A Family Prayer for the Lord's Day Evening
O Eternal, and for ever blessed and glorious Lord God Thou art God over all, and rich in mercy to all that call upon thee, most wise and powerful, holy, just, and good; the King of kings, and the Lord of lords; our Lord and our God. Thou art happy without us, and hast no need of our services, neither can our goodness extend unto thee, but we are miserable without thee we have need of thy favour, and are undone, for ever undone, if thy goodness extend not unto us; and therefore. Lord, we entreat thy favour with our whole hearts. O let thy favour be
towards us in Jesus Christ, for our happiness is bound up in it, and it is to us better than life. We confess we have forfeited thy favour, we have rendered ourselves utterly unworthy of it yet we are humbly bold to pray for it in the name of Jesus Christ, who loved us, and gave himself for us. We bewail it before thee, that by the corruption of our nature we are become odious to thine holiness, and utterly unfit to inherit the kingdom of God, and that, by our many actual transgressions, we are become obnoxious to thy justice, and liable to thy wrath and curse. Being by nature children of disobedience, we are children of wrath, and have reason both to blush and tremble in all our approaches to the holy and righteous ,God. Even the iniquity of our holy things would be our ruin, if God should deal with us according to the desert of them. But with thee, O God, there is mercy and plenteous redemption: Thou hast graciously provided for all those that repent and believe the gospel, that the guilt of their sin shall be removed through the merit of Christ's death, and the power of their sins broken by his Spirit and grace and he is able to save to the uttermost all those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us. Lord, we come to thee, as a Father, by Jesus Christ the Mediator, and earnestly desire, by repentance and faith, to turn from the world and the flesh to God, in Jesus Christ, as our ruler
Some forms of Praj'er. and portion. We are sorry that we have offended thee we are ashamed to think of our treacherous and ungrateful carriage towards thee. We desire that we may have no more to do with sin, and pray as earnestly that the power of sin may be broken in us, as that the guilt of sin may be removed from us. And we rely only upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and upon the merit of his death for the procuring of thy favour. O look upon us in him, and for his sake receive us graciously; heal our backslidings, and love us freely, and let not our iniquity be our ruin. We beg, that being justified by faith, we may have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for sin, that he may be just, and the justifier of them which believe in Jesus. Through him who was made sin for us, though he knew no sin, let us, who know no righteousness of our own, be accepted as righteous. And the God of peace sanctify us wholly, begin and carry on that good work in our souls, renew us in the spirit of our minds, and make us in every thing such as thou wouldst have us to be. Set up thy throne in our hearts, write thy law there, plant thy fear there, and fill us with all the graces of thy Spirit, that we may be fruitful in the fruits of righteousness, to the glory and praise of God. Mortify our pride, and clothe us with humility; mortify our passions, and put upon us the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price. Save us from the power of a vain mind, and let thy grace be mighty in us, to make us serious and sober-minded. Let the flesh be crucified in us, with all its affections and lusts, and give us grace to keep under our body, and to bring it into subjection to the laws of religion an i right reason, and always to possess our vessel in sanctification and honour. Let the love of the world be rooted out of us, and that covetousness which is idolatry; and let the love of God in Christ be rooted in us. Shed abroad thy love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, and give us to love thee, the Lord our God, with all our heart and soul, with all our mind and might, and to do all we do in religion from a principle of love to thee. Mortify in us all envy, hatred, malice, and uncharitableness; pluck up these roots of bitterness out of our minds, and give us grace to love one another with a pure heart fervently, as becomes the followers of the Lord Jesus, who has given us this as his new commandment. O that brotherly love may continue among us j love without dissimulation. We pray thee rectify all our mistakes; if in any thing we be in an error, discover it to us, and let the Spirit of truth lead us into all truth; the truth as it is in Jesus; the truth which is according to godliness: and give us that good understanding which they have that do thy commandments; and let thy love, and all good affections,
