be power Divine ascribed,
and endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy, remain
for ever on His head.
8 Thou hast redeem'd us with Thy blood,
and set the prisoners free;
Thou mad'st us kings and priests to God,
and we shall reign with Thee.
Let us pray.
O blessed and Holy Spirit, by Whose Divine inspiration all Scripture was
given at the first, and by Whose continued grace it is yet made profitable
for doctrine, reproof correction, and instruction in righteousness : Lead us
at this time, we humbly pray, to the right and full understanding of some
portion of that holy word which Thou didst Thyself impart: Enabling us not
only clearly to apprehend its meaning, but savingly to receive its teaching
in our heart and soul. And this we beg through Jesus Christ, in Whose
prevailing Name and words we yet further pray :
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done in earth* as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. |
