Thee, if we have neglected Thy salvation, despised Thy precious blood, and resisted or quenched Thy Holy Spirit. May the Headstone of the corner never prove to us a stone of stumbling, or a rock of offence: but, as Thou art chosen of God and precious, may Thou be precious to us; and while Thou art living for us in heaven, may we be living for Thee on earth. May we esteem it our highest honour to be like Thee, and feel it our greatest pleasure to serve Thee.

And let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that Thou hast made that same Jesus whom their fathers crucified, both Lord and Christ. May the veil be taken speedily from their heart, and may they behold, as in a glass, His glory. Be merciful to our nation, and cause Thy blessing to rest upon its people. May this Christian country be a country of Christians; and let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Bless all Thy servants who preach Jesus and the resurrection. May they preach with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. May their sound go forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Let not, then, the blessed doctrine of this day be regarded by us only as a yearly commemoration of a great event; but let it be a

living principle of holy life, daily remembered, and daily leading us to set our affections on things above. May we joyfully say with Thine Apostle of old, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died,-yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at Thy right hand, who also maketh intercession for us." Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ASCENSION DAY.

MORNING OR EVENING.

HYMN.

Come ye who love the Lord,
And feel His quickening power!
Unite, with one accord

His goodness to adore;

To heaven and earth aloud proclaim
Your great Redeemer's glorious name!

He left His throne above;

His glory laid aside;

Came down on wings of love,

And wept, and bled, and died:

The pangs He bore what tongue can tell,
To save our souls from death and hell!

He burst the grave; He rose

Victorious from the dead;
And thence His vanquished foes

In glorious triumph led:

Up through the heavens the Conqueror rode
Triumphant, to the throne of God!

He soon again will come

(His chariot will not stay),
To take His children home
To realms of endless day:
We there shall see Him face to face,
And sing the triumphs of His grace.

MERCIFUL God, our heavenly Father, who, in Thine infinite love to our sinful race, sparedst not Thine own Son, but didst

deliver Him up for us all, that Thou mightest with Him freely give us all things, enable us, whom Thou hast preserved by Thy good providence unto this day, to draw nigh to Thee at this time in a simple dependence upon Thy promises, and in an humble hope of Thy salvation.

We are utterly unworthy so much as to lift up our eyes unto Thee; but we desire to acknowledge Thy perfections, and to ascribe all power, and blessing, and glory to Thy grace, as the fountain from whence all Thy mercies flow. Preserve us, O God, from receiving these mercies with an unthankful heart, because they are common, and renewed to us day by day; but make us more particularly sensible of the value of these spiritual blessings which are treasured up in Christ Jesus, and which are communicated to those who believe on His name. Remove from us all ignorance and impenitency, and everything that would hinder us from beholding the glory of Christ, and the greatness of His salvation. O Thou, who didst cause the light to shine out of darkness, shine into our hearts, and give us the light of the knowledge of Thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Enable us to receive Him in all His gracious offices, as God manifest in the flesh, the way, the truth, and

the life, who not only died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, but has ascended on high, and led captivity captive, and received gifts even for rebellious men. May we have grace to perceive Him exalted at Thy right hand, with almighty power, to give repentance and remission of sins. Accept, O most merciful Father, the intercession of our great High Priest on our behalf; that we may individually obtain those blessings which He is exalted to bestow upon His people. And grant that as we do believe Thine only begotten Son to have ascended into the heavens, so may we also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell; that when He shall come again, He may receive us unto Himself, that where He is, we may be also.

O Saviour of the world, who by Thy blood hast obtained eternal redemption for us, Thou hast taught us that all men should honour Thee even as they honour the Father. Thou art the King of glory, O Christ. When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. With Thine own right hand, and