abound in us yet more and more, in knowledge, and in all judgment. Convince us, we pray thee, of the vanity of this world, and its utter insufficiency to make us happy, that we may never set our hearts upon it, nor raise our expectation from it And convince us of the vileness of sin, and its certain tendency to make us miserable, that we may hate it, and dread it, and every thing that looks like it, or leads to it. Convince us, we pray thee, of the worth of our own souls, and the weight of eternity, and the awfulness of that everlasting state which we are standing upon the brink of, and make us diligent and serious in our preparation for it, labouring less for the meat that perisheth, and more for that which endures to eternal life, as those who have set their affections on things above, and not on things that are on earth, which are trifling and transitory. O that time, and the things of time, may be as nothing to us in comparison with eternity, and the things of eternity; that eternity may be much upon our heart and ever in our eye that we may be governed by that faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen; looking continually at the things that are not seen, that are eternal. Give us grace, we pray thee, to look up to the other world with such a holy concern, as that we may look down upon this world with a holy contempt and indifferency, as those that must be here but a very little while, and must
be somewhere for ever; that we may rejoice, as though we rejoiced not, and weep as though we wept not, and buy as though we possessed not, and may use this world as not abusing it, because the fashion of this world passeth away, and we are passing away with it. O let thy grace be mighty in us, and sufficient for us, to prepare us for the great change which will come certainly and shortly, and may come very suddenly, which will remove us from a world of sense to a world of spirits; from our state of trial and probation to that of recompence and retribution and to make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light that when we fail we may be received into everlasting habitations. Prepare us, we beseech thee, for whatever we may meet with betwixt us and the grave. We know not what is before us, and therefore know not what particular provision to make; but thou dost, and therefore we beg of thee to fit us by thy grace for all the services and all the sufferings which thou shalt at any time call us out to; and arm us against every temptation which we may at any time be assaulted with, that we may at all times, and in all conditions, glorify God, keep a good conscience, and be found in the way of our duty, and may keep up our hope and joy in Christ, and a believing prospect of eternal life and then welcome the holy will of God. G ive us grace, we pray thee, to live a life of communion with thee, both in ordinances and provi9 H h
dences, to set thee always before us, and to have our eyes ever upon thee, and to live a life of dependence upon thee, upon thy power, providence, and promise, trusting in thee at all times, and pouring out our hearts before thee and to live a life of devotedness to thee, and to thine honour and glory as our highest end. And that we may make our religion not only our business, but our pleasure, we beseech thee enable us to live a life of complacency in thee, to rejoice in thee always; the making God our heart's delight, so that we may have our heart's desire; and this is our heart's desire, to know, and love, and live to God to please him, and to be pleased in him. We beseech thee preserve us in our integrity to our dying day, and grant that we may never forsake thee, or turn from following after thee, but that with purpose of heart we may cleave unto the Lord, and may not count life itself dear to us, so we may but finish our course with joy and true honour. Let thy good providence order all the circumstances of our dying, so as may best befriend our comfortable removal to a better world; and let thy grace be sufficient for us, to enable us to finish well and let us then have an abundant entrance ministered to us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And while we are here, make us wiser and better every day than another, more weaned from the world, and more willing to leave it;
more holy, heavenly, and spiritual that the longer we live in this world, the fitter we may be for another, and our last days may be our best days, our last works our best works, and our last comforts our sweetest comforts. We humbly pray thee, accomplish all that which thou hast promised concerning thy church in the latter days. Let the earth be filled with thy glopyf let the fulness of the Gentiles be brought in, and let all Israel be saved. Let the mountain of the Lord's house be established upon the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and let all nations flow unto it. Propagate the gospel in the plantations, and let the enlargement of trade and commerce contribute to the enlargement of thy church. Let the kingdom of Christ be set up in all places upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom. Hasten the downfall of the man of sin, and let primitive Christianity, even pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, be revived, and be made to flourish in all places; and let the power of godliness prevail and get ground among all that have the form of it. Let the wars of the nations end in the peace of the church, the shakings of the nations end in the establishment of the church, and the convulsions and revolutions of states and kingdoms in the settlement and advancement of the kingdom of God among men, that kingdom which cannot be moved.
