resign our hearts to thee; humbly protesting before thy glorious Majesty, that it is our firm resolution, and that we do unfeignedly desire grace from thee, that when thou shalt call us hereunto, we may practise this our resolution, to forsake all that is dear unto us in this world, rather than turn from thee to the ways of sin; and that we will watch against all temptations, whether of prosperity or adversity, lest they should withdraw our hearts from thee, beseeching thee also to help us against the temptations of Satan, to whose wicked suggestions we resolve, by thy grace, never to yield. And because our own righteousness is but filthy rags, we renounce all confidence therein; and acknowledge that we are of ourselves hopeless, helpless, undone creatures, without righteousness or strength.

And forasmuch as thou hast, of thy boundless mercy, offered most graciously to us, wretched sinners, to be again our God through Christ, if we would accept of thee; we call heaven and earth to record this day, that we do here solemnly avouch thee for the Lord our God; and with all possible veneration, bowing our souls under the feet of thy most sacred Majesty, we do here give up ourselves to thee, the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for thy servants; promising and vowing to serve thee, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives.

And since thou hast appointed the Lord Jesus Christ the only means of coming unto thee, we do here, upon our bended knees, accept of him, as the only new and living way by which sinners may have access to thee.

O blessed Jesus, we come to thee hungry, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked; guilty, condemned malefactors, unworthy to wash the feet of the servants of our Lord, much more to be joined in covenant to the King of Glory; but since such is thine unparalleled love, we here, with all

our power, accept thee, and take thee for our head and Lord; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; for all times and conditions, to love, honour, and obey thee before all others, and this to the death. We embrace thee in all thy offices; we renounce our own worthiness, and do here avow thee for the Lord, our righteousness; we renounce our own wisdom, and do here take thee for our only guide; we renounce our own will, and do take thy will for our law.

And since thou hast told us we must suffer if we will reign, we do here covenant with thee, to take our lot as it falls with thee, and, by thy grace assisting, to run all hazards with thee; verily purposing, that neither life nor death shall part between thee and us.

And because thou hast been pleased to give us thy holy laws as the rule of our lives, and the way in which we should walk to thy kingdom, we do here willingly put ourselves under thy yoke, and set our shoulders to thy burden; and, subscribing to all thy laws, as holy, just, and good, we solemnly take them as the rule of our words, thoughts, and actions; promising that, though our flesh contradict and rebel, we will endeavour to order and govern our whole lives according to thy direction.

[Here shall follow a season of silent prayer. Then the whole congregation, led by the Minister, shall repeat audibly the following words :]

Now, Almighty God, Searcher of Hearts, thou knowest that I make this Covenant with thee this day without any known guile or reservation, beseeching thee, if thou espiest any flaw or falsehood therein, that thou wouldst discover it to me, and help me to do it aright.

And now, glory be to thee, O God the Father, whom I shall be bold, from this day forward, to look upon as my God and Father, that ever thou shouldst find out such a way for the recovery of undone sinners. Glory be to thee, O God the Son, who hast loved me, and washed me from my sins in thine own blood, and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer.

Glory be to thee, O God the Holy Ghost, who, by the finger of thine Almighty power, hast turned about my heart from sin to God.

O great Jehovah, the Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, thou art now become my covenant-friend, and I, through thine infinite grace, have become thy covenant-servant. Amen. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

[The Minister may here conclude with singing and extemporaneous prayer.]

NOTE. To members of the Church.-This covenant we advise you to make, not only in heart, but in word; not only in word, but in writing; and that you would, with all possible reverence, spread the writing before the Lord, as if you would present it to him as your act and deed; and when you have done this, set your hand to it; keep it as a memorial of the solemn transactions that have passed between God and you, and that you may have recourse to it in doubts and temptations.

VIII.

LAYING A CORNER-STONE.

571. FORM FOR LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF A CHURCH.

The Minister, standing near the place where the stone is to be laid, shall say unto the Congregation:

DEARLY BELOVED, We are taught in the Word of God, that, although the heaven of heavens cannot contain the Eternal One, much less the walls of temples made with hands, yet his delight is ever with the sons of men, and that, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, there is he in the midst of them. In all ages his servants have separated certain places for his worship; Jacob erected a stone in Bethel for God's house; Moses made a tabernacle in the desert; and Solomon builded a temple for the Lord, which he filled with the glory of his presence before all the people. We are now assembled to lay the corner-stone of a new house for the worship of the God of our Fathers. Let us not doubt that he will favourably approve our godly purpose, and let us now devoutly unite in singing his praise, and in prayer for his blessing on our undertaking.

Let an appropriate Hymn be sung.

Then shall the Minister say:

Let us pray.

Most Glorious God, heaven is thy throne, and the earth is thy footstool: what house then can be builded for thee, or where is the place of thy rest? Yet, blessed be thy name, O Lord God, that it hath pleased thee to have thy

habitation among the sons of men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of the saints upon the earth. And now, especially, we render thanks to thee, O God, that it hath pleased thee to put it into the hearts of thy servants to erect in this place a house for thy worship. We thank thee for thy grace which has inclined them to contribute of their substance for the glory of thy name and we pray thee to continue thy blessing upon their pious undertaking. AMEN.

May many unite with them in their holy work, until this habitation of thy house shall be completed, and ready for dedication to thy service, free from all debt or claim of man. AMEN.

May peace and harmony prevail in the counsels of thy servants. May the work of this building be accomplished without hurt or accident to any person. And when thou shalt have prospered the work of their hands upon them, and this house shall be prepared for thy service, grant that all who shall enjoy the benefit of this pious work may show forth their thankfulness, by making a right use of it, to the glory of thy blessed name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Grant that all who shall hereafter worship thee in the temple here to be builded, may so serve and please thee in all holy exercises of godliness, that in the end they may come to the holy place, made without hands, whose builder and maker is God. AMEN.

Hear us, O Lord, for thou art our God in whom we trust. And when we shall cease to pray unto thee on earth, may we, with all those who in like manner have erected such places to thy name, and with all thy glorified saints, eternally praise thee for all thy goodness vouchsafed unto us on earth, and laid up for us in heaven. AMEN.