To be used in Meetings of Bible Societies, or Associations. A Prayer that may be used in Meetings of Bible Societies, or Associations. O HOLY, just, and merciful God, unto whom all hearts are open and all desires known, and who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, grant unto us, thy sinful creatures here before thee, pardon and peace. Forgive those things wherein we have transgressed against thee, and for the sake of thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, give us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but in his prevailing name. Sanctify our affections, and renew a right spirit within us. We bless thy holy name, that thou didst so love the world as to send thine only begotten Son, not to condemn the world, but that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and that thou hast made that same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ. We bless thee, that after he had made perfect our redemption, by dying for our sins and rising for our justification, he gave commission to his apostles, and commanded them to preach his gospel of salvation to every creature. We bless thee that thou gavest the word, and great was the company of the preachers; and that thou art still calling many to the like ministration and labor of love. Make us duly thankful for these thy inestimable benefits, and work in us a holy and earnest desire to promote the salvation of ourselves and others. Grant that thy name may be known through the earth, thy saving health among all nations. We humbly beseech thee, O God, to guide and to bless the humble and pious efforts of thy people to extend the knowledge of thy word and the doctrines of Christ to those who are in ignorance and error. Do thou, the giver of all grace, increase To be used in Meetings of Bible Societies, or Associations. their zeal, enlarge their means and strengthen their hands. May all Bible Societies, and all who associate for the distribution of the Holy Scriptures to those who are destitute of thy written word, with all who contribute to their funds and aid this pious work, be under thy paternal care and holy keeping. O stablish thou the work of their hands upon them, and remember them for good. May thy word have free course and run swiftly, and the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Let thy blessing and the aid of thy Spirit be with those missionaries and evangelists who labor in word and doctrine to spread thy saving truth in foreign lands. Accept, O Lord, of our intercessions for the perishing souls among whom they labor; and also for all sorts and conditions of men, that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. Hear our prayers, we humbly beseech thee, for thy holy church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of Spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Give grace, Ó heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other ministers of Christ, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer the ordinances of the gospel. Open to them an effectual door of usefulness, and bless the word spoken by their mouth, that it may be good to the use of edifying, and minister grace to the hearers. And do thou, the Lord of the harvest, send into it laborers, able ministers of thy word, whose meat and drink it shall be to do thy work. Accept, O Lord, of these our supplications and prayers, and dispose all our ways towards the attainment of everlasting salvation. May we live to A Prayer that may be used in a Singing School. thy glory in this world, and in the world to come enjoy life everlasting. These things, and whatever else thou seest to be good and fitting for us, and for any and all for whom we ought to pray, we humbly ask in the name and through the mediation of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen. A Prayer that may be used in a Singing School, or a Meeting to practise Psalmody. ADORABLE and everliving God, we humbly and devoutly look unto thee, as the Author of our being, and the Giver of every good thing. Let thy merciful ears be open to our humble supplications; and that we may obtain our petitions, help us to ask for such things as shall please thee. Thou knowest, O Lord, our hearts and our wants, and the imperfection of our sincerest prayers. We beseech thee to have compassion upon our infirmities, and to give us those good things, which we are not worthy to ask but in the name of Jesus Christ. Give us hearts, O Lord, to be thankful for thy manifold goodness to us, and to all mankind. Help us to come before thee with thanksgiving, to show ourselves glad in thee with psalms, and heartily to rejoice in the strength of thy salvation. While we worship and fall down and kneel before thee, may our souls magnify thee, O Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. May we praise our God while we have our being. Direct, O Lord, and bless our humble efforts to set forth thy praise and to honor thy holy name. Help us to obtain such knowledge of psalmody and the art of sacred music, that the songs of Zion may be performed devoutly, in due order and to edifying; and that the voice of melody may be heard in thy sanctuary, and in a A Prayer that may be used in a Singing School. manner worthy of thy exalted perfections. May we, through thy grace, sing with the spirit and with the understanding; and make melody, not only with our voices, but in our hearts, to the Lord. Fill our hearts with grateful affections, and cause our souls to unite and harmonize in love. May we feel and say with the holy Psalmist, Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise his holy name; bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Defend us, O Lord, from all vain thoughts and worldly affections. May we not desire to honor ourselves, nor seek the praise of men; as thine is the kingdom and the power, may thine forever be all glory and praise. Make our offerings acceptable to thyself. Let our prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense, and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. And give us grace to set forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, walking according to thy word, and doing all things to thy glory. And may we at length, through thy mercy and our Savior's merits, join the holy, happy choir of saints above, who sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever. Amen. PART SECOND. PRAYERS FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND FOR OTHER OCCASIONS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THOUGH We have in print a great variety of Prayers for the use of families, and many of them excellent; that this publication may be complete for the purpose intended, a few are here offered to the public. In compiling them the author, as will be seen, has made much use of the Prayer Book, and some use of the prayers published by others, preferring those which are most common and, by our people, most approved. What is aimed at is to prepare some forms suitable for family worship. They who have better forms, or who can pray better without any, will of course find these of little or no use. If such facilities for the performance of a very essential duty shall be, through God's blessing, the means of introducing prayer into some families in which it is now neglected, we shall have much cause to rejoice and bless his holy name. name. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we |