? I

FAMILY DEVOTION;
OR, AN
EXHORTATION TO
MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER
IN
FAMILIES. WITH
TWO FORMS OF PRAYER,
SUITED TO THOSE TWO SEASONS^*
AND ALSO
FITTED FOR THE USE OF ONE PERSON IN PRIVATE.
TO WHICH ABE NOW ADDED,
Two Shorter Forms, to be used by Children and Servants when they cannot
conveniently be present at the Family Prayers.
First drawn up for the Use of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Lambeth,
and now Revised and Enlarged,
By the Right Reverend Father in God,
EDMUND GIBSON, D.D.
t ? •
LATE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON:

THE THIRTY-FIFTH EDITION.

fLontron:
PRINTED FOR F. C. &-J. RIVINGTON,
Booksellers tothe Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge;
no. 62, st. Paul's church-yard,
MID HO. 3, WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL.
1821.

Printed by R. Gilbert, St. JUUii's-Sqware, London.

TO THE

INHABITANTS

OF THE

PARISH OF LAMBETH.

MY BRETHREN,
Having drawn up for your use such a form of Morn
ing and Evening Prayer, as I conceive to be proper in
your families, 1 now put it into your hands ; together
with an earnest exhortation to the practice of Family
Devotion. It hath pleased the Providence of God to
commit to me the care of your souls ; and as I am
obliged in a peculiar manner, to desire and endeavour
the Salvation of them, so I know nothing that will for
ward it more than the exercise of daily devotion in
your families.
The many benefits that will accrue to you and to your
families from this godly practice, are plainly set down
in the follovving exhortation; which I beseech you to
read and consider seriously. And when you have read
it, and seen the excellent ends and uses of Family De
votion ; consider farther, hovv ill it becomes any Chris
tian to sufifer himself and his family to live in the daily
neglect of a duty, the daily practice of which would so
greatly conduce to the saving of their souls.
A 2

4 To the Inhabitants
I consider, that many of the families under my care
are such as live by the labour of their hands, and have
not much time to spare ; and therefore I took care to
comprehend the proper matter of both the prayers in
as short a compass as might be; so short, that the
longest of them may be decently read to a family in a
little more than half a quarter of an hour. And they
must be very indifferent Christians,, who can grudge
God and their souls so small a portion of their time ;
not considering, how plentifully it would be made up
by the comfort and benefit of that blessing which our
prayers secure to us. Where men are not inclined to
exercises of this nature, it is easy to find- pretences and
excuses to avoid them ; but if there be first a willing
mind, time and opportunity will seldom be wanting;
and to bring men to a willing mind, it should be re
membered, that such excuses will only serve them in
this world.
This exercise of the Morning and Evening Prayer,
where families have lived in the neglect of it, may ap
pear somewhat strange at the beginning, as all things
do that are new and unusual. But if parents and mas
ters would setlle their hours of prayer, and oblige as
many of their family to be present as conveniently may,
it would in a little time appear as strange to omit them ;
and the service of Go r> would be reckoned, as in all
Christian families it ought, a necessary part of every
day's business.
I am aware, that extraordinary occasions sometimes
will happen, which may make it necessary to omit
Morning or Evening Prayer in the family, when per-
Jiaps some one member of that family may be at leisure
for it, 1 am also afraid, that there will be some mas
ters and fathers so void of all religion, as to take no
care of settling this goflly practice in their families ;
nay some may be so very wicked, as even to hinder and
forbid it ; when yet a wife, or a child, or a servant,
may be religiously inclined, and desirous to perform
their duty in private. Upon which considerations, I

of the Parish of Lambeth. 5
have fitted these two Family-Prayers for the use of one
Single Person, and to that end have printed them
apart ; foreseeing, that if the many changes which are
necessary to fit public prayer for private use, were to be
made by particular persons in the act of praying, it
would be" a great disturbance to their attention and
devotion. I am also aware, that children and servants will
sometimes be unavoidably hindered from attending the
Family Hours of Prayer ; and therefore that they may
not remain strangers to devotion, and that the practice
of Family- Prayer may be provided for in every part, I
have thought it proper to add two shorter forms, which
are suited to the respective condition of clifldren and
servants, who, if they cannot ordinarily be present at
the prayers of the family, nor be always at leisure to
use the larger forms in private, should be often ad
monished by parents and masters, that they fail not at
least to use the shortest forms constantly before they
lie down to rest, and as soon as they rise again.
As it may be necessary, on some extraordinary occa
sions to omit prayers in the family ; so at other times,
and especially on the Lord's Bvyt there will be more
leisure than the bare performance of thisoffice requires.
Which leisure ought to be employed in reading to the
family some plain and easy portions of Holy Scriptures,
or other books of piety and religion, and in catechising
such of the children and servants who need it.
Although a master or mistress shall (as becomes their
character and station) take to themselves the office of ,
reading prayer to the rest, yet it may not be amiss to
train up some other of the family to be able to perform
it decently, that in case their indisposition, or unavoid
able absence, the duty may not be omitted, and by
degrees forgotten.
You will observe that each of the two Prayers for
Morning and Evening is divided into several branches ;
each branch being a shorter prayer, in the manner of a
collect, and containing one distinct head of the several

6 To the Inhabitants, %.
matters for which a Christian is bound to pray. And I
chose this method, because, in my opinion, it keeps
the thoughts more distinct than they can well be kept
in one long continued prayer ; and if they happen to
wander, the solemn conclusion of one prayer, with the
entrance upon another, and the part which every one
present has in saying Amen to each, is a good means
to awaken the attention, and to recall the thoughts to
their proper work.
May the good Spirit of God stir up every family
under my charge to this practice of daily devotion, and
continually aid and afflict you in it: that thereby ob
taining daily supplies of Grace, and always living in his
fear and obedience, you may give me cause to^bless
him f6r making me in any measure the instrument of
your spiritual good in this world, and may secure to
yourselves an eternity of happiness in the next. Which
is, and always will be, the earnest prayer of
Your affectionate
Brother and Pastor,
EDMUND GIBSON.
new-year's day,
1745.

EXHORTATION

FAMILY PRAYER.

Prayer is the service that we owe to Almighty God,
as he is our creator and preserver, and we his creatures,
who depend upon him for the comforts and nee essaries
of body and soul. Which service is not only most rea
sonable in itself, as it is an hamble acknowledgment of
God's dominion and sovereignty over us ; but is in many
places of Scripture expressly enjoined by Christ and his
Apostles as a necessary condition, a sure means of hav
ing our wants supplied. Our Saviour (Matt. vii. 7.)
makes our. asking the only meaus of our receiving ;
Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find.-
And St. James expressly sailh (James iv. .2.) That zee.
have not, because zee ask not ; and St. Paul's precept
is, (Phil, iv, 6.) That in every thing, by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, we let our requests be
made known unto God,
Now the reason why God requires us to pray to him
for his blessing and assistance, is not, that he wants to
be informed what our necessities are -% for he under
stands them much better than we ourselves, and, as
our Saviour speaks (Matt. vi. 8.) hnozveth what
things we have need of before we ask him. But the
design of making prayer a religious ordinance, and of
obliging Christians to ask that they may receive, is, to
preserve upon their minds a constant sense of their
dependance upon God, and of their manifold obliga-
A 4

8 An Exhortation
tions to him ; that so these daily, acknowledgments of
the Divine power and goodness may keep up in crea
tures a due fear and love of their Creator, and an habi
tual reverence and obedience to him and his laws.
From hence appears the reasonableness and neces
sity of frequent praier; both in regard to the
daily wants of our souls and bodies, which God has no
where promised to supply, but upon our earnest prayer
to him ; and also because the cares and pleasures of
this world are very apt to make us forget the things of
the next life, unless an heavenly temper, and a sense of
God's being and goodness, be preserved upon our souls
by the exercise of frequent prayer ; which is a conver
sing with God, and the nearest communication we can
have with him, as long as we continue in this world.
The Apostle commands us (1 Thess. v. 17.) to pi ay
without ceasing ;* and (Col. iv. 2.) to continue in prayer,
and watch in the same ; and (Col. iv. 12.) he speaks of
labouring fervently in prayer : from all which we
learn, that this service must be performed by Chris
tians, frequently and earnestly. We read in Scripture
(Acts iii. 1 .) of the liours' of prayer ; and we find parti
cularly, (Psal. Iv. 17- Dan. vi. 10.) that it was the prac
tice of David and Daniel, two" eminently good and holy
men, to pray to God three times in a day.
As to the public service of the Church, and the
times of attending that, every Christian is to be go
verned by the orders and customs of the place and na
tion in which he lives, and is bound in duty to attend to
it, and to join with his fellow Christians in praying for
their common necessaries as oft as health and business
will give him leave, and more especially on the Lord's-
day, which is set apart for that end.
But as to that which I am now speaking of, namely,
private. prayer, whether of single persons or fami
lies : although there is no express and positive precept,
how many times in a day it shall be |>erformed ; yet I
think no person or family can be accounted religious,
who do not perform their duty or praying to God at

to Family Prayer. 9
least in the morning and evening. A true spirit
of piety and devotion will move private Christians,
who have time and leisure to retire to prayer at other
hours also; especially when they find extraordinary oc
casions for the comfort and assistance of- God. But I
insist upon prayer in the morning and evening, as that
which is not oidy reasonable in itself, but may also be
made to suit the condition and business of most persons
and families, if they be but religiously disposed, and
have hearts willing and desirous to pray to God.
In the morning, when they arise from rest, and
before they enter upon their daily business, what can
become Christians more, than to fall down before God,
to thank and praise him for the preservation *f the past
night, and to beg his blessing upon the business of the
following day, and his protection to body and soul,
amidst the dangers and temptations of a wicked world ?
Again, in the evening, after they return from their
worldly business and conversation, and before they go
to rest, can any thing be more proper for devout and
serious Christians, than humbly to acknowledge the
goodness of God, and to make confession of their own
sins and unworthiness ; and then, upon their sincere
repentance, and humble trust in his mercy, to implore
the continuance of his favour and protection, especially
the follovving night ?
They who can live in the daily neglect of so reason
able a service, and can lie down and rise again without
thinking of God, and go about the business of their
lives, without imploring his direction and blessing : such
persons can have very little religion, but may rather be
said to live without God in the world. By the omis
sion of this pait of their duty, it comes to pass, that
they seldom have it in their minds either that there is
such a being as God, or that they live under his pro
vidence, or that he has given them laws to walk by,
and will require an account in another world how they
have observed them. And as no person, who has not
these and the like thoughts frequently upon his mind,

* a

1 o An Exhortation
can be said to think or live like a Christian ; so such
thoughts can be very little upon the mind of any per
son, who lives in an habitual neglect of this duty of
morning and evening prayer. For if men think n6t of
these things at the most seasonable times for it, before
they begin their work, and after they have ended it, it
is not likely that they will fall into such thoughts in the
midst of their business or pleasures.
It is to be feared, that there are too many persons
and families, who are sunk into this unthinking state,
and this habitual forgetfulness of Almighty God : which
being a condition so dangerous to their souls, we, who
have the care of souls, are bound to admonish them
of their danger, and to exhort them earnestly to
the proper and effectual remedy : which is, this daily
addressing themselves to God ; and, as it were, con
versing with him in prayer. The time it will take up
is very small- but the benefit which it vVill bring, is
exceeding great ; no less than the entitling ourselves to
the constant assistance and_ protection of God, and the
keeping us in a daily preparation for heaven. And
surely no person who calls himself a Christian, and
doth in any degree desire to live as becomes the Gos
pel of Christ, can be unwilling to enter upon a prac
tice, which will be the means of gaining such valuable
benefits to body and soul, especially, when that which
will procure these benefits, is a work so easy and rea
sonable, as the lifting up our hearts to God for so short
a space before and after the business of this world.
They have seen, by what has been hitherto said of
family devotion, that this is a very reasonable and east/
duty ; and that the daily neglect of it is the ready way
to lose all sense of God and religion. The considera
tions which I shall add as a farther inducement to the
daily performance of it, will shew them, that it is not
only a sure preservative against that forgetfulness of
Almighty God, but also an excellent help towards their
growth and improvement in grace and goodness.

to Family Prayer. 1 1
To make them truly sensible of this, let -them con
sider the following heads.
I. The great weakness and infirmity of body and
soul, and the manifold dangers withyvhich both are en
compassed : that the body is perpetually liable to dis-
eases within, and accidents without ; and the soul al
ways beset with the temptations of the world, the flesh
and the devil. Now our only security against these
dangers, is God's protection to defend the body, and
his assisting grace to preserve the soul : and as there
is no other way to obtain his protection and assistance
against these dangers but our prayers ; so the dangers
being daily, our prayers must be daily too.
And the only sure way to keep up daily..devotion,1 is
for every family to fix and appoint for that efW the two
most convenient parts of the day, namely morning and
evening. For except the times of doing it be fixed and
certain,.the duty will be either wholly neglected and
forgotten, or at best* there will be many pretences to
omit it. Whereas, when the times of prayer are set
tled in a family, they are reckoned beforehand, and all
other business is laid and contrived accordingly ; so that
by a little practice, morning and evening prayer is ac
counted a necessary part of the busiuess of the day ;
and no more to be omitted or forgotten than the pro
vision or food, or raiment, and other conveniences of
life. The members of any family who have been thus
accustomed to daily prayer, as the only sure means of
obtaining God's daily blessing, will be afraid to lay
down at night, or go abroad in the morning, without
first having made themselves sure of his protection and
assistance, by joining with their brethren in prayer ;
or where that cannot be conveniently done, by their
own private devotions, or by both where there is leisure
and opportunity for both. _ t
II. It is a further encouragement to the beginning
and carrying on this godly practice in families, that our
Saviour Christ has in an especial manner promised his
presence with them. For considering the circumstances
a 6-

12 An Exhortation
of that promise (in the xviiith of St. Matt, verses 19,
20.) it may be more strictly and immediately applied to
family prayers ; I say unto you, that if two of you
shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which
is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered to-
? ether in my name, there am I in the midst of them,
Without doubt Christ is ready to assist and answer the
devout prayers of good men, in what place, or-at what
time soever they are made ; but the joint prayers of a
family must be yet more acceptable and more powerful,
as they are sent up "with an unity of hearts and souls ;
which is so becoming among Christians, and especially
among brethren and relations, and is withal so pleasing
in the sight of God.
III. The practice of daily prayer settles in families a
face and spirit of religion ; so as no member thereof
can wholly forget God and another world, while they
are every day reminded of both. By this, children are
trained from their infancy to an use and habit of devo
tion ; and servants are sure of due time and opportunity
to serve God every day. For fathers and mothers, mas
ters and mistresses, are enjoined by God to take care
of the souls as well as the bodies of their children and
servants ; and as it is their duty, so may it be their great
comfort, to afford them this daily means of becoming
and continuing the servants and children of God.
Hereby they plant in their hearts a true sense of piety
and devotion ; ann this prepares and disposes them,
when themselves come to be parents and governors, to
train up their children and servants to the same method
of daily devotion. And so they who settle and keep
up in their families this practice of morning and evening
prayer, lake the true and effectual way, both to pre
serve in their own houses a spirit of piety and religion,
and also to convey that religious spirit to future gene
rations. IV. Daily prayer in a family is a great check and
restraint upon any member of it, who may be inclined

to Family Prayer. is
to sin and vice. It makes him remember, whether he
will or no, that there is a God, and another world, and
that they who would be happy hereafter, must heartily
use their own endeavours, and beg the- assistance of
Almighty God, that they may live soberly and righ
teously here. This is the great end and design of all
our prayers : and though persons who a~re viciously in
clined may not inwardly join with their brethren in
prayer: yet if they be but present they must often con
sider that what the rest are doing, is in order to a life
after this ; and that they, as well as their brethren, have
souls to take care of; and therefore, that it cannot be
safe for them to live in sins, from which they hear their
fellow Christians daily beseeching God to dehjerthem.
Occasional admonitions or exhortations to this pur
pose may be easily forgotten or neglected by wicked
men ; but when the thoughts of another world are thus
daily renewed upon their minds, it must be a daily
check to their wicked courses ; and, I doubt not, but
very many persons of evil and debauched inclinations,
have not only been much reformed, but have become
virtuous and religious], by falling providentially into
such regular families as have kept up this most edify
ing and godly exercise of daily prayer.
V. As the practice of daily prayer in families, is the
best way to restrain and reform the bad members of it :
so it is an excellent means to make such of them as are
well disposed, to persevere in their good disposition,
and to grow daily in grace and in purity of heart and
affection^ and to fit them more and more for the spi
ritual exercises of the next life. The heart of man is
by nature carnal and earthly, set upon the Business of
this world, and not easily brought to take delight in
the things of the next. The work therefore which
God hath appointed Christians in this world, is to
purify their hearts, and to bring them to a love of hea
venly things. And for the effecting of this, he hath
enjoined the exercise of several means, as reading,
meditation,and the like ; but of those means, none is

14 An Exhortation /
more effectual for that end than this of daily prayer. It
is the only way we have of prevailing with -God to send
his Holy Spirit into our hearts ; and the daily practice
and use of lifting up our hearts to God in prayer adds
wings to the soul, and makes it move towards heaven
every day more naturally and easily, and brings it to a
nearer, acquaintance with God, and a better taste and
relish of that spiritual life, which every one that desires
heaven, must desire, and be prepared to live hereafter.
To which I may add, that daily prayer, as it contains
in it a solemn confession of sins, gives good Chris
tians an opportunity, or rather puts them under a ne
cessity of examining their lives day by day, and of re
penting immediately of the sins they commit, and by
this daily confession and repentance, they are kept in a
right knowledge of their spiritual estate, and have then-
accounts in readiness whenever God shall please to call
for them. Thus all families who have settled and kept up
this daily correspondence with God in prayer, do truly
walk with God, and are constantly advancing towards
heaven in the way that he hath appointed ; and are
making themselves every day more fit for his immediate
presence there. .
VI.- Where daily prayer is practised in any tamilyr
the members of it are accustomed to devotion, and by
their appearing so frequently before God in a small
congregation, can much more readily frame their heart
to due attention and zeal, when they come to appear
before him in a larger, I mean at the public service of
the Church ; where Christians meet, with mutual unity
of hearts, and send up their joint prayers to God for
the common necessities of one another. For it is the
same spirit of devotion that makes us both fit for pub
lic and private prayer ; and unless that spirit be kept
up by daily exercise, it will of course decay and lan
guish ; and when Christians come to church after the
disuse of devotion for some days together, they are in
a manner strangers to the work they are going about ;
and their hearts having been employed only about

to Family Prayer. 15
earthly things, are not readily and easily raised up to
heaven. Which is the true cause of that coldness, in
difference and wandering of thoughts and eyes, that is
so common in the public worship of God ; and I doubt
it is generally true, that they who use no devotion at
home, bring very little to the church. But now the
use and practice of daily prayer at home trains up
Christians to a spirit and habit of devotion, and keeps
their minds bent towards God and heavenly things ;
which by frequent exercise being made familiar to their
thoughts, their hearts and affections are easily framed
and composed to such attention, devotion and zeal, as
becomes the house of God ; and they are also armed
against the temptations to wandering, and tly>se dis
turbances to devotion which frequently happen in great
and public congregations.
The sum of this exhortation to Family Prayer is
this. Prayer to Almighty God is an ordinance which
he has appointed, as the condition of having our wants
supplied, and as one special means of keeping up in
our hearts a constant sense of his majesty and goodness,
and thereby a due fear, and love, and reverence of his
name. Our wants are daily, and the temptations which
draw our hearts from God to the things of this world,
are also daily ; and upon both these accounts our pray
ers ought also to be daily. This has been the practice
of good and religious men iu all ages, and they scarce
deserve the name of Christians, who can lie down to
rest, without praying for the protection of God ; and
rise again without thanking him for that prote'ction,
an4 begging his blessing upon themselves and their un
dertakings the following day. The only way to have
this surely and effectually done by Christians, is to set
tle the practice of morning and evening prayer in their
families ; the members of which, at least the greatest
part of them, are supposed ordinarily to be together at
these two seasons. When the times of prayer are thus
settled, it will be accounted part of the business of the
day; and as the neglect of it occasions an habitual for-

i6 An Exhortation, fyc.
getfulness of God, and the things of another life, so
The daily practice of it keeps up in families a face and
spirit of religion, and is the best means that fathers
and mothers, masters and mistresses can use, to pre
serve in themselves, their children and servants, such a
religious and heavenly frame of soul, as becomes a so
ciety of Christians. It brings down upon families the
blessing of God, and supplies of grace to assist and
direct those members who heartily join with their bre
thren in their daily prayer for it. And if there be any
members of a family who are wicked, or ill-disposed,
this practice is the way to reclaim them and make them
good, by bringing to their minds every day the thoughts
of God and another world, and keeping their con
sciences awake, which would otherwise be lulled asleep
in sin and security. As to those of a family who are
good, and desirous to grow every day better, the prac
tice of daily prayer makes them fixed and stedfast in
their religious dispositions, and keeps their souls bent
towards heaven and heavenly things, and raises them
more and more to such a spirit of devotion, as both
prepares them, while they live, to be fervent and zea
lous amongst the faithful in the public service of God's
Ghurch ; and when they come to die, fit them for spi
ritual joys and exercises among the blessed in heaven.
May all they, for whose use this exhortation to Family
Prayer is designed, read it seriously, and lay it to
heart as a matter that nearly concerns every Chris
tian ; and may as many of them as have not already
settled this godly practice in their^ families, resolve
that they will no longer neglect a duty, which will
so much forward their own salvation, and is such an
excellent means of training up their children and
servants to piety and religion.

MORNING PRAYER.

TO BE UgBD IN THE FAMILIES OF THE PARISH Off
LAMBBTH,

7%e Master or Mistress having called together a»
many of the Family as can conveniently be present,.
let one of them, 'or any other whom they Shall think
most proper, say a$fo,llows, all kneeling.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Acknovvledgment of
whom we live, and move, and, have Rod's mercy, and pre-
our being, and whose mercy is over servation, especially
all thy works ; we, thy needy crea- tbe n'sht past"
tures, in a thankful sense of thy good providence
over us, render thee our humblest praises for thy
preservation of us from the beginning of our lives
to this, day. Blessed be thy holy name for the
continual protection of thy hand, by which we
have .been defended amidst the changes and chances
of this mortal life, and kept and delivered from in
numerable dangers, and particularly from the ter
rors and evil accidents of the past night. To thy.

18 Morning Prayer
* When disturban- watcllful providence we wholly owe
cesof any kind befai a it [* that no disturbance hath come
family, instead of tUis, njgh us or our dwelling, but that we
say, thatvolwithstand- h en;oved quiet and refreshing
ing our fears and dan- """' «-"j«j~« \j o
gers, we are brought in sleep, and are brought in safety to
safety to the beginning the beginning of the day.] For
of this day. these and all thy other mercies, our
souls do bless and magnify thy glorious name ; humbly
beseeqhing 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.
Dedication of soul And S'"Ce, k is,°f th? I™™!' °
and body to God'b sei-- gracious Father, that another day is
vice, with a resolution added to our lives ; we here dedicate
ingtoh0dnf3riDS d3iIy both our souls and h0dks t0 thee
and to thy service, to promote thy
glory, and our own salvation, in a sober, righteous, and
godly life. We renounce the devil and all his works,
the vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful
lusts of the flesh, desiring nothing so much as to serve
thee faithfully all the days of our lives. And we sin
cerely resolve'so to improve the time which thou shalt
be pleased to grant us in this world, that we may every
day become better Christians, and persevere in holiness
and righteousness unto the end. In which resolutions do
thou, O merciful God, . confirm and strengthen us ; and
especially this day keep it stedfastly in the purpose of
our hearts to perform them, that as we grow in age,
we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
For grace to enable But, Lord, thou khowest the
us to perform that re- weakness and corruption of our na
ture, and the manifold temptations
that we daily meet with ; we therefore humbly beseech
thee to have compassion upon our infirmities, and to
give us the constant assistance of thy Holy Spirit : that

for a Family. ]Q
we may be effectually restrained from sin, and excited
to our duty. And when thou seest us giving way to
any temptation, suffer us not to be tempted above that
we are able, bub stretch out thy helping hand to save
and deliver us. Imprint upon our hearts such a dread
of thy judgment, 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 up in our minds a ¦
lively remembrance of that great day, in which we
must give a strict account of our thoughts, words, and
actions, and, according to the works done in the body,
be eternally rewarded or punished by him whom thou
hast appointed judge of quick and dead, thy Son Je
sus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In particular, that we may then For grace to guide
be able to give account of this day ; and keep -us the fol-
grant us grace to have thee and thy lowlneday-
laws before our eyes, that we may walk in it accord
ing to thy will, with watchfulness and circumspection.
Keep us sober and temperate in our meats and drinks,
and diligent in the several callings and professions
which thy providence hath appointed us. ' Grant us
patience under any affliction thou shalt see fit to lay
upon us, and minds always contented with our present
condition. Give us grace to be just and upright in all
our dealings, quiet and peaceable among our neigh
bours, full of compassion towards the needy and af
flicted, and ever ready to do good to all men, accord
ing to the abilities and opportunities which thou shalt
give us : that so walking faithfully before tbee all our
days, and being found watching whenever our appointed
time shall come, we may, from a life of righteousness,
be translated to a life of glory, through the merits and
mediation of Jesus Christ our only Saviour aud Re
deemer. Amen.

20 Mo-rmng Prayer, &c.
For God's u.«i»g [*And now we are entering upon*
upon the business of the the business of the several stations
fay., wherein thv providence hath placed
t£&~uK% »-, we humbly beg thy blessing this
And now we.are going day upon our honest designs and
to the place of thy undertakings. Direct us in all our-
SrShrHoty" ways and prosper the works of our
Spirit accompany us, hands :] and as we desire to walk in
and make us devout, a con>stant sense of thy all -seeing
serious and atte.itive. . , , '   ".
Raise our minds from providence ; so let the same good
the thoughts of this providence watch over us, and pre-
world to the conside- sel,ve our going out and coming in.
thtaTnwe0may,Joi"fer- Defend us from all dangers and ad-
vently in the prayers versaries, and be graciously pleased
and praises of thy { t fc and a]1 tQ;ngs belonging.
Church, and listen to . , ', , ., ¦ ° j „
our duty with an ho- to us into thy fatherly care and pro-
nest heart, in order to tection. These things, O Lord,
practice it. And give and wnatever eise thou shalt see he.
us grace to dedicate , . . , . c
this day, as thou hast cessary and convenient, either for
appointed us, to thy our souls, or bodies, or estates, we
service, an* the care humh\y he„ 0f tnee for the sake of
of our souls. Direct t /-Hi • 1 • 1
«s in all our ways, and thy Son Jesus Christ, in whose name
guide our feet in thy and words we conclude our imper-
Patbs- feet prayers.
Our Father, which art in heaven ; hallowed be thy,
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth, as ii is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
them that trespass against us. And lead as not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and- ever.
Amen.

EVENING PRAYER,

TO BE USED IN THE FAMILIES OF THE PARISH OP
LAMBETH,

The family being together, a little before bed-time, let
the master or mistress, or any other whom they
shall think most proper, say. as follows ; all kneeling.
Most gracious and merciful God, Confession qf sins,
who art of purer eyes than to behold with a prayer for con-
iniquity, and hast promised mercy tn,lon and pardon-
and forgiveness to all them who confess and forsake
their sins ; we come before thee in. an humble sense of
our own uuworthiness, acknowledging our manifold
transgressions of tby righteous laws, in thought, word,
and deed. We have every day. been doing those things
which thou hast forbidden, and leaving undone the
things which thou hast commanded ; so that when we
look back upon our past lives, and remember that
thou art privy to our most secret sins, we are afraid of
thy judgments, and ashamed to lift up our eyes unto
thee. * But, O gracious Father, who
desirestnot the death of a sinner, „„/££ ^htt
look upon us, we beseech thee, in pause, that every one
thy Son Jesus Christ, and for the ™»y secretly confess
merits of his sufferings, be thou ^^y **
merciful to our sins. Make us
9

22 Evening Prayer
deeply sensible of the great evil of them, and work in
us hearty contrition, and let the remembrance of them
be more grievous and afflicting lo us, than of any other
evil whatsoever! That we worthily lamenting our trans.
gressions, and being brought to a hatred of our sins,
and a hearty repentance, may 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.
Prayer for grace to And lest, through our own frailty,
reform and grow betJ or the temptations that encompass
us, we be drawn again to our
former sins ; vouchsafe us, we beseech thee, the direc
tion and assistance of thy Holy Spirit ; that as thou
hast put into our hearts these desires and resolutions of
amendment, so by the help of thy grace, we may
bring the same to good effect, in a godly, righteous,
and sober life. Reform whatever thou findest amiss in
the temper and disposition of our souls ; that no un-
clearvthoughts, 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 our hearts bejng a fit habitation for thy Holy Spirit,
he may continually dwell therein ; and we, whether
we wake or sleep, may be under his blessed protec
tion, and have^eur whole spirit, and soul, and body,
preserved pure and blameless unto the coming of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. A^men.
The intercession ge- Wi,th these V™1e™ in l»talf of
neral and particular, ourselves, accept, O Lord, as the
testimony of our love and charity,
our hearty intercessions for all mankind. 'Let the
light of thy Gospel' shine upon all nations; and may

for a Family. 23
as many as have already heard and received it, live as
becomes it. Be more especially gracious to the Church
and nation whereunto we belong. Bless the King, and
all who by thy providence have authority under ¦ him ;
so rule their hearts and strengthen their hands, that
they may neither want will nor power to punish wick
edness and vice, and to maintain thy true religion
among us. Send down thy blessings, temporal and
spiritual, upon] all our relations, friends, and neighbours.
Reward all that 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 or affliction of mind, bgdy, or
estate ; and do thou, the God of pity and compassion,
.administer to every one help and comfort, according to
their several necessities ; for his sake, who went about
doing good to the souls and bodies of men, thy Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen*
To our prayers and intercessions The thanksgiv!ng
For future blessings, we add our un- ganeralandparticular.
feigned thanks for all thy mercies
which from time to, time thou hast vouchsafed us ; for
our being, our reason, and all other endowments and
faculties of soul and body : far our health, friends,
food, and raiment, and all other comforts and conve
niences of life. Above all, we adore-thy tender mercy
and compassion to us and all mankind, 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 pa
tience with us, notwithstanding our many and great
provocations ; for all the directions, assistances, 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 con
tinue these thy blessings to us, and give us grace to

