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PRAYERS TO BE USED AT SEA.

The Morning and Evening prayer, to be used daily at sea, may be the same which is appointed in this book of common-prayer; these two following collects being read instead of the first appointed in the daily service.

The Collect.

ASSIST us, o almighty GOD! in all our actions with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that all our works may be begun, continued, and ended according to thy will, and that we may evermore love and reverence thine holy name; and, finally, through thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, as it hath been promised by Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

O ETERNAL GOD! who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; be pleased to receive into thine almighty and most gracious protection, the persons of us thy servants, and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence

of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our country, and a security to such as pass on the waters upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our islands may, in peace and quietness, serve thee our GOD; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours; and, with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies, to praise and thank thee, according to the gospel of Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

Prayers to be used in storms at sea.

O MOST gracious and powerful GOD! at whose command the winds blow, and lift the waves of the sea, and who stillest up their rage; we, thine offending creatures, do, in this our great distress, cry unto thee, with penitent hearts, for thine assistance and protection. Save us, o merciful GOD! or else we perish. We confess, that, when we have seen all things quiet about us, and have thought ourselves in safety, we have forgotten thee, our GOD, and refused to hearken to the still voice of thy word, and to obey thy commandments. But now we

are

are made thoroughly sensible how terrible thou art in all thy wonderful works; and that thou, the great and only GOD, art to be feared above all: and, therefore, we adore thy divine majesty, we acknowledge thy power, and we implore thy goodness. O JEHOVAH! of thine infinite mercy and goodness, save us, or else we perish. Amen.

Or this:

MOST gracious and powerful GOD! who dwellest in heaven, but beholdest all things below; look down, we beseech thee, and deliver us from the dreadful danger which now threatens us with destruction. Save us, o merciful GOD! or else we perish. Rebuke the raging winds, and the roaring sea; that we, being delivered from this distress, may live to serve thee, and to praise thy name all the days of our life. O JEHOVAH! of thine infinite mercy and goodness, save us, or else we perish. Amen.

A prayer to be said before a fight at sea.

O MOST gracious GOD! the sovereign lord of the whole creation! who rulest and commandest

mandest all things! Thou sittest on thy throne judging right; and, therefore, we make our address to thy divine majesty in this our necessity, that thou wouldest take the cause into thine own hand, and judge between us and our enemies. Stir up thy strength, O JEHOVAH! and help us; for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few. O! let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance; but hear us, thy penitent servants, who entreat thy mercy, and implore thy aid and defence against the face of the enemy. Make it appear that thou art our mighty deliverer. Amen.

Short prayers for single persons that cannot meet to join in prayer with others, by reason of the fight, or storm.

¶ General prayers.

O GOD! be merciful unto us, pardon our sins, and save us for thy mercy's sake.

Thou art JEHOVAH, who hast made and rulest all things: o deliver us from the impending danger. Thou art the great GOD to be feared above all: o save us! that we may praise thee.

Special

Special prayers with respect to the

enemy.

Thou, O JEHOVAH! art just and powerful.

O save us from the violence of the enemy, and defend our cause against the force opposed to us.

O JEHOVAH! fight for us, and deliver us.

Collects of thanksgiving.

O MOST kind and merciful GOD! who art infinitely good; we thy creatures, whom thou hast made and preserved, (holding us in life, and now rescuing us from death,) humbly present ourselves before thy divine majesty, to offer our praise and thanksgiving, for thou heardest us when we called in our trouble, and didst regard our prayer which we addressed unto thee in our great distress. Thou hast mercifully looked upon us, and wonderfully commanded our deliverance; for which, we give all praise and thanks unto thee, now and for ever. Amen.

Or

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