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who is of a humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Before him, therefore, let us confefs our fins.

The General Confeffion; the People kneeling. ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Maker of all things, and fupreme Judge of all men, we acknowledge and lament before thee the manifold errors and follies of our lives; we have not duly hearkened to the voice of thy word; we have been too unmindful of thy goodness, and ungrateful to thee our continual benefactor; we have not always done unto others as we would they fhould do unto us; we have departed from the ways of thy commandments, and exposed ourselves to thy juft difpleafure; our only hope is in thy mercy, which endureth for ever; we bow before the throne of thy grace, imploring thy pardon. O God! have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; and do thou, who defireft not the death of finners,

finners, but hadft rather they would turn from their wickedness and live, forgive and accept us. Encouraged by thy holy word to hope for mercy upon repentance and amendment of life, we defire with our whole hearts to return to the obedience of thy commandments. may we obtain from thee, the God of all mercy, the forgiveness of our fins, and an inheritance among them who are sanctified, according to thy promises, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

People.

Thus

O Lord! let thy mercy be shewn unto us, as we put our trust in thee.

Then let the Minifter read the following Prayers, the People ftill kneeling.

For Religious Wisdom.

O FATHER of lights, and fountain of knowledge, open the eyes of our minds, and enlighten us with true wisdom. May we cherish pure, and worthy ideas of thy nature and providence. Lead us to a right understanding of that religion

which is acceptable to thee, and recommended to us in the revelation of thy will, made known to the world by thy beloved Son. May we evermore difcern, approve, and practise the things that are excellent: and, by a life devoted to thy fervice, be prepared for the glorious and everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jefus Christ. Amen.

For Piety to God.

THOU, who art the Author of every good and perfect gift, we defire at all times to retain a most devout sense and holy admiration of thine excellent nature; to reverence thine authority; to look up unto thee with fatisfaction and joy, as our constant benefactor; to love thee with all our hearts; to delight in thy service; to be thankful for thy innumerable and undeferved mercies; to confide in thine all gracious providence; and to yield an unreferved and grateful obedience to all thy holy commandments. Amen.

For

For Charity to Mankind.

GOD of love and mercy, as thine offfpring, in common with all thy rational creatures, as members of the fociety of mankind, and as the difciples of Jefus Christ, may we put on affections of mercy, kindness, compaffion, humbleness of mind, meeknefs, long-fuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another! May we do unto all men as we defire they should do unto us. And in the conftant exercife of justice and humanity, of honesty and mercy, enable us to fulfil the gracious pur poses of thy providence; and to live in peace and charity with all men. Amen.

For Self-Government.

THOU, who searchest the hearts of all men, under a deep fenfe of our obligations to thee as thy children, and of the facred duties of our profeffion, as the followers of Jefus, who hath called us to

glory

glory and virtue, and to the joyful hope of immortality, we earneftly defire to maintain a conftant government over ourfelves, that we may be fober, chafte and temperate in all things. Convinced of the infinite importance of thine approbation, we beseech thee to enable us to keep our hearts and minds in due fubjection to thy holy will, as manifested in the gospel of Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

For Submiffion to Divine Providence.

LORD God, whose never-failing Providence ordereth all things both in heaven and on earth, we humbly fubmit ourselves to the difpofal of that wisdom which cannot err; and to the care of that goodness which is unchangeable and everlasting. Lead us whither thou pleaseft; place us in fuch circumftances as thou fhalt judge proper. Enable us to do thy will with fidelity and pleasure; dispose us to bear thy will with submission and patience. Defend us, O heavenly

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