8* Evening Prayer, fyc.
shew our sense of them, and all thy other mercies, in
a sincere obedience to his laws, through whose merits
and intercession we receive them alL thy Son our Sa
viour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for God's In a particular manner we be-
protection the follow- seech thee to continue thy gra-
*ng night. cious protection to us this night.
Into thy hand we commend our souls and bodies,, our
substance, dwelling, and all things that belong to us.
Do thou, O gracious God, who neither slumberest nor
sleepest, be pleased to take both us and them this
night into thy especial care and protection. Defend
us from all dangers and mischiefs, and from the dread
and fear of them ; that we may enjoy such quiet and
refreshing sleep as may fit us for the duties of the fol
lowing day. And, Lord, make us ever mindful of that
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 ; but that whether we live^ we may
live unto thee ; or whether we die, we may die unto
thee ; so that living and dying we may be thine, through
the merits and satisfaction of thy Son Christ Jesus, in
whose name and words we conclude our imperfect
prayers. Our Father, which art in heaven; hallowed be thy.
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it isin heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass , against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
¦the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

MORNING PRAYER,
TO BE USED AS THERE IS OCCASION, BY ONE
PERSON IN PRIVATE.

Almighty and everlasting God, 4„t„„„1aJ  . c
T ,. , j i Acknowledgment of
in whom 1 live and move, and have God's mercy and pre-
lny being, and whose mercy is over servation ; especially
all thy works ; I thy needy creature, the night Past-
in a thankful sense of thy good providence ower me,
render thee my humblest praises for thy preservation of
me from the beginning of my life to this day. Blessed
be thy holy name for the continual protections of thy
hand, by which I have been defended amidst the
changes and chances of this mortal life, and kept and
delivered from innumerable dangers, and particularly
from the terrors and evil accidents of the past night.
To thy watchful providence I wholly , When disturban.
owe it, [* that no disturbance hath ces of any kind shall
come nigh me, or my dwelling, but happen, instead of this
that I have enjoyed quiet and re- Z'4'^/-^
freshing sleep, and am brought jn danger, I am brought
safety to the beginning of this day.] •» «/<*# to the begin*
For these and all thy other merries, nm- of tk,s **¦!
my soul doth bless and magnify thy glorious name ;
humbly beseeching thee to accept this my morning sa
crifice of praise and thanksgiving, for his sake, who
lay down in the grave, and rose again for me, thy Son, .
my only Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
And since it is of thy mercy, O Dedicatjon of soul
gracious Father, that another day and body to God's
is added to my life ; I here dedicate service, with a resolu-
both my soul and body to thee and *(» £ £*£?**
thy service, to promote thy glory
B

26 Morning Prayer
and my own salvation, in a sober, righteous, and godly
life. I renounce the devil and all his works, the va
nities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of
the flesh, desiring nothing so much as to serve thee
faithfully all the days of my life. And I sincerely re
solve so to improve the time which thou shalt be
pleased to grant me in this world, that I may every day
become a better Christian, and pefsevere in holiness and
righteousness unto the end. In which resolutions do
thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen me;
and especially this day keep it stedfaftty in the purpose
of my heart to perform them, that as I grow in age, I
may grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
But, Lord, thou knowest the
•ne ^'perfOTnTthat weakness arid corruption of my na-
resolution. ture and the manifold temptations
which I daily meet with ; I there
fore humbly beseech thee to have compassion upon
my infirmities, and. to give me the constant assistance
of thy Holy Spirit ; that I may be effectually restrained
from sin, and excited to my duty. And when thou
seest me giving way to any temptation, suffer me not
to be tempted above that I am able, but stretch out
thy helping hand to save and deliver me. Imprint upon
my heart such a dread of thy judgments, and such a
Ipve.of thy goodness towards me, as may make me
both afraid and. ashamed to offend thee ; and, above
a^I, keep up in my mind a lively remembrance of that
great day, in which I must give a strict account of' my
thoughts, words,, and actions, and according to the-
works done in the body, be eternally rewarded or pu
nished by him whom thou hast appointed judge of
quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

for one Person in private.' 27
In particular, that I may then be
able to give account of this day; .^"^^fg!
grant me grace -to have thee and thy,, lowing day.
laws before my eyes, that I may walk
in it according to thy will, with watchfulness and cir
cumspection. Keep me sober and temperate in "my
meat and drink, and diligent in the calling and profes
sion which Jthy providence hath appointed me. Grant
me patience under any affliction thou shalt see fit to
lay upon me, and a mind, always contented with my
present condition. Give me grace to be just and up
right in all my dealings, quiet and peaceable among
my neighbours, full of compassion towards the needy
and afflicted, and ever ready to do good to_ all men,
according to the abilities and opportunities which thou
shalt give me : That so walking faithfully before thee
all my days, and being found watching whenever my
appointed time shall come, I may, from a life of righ
teousness, be translated to a life of glory, through the
merits apd mediation of Jesus Christ my only Saviour
and Redeemer. Amen.
[* And now I am entering upon F°r God's, blessing.
the business of the station wherein ^"" ,e usme
thy providence hath placed me, I * On Sunday mom-
humbly beg thy blessing this day ing, instead of this say,
i .. j • j j Aud now I am going
upon my honest designs and under- to the place J th£
takings. Direct me 4ft all my ways public worship, I be-
snd prosper the works of my hands ;] seech thee let thy
and as I desire to walk in a constant ^J"^^!™?.
sense of thy all-seeing providence ; vout, serious and at-
so let the same good providence tentive. Raise my
.i - j mind fromthe thoughts
watch over me, and preserve my of this world> t0 5the
going out and coming-in. Defend consideration of the
me from all dangers and adversities, next,' that l may join
and be graciously pleased to take ^and prais^6 of'tty
me, and all things belonging to me, church, and listen to
into thy fatherly care and protection; my duty with an ho-
' ' r nest heart in order to
B 2

