PART THE SECOND.

EXPLANATION OF THE MORNING AND EVENING SERVICE.

CHAPTER I.

THE OPENING SENTENCES-THE EXHORTATION-THE CONFESSION-THE ABSOLUTION-THE LORD'S PRAYER.

I HAVE already spoken to you about Public Worship generally, also about our particular Form of Prayer, and of the advantage we gain by using this Form. I am now going to speak more particularly about our Morning and Evening Services.

Our Morning Service consists of Three Services joined together. The Morning Prayer, without the Litany, was intended to be used

in the early morning. Then the Litany Service was to come a little later; and the Communion Service later still. The Three are now generally used as one Service. And this will account for our having Two Creeds, and for repeating the Lord's Prayer two or three times over.

We will now proceed to examine our Morning and Evening Services.

The Congregation being assembled, and each one having privately asked God to dispose his heart truly to worship Him, the Clergyman begins the Service with one or

more of

THE OPENING SENTENCES.

The reading of these is evidently intended to prepare our minds for the Prayers which follow. You will observe that each Sentence is a Text of Scripture, and that they all refer to what we should feel when we draw near to God-namely, our own sinfulness. Just cast your eye upon each.

The First is an assurance that, sinners as we are, there is mercy for us, if we truly

repent "When the wicked man turneth away," &c.

The Second is a simple confession of sin"I acknowledge my sin," &c.

The Third is a prayer that God would "hide His face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities."

The Fourth reminds us of the spirit in which we should come before God, namely, with a contrite and broken heart-"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit," &c.

The Fifth is a caution against mere formality, and a gracious assurance that God is ready to show mercy-" Rend your heart and not your garments," &c. It used to be the custom to rend or tear the garments, as a sign of grief. But we are called upon rather to rend our hearts.

The Sixth expresses a humble trust that God will accept us, though we have offended Him"To the Lord our God belongeth mercy," &c.

The Seventh is a prayer that God would correct what is wrong in us; but that in doing so He would remember mercy-"O Lord, correct me; but with judgment," &c.

The Eighth contains the gospel call to repentance" Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

The Ninth is the heartfelt confession of the Prodigal, returning to his Father—“ I will arise and go to my Father," &c.

The Tenth is the language of a person asking God not to pass sentence on him, though he richly deserves to be condemned-" Enter not into judgment," &c.

The Last is an acknowledgment of our guilt, coupled with the promise that God will grant forgiveness to those who seek it. It reminds us that to confess our sins is the first step to pardon-"If we say that we have no sin," &c.

Having read then one or more of these short and striking passages of Scripture, the Minister next delivers

THE GENERAL EXHORTATION,

which is addressed to those who are gathered before him.

He speaks to them as his "Dearly beloved Brethren"; for remember, all-young and old-rich and poor-all are Brethren before

God. The spirit of brotherhood is the spirit we should feel, when we come together in God's house. Try and get this spirit into your mind; for it will warm your heart, and help you in your devotions.

You will remember that this is not a Prayer, but an Exhortation. It is simply an Address from the Minister to the assembled Congregation, and therefore they listen to it standing up.

He begins by reminding them that God's word "in sundry places" (that is, many dif ferent passages) calls upon them to acknowledge and confess their sins, without attempting to dissemble or cloke them before God. No, we cannot hide them, and it is folly to attempt it; for God looks down into the very depths of our hearts, and knows all.

Then he also reminds them that such a confession is never out of place-" We ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before God." But this is especially suitable at the time of Public Worship-" We ought most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and weet together."

And this leads him to mention the other