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SHORT 
 
 FAMILY PRAYERS 
 
 FOE EVERT 
 
 MORNING AND EVENING 
 
 IN THE WEEK. 
 
 BY A CLERGYMAN. 
 
 REPUBLISHED BY A LAYMAN, 
 
 FEOM THE ENGLISH FIFTIETH THOUSAND. 
 
 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite 
 heart, God, thou wilt not despise. — Psalm li. 17. 
 
 Let my Prayer be set forth before thee as incense ; and the lifting 
 up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. — Psalm cxlL 2. 
 
 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God contin- 
 ually — giving thanks to his Name. — Reb. xiii. 10 — lo. 
 
 4 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 1854. 
 

 Ask, and it shall be given yon ; seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and 
 it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth ; 
 and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be 
 opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, 
 will he give him a stone ? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give 
 him a serpent ? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion ? 
 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your 
 children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the 
 Holy Spirit tc them that ask him?— Luke xi. 9—13. 
 
 Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.— Luke xviii. 1. 
 
 Watch ye therefore, and pray always. — Luke xxi. 36. 
 
 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and 
 watching thereunto with all perseverance. — Ephes. vi. 18. 
 
 Continuing instant in prayer. — Rom. xii. 12. 
 
 In every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let 
 your requests be made known unto God. — Phil. iv. 6. 
 
 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. — 
 Col. iv. 2. 
 
 Pray without ceasing.— 1 Tliess. v. 17 
 
 stereotyped by S. DOUGLAS WYETH, No. 7, Pear Street, Philad'E 
 printed by T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, Lodge Alley. 
 
PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. 
 
 The following brief Manual of Prayer at Home, now 
 offered to those among us who love to serve the God 
 of the family around the family hearth at morning and 
 evening, has been long valued and used among those of 
 the like spirit, in the distant land, where under a differ- 
 ent title and with a somewhat different aspect it origina- 
 ted. And it is one of those things which make prayer 
 delightful, that it thus swallows up distance and 
 unites those whom oceans and continents divide. In 
 the fellowship of the public, family or closet place of 
 prayer, the beloved of the Lord are not only one in 
 spirit, but one in Him. One petition goes up from 
 one continent, — another from another continent ; they 
 meet in Heaven at the same throne of grace, they are 
 poured upon the same prayer-hearing ear. they soften 
 the same prayer loving compassionate and divine heart. 
 Thus those who use this book will unite in Holy Com- 
 munion not only with God, but with many others of 
 their fellow servants who have the same faith and the 
 same trust. At morning and night while they kneel 
 in the presence of Jesus, and utter the simple words 
 of these Prayers, they can rejoice in the thought that 
 other sinners alike burthened with guilt, are asking 
 for pardon in the same syllables, that others who have 
 laid their all in the hands of Christ, are uttering thanks 
 for his priceless favors in the like accents ; that others 
 who feel their feebleness like them, are asking protec- 
 tion for the day or the night in the same sounds of 
 entreaty. So sweet is the thought of this association 
 to believers generally, that those who are engaged 
 in putting forth these forms of prayer would, in that 
 consideration alone, feel that they are doing a good 
 work, without respect to the other advantages which 
 they see in such a Manual, for those to whom want of 
 words, inexperience or timidity render freedom in 
 extemporaneous prayer almost impossible. But how- 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 ever profitable it may be found to use such a Manual, 
 in these respects, it would be worse than unprofitable, 
 if it induced the entire abandonment of the practice of 
 extemporaneous prayer in families. The purpose of 
 this book is not thus to shut the lips of the heads of 
 households, but rather to assist those who cannot do 
 without such assistance, to afford variety in the devo- 
 tions of the house, and a devout help whenever the 
 mind is unfitted for the due exercise of the office of 
 leading in prayer, and to guide others by the excellent 
 models here furnished to a like outpouring of the heart 
 before God. In order to help this design the follow- 
 ing suggestions are subjoined, drawn principally, from 
 that excellent compilation for all prayer loving hearts, 
 the " Treatise on Prayer' 5 by the late Rev. Edward 
 Bickersteth. 
 
 Almost all great authorities on the subject as 
 Bishop Wilkins, Dr. Watts and others, have insisted 
 upon the advantage of a method in Prayer, and they 
 have divided prayer into these four parts ; Confession, 
 Supplication, Intercession and Thanksgiving, and they 
 urge upon those who would pray, and especially who 
 lead the prayers of others thus to parcel out their 
 thoughts, and either in the order here set down, or in 
 some other to proceed to mention the various subjects 
 of our prayer to God. For it ought not to be forgotten 
 that prayer is the intercourse of the soul with the 
 Deity. It is that act by which the Christian, privileged 
 thus far by the express words of Jehovah, comes into 
 the presence of his Maker to ask for all he needs, 
 to utter all his complaints, and to perform imperfectly 
 here below that communion with God which shall 
 only be perfected in that higher sphere where man 
 shall see his Master face to face, and God converse 
 with him as with his fellow. If then our prayer is 
 our converse with God, it is right and well that before 
 we enter his presence we arrange in our minds what 
 we have to say and how to say it. Let him therefore 
 who desires to pray with comfort, first, ^.x in his 
 mind the subjects of his prayer ; next fill his heart 
 with a sense of His greatness, in whose presence he is 
 
PRFFACE. V 
 
 about to stand ; then, having previously read a portion 
 of the Scriptures as herein afterward recommended, 
 and called upon all present humbly to kneel, let him 
 begin with an 
 
 1. Invocation or calling upon God by some of those 
 names by which he loves to be called, as the Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty and Most 
 Merciful Father, and others ; then proceed to an act 
 of 
 
 2. Adoration, mentioning His attributes : our un- 
 worthiness to appear in the sight of His holiness, his 
 mercy in permitting us to come for Christ's sake, in 
 whose name only we venture to appear. 
 
 3. Confession, by which we enumerate our sins, 
 original and actual — of our whole lives — of the past 
 day or night in particular — our aggravations of them 
 against love and mercy, in spite of the promises, in 
 disregard of the punishments of God's law. 
 
 4. Supplication or Petition, or Prayer properly, in 
 which we ask for all things that we need ; as deliver- 
 ance from sin, both from its guilt and its power: 
 from temptation, from the wrath of God : or for 
 his good gifts, as sanctification, obedience, love, and 
 all Christian graces, growth into and conformity to the 
 image of Christ ; for temporal good, as health, friends, 
 food, raiment, success in our labors, and all the 
 comforts and conveniences of life. 
 
 5. Intercession for others ; for the salvation of 
 those dear to us and their temporal prosperity; for the 
 salvation of those of our own parish or Sunday School; 
 for a blessing on the means of grace ; for the Heathen, 
 the Jew, the waste places of our own land ; for all 
 Christian enterprises, for the Church at large ; for the 
 salvation of the world ; for all who are afflicted in 
 mind, body or estate ; for all oppressed and enslaved ; 
 for the advancement of all humane and holy reforms 
 and for all that concerns our fellow man in every con- 
 dition. 
 
 6. Thanksgiving, enumerating all mercies ; the 
 inclination to, the power of, the opportunity for 
 prayer, the knowledge of God's word, the means of 
 
 A2 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 grace, special and particular, the hope of glory, all 
 the good we enjoy, or expect ; especially thanks for 
 prayers which have been heard in the accomplishment 
 of any of those things we have specially asfced foT. 
 
 The conclusion being always an ascription of all to 
 the work of Christ, an expression of the hope of 
 acceptance through him only ; summing up all with 
 His own prayer and some scriptural benediction. 
 
 Now with this method or some similar one, there are 
 few who cannot offer a regular, systematic and earnest 
 petition, far different from the hasty and ill digested cries 
 with which many a pious man only confuses himself 
 and others. Let us take heed however, that we be not 
 thus tempted into formality, of which indeed there will 
 be no danger if the heart is in the right place while on 
 the other hand, as Dr. Watts truly observes, by thus 
 avoiding the loose habit of speaking what is uppermost, 
 and attempting to learn the holy skill of prayer, by a 
 devout recollection of its several parts we shall be 
 more successful in attaining this great gift. 
 
 With these remarks we commend our readers to the 
 earnest perusal of the ensuing introduction, and to the 
 directions it contains respecting the prayers that 
 follow, and to the pious use of the prayers themselves. 
 
 We trust that whatever objections may linger in the 
 minds of some persons to the use of any form of prayer 
 will be removed by the perusal of what will be found 
 on that subject, in the subjoined address to the reader. 
 If prayer were the action of the lips only, it might 
 be important what words we used in addressing God, 
 but as the prayer consists not in the words, but in 
 that which the words represent, it may certainly be 
 offered as acceptably in the one shape as in the other. 
 And may God who has taught us to pray, has 
 promised to be with us when we pray, and ever delights 
 to be called a prayer hearing God ; may God be with 
 all those who shall use this book, and whenever they 
 use it, grant His spirit when they call upon Him, 
 send his presence into the midst of them while they 
 kneel before Him, and hear and answer their cries for 
 the sake of His adorable Son our Most Blessed Saviour 
 in whose name all these petitions are offered up. 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 Although Family Prayer is become more general, 
 and thousands can bear their testimony to the comfort 
 as well as the benefit of it, yet are there many families 
 by whom this duty and privilege are still neglected, 
 to the injury of their souls, and to the dishonour of 
 God and of their Christian name. It is in God "we 
 live, and move, and have our being ;" and to Him 
 should every family offer up its morning and evening 
 sacrifice of prayer and praise ; for with such sacrifices, 
 presented in humility, in faith, and in love, God is 
 well pleased : and it is impossible for words to express 
 the guilt and the danger of those prayerless families, 
 that never assemble together to acknowledge their 
 dependence on God, or their obligations to love and 
 serve him. If God will pour out his indignation upon 
 the heathen, how much more upon those Christian 
 families, who call not upon his name ! In every dwell- 
 ing this duty, of all others, should be seriously re- 
 garded and regularly maintained. What family is 
 there, whether rich or poor, that has no need to pray 
 for any blessings either temporal or spiritual ? What 
 family is there that is not bound in gratitude to offer 
 up its praises to Him " who daily poureth out his 
 benefits upon us ?" Every parent or head of a family 
 who is conscious that the soul is of infinite value, 
 must be self- condemned, if he neglect the spiritual 
 welfare of those who ought, for their good, to be 
 
 (vii) 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 governed by his authority, and influenced by his 
 example. 
 
 The daily worship in some families is in the evening 
 only, for whose omission of it in the morning no just 
 reason can be assigned. Now let me entreat such 
 families to reflect on the danger of that worldly spirit, 
 which, it is to be feared, is leading them to prefer their 
 temporal to their spiritual and eternal welfare ; and 
 let me press upon their serious consideration the 
 Apostle's exhortation to the Philippians, "Be careful 
 for nothing" — that is, with an unbelieving anxiety, 
 and distrust of God's fatherly mercy and good provi- 
 dence — " but in every thing, by prayer and supplica- 
 tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
 known unto God ; and the peace of God, which passeth 
 all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, 
 through Christ Jesus." Regard the care of your souls 
 as the chief concern of your lives ; and never neglect 
 a duty you owe to your families, that you may go the 
 sooner to your farm or your merchandise ; but " seek 
 first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and 
 all other things shall be added unto you." 
 
 I am aware that the omission I so deeply regret, 
 and cannot but censure, is too common, and espe- 
 cially in those families whose business is such as to 
 call away their servants, and others, at an early hour 
 in the morning. Though these families cannot be 
 charged with the total omission of this sacred duty, 
 yet are they to be blamed for contenting themselves 
 with only a partial regard to it. Would it not be 
 far better to fix an hour, the most convenient, and 
 when the greatest number would most likely be 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 present, rather than withhold that morning sacrifice 
 of prayer and praise, which should ascend from every 
 Christian dwelling, and arise from every Christian 
 heart ? Ought you to be willing to neglect at any 
 time a duty so important, or to lose a privilege so 
 inestimable, if by any means you can enjoy it ? What 
 if but only two or three can be called together, will 
 you therefore plead the engagements of those who 
 are absent as an excuse for your neglect of duty to the 
 few who are present ? Has not Christ himself deter- 
 mined how you should act ? Has he not marked out 
 the precise line of your duty ? And for your encourage- 
 ment has he not given you this gracious assurance of 
 his presence, " Where two or three are gathered together 
 in my name, there am I in the midst of them," — present 
 to accept and bless them, and to manifest myself unto 
 them ? Morning and evening, then, should every Chris- 
 tian family bow the knee before their God and Saviour, 
 to adore and praise his glorious Majesty, to confess their 
 numerous sins, and to implore his abundant mercy. 
 One day telleth another, and one night certifieth 
 another, that the Lord is gracious, and that his tender 
 mercy is over all his works : and it is a good thing to 
 give thanks unto the Lord ; to show forth his loving 
 kindness in the morning, and his faithfulness every 
 night. 
 
 But perhaps the reader is reproaching himself for 
 the total neglect of that duty to which his attention is 
 now so earnestly called. Perhaps he may be saying 
 to himself, a l am indeed a parent, yet have 1 never 
 prayed with my children, which the Lord hath given 
 me, and in whose fear I should be training them up, 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 as the beginning of wisdom. The providence of God 
 has placed me at the head of a family, which I have 
 never called together to pray to him or to praise him :. 
 so that, if my children or servants should ever estab- 
 lish family prayer in their houses, to my shame be it 
 spoken, they will not thus act as the effect of any pre- 
 cept or example received from me. I have neglected 
 my duty to God, to my own soul, and to theirs ; for I 
 have not accustomed them to the practice of that duty 
 which ought to distinguish every Christian family." 
 Should such language express the feelings of the reader, 
 and should any one, conscious of the guilt which 
 adheres to the neglect of every known duty, now take 
 up the pious resolution of Joshua, — " As for me and 
 my house, we will serve the Lord," — a form of Family 
 Prayer is here presented to him ; and with it I would 
 offer a few observations for his profitable use of it. 
 
 That the mind may be in a suitable frame for 
 prayer, family worship should always begin with read- 
 ing a Psalm or some portion of Scripture ; and it 
 should be considered a part too essential and important 
 ever to be omitted. It tends to calm and solemnize 
 the mind ; to spiritualize the affections ; and to excite 
 that devout and serious disposition of heart, with which 
 we should always kneel down before the Lord our 
 Maker. If from our worldly occupations we hasten 
 to family prayers, and thus, without any preparation 
 of heart, fall on our knees before God, is it to be 
 wondered at that our hearts should be far from him, 
 and our service an abomination unto him ? The 
 writer having sometimes witnessed this inconsiderate 
 and irreverent manner of conducting family worship, 
 
TO THE READER. XI 
 
 feels constrained to bear his testimony against it ; and 
 to entreat every head of a family, who omits the read- 
 ing of the Scriptures, to consider, whether, if so much 
 guilt adheres to those who are partakers in other men's 
 sins, they can possibly be innocent who are in any 
 degree the occasion of them ? Would you have your 
 children and servants draw near with you to the 
 Throne of Grace, truly serious and humble, let them 
 first hear you read those sacred Scriptures which are 
 so " profitable for their reproof, correction, and instruc- 
 tion in righteousness." Let them first hear the Lord 
 speaking to them in his holy word, before they address 
 themselves to him in prayer ; lest He, who has declared 
 " I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me," 
 should say, " I will not be inquired of by you." 
 
 The writer has found it very beneficial to go 
 regularly through the Gospels and the Acts of the 
 Apostles in the morning, and the Epistles in the 
 evening ; reading a part only of those chapters which 
 are too long to be conveniently read at one time : for 
 what ought to refresh and delight our families, should 
 never be so long as to make them weary of it, or 
 averse to it. He would, however, by no means advise 
 that the Book of Revelations should be altogether 
 passed over because many chapters are too sublime 
 and difficult to be generally understood ; for chapters 
 i. ii. iii. iv. v. xxi. and xxii. may be profitably read in 
 the family ; as also chap. vi. and chap. vii. from the 
 9th verse to the end ; and chap. xix. to the end of the 
 16th verse. — " He that hath an ear, let him hear what 
 the Spirit saith unto the churches." " Blessed is he 
 that readeth and they that hear the words of this 
 
Xll TO THE READER. 
 
 prophecy, and keep those things which are written 
 therein, for the time (of their fulfilment) is at hand." 
 
 Whenever peculiar circumstances render it necessary 
 to have family worship shorter than usual, rather 
 than the reading of the Scriptures should be wholly 
 omitted, instead of a chapter read a short Psalm, or a 
 portion of Psalm cxix. : and if every Sunday morning 
 one of these Psalms, xxvii. xlv. xlviii. lxvi. lxxii. 
 lxxxiv. xcii. xciii. xcv. xcvi. c. cxviii. cxxii. cxxxii. 
 cxxxviii. or cxlvii., were read instead of the regular 
 chapter, such a change might be very agreeable, as 
 well as profitable, and tend to excite that devotion, 
 which is so acceptable to God, and beneficial to the 
 soul. After reading the Scriptures, let the prayer be 
 read, in a manner so slow and impressive that the weight 
 and importance of every petition may be felt whilst it is 
 being offered up to that God who " heareth prayer." 
 
 Family worship, both in the time and manner of it, 
 should be always conducted with as much regularity 
 as possible. Having fixed the most convenient hour, 
 it should be very strictly observed, and no one be 
 absent but from absolute necessity. For any part of a 
 family to be sometimes present, and at other times 
 absent, just as it may happen, is to manifest towards a 
 sacred duty an indifference which must tend to destroy 
 (and especially in your children and servants) that 
 reverence for its sanctity and importance with which 
 their minds cannot be too deeply impressed. And 
 sometimes to read the word of God, and at other times 
 not, is certainly contrary to that order which the 
 Apostle commanded, and which should regulate the 
 pious services of the Christian family, no less than 
 those of public worship. 
 
TO THE READER. Xlii 
 
 In family worship, there is nothing more to be 
 guarded against than deadness and formality ; and these 
 evils, which are so much to be dreaded, will gradually 
 steal upon us, unless prayer and watchfulness be 
 inseparably united: for, if our spiritual adversary 
 cannot prevent our attending to any Christian duty, 
 he will certainly try to hinder us from enjoying it, or 
 deriving any benefit from it. And lest he should 
 thus get an advantage over us, I would not that we 
 should be ignorant of his devices, or unwatchful 
 against them. Seeking the glory of God, and the 
 good of our souls, this, and every other act of religious 
 worship, should be accompanied with that seriousness 
 and devotion without which our prayers will be unac- 
 ceptable in the sight of God, and bring down a curse 
 upon us, instead of a blessing : for " God is a Spirit ; 
 and they that worship him must worship him in spirit 
 and in truth." Let us, then, accustom ourselves to 
 enter on the worship of God with serious reflection, 
 and with silent ejaculations for the gracious presence of 
 Christ, and the quickening influence of the Holy 
 Spirit ; that God in all things may be glorified through 
 Jesus Christ, and our souls strengthened and refreshed 
 for his service, in the faithful and conscientious dis- 
 charge of those duties of life to which in His providence 
 he hath been pleased to call us. 
 
 Rejoicing in the various means now employed to 
 make known the salvation of Christ to all nations, the 
 Author has added "A Prayer for the Increase and 
 Prosperity of Christ's Church and Kingdom," which 
 he hopes will be frequently and fervently offered up in 
 private, as well as in the family. For though a Paul 
 B 
 
XIV TO THE READER. 
 
 should plant and an Apollos water, it is only God that 
 can give the increase ; and unless the reading and the 
 preaching of his word be attended with the enlighten- 
 ing and quickening power of the Holy Spirit, all will 
 he in vain, and countless millions will still live without 
 God, and die without hope. 
 
 The Prayer before and the Prayer after receiving 
 the Lord's Supper, will, it is hoped, with the Hymns 
 which have been added, be acceptable and useful to 
 the pious communicant. 
 
 And let the Lord's Prayer, as it is paraphrased, be 
 occasionally read, in order that your family may learn 
 how much is expressed and contained in that short 
 but comprehensive form, with which our blessed Lord 
 himself first taught his disciples to pray. 
 
 That your children may be early taught to pray for 
 themselves, two prayers have been added for their 
 benefit, in language and sentiments adapted to their 
 infant minds. It is to be regretted that some persons 
 should teach their children to repeat the Apostles' 
 Creed as a prayer. It is not a prayer ; it does not 
 contain one confession of sin, petition for mercy, or 
 thanksgiving for blessings received. It is highly 
 proper that the members of the same communion 
 should unite in one profession of faith ; and in the 
 times which are past, when so few of the poor could 
 read, we must allow it to have been a very instructive 
 part of public worship, and in all ages it will tend to 
 preserve the purity of the Christian faith. But what 
 it becomes a congregation to repeat professedly joined 
 together in the same mind and in the same judgment, 
 was never designed for Private Devotion ; and those 
 
TO THE READER. xv 
 
 parents who teach their children to say the Belief (as 
 they call the Creed), and to consider it a prayer, are 
 very greatly mistaken, and in an error which it is the 
 design of these observations to correct ; and this 
 design would be greatly promoted, if the teachers in 
 Sunday Schools would inquire of their children what 
 prayers they have learnt, and instruct them in the 
 nature of a duty so important. 
 
 The short petitions, commonly called Ejaculations, 
 because silently and suddenly darted up to Heaven, 
 will, it is hoped, be committed to memory, and be 
 frequently used, according as you stand in need. For, 
 regarding ourselves as strangers and pilgrims on the 
 earth, we should keep up a constant communion with 
 Heaven, and be continually lifting up our souls in 
 prayer and praise. 
 
 The Hymns on Prayer, with which this little work 
 concludes, throw so much light on the subject, and are 
 so instructive and interesting, that no apology for 
 their insertion can be necessary. 
 
 The writer is fully sensible that the Prayers with 
 which the reader is presented are " short" — and such, 
 indeed, for many reasons, he designed them to be — 
 but he hopes that they will be found in reality much 
 longer than they appear. Many excellent prayers for 
 families being so justly objected to on account of their 
 length, he made it his particular study to be as con- 
 cise as possible ; that, let the engagements of a family 
 be what they may, it might be impossible, with such 
 short prayers, to plead a want of time for the use of 
 them. There is a time for all things — a time for pri- 
 vate devotion, for family prayer, and for public worship 
 
XVI TO THE READER. 
 
 — and the Christian who feels the value of his soul, 
 and has a just estimate of his privileges, will give to 
 each its due proportion of time, and " pray to God 
 alway." (Acts x. 2.) 
 
 It is hoped that these prayers will not prove the 
 less useful or acceptable, because in some instances 
 the author has availed himself of the writings of others. 
 In preparing what he now presents to the reader, he 
 had no other object than to do good ; and good, he 
 trusts, will be the effect of it. To those who may 
 wish at any time to have another book of Family 
 Prayers, in order that the worship of God in their 
 families may be occasionally varied, he would recom- 
 mend " Knight's," as one of the best he is acquainted 
 with.* The two " Prayers to be used in Families, as an 
 occasional substitute or addition in whole, or in part, 
 to any of the preceding" will, it is hoped, from their ful- 
 ness and their division into parts, afford a very con- 
 siderable variety, from day to day, for those who may 
 consider it desirable. Any or all of the divisions of 
 one of these prayers, may be used with or instead of 
 either of the others for that purpose. 
 
 And let no one hesitate to use a form of prayer, if 
 he is thereby enabled to conduct his family worship 
 more comfortably to himself, and no less beneficially 
 to those whose good it is his object to promote. Our 
 desires must be expressed ; and if we meet with a 
 suitable form of prayer, we make the expressions our 
 own whenever we use them ; so that the thoughts 
 become the thoughts of our own hearts, as much as 
 if they were extemporaneous, and those words cannot 
 be unacceptable to God which express the desires of 
 
 * Also "CotterilFs Prayers." and " Wilberforce's Prayers" 
 
TO THE READER. XV11 
 
 our hearts after the promised blessings of his Gospel : 
 for " this is the will of God, even our sanctification.' , 
 To reject a form of sound words merely because it is 
 a form, manifests that ignorant and prejudiced state 
 of mind which is to be pitied, as presenting those 
 impediments to conviction which are not to be over- 
 come by the mildest persuasion or the most invincible 
 reasoning. But whether family worship be conducted 
 with or without a form, it is a just cause of thankful- 
 ness to every serious Christian, that a duty so impor- 
 tant is becoming more general, and that the pious 
 example of Abraham, " the friend of God," is more 
 universally observed : for, wherever Abraham and 
 the Patriarchs had a tent, there God had an altar ; 
 and they went in and out before their households, 
 patterns of faith and godliness. TTe are, indeed, fully 
 assured of Abraham's pious regard to the spiritual wel- 
 fare of his family ; and we may well admire his courage 
 and his constancy in worshipping God as "he went 
 from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to 
 another people," when we consider the state of those 
 nations and kingdoms through which he passed, and 
 before whom he boldly pitched his tent and built his 
 altar, and called upon the name of the Lord. To 
 them his God was unknown ; and hatred and derision 
 were all that could be expected from them. Under 
 all these trials of his faith how honorable was the 
 testimony he received from Him who " searcheth the 
 heart," and whose " eyes are in every place, behold- 
 ing the evil and the good!" "I know him, that he 
 will command his children, and his household after 
 him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord." Let 
 
 B2 
 
XV111 TO THE READER. 
 
 all, then, who would say in truth, "We have Abra- 
 ham," the father of the faithful, " to our father," 
 walk in his steps ; and seek for themselves and for 
 their children that " city which hath foundations, 
 whose builder and maker is God ;" that city which 
 Abraham once "looked for," and now enjoys. And 
 may the Lord hasten that happy time, when every 
 Tent shall have its Altar, and every head of a family 
 be the priest to present its daily sacrifices of prayer 
 and praise, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, our 
 only Mediator, and Advocate: to whom, with the Father 
 and the Holy Spirit, be ascribed, as is most due, all 
 honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen and Amen. 
 
CONCLUDING PRAYERS. XIX 
 
 i^vUE- Father, who art in heaven ; hallowed be thy 
 ^ Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
 on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our 
 daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we for- 
 give those that trespass against us. And lead us not 
 into temptation : But deliver us from evil. For thine 
 is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 rpHE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jhe love 
 -*- of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be 
 with us all evermore. Amen. 
 
 Y~^ RACE, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, 
 ^ and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, and 
 from the Holy Ghost the Comforter, be unto us, and 
 all whom we should remember, now and for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 npHE blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the 
 -*- Son, and the Holy Ghost, \ 
 with us now and ever. Amen. 
 
 Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon us, and remain 
 
 ry^HE Lord bless us and keep us : the Lord make 
 ■*" his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto 
 us ; the Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and 
 give us peace, both now and evermore. Amen. 
 
 r^ OD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, 
 ^ bless, preserve, and keep us : the Lord merci- 
 fully with his favour look upon us ; and so fill us with 
 all spiritual benediction and grace, that we may so 
 live in this life that in the world to come we may 
 have life everlasting. Amen. 
 
HYMN. 
 
 1 T)RAYER is the soul's sincere desire, 
 
 Uttered or unexpressed ; 
 The motion of a hidden fire, 
 That trembles in the breast. 
 
 2 Prayer is the burden of sigh, 
 
 The falling of a tear, 
 The upward glancing of an eye, 
 When none but God is near. 
 
 3 Prayer is the simplest form of speech 
 
 That infant lips can try ; 
 Prayer the sublimest strains that reach 
 The Majesty on high. 
 
 4 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, 
 
 The Christian's native air, 
 His watchword at the gates of death ; 
 He enters heaven with prayer. 
 
 5 Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice, 
 
 Returning from his ways ; 
 While angels in their songs rejoice, 
 And say, "Behold, he prays !" 
 
 6 The saints, in prayer, appear as one 
 
 In word, and deed, and mind, 
 When with the Father and his Son 
 Their fellowship they find. 
 
 7 Nor prayer is made on earth alone, 
 
 The Holy Spirit pleads ; 
 And Jesus, on th' eternal throne, 
 For sinners intercedes. 
 
 8 Thou, by whom we come to God, 
 
 The Life, the Truth, the Way, 
 The path of prayer Thyself hast trod ; 
 ( 20 ) Lord, teach us how to pray, 
 
FAMILY PRAYERS. 
 
 WHICH HAY BE USED AS PRIVATE PRAYERS BY SAYING 
 I FOR VV r E AND ME FOR US. 
 
 SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 /^RACIOUS God, may we ever consider 
 it not only our duty, but our privilege, to 
 worship thee. Grant us a grateful sense of 
 thy mercies, and help us to praise thee for 
 them. Give us grace to welcome this holy 
 day with joy, and make us diligent to improve 
 its sacred hours, to the glory of thy Name, 
 and the salvation of our souls. 
 
 We praise thee for permitting us to behold 
 another Sabbath. Thou hast in mercy pre- 
 served us through the night ; and we beseech 
 thee. O Lord, to bless us on this thy day w T ith 
 a spiritual, heavenly frame of mind ! May 
 we never neglect thy holy worship, or be 
 lukewarm in thy blessed service ; but may we 
 always keep thy Sabbaths, and reverence thy 
 sanctuary. May we be willing to deny our- 
 
 21 
 
22 SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 selves any pleasure, or to suffer any loss, 
 rather than break thy commandments, which 
 are holy, just, and good. Help us to watch 
 over our thoughts, words, and works, remem- 
 bering the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. 
 
 In public and in private, give us grace to 
 worship thee, O God, in spirit and in truth. 
 O Lord, pardon our sins, sanctify our hearts, 
 and make us meet to serve thee here, and to 
 praise thee for ever hereafter. Cheer us with 
 the light of thy countenance, and refresh us 
 with the dew of thy blessing. 
 
 Go with us, O Lord, we beseech thee, to 
 thy house of prayer. Grant us grace there 
 to confess our sins with godly sorrow ; to 
 pray in faith ; and to offer up our praises 
 with unfeigned gratitude and joy. May w T e 
 come before thy presence with thanksgiving, 
 and show ourselves glad in thee with psalms. 
 
 Look down with tender mercy on all those 
 w r ho, by sickness or any other adversity, may 
 be kept from thy house of prayer. Assist 
 them to worship thee, and cause them to 
 rejoice that thou art every wmere present to 
 hear and answer their supplications. 
 
 Bless all thy faithful ministers, and make 
 them wise to win souls to Christ. Send 
 
SUNDAY MORNING. 
 
 forth more labourers into Ihy vineyard. 
 Bless especially, those who are preaching 
 the Gospel in heathen and distant lands. 
 May all nations hear and receive thy holy 
 word : and may there be added to the church, 
 daily, numbers of such as shall be saved. 
 
 Have compassion on the Jews. Pity, O 
 Lord, the despised outcasts of Israel. Take 
 away their shame and their reproach. Give 
 them faith to believe in Jesus as their 
 anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. Gather 
 them out of all nations whither thou hast 
 driven them, and speedily fulfil to them that 
 gracious promise of thy word " I will be 
 your God, and ye shall be my people." 
 
 Cause thy holy w^ord to come this day with 
 power to our souls, and to the souls of our 
 fellow-worshippers. Save and deliver us, O 
 Lord, from vain and wandering thoughts. 
 May we be serious and devout in thy service, 
 and rejoice in thy favour and blessing. 
 
 And whilst we thankfully embrace every 
 opportunity of public worship, grant that we 
 may grow in grace and in the knowledge of 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; and may 
 his love constrain us henceforth to live not 
 unto ourselves, but unto him, who died for 
 
24 SUNDAY EVENING* 
 
 us, and rose again : to whom, with thee, O 
 Father, and thee, O Holy Spirit, be ascribed all 
 praise, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. 
 
 SUNDAY EVENING. 
 
 "DLESSED Lord, give us grace to review 
 with gratitude the mercies which we have 
 this day received. Praised be thy holy Name 
 for every Sabbath we enjoy. May the 
 prayers we present, and the praises we offer, 
 be always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, 
 our Strength and our Redeemer. 
 
 For thy Name's sake, O Lord, and for 
 Jesus Christ's sake, be gracious and merciful 
 unto us. All our sins are known to thee : 
 Do thou, O Lord, forgive them. All our wants 
 are before thee : O, do thou supply them. 
 
 Heavenly Father, thou hast been pleased 
 to favour us beyond millions of our fallen 
 race, and to enlighten us with the knowledge 
 of thy word : O that we may thankfully re- 
 ceive thy blessings, and diligently improve 
 them. Give us grace to live a life of faith 
 in thee, and devotedness to thee. Let us 
 
SUNDAY EVENING. 25 
 
 not be Christians in word and in tongue only, 
 but in deed and in truth. 
 
 Cherish in us, we beseech thee, whatever 
 holy desires, or pious resolutions, thy word 
 and Spirit may have created in us this day. 
 Let us not be forgetful hearers, but doers of 
 thy word. Make us watchful, that our 
 spiritual enemy may not come and take away 
 thy word out of our hearts, and destroy our 
 souls. O cause it to take deep root in our 
 hearts, and with its holy fruits to adorn our 
 lives. Let us not be of those who hear the 
 word with joy, and in time of temptation 
 or persecution fall away; nor let it be 
 choked with the cares, or the riches, or 
 the pleasures of this life ; but may we under- 
 stand it and keep it, and bring forth fruit 
 with patience. 
 
 Give us an increase of faith, hope, and 
 love. May our faith be strong in Christ, 
 to the honour of his name, and the salvation 
 of our souls. May our hope be sure and 
 steadfast. May our love, as a holy flame, 
 purify our hearts, and shine forth in our lives. 
 
 Command thy blessing, O Lord, to rest 
 abundantly on the labours of thy ministers. 
 May the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 
26 
 
 MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 have free course, and be glorified. Extend 
 his church and enlarge his kingdom. May 
 all nations come and worship before him, 
 and magnify his Name. 
 
 Bless, gracious Lord, our dear relations 
 and friends, and give them the same blessings 
 which we have asked for ourselves. 
 
 By thy great mercy defend us from all 
 perils and dangers of this night : may we 
 lie down in peace, and rest in safety. And 
 when our Sabbaths are ended here on earth, 
 may we enjoy an eternal Sabbath in heaven, 
 and rejoice for ever in the love of Jesus 
 Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. 
 
 MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 r\ THOU Father of mercies and God of 
 all comfort, incline our hearts to love 
 thee, and give us strength to serve thee. 
 Make us truly humble for all our sins : and 
 unfeignedly thankful for all thy mercies. 
 
 We have destroyed ourselves, but in thee 
 is our help. Help us, O God of our salva- 
 
MONDAY MORNING. 27 
 
 tion, for the glory of thy Name. O be mer- 
 ciful unto us, and deliver us from our sins, 
 for thy Name's sake. 
 
 We praise thee for the safety and comfort 
 of the past night, aud adore thee for all thy 
 renewed mercies to us this morning. May 
 we cheerfully renew the dedication of our- 
 selves to thee ; for thine we are, and thee w r e 
 ought to serve. Give us grace to love thee 
 truly, to serve thee faithfully, and to depend 
 on thee without wavering. 
 
 With prayer and watchfulness may we now 
 enter on the cares and the duties of life. 
 Preserve us, O Lord, from the evil that is in 
 the w T orld. May we remember thy word, 
 and bring forth the fruits of thy Spirit. 
 Grant us to be pure in heart and holy in 
 life. 
 
 Give thy blessing, O Lord, to all that thy 
 providence may call us to do, and grant us 
 resignation to all that thy wisdom may 
 appoint us to suffer. May w^e have no will 
 but thine, and no regard to any thing com- 
 pared with thy glory. 
 
 May thy love, O blessed Jesus, reign in 
 our hearts, and place the world under our 
 feet. Whilst we sojourn on the earth, may 
 
28 MONDAY MORNING. 
 
 we look forward to heaven as our rest, and 
 be daily travelling towards it as our home. 
 
 We humbly beseech thee, O Father, to 
 have mercy upon all men. Bless our Rulers 
 whom thou hast put in authority over us. 
 Bless the nation in which we live. Remem- 
 ber with thy most gracious favour, all who 
 are near and dear to us. Cause them to know 
 thy love, to rejoice in thy salvation, and to 
 live after thy commandments. 
 
 Be with us, we beseech thee, through this 
 day. Let thine arm defend and strengthen 
 us ; and let thy Holy Spirit be our guide and 
 comforter in all our ways. 
 
 Favourably with mercy hear these our 
 supplications and prayers, and vouchsafe to 
 accept our praises : through Jesus Christ 
 our only Mediator and Redeemer ; to whom 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour 
 and glory, world without end. 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 May grace, mercy, and peace, from God 
 the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour, and from the Holy Ghost the 
 Comforter, be unto us, and all who belong to 
 us, now and for ever. Jlmm. 
 
MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 r\ THOU in whom we live, and move, and 
 have our being ; may we reverence thy 
 glorious majesty, and adore thine infinite 
 mercy. Assist us by thy grace when we 
 come into thy presence. May we never draw 
 near to thee, O Lord, with our mouths, or 
 profess to honour thee with our lips, whilst 
 our hearts are far from thee ; but may we 
 serve thee acceptably, with reverence and 
 godly fear. Whenever we ask for spiritual 
 blessings, may we deeply feel our need of 
 them ; and may it be the earnest desire of 
 our souls to receive them. 
 
 We beseech thee, gracious God, to pardon 
 al] our sins. We confess our guilt : we have 
 nothing to plead but thy promises. O be 
 merciful unto us, for the glory of thy Name. 
 Restore our souls, for we have sinned against 
 thee. Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be 
 healed ; save us, and we shall be saved ; for 
 thou art our praise, and our hope is in thy 
 mercy. May we be justified by faith, and 
 have peace with thee, O God, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 C2 29 
 
30 MONDAY EVENING. 
 
 O blessed Jesus, deliver us from the guilt 
 and power of sin : let it have no dominion 
 over us : but grant that we, being made free 
 from sin, may be thy servants, have our fruit 
 unto holiness, and our end everlasting life. 
 
 Make us careful, O Lord, to redeem our 
 time. Keep us mindful of death and eter- 
 nity ; nor let us ever forget that we must 
 soon lie down, to rise up no more in this 
 world. When earthly comforts fail us, then 
 grant us to rejoice the more in spiritual 
 blessings. And when we die, may we fall 
 asleep in Jesus, the life of them that believe, 
 and the resurrection of the dead : may w^e go 
 down to the grave full of the blessed hope of 
 eternal life. 
 
 To thy mercy and love, O heavenly Father, 
 we now commend ourselves. Watch over us, 
 O thou Shepherd of Israel. Keep us by 
 night and by day. Let thine eye be ever 
 upon us, and thine everlasting arms round 
 about us. Preserve us from the unholy 
 designs of wicked men and evil spirits. Let 
 no evil happen unto us. May our sleep be 
 sweet and refreshing. And grant that whether 
 we sleep or wake, live or die, w T e may be 
 thine in Christ Jesus. 
 
TUESDAY MORNING. 
 
 31 
 
 Bless, we beseech thee, all whom we should 
 remember before thee ; and do for us, for our 
 dear relations and friends, for all men and 
 our country, and for the increase of thy true 
 religion, abundantly above all that we are 
 able to ask or think ; for Jesus Christ's sake : 
 in whose name and words w r e further pray, 
 saying, 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 May grace, mercy, and peace, &c. 
 
 TUESDAY MORNING. 
 
 (\ LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty 
 and everlasting God, who hast safely 
 brought us to the beginning of this day, 
 what shall we render unto thee for all thy 
 benefits conferred upon us ! Adored be thy 
 mercy for all the blessings we are continually 
 receiving from thee. How hast thou renewed 
 our lives and our mercies to us this morning ! 
 May all that is within us bless thy holy 
 name. O put thy Spirit within us, and cause 
 us to walk in thy statutes. Give us grace to 
 glorify thee in our bodies and in our spirits^ 
 which are thine. 
 
32 TUESDAY MORNING. 
 
 We praise thee, O God, for the unspeakable 
 gift of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 Grant us so to believe in him, that we may 
 have life through his Name. 
 
 We praise thee for the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost. May our bodies be the temples of 
 his continual abode. Let us not walk ac- 
 cording to the course of this world, according 
 to the spirit that worketh in the children of 
 disobedience ; but, as the children of God, 
 may we be led by the Spirit of God, and 
 rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Let us 
 not resist or grieve thy Holy Spirit, but in 
 all things obey his godly motions, to thy 
 glory, and to our comfort and salvation. May 
 our understanding be enlightened, our hearts 
 sanctified, and our wills subdued, according 
 to the working of his mighty power. 
 
 Be with us this day, to bless and uphold 
 our souls. Grant us the joy of faith, the 
 patience of hope, and the comfort of love ; 
 that we may rejoice in thy mercy, and give 
 praise to thy Name. Save and deliver us 
 from all the evils w^hich we feel or fear, or 
 cause them to work together for our good. 
 Compass us about with thy favour as with a 
 shield. Let thy loving-kindness and thy 
 truth always preserve us. 
 
TUESDAY MORNING. 33 
 
 Make us diligent, we pray thee, in tne 
 discharge of our temporal and spiritual 
 duties. Incline us so to seek thy kingdom 
 and righteousness, that all other things may be 
 added unto us. Make us watchful and cir- 
 cumspect, ever remembering that thou, O 
 God, seest us. In silent prayer and praise 
 may we lift up our hearts to thee, and have 
 frequent communion with thee. Give us 
 grace to set an infinite value upon our souls. 
 In the midst of life, may we think on death, 
 judgment, and eternity ; and give us all dili- 
 gence to be found of Christ, in peace with 
 God, without spot and blameless. 
 
 O Almighty Lord and everlasting God, 
 vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, 
 and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in 
 the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy 
 commandments ; that, through thy most 
 mighty protection, both here and ever, we 
 may be preserved in body and soul : through 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, 
 the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon us, 
 and upon all whom we should remember, 
 now and for ever. Amen. 
 
TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 Q ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver 
 of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual 
 grace, the Author of everlasting life, we bow 
 down before thee this evening : and we 
 beseech thee to accept and bless us, for the 
 alone sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour. Assist us to draw near to 
 thee, and grant us to enjoy communion with 
 thee. 
 
 We praise thee for all thy mercies ; and we 
 beseech thee to forgive us all our sins, which 
 are more than we can number, and greater 
 than we can express ; for in many things we 
 offend, and that continually. Grant us daily 
 repentance toward thee, O God, and faith 
 toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, 
 O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving- 
 kindnesses, for they have been ever of old. 
 Remember not the sins of our youth, nor 
 our transgressions ; but according to thy 
 mercy remember thou us, for thy goodness' 
 sake, O Lord. Heal all our backslidings, 
 receive us graciously, and love us freely. 
 
 Give us grace to renounce the world ; make 
 34 
 
TUESDAY EVENING. 35 
 
 us willing to crucify the flesh ; and strengthen 
 us to resist the devil. Help us to deny our- 
 selves, to take up our cross, and to follow 
 Christ. Preserve us from every thing that 
 would dishonour his holy Name. May we 
 depart from all iniquity, and avoid every 
 temptation to sin. Give us to see the evil of 
 sin in the death of Christ, and fill us with 
 holy zeal and indignation against it. Create 
 in us clean hearts, O God, and renew right 
 spirits within us. Make us more humble, 
 more thankful, more holy. 
 
 We beseech thee, O Lord, to bless our 
 Rulers and to endue their counsel with Thy 
 wisdom. We pray thee also to be gracious 
 and favourable to our country. O may it ever 
 abound with that righteousness which exalteth 
 a nation. 
 
 Bless the ministers of thy glorious Gospel 
 and enable them rightly to divide the word of 
 truth. Give them grace to warn the unruly, 
 to comfort the feeble-minded, to support the 
 weak, and to be patient toward all men. 
 
 Bless, Lord, all our dear relations and 
 friends. Extend to them, we beseech thee, thy 
 grace and favour. Give them, for Christ's sake, 
 every blessing needful to their salvation. 
 
36 TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 Have mercy upon all men. Comfort the 
 sick. Succour the tempted. Relieve the 
 oppressed. Be the Father of the fatherless, 
 and the God of the widow. Give joy to 
 those who mourn for sin. Bind up the 
 broken-hearted, and save such as be of a 
 contrite spirit; giving them everlasting con- 
 solation and good hope, through thy grace 
 and mercy in Christ Jesus. 
 
 Into thy hands we now commend ourselves, 
 our souls and bodies. Enable us, O Lord, to 
 bless and praise thee for all that we have 
 received from thee : and while we rely upon 
 thy mercy, may we ever seek thy honour and 
 glory : through our only Mediator and Advo- 
 cate, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, 
 the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon us 
 and upon all w T hom we should remember, 
 now and for ever. Amw. 
 
WEDNESDAY MORNING. 
 
 /GRACIOUS God, thou hast spared us to 
 see the light of another day. May we 
 "approach thy throne, rejoicing in thee, and 
 ascribing all our salvation to thee. 
 
 We thank thee, O Lord, for all thy mercies 
 renewed to us this morning. May they 
 increase in us a renewed sense of thy love 
 to our souls. Draw out our desires after 
 thee, and fix our affections upon thee. May 
 we begin this day in thy strength, pass 
 through it in thy fear and love, and end it to 
 thy glory. 
 
 We praise thee for thy holy word, which 
 thou hast given to be a lamp unto our feet, 
 and a light unto our paths. May we walk as 
 children of the light ; and may our cheerful 
 obedience to thy will, prove to ourselves and 
 others that we partake of thy grace. 
 
 We bless thee, O Lord, for such a fountain 
 of wisdom and holiness ; and we pray, that in 
 all our troubles we may hope in thy word, 
 and derive all our comfort from it. May it 
 remove our doubts and calm our fears, and 
 show us the way wherein we should go. 
 D 37 
 
38 WEDNESDAY MORNING. 
 
 When our souls cleave to the dust, may we 
 be upheld by its quickening and sanctifying 
 power. May it dwell in us richly, in all 
 wisdom and spiritual understanding. May 
 we Jove its precepts, fear its threatenings, and 
 believe its promises, to the saving of our souls. 
 
 Incline us to search the Scriptures daily,. 
 May we not only read, but also mark, learn, 
 and inwardly digest them ; and know, to our 
 peace and joy, that blessed Jesus of whom 
 they testify. Grant that we may have fre- 
 quent occasions to rejoice, and to say of thy 
 words, They are spirit and they are life. 
 
 We pray thee, O Lord, to send forth thy 
 light and thy truth to the nations that are 
 sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of 
 death. Bless all the societies established in 
 this land for the making known the reve- 
 lation of thy will. Make them the glory of 
 our land, and the joy of the whole earth. 
 Give to all who are engaged in these labours 
 wisdom, zeal, humility, and love. 
 
 And as we pray for the spread of thy word 
 at home and abroad, so we beseech thee also to 
 inspire continually the universal church 
 with the spirit of truth, unity and concord: 
 and grant that all they that do confess thy 
 
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 39 
 
 holy Name, may agree in the truth of thy 
 holy word, and live in unity and godly love. 
 
 And now, O Lord, while we offer up our 
 morning sacrifice of praise for all thy mercies, 
 we beseech thee to forgive us all our sins, 
 and to bless, preserve, and keep us this day, 
 through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
 
 Our Father^ &c. The grace, &c. 
 
 o 
 
 WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 THOU that hearest prayer, pour down 
 upon us the Spirit of grace and of 
 supplication. Teach us how to pray. Help us 
 to make known our wants unto thee, who 
 alone canst supply them. Enable us so to 
 ask, that we may receive, and so to seek 
 that we may find. May we pray in the 
 Spirit, and be accepted of thee, O heavenly 
 Father, through thy beloved Son Jesus Christ 
 onr Saviour. Through him may we obtain 
 mercy, and find grace to help in every time 
 of need. 
 
 May we always approach thee in humility 
 and sincerity ; for the prayer of the upright 
 is thy delight. Let us not regard iniquity in 
 
40 
 
 WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 our hearts ; for if we do, thou wilt not hear 
 us. 
 
 May we pray in faith, and never doubt thy 
 power or will to save all who come to thee by 
 Jesus Christ. O help us to come to thee in 
 his Name, and to plead the atonement of his 
 precious blood. In all our prayers may we 
 rely on his gracious mediation, and trust in 
 his all-prevailing intercession. 
 
 May we pray without fainting, and h^ve 
 strength to pursue our heavenly course with- 
 out weariness, Grant us to be more frequent 
 and more earnest in our prayers ; and be thou 
 graciously pleased to answer them, O Lord, 
 according to the multitude of thy tender 
 mercies. 
 
 Pardon our sins ; and daily renew us, we 
 beseech thee, after the image of Christ Jesus 
 our Lord. Sanctify our hearts, and satisfy 
 our souls with thy mercy. 
 
 But whilst we pray for ourselves, let us 
 never be unmindful of others. Look down 
 O Lord, on our dear relations and friends, 
 and visit them w T ith thy salvation. May it 
 be their privilege to know thee, and their 
 blessedness to rejoice in thee. 
 
 Comfort and succour all them who in 
 
WEDNESDAY EVENING. 
 
 41 
 
 this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, 
 need, sickness, or any other adversity. 
 
 Bless our Rulers and our country. Pour 
 out upon us the spirit of repentance and 
 reformation. Grant us to be a people fearing 
 thee and working righteousness. 
 
 Send forth the riches of thy grace, and 
 make known to all nations the saving power 
 of thy word, Let all the ends of the earth 
 see the salvation of our God, and rejoice in 
 Jesus our exalted Prince and Saviour. 
 
 Finally, Lord, we bless thee for all thy 
 goodness to us ; and we beseech thee still to 
 preserve and keep us from all evil. By night 
 and by day may we be under the continual 
 protection of thy good providence. Extend 
 thy love to us, and thy care over us this 
 night; and give us grace to pray to thee 
 without ceasing, till we are called to praise 
 thee for ever in heaven ; through Jesus Christ, 
 our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen* 
 
 Our Father, &c. The grace, &c. 
 
 D2 
 
THURSDAY MORNING. 
 
 (^ LORIOUS Jehovah, give us such a sense 
 of thy majesty and of thy mercy, as 
 shall fill us with deep humility. Thou art 
 holy, but we are unholy by nature and by 
 practice. Lord, have mercy upon us ; and 
 for Christ's sake pardon our sins, and make 
 clean our hearts within us. Give us grace to 
 watch against the first motions of sin in the 
 heart, and strengthen us to suppress and 
 overcome them. 
 
 Assist us by thy grace to watch over 
 our thoughts, words, and works. May we 
 hate vain thoughts, and daily become more 
 spiritual and heavenly-minded. Help us to 
 keep our tongues as it were with a bridle. 
 May we be slow to speak, slow to wrath. 
 Save us, O Lord, from a contentious spirit, 
 and grant that we may speak evil of no man. 
 Suffer us not by word or deed to grieve thy 
 blessed Spirit, or dishonour our Christian 
 name. Grant us to live in the daily exercise 
 of that pure and peaceable wisdom, which 
 cometh down from above. May we show 
 forth our wisdom in refraining our lips from 
 every evil word, and our feet from every evil 
 42 
 
THURSDAY MORNING. 43 
 
 way. Let us carefully watch the principle, 
 and mark the end of our actions. May love 
 to Christ be the principle, and his glory the 
 end, of all that we do. 
 