Let Great Britain and Ireland flourish in all their public interests. Let thine everlasting gospel be always the glory in the midst of us, and let thy providence be a wall of fire round about us. Destroy us not, but let a blessing be among us, even a meat-offering and a drink-offering to the Lord our God. Be very gracious to our sovereign lord the king, protect his person, preserve his health, prolong his days, guide his counsels, let his reign be prosperous, and crown all his undertakings for the public good. Bless the privy counsellors, the nobility, the judges and magistrates in our several counties and corporations, and make them in all their places faithful and serviceable to the interest of the nation, and every way public blessings. Bless all the ministers of thy holy word and sacraments; make them burning and shining lights, and faithful to Christ, and to the souls of men; unite all thy ministers and people together in the truth, and in true love one to another pour out a healing spirit upon them, a spirit of love and charity, mutual forbearance and condescension, that with one shoulder and with one consent all may study to promote the common interest of our great Master, and the common salvation of precious souls. We pray thee prosper the trade of the nation and our coasts, disappoint the devices of our enemies against us, preserve the public peace, and keep all the people of these lands in quietness among
themselves, and due subjection to the authority God hath set over us and let the Lord delight to dwell among us, and to do us good. Bless the fruits of the earth continue our plenty abundantly bless our provision, and satisfy even our poor with bread. We bless thee for all the mercies of this thine own holy day. We have reason to say, that a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts Bless the words we have heard this day to us, and to all that heard itj hear our prayers, accept our praises, and forgive what thy pure eye hath seen amiss in us and our performances. Take us under thy protection this night, and enable us to close the day with thee, that we may lie down, and our sleep may be sweet. Be with us the week following in all our ways; forgive us that we brought so much of the week with us into the Sabbath, and enable us to bring a great deal of the Sabbath with us into the week, that we may be the fitter for the next Sabbath, if we should live to see it. Make us meet for the everlasting Sabbath, which we hope to keep within the vail, when time and days shall be no more And let this day bring us a Sabbath day's journey nearer heaven, and make us a Sabbath day's work fitter for it. As we began this Lord's day with the joyful memorials of Christ's resurrection, so we desire to conclude it with the joyful expectation of Christ's second coming, and of our own resur-
rection, then to a blessed immortality, triumphing in hope of the glory of God, Bless the Lord, love the Lord, O our souls, and let all that is within us love and bless his holy name for he is good, and his mercy endures for ever. In praising God, we desire to spend as much of our time as may be, that we may begin our heaven now; for in this good work we hope to be spending a happy eternity. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, and our God, in three Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, dominion and praise, henceforth and for ever. Amen,
Short forms of prayer · A Method for Prayer, 1834
A Prayer before receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Most holy, and blessed, and gracious Lord God, with all humility and reverence I here present myself before thee, to seek thy face and entreat thy favour, and, as an evidence of thy good-will towards me, to beg that I may experience thy good work in me. I acknowledge myself unworthy, utterly unworthy ofthe honour; unfit, utterly unfit, for the service to which I am now called. It is an inestimable privilege that I am permitted so often to hear from thee in thy word, and to speak to thee in prayer; and yet, as if this had been a small matter, I am now invited into communion with
thee at thy holy table, there to celebrate the memorial of my Saviour's death, and to partake by faith of the precious benefits which flow from it. I, who deserve not the crumbs, am called to eat the children's bread. O Lord, I thank thee for the institution of this blessed ordinance, this precious legacy and token of love, which the Lord Jesus left to his church; that it is preserved to this age, that it is administered in this land, that I am admitted to it, and have now before me an opportunity to partake of it. Lord, grant that I may not receive thy grace herein in vain. O thou, who hast called me to the marriagesupper of the Lamb, give me the wedding-garment; work in me a disposition of soul, and all those pious and devout affections which are suited to the solemnities of this ordinance, and requisite to qualify me for an acceptable and advantageous participation of it. Behold the fire and the wood, all things are now ready; but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering Lord, provide thyself a Lamb, by working in me all that thou requirest of me upon this occasion. The preparation of the heart, and the answer of the tongue, are both from thee Lord, prepare my unprepared heart for communion with thee. Lord, I confess I have sinned against thee, I have done foolishly, very foolishly, for foolishness is bound up in my heart I have sinned, and have come short of being glorified with thee. The imagination of my heart is evil continually, and the
bias of my corrupt nature is very strong toward the world, and the flesh, and the gratifications of sense; but towards God, and Christ, and heaven, I move slowly, and with a great many stops and pauses. Nay, there is in ray carnal mind a wretched aversion to divine and spiritual things. I have mispent my time, trifled away my opportunities, have followed after lying vanities, and forsaken my own mercies. God be merciful to me a sinner for how little have I done, since I came into the world, of the great work that I was sent into the world about Thou hast taken me into covenant with thee; for I am a baptized Christian, set apart for thee, and sealed to be thine thou hast laid me, and I also have laid myself, under all possible obligations to love thee, and serve thee, and live to thee. But I have started aside from thee like a deceitful bow I have not made good my covenant with thee, nor hath the temper of my mind, and the tenor of my conversation, been agreeable to that holy religion which I make profession of, to my expectations from thee, and engagements to thee. I am bent to backslide from the living God, and if I were under the law, I were undone but I am under grace, a covenant of grace which leaves room for repentance, and promiseth pardon upon repentance, which invites even backsliding children to return, and promises that their backsliding shall be healed. Lord, 1 take hold of this covenant; seal it to me at thy table. There let me find my heart truly humbled
