SUNDRY OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. THE MORNING PRAYER. Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee. A LMIGHTY God, our Father and Preserver! we give Thee thanks that of Thy goodness Thou hast watched over us the past night, and brought us to this day. And we beseech Thee, strengthen and guard us by Thy Spirit, that we may spend it wholly in Thy service, aiming at Thy glory, and the salvation of our fellow-men. And even as Thou sheddest now the beams of the sun upon the earth to give light unto our bodies, so illumine our souls with the brightness of Thy Spirit, to guide us in the paths of Thine obe dience. May all our purpose be this day to honour and serve Thee; may we look for all prosperity to Thy blessing only, and seek no object but such as may be well-pleasing in Thy sight. Enable us, O Lord! while we labour for the body, and the life that now is, ever to look beyond unto that heavenly life which Thou hast promised Thy children. Defend us in soul and body from all harm. Guard us against all assaults of the devil, and deliver us from any dangers that may beset us. And seeing it is a small thing to have begun well, except we also persevere, take us, O Lord! into Thy good keeping this day, and all our days; continue and increase Thy grace within us, until we shall be perfectly united in the glory of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, who shall replenish our souls with His eternal light and gladness. And that we may obtain all these blessings, be pleased to cast out of Thy remembrance all our past offences, and of Thy boundless mercy forgive them; as Thou hast promised unto those who call upon Thee in sincerity and truth. Hear us, O God, our Father and Redeemer! Through Jesus Christ our Lord: In Whose Name we pray, as He hath taught us, saying -Our Father, etc. THE EVENING PRAYER. Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. MERCIFUL God! Eternal Light, shining in darkness, Thou that dispellest the night of sin, and all blindness of heart: Since Thou hast appointed the night for rest, and the day for labour; we beseech Thee, grant that our bodies may rest in peace and quietness, that afterward they may be able to endure the labour they must bear. may be pure and peaceful; Temper our sleep, that it that we may remain spot less both in body and soul; yea, that our sleep itself may be to Thy glory. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may not sleep in death; but always look for deliverance from this misery. Defend us against all assaults of the devil, and take us into Thy holy protection. And although we have not passed this day without greatly sinning against Thee, we beseech Thee to hide our sins with Thy mercy, as. Thou hidest all things on earth with the darkness of the night, that we may never be cast out from Thy presence. Relieve and comfort all those who are afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate: Through Jesus Christ our Lord; Who hath taught us to pray-Our Father, etc. L A SHORT PRAYER, That All Men may live uprightly in their Callings. ORD God Almighty, Merciful and Pure, be pleased in favour to consider the weakness of man: and so sanctify us with Thy grace, that we may all confess our sins, and cry to Thee for pardon; all acknowledge our weakness, and cry to Thee for strength; all see our ignorance, and come to Thee for knowledge how to behave ourselves in this mortal life in our several callings: That thereby both Thou mayest be glorified, our brethren comforted, and ourselves relieved: that when we shall be called by Thee to render an account of our stewardships, we may be able to stand before Thee acquitted from all that either sin, the devil, or our corrupt flesh may charge us with: not through our own deservings, which in our best endeavours are evil evermore; but in the merits of Thy Son Jesus Christ. AMEN. |