Easter Sunday: Evening

O, Thou ever blessed God. we rejoice to think, Thou hast determined to get thyself honour, in this apostate part of thy empire; not by the merited infliction of thy justice, but the displays of thy goodness. For thou hast said, mercy shall be built up for ever, a monument higher than the heavens, more durable than eternity, and inscribed to the praise of the glory of thy grace, wherein Thou hast made us accepted in the beloved.

We bless Thee, for the appointment and revelation of the one only Mediator between Thee and us; by whose death sinners are reconciled, and by whose life they are saved. Thou hast laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with his stripes we are healed.

Establish in our minds a full persuasion, that he was devered for our offences, and raised again for our justification; and may we, above all things, be concerned to know not only that He is risen again, but that we are quickened together with Christ, and raised up, and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. May we hold communion with Him, as a living and reigning Saviour; able to carry on clur cause, and save unto the uttermost, all that come unto God by Him.

Is He not head over all things unti:» his body the church/

Is lie not exalted to be a Prince anrl a Saviour? Has lie not assured us, that because He lives, we shall live also May we view Him as the first fruits of them that sleep; and believe, that as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alire. May we view his resurrection, not only as the pledge, but the model of our own; knowing that he shall not only change our vile body, but fiishion it like Hit own glorious body, according lo the working, whereby He is able to subdue u’l things unto Himself.

Thou hast appointed a day in wliicli Thou wilt judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom Thou hast ordained: and Thou hast given assurance of it unto all men, in that Thou hast raised Him from the dead. O, save us from the wrath of the Lamb. May we tremble at the thought of appearing before Him, if we neglected his salvation, despised bis precious blood, and resisted his Holy Spirit.

Let not the head stone of the corner, be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; but as He is chosen of God, and precious, may He be precious to us. And while He is living for us in heaven, may we be living for Him on earth. — May we esteem it our highest honom- to be like Him; and feel it our greatest pleasure to serve Him.

And let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that Thou hast made that same Jesus whom their fathers crucified, both Lord and Christ. May the veil be taken from their heart: and may they behold, as in a glass, his glory.

As a nation be merciful unto us, and bless us. May this christian country, be a country of christians: and let all who name the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.

lUess all those who preach Jesus and the resurrection. — May they preach with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. May their sound go into all the earth; and their words unto the ends of the world.

As yet, after all we have read, and heard, and experienced, we know but little of the value of the gospel; but we know enough to induce us to be thankful for our religious advantages; to sympathize with those who are without Christ; and to pray, that in Him all the families of the earth m;i’ be blessed, and all the generations call Him blessed.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead o ir Lord Jesus, tht great Shepherd of the sheep, througi the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect ii every good work to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Gh.’-ist; to whom be glory for ever and evat Amen