for sin, and sorrowing for it after a godly sort O that I may there look on him whom I have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness for him that there I may sow in tears, and receive a broken Christ into a broken heart: and there let the blood of Christ, which speaks better things than that of Abel, be sprinkled upon my conscience, to purify and pacify it. There let me be assured that thou art reconciled to me, that my iniquities are pardoned, and that I shall not come into condemnation. There say unto me, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. And that I may not come unworthily to this blessed ordinance, I beseech thee lead me into a more intimate and experimental acquaintance with Jesus Christ and him crucified; with Jesus Christ and him glorified; that knowing him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and being by his grace planted in the likeness of both, I may both discern the Lord's body, and show forth the Lord's death. Lord, I desire, by a true and lively faith, to close with Jesus Christ, and consent to him as my Lord and ray God. 1 here give up myself to him as my Prophet, Priest, and King, to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. None but Christ, none but Christ. Lord, increase this faith in me, perfect what is lacking in it; and enable me, in receiving the bread and wine at thy table, by a lively faith to receive Christ Jesus the Lord. O let the great gospel doctrine of Christ's dying to save
sinners, which is represented in that ordinance, be meat and drink to my soul, meat indeed, and drink indeed. Let it be both nourishing and refreshing to me, let it be both my strength and my song, and be the spring both of my holiness and my comf )rt. And let such deep impressions be made upon my soul, by actual commemoration of it, as may always abide upon me, and have a powerful influence on me in my whole conversation; that the life I now live in the flesh may be by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Lord, I beseech thee fix my thoughts; let my heart be engaged to approach unto thee, that I may attend upon thee without distraction. Draw out my desires towards thee; give me to hunger and thirst after righteousness that I may be filled; and to draw near to thee with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith; and since I am not straitened in thee, O let me not be straitened in my own bosom. Draw me. Lord, and I will run after thee. O send out thy light and thy truth, let them lead and guide me; pour thy Spirit upon me, put thy Spirit within me, to work in me both to will and to do that which is good, and leave me not to myself. Awake, O north wind, and come thou south, and blow upon my garden; come, O blessed Spirit of grace, and enlighten my mind with the knowledge of Christ bow my will to the will of Christ; fill my heart with the love of
Christ, and confirm my resolutions to live and die with him. Work in me. I pray thee, a principle of holy love and chaiity towards all men, that I may forgive my enemies (which by grace I heartily do), and may keep up a spiritual communion in faith, hope, and holy love, with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, bless them all, and particularly that congregation with which I am to join in this solemn ordinance. Good Lord, pardon every one that engageth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of their fathers, though not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. Hear my prayers, and heal the people. Lord, meet me with a blessing, a father's blessing at thy table; grace thine own institution with thy presence: and fulfil in me ail t! e good pleasure of thy goodness, and the work of faith with power, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my blessed Saviour and Redeemer. To him, with the Father and the eternal Spirit, be everlasting praises. Amen. Another, after receiving of the Lord's Supper. O Lord my God, and my Father in Jesus Christ, I can never sufficiently admire the condescension of thy grace to me. What is man that thou dost thus magnify him, and the son of man that thou thus visitest him Who am I, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto
Hast brought me into the banqueting-house, and thy banner over me hath been love I have reason to say, That a day in thy courts, an hour at thy table, is better, far better than a thousand days, than ten thousand hours elsewhere. It is good for me to draw near to God. Blessed be God for the privileges of his house, and for those comforts with which he makes his people joyful in his house of prayer. But I have reason to blush and be ashamed of myself, that I have not been more aft'ected with the great things which have been set before me, and offered to me at the Lord's table. O what a vain, foolish, and trifling heart have I? When I would do good, even evil is present with me. Good Lord, be merciful to me, and pardon the iniquity of my holy things, and let not my many defects, in my attendance upon thee, be laid to my charge, or hinder my profiting by the ordinance. I have now been commemorating the death of Ciirist; Lord, grant that by the power thereof sin may be crucified in me, the world crucified to me, and I to the world; and enable me so to bear about with me continually the dying of the Lord Jesus, as that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in my mortal body. I have now been receiving the precious benefits which flow from Christ's death Lord, grant that I may never lose, never forfeit those benefits; but as I have received Christ Jesus the Lord, give me grace so to walk in him, and to live as
