It is God that girdeth me with strength,
And made my way plain.

Heavenly Father, grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither yield ourselves the servants of error and wickedness; but that all our doings may be begun, continued, and ended in thee. Amen.

O God of infinite mercy, in whose loving-kindness we trust for the supply of all our wants, grant us such a portion of temporal good as may be needful to support us in our journey through life! preserve us from sad accidents and all evil; sanctify our hearts and direct our ways, that we may be united to thee by the living bond of obedience and charity; and that always feeling the presence of our gracious and merciful Father, we may become a holy family before thee, and be received hereafter into the family of heaven, for which we hope to be prepared through the ministry of thy beloved Son, our elder brother in spiritual things, anointed to be thy Christ. Amen.

CHOIR.

Glory be to the Father, Almighty God,
To whom all praise belongs;

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

TWENTY-SIXTH SERVICE.

GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE.

Psalm cxxxix.

O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me!
Thou knowest my sitting down and my rising up.
Thou understandest my thoughts from afar.
Thou seest my path and my lying down,

And art acquainted with all my ways;

For before the word is upon my tongue,

Behold, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether!

Thou besettest me behind and before,

And layest thy hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me!

It is high, I cannot attain to it!

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?

And whither shall I go from thy presence?

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there.

If I make my bed in the grave, behold! thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there shall thy hand lead me,

And thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me!

Even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee,

But the night shineth as the day.

The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvellous are thy works, and this my soul knoweth full well!

Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was everything written;

My days were appointed before one of them existed.
How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with thee.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my thoughts;

And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Isaiah xii. 2-6.

Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid.

For Jehovah is my glory and my song;

It is he who was my salvation.

Ye shall draw water with joy from the fountains of salvation.

Give thanks to the Lord: call upon his name ; Make known his deeds among the people;

Give praises, for his name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord, for he hath done glorious things: Be this known in all the earth.

Cry aloud, shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Father, thy wonders do not singly stand,

Nor far removed where feet have seldom strayed; Around us ever lies the enchanted land,

In marvels rich, to thine own sons displayed.

Open our eyes, that we that world may see!
Open our ears, that we thy voice may hear!
And in the spirit-land may ever be,

And feel thy presence with us always near.

TWENTY-SEVENTH SERVICE.

A NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY.

Psalms lxxviii., cv., lxxx.

GIVE ear, O my people, to my instruction!
Incline your ears to the words of my

I will open my mouth in a psalm ;

I will utter sayings of ancient times; What we have heard and learned,

And our fathers have taught us,

We will not hide from their children;

mouth!

Showing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord:

For he appointed statutes, and established a law,

Which he commanded our fathers to make known to their children;

So that the generation to come might know them.

The children should declare them to their children, That they might put their trust in God, and not forget his deeds,

But keep his commandments.

O, give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name;
Make known his deeds among the people :

Seek the Lord and his majesty ;