DEFEND IV. EFEND us, O Lord, with thy heavenly grace, that we may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto thine everlasting kingdom. Amen. OUR Father, &c. THE Ninth Service. HE Lord hath showed us what is good, and what he requireth of us; Even to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. In every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him; And he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh the kingdom of heaven is opened. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord; Who take heed unto their ways, and walk without guile before him. Who seek the Lord with their whole heart; man. Blessed are the pure in heart, WE Let us Pray. I. E lift up our hearts, O God, in the confidence of prayer, and we draw near unto Thee in hope. When our souls aspire after Thee, hungering and thirsting for thy righteousness, Thou revealest thyself within us. Teach us to know and to rejoice in thy presence, and evermore to seek conformity to thy will. In the following of thy light, and in obedience to thy law, are life and joy to thy creatures everywhere. We would find our treasure now and always where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, even in thy heaven and in thyself. So shall we become like unto Thee, and shall abide in thy peace. Amen. A II. LMIGHTY God, whose will it is that we should be conformed to the image of thy Son, enable us, we beseech Thee, to put away the covetousness which is idolatry and the selfishness which is sin. Grant also that we may cease from anger, clamour, and evilspeaking, and from all malice. May we be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as Thou hast forgiven us. Enable us not only to renounce that which is evil, but to pursue that which is good, and to abound in every Christian grace. Amen. III. INCREASE in us that Faith by which we shall see Thee, who art invisible, and by which we shall be enabled to endure trial and to resist temptation. Lord, increase our faith. Increase in us the Hope which maketh not ashamed, even the hope of deliverance from evil, and of being purified as Thou art pure. Lord, increase our hope. Most of all, we beseech Thee to increase in us that Charity which is the fulfilling of the law, and the bond of perfectness, through which we attain unto fellowship with Thee in the life eternal. Lord, increase our charity. Grant, most merciful Father, that these things being in us, and abounding, we may bring forth fruit with patience, being fully furnished unto all good works, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |