A GENERAL PRAYER. So O GOD, the fountain of all goodness, and giver of all spiritual grace, open to us thy dependent creatures, the stores of thy most excellent bounty. Have pity upon us to relieve, strengthen, and comfort us according to our several necessities. Grant us truly contrite hearts before thee, and ever bow down our proud Spirit at the foot of the cross. Give us to eschew evil and follow after good. purify our inmost thoughts and affections that we may be henceforth undefiled in the way, keeping thy testimonies, and seeking thee with the whole heart. May we follow after temperance, meekness, goodness, and an entire dedication to the will of thee our only God and Father. Cleanse us from all the defilement, which by our necessary engagements with a polluting world we may have this day contracted. Let no worldly occupation or enjoyment, however lawful, have such hold on our affections, as to make us less earnest and lively in thy service; but may Jesus and his salvation daily become more precious to us, and the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, more fully dwell in us. Whatever mortifications or crosses may be now upon us, or in thy good providence approaching, may we without wavering repose in thy care. Keep us mindful of the shortness and uncertainty of this life, and so steadfastly anticipating the glorious appearance of thy blessed Son, that we may be always confident, and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Grant us these and all other blessings, for the sake and through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. Or this, O GOD, by whose never failing faithfulness and love we have been preserved through another day, hearken now we intreat thee, to the cry of our hearts, and mercifully relieve all our necessities. Cause thy face to shine upon us, and make us joyful in thy salvation: cleanse us from all the defilement of the world or of the flesh we may have this day contracted. Let all the disappointments and difficulties of the present life, tend through thy grace, to quicken our preparation for the world to come. Deliver us from all our spiritual enemies, to serve thee henceforth without fear, in holiness and righteousness. Preserve us from all hardness of heart, and unbelief: or from perverting thy gracious promises into occasions of sin. Thou knowest how often we are solely distressed and harassed by inward temptations or outward trials. Oh, most gracious Saviour, purify our hearts and bring our wills into captivity to thine. Thou hast mercifully disposed us to choose the one thing needful; keep us from being ashamed of the cross, from dishonouring the gospel, or looking back from the kingdom of God. But let our hearts and eyes be so fixed on things above, that laying aside every weight, and the sin which most easily besets us, we may fight the good fight, run the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, and daily make advance towards the enjoyment of his glory. Form in us the mind of Christ. Baptise us anew this night, with the Holy Ghost. May we sink deeper in true humility, and rise higher in the enjoyment of thy love; grant us these mercies for the sake of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. O MERCIFUL God, who hast made the night for man's repose, as thou hast ordained the day for the labour of his hands, grant us to rest this night under thy Almighty protection. Defend our souls from the attacks of evil spirits, and from the pollutions of sin; our dwelling from the terrors and dangers of the night season ; our minds from harassing cares, and our bodies from disease and death. Grant us ever to remember that the night is no night with thee, but that the darkness and light to thee are both alike. Though we sleep, yet let our hearts watch to thee, and when we wake, let us be present with thee, and our thoughts ascend to thee in praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. M. O God, send us help from thy holy place. Undertake for us, O Lord, and deliver our A. souls. A. M. Let the enemy have no advantage over us. A. hearts. And let thy blessing satisfy and gladden our AN INTERCESSORY PRAYER. ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who wouldest not the death of any, we beseech thee to have mercy upon all men. Make thy way known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Unite speedily both Jews and Gentiles into one fold under one Divine Shepherd. Multiply grace and peace to all who love the Lord in sincerity. Sanctify them through thy truth, that they may approve themselves created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Bless our land, and make us a truly religious, that we may be a prosperous people. Pour out thy Spirit upon all ranks, and make known thy words unto them. Satisfy our poor with bread, and comfort the hearts of the needy. May all our relations and friends have the blessedness of those who make God their trust. Pardon our enemies, if we have any, and may all men live at peace with one another. Uphold with thy free Spirit the dejected in mind, and comfort such as are in affliction, sickness, or pain; Especially A, or B. Finally bless each of us before thee, that we may desire each others good, and meet at length in thy eternal kingdom, through the merits of our only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. A THANKSGIVING. O GOD, whose bountiful goodness is over all thy works, we render thee humble and hearty thanks for all the blessings, spiritual or temporal, we have this day received. Glory be to thee, that we are yet in the land of the living, for the strength and health we enjoy, and for access to thy mercy-seat. Glory be to thee for blessings on our persons, substance and friends, for the bounties and beauties of nature, the gifts and dealings of thy providence, but far more for the riches of thy grace. Glory be to thee, that thou didst freely give up thy blessed Son to die for us all, and by him didst send down the Holy Comforter to abide with thy Church for ever. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee; we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty, who, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, art worshipped and glorified in thy Church, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Or this, EVER blessed, and most gracious God, whose love in thy gifts, to thy weak, needy, and sinful creatures, exceeds all their thoughts, as it is far above all praise, vouchsafe to receive our feeble thanksgivings for all thy bounties to us, who are now before thee. We adore and praise thee, O God, for our being, our preservation, our portion in the land of the living; but especially for our hope of the world to come, and of the glorious kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this gift, the purchase of the precious blood of thy only begotten Son, thou commendest thy love towards us. it Oh grant, for his sake, that the enjoyment of may constrain us more heartily to serve and love |