PRAYER FOR TEMPERANCE. Almighty God, who openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness, and hast provided for us thy servants sufficient to satisfy all our needs, teach us to use thy creatures soberly and temperately, that we may not by any improper excess, make the temptations of our enemy to prevail upon us, or render our spirits unapt for the performance of our duty, nor our bodies healthless, nor our affections sensual and unholy; suffer not the blessings which thou givest us, O Lord, to minister to sin and sickness, but to health and holiness and thanksgiving, that in the strength of thy provisions we may cheerfully, and actively, and diligently serve thee here; and through thy grace, be admitted to the glories of thy heavenly kingdom hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COLLECT. O Lord, from whom all good things do come, grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. THURSDAY EVENING. LET us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised: watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men, be strong. Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. And follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord, giving praise to God for that glorious salvation, which he has given unto us by Jesus Christ, and laying hold of eternal life, through faith in his name. Glory be to the Father, &c. COLLECT. Almighty and everlasting God, who of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall all repeat THE LORD'S PRAYER. PRAYER FOR PEACE AND BROTHERLY KINDNESS. Grant us, O Lord, by thy heavenly grace to be of one mind, having compassion one of another, that we may love as brethren, being pitiful, being courteous, not rendering evil for evil, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that we are thereunto called, that we should inherit a blessing, and that he that will love life, and see good days, should refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. O Lord, make us to avoid evil, and to do good, to seek peace and ensue it; and being ready to suffer, if needs be, for righteousness' sake, we may evermore sanctify thee, O Lord God, in our heart and lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COLLECT. O God, forasmuch as without thee, we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule over our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. FRIDAY MORNING. LET them that believe in God be careful to maintain good works. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments. Whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap; for he that soweth to his flesh, shall of his flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. For God will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Glory be to the Father, &c. PRAYER FOR PARDON. Lord, make us to know our transgressions and our sins, and to loathe ourselves in our own sight, for all the evil that we have committed; that we may be ashamed, and confounded at our own perverseness and ingratitude, and so bethink ourselves, and repent, and cry unto thee for pardon and grace, that our sins may be forgiven, through the mediation of Jesus Christ thy only Son our Saviour. Amen. Then shall all repeat THE LORD'S PRAYER. Our Father, which art in heaven, &c. THANKSGIVING FOR REDEMPTION. Most merciful and heavenly Father, who hast given thine only Son to be our Saviour, our Re deemer, our peacemaker, our wisdom, our sanctification, and our righteousness, who is the seed of the woman in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, who is that Saviour that saveth his people from their sins, who is that bread of life which came down from heaven, if any man eat of that bread he shall live for ever, who is that good Shepherd that gave his life for his sheep, who is the resurrection and the life, whoso believeth on him although he were dead, shall live, and every one that liveth and believeth in him, shall never die; he hath delivered us from the curse of the law, when he was made a curse for us. For this thy fatherly love and unspeakable kindness in giving thy Son unto death for our sake, and for all thy other benefits we have received at thy fatherly hand through him, we give thee most hearty thanks, humbly desiring that we may never commit any thing in thought, word, or deed, that may offend thy Divine Majesty, but remembering always that we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, we may henceforth live unto him who died for us, and be holy in all our conversation, and obedient in all things to the glory of thy name. Amen. COLLECT. Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. |