one that am not my own, but am bought with a price, glorifying God with my body and spirit, which are his. I have now been renewing my covenant with thee, and engaging myself afresh to thee to be thine; now, Lord, give me grace to perform my vow. Keep it always in the imagination of the thought of my heart, and establish my way before thee. Lord, preserve me by thy grace, that I may never return again to folly. After God hath spoken peace, may I never, by my loose and careless walking, undo what I have been doing to-day; but having my heart enlarged with the consolation of God, give me to run the way of thy commandments with cheerfulness and constancy, and still to hold fast my integrity. This precious soul of mine, which is the work of thine own hands, and the purchase of thy Son's blood, I commit into thy hands, to be sanctified by thy Spirit and grace, and wrought up into conformity to thy holy will in every thing. Lord, set up thy throne in my heart, write thy law there, shed abroad thy love there, and bring every thought within me into obedience to thee, to the commanding power of thy law, and the constraining power of thy love. Keep through thine own name that which I commit unto thee, keep it against tliat day when it shall be called for let me be preserved blameless to the coming of thy glory, that 1 then may be presented faultless with exceeding icy. All my outward affairs 1 submit to the dis9 K k
posal of thy wise and gracious providence. Lord, save my soul, and then, as to other things, do as thou pleasest with me only make all providences work together for my spiritual and eternal advantage. Let all things be pure to me, and give me to taste covenant love in common mercies and by thy grace let me be taught, both how to want and how to abound, how to enjoy prosperity, and how to bear adversity, as becomes a Christian and at all times let thy grace be sufficient for me, and mighty in me, to work in me both to will and to do that which is good of thine own good pleasure. And that in every thing I may do my duty, and stand complete in it, let my heart be enlarged in love to Jesus Christ, and affected with the height and depth, the length and breadth, of that love of his to me, which passeth all conception and expression. And as an evidence of that love, let my mouth be filled with his praises. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive blessing, and honour, and glory, and power: for he was slain, and hath redeemed a chosen remnant unto God by his blood, and made them to him kings and priests. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy name, who forgiveth all mine iniquities, and healeth all my diseases: who redeemeth my life from destruction, and crowneth me with loving-kindness and tender mercy who hath begun a good work, and will perform it unto the day of Christ. As long as I live will
I bless the Lord I will praise my God while I have any being; and when I have no being upon earth, I hope to have a being in heaven to be doing it better. O let me be borne up in everlasting arms, and carried from strength to strength, till I appear before God in Zion, for Jesus' sake, who died for me, and rose again, in whom I desire to be found living and dying. Now to God the Father, Son, and Spirit, be ascribed kingdom, power, and glory, henceforth and forever. Amen. An Address to God before Meat. O Lord our God, in thee we live, and move, and have our being, and from thee receive all supports and comforts of our being. Thou spreadest our table, and fillest our cup, and comfortest us with the gifts of thy bounty from day to day. We own our dependence upon thee, and our obligations to thee: pardon our sins we pray thee; sanctify thy good creatures to our use, and give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully, and to eat and drink not to ourselves, but to thy glory, through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. After Meat. Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with his benefits, and gives us all things richly to enjoy, though we serve him but poorly. O Lord, we thank thee for present refreshments in the use of thy good creatures, and for thy love to
Short forms of prayer · A Method for Prayer, 1834
An Evening Prayer for a Family
Most holy, and blessed, and glorious Lord God, whose we are, and whom we are bound to serve, for because thou madest us, and not we ourselves, therefore we are not our own, but thine, and unto thee, O Lord, do we lift up our souls. Thy face, Lord, do we seek; whither shall we go for happiness but to thee, from whom we derive our being? Thou art the great benefactor of the whole creation Thou givest to all life, and breath, and all things. Thou art our Benefactor the God that hast fed us, and kept us all our life long unto this day. Having obtained help of God, we continue hitherto monuments of sparing mercy, and witnesses for thee that thou art gracious, that thou art God and not man for therefore it is that we are not cut off. One day tells another, and one night certifies to another that thou art good, and doest good, and never failest those that seek thee, and trust in thee. Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to praise thee. It is through the good hand of our God upon us that we are brought in safety to the close of another day, and that, after the various employments of the day, we come together at night to mention the loving-kindness of the Lord, and
Some forma of Prayer. the praises of our God, who is good, and whose mercy endureth for ever. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with his benefits, even the God of our salvation for he that is our God is the God of salvation. We have from thee the mercies of the day in its day, according as the necessity of the day requires, though we come far short of doing the work of the day in its day, according as the duty of the day requires. We bless thee for the ministration of the good angels about us, the serviceableness of the inferior creatures to us, for our bodily health and ease, comfort in our relations, and a comfortable place of abode; that thou hast not made the wilderness our habitation, and the barren land our dwelling and especially that thou continuest to us the use of our reason, and the quiet and peace of our consciences. nirxo We bless thee for our share in the public tranquillity, that thou hast given us a good land, in which we dwell safely under our own vines and fig-trees. Above all, we bless thee for Jesus Christ, and his mediation between God and man for the covenant of grace made with us in him, and all the exceeding great and precious promises and privileges of that covenant; for the throne of grace erected for us, to which we may in his name come with humble boldness, and for the hope of eternal life through him. We confess we have sinned against thee this j
