THURSDAY EVENING. GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, and lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and bless us. And grant that our days be not consumed in vanity, nor our years in trouble. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the earth. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil, to root out their remembrance from the earth. Glory be to the Father, &c. PRAYER FOR HUMILITY AND CONTRITION. We beseech thee, O Lord, to give unto us thy servants humble and contrite hearts, that we, calling our ways to remembrance, may be truly sorrowful for our past sins; that we may make haste, and not prolong the time, but instantly turn our feet to thy testimonies, and, being obedient unto death, may obtain the crown of righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall all repeat THE LORD'S PRAYER. COLLECT. O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life, grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that following the steps of thy holy Apostles, we may stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life, through the same, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THANKSGIVING. Unto thee, O Lord God, good and gracious, do we render our humble and hearty thanks for thy merciful preservation this day, for relieving us according to our several necessities, and for giving us all things needful both for our souls and bodies. Continue still to us and to all mankind thy great and undeserved mercy, and accept this our evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, preserve us this night from all manner of evil, and grant that taking our natural rest and repose, we may be defended by thy protection and ready help. Pardon, O Lord, the wanderings and coldness of our petitions, and deal not with us according to the imperfection of our prayers or deserts, but according to our great need, and thy abundant goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. D FRIDAY MORNING. LORD, who hast renewed our strength, and brought us safely through the past night, blessed be thy holy name. Keep us this day without sin; turn away our eyes from beholding vanity, let our eyelids look straight before us. Set a watch, O Lord, before our mouth, keep the door of our lips, let nothing that we shall say or do this day be a grief or offence of heart unto us, but let our doings be such as thou mayest remember us for good concerning them, and spare us according to the greatness of thy mercy. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, and thine holy and glorious name is blessed and honourable for ever; let all thy works praise thee for ever. Bless the Lord thy God always, and desire of him, that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper. Glory be to the Father, &c. PRAYER FOR PARDON. Almighty God, whose property is always to have mercy, spare us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins; that being cleansed from our offences, we may serve thee, this day, with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall all repeat THE LORD'S PRAYER. COLLECT. Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient to the law for man; grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit, that our hearts and all our members being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THANKSGIVING. For all thy mercies to us and to all mankind, we bless thy holy name, O Lord, especially for that great salvation freely offered unto all, without money and without price, by the precious blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Looking always unto him, from whom is all strength and power, grant that we may earnestly press forward towards the prize of our high and heavenly calling, showing forth our faith by our good works, and daily endeavouring in humility to follow in all things the blessed steps of his most holy life, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end. Amen. BENEDICTORY PRAYER. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. FRIDAY EVENING. BLESS God, praise him, and magnify him, and praise him for all the things he hath done unto you. It is good to praise God, and exalt his name, and honourably to show forth the works of God. Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms, than to lay up gold. Give alms of thy substance, and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little. For thou layest up for thyself a good treasure against the day of necessity. Glory be to the Father, &c. PRAYER FOR PARDON. Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Then shall all repeat THE LORD'S PRAYER. |