Teach us what Thou wouldst have us to do; and uphold us by Thy mighty power, that every work of ours may begin always from Thee, and by Thee be happily ended. Shed abroad Thy love in our hearts, that we may love Thee above all things, and our neighbour as ourselves; and by that charity which never faileth be abundantly refreshed in all our toils and sufferings. III. Thanksgivings. 1. ALMIGHTY God, who, dwelling in the highest heaven, vouchsafest to regard the lowest creature upon earth; we humbly adore, and, with all the powers of our soul, praise Thy holy name for all the blessings Thou hast bestowed upon us. We bless Thee for electing us in Thy favour, creating us in Thine image, redeeming us by Thy Son, and sanctifying us by Thy Spirit; for preserving us amid all the changes and encounters of this life, and raising our thoughts to the hope of a better life to come. May we love Thee as Thou hast loved us; as we have been redeemed by Thy mercy, may we dedicate ourselves to Thy service, that we who have received from Thee things that are holy and blessed, may be ourselves holy and blessed for evermore. 2. We give thanks unto Thee, O God of our salvation, that Thou hast crowned our lives with mercies; we look unto Thee as the Saviour and benefactor of our souls. Thou hast given us rest during the past night, and hast raised us from our beds in strength, and brought us to the worship of Thine adorable name: wherefore we worship Thee, O God. Bless us, and enable us to sing to Thee as we ought with the understanding, and without ceasing to pray to Thee, working out, with the help of Thy Christ, our salvation with fear and trembling. For Thou art the Prince of Peace, and Saviour of our souls, and to Thee we ascribe all glory. Thou didst create heaven and earth, and all things that are therein. Thou gavest unto us life and being. By Thy providence are the fruits of the earth preserved to us; and by Thy blessing we, and all things living, are nourished and sustained. Thou openest Thine hand and fillest us with plenty. Thou hast preserved us all our days, and now again Thou bringest us into Thy presence, satisfied with Thy mercies, and replenished with Thy goodness. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. 3. Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created; for Thou didst send Thine only-begotten and well-beloved Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life; for He was slain, and has redeemed men by His blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and has made them unto Thee kings and priests; and they shall reign on the earth. We praise Thee, O Lord; we bless Thy name for ever and ever. Every day will we bless Thee, and we will praise Thy name for ever and ever. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name be the glory and the praise, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake. Henceforth and for evermore we will praise Thy holy name. 4. Most merciful and gracious God, who hast of Thy great goodness brought us again into Thy presence, we yield unto Thee our unfeigned thanksgiving for all Thine unspeakable benefits. We bless and magnify Thy holy name that Thou hast taught us to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast given for us, and made Head over all things unto Thy Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. We joy in Thee through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the Atonement; and through whom we have free access into Thy presence, by the Holy Ghost, the blessed Comforter, whom Thou hast given to abide with us and to dwell in us for ever. Blessed be Thy holy name for the unction of the Holy One, in whose light we see light. Thou revealest Thyself unto us as Thou dost not unto the world, that we may comprehend with all saints the exceeding great Q |