PRAYERS,

Proper to be used before attending public worship, or during intervals in divine service; taken chiefly from the

Liturgy.

FOR THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND BLESSING:

O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, and of majesty incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands; and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise thy especial presence, where ever two or three of thy faithful servants shall assemble in thy name, to offer up their praises and supplications unto thee; vouchsafe, O Lord, to be with me in my attendance at thy holy house. Affect me with an awful apprehension of thy divine majesty. Fit my heart to serve thee with reverence and godly fear. Grant me thy grace, in confession, to affect me with a deep sense of my own unworthiness; in prayer, to quicken my devotion; in praises, to heighten my love and gratitude; and in hearing thy word read and preached, to make me serious and attentive, so that I may listen to my duty with an honest heart, in order to practise it. Graft thy word inwardly in my heart, that I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do, and may have power and strength faithfully to fulfil the same. Grant that all my sacred exercises may be performed with such steadiness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that thou mayest accept my bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to give whatever, in thy infinite wisdom, thou shalt see to be most expedient, through Jesus Christ our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

FOR OUR PASTOR OR PASTORS.

[To be changed from the singular to the plural, if the case requires it.]

ALMIGHTY God, Giver of all good things, who, by thy Holy Spirit, hast appointed divers orders of ministers in the Church, and hast promised to be with the ministers of apostolic succession

to the end of the world; give thy grace to thy servant to whom thou hast committed the charge of my soul. So replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue him with innocency of life, that he may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great name, and the benefit of thy holy Church. Be with him in the performance of all the duties of his ministry. Fill his memory with the words of thy law. Enlighten his understanding with the illumination of the Holy Ghost. And make him instrumental in promoting the salvation of the people committed to his charge. May he be faithful in dispensing the divine word and sacraments, in leading the devotions of the people, in exercising the discipline of the Church, and in performing every act of pastoral function. And in all things faithfully fulfilling his course, may he, at the latter day, receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth one God, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

FOR THE PARISH TO WHICH WE BELONG.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; grant that by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple, acceptable unto thee. And especially to this parish give the abundance of thy grace; that with one heart we may desire the prosperity of thy holy apostolic Church, and with one mouth profess the faith once delivered to the saints. Defend us from the sins of heresy and schism. Let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt us, nor the hand of the ungodly to cast us down. Enlighten our minds more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel. Graft in our hearts a love of the truth, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness; and of thy great mercy keep us in the same. Grant that this portion of thy flock may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors, and that the people, waiting on their ministrations with meek heart and due reverence, may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; so that all may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

TO BE USED ON THOSE DAYS ON WHICH THE HOLY COMMUN

ION IS TO BE ADMINISTERED.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, I render thee most humble and hearty thanks for that thou hast given thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy sacrament which He has instituted, in perpetual memory of His death and sacrifice, for the strengthening and refreshing of our souls by His most blessed body and blood, and as a pledge to assure us of the remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His passion. I do not presume to take this holy sacrament, O merciful Lord, trusting in my own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. Grant that I may come to it, repenting me truly for my sins past, having a lively and steadfast faith in Christ my Saviour, and being in perfect charity with all men. Thus make me a meet partaker of those holy mysteries; that worthily receiving the precious body and blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, I may obtain the remission of my sins, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until I come unto thine everlasting kingdom. Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is great; not weighing my merits, but pardoning my offences, through the merits and mediation of thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

TO BE USED ON OCCASION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

ALMIGHTY God, through whose gracious favor a fellow being has this day been admitted, [or is about to be admitted,] by holy baptism, into the Church of Christ; called into a state of salvation, and made thy child by adoption and grace; grant that by the continual help of thy Holy Spirit he may be enabled alway to continue in this holy fellowship, leading the rest of his life according to this beginning; walking uprightly before thee in the true faith of Christ crucified, and in the sincere practice of those things which thou hast commanded-so that finally, with the residue of thy holy church he may be an inheritor of thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

No. 24.

February, 1830.-2000.