day we have sinned and done foolishly. O God, thou knowest our foolishness, and our sins are not hid from thee; we mispend our time, we neglect our duty, we follow after lying vanities, and forsake our own mercies. We offend with our tongues. Are we not carnal, and walk as men, below Christians Who can understand his errors Cleanse us from our secret faults. We pray thee give us repentance for our sins of daily infirmity, and make us duly sensible of the evil of them, and of our danger by them and let the blood of Christ thy Son, which cleanseth from all sin, cleanse us from it, that we may lie down to-night at peace with God, and our souls may comfortably return to him, and repose in him as our rest. And give us grace so to repent every day for the sins of every day, as that, when we come to die, we may have but the sins of one day to repent of, and so we may be continually easy. -i Do us good by all the providences we are under, merciful or afflictive; give us grace to accommodate ourselves to them, and by all bring us nearer to thee, and make us fitter for thee. We commit ourselves to thee this night, and desire to dwell in the secret place of the most High, and to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Let the Lord be our habitation, and let our souls be at home in him. Make a hedge of protection, we pray thee, about us, and about our house, and about all that we have round about, that no evil may befall us, 8 Ff
nor any plague come nigh our dwelling. The Lord be our keeper, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. Lord, be thou a sun and a shield to us. Refresh our bodies, we pray thee, with quiet and comfortable rest, not to be disturbed with any distrustful disquieting cares and fears but especially let our souls be refreshed with thy love, and the light of thy countenance, and with thy benignity, which is better than life. When we awake, grant that we may still be with thee, and may remember thee upon our beds, and meditate upon thee in the night-watches, and may improve the silence and solitude of our retirements for communion with God and our own hearts, that when we are alone we may not be alone, but God may be with us, and we with him. Restore us to another day in safety, and prepare us for the duties and events of it and by all supports and comforts of this life, let our bodies be fitted to serve our souls in thy service, and enable us to glorify thee with both, remembering that we are not our own, we are bought with a price. And forasmuch ift we are now brought one day nearer our end. Lord, enable us so to number our days, as that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Let us be minded, by our putting off our clothes, and going to sleep in our beds, of putting off the body, sleeping the sleep of death, and of making our bed in the darkness shortly, that we may be daily dying in expectation of it, and preparation for our change, that when we
come to die indeed, it may be no surprize or terror to us, but we may with comfort put off the body, and resign the spirit, knowing whom we have trusted. Lord, let our families be blessed in him, in whom all the families of the earth are blessed; blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, by Jesus Christ, and with temporal blessings as far as thou seest good for us. Give us health and prosperity, but especially let our souls prosper and be in health and let all that belong to us belong to Christ, that we, who live in a house together on earth, may be together for ever with the Lord. Look with pity upon a lost world, we beseech thee, and set up Christ's throne there where Satan's seat is. Send the gospel where it is not, make it successful where it is; let it be mighty, through God, to the pulling down of the strong holds of sin. Let the Church of Christ greatly flourish in all places, and make it to appear that it is built upon a rock, and that the. gates of hell cannot prevail against it; and sulfer not the rod of the wicked any where to rest upon the lot of the righteous. Let the land of our nativity be still the particular care of thy good providence, that in the peace thereof we may have peace. Let glory dwell in our land, and upon all the glory let there be a defence. Rule in the hearts of our rulers. We pray thee
continue the king's life and government long a public blessing. Make all that are in places of public trust faithful to the public interest, and all that bear the sword a terror to evil doers, and a protection and praise to them that do well. Own thy ministers in their work, and give them skill and will to help souls to heaven. Be gracious to all that are dear to us. Let the rising generation be such as thou wilt own, and do thee more and better service in their day than this has done. Comfort and relieve all that are in sorrow and affliction, lay no more upon them than thou wilt enable them to bear, and enable them to bear what thou dost lay upon them. Do for us, we pray thee, abundantly above what we are able to ask or think, for the sake of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the Lord our righteousness. To Him, with the Father and the eternal Spirit, be glory and praise, now and forever. Amen,
Short forms of prayer · A Method for Prayer, 1834
A General Intercession.
O GOD, at whose word man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening; Be merciful to all whose duties are difficult or burdensome, and comfort them concerning their toil. Shield from bodily accident and harm the workmen at their work. Protect the efforts of sober and honest industry, and suffer not the hire of the labourers to be kept back by fraud. Incline the heart of employers and of those whom they employ to mutual forbearance, fairness, and good-will. Give the spirit of governance and of a sound mind to all in places of authority. Bless all those who labour in works of mercy or in schools of good learning. Care for all aged persons, and all little children, the sick and the afflicted, and those who travel by land or by sea. Remember all who by reason of weakness are overtasked, or because of poverty are forgotten. Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before thee; and according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Give ear unto our prayer, O merciful and gracious Father, for the love of thy dear Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
A General Thanksgiving.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to us, and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Morning Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
A General Thanksgiving.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to us, and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Evening Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
A Prayer to be used at the Meetings of Convention.
