Page images
PDF
EPUB

Friday Morning.

one fold, and under the one true Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Be pleased, O God, to continue thy gracious protection to us this night. Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls. O thou Keeper of Israel, who never slumberest nor sleepest, take charge of us and ours, and watch over us for good. Preserve us from sin and from peril: may we lie down in peace and take our rest in the comforting belief that it is thou, O God, who makest us to dwell in safety. Fit and prepare us for that heavenly rest which remaineth for the people of God. We offer these, our evening devotions, in the name of Jesus Christ: and may his grace be ever with us. Amen.

Friday Morning.

O GOD, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who art eternal, immortal, invisible, the Maker of the world and of all that is therein, worthy art thou to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Our life is thine: our hearts are in thy hand, and our secret thoughts are known to thee. We adore thee as the giver of all good. The eyes of all wait upon thee; thou openest thy hand and fillest all things living with plenteousness. Thy mercies fail not, but are new every morning; of the least of them we are unworthy. What shall we render unto thee, O Lord, for all thy benefits! Awaken in our souls an earnest, thankful desire to take the cup of salvation offered us in Jesus Christ, and through him to call upon thy holy name, as the only hope of all the ends of the earth. Accept, we beseech thee, this our morning

Friday Morning.

sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and hear the supplications and prayers which we desire, with humble adoration, to offer before thee.

We bless thee, O God, for thy preservation of us from the commencement of our lives to this present time, and especially for the rest and refreshment of the past night; that we were permitted once more to lie down in peace and take our rest, and that thou, O Lord, hast made us to dwell in safety. We thank thee for this and for all thy daily goodness to us and to all men; but chiefly do we bless thy holy name for the redemption of mankind in Jesus Christ; that in him mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other; that through his offering himself for our sins thou canst be just in justifying those who believe in him. We rejoice with thankfulness that he is the resurrection and the life; that, by rising from the dead, he became the first fruits of those who sleep in death; that when he ascended on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men— even the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost to be our comforter.

Grant, O merciful God, that we may not neglect this great salvation. For his sake who came to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentance, behold us with pity and forgive us our sins. Though we have erred and strayed from thy righteous ways, have left undone what thy word requires, and often transgressed thy holy laws, cast us not away in thy displeasure; but sanctify our hearts, and work in us repentance towards thee, and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we engage, O Lord, in the business and active duties of this day with a just sense of thy overruling providence, knowing that except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman

Friday Evening.

waketh in vain. It is but lost labor that we haste to rise up early, and late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness: without thy blessing our labor will not prosper. Though we plant and water, thou only canst give increase. Wilt thou, O gracious Lord, direct and bless us in all we do. Take us, we beseech thee, and all that appertains to us, under thy guidance and protection. Keep us ever mindful of thy presence, and of the one thing needful. Prosper us in the business of our several stations, and give us grace to be diligent in every duty.

Give thy blessing to those who are set in authority over us; direct their counsels and strengthen their hands. May we remember that the powers which be are ordained of God, and that they bear not the sword in vain. Bless the people of our country with union, prosperity and peace. Send down thy blessings upon our neighbors, relatives, and friends. May they who are dear to us be

dear to thee.

These things, and whatever thou seest to be fitting for us and for all men, we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Friday Evening.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving our manifold transgressions, and assisting us in our supplications and prayers. O thou God of mercy,

absolve us from our offences and cleanse us from our sins. May it please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and

Friday Evening.

ignorances, and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy word, that we may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness.

To thee, O Lord, belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against thee, and have not obeyed thy voice, to walk in the laws which thou hast set before us. Thou art glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders; great in majesty, and great in mercy. Give us grace, in deep contrition, each one for himself, to say, God be merciful to me, a sinner.

Gracious is thy word, declaring that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus; and that he is the end of the law for righteousness to those who believe. Grant unto us that righteousness which is by faith in the Son of God; and may thy Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we are thy children, accepted in the Beloved.

We thankfully acknowledge thy goodness in the blessings vouchsafed to us during the day past; in preserving our lives, continuing to us many blessings, and giving us time and means for knowing and doing thy will. Give us, we beseech thee, a more lively sense of thy benefits; awaken us to righteousness; turn thou us, and we shall be turned. Work in us to will and to do that which is pleasing in thy sight. May we put on the whole armor of God; fight the good fight of faith, and be conquerors, and more than conquerors, through him who loved us and gave himself for us. While thou

art pleased, in thy patient goodness, to hold our soul in life, give us grace to serve thee better and love thee more. Do for us, we beseech thee, and work in us whatever shall be necessary and convenient for our present comfort and our eternal good. Take from us all sinful ignorance and hardness of heart, and preserve us from the deceitful

Saturday Morning.

ness of worldly things: may we pass the time of our sojourning here in thy faith and fear; and live so soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, as becometh those who expect shortly to give an account to thee, who wilt judge all men according to their works. Make us a household fearing thee and working righteousness.

Hear our prayers and supplications for all mankind. Inspire, continually, the universal church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all they who do confess thy holy name, may agree in the truth of thy word, and live in unity and godly love. May those in authority truly and impartially administer justice; and the people perform their respective duties, in all godly quiet

ness.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops and other ministers, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy sacraments. And grant that all thy people, with meek heart and due reverence, may hear and receive thy word, and truly serve thee in holiness of life. Hear us, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. And to thee, our only God and Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Saturday Morning.

O BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. Bless to our edification all that we read and hear from the

« PreviousContinue »