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more

and more to feel and realize that in thy holy care are all thy children, whether here or there; that the Eternal God is our refuge and that underneath are the everlasting arms. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father, unto whom we may come in every hour of darkness and sorrow, to pour out our griefs to thee, and to rest our troubled hearts under the shelter of thy compassion: hear now our prayer for those who are bowed down in mourning. Shine upon their darkness, we pray thee, and enfold their loneliness in thy comforting presence. Thou hast given us the blessed assurance that the sorrows of death are but for a little while, and that the grave is only as a gate of entrance to another world of life. We pray thee, O our Father, to grant us in our hour of bereavement the joy and consolation of that hope; that, when we part from those whom thou callest away, we may say in our hearts that we shall meet again. May we who remain behind a little longer keep ever clear and bright the memory of their lives. May we be blest, even now, by a true communion of spirit with the unseen world, and live as members of one family, one company of friends and brethren, on earth and in heaven. Amen.

FOR THE SPIRIT OF HELPFULNESS

O thou who art Love and dwellest in love: teach us how to be thine own fellow-workers. Never may we shut our hearts against the sorrows of even the unthankful and the evil. Make us messengers of thy tender mercy, to soothe the wretched, to lift the penitent, to seek and to save the lost; till all shall at length know themselves thy children, and be one with each other and with thee. Amen.

FOR ALL WHO ARE ENGAGED IN WORKS OF MERCY

O God, whose love, shed abroad in the hearts of thy children, is mighty to overcome evil, and to redeem and bless the world: we give thanks unto thee for all who are engaged in works of mercy and compassion. Grant the aid of thy counsel, and the support of thy strength, to those who teach the ignorant, who minister to the sick, who visit the fatherless and widows, who plead the cause of the weak and the oppressed. Be with those who go forth to reclaim the sinful, to lift up the degraded, to cheer and sustain the disheartened. Make us to have our part, however humble, in these endeavors. Assure us that whatsoever we do for the healing and enlightenment and encouragement of the least of these our brethren, we do as unto thee. By the faithfulness of those whom thou callest thus to labor for thee, may all who wander, all who despair, and all who suffer be comforted and upbuilt, and brought into richer and more abundant life. Amen.

FOR MINISTERS AND CONGREGATIONS

Almighty God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: send down on all ministers of the gospel, and on all congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Amen.

FOR THE SUCCESSION OF PROPHETS

Almighty God, Fountain of Life and Light, who didst raise up prophets in ancient times to warn and inspire, and didst send abroad into the world apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers: we pray thee to raise up in these days an increasing number of wise and faithful men, filled with the old prophetic zeal, by whose labors thy Church may be greatly blessed, and thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR SCHOOL OR COLLEGE

O Lord, our heavenly Father, who givest knowledge to all that ask thee: grant thy blessing, we pray thee, to all who serve thee here, whether as teachers or learners, and help us in the work which thou hast given us to do. Enable us to labor diligently and faithfully, in singleness of heart, remembering that in thy fear is the beginning of wisdom. May we set thy holy will ever before us, and do that which is well-pleasing in thy sight, that so our work here may count for good to others, both now and in the days to come. Open our eyes to know thy marvellous works, to search our own spirits, and to understand the wondrous things of thy law. Pour into

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our hearts the excellent gifts of friendship and brotherly love, and grant that in truth and purity we may glorify thee, the Father of lights. Amen.

FOR ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind: we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known to them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally we commend to thy fatherly goodness all who are in any ways afflicted in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. Amen.

SHORT COLLECTS FOR GENERAL USE

O God, who art Love, grant to thy children to bear one another's burdens in perfect good-will, that thy peace which passeth understanding may keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

O God, who hast ordained that whatever is to be desired should be sought by labor, and who, by thy blessing, bringest honest labor to good effect: look with favor upon our endeavors. Grant us, O Lord, to design only what is

FIRST SELECTION

PSALM I

BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

PSALM IV

HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

PSALM V

GIVE ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness; make thy way straight before my face. Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

PSALM IX

I WILL praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

The Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

PSALM XV

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.

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.

He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places: yea, I have a goodly heritage.

I will bless the Lord, who hath given. me counsel. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for

evermore.