 Help us, O God of our salvation, to mor- 
 tify and subdue the pride and wickedness of 
 our hearts. Deliver us from self-seeking and 
 self-pleasing. Grant that we may be humble 
 in prosperity, and patient in adversity. Make us 
 willing to be last of all, or the servants of all 
 if so thou in all things mayest be glorified. 
 
 We beseech thee, O Lord, to bless and 
 defend our Rulers and our country. Continue 
 to us the pure light of thy holy Gospel. 
 Let there be peace and truth in our day : 
 yea, let truth and justice, religion and piety, 
 be established among us for all generations. 
 Bless all ranks and degrees of men. Make 
 the poor rich in faith, and the rich poor in 
 spirit. Bless and prosper abundantly the 
 ministers of thy holy word. Bless them in 
 their own souls, and grant them to be a 
 blessing to the souls of others. Send forth 
 the messengers of thy grace to all nations 
 and fill the earth with the knowledge and 
 love of Christ our Saviour. 
 
 We praise thee, O Lord, for thy preserving 
 
44 THURSDAY EVENING. 
 
 care, which hath been over us to the present 
 moment. We bless thee for the mercies of 
 the past night, and for thy goodness to us 
 this morning. Give us grace to begin and 
 end every day with prayer and praise ; and, 
 vile as w T e are, and unw T orthy of the least of 
 all thy mercies, O do thou bless us, and 
 accept us in Jesus Christ, our only Mediator 
 and Redeemer ; who hath taught us to pray, 
 saying, Our Father, &c. 
 
 God the Father, God the Son, God the 
 Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep us : 
 the Lord mercifully w 7 ith his favour look upon 
 us, and so fill us with all spiritual benediction 
 and grace, that we may so live in this life, 
 that in the world to come we may have life 
 everlasting. Amen. 
 
 THURSDAY EVENING. 
 
 WE praise thee, O Lord, for all thy 
 mercies to us this day. Thou daily 
 pourest out thy benefits upon us. Blessed 
 be thy Name, O thou God of our salvation. 
 May we derive ail our joy and peace from 
 thee, and find all our comfort and happiness 
 
THURSDAY EVENING. 45 
 
 in living for thee. Establish, we pray thee, 
 that kingdom within us which is righteous- 
 ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
 In this dying world may our faith be in 
 Christ, the Resurrection and the life. In 
 this changing world, may we never be moved 
 away from the blessed hope of the Gospel. 
 Let not our faith be overthrown ; let not our 
 hope sink in despair ; let not our love fail 
 but may they be firmly fixed on Jesus Christ, 
 the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. 
 
 Lead us in the narrow path of eternal life, 
 and uphold our goings, that our footsteps 
 slip not. Enable us so to pass through this 
 world of sin and danger, that we may at last 
 reach the heavenly Canaan. O bring us to 
 that rest which remaineth for the people of 
 God. Whilst we live may we live unto thee, O 
 Lord ; and when we die may we die unto thee. 
 
 Bless us, O Lord, as a family. Forgive 
 us all our sins, and subdue in us every unholy 
 temper and disposition. May we so dwell in 
 love, that thou, the God of love and peace, 
 mayest be with us. Bless our dear friends. 
 Forgive our enemies, and turn their hearts; 
 and give us grace freely to forgive them, even 
 as we hope to be forgiven. Let the same 
 
46 THURSDAY EVENING. 
 
 mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. 
 Give us grace so to learn of Him, who was 
 meek and lowly in heart, that we may find 
 rest to our souls. 
 
 Be gracious and favourable, O Lord, to 
 our country. Let thy providence be our 
 defence, and thy presence our glory. Give 
 to all who are in authority w r isdom and 
 courage to use it to the honour of thy Name, 
 and the welfare of those whom thou hast put 
 in subjection under them. Grant to all w T ho 
 are in places of public trust, grace to be 
 faithful to the public interest. 
 
 Bless and prosper thy holy church universal, 
 and especially that part of it to which we 
 belong. Increase the number of thy faithful 
 people, and make them fruitful in every good 
 word and work. 
 
 Keep us mindful, O Lord, that the end 
 of all things is at hand. Let us not be weary 
 in well-doing, but may we be sober, and 
 watch unto prayer. 
 
 May we lie down this night reposing our 
 souls and bodies upon thy mercy and love, O 
 God our Saviour. And when our day of 
 grace is ended, then as faithful servants may 
 we enter into the joy of our Lord, and rejoice 
 
FRIDAY MORNING. 4? 
 
 in the glory of our blessed and exalted 
 Redeemer: to whom, with the Father and 
 the Holy Spirit, be ascribed everlasting praise. 
 Amen. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 God the Father, God the Son, &c. 
 
 FRIDAY MORNING. 
 
 f~\ THOU ever-blessed and glorious Je- 
 hovah, we are unworthy to come into 
 thy presence ; we are unworthy to call upon 
 thy Name ; w r e deserve nothing but thy wrath. 
 But with thee, O Lord, there is mercy, and 
 with thee is plenteous redemption. Save, 
 Lord, or we perish. Oh cast us not away 
 from thy presence. Incline thine ear, 
 and hear us. Grant unto us pardon and 
 peace, that w T e may serve thee with a quiet 
 mind. 
 
 Teach us thy ways, O Lord, and enable us 
 to walk in thy truth. Give us grace to delight 
 in thy law, which is holy, just and good. 
 May w T e be followers of thee, O God, as deai 
 children ; and walk in love, as Christ alsc 
 loved us, and gave himself for us. Prepare 
 
48 
 
 FRIDAY MORNING. 
 
 us for the duties and trials for which we may 
 be called, for we know not what a day may 
 bring forth. Let thy wisdom guide us, ami 
 thy power uphold and strengthen us. 
 
 Give us not up to the sinful desires of our 
 hearts, neither leave us to follow our vain 
 imaginations. Suffer not the enemies of our 
 peace and salvation to prevail against us. 
 But grant that we, walking in thy fear, and 
 in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, may enjoy 
 that peace which passeth understanding, and 
 which the world can neither give nor take 
 away. 
 
 Living in a world of sin and sorrow, we 
 bless thee, O Lord, for all thy servants 
 departed this life in thy faith and fear. Give 
 us grace to follow them, who through faith 
 and patience now inherit the promises. Help 
 us to fight the good fight of faith, that we 
 may lay hold on eternal life. 
 
 Regard with thy favour and blessing our 
 dear relations and friends. May they all 
 partake of thy grace here, and of everlasting 
 glory hereafter. 
 
 Be merciful to thy church and people, and 
 grant that, however dispersed or distressed, 
 they may all be united and comforted together 
 
FRIDAY MORNING. 
 
 49 
 
 in Christ. Supply the wants of all who 
 believe in his Name, and are devoted to his 
 service. In all times of their tribulation, 
 good Lord, deliver them. 
 
 Bless the ministers of the Gospel — all who 
 preach Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, 
 and the life. Add to their number, and 
 increase their faithfulness and zeal. May 
 they speak the truth in love ; and give them- 
 selves continually to prayer, and to the 
 ministry of the word. 
 
 Bless, gracious God, our country, 
 and all whom thy providence hath set 
 over us ; and may it be our holy determina- 
 tion to serve thee, O Lord, and to obey every 
 ordinance of man for thy sake. 
 
 Accept our praises, O Lord, for every 
 blessing we enjoy. May thy mercies draw 
 our hearts towards thee in gratitude, and 
 unite them to thee in love. Finally, we 
 beseech thee to bless us when we lie down 
 and when we rise up, and to bless us in our 
 going out and coming in, from this time forth 
 for evermore : through Jesus Christ our 
 Saviour ; in whose holy name and words we 
 farther pray, saying, 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 E [Blessing on next page] 
 
50 
 
 FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 The Lord bless us and keep us ; the Lord 
 make his face to shine upon us, and be 
 gracious unto us ; the Lord lift up his coun- 
 tenance upon us, and give us peace, both now 
 and evermore. Amen. 
 
 o 
 
 FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 LORD God of our salvation, from whom 
 alone all good things do come, we be- 
 seech thee to supply all our wants out of thy 
 fulness, and of thy tender mercy to pardon 
 all our sins. Our sins are many and great: 
 O Lord, forgive them. Our mercies are 
 innumerable and undeserved : O make us 
 truly thankful for them. 
 
 We live upon thy bountiful grace and 
 mercy : enable us, we beseech thee, to live to 
 thy honour and glory. May the love of thee 
 take full possession of our hearts, and be 
 manifested in our lives. Give us grace to 
 walk before thee in holiness and righteousness 
 all our days. 
 
 May we serve thee with a perfect heart, 
 and with a willing mind. Laying aside every 
 weight, with the sin that doth most easily 
 
FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 61 
 
 beset us, may we run with patience the race 
 that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the 
 Author and Finisher of our faith. 
 
 O God our Saviour, thou that givest 
 strength unto thy people, let us not faint or 
 be weary in our minds ; but do thou comfort 
 and support us, that we may steadfastly 
 endure unto the end. Whilst some are de- 
 parting from thee, give us grace to cleave to 
 thee with full purpose of heart ; that, being 
 faithful unto death, we may receive the crown 
 of glory which fadeth not away. 
 
 Save us, O God, from those covetous de- 
 sires which pierce the soul with many sorrows ; 
 and from that love of the world by which so 
 many are enslaved to its pleasures. Turn 
 away our eyes from beholding vanity, and 
 quicken thou us in thy way. Grant us to be 
 spiritually minded, which is life and peace. 
 
 Incline us to seek the glory of His Name, 
 whose tender mercy sought the salvation of 
 our souls : and may the care of our souls be 
 the chief concern of our lives. Oh that each 
 of us may say in truth, of thy beloved Son, 
 He is my beloved Saviour. May it be 
 manifest to us, that we are accepted of God 
 the Father, and redeemed of God the Son, 
 by being sanctified of God the Holy Ghost. 
 
52 
 
 FRIDAY EVENING. 
 
 Let the close of this and every day remind 
 us that all things are coming to an end. As 
 good servants of Christ, our blessed Lord and 
 Master, may we be always looking for his 
 coming. Grant that it may be our blessedness 
 to be found watching, and our reward to enter 
 into the joy of our Lord. Save us in the 
 hour of death ; and in the day of judgment, 
 good Lord, deliver us. 
 
 Give thy blessing, O Lord, to our Rulers, 
 and let it rest abundantly on our country. 
 Be gracious to our dear relations and friends, 
 and make them to be numbered with thy 
 saints in glory everlasting. 
 
 To thy fatherly care we now commend 
 ourselves. May we always abide under the 
 shadow of thy wings, and know to our peace 
 and joy, the God in whom we believe. And 
 should we arise in the morning, to enter again 
 on the duties of this life, may thy fear and 
 love dwell in our hearts, and influence all our 
 doings. May thy grace and mercy preserve 
 us from every evil way, and enable us so to 
 pass through things temporal, that we finally 
 lose not the things eternal. 
 
 We ask all in thy name, and for thy sake, 
 O blessed Jesus, who art ever worthy, with 
 
SATURDAY MORNING. 53 
 
 the Father and the Holy Spirit, to receive 
 
 equal honour and endless praise; &nd who 
 
 hast graciously taught us to pray, saying, 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 The Lord bless us and keep us, &c. 
 
 SATURDAY MORNING. 
 
 "DLESSED Lord, thy mercies are new 
 every morning. O help us to praise thee 
 for thy faithfulness and truth. 
 
 Preserved by thy goodness and mercy to 
 the beginning of this day, we bless thee for 
 thy care of us during the night. We praise 
 thee for all thy mercies, temporal and 
 spiritual, known and unknown. Gracious 
 God, we are inclined to forget thee, and 
 prone to depart from thee. Henceforth 
 enable us to set thee always before us ; and 
 whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we 
 do, to do all to thy glory. 
 
 We beseech thee, O Lord, to pardon all 
 our sins : cleanse us from their guilt, and 
 deliver us from their power. Show unto us 
 more of the vanity of the world, the evil of 
 sin, the worth of our souls, the glory of 
 Christ, and the beauty of holiness. 
 
 E2 
 
54 SATURDAY MORNING. 
 
 May thy blessed word be our rule, and thy 
 Holy Spirit our Guardian and Guide, in all 
 our ways. Let us never follow the multitude 
 to do evil. May we frequently and seriously 
 inquire what are we doing, and whither are 
 we going ? Make us careful to abstain from 
 all appearance of evil, that the ways of truth 
 and holiness may not, on our account, be 
 spoken against. O may it be our study to 
 adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
 things. 
 
 May we be zealous for the honour and glory 
 of his Name. Let us never feel cold or 
 indifferent to the cause of Christ and his 
 Gospel ; but may our hearts burn within us 
 to spread abroad the knowledge of His love, 
 who died that we might live, and who now 
 ever liveth to make intercession for us. 
 
 O let the earth be filled with the know- 
 ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 Blessed Jesus, seek and save the lost sheep 
 of the house of Israel, and bring the fulness 
 of the Gentiles into thy fold. Lead into the 
 w r ay of truth those who are wandering from 
 it ; and keep thy people, O Lord, steadfast in 
 the faith, and hope, and love of the Gospel ; 
 and that they may persevere unto the end, 
 grant them grace to take heed lest they fall. 
 
SATURDAY MORNING. 55 
 
 Bless and assist thy ministers this day in 
 meditating on thy word. To-morrow may 
 they all go forth in thy strength, and turn 
 many to righteousness. 
 
 We beseech thee, heavenly Father, to hear 
 the prayers of thy children, and to give thy 
 Holy Spirit to them that ask thee. Let those 
 that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee ; and 
 let such as love thy salvation say continually, 
 The Lord be magnified, who hath pleasure 
 in the prosperity of his servants. 
 
 Bless us, O Lord, we beseech thee, toge- 
 ther with our dear relations and friends. 
 Convict, convert, and save them forever. 
 Bless us, and we shall be blessed indeed. 
 Bless us and them with the knowledge of our- 
 selves as sinners, and of Christ Jesus as our 
 Lord and Saviour : to whom be glory, now 
 and for ever. Amen. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 May grace, mercy, and peace, from God 
 the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour, and from the Holy Ghost the 
 Comforter, be unto us, and all who belong to 
 us, now and for ever, tflmen. 
 
SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 f~\ THOU gracious and merciful God, 
 blessed be thy Name for preserving us 
 in a world of sin and danger. We praise 
 thee for having brought us in safety not only 
 to the end of another day, but also of another 
 week. 
 
 We bless thee, O Lord, for all the mercies 
 which we have received from thee ; and we 
 pray and beseech thee for Christ's sake to 
 pardon all the sins which we have committed 
 against thee. O blot them out of the book 
 of thy remembrance ; let them not appear 
 in judgment against us, but cleanse us from 
 their guilt in the precious blood of Christ our 
 Saviour. 
 
 Create and cherish in our souls a hungering 
 and thirsting after righteousness. By faith, 
 with thanksgiving, may we daily feed upon 
 the true Bread which came down from heaven. 
 May the Holy Spirit be in us as a well of 
 water, springing up unto everlasting life, in 
 holy desires and heavenly affections. Grant, 
 Lord, that we may never thirst after the 
 riches or the pleasures of the world ; neither 
 56 
 
SATURDAY EVENING. 57 
 
 let us be overcharged with its cares, lest that 
 day of Christ's appearing to judge the world 
 come upon us when we look not for it. 
 
 Keep us in safety, we beseech thee, this 
 night ; and should we see the light of another 
 Lord's Day help us, O Lord, to deny ourselves 
 all unnecessary sleep and self-indulgence. 
 Give us grace and strength to rise up early in 
 the morning. Early in the* morning may we 
 direct our prayers and praises unto thee, and 
 look up to the throne of thy grace in humble 
 expectation of thy mercy. May we redeem 
 from our beds some portion of time for prayer 
 and praise, that our souls may prosper and be 
 in health. 
 
 Prepare us for the sacred duties of the 
 Holy Day, Visit our souls when we awake, 
 with the light of thy heavenly grace. May 
 we arise strengthened and refreshed for thy 
 service. Draw out our desires after thee, 
 and raise our affections to thee. In private 
 devotion, in family prayer, and in public 
 worship, may we enjoy communion with thee, 
 O God, and know thy love to our souls, who 
 art gracious and full of compassion. 
 
 Bless thy ministers, and crown their labours 
 with success. Give them wisdom as well as 
 
58 SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 zeal. Fill them with love, and clothe them 
 with humility. 
 
 Bless and defend thy Church. Stir up thy 
 faithful people, O Lord, to pray for her 
 peace, and to labour for her prosperity. May 
 all who name the Name of Christ depart from 
 iniquity. Give to those who profess to abide 
 in him, grace to walk even as he walked. 
 May our whole life be a life of faith in and 
 obedience to Christ, the Son of God. 
 
 And now, gracious Lord, for all thy 
 patience with us, thy care over us, and thy 
 continual mercies to us, blessed be thy holy 
 Name for ever and ever : through Jesus 
 Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. 
 
 Our Father, &c. 
 
 May grace, mercy and peace, from God 
 the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour, and from the Holy Ghost the 
 Comforter, be unto us, and all who belong to 
 us, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
PRAYERS 
 
 TO BE USED IN FAMILIES AS AN" OCCASIONAL SUBSTITUTE 
 OB ADDITION" IN WHOLE OR IN PABT TO ANY OF THE 
 PRECEDING. 
 
 MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 ALMIGHTY and everlasting , 77 
 
 jCjl . Acknowledgment 
 
 God, in Whom We live and of God's mercy and 
 
 move and have our being ; we, £££££ 
 thy needy creatures, render thee mgMpast. 
 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. To thy 
 watchful providence we owe it,* * wh ? *** 
 
 -T ' ances of any kind 
 
 (that no disturbance hath come nigh tyou a family, 
 
 d-,-,. , . ., . instead of this. 
 
 welling: but, that we ^thatnotwith- 
 
 are brought in safety to the begin- standing our dan- 
 ning of this day.) For these thy brought in safety 
 mercies we bless and magnify thy * ft ^ e s ^ e ; innil3g 
 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. 
 
 (59) 
 
60 MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 Dedication of A ND, since it is of thy mercy, 0, 
 
 soul and bod, to gracious Father that anot her 
 
 * Gods service, with 9 7 
 
 a resolution, to be day is added to our lives ; we 
 
 growing daily in i -, j. , ,, , , 
 
 goodness. " ere dedicate both our souls and 
 
 our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, 
 righteous, and godly life : in which resolution, 
 do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen 
 us ; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in 
 grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 Prayer for groxe "RUT O God, who knOWest the 
 
 ^enable us to per- wea kness and corruption of 
 
 form that resolu- * 
 
 tton. our nature, and the manifold temp- 
 
 tations which we daily meet with ; we humbly 
 beseech thee to have compassion on our in- 
 firmities, and to give us the constant assistance 
 of thy Holy Spirit ; that we may be effec- 
 tually restrained from sin, and excited to our 
 duty. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread 
 of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of 
 thy goodness to us, as may make us both 
 afraid and ashamed to offend thee. And, 
 above all, keep in our mind a lively remem- 
 brance of that great day, in which we must 
 give a strict account of our thoughts, words, 
 and actions ; and according to the works done 
 
MORNING PRAYER. 61 
 
 in the body, be eternally rewarded or punished, 
 by him whom thou hast appointed the Judge 
 of quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 TN particular, we implore thy For grace to 
 
 -■- -, P . , guide and keep 
 
 grace and protection for the w tM following 
 ensuing day. Keep us temperate da v> and f° r 
 
 God's blessing on 
 
 in our meats and drinks, and dill- the business of the 
 gent in our several callings. Grant same - 
 us patience under any afflictions, thou shalt 
 see fit to lay on us, and minds always con- 
 tented with our present condition. Give us 
 grace to be just and upright in all * on Sunday 
 
 , ... . _ , , morning, instead 
 
 our dealings ; quiet and peaceable ; of thiS} saVi aild 
 full of compassion ; and ready to let thy Holy 
 
 1 m J Spirit accompany 
 
 do good to all men, according f o us to the place of 
 our abilities and opportunities.*^"™ 
 Direct us in all our ways *(and serious and atten- 
 
 ■ i -, n ii« tive, and raising 
 
 prosper the works of our hands in our mind3 from 
 the business of our several stations.) the thou s nts of 
 
 ' this world to the 
 
 Defend us from all dangers and consideration of 
 adversities ; and be graciously the next ' that 
 
 ° J W« may fervently 
 
 pleased to take us, and all things join in the nray- 
 belonging to us under thy fatherly J J £J 
 care and protection. These things, andnstento our 
 and whatever else thou shalt see SJKS 
 necessary and convenient to us, we t0 practise it. 
 
62 EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 humbly beg, through the merits and medi- 
 tation of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord and 
 Saviour. Amen. 
 
 rpHE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 the love of God, and the fellowship of 
 the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. 
 Amen. 
 
 EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 TVTOST merciful God, who art of 
 
 purer eyes than to behold iniqui- Confession of 
 
 , , ,_ sins,- with a pray 
 
 tyand hast promised forgiveness to er f or contrition 
 all those who confess and forsake and P ardon - 
 their sins ; we come before thee in 
 an humble sense of our own unwor- * HereIetMmwhn 
 thiness, acknowledging the mani- reads make a short 
 
 ni-,. . *> .-. •!, pause, that every 
 
 fold transgressions of thy righteous om may secretly 
 laws which we would now recall con f ess the sim 
 
 • a * ■„ ; A . and failings of 
 
 m thy presence, .but, O gracious that day. 
 Father, who desirest not the death of a sinner, 
 look upon us, we beseech thee, in mercy, and 
 forgive us all our transgressions. Make us 
 deeply sensible of the great evil of them ; and 
 work in us an hearty contrition ; that we may 
 
EVENING FRAYER. 63 
 
 obtain forgiveness at thy hands, who art ever 
 ready to receive humble and penitent sinners ; 
 for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, our only 
 Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 AND lest, through OUr OWn ^ay erf or grace 
 ° to reform and 
 
 frailty, or the temptations grwJ better. 
 which encompass us, we be drawn again into 
 sin, vouchsafe us, we beseech thee, the di- 
 rection and assistance of thy Holy Spirit. 
 Reform whatever is amiss in the temper and dis- 
 position of our souls ; that no unclean thoughts, 
 unlawful designs, or inordinate desires, may rest 
 there. Purge our hearts from envy, hatred, and 
 malice : that we may never suffer the sun to go 
 down upon our wrath ; but may always go to 
 our rest in peace, charity, and good- will, with a 
 conscience void of offence towards thee, and 
 towards men : That so, we may be preserved 
 pure and blameless, unto the coming of our 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 A ND accept, O Lord, our inter- 
 cessions for all mankind. Let ne 7 *«™- 
 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 
 
64 EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 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 spir- 
 itual, 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. 
 
 The Thanksgiving. ^0 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 
 
EVENING PRAYER. 65 
 
 provocations ; for all the directions, assis- 
 tances, 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 obedi- 
 ence to his laws, through w T hose merits and 
 intercession we received them all, thy Son 
 our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 IN particular, we beseech thee p * r r 
 £ J Prayer for God* 
 
 to continue thy gracious -p^°~ ^ rotectlont7irol ^ k 
 tectionto us this night. Defend ^V***** 
 us from all dangers and mischiefs and from 
 the fear of them ; that we may enjoy such 
 refreshing sleep as may fit us for the duties 
 of the following day. Make us ever mindful 
 of the time when we shall lie down in the 
 dust ; and grant us grace always to live in 
 such a state, that we may never be afraid to 
 die : so that, living and dying, we may be thine, 
 through the merits and satisfaction of thy Son 
 Christ Jesus, in whose name we offer up these 
 our imperfect prayers. Amen. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. 
 
 F2 
 
OCCASIONAL PRAYERS, 
 
 A PRAYER BEFORE 
 RECEIVING THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 /^.RACIOUS Lord, I am now invited to thy 
 table ; may I go to it with a broken and 
 a contrite heart. O blessed Jesus, may I look 
 upon thee, whom my sins have pierced, and 
 mourn. Grant to me pardon and peace, 
 through the atonement of thy precious blood. 
 Cleanse me from my sins, and clothe me with 
 thy righteousness. And while I feel my guilt 
 as a sinner, grant me, O thou crucified Saviour, 
 to rejoice in thy mercy. Increase my faith in 
 thee, and fill my soul with love to thee. 
 
 Let the bread, which I hope to receive, re- 
 mind me of thy body, which was broken for 
 our sins, and bruised for our iniquities ; and 
 may I feed on thee in my heart by faith, with 
 thanksgiving. May the wine bring to my 
 remembrance thy precious blood, which clean- 
 seth from all sin, and which was shed to make 
 reconciliation for iniquity. May I receive it 
 with thankfulness^ and be filled with all joy 
 and peace in believing, and abound in hope, 
 through the power of the Holy Ghost. May 
 I taking the bread and the wine, show my 
 66 
 
BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 67 
 
 utter dependence for salvation upon that death 
 upon the cross which they represent to my 
 soul. May I do all in remembrance of thee, 
 O Lord Jesus, and in obedience to thy word, 
 O thou Lamb of God, that madest peace by 
 the blood of thy cross, speak peace to my 
 soul ; and be thou graciously pleased to mani- 
 fest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the 
 world. 
 
 May I return from thy table, O Lord, 
 strengthened and refreshed for thy holy and 
 blessed service, Didst thou die for me? oh 
 let me live to thee. Give me grace to deny 
 myself, to take up my cross, and to follow 
 thee. Bought with a price which angels can- 
 not reckon, may I glorify thee both in my 
 body and in my spirit, which are thine. Help 
 me to crucify the flesh, with its affections 
 and lusts. Grant me to be more meek and 
 lowly in heart, and to be more spiritually 
 minded, which is life and peace. 
 
