16

Almighty and gracious God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast commanded us to pray that Thou wouldest send forth laborers into Thy harvest; Of Thine infinite mercy give us true teachers and ministers of Thy Word, and put Thy saving Gospel in their hearts and on their lips, that they may truly fulfill Thy command, and preach nothing contrary to Thy holy Word; that we, being warned, instructed, nurtured, comforted and strengthened by Thy heavenly Word, may do those things which are well-pleasing to Thee, and profitable to us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

17

O Almighty God, Who by Thy Son Jesus Christ, didst give to Thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and commandest them earnestly to feed Thy flock; Make, we beseech Thee, all Pastors diligently to preach Thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

18

For the Church in its Conflicts.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who wilt have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; We beseech Thy glorious Majesty, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, impart the grace and help of Thy Holy Spirit to all ministers of Thy Word, that they may purely teach it to the saving of men; bring to nought by Thine Almighty power and unsearchable wisdom, all the counsels of those who hate Thy Word, and who, by corrupt teach

ing or with violent hands, would destroy it, and enlighten them with the knowledge of Thy glory; that we, leading a quiet and peaceable life, may. by a pure faith, learn the riches of Thy heavenly grace, and in holiness and righteousness serve Thee, the only true God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

19

For those who have Erred.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Whose property it is always to have mercy; We most earnestly beseech Thee to visit with Thy Fatherly correction all such as have erred and gone astray from the truth of Thy holy Word, and to bring them to a due sense of their error, that they may again with hearty faith receive and hold fast Thine unchangeable truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

20

Almighty, Merciful, and Gracious God and Father, with our whole heart we beseech Thee for all who have forsaken the Christian faith, all who have wandered from any portion thereof, or are in doubt or temptation through the corruptors of Thy Word, that Thou wouldest visit them as a Father, reveal unto them their error, and bring them back from their wanderings, that they in singleness of heart, taking pleasure alone in the pure truth of Thy Word, may be made wise thereby unto everlasting life; through faith in Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

21
For Unity.

O God, Who restorest to the right way them that err, who gatherest them that are scattered

and preservest them that are gathered; Of Thy tender mercy, we beseech Thee, pour upon Thy Christian people the grace of Unity, that all schisms being healed, Thy flock, united to the true Shepherd of Thy Church, may worthily serve Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

22

For the Removal of Schism.

Bring to nought, O Christ, the schisms of heresy, which seek to subvert Thy Truth; That as Thou art acknowledged in heaven and in earth as one and the same Lord, so Thy people, gathered from all nations, may serve Thee in unity of faith. Amen.

23

For the Jews.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who lovest to show mercy; Hear the prayers which we offer unto Thee for Thine ancient people, that, acknowledging Jesus Christ, Who is the Light of truth, they may be delivered from their darkness; through the same, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

24

For the Heathen.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who desirest not the death of a sinner, but wouldest have all men to repent and live; Hear our prayers for the Heathen; take away iniquity from their hearts, and turn them from their idols unto the living and true God, and to Thine only Son; and gather them into Thy holy Church, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FOR THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

25

O Merciful Father in heaven, Who holdest in Thy hand all the might of man, and who hast ordained the powers that be for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well, and of whom is all rule and authority in the kingdoms of the world; We humbly beseech Thee, graciously regard Thy servants, the President of the United States, the Governor of this Commonwealth, our Judges and Magistrates, and all the rulers of the earth. May all that receive the sword, as Thy ministers, bear it according to Thy commandment. Enlighten and defend them by Thy Name, O God. Grant them wisdom and understanding, that under their peaceable governance, Thy people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness, and unity. Protect and prolong their lives, O God of our salvation, that we, with them, may show forth the praise of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

26

For our Enemies.

Forgive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our enemies and them that despitefully use us, and so change their hearts that they may walk with us in meekness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

27

O Almighty, Everlasting God, Who, through Thine Only Son, our blessed Lord, hast commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them that persecute us: We earnestly beseech Thee that

by Thy gracious visitation they may be led to true repentance, and may have the same love, and be of one accord, and of one mind and heart with us, and with Thy whole Church; through the same, Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

28

In time of National Calamity.

O Lord God, heavenly Father, we humbly confess unto Thee that by our evil doing and continual disobedience, we have deserved these Thy chastisements; But we earnestly beseech Thee, for Thy Name's sake, to spare us; restrain the harmful power of the enemy, and succor Thy suffering people, that Thy Word may be declared faithfully and without hinderance, and that we, amending our sinful lives, may walk obediently to Thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

29

Look mercifully, O Lord, we beseech Thee, on the affliction of Thy people; and let not our sins destroy us, but let Thine Almighty mercy save us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

30

Most loving and gracious Lord God, Who for our many grievous sins art pleased sorely to chasten us, we flee to Thy tender and fatherly compassion alone, beseeching Thee that as a father pitieth his children, Thou wouldest pity us miserable sinners. Turn away Thy righteous wrath, and give us not over to deserved death, but deliver us, that we may now and evermore praise Thee, O gracious God and Father, who