ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time

with one accord to make our common supplications unto Thee and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in Thy Name Thou wilt grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

The People remaining in the posture of prayer, the Minister shall pronounce

THE BENEDICTION.

THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

THE

TOr this:

HE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

After the Benediction it is fitting that the Minister and People remain in silent prayer, beseeching God that none may leave His House without a blessing.

¶ Note that the last Hymn may be sung after the Prayer if such be the wish and usage of any church.

THE ORDER OF

EVENING SERVICE

ON THE LORD'S DAY.

Let a Hymn be sung, all the People standing, and then let the Minister read one or more of the following SENTENCES.

GRA

RACE be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians i. 3.)

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah lvii. 15.)

The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (St. John iv. 23, 24.)

Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm cxli. 2.)

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth. (Psalm xcvi. 9.)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (Psalm xix. 14.)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (St. Matthew vii. 7, 8.)

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. (Lamentations iii. 25.)

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation xxii. 17.)

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (St. Luke xv. 18, 19.)

¶ Then let the Minister say,

Let us pray.

Let the People reverently bow down while the Minister leads them in the INVOCATION and CONFESSION, using if he will one of the following Prayers:

THE INVOCATION AND CONFESSION.

GOD, the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning; We beseech Thee to look in mercy upon us, Thy sinful and wayward children and so direct the eyes of our faith unto Thee, that at all times we may receive a heavenly illumination, through Thy Word and Spirit; and walk securely, in confidence and peace, amid the shadows of this mortal life. And more especially at this hour of the evening sacrifice, bestow upon us the pardon of our sins, and such a vision of the truth as it is in Jesus, that the darkness of evil may be driven from our hearts, and we may render unto Thee songs of praise; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ETE

TERNAL God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts; Cleanse us, we beseech Thee, from all the defilements of this day, and deliver us from all proud thoughts and vain desires; that with lowliness and meekness we may draw near to Thee in prayer, confessing our sins, confiding in Thy grace, and finding in Thee our refuge and our strength, our hope and our salvation; through Jesus Christ Thy Son. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, who hast appointed

our portion of labour, that we may serve Thee while it is day; and by whose ordinance the weariness of night cometh, that we may seek our rest in Thee; We beseech Thee now to lead and draw our hearts unto Thy dear Son, that, confessing our sin and weakness, we may receive of Him the grace promised unto the heavy-laden; and, being forgiven by His mercy, comforted by His Word, refreshed by His Spirit, and lifted up by His fellowship, we may find in this hour of worship a blessing for our souls; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, Light of the hearts that see Thee, and Life of the souls that love Thee, and Strength of the thoughts that seek Thee; from whom to be turned away is to fall, to whom to be turned is to rise, and in whom to abide is to stand fast for ever; Grant us now Thy forgiveness and blessing, as we are here assembled to offer up our confession and supplications; and though we are unworthy to approach Thee, or to ask anything of Thee at all, vouchsafe to hear and to answer us, for the sake of our great High Priest and Advocate, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer may close with these Petitions of HOLY SCRIPTURE, to be said responsively by the Minister and People, still bowing down.

Create in us a clean heart, O God:
And renew a right spirit within us.
Cast us not away from Thy presence:
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.
Restore unto us the joy of Thy salvation:
And uphold us with Thy free Spirit.

O Lord, open Thou our lips:

And our mouth shall show forth Thy praise. Amen.

THE PSALTER.

Then let a portion of the PSALTER be chanted, or read responsively by the Minister and the People, all standing, and at the end let all say or sing,

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

¶Or else, the Gloria in Excelsis as follows:

GLORY be to God on high: and on earth peace, good

will towards men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee: we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King: God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ: O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

That takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world: receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father: have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy: Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost: art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

T Note that, if any church so desire, a Hymn may be sung in place of the PSALTER.

THE PUBLIC READING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

T The People being seated shall attend devoutly to the Minister as he reads clearly and distinctly from the Word of God. Before the reading let the Minister say, Hear the Holy Scripture as it is written in such a chapter of such a book and after the reading he shall say, The Lord bless to us the reading of His Holy Word.

After the reading of Scripture, an Anthem or Hymn may be

sung.

Then let the Minister say,

Let us pray.