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Thy blessed Name. Yet, O Lord, whatsoever Thou hast in store for us of good or of evil, give us grace to trust our souls in Thy keeping, and to praise Thee with humility and with fear, that, whether we live or die, we may be Thine, and at last find an abundant entrance into life eternal, through Him who died for us and rose again. AMEN.

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FOR THE ABSENT FROM HOME.

GOD, Who art everywhere present, ruling the sea

and the land, we entreat Thee for [him, her, or those,] now absent from us. Rescue them from peril, from sickness, from sin, and from death. Cover them as with a shield, and sanctify their experience of Thy mercy to their eternal profit and joy. In due time restore them to their homes, and keep them and us through the journey of this life, that we all may reach our Father's house in peace, through His grace Who hath opened the kingdom of heaven to all that believe on His holy Name. AMEN.

A THANKSGIVING FOR RAIN.

E thank Thee, O God, in Whose hand are all

WE

things, that Thou hast heard our prayers, and

hast sent us abundant rain. Continue, O Lord, to shed down the riches of Thy bounty, that our valleys may be covered with corn, and the pastures rejoice. Grant also, for Thy Name's sake, that our grateful hearts, ever mindful of Thy love, may evermore praise Thee with holy gratitude, reverence, and obedience, for Jesus Christ's sake. AMEN.

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A THANKSGIVING FOR FAIR WEATHER.

GRACIOUS and most compassionate Lord God,

we have humbled ourselves under Thy righteous pleasure, and trembled under Thine afflictive will. Thou hast restored unto us the light of hope, and stayed the overflowing of rain. Thy sunshine is upon the earth, and the world is full of Thy healthful light. Perfect that which Thou hast most mercifully preserved, and let the fields yield their increase. Shine within our hearts, that we may show forth the fruits of a Christian, faithful, and contented life, through Him whom Thou lovest. AMEN.

A THANKSGIVING FOR HARVEST.

GOD, Who hast said that whatsoever a man soweth he shall also reap, we heartily thank Thee for

THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE. 311

Thy blessing on the labours of the husbandmen, and that a good harvest has been gathered. May we who live by Thy bounty, live to Thy praise, and our souls be preserved from pride or forgetfulness of Thee, who feedest Thy children with the finest of the wheat. Remember the poor, and cause us to remember them. Speedily gather to Thyself a harvest of praise from all nations and all the earth, that the good seed of the Word sown in Thy Name may bear fruit abundantly to Thine eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

A THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM PESTI

LENCE.

ATHER of Mercies, Who desirest not the death of

FATHER

the sinner, we thank Thee most humbly and heartily that Thou hast been pleased of Thine infinite compassion to hear our prayers, and favourably to regard Thy suppliant and sorrowing people. Thou hast withdrawn from the midst of us the desolating plague. Oh, that we which remain alive may present unto Thee our whole bodies as a continual thank-offering, which is our reasonable service. Remember Thy promise unto the widow and the orphan, bind up the

broken in heart, and comfort all that mourn, for the sake of Him who died for us and rose again. AMEN.

A THANKSGIVING FOR A SAFE RETURN HOME.

W

E thank Thee, O God of our mercies, that Thou

hast restored our brother to his home safe from the perils of the way. The earth is Thine; the sea also is Thine and Thou hast not suffered him to perish in a strange land nor to sink in the mighty waters. May the goodness of God lead him to a more hearty repentance, and his soul ever rejoice in Thee until he reaches our Father's house, where there is fulness of joy in Thine eternal presence, through Christ our Redeemer. AMEN.

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A PRAYER TO BE USED AT SEA.

LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, Who alone

commandest the winds and the waves, and they obey Thee: we Thine unworthy and sinful creatures, separated upon the sea from the dwellings of men, would humbly address to Thee our prayers. We confess our manifold transgressions and wickedness; and implore Thy merey and forgiving grace through > Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. We worship

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Thee, O God; and beholding Thy works and Thy wonders in the deep, magnify and exalt Thy great and holy Name and ascribe unto Thee all dominion and majesty and glory for ever and ever. May Thy fear ever fall upon us, O Lord, and Thine excellence make us suitably afraid. We give thanks unto Thee for Thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, notwithstanding our guilt, and the magnitude of our sins: and would call upon our souls to bless and praise Thy holy Name, for Thine upholding mercy and preserving care. Vouchsafe unto us, O Lord, the continued defences and blessings of Thy Providence. Spare us Thy just judgments; shield us from dangers seen and unseen : prosper us on our way, and bring us to our destined haven. Above all, grant unto us, O heavenly Father, the abundant influence of Thy Holy Spirit, to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Thy Truth, to purify our hearts from indwelling sin, and to work in us both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure. Grant unto us repentance and the remission of sin, and that faith which is the gift of God: that we may bring forth unto Thee, in our hearts and lives, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Forbid, O Lord our God, that we should make shipwreck of the soul; but being guided

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