70.

PSALM iv. 8; v. 3, 4.

1. I will lay me down in peace and take my rest, for it is thou, Lord, only, that mak'st me to dwell in safety.

2. My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord; early in the morning will I direct my prayer to thee. For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness, neither shall any evil dwell with thee.

71.

PSALM CXXi.

1. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. The Lord himself is thy keeper; the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand: so that the sun shall not burn thee by day, neither the moon by night.

2. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : yea it is he that shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

72.

PSALM cxlv. 1, 2, 15, 16,

I will magnify thee, O God, my King; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I give thanks unto thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever. The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness. Amen.

73.

PSALM ci. I.

I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. For thou art merciful, thou art gracious. O be thou merciful unto us, O Lord.

74.

PSALM civ. 33, 34.

I will sing to the Lord, as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. O that my meditation may be grateful unto him. Hallelujah. Amen.

75.

PSALM xliii.

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from deceitful and unjust men: for thou art the God of my strength; O why dost thou cast me from thee? Wherefore mourn I because the enemy sorely oppresseth me. Send out thy light and truth, Lord : O let them lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling-place. And then will I go to the altar of God; to God, the God of my gladness and joy. I will praise thee upon the harp, O my God.

O my soul, why art thou cast downward, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in the Lord, O my soul; for I will praise him who is the health of my countenance, and my gracious Lord and God.

76.

DEUTERONOMY vii. 9, 13, 19.

Know, then, the Lord thy God is a faithful God which sheweth mercy to them that love him and keep his commandments: and he will love thee, and he will bless thee. The Lord is God, whose arm outstretched hath brought thee out. The Lord is with thee a mighty God and merciful.

77.

PSALM cxix. 169–175.

1. Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord; give me understanding, according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee, O Lord; deliver me, according to thy word. My lips shall speak of thy praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes: yea, my tongue shall sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are righteous.

2. Let thine hand help me, for I have chosen thy commandments.

3. I have longed for thy saving health, O Lord; and in thy law is my delight.

4. O let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and thy judgments shall help me.

78.

PSALM xix. 14.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

79.

PSALM CXix. 41, 44, 45, 49, 50, 64.

Let thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord, ev'n thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I alway keep thy law, yea, for ever and ever; and I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy commandments. O think upon thy servant, as concerning thy word, wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust. The same is my comfort in my trouble, for thy word hath quickened me. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy; O teach me thy statutes.

80.

LUKE ii. 15, 10-11.

pass, which the Lord

For the angel said

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to hath made known unto us. unto us, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born, this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

81.

PSALM CXXI. 1-4.

I. Lift thine eyes, O lift thine eyes to the mountains, whence cometh help. Thy help cometh from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He hath said, Thy foot shall not be moved. Thy keeper will never slumber.

2. He watching over Israel, slumbers not, nor sleeps. Shouldst thou, walking in grief, languish, he will quicken thee.

82.

83.

PSALM Xxiii. 1, 2.

Lo! my Shepherd's hand divine;
Want shall never more be mine.
In a pasture fair and large,
He shall feed his happy charge.

When I faint with summer heat,
He shall lead my weary feet

To the streams that, still and slow,
Through the verdant meadows flow.

Lord, bow down thine ear unto me,
Lend thy guiding father-hand;
Wilt thou judge by my transgressions?
Ne'er can I before thee stand.
Never more!

Shall my woe be everlasting?
Shall my enemies deride?

Weak and helpless, shall I sorrow?
Never in thy thoughts abide?

O Lord my God!

COLLECT.

84.

Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake, lay not our sins to our charge; but forgive that which is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives; to decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk with a perfect heart before thee, now and

evermore.