tify us by thy Holy Spirit, to make us perfect in every good work, and to keep us blameless unto the end;

People. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Minister. The Lord bless us and keep us; People. The Lord cause his face to shine upon us.

Minister. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us;

People. And give us peace.

PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS

UPON SEVERAL OCCASIONS,

TO BE USED BEFORE THE TWO FINAL PRAYERS OF
MORNING AND EVENING SERVICE.

O

¶ That we may put our Trust wholly in God.

LORD God, thou art our refuge and our

hope on thee alone we rest; for we find all to be weak and insufficient but thee. Many friends cannot profit, nor strong helpers assist, nor prudent counsellors advise, nor the books of the learned afford comfort, nor any precious substance deliver, nor any place give shelter, unless thou thyself dost assist, strengthen, console, instruct, and guard us. To thee, therefore, do we lift up our eyes; in thee, our God, the Father of mercies, do we put our trust. Bless and sanctify our souls, that they may become thy holy habitation, and the seat of thine eternal glory; and let nothing be found in us displeasing in thy sight. Protect and keep us amidst all

dangers; and, accompanying us by thy grace, direct us along the way of peace to thine everlasting home. Amen.

O

¶ In Time of Trouble.

GOD, thou art our hope and our strength, a very present help in time of need. Look down upon us with thy fatherly pity, and give us hearts wholly resigned to thy divine will. May we have such firm confidence in thy good providence as not to increase our trouble by our own infirmities. Take from us gloomy forebodings and a spirit of fear. Blessed be thy name, our sorrows are finite and temporal, less than our sins, and infinitely less than thy mercies. O may it be our great care to please thee, our only fear lest we should sin against thee. Let thy loving-kindness be our portion, thy Spirit our guide, thy law the rule of our conduct; and so with patience may we wait till this cloud is passed over. Amen.

¶ In Time of Mourning.

ALMIGHTY God, who governest all things

in heaven and on earth with infinite

wisdom and mercy, and dost encourage us to

fly to thee as our refuge in distress; Refresh thy sorrowing children with the light of thy countenance, and the consolations of thy Holy Spirit. Be thou now to us, we humbly beseech thee, what thou lovest to be, a Father to those who are in trouble and a God of comfort to those who mourn. Grant that we thy servants may not weep as those who are without hope, nor complain of anything but ourselves, nor desire anything but that thy will may be done, nor do anything but what is agreeable to thy holy word and commandment. O heavenly Father, when thou smitest us, not less than when thou pourest out blessings on us, may our love to thee increase; and when the few years of our earthly pilgrimage are ended, may we be gathered to our fathers in thy peace, and in the blessed hope of a joyful resurrection, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

O

¶ In Time of Adversity.

HOLY Father, help us to labor for those enduring riches which consist in the knowledge of thee, and in the glory of thy gracious presence. Suffer us not, we pray thee, so to limit thy power as to think that thou art

not now able to supply our real wants, though blessings which we were wont to enjoy are taken from us. Restrain, we beseech thee, our desires; teach us willingly to submit ourselves to thy wisdom. Let thy promises and providence be our storehouse; let it be enough for us to believe as we do, that, though we lose all we possess, yet, inasmuch as thou hast once loved us in Christ, we shall never lose thy favor. Through him be ascribed unto thee glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.

¶ That we may commit those whom we love to the Keeping of our heavenly Father.

O

LORD God of heaven and earth, for

those who belong to us may we neither be without care, nor yet taken up with care, as if we had not thee to care for us. But let us assure ourselves that thou wilt be our God, and the God of our children; and wilt not leave them destitute of earthly blessings, for whom thou hast provided an eternal inheritance. With this confidence may we go on our way with cheerfulness, fulfilling every duty as it arises, and leaving all events trustfully to thee, our merciful God and Father. Amen.