A Prayer that may be used after a Lecture. enjoy eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Another Prayer which may be used after a Lecture. GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that what has now been spoken according to thy word and will, may be grafted in our hearts, and fruitful in our lives. Pardon us wherein we have spoken or heard amiss, and direct our desires and dispose our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation. And grant, O Lord, that by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be a holy temple acceptable unto thee. And especially to this congregation, and to those who worship thee in this house, give the abundance of thy grace, that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of thy holy apostolic church, and strive together for the faith of the gospel which was once delivered to the saints. O thou blessed Spirit of the living God, Sanctifier of the faithful, dwell in their hearts with thy love and favor. Defend them from error, heresy, and pride. Enlighten their minds with the truth of thy word; graft in their hearts the love of thy name; increase in them true religion; nourish them with all goodness; and of thy great mercy keep them steadfast in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments. And grant, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance that we, and all thy people, may serve thee in godly quietness; that we may walk in the ways of truth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy saints in glory, through A general Prayer for Mariners and People at Sea. the merits of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen. A general Prayer for Mariners and People at Sea. O ETERNAL God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, who art glorious in power, and of majesty incomprehensible, we adore thee as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. By thy word were the heavens made, and all their host by the breath of thy mouth. Thou gavest to the sea thy decree, that the waters should obey thy commandment. Thou, O God, art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them who are afar off upon the sea. We humbly ask for thy blessing upon ourselves, and upon all for whom we ought to pray, and especially upon them who go down to the sea in ships, and do business upon the great waters of the ocean. They see thy works and thy wonders in the deep. At thy command the stormy winds arise, and the floods lift up their voice. The waves of the sea are mighty; they rage and swell; but thou, Lord, who dwellest on high, art mightier. Thou rulest the raging of the deep, and when its waves arise thou stillest them. We humbly implore thy blessing and providential care for all who are exposed to the perils of the ocean, and are borne upon its mighty waves. Give them, we beseech thee, a lively sense of thy providential care, and of the wonders which thou dost for the children of men. Help them to know thy unspeakable love in the redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ. At all times, and in every peril and distress, may they look unto thee, as the Lord God of their salvation, who spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea, and art a present help in every time of need. A Thanksgiving for Escape from great Danger at Sea. Grant them a pious trust in thy kind protecting providence. While we in greater safety enjoy thy blessings on these peaceful shores, may we feel for those who are deprived of the privileges of thy house and sanctuary. O hear our prayers for them, who for the mutual benefit of distant climes, and to multiply the blessings of life, encounter the perils of the sea. In storms and tempests; in every danger and all distress, be thou their help and comfort. Preserve them from sickness; from shipwreck; from the violence of enemies, and from every evil to which they be exposed. Prosper them in the business and the occupation in which they may be engaged. Conduct them in safety to the countries and havens where they desire to be; and in thy good time conduct them to their homes, their families and friends, in prosperity and peace; and dispose them, we beseech thee, to be thankful for thy goodness, and to live to thy praise. These things, O heavenly Father, and whatever thou shalt see to be necessary or convenient for their present happiness and their eternal good, we humbly ask in the name and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen. A Thanksgiving for Escape from great Danger at Sea. Thou ADORABLE and everliving God, whose mercy is over all thy works, we adore thee for thy manifold goodness to the sons of men. Thou holdest our soul in life, and sufferest not our feet to slip. hast shut up the sea within its bounds, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be staid. They who sail upon the waters of the ocean see thy glorious works, and thy wonders in the deep. At thy com A Thanksgiving for Escape from great Danger at Sea. mand the stormy winds arise, which lift up mighty waves, and fill the hearts of men with fear. But when they cry unto thee in their trouble, thou bringest them out of their distress: thou makest the storm to cease so that the waves of the sea are still. Then are they glad, because they are at rest, and thou, in the plenitude of thy mercy, bringest them unto the haven where they would be. Help us, O Lord, to praise thee for thy goodness, and for all the wonders thou dost for the children of men. We desire, O Lord, especially to render thee our humble thanks and praise for conducting in safety through the perils of the sea thy servant, who desires now in the presence of thy people to adore thee for thy merciful goodness in preserving him from perishing. When surrounded with terrors, dangers, and death, thou didst deliver him from a watery grave: thou didst say to the winds, Peace; be still, and there was a great calm. Many have perished in the ocean, and sunk amidst the waters of the deep, while, through thy great goodness, this thy servant has been rescued from impending death; preserved through the toils and dangers of the sea, and restored to safety and peace. Accept, O merciful God, his humble offering of thankfulness and praise; and give him grace to manifest his sense of thy goodness, by a steadfast reliance upon thy providential care, and by devoting himself to thy service in a holy obedience to thy laws, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. A Prayer for God's Grace and Protection that may be used daily. Prayers which may be used at Sea when the regular public service is not performed. A Prayer for God's Grace and Protection, that may be used daily. ADORABLE and everliving God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, we look unto thee as the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them who remain upon the broad sea. Thou in thy strength settest fast the mountains; thou stillest the raging of the sea, and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people; by thy righteous providence thou dost govern all things in heaven and on earth. We beseech thee, O Lord, to behold with thy favor and blessing thy dependent, unworthy creatures; to forgive our sins, and blot out our transgressions. Remember not, Lord, our offences; but thy mercy in Jesus Christ. For his sake hear our prayers, sanctify our affections, and renew a right spirit within us. O thou Father of our spirits, take us, we entreat thee, under the protection of thy almighty arm. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from every evil to which we are, or may be, exposed. While we are wafted by mighty winds amidst the waves of the ocean, be thou our Ruler and Guide. In every danger, and difficulty, and distress, help us to look unto thee for succor, and to put our trust in thy providential care. May we be ever mindful of thy presence; that thou art about our path, and about our bed, and spiest out all our ways. There is not a word in our tongue, nor a thought in our heart, but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether. Whither can we go from thy Spirit! If we take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shalt thou lead us, and thy right hand shall hold us. O be thou our safeguard and defence. Pre |