SERVICE BOOK. FIRST SERVICE. 18 & 7's M.] As from week to week we gather, I. SCRIPTURE READING. Luke iv. 16-22, And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias; and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? II. RESPONSES. S. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. T. And the earth was without form and void; C. And darkness was on the face of the deep. S. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. T. & C. Let there be light! Ad. And there was light. S. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, T. Hath shined in our hearts, C. To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, All. In the face of Jesus Christ. III. PRAYER. Heavenly Father! thine is this holy day. May we spend it as hours consecrated to Heaven-to the improvement of our hearts in purity and love. We thank thee for the revelation of thyself in nature and in thy Word; that the heavens display thy glory—that the earth is full of thy goodness- that holy men were inspired to speak thy truth unto man. But thou hast also spoken by thy dear Son, our Saviour. For the knowledge of thee which he brought, we thank thy great and holy name. O, make us mindful of his life and character! May we love our Sabbath school for the aid it gives us to learn of Jesus - to study his character-to see there what thou wouldst have us to do. In mercy regard the interests of our school. May all to whom is committed its care be taught of thee, and lead upright and godly lives. May every scholar, O God, seek to know thee to give heed to all that is here taught, and so speak and so do as to reflect no dishonor on this school. Bless all Sabbath schools, and may the ignorant be taught of thee everywhere. O, smile upon our service to-day, and may we be better prepared to resist temptation and live to thy praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. IV. HYMN. L. M.- The Light of Truth. The star of Truth doth brightly shine. It cheers us mid the deepest gloom, Our hope in dark affliction's night, O grant us, Lord, the hearing ear, Adorned like paths in paradise. (L M.] SECOND SERVICE. Come to 'God's altar! O, draw near, 1. SCRIPTURE READING.-Luke xv. 3-10. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. II. RESPONSES. S. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all C. Come before his presence with singing. ye lands. C. It is he that made us, and not we ourselves; T. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. S. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, T. And into his courts with praise: S. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. S. His mercy is everlasting; All. And his truth endureth to all generations. III. PRAYER. O ever present and merciful Father! Unto theo is prayer to be made, for thou alone canst answer prayer. Thou art ever blessing us; thy providence is ceaseless, and we enjoy thy favors when we know it not. When we sleep, thou art blessing us; every beating of our hearts is a new stroke of love, that keepeth alive the springs of existence. O, grant us good thoughts, that shall make us alive as spirits, as souls made to commune with thee, to drink as from the fountain of perpetual youth. Lord, teach us how to wait upon thee, that we may renew our strength- that we may be glad in thee, our God. May we feel how dependent we are upon thee, how carefully we should guard our hearts from indulging wrong desires, and how prayerfully we should live. Eternal are thy mercies: O, why should we sin! why should we seek for happiness where it can never be found! Purify our affections, and keep us in love with all things good. What we learn here, in this garden of truths, O, may we remember, and pluck healing from the tree of life. Be merciful to those who stray from thy way, thy Sab bath, and love not the school of Christ, and save us in him. Amen. IV. HYMN. C. M. Youthful Piety. Remember thy Creator, God; Make him thy fear, thy love, thy hope, He shall defend and guide thy course Till thou art landed on the shore [S. M] THIRD SERVICE. I. SCRIPTURE READING. Isa. xl. 25-31. The Majesty of God. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacoli, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. II. RESPONSES. S. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, S. The Lord is good to all, C. And his tender mercies are over all his works. T. And thy saints shall bless thee. S. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, S. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, All. And the glorious majesty of his kingdom. S. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, T. & C. And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. II. PRAYER. How unspeakable is thy greatness, Father of Lights! From thee cometh every good and every perfect gift. |