Almighty and everlasting God, who by thy Holy Spirit didst preside in the Council of the blessed Apostles, and hast promised, through thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church to the end of the world; We beseech thee to be with the Council of thy Church here assembled in thy Name and Presence. Save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, Satan, and death; till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life; through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
During, or before, the session of any General or Diocesan Convention, the above Prayer may be used by all Congregations of this Church, or of the Diocese concerned; the clause , here assembled in thy Name, being changed to now assembled ( or about to assemble) in thy Name and Presence; and the clause, govern us in our work, to govern them in their work.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
A Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Fruits of the Earth and all the other Blessings of his merciful Providence.
Most gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew; We yield thee unfeigned thanks and praise for the return of seed-time and harvest, for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of the fruits thereof, and for all the other blessings of thy merciful providence bestowed upon this nation and people. And, we beseech thee, give us a just sense of these great mercies; such as may appear in our lives by an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all glory and honour, world without end. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Acknowledgment of God's Mercy and Preservation,
especially through the Night past.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being; We, thy needy creatures, render thee our humble praises, for thy preservation of us from the beginning of our lives to this day, and especially for having delivered us from the dangers of the past night. For these thy mercies, we bless and magnify thy glorious Name; humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; for his sake who lay down in the grave, and rose again for us, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Benedic, anima mea. Psalm ciii.
PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thy sin, and healeth all thine infirmities;
Who saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.
O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.
O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: praise thou the LORD, O my soul.
The Collect. ACCEPT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, the devout praise of thy humble servant; and grant him an abiding sense of thy loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Visitation of the Sick · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Benedic, anima mea. Psalm ciii.
Praise the LORD, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;
Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.
O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.
O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the LORD, O my soul.
Glory be.
Evening Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Bonum est confiteri. Psalm xcii.
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest;
To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in the night season;
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.
For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.
Glory be.
Evening Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Christmas.
Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. St. Luke ii. 10, 11.
Morning Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Christmas.
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev. xxi. 3.
Evening Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Confitebor tibi. Psalm cxxxviii.
I WILL give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth; for thou hast magnified thy Name, and thy word, above all things.
When I called upon thee, thou heardest me; and enduedst my soul with much strength.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me; thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; yea, thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.
The Collect. O GOD, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers; Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to thy servant the help of thy power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Visitation of the Sick · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Children.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who dost embrace children with the arms of thy mercy, and dost make them living members of thy Church; Give them grace, we pray thee, to stand fast in thy faith, to obey thy word, and to abide in thy love; that, being made strong by thy Holy Spirit, they may resist temptation and overcome evil, and may rejoice in the life that now is, and dwell with thee in the life that is to come; through thy merits, O merciful Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Christian Service.
O Lord, our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; We beseech thee to bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of their fellow men. Endue them with wisdom, patience, and courage to strengthen the weak and raise up those who fall; that, being inspired by thy love, they may worthily minister in thy Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the sake of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Courts of Justice.
Almighty God, who sittest in the throne judging right; We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of justice and the magistrates in all this land; and give unto them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may discern the truth, and impartially administer the law in the fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our Judge, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Every Man in his Work.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth; Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Fair Weather.
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to restrain those immoderate rains, wherewith thou hast afflicted us. And we pray thee to send us such seasonable weather, that the earth may, in due time, yield her increase for our use and benefit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Grace to guide and keep us the following Day,
and for God's Blessing on the business of the Same.
IN particular, we implore thy grace and protection for the ensuing day. Keep us temperate in all things, and diligent in our several callings. Grant us patience under our afflictions. Give us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all men, according to our abilities and opportunities. Direct us in all our ways. Defend us from all dangers and adversities; and be graciously pleased to take us, and all who are dear to us, under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see to be necessary and convenient to us, we humbly beg, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Joy in God's Creation.
O HEAVENLY Father, who hast filled the world with beauty; Open, we beseech thee, our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him by whom all things were made, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Missions.
O God, who hast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the whole earth, and didst send thy blessed Son to preach peace to them that are far off and to them that are nigh; Grant that all men everywhere may seek after thee and find thee. Bring the nations into thy fold, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Our Country.
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Plenty.
O Most merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into plenty; We give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Religious Education.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hast committed to thy holy Church the care and nurture of thy children; Enlighten with thy wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of thy truth, they may worship thee and serve thee from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Schools, Colleges, and Universities.
Almighty God, we beseech thee, with thy gracious favour to behold our universities, colleges, and schools, that knowledge may be increased among us, and all good learning flourish and abound. Bless all who teach and all who learn; and grant that in humility of heart they may ever look unto thee, who art the fountain of all wis- dom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For Social Justice.
Almighty God, who hast created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a Birthday.
WATCH over thy child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be, keeping him unspotted from the world. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he fall; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a Blessing on the Families of the Land.
