How thankful we should be! Thy love is the smile of life; every vein of existence is full of thy goodness; and far and wide, through unnumbered worlds, thy providence extends. The sparrow's fall is not unnoticed; the stars are wheeled in their circuits by thy power; the teeming earth works but for thee. O God, may we be mindful of the extent of thy dominion, that through all the change and decay we behold, thou remainest the same. May we seek for unchangeable things the virtues of the Christian, the faith and hope and love of the gospel. May we remember that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, -ready now to bless the child, the humble of heart, by his truth and grace, as when he walked our earth and entered human homes. Though unseen, may we love him! May we strive to show our love in acts of duty. In his name, O Father, we pray that our school may be blessed, and may all its members be led unto thee. Amen. IV. HYMN. S. M.—Thankfulness for Mercies. And aid my tongue to bless his name, O bless the Lord, my soul! He crowns thy life with love, FOURTH SERVICE. [10's M.] Let us devote this consecrated day 1. SCRIPTURE READING. Matt. viii. 5-13. The Believing Centurion. 11 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. II. RESPONSES. S. Like as a father pitieth his children, T. So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. C. He remembereth that we are dust. S. As for man, his days are as grass: C. As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth; T. And his righteousness unto children's children; All. And to those who remember his commandments to do them. III. PRAYER. Changeless Benefactor and Friend! thy name be hallowed in our hearts, and unto thy throne be the fervent prayer addressed. It is of thy mercy that we are here— here with minds and hearts capable of knowing and enjoying thee, of finding that thou art the exceeding great reward of the trustful and pure. O, let us walk by faith, by filial confidence in the happiness to be found in the way of duty, as marked out by our Lord and Redeemer. How blind are the sinful! -how blind, O God, have we been! Forgive us our sins! In the time of temptation may we invoke aid from on high-may we resist the temptation, knowing there is a way of escape, that we may be able to bear it. How fallen are thy creatures through sin! what slavery do they endure! For them the purest delights of nature and mind are opened in vair, and they dream on, to be waked to sorrow and tears. Keep us, O Father, from sin, and may the hal lowed teachings of our school abide with us everywhere, and cheer us in death with the hope of heaven, through Jesus Christ. Amen. IV. HYMN. 8 & 7's. - Blessings of the School. Mercy from above proclaiming Who may share this great salvation? God withholds his care from none; From the fountain of his throne. [L. M.J FIFTH SERVICE. Lord! may thy truth upon the heart L SCRIPTURE READING. Luke xvii. 11-18. And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off; and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go, show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Aříse, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. II. RESPONSES. S..I will extol thee, my God, O King, T. And I will bless thy name forever and ever. All. And I will praise thy name forever and ever. S. One generation shall praise thy works to another, S. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, All. And of thy wondrous works. S. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; T. & C. I will declare thy greatness. III. PRAYER. Eternal and ever blessed God, Maker of heaven and earth! we would ascribe to thee all honor and glory, and seek to worship thee aright. Preserve us from vain homage, from the practice of mere forms of devotion ; but may all our prayers and praises be full of the life of affection and truth. It is good for us to lift our hearts unto thee, to feel impressed with thy presence, to see in thy purity the hideousness of sin. O, make us thankful for every means that would turn us from the way of transgression, for there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. May we know the blessedness of doing right, of resisting the counsels of the ungodly, of refusing to go with the scorner. May we take heed to the voice of thy Word, that warns us against the influence of the wicked, and keep our feet from the paths of the evil. May the hope of immortal purity operate upon our hearts, and make us pure, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IV. HYMN. L. M. -The Bible. Our raging passions it controls, May this blest volume ever lie [C. M.] SIXTH SERVICE. O Lord, another week is flown, Are met once more before thy throne, I. SCRIPTURE READING. 2 Chron. i. 7-12. Solomon's Wise Choice. In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people that is so great? |