28 Evening Prayer
practise it. And give These things, O Lord, and what-
ine grace to dedicate , J, ¦ ..
this day, as thou hast ever e,se thoH ?halt see necessary
appointed me, to tby and convenient either for my soul,
service, and the care my body, or estate, I humbly beg
me "in all" my ways' ?f thee> for tnV Son Jesus Christ,
and goide my feet in in whose name and words I con-
thy paths. dude rny imperfect prayers. *
Our Father which art in heaven ; hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER,
TO BE USED, AS THERE IS OCCASION, BY ONE
PERSON, IN PRIVATE.
Confession of sins, Most gracious and merciful
with a prayer for con- God, who arUof purer eyes than to
trition and pardon. ^ ^^ jnjqu^ a„d bast promised
mercy and forgiveness to all them who confess and
forsake their sins ; 1 come before thee in an humble
sense ' of my own unworthiness, acknowledging my
manifold transgressions of thy righteous laws, in
thought, word, and deed. I have every day been do
ing those things which thou hast forbidden, and leaving
undone the things which thou hast commanded : so that
when I look back upon my past life, and remember
that thou art privy to my most secret sins, I am afraid
of thy judgments, and ashamed to lift up my eyes unto

for one Person in pj'ivute. 2!)
thee. * But, O gracious Father, „ Here m4ke a
who oesirest not the death of a sm- tioular confession of
tier, look upon me, I beseech thee, the sins and failings
in thy Sdti Jesus Christ, and for of the past day" '
the merits of his sufferings, be thou merciful to my
sins. Make me deeply sensible of the great evil of
them, and work in me a hearty contrition, and let the
remembrance of them be more grievous and afflicting to
me, than of any other evil whatsoever ; that I, worthily
lamenting my transgressions, and being brought to a
hatred of my sins, and a hearty repentance, may obtain
forgiveness at thy hands,- who art ever ready to receive
humble and penitent sinners j fpr the sake of thy Son
Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer. • Amen.
And lest, through my own frailty,, Prayer far grace io
or the temptations that encompass reform and grow bet-
me, I be drawn again to my former ter'
sins ; vouchsafe me, I' beseech thee, the direction and
assistance of thy Holy Spirit; that as thou hast put
into my heart these desires and resolutions of amend
ment, so by the help of thy Grace, I may bring the
same to good effect; in a godly, .righteous, and sober
life. Reform whatever thou findest amiss in the tem
per and dispositions of my soul ; that no unclean
thoughts, unlaw ftrl designs, or inordinate desires may
rest there. Purge my heart from envy, hatred, and
malice, that I may never suffer the sun to go dowa
upon my wrath, but may always go to my rest in.
peace, charity, arid good- will, with a conscience yoid
of offence towards thee and towards men ; that so my
heart being a fit habitation for thy Holy Spirit, he
may continually dwell therein ; and I, whether I Wake
or sleep, may be! under his blessed protection, and hav»
my whole spirit, and soul, and^jody, preserved pure
and blameless, Unto- the coming, of my Lord and Sa
viour Jesus Christ. Amen. Bf 3

30 Evening Prayer
The intercession ge- Wjth these Prayers in bel,aIf of
neral and particular, myself, accept, O Lord, as the tes
timony of my love and charity, and
my hearty intercessions for all mankind. Let the light
of thy Gospel shine upon all nations ; and may as
many as have already -heard and received it, live as
becomes it. Be more especially gracious to the
Church and nation whereunto I belong. Bless the
King, and all who by thy providence have authority
under him ; so rule their hearts, and strengthen their
hands, that they may neither want will nor power to
punish wickedness and vice, and to maintain thy true
religion among us. Send down thy blessings, tempo
ral and spiritual, upon all my relations, friends and
neighbours. Reward all that have done me good, and
pardon all those who have done, or wish me evil, and
give them repentance, and better minds. Be merciful
to all who are in any trouble or affliction of mind,
body, or estate; and do thou, the God of pity and
compassion, administer to every one help and comfort,
according to their several necessities ; for his sake,
who went about doing good to the souls and bodies of
men, thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The thanksgiving To our Praye,:s and intercessions
general and particular, for future blessings, I add my un
feigned thanks for all thy mercies
which from time to time thou hast vouchsafed me ; for
my being, my reason, and all other endowments and
faculties of soul and body: for my health, friends,
food, and raiment, and all other comforts aud conve
niences of life. Above all, we adore thy. tender mercy
and compassion to me and all mankind, in sending thy
only Son into the world, to redeem me from sin and
eternal death, and in giving me the knowledge and
sense of my duty towards thee. I bless thee for thy
patience with me, notwithstanding my many and great
provocations; for all the directions, assistances and

for one Person in private. 31
comforts of thy Holy Spirit ; for thy continual care
and watchful providence over me, through the whole
course of my life ; and particularly for the mercies and
benefits of" the past day ; beseeching thee to continue
these thy blessings to me, and give me grace to shew
my sense of them, and all thy other mercies, in a sin
cere obedience to his laws, through whose merits and
intercession I receive them all, thy Son our Saviour
¦ Jesus Christ. Amen.
In a particular, manner I beseech Prayer for God.s
thee to continue thy gracious pro- protection the foilow-
tection to me this night. Into thy "»s »»s°t-
hand I commend my soul and body, my substance,
dwelling, and all things that belong to me. Do thou,
O gracious God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest,
be pleased to take both me and them this night into
thy especial care and protection. Defend me from all
dangers and mischiefs, and from the dread and fear of
them ; that I may enjoy such quiet and refreshing
sleep, as may fit me for the duties of the following
day. And, Lord, make me ever mindful of that time
when I shall lie down in the dust : and grant me grace
always to live in such a state, that I may never be afraid
to die; but that whether I live, I may live unto thee ;
or whether I die, I may die unto thee ; so that living
and dying I may be thine, through the merits and sa
tisfaction of thy Son Christ Jesus, in whose name and
words I conclude my imperfect prayers.
Our Father which art in heaven ; hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive, us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYERS

