COLLECTS AND PRAYERS

FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.

Divine Guidance.

GOD, the eternal source of wisdom and purity, from whom all good counsels, all holy desires, and all just works do proceed; we offer up our humble prayers unto thee, beseeching thee to enlighten our minds, and sanctify our hearts by thy heavenly truth. What we know not, teach thou us; whatever is amiss in us, dispose us to reform; whatever in us is good, assist us to carry forward to perfection; which we ask in the name and as disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GRANT unto us, O most merciful Father,

the spirit of wisdom and knowledge. Teach us to judge aright concerning thee, our Maker, and the duties which thou requirest of us; and let all religious truths deeply impress our hearts, and have a lasting influence on our behavior. Assist us to subdue every vicious affection, and to withstand every temptation; that we may manifest the sincerity of our repentance by the steadfastness of our obedience; and that, not being weary of well-doing, we may finally obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GOD, who art ever more ready to hear than we are to pray, and who hast promised the help of thy holy Spirit to those who truly seek it, we humbly beseech thee to fulfil thy gracious promise to us thy servants, and grant us that light and help, without which we can do nothing. O guide us by thy counsel, defend us by thy might, purify us by thy Spirit, and keep us in thy fear and love continually; and thine shall be the honor, and the glory, and the praise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.\ Amen.]

GOD, who art infinite in knowledge and in wisdom, though thy ways are past our finding out we know that they are just and right. We submit our desires to thy will, our concerns to thy disposal, and our ways to thy ways, to be led by thee as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Divine Protection.

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. Amen.

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BE thou, O Lord, our protection, who art our redemption; direct our minds by thy gracious presence, and watch over our paths with guiding love; that among the snares which lie hidden in the path wherein we walk, we may so pass onward with hearts fixed on thee, that by the track of faith we may come to be where thou wouldst have us, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

WE humbly pray thee, O Father in heaven,

to guide us through the darkness of this world, to guard us from its perils, to hold us up and strengthen us when we grow weary in our mortal way, and to lead us by thy chosen paths, through time and through death, to our eternal home in thy heavenly kingdom; which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMI

Purity.

LMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

LORD our God, eternal, wonderful in glory, who art the Life of all, the Help of them that flee unto thee, the Hope of those who cry unto thee; cleanse us from our sins,

secret and open, and from every thought displeasing to thy goodness, that with a pure heart and a clear conscience we may confidently and fearlessly pray unto thee, trusting in thine infinite love made known to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.

O GOD of love, who hast given us a new

commandment through thy dear Son, that we should love one another, even as thou dost love us, the unworthy and the wandering; we pray thee, Lord, give to us thy servants a mind forgetful of past ill-will, a pure conscience and sincere thoughts, and a heart to love our brethren. Amen.

LORD, renew our spirits and draw our hearts unto thyself, that our work may be to us not a burden, but a delight. Grant unto us the mighty love that shall sweeten all our obedience. Suffer us not to serve thee with the spirit of bondage, but to walk before thee with the gladness of children, delighting in thee and rejoicing in thy work. Amen.

Help in Worship.

ALMIGHTY GOD, the fountain of all

wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask, and our ignorance in asking; we beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for