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families; We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vain-glory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh; turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we be evermore kindly affectioned with brotherly love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a Child's Recovery from Sickness.
Almighty God and heavenly Father, we give thee humble thanks for that thou hast been graciously pleased to deliver from his bodily sickness the child in whose behalf we bless and praise thy Name, in the presence of all thy people. Grant, we beseech thee, O gracious Father, that he , through thy help, may both faithfully live in this world according to thy will, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a Recovery from Sickness.
O God, who art the giver of life, of health, and of safety; We bless thy Name, that thou hast been pleased to deliver from his bodily sickness this thy servant, who now desireth to return thanks unto thee, in the presence of all thy people. Gracious art thou, O Lord, and full of compassion to the children of men. May his heart be duly impressed with a sense of thy merciful goodness, and may he devote the residue of his days to an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a Safe Return from a Journey.
Most gracious Lord, whose mercy is over all thy works; We praise thy holy Name that thou hast been pleased to conduct in safety, through the perils of the great deep (of his way), this thy servant, who now desireth to return his thanks unto thee in thy holy Church. May he be duly sensible of thy merciful providence towards him , and ever express his thankfulness by a holy trust in thee, and obedience to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Go to 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For a State Legislature.
O God, the fountain of wisdom, whose statutes are good and gracious and whose law is truth; We beseech thee so to guide and bless the Legislature of this State, that it may ordain for our governance only such things as please thee, to the glory of thy Name and the welfare of the people; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For the Children.
ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For the Church.
O gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For the Family of Nations.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, guide, we beseech thee, the Nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For the Increase of the Ministry.
O Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world which thou hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of many to dedicate themselves to the sacred Ministry of thy Church; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For the Unity of God's People.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Saviour, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatsoever else may hinder us from godly union and concord: that as there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
For those about to be Confirmed.
O God, who through the teaching of thy Son Jesus Christ didst prepare the disciples for the coming of the Comforter; Make ready, we beseech thee, the hearts and minds of thy servants who at this time are seeking to be strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, that, drawing near with penitent and faithful hearts, they may evermore be filled with the power of his divine indwelling; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Grace before Meal.
BLESS, O Father, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service; for Christ's sake. Amen.
GIVE us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
In the Morning
O GOD, the King eternal, who dividest the day from the darkness, and turnest the shadow of death into the morning; Drive far off from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep thy law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that having done thy will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when the night cometh, rejoice to give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, who alone gavest us the breath of life, and alone canst keep alive in us the holy desires thou dost impart; We beseech thee, for thy compassion's sake, to sanctify all our thoughts and endeavours; that we may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it without thy blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of the mind opened to behold things invisible and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by thy wisdom, and in work be upheld by thy strength, and in the end be accepted of thee as thy faithful servants; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Memorial Days.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
Prayers and Thanksgivings · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Sunday Morning.
O GOD, who makest us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of thy Son our Lord; Vouchsafe us this day such blessing through our worship of thee, that the days to come may be spent in thy service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
Thanksgiving Day.
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Prov. iii. 9, 10.
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. Prov. iii. 19, 20.
Then the Minister shall say,
DEARLY beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, in sundry places, to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness; and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father; but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart; to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought, at all times, humbly to acknowledge our sins before God; yet ought we chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you, as many as are here present, to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying--
Or he shall say,
LET us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
Morning Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
The Intercession.
AND accept, O Lord, our intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations; and may as many as have received it, live as becomes it. Be gracious unto thy Church; and grant that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may serve thee faithfully. Bless all in authority over us; and so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that they may punish wickedness and vice, and maintain thy true religion and virtue. Send down thy blessings, temporal and spiritual, upon all our relations, friends, and neighbours. Reward all who have done us good, and pardon all those who have done or wish us evil, and give them repentance and better minds. Be merciful to all who are in any trouble; and do thou, the God of pity, administer to them according to their several necessities; for his sake who went about doing good, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
The Thanksgiving.
TO our prayers, O Lord, we join our unfeigned thanks for all thy mercies; for our being, our reason, and all other endowments and faculties of soul and body; for our health, friends, food, and raiment, and all the other comforts and conveniences of life. Above all, we adore thy mercy in sending thy only Son into the world, to redeem us from sin and eternal death, and in giving us the knowledge and sense of our duty towards thee. We bless thee for thy patience with us, notwithstanding our many and great provocations; for all the directions, assistances, and comforts of thy Holy Spirit; for thy continual care and watchful providence over us through the whole course of our lives; and particularly for the mercies and benefits of the past day; beseeching thee to continue these thy blessings to us, and to give us grace to show our thankfulness in a sincere obedience to his laws, through whose merits and intercession we received them all, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Family Prayer · The Book of Common Prayer (1928), 1928
