Page images
PDF
EPUB

Prayer for a New Year.

other year, and have grace to show our thankfulness with our lips and in our lives, by a holy and obedient walking before thee. Support us, O our heavenly Father, in all the trials of life which await us. In seasons of prosperity may we be thankful and humble; in adversity, patient and resigned. As times and seasons to us are renewed, may our hearts be also renewed and created again unto good works.

And wilt thou, O midst of the years.

Lord, revive thy work in the Extend, we beseech thee, the light of thy truth to those who are sitting in spiritual darkness and in the shadow of death. Be merciful to those who are living without God in the world, or any sure hope of immortal blessedness, spending their days and their years in vanity and

sin.

Bless thy word wherever it is spoken, and send it to those places where it is not heard.

Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation, that, among all the changes and perils of this mortal state, we may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help. May we labor faithfully in doing those good works which thou hast ordained for us to walk in, before that night cometh in which no man can work. We ask these things in the name and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.

For a New Year.

O HOLY, just, and almighty God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies cannot be numbered, we bless thee for thy patient goodness to us, thy unworthy creatures. We adore thee for thy creat

Prayer for a New Year.

ing power which called us from dust and darkness into life and being. Awaken in our hearts a still more thankful sense of thy forbearing mercy, in prolonging our lives from day to day, and from year to year; and especially for thy preservation, and blessings bestowed upon us during the perils and changes of the last year, now passed and gone; and that thou art still giving us time and opportunity to amend our lives, and prepare for our eternal state. Teach us, we beseech thee, so to number our days and estimate thy goodness, that we may apply our hearts unto true wisdom; that we may better know thy truth, and more faithfully do thy will. Should it be, O gracious Father, thy good pleasure that our days may still be prolonged on the earth, and thou shalt let us continue this year also, may our hearts and lives be devoted to thee, in a sober, righteous and godly living. While days, and weeks, and years are so continued to us, may our love to thee increase, and may we manifest our thankfulness by doing all those good works which thou hast ordained for us to walk in. May it be our endeavor and delight to do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. May we remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive; and rejoice to follow the steps of him who went about doing good. Enlarge our hearts with compassion for the sons and daughters of sorrow; and, according as we have opportunity and power, may we be ready to give, and glad to distribute, and to offer that sacrifice with which thou art well pleased. Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in all we do, with thy most gracious favor, and dispose our hearts and our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation, that among all the changes and trials of this mortal life, we may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help; and when days and years

Prayers that may be used at the Closing of a Convention. with us shall end, and time shall be no longer, may we be received into those realms of life eternal, where sorrows shall cease, and prayer shall be changed to endless praise. Grant this, O merciful God, through Him, who is the resurrection and the life, thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayers that may be used at the Closing of a Convention.

O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things in heaven and on earth, and who dost ever help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast fear and love, keep us, we beseech thee, under thy holy care and protection, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name. Grant us the help of thy grace, that, in keeping thy commandments, we may please thee in will and deed. May we love the things which thou commandest, and desire those which thou dost promise; and among the sundry and manifold changes of this world, may our hearts be surely fixed where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the church is governed and sanctified, receive our supplications and prayers for all estates of men in thy holy church, that every member of it, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee. Send down upon our bishops and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace; and, that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. We beseech thee to inspire continually the universal church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord;

Prayers that may be used at the Closing of a Convention. and grant that all they who do confess thy holy name may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. And grant, Ó Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

We yield thee humble and hearty thanks, O heavenly Father, for thy merciful goodness to us and to all men. We bless thee for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the preaching of his gospel; the establishment of his church; the means of grace, and the hope of glory. We render thee our thanks and adoration for thy blessings bestowed upon the churches and congregations of thy people with whom we are more particularly connected. We bless thee that we have been permitted, as the council of those churches, to assemble here in thy name and presence; we give thee thanks for the harmony that has prevailed during our deliberations, and the brotherly intercourse which we have enjoyed. Give us, we beseech thee, that due sense of these and all thy mercies, that our hearts may be duly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, by a holy obedience to thy holy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

A Prayer that may be used after an Evening Lecture.

A Prayer that may be used after an Evening Lecture.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who art the Author and Giver of all good, we humbly and thankfully acknowledge thy manifold mercies to thy sinful creatures. We bless thee for the benefits which we have received during the day past, and for the favor of this opportunity of worshipping in thy house. Pardon, we beseech thee, the sins that we may have committed in thy presence. Accept the prayers and thanksgivings which we have offered before thee. Forgive us wherein we have asked amiss. Grant that what has been faithfully asked, according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the supplying of what we need, and to the promotion of thy glory and praise. Grant, O Lord, that what has been read this evening from thy word, and what has been spoken according to thy will, may be to all who have heard it a savor of life unto life; may it be so impressed upon our hearts as to establish, strengthen, and settle us in the faith of Jesus Christ, and bring forth in us the fruit of righteousness and peace. We pray that thy good Spirit may go with us to our respective dwellings; may thy kind, protecting Providence watch over us whilst we sleep; preserve us through the silent watches of the night, and fit us for the duties of the following day. And whilst our lives are prolonged upon the earth, take us, we beseech. thee, O heavenly Father, and all that is near and dear to us, under thy holy care and keeping. Direct our steps in the paths of righteousness and peace, and dispose all our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation, that we may live to thy glory in this world, and in the world to come

« PreviousContinue »