O Most mighty God, terrible in thy judgments and wonderful in thy doings toward the children of men, who in thy heavy displeasure hast suffered the life of our Chief Magistrate to be taken away by the hands of cruel and bloody men; we thy sinful creatures, here assembled before thee, do humbly confess that they were the crying sins of this nation which have brought down this heavy judgment upon us. But, O gracious God, when thou makest inquisition for blood, lay not the guilt of this innocent blood (the shedding whereof nothing but the blood of thy Son can expiate), lay it not to our charge, we beseech thee, nor let it be required of us or our posterity. Be merciful, O Lord, be merciful unto thy people whom thou hast redeemed, and be not angry with us forever; but pardon us for thy mercies sake, through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty Lord God, who by thy wisdom not only guidest and orderest all things most suitably to thine own justice; but also performest thy pleasure in such a manner, that we cannot but acknowledge thee to be righteous in all thy ways and holy in all thy works: We thy sinful people do here fall down before thee, confessing thy judgments were right in

permitting cruel men, sons of Belial, to imbrue their hands in the blood of thy servant the President of the United States, we having drawn down the same by the long provocation of our sin and weakness. For which we do therefore, here humble ourselves before thee; beseeching thee to deliver this nation from blood-guiltiness, and to turn from us and our posterity all those judgments which we by our folly have worthily deserved. Grant this for the all-sufficient merits of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessed God, just and powerful, who didst permit thy servant, our honored Chief Magistrate, to be. given up to the violent outrages of unscrupulous and wicked men, to be mocked and scoffed at, and maligned, and at the last murdered by them: though we cannot reflect upon so foul an act but with horror and astonishment; yet do we most gratefully commemorate the many excellencies which shone forth in the character of thy servant, whom thou wast pleased to endue with an eminent measure of exemplary patience, meekness and charity, before the face of all his enemies. And, albeit thou didst suffer them to proceed to such an height of violence as to kill him, yet hast thou in great mercy preserved his successor in office, and by thy wonderful providence hast continued to us the triumphs of the cause of

these United States of America, and the blessed tokens of speedy and lasting peace. For these, thy great mercies, we glorify thy name, through Jesus Christ our blessed Saviour. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, whose righteousness is like the strong mountains, and thy judgments like the great deep; and who by that barbarous murder committed yesterday upon the sacred person of the President of the United States, hast taught us that neither the greatest of rulers nor the best of men are more secure from violence than from natural death, teach us also hereby, so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. And grant that neither the splendour of anything that is great, nor the conceit of anything that is good in us, may withdraw our eyes from looking upon ourselves, as sinful dust and ashes; but that according to the example of this blessed Martyr, we may press forward in the cause of truth and freedom and righteousness, in faith and patience, humility and meekness, mortification and self-denial, charity and constant perseverance unto the end. And all this for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

THE LESSON.

St. Matthew, xxi. 33-42.

There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

HYMN 12.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines,
With never-failing skill,

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his gracious will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour:

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain :

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

PRAYERS.

Prayer for persons under affliction and appropriate

Collects.