 Behold the sorrows of those who are filled 
 with groundless fears lest they should eat and 
 drink unworthily. Enable them to cast them- 
 selves upon Christ, and so discern the Lord's 
 body. Comfort those whom Satan would 
 drive to despair ; and give rest to all who are 
 
63 BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 weary and heavy laden with sin. Convince 
 of their guilt and misery those who will not 
 come to the feast which thou hast prepared ; 
 and have mercy upon those who may presume 
 to come without that preparation of heart 
 which is from thee, and consists in entire 
 surrender of soul and body to thee. Show 
 them their danger, whether they are madly 
 living in sin, or vainly trusting in their own 
 righteousness. 
 
 O thou divine Saviour, who knowest what 
 is in man, help me to judge, and try, and 
 examine myself, whether I be in the faith. 
 And when the tares shall no longer grow 
 together with the wheat, then may thy holy 
 angels gather me, with all thy redeemed, into 
 thy kingdom, to rejoice in thy love, and to 
 praise thy Name, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 * He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner 
 over me ivas love. " Cant. ii. 4. 
 
 1. T OWLY as Sharon's rose, and fair 
 "^ As lilies which the valleys bear, 
 My soul would be, to meet my Lord, 
 Belov'd and honour 'd and ador'd. 
 
 2. He leads me in the safe retreat, 
 Defended from the burning heat : 
 Whene'er I fainted, o'er my head 
 The banner of his love he spread. 
 
AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 69 
 
 3. With living bread and sacred wine 
 He cheers this sinking heart of mine ; 
 Confirms anew his covenant grace, 
 And fills me with abounding peace. 
 
 4. Oh never may that peace depart, 
 But dwell in me, and keep my heart ! 
 From thee I never would remove, 
 Nor grieve thee, nor offend thy love. 
 
 A PRAYER AFTER 
 RECEIVING THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 TTELP me, O blessed Jesus, to meditate on 
 thy love. Let it inspire my heart and 
 influence my life. Give me grace now to 
 renew that surrender of myself to thee, which 
 I made at thy table, and in the presence of 
 thy people. Let thy love in dying for me 
 constrain me to live more and more to thy 
 glory. May I feel those infinite obligations 
 by which I am bound to love and serve thee. 
 Redeemed, not with corruptible things, as 
 silver and gold, but with thy precious blood, 
 oh may I keep back nothing from thee, but 
 devote myself, and all that I have, unto thee. 
 Help me to give thee my heart ; and Ho thou 
 sanctify and cleanse it, to the glory of thy 
 Name. 
 
70 AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 
 
 O merciful Saviour, I praise thee for thy 
 dying love, which has been brought to my 
 remembrance this day. If any godly sorrow, 
 if any lively faith, were excited, not unto me, 
 
 Lord, not unto me, but unto thy Name, be 
 all the glory. Cherish every holy desire and 
 purpose of heart to do thy will, O God : let 
 them not be as the morning cloud or the early 
 dew which passeth away; but confirm and 
 strengthen that which thou hast wrought in 
 me. Graft in my heart the love of thy 
 Name ; increase in me true religion ; nourish 
 me with all goodness ; and of thy great mercy 
 keep me in the same. 
 
 And forasmuch as without thee I am not 
 able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy 
 Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule 
 my heart. May I hold such communion with 
 thee, my Saviour and my God, as may increase 
 me in my love and likeness to thee. Grant that 
 
 1 may daily become more meet for that blessed 
 world, where I shall no more desire such 
 pledges of thy love, or want such memorials 
 of thy grace, but shall see thee face to face, 
 and be 'filled with everlasting wonder, love, 
 and praise. 
 
 May all who have waited upon thee this 
 
71 
 
 day, find their spiritual strength renewed. 
 Comfort and succour those who may be called 
 in any way to suffer for thy truth. May they 
 steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith 
 behold the glory that shall be revealed. 
 
 And now T , Lord, what wait I for ? truly my 
 hope is in thee. O fill me with thy grace and 
 heavenly benediction, for sweet is thy mercy. 
 And when thou shalt come to be glorified in 
 thy saints, and to be admired in all them that 
 believe, then may I sit down with Abraham, 
 and Isaac, and Jacob, at thy marriage supper, 
 O thou Son of God, and love and adore thee 
 who art the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Salvation by the Blood of the Lamb. 
 
 HHHERE is a fountain filled with blood, 
 
 Drawn from Immanuel's veins : 
 And sinners plunged beneath that flood, 
 Lose all their guilty stains. 
 
 2 The dying thief rejoiced to see 
 
 That fountain in his day ; 
 And there may I, though vile as he, 
 Wash all my sins away. 
 
 3 Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood 
 
 Shall never lose its power, 
 Till all the ransomed church of God 
 Be saved to sin no more. 
 
72 FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 4 E'er since by faith I saw the stream, 
 
 Thy flowing wounds supply, 
 Kedeeming love has been my theme, 
 And shall be till I die. 
 
 5 Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, 
 
 I'll sing thy power to save ; 
 When this poor lisping, stammering tongue 
 Lies silent in the grave. 
 
 A PRAYER 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 INCREASE AND PROSPERITY OF CHRIST^ 
 
 CHURCH AND KINGDOM. 
 
 "\7[7"E humWybeseech thee, O heavenly Father, 
 to bless and prosper the word of thy grace. 
 Send forth thy light and thy truth to all nations. 
 Hasten the fulfilment of all that thou hast pro- 
 mised concerning the glory of thy dear Son, 
 and extend his kingdom over all the earth. Let 
 him be the Light of the Gentiles, and the Glory 
 of thy people Israel. Lord, we plead with 
 thee for the sake of thy great Name, the truth 
 of thy promises, and the happiness of thy 
 creatures ; and beseech thee to give unto thy Son 
 the Heathen for his inheritance, and the utter- 
 most parts of the earth for his possession. 
 Arise, O God, and plead thine own cause. 
 Have respect unto the covenant of grace and 
 
FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 73 
 
 mercy, for the dark places of the earth are 
 full of the habitations of cruelty. How long 
 shall the prince of darkness usurp the promised 
 inheritance of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour. O let the throne of the Redeemer 
 be established on the ruins of Satan's kingdom. 
 Pull down the strong-holds of Antichrist ; and 
 convert all nations, making them obedient to 
 the faith of the Gospel. 
 
 And w T hile we thus pray, we also bless thee,. 
 O Lord, for the general desire thou hast created 
 to spread the word of thy truth and righteous- 
 ness throughout the world. Lord, increase it, 
 we beseech thee, a hundred fold. Give thy 
 blessing to all the Societies, in this and in other 
 nations, which have for their object thy glory 
 and the salvation of man. Guide the minds of 
 those who conduct their affairs. In all their 
 trials and difficulties comfort and support them. 
 
 Regard, we beseech thee, with thy most gra- 
 cious favour, all the Ministers of thy Gospel, 
 and especially those who are preaching to the 
 poor Heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ. 
 Water both them and their labours with the con- 
 tinual dew of thy heavenly blessing. Send forth 
 the messengers of thy grace w T ith the good tid- 
 ings of salvation ; and prepare thy way before 
 
74 FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 them. May every valley be exalted, and every 
 hill made low ; may the crooked ways be made 
 straight, and the rough places plain ; that thy 
 word in all nations may have free course and 
 be glorified. 
 
 May all Christian Missionaries be chosen 
 vessels to bear thy name unto the Heathen. Bless 
 them with health of body and peace of mind. 
 Preserve them pure in doctrine and holy in life. 
 Grant that they may never lose that first love 
 which constrained them for thy Name's sake to 
 leave their country, and all that was near and 
 dear unto them. Give them grace to be faithful 
 unto death that they may receive the crown of 
 life. May thy Gospel be so preached by them, 
 that it may drop as the rain, and distil as the 
 dew : may it come down as rain upon the mown 
 grass, as showers that water the earth. May the 
 wilderness be glad, and the desert rejoice and 
 blossom as the rose; may it blossom abundantly, 
 and rejoice even with joy and singing. Let thy 
 word never return unto thee void but prosper, 
 and accomplish thy purposes of grace and mercy 
 to a lost and ruined world. May all nations see 
 the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our 
 God, and be filled with holiness, peace, and lover 
 
 Look down ; O Lord ; with tender compassion 
 
FOR THE CHURCH. 75 
 
 on thine ancient people the Jews, and receive 
 them again to the arms of thy mercy. O pity 
 the seed of Abraham thy servant, and the chil- 
 dren of Jacob thy chosen. Look not to their 
 stubbornness, nor to their iniquity, nor to their 
 sin ; but remember Abraham, and Isaac, and 
 Jacob, thy servants ; and hasten in these latter 
 days the fulfilment of all the glory thou hast 
 promised to Israel thy people. Take away the 
 veil from off their hearts : grant them to know T 
 that Jesus Christ is their true Messiah, and that 
 he came to visit and redeem his people. Save 
 them from that unbelief and hardness of heart 
 which have brought such guilt and misery upon 
 them ; and give them faith so to believe in 
 Jesus, that they may say, " Surely he hath borne 
 our griefs and carried our sorrows : We did 
 esteem him smitten of God and afflicted ; but 
 he was wounded for our transgressions, he was 
 bruised for our iniquities, and by his stripes ice 
 are healed." O let them not abide in unbelief, 
 but bring them into thy church, O Lord God of 
 Israel, to the glory of thy Name, who only doest 
 wondrous things. 
 
 We beseech thee to pour out thy Spirit, to 
 give light and life to all who are dead in sin. It 
 is not by any human wisdom or power that the 
 
76 
 
 FOR THE CHURCH. 
 
 nations of the earth can be converted unto thee ; 
 but by thy Spirit, O Lord. Stir up thy faithful 
 people to pray for the gift of the Holy Ghost, 
 in all his mighty power ; and do thou hear and 
 answer their supplications. Send down from 
 above a more abundant measure of his Divine 
 influence, to carry on the great work of salva- 
 tion; that the blessed Redeemer may see of the 
 travail of his soul and be satisfied. O let the 
 earth be speedily filled with His glory, whose 
 Name is above every name; to whom, with thee, 
 O Father, and thee O Holy Spirit, be ascribed, 
 as is most due, everlasting dominion and praise. 
 Amen and Amen. 
 
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only be- 
 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting life.— John iii. 1 6. 
 
 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life : and 
 he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the 
 wrath of God abideth on him. — John iii. 36. 
 
 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un- 
 moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for- 
 asmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the 
 Lord. — 1 Cor. xv. 58. 
 
HYMN. 77 
 
 Missionary Hymn. 
 
 "T7R0M Greenland's icj mountains, 
 4- From India's coral strand ; 
 Where Afric's sunny fountains 
 
 Roll down their golden sand ; 
 From many an ancient river, 
 
 From many a palmy plain, 
 They call us to deliver 
 
 Their land from error's chain. 
 
 2 What, though the spicy breezes 
 
 Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle, 
 Though every prospect pleases, 
 
 And only man is vile ; 
 In vain with lavish kindness, 
 
 The gifts of God are strown ; 
 The heathen, in his blindness, 
 
 Bows down to wood and stone. 
 
 % Shall we, whose souls are lighted 
 
 With wisdom from on high, 
 Shall we, to men benighted, 
 
 The lamp of life deny ? 
 Salvation ! salvation ! 
 
 The joyful sound proclaim, 
 Till earth's remotest nation 
 
 Has learned Messiah's name. 
 
 4 Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, 
 And you, ye waters, roll, 
 Till like a sea of glory, 
 
 It spreads from pole to pole ; 
 Till o'er our ransomed nature, 
 The Lamb for sinners slain, 
 Redeemer, King, Creator, 
 G 2 In bliss returns to reign. 
 
THE 
 
 LORD'S PRAYER PARAPHRASED. 
 
 OUR Father, who art in heaven : Give us grace 
 to draw near to thee with reverence, and to 
 put our whole trust in thee, who art a Father 
 always able and willing to defend and provide 
 for thy children. — Hallowed be thy name. Cause 
 us and all the world to worship thee and to serve 
 thee acceptably, with reverence and godly 
 fear, that we may sanctify thy great and 
 glorious Name. — Thy Kingdom come. May 
 all the kingdoms of this world be delivered 
 from the tyranny of Satan, and become the 
 kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. We 
 beseech thee, O Lord, to perfect thy kingdom 
 of grace in our souls, and to hasten thy king- 
 dom of glory. — Thy will be done in earth, 
 as it is in heaven. Grant us to know thy 
 wise and gracious will, and to be resigned 
 and obedient to it in all things. May thy 
 will be done by men on earth as it is by angels 
 in heaven, who delight to know and are always 
 ready to do it. — Give us this day our daily 
 bread ; and make us content therewith. Let 
 us not want for our bodies the meat which 
 perisheth ; nor for our souls that which endur- 
 eth unto everlasting life. Daily feed our 
 
 souls with the bread of life and the water of 
 
 78 
 
THE LORDS PRAYER. 
 
