mable volume,—this light which shineth in a dark place, to guide our minds and our hearts into the way of peace, and to bring us to the enjoyment of eternal life.

Congregation. Most Blessed God, we praise thy name for the precious volume of life.

Minister.-O God, we adore thee for the preservation of this volume through many ages, and bless thee that it has come down entire to our days. We thank thee, O Lord, that we have thy word translated into our native tongue, and that it is freely open to us all.

Congregation.-Glory be to thy name, O God, that thy word is fully accessible to us all.

Minister-Bless us, O God, we beseech thee, in reading thy word at this time. May we read it with solemnity, and may we listen to it with godly attention. Open our understandings and our hearts by thy Holy Spirit, that we may truly profit by what the Lord our God will now say to us from this holy volume. And grant unto us likewise, that we may not be hearers only, but also doers of thy word; and that we may all reap the blessed promises given to us therein, both as respects this present life, and the life to come.

Congregation.-O Lord, bless us now in the Reading of thy Holy Word.

Minister.-O Lord God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to make known thy word unto all nations. May it be speedily and faithfully translated into all languages, and be circulated through every land. O Lord, may every individual upon the earth have thy word in his hands, and be taught to read it, that he may read and learn therein the wonderful works of God.

Congregation.-O Lord, let the Sacred Scriptures be speedily circulated over all the earth.

Minister. O Lord our God, in thy sacred name we enter on our Public Reading this day of thy Precious Book. O condescend most graciously to bless us whilst we are so engaged, that thy name may be glorified in our instruction and salvation, in Christ Jesus our Lord: Amen.

Congregation.-Amen, and amen.

[The Minister standing: the Congregation sitting.]

-

Minister. The First Portion of our Scripture Reading is in the Book of [Genesis] the [First] Chapter.

[When the Minister has spoken these words, let all the Congregation open their Bibles at the place mentioned, and diligently attend whilst God's Holy Word is read in their hearing.]

Minister.—[At the close of the chapter,]-Here endeth the First Portion of our Scripture Reading.

[After the same manner the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Portions are to be read, the Minister saying at the close of the last," Here conclude our Present Readings of the Word of God."]

[The Minister still standing; and the Congregation sitting.]

Minister. - Let us now praise God for all his blessings to us in the Holy Scriptures.-The hymn following: or, the hymn No.- [pronouncing as before the two first lines]

[All stand.]

1. How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration given!

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heaven.

2. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.

3. This lamp through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way;

Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.

[Still standing.]

Minister.-Let us now attend to the Preaching and Hearing of God's Holy Word,-commencing by Prayer.

[All kneel.]

Minister.-O Lord God Almighty, thou hast commanded thy word to be preached, for the edification of thy saints, and for converting Sinners from the error of their ways: and in obedience to thy command, we would now proceed to Expound thy word of life. Holy Spirit, we beseech thee to grant, that this expounding may prove spirit and life to all who hear it.

Congregation.-O Holy Spirit, quicken us all by the Preaching of the word of life.

Minister. O God, mercifully grant unto him who is now to speak, a spirit of knowledge, of discernment, of grace, and of power, for the true, the wise, and faithful unfolding of the truths of thy Revelation. O Lord, may he rightly understand that portion of thy word from which he is now to speak; may he rightly divide it, and rightly apply it unto all who are here present.

Congregation.-O Lord, guide and direct thy Servant rightly to speak unto us from thy word of truth.

Minister. O Lord, open now the ears and the understandings, and the hearts of all thy people here before thee in this assembly, that they may receive instruction, correction, and consolation; and that they may be truly built up, and established, in the faith and holiness of the Gospel of thy Son Jesus Christ.

Congregation.-O Lord, sanctify all thy people here present through the exposition of thy word, unto their eternal salvation.

Minister.-Almighty God, have mercy, we beseech thee, on all now in this place who have not yet turned

unto the Lord, but who remain still estranged from thee, and are feeding themselves, in some shape, with their own deceivings. O Lord, have mercy upon all such; O Lord, have mercy upon them: and may the truths of thy word now to be unfolded, reach their understandings and their hearts, through the powerful influences of thy Spirit, that they may be brought, at this present time, from darkness to light.

Congregation.-O God, may the Preaching of the Gospel at this time prove life to the dead.

Minister.- O Lord our Heavenly Father, most graciously hear these our petitions which we now make unto thee, for thy blessing to be on us in the preaching of the word, in conformity to thy commandment. O God, let us all enjoy thy blessing very abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour: Amen.

Congregation.-Amen, and amen.

[The Congregation sit.]

[The Sermon is now delivered; and is succeeded by the following Prayer, which concludes the Service.]

Minister.-Let us pray.

[All kneel.]

Minister.-Almighty and Most Gracious Father, may it please thee to follow with thy blessing what has now been declared from thy word in this place. May the Holy Spirit be given to us all, to impress these things on our hearts, to keep them alive on our memories, and to enable us to reduce them to practice.

Congregation.-O Lord, give us thy Spirit to impress deeply upon our hearts the truths now, set before us.

Minister.-Merciful God, grant that these truths we have now heard may never rise up in judgment

against us through our neglect of them. But, may they tend to build us up in the knowledge of salvation, may they invigorate us in the service of our Redeemer, and inspire us with peace, comfort, and joy, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Congregation.-O Lord, let not these truths ever rise up in judgment against us.

Minister. O God, have mercy on all here present who have never yet fled for refuge to the blood of atonement. May what has now been declared lead them to see their danger, and to see also the refuge provided for our ruined and sinful race. O Lord, may all such now flee, and with all haste, to the Lord Jesus Christ, lest the avenger overtake them in their loitering indifference and fancied security.

Congregation.-O God, have mercy on all who have not hitherto fled for refuge to the blood of atonement.

Minister.-O Lord, be merciful unto all in this place, who during these services have been using the words of prayer with their lips only, without understanding, believing, or caring after, what they have been saying in thy solemn presence, and in the hearing of this assembly. O Lord, convince all such, that thou art not to be mocked with impunity. O let them now repent, and lead them to worship thee henceforth in their heart and soul, through the knowledge and love of thy Son Jesus Christ.

Congregation. O God, mercifully look on all who have been careless and unconcerned at this time.

Minister.-Almighty Father, give, we beseech thee, peace and joy abundantly to all thy people now before thee, to all who hope in thee through the peace speaking blood of Christ, and who are following after holiness. May they go on their way rejoicing, may they bring forth much fruit; and may they at length have an abundant entrance into thy eternal kingdom and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.