peace among ourselves, and seek the things which make for our peace. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Thanksgiving. O LORD GOD, Thou strength of our health, in Whom we live, move, and have our being; Who givest to all men life, and breath, and all things; we render Thee most humble and hearty thanks and praise for our being and preservation, for our health and strength, for our food and raiment, and for all the good things of this life which by Thy great mercy we enjoy; beseeching Thee still to continue the same unto us, and to give us grace always to use them to the advancement of Thy glory, and the furtherance of our own salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Above all, we desire with unfeigned thankfulness to adore and praise Thy holy Name for Thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man; Who humbled himself even to the death upon the cross for us miserable sinners who lay in darkness and the shadow of death, that He might make us the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life: grant, we beseech Thee, that having this hope in us we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal and glorious kingdom; where with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth one God world without end. Amen. O LORD our Heavenly Father, by Whose gracious providence both day and night are governed, whilst we humbly present unto Thee our evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for Thy fatherly goodness towards us the day past, we most earnestly beseech Thee Lighten our eyes that we sleep not in death; defend us from all dangers ghostly and bodily; and keep us in perpetual peace and safety. And forasmuch as Thou hast made the time of our departure out of this life uncertain, grant that we may be always watching for the coming of our Lord to judgment, and so wisely employ the few remaining days of our pilgrimage here on earth, that when we leave this world our souls may be admitted into those blessed mansions which Thou hast appointed for the departed spirits of the righteous; there to abide in perfect rest and peace, till the sound of the last trumpet shall awaken our bodies also unto a glorious resurrection to eternal life, through the merits of Thine only Son Jesus Christ our Saviour; by Whom alone we have access unto Thee, and in Whose prevailing Name and prayer we sum up every petition, saying, Our Father, Which art in heaven &c. PSALMS AND PRAYERS TO BE USED JUST BEFORE WE GO INTO BED. Psalms for Bed-time. I. I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh of the Lord Who made Heaven and Earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber; Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day; nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth for evermore'. Glory be to the Father &c. II. He That dwelleth in the secret place of the Most 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. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day. Because thou hast made the Lord, Which is my refuge, even the Most High thy habitation. There shall no evil befal thee; neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways2. Glory be to the Father &c. III. The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid 3? Though I walk through the valley of the shadow 1 Psalm cxxi. 2 Psalm xci. 1, &c. 3 Psalm xxvii. 1. of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou are with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me1. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips; when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches 2. The Lord will command His loving kindness in the day-time, and in the night His song shall be with me; and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, nor mine eyelids to slumber, neither the temples of my head to take any rest*, Till I have called upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised; and offered to my God the sacrifice of thanksgiving". I will remember Thy Name, O Lord, in the night: with my whole heart will I seek Thee". Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice". Consider and hear me, O Lord, my God; lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death. I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for Thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety". Glory be to the Father &c. Thanksgiving for the mercies of the day past; and Prayer for pardon, grace, and protection. BLESSED be Thy holy Name, O Lord, my God, for Thy gracious protection and preservation of me the day past; for defending me from innumerable evils to which I have been exposed; and for continuing to me the comforts of this life, and the hope of life everlasting. 1 Psalm xxiii. 4. 4 Psalm cxxxii. 4. 6 Psalm cxix. 55. 10. 2 Psalm lxiii. 5, 6. 5 Psalm xviii. 3; 3 Psalm xlii. 8. cxvi. 17. 8 Psalm xiii. 3. O Heavenly Father, forgive, I humbly beseech Thee for Jesus Christ's sake, whatsoever Thou hast seen amiss in me this day in my thoughts, words, or actions and assist me with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may henceforward earnestly endeavour to resist and conquer every evil inclination within me, and every temptation from without. That which I know not, teach Thou me: instruct me in all my duty, both towards Thee, and towards men and give me grace always to think and to do those things that are good, and well-pleasing in Thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And now, O Lord, I go to my bed as to my grave; and know not but that I may awake in another world: but whether I live or die, I commend myself to Thy mercy and goodness. O Thou keeper of Israel, That neither slumberest nor sleepest, be graciously pleased to watch over me this night. Keep me by Thy Grace from all works of darkness; and defend me by Thy power from all dangers. Grant me comfortable and refreshing sleep, such as may fit me for the duties of the day following. And, Lord, make me ever mindful of that time when I shall lie down in the dust: and because I know neither the day, nor the hour of my Master's coming, grant me grace that I may be always ready; that I may never live in such a state as I should fear to die in; but that whether I live, I may live unto the Lord; or whether I die, I may die unto the Lord; so that living or dying I may be Thine, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SECTION III. DEVOTIONS FOR NOON; wherein the practice of Christian Holiness is recommended and enforced from several considerations, |