 79 
 
 life ; and help us to leave the supply of all our 
 temporal wants to thee, who knowest what 
 things we have need of. — Forgive us our tres- 
 passes, as we forgive them that trespass against 
 us. We pray thee, for Christ's sake, to forgive 
 us all our sins ; and to give us grace to forgive, 
 even as we desire to be forgiven. — Lead us not 
 into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
 Keep us, O Lord, from temptations to sin : or 
 support and deliver us when we are tempted. 
 From all evil and mischief, from sin, from the 
 crafts and assaults of the devil, from thy wrath, 
 and from everlasting damnation, good Lord 
 deliver us. — For thine is the kingdom, and the 
 power, and the glory, for ever and ever. 
 Thine is the kingdom, even an everlasting king- 
 dom, a kingdom, which ruleth over all ; and thy 
 dominion endureth throughout all ages. Thou 
 canst do what thou wilt with all thy creatures. 
 Thine is the power, both to punish thine ene- 
 mies, and to bless and defend thy people And 
 thine is the glory of creation and redemption, 
 and of all that thy children have, of all that 
 they do, and of all that they hope to enjoy : 
 for of thee, and through thee, and to thee, are 
 all things ; to whom be glory in the church, 
 by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world 
 without end. Amen. 
 
(80) 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 . /~~\UR Heavenly Father, hear 
 ^-^ The prayer we offer now : — 
 Thy Name be hallow 'd far and near ; 
 
 To thee all nations bow : 
 Thy kingdom come ; thy will 
 
 On earth be done in love, 
 As saints and seraphim fulfil 
 
 Thy perfect law above. 
 
 Our daily bread supply, 
 
 While by thy word we live : 
 Forgive us our iniquity. 
 
 As we our foes forgive : 
 From dark temptation's power, 
 
 From Satan's wiles, defend : 
 Deliver in the evil hour, 
 
 And guide us to the end. 
 
 Thine, then, for ever be 
 
 Glory and power divine ; 
 The sceptre, throne, and majesty, 
 
 Of heaven and earth are thine. — 
 Thus humbly taught to pray 
 
 By thy beloved Son, 
 Through him we come to thee, and say, 
 
 All for his sake be done, 
 
THE CHILD'S FIRST PRAYER. 
 S~\ LORD, make me a good child. Take 
 care of my dear father and mother ;* and 
 my dear brothers and sisters ;* keep us this 
 day [night] from all evil and sin, and when 
 we die take us to Heaven for Jesus Christ's 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 THE CHILD'S SECOND PRATER. 
 
 r\ LORD, bless me, and put thy fear and 
 love into my heart. May I always speak 
 the truth, and fear a lie. Bless me in my 
 learning. May it be my delight to read thy 
 holy w T ord, and to do thy blessed will. Bless 
 my dear father and mother,* and grant that I 
 may be a comfort and a blessing to them. 
 May I always love them, and mind what they 
 say to me. Give them grace to train me up in 
 the way that I should go ; and may I never 
 depart from it. Bless my dear brothers and 
 sisters :* may we be very kind to each other, 
 and dwell together in peace and love. Preserve 
 and keep us this day [night] from all evil. 
 Forgive us our sins ; subdue our evil tempers, 
 and make us holy ; that, when we die, we may 
 go to heaven, and be with Jesus Christ, our 
 blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Our Father, who art in Heaven, &c. 
 
 * These expressions must be varied to suit different cases. 
 
 (31) 
 
(82) 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 "VTOW, in my early days, 
 
 Teach me thy will to know : 
 God, thy sanctifying grace 
 
 Betimes on me bestow. 
 Make my unguarded youth 
 
 The object of thy care : 
 Help me to choose the way of truth, 
 
 And flee from every snare. 
 My heart, to folly prone, 
 
 Eenew by power Divine ; 
 Unite it to thyself alone, 
 
 And make me wholly thine. 
 let thy word of grace 
 
 My warmest thoughts employ ; 
 Be this, through all my future days, 
 
 My treasure and my joy. 
 May thy young servant learn 
 
 By it to cleanse his way ; 
 And there the sacred path discern 
 
 Which leads to endless day. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 TESUS, my Saviour ! hear my prayer, 
 ^ And take an infant to thy care : 
 let me come within thy fold, 
 Thy grace and glory to behold. 
 Jesus, do Thou my Shepherd be, 
 That I may ever live with thee. 
 
OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 83 
 
 GRACE BEFORE MEALS. 
 "OLESS us, O Lord, in what we are going 
 to receive, and make us truly thankful : for 
 Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. 
 or : 
 Bless us, O Lord, in what we are going to 
 receive ; and give us grace to enjoy everything 
 in thee, and thee in everything : through Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 or : 
 With thy renewed mercies, O Lord, give us 
 a renewed sense of thy love in them : and 
 whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we 
 do may we do all to thy glory : through Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 GRACE AFTER MEALS. 
 r\ LORD, we praise thee for all thy mercies, 
 through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 or : 
 Gracious God, may the food which we have 
 received strengthen our bodies ; and may thy 
 Holy Spirit strengthen and refresh our souls : 
 through Jesus Christ. Amen 
 or : 
 Blessed Lord, as we live continually upon 
 thy bounty, so may we always live to thy 
 glory: through Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
84 OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 
 
 The writer nas been amazed and grieved at the 
 slovenly and irreverent manner in which he has too 
 often seen the head of a family mumble two or three 
 words of a Grace, which, if professedly offered up to 
 Heaven, were never likely to be accepted of that God 
 who is to be had in reverence of all who supplicate or 
 praise his Name. The Divine blessing should be 
 asked, and the goodness of God acknowledged, through 
 Jesus Christ, with an audible voice, and always in an 
 humble, devotional frame of mind, if we would hope 
 to enjoy the Divine favour. 
 
 A PRAYER ON ENTERING CHURCH. 
 "OOUR down upon me, O Lord, and upon 
 this congregation, the Spirit of grace and 
 of supplication. May we worship thee in 
 spirit and in truth ; and hear and receive thy 
 holy word to the salvation of our souls ; through 
 Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 A PRAYER BEFORE LEAVING CHURCH. 
 pARDON, O Lord, whatsoever thy pure 
 eyes have seen amiss in me ; and grant that 
 I may not be a forgetful hearer, but a patient 
 doer of thy word : that hereafter I may be 
 glorified with thee for ever, through Jesus 
 Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
EJACULATIONS FROM SCRIPTURE. 
 
 On rising in the Morning. 
 
 I laid me down and slept ; I awaked : for the Lord 
 sustained me. (Ps. iii. 5.) 
 
 At Noon. 
 
 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and 
 that instantly. (Ps. lv. 17.) 
 
 On going to Bed. 
 
 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest ; for it 
 is thou, Lord, only, that makest me to dwell in safety. 
 (Ps. iv. 9.) 
 
 At going out 
 
 Lord, bless my going out and my coming in, from this 
 time forth for evermore. (Ps. cxxi. 8.) 
 
 At Work. 
 
 Prosper thou the work of my hands, O Lord : prosper 
 thou my handy-work. (Ps. xc. 17.) 
 
 In Conversation 
 
 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth ; keep the door 
 of my lips. (Ps. cxli. 3) 
 
 When evil-entreated. 
 
 Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do. 
 (Luke xxiii. 34.) 
 
 Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. (Acts vii. 60.) 
 H (85) 
 
86 EJACULATIONS. 
 
 On any Loss. 
 
 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed 
 be the name of the Lord. (Job i. 21.) 
 
 Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we 
 not receive evil ? (Job ii. 10.) 
 
 In difficult Circumstances. 
 
 Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk ; for 
 I lift up my soul unto thee. (Ps. cxliii. 8.) 
 
 Lord, I am oppressed ; undertake for me. (Isaiah 
 xxxviii. 14.) 
 
 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me : Lord, be thou 
 my helper. (Ps. xxx. 10) 
 
 For a Friend. 
 
 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the 
 Lord in that day. (2 Tim. i. 18.) 
 
 In Temptation. 
 
 How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against 
 God ? (Gen. xxxix. 9.) 
 
 Lord, cleanse thou me from secret faults : keep back 
 thy servant also from presumptuous sins : let them not 
 have dominion over me. (Ps. xix. 12, 13.) 
 
 Before Prayer. 
 
 Lord, teach us to pray. (Luke xi. 1.) 
 
 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer. Give ear, O God 
 of Jacob. (Ps. Ixxxiv. 8.) 
 
 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness^ Have 
 mercy upon me and hear my prayer. (Ps. iv. 1.) 
 
EJACULATIONS. 
 
 87 
 
 Before reading the Scriptures. 
 
 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous 
 things out of thy law. (Ps. cxix. 18.) 
 
 Going to Church. 
 
 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and hi thy 
 saints shout for joy. (Ps. cxxxii. 9.) 
 
 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his 
 footstool (Ps, cxxxii. 7.) 
 
 Entering the House of God. 
 
 This is none other but the house of God, and this is the 
 gate of heaven. {Gen. xxviii. 17.) 
 
 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my 
 heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength 
 and my Redeemer. (Ps. xix. 14.) 
 
 On hearing the Scriptures. 
 
 Sanctify us through thy truth : thy word is truth. 
 (John xvii. 17.) 
 
 OCCASIONAL EJACULATIONS. 
 
 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies sake. 
 (Ps. xiiv. 26.) 
 
 O Lord, be gracious unto us ; we have waited for thee. 
 (Isaiah xxxiii. 2.) 
 
 Father, glorify thy name. (John xii. 28.) 
 
 Lord, save us ; we perish. (Matt. viii. 25.) 
 
 Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. (Mark 
 x. 47.) 
 
 Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. (Luke 
 v. 12.) 
 
 Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief. (Mark ix. 24.) 
 
(88 ) 
 
 HYMN I. 
 
 TT7"HAT various hindrances we meet 
 
 In coming to the Mercy- seat ! 
 Yet who, that knows the worth of prayer, 
 But wishes to be often there ? 
 
 2 Prayer makes the darken 'd cloud withdraw ; 
 Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw ; 
 Gives exercise to faith and love, 
 
 Brings every blessing from above. 
 
 3 Restraining prayer, we cease to fight ; 
 Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright ; 
 And Satan trembles when he sees 
 
 The weakest saint upon his knees. 
 
 4 While Moses stood with arms spread wide, 
 Success was found on Israel's side : 
 
 But when through weariness theyfail'd, 
 That moment Amalek prevailed. 
 
 5 Have you no words ! Ah ! think again : 
 Words flow apace when you complain, 
 And fill your fellow- creature's ear 
 With the sad tale of all your care. 
 
 6 Were half the breath thus vainly spent 
 To Heaven in supplication sent, 
 Your cheerful song would oft'ner be, 
 "Hear what the Lord hath done for me." 
 
(89) 
 
 HYMN II. 
 
 1 T ORD, teach us how to pray aright, 
 "^With reverence and with fear : 
 Though dust and ashes in thy sight, 
 
 We may, we must, draw near. 
 
 2 We perish if we cease from prayer : 
 
 grant us power to pray ; 
 And. when to meet thee we prepare, 
 Lord, meet us by the way. 
 
 3 Give deep humility ; the sense 
 
 Of godly sorrow give : 
 A strong desiring confidence 
 To hear thy voice, and live. 
 
 4 Faith in the only Sacrifice 
 
 That can for sin atone, 
 To cast our hopes, to fix our eyes 
 On Christ, on Christ alone ; 
 
 5 Patience to watch, and wait, and weep, 
 
 Though mercy long delay ; 
 Courage our fainting souls to keep, 
 And trust Thee, though thou slay. 
 
 C Give these — and then thy will be done : 
 Thus strengthen'd with all might, 
 We, by thy Spirit, through thy Son, 
 Shall prav, and pray aright. 
 
 112 
 
HYMN III. 
 
 A WAKED by Sinai's awful sound, 
 My soul in bonds of guilt I found, 
 And knew not where to go ; 
 Eternal truth did loud proclaim, 
 " The sinner must be born again, 
 Or sink to endless wo." 
 
 2 When to the law I trembling fled, 
 It poured its curses on my head, 
 
 I no relief could find ; 
 This fearful truth increased my pain, 
 " The sinner must be born again," 
 
 And whelmed my tortured mind. 
 
 3 Again did Sinai's thunder roll, 
 And guilt lay heavy on my soul, 
 
 A vast oppressive load ; 
 Alas, I read and saw it plain, 
 "The sinner must be born again, 
 
 Or drink the wrath of God." 
 
 4 The saints I heard with rapture tell, 
 How Jesus conquered death and hell, 
 
 And broke the fowler's snare ; 
 Yet when I found this truth remain, 
 "The sinner must be born again," 
 
 I sunk in deep despair. 
 
 5 But while I thus in anguish lay 
 
 The gracious Saviour passed this way, 
 
 And felt his pity move ; 
 The sinner, by his justice slain, 
 Now by his grace is born again, 
 ( 9 ) And sings redeeming love. 
 
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