FOR

MORNING AND EVENING,
Suited to the Condition of CHILDREN, and to be said
by them in Private ; especially when they cannot be
present at the Public or Family Prayers.
MORNING PRAYER.
When you rise out of bed in the morning say,
I laid me down ana slept, and rose up again, for the
Lord sustained me, Psal. iii. 5-.
When you have put on your cloathes, say the following
Prayer.
O Almighty God, who madest and governest all
things in heaven and earth, and whose mercy is over all
thy works : I give thee humble thanks, for that thou
hast delivered me from the perils and dangers of the
past night, and brought me safely to the beginning of
this day. Protect me in it, I beseech thee, by thy
good providence, and give me grace to be diligent in
my business, and dutiful and obedient to my parents
and governors. Preserve me from sickness and dan
gers, and air evil accidents, but especially from sin and
vice, and from the snares and temptations of profane
company and evil examples. Keep up in me an awful
reverence of thee and thy name, that I may at all times
behave myself in the holy offices of religion -with se
riousness and attention, and carefully abstain from va
nity and prb'faneness of all kinds. Imprint upon my
mind such a sense and fear of thy all-seeing eye, as
may keep me from falsehood and lying, and every evil

Ptayers for Children. S3
way ; remembering that thou beholdest the most secret
thoughts and actions of my heart and life. That walk
ing always in thy fear, and being protected by thy good
providence both in body and soul, 1 may evermore
serve and please thee ; and as I grow io age, may also
grow in grace and goodness. Grant this, O merciful
Father, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, my only
mediator and advocate. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER.
Almighty God, in whom I live and move, and
have my being, and to whose gracious providence over
me I owe all the blessings and benefits %vhich 1 enjoy j
I give thee humble thanks for thy preservation*of me,
and for all thy other mercies towards me, from the be-
. ginning of my life to this day ; beseeching thee to par
don all the sins and failings by which I have at any time
offended thee, and to give me grace to avoid them for
the time to come. I thank thee more especially for the
blessing which thou hast vouchsafed me, of a pious
and virtuous education ; and I pray thee to make me
sensible of the great benefit of it, and careful to im
prove it, in a sober, serious, and regular life ; that so
I may lay a sure foundation for my own happiness, and
be a faithful servant to thee, and a ' _, , ,
, ,' , ' , * To my dear fa-
comfort* to my dear parents, whom ther or n)0ti,er> if one
I beseech thee ever more to bless be dead ; or, to my
and reward for all their care and relations and gover-
, , tiii- noes, if the pareuts be
love towards me. I thank thee, in both dead.
particular, for the preservation of
me throughout the past day, and beseech thee to con
tinue thy gracious protection to me this night, and to
give me such quiet and .refreshing sleep, as may fit me
for the duties of the following day. All which I beg
of thee, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, my bles*
sed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen,

S4 Prayers for Servants.
Our Father which art in heaven ; hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven. Give us fhis day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
When you lie down in bed, say,
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it
is thou, Lord only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Psal. iv. Q.

PRAYERS FOR
MORNING AND EVENING.
Suited to the Condition of SERVANTS, and to be said by
them in Private ; especially when they cannot be present
at the Public or Family Prayers.
MORNING PRAYER,
When you rise out of bed in the morning, say,
I laid me down and slept, and rose up again, for the
Lord sustained me. Psal. iii. 5.
When you have put on your clqalhes, say the following
prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God, in whom I live, and
move, and have my being, and whose mercy is over all
thy works ; I render thee my humble thanks for thy

Prayers for Servants. 35
preservation of me from the beginning of my life to this
time. In particular I thank thee for that thou hast.
protected me from the perils and dangers of the night
past, and hast given me quiet and comfortable rest,
and brought me safely to the beginning of this day.
Let the same good Providence still watch over me,
and preserve my going-out and my comiug-iu ; that I
may be defended from all dangers and mischiefs, and
from the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the
devil. Give me Grace to behave myself with sobriety,
diligence, and honesty, in the business of my station,
and with duty and submission to those whom thou hast
set over me ; and to desire and endeavour to live in
peace and love with my fellow-servants. Preserve in
me a strict regard to truth and sincerity in all my words
and actions, and let no fear of punishment or displea
sure from men ever make me transgress my duty to
thee. And to the end I may, walk in thy fear this day,
and all the days, of my life ; keep up in my mind a due
sense and reverence of thy all-seeing eye, and a lively
remembrance of tbat great day in which 1 must give a
strict account of my thoughts, words, and actions; and
according to the works done in my body, be sentenced
to happiness or misery, to all eternity. Grant this, O
Father, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, my bles
sed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER.
Most gracious God, who by thy wise providence
-hast appointed to mankind their several stations and
offices in this life,, I acknowledge thy wisdom and
goodness in this and all . thy other dispensations ; de
siring in all things to pay a ready and cheerful submis
sion to thy holy will. To this end, endue- me with
such a spirit of humility, patience, and contentment,
as is suitable to the condition in which thy providence
hath placed me. Bless me with health of. hody, and
+

36 Prayers for Servants.
comforts of mind, that I may perform the offices which
belong to me with cheerfulness and resignation ; doing
my duty as unto thee, and not only unto men, and
resting upon thy gracious promises for a reward upon
my labour and obedience in this life. And since,
through the frailty o/ my nature, and the manifold
temptations which I daily meet with, I cannot always
stand upright ; I pray thee to forgive all transgressions
of my duty, whether in thought) word, or deed, and
especially forgive me the sins and failings of the past
day, and enable me by thy Holy Spirit to avoid them
for the' time to come, and to be ever growing in the
graces and virtues of the Christian life, as long as thou
shalt be pleased to continue me in this world. I thank
thee for thy constant care over me, amidst all the
changes of this mortal life, and in particular for thy
preservation of me throughout the past day; and I be
seech thee to continue thy gracious protection to me
this night, that I may enjoy such quiet and refreshing
sleep, as may fit me for the duties of the following day.
All which I beg of thee, in the name and for themerits
of thy Son Jesus Christ, my blessed Saviour and Re
deemer. Amen.
Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ^
When you lie down in bed, say,
I wjll lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it is
thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Psal. iv. 9-
the end.
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