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For Pardon.

MOST gracious God, who desireth not the

death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live; unto thee I present my humble supplications, not only for mercy to pardon my past offences, but also for grace to as sist me in times of future need. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Make me to reflect on my ways, to turn my feet unto thy testimonies, and wherein I have done amiss to do so no more. Give me that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil; and grant that I may finally come off conqueror, yea more than conqueror, through him who hath loved us. Forgetting those things that are behind, may I press forward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let not my goodness be as the morning cloud, or the early dew which passeth away; but may it be as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Finally, let no iniquity have dominion over me; but may I be steadfast, immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as I know that my labour will not then be in vain. Grant this, O God, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

GOOD FRIDAY.

For the Atonement.

BLESSED Lord God, at whose mighty word the corners of the earth tremble and the moun

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tains shake to their foundations; who ridest on the whirlwind, and who directest the storm; 0 let thy justly-excited wrath cease, and let not the fulness of thine indignation be poured out upon guilty man. Thou, Lord, didst send thy Son on earth for our redemption; thine only begotten did leave the realms of bliss to taste the bitter cup of misery and death, and to drink the very dregs of human affliction. Rejected of men whom he came down to save, he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; he was persecuted for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; a stranger on the earth which was fashioned by his hands, and an outcast amongst the people whom his Father had created. was smitten, and scourged, and led out to crucifixion; he was oppressed and afflicted, but he opened not his mouth; he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, but he was dumb, and reproached them not. When, therefore, I behold him stretched upon the cross in the agonies of death, and surrounded by his persecutors, how can I expect to escape the heavy and wrathful displeasure of the Almighty? Who shall redeem me from the burden of my sins? who shall blot out mine iniquities? who shall open the gate of heaven, and bid me to come in? Thou, Lord, whom we persecuted; thou, Saviour of the world, whom we smote; thou hast made thyself a propitiation for the wickedness of man, and hast offered up thine own immaculate body, as a free-will offering and sacrifice for his transgressions. Thou, Lord, who in thy last bitter anguish didst pray for thy persecutors, thou shalt plead my cause with the avenging God, and avert the heavy judgment of

his anger. Thou shalt gather thy flock within the fold, and thy mercy shall grant what thy judgment would withhold. Thou wilt receive the penitent, nor shut the door of mercy upon the sinner, who shall transgress no more. Let then, O God, these my hopes be confirmed at thy mercy seat, and let the memory of such ingratitude and cruelty be wiped from the book of life. Impress on me for ever these awful recollections, that they may be a warning in the day of temptation, and a barrier against future transgressions. Let the silent reproach, which they breathe within me, warm my soul with redoubled exertion to expiate my crimes, and to render myself a worthy and meet partaker of the everlasting kingdom which is prepared above by my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all gratitude and praise both now and for everAmen.

more.

EASTER.

For the Resurrection.

ALMIGHTY God, whose mercy and lovingkindness are, like unto thy power, immeasurable and unbounded, receive my praises and thanksgivings for the abundant display of both, which I record and celebrate this day, the day of the Resurrection of my Saviour, who hath overcome the power of death, and thrown open the gates of everlasting life to all those that truly believe and faithfully obey thy sacred word. Christ, thine only-begotten Son is risen from the dead, and

hath become the first fruits of them that slept; hath dispelled the clouds that gathered round us; hath given us a new and glorious day, and offered to us new and unbounded hopes. Christ is risen, and sitteth at the right hand of God, to relieve us from the burden of our sins; he, who has mediated for them, shall be our advocate with thee for thy continued mercy. Turn then, O Lord, my grateful and obedient heart towards that path which my gracious Saviour hath opened. Cleanse me from all perverseness, and instil into my mind good desires; teach me to set mine affections above all worldly temptation, and direct my regard to that point where only true happiness is to be found; to that haven where, after the storms of life, and the persecution of men are hushed and are no more, I may rest from my labours, in those blissful mansions which thou hast prepared for those that love thee; and reap the fruits of a well-contested struggle against the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and be enabled to exclaim, in the triumphant language of the Apostle, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Grant then, gracious God, that these my pious resolutions, may never waver; that my heart, warmed by these reflections, and the contemplation of this day's mercy, may never forget its duty, or turn from the tenor of thy precepts; but influenced with the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, and strengthened with the power of thy grace, I may ascend the realms of glory, and be admitted to the mansions of eternal happiness, to the company of angels and of archangels, and to the spirits of just men inade perfect, to partake of the

glories of my Saviour's Resurrection; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

For Ascension Day.

O King of glory, who art exalted far above all principalities and powers, and enthroned in thy heavenly kingdom, where saints and angels, and all the host of Heaven, do adore thee; look down from on high on me thy humble servant. 0 make me feel the power of thy grace, and the blessed influences of the Holy Spirit lifting up my mind and desires from fleeting earthly enjoyments to the solid lasting glories above. Wherefore, O my heart, wilt thou be grovelling on the earth, since thy glorified Redeemer is ascended into Heaven? From this time I will lift up my soul towards thee, O Saviour of lost sinners, and reach at the glories of Heaven. My knees shall bow at thy exalted name; my tongue shall confess thy glory; and thou shalt be the daily entertainment of my thoughts.

Lord, grant that after I have dwelt above in heart and spirit, I may at last ascend, whither my Saviour Christ is gone before, and be for ever with the Lord; there, together with the whole church triumphant, to see and admire, to love and praise thee, O blessed God, world without end. Amen.

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