As in some places, the fourth day of July, the commemoration of American Independence, is celebrated with religous services, it is deemed expedient to insert the following form. It was set forth in a Convention of our Church in certain States in 1785, in what was call. ed the Proposed Book.

A FORM OF

PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING

ΤΟ

ALMIGHTY GOD,

For the inestimable Blessings of Religious and Civil Liberty; to be used Yearly on the Fourth Day of July, unless it happen to be on Sunday, and then on the Day following.

The Service shall be as usual, except where it is hereby otherwise appointed.

¶ Among the Sentences at Morning Prayer shall be the following:

THE eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut. xxxiii. 27.

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: The fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Deut. xxxiii. 28.

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people favoured by the Lord: the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency. Deut. xxxiii. 29.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us; he shall bless them that fear him, both small and great. Psalm cxv. 12, 13.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his good; ness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men. Psalm cvii. 21.

¶ Instead of O come let us sing, &c. the following Hymn shall be said or sung:

MY song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the Lord with my mouth will I ever be showing his truth from one generation to another.

The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance. Who can express the noble acts of the Lord, or show forth all his praise.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

For he will not alway be chiding; neither keepeth he his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth; so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him.

Thou, O God, hast proved us; thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.

Thou didst remember us in our low estate, and redeem us from our enemies; for thy mercy endureth for ever.

Then shall be said the tenth Selection of Psalms.

The first Lesson shall be, Deut. viii. and the second Lesson shall be, 1 Thess. v. 12-24.

A Thanksgiving for the Day, to be said after the General Thanksgiving.

GOD, whose name is excellent in all the earth, and thy glory above the heavens; who as on this day didst inspire and direct the hearts of our Delegates in Congress, to lay the perpetual foundations of peace, liberty, and safety; we bless and adore thy glorious Majesty for this thy loving-kindness and providence. And we humbly pray that the devout sense of this signal mercy may renew and increase in us a spirit of love and thankfulness to thee its only author, a spirit of peaceable submission to the laws and government of our country, and a spirit of fervent zeal for our holy religion, which thou hast preserved and secured to us and our posterity. May we improve these inestimable blessings for the advancement of religion, liberty, and sci

ence, throughout this land, till the wilderness and solitary place be glad through us, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose; this we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

¶ The Collect: to be used instead of that for the Day.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast in all ages showed forth thy power and mercy in the wonderful preservation of thy Church, and in the protection cf every nation and people professing thy holy and eternal truth, and putting their sure trust in thee: we yield thee our unfeigned thanks and praise for all thy public mercies, and more especially for that signal and wonderful manifestation of thy provi dence which we commemorate this day; wherefore not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be ascribed all honour and glory, in all churches of the saints, from generation to generation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Philip. iv. 4

REJOICE in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice.

The

Let your moderation be known unto all men. Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God: And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any vir. tue, if there be any praise, think on these things.

The Gospel. St. John viii. 31.

THEN said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him: We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

PRAYERS

SUITABLE TO BE USED IN

STATE LEGISLATURES, CONGRESS, &c. &c.

When the Clergy are called on to officiate in the State Legislatures or in Congress, the following prayers will be suitable.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more

ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

DIRE

IRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name; and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast fear and love; keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More

especially we pray for thy holy Church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness, all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflic tions and this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Then may be used the prayer and Collect in the foregoing services for Thanksgiving Day and the Fourth of July, altered as exigencies may require.