Helps to devotion: morning and evening prayers for every day in the week

Front matter

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Preface

The author of these prayers had been recently calling the attention of his parishioners to the important duty of family worship, and to encourage those of them who had neglected the duty of family prayer, he desired to put into their hands, a short manual of devotion. He also thought it might prove a useful supplement to those already in us^ among his parishioners.

Plainness and simplicity have been studied in the composition, and scriptural language has been generally adopted, with frequent quotations from our sublime, and all but inspired Liturgy.

Bedford, May 1, 1825.

Preface To The Second Edition

The prayers of the first week in this edition have been shortened, having been felt too long. A second week of prayers has also been added to the former. »

Stanford Rivers, 1862.

THE lord's prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven; Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

2 CoR. XIII. 14.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Numb. vi. 24, 25, 26.

The Lord bless us and keep us ; the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us ; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace, now and for evermore. Amen.

SUNDAY MORNING.

I^elpjs to Mthoiion.

O THOU infinite Jehovah, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Thou beholdest all things both in heaven and earth. There is not a thought in our heart, but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether. O ! help us to approach thee this morning with the greatest reverence and humility, to make our requests known unto thee. Pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication. May we come unto thee fully sensible of our guilt and misery, and reljdng alone on the merits of Christ for pardon and acceptance.

This is thine own day, on which thy Son Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He was exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Help us to consecrate this day entirely to thy glory, not speaking our own words, nor doing our own works. May our hearts be filled with penitence for our sins, and with gratitude for thy mercies, and may we praise thee with joyful lips. Grant us such a measure of thy grace, that we may call upon thee in public and in private, from a feeling sense of our wants. We look up to thee with confidence, because of the riches of thy mercy in Christ Jesus.

We confess with shame before thee, O Lord, that we have broken thy sabbaths, forsaken thy services, and neglected our own mercies. We would confess with humble contrition, that, when in thy house of prayer, we have drawn near to thee with our mouths, and honoured thee with our lips, while our hearts have been fer from thee. Pardon the iniquity of our holy things, and deliver us this day.

SUNDAY MORNING. 3

from coldness and formality in thy service. May we call upon thee aright, and obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in every time of need. While engaged in thy worship, in secret, or in public, may our thoughts and our affections be fixed upon things above. May we hunger and thirst after righteousness, that we may be filled. Grant that we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of thee ; and may we obtain a complete conformity to thy will in all things. May we hereafter so improve and enjoy thy sabbaths, that we may be prepared for an eternal sabbath in heaven.

Prepare our hearts, O Lord, for the reception of thy holy word. Let us not be forgetful hearers, but doers of the word ; and may it be so treasured up in our memories, and exhibited in our lives, that all may know that we are thy disciples.

Bless all thy ministers who labour in the word and doctrine this day. Make them faithful in the discharge of their important duties, and give them wisdom rightly to divide the

4 PKAYERS.

word of truth. May they be instant in season, and out of season, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with all long-suffering and doctrine, making fully known the gospel of Christ. May their lives bear testimony to the truths they preach, and let thy blessing rest abundantly upon their labours. We intreat thee to assist and bless him, whom thy providence has placed over us, and who ministers to us in holy things. Let holiness to the Lord be inscribed upon his heart, and manifest in all his actions.

Have mercy upon all who shall appear in thy house of prayer this day, and bless them as their several states may require. Awaken the careless to a serious consideration of their ways. Succour the tempted, support the weak, and comfort the afflicted. Be a Father to the fatherless, and a Friend to the widow. Make the word preached applicable to all ; and may every rebellious heart be subdued, to the obedience of Christ.

Have mercy, O Lord, on those who love the ordinances of thy house, but who are deprived

SUNDAY HORNING. 5

by sickness, or any just cause from entering thy courts; be with them and bless them. Have mercy upon those who neither value nor improve their opportunities of waiting upon thee. May they know the day of their visitation, and be turned to thee.

We desire, Lord, to render unfeigned thanks unto thee, for all the mercies thou hast conferred upon us. We bless and praise thy holy name foi: preserving us through the night, and permitting us to see the beginning of another sabbath. May our gratitude and our improvement be in proportion to thy blessing.

Hear these our prayers we humbly beseech thee, and answer our supplications through Jesus Christ our Saviour, to whom with thee, and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all power, might, majesty, and dominion, now, and for ever. Amen.

Our Father i Sfc.

The grace of our Lord^ SfC.

PRAYERS.

Almighty and everlasting God, who dwellest in light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see ; Thou art worthy to receive honour, thanksgiving, and praise, from all thy creatures. O help us to show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every evening.

We acknowledge that thy mercies towards us are infinite. O may our ingratitude, our vileness, and our sin, humble us in the dust before thee ; for we have sinned greatly against thee, our Almighty Father, and best Benefactor. Our sins deserve thy judgment and thy wrath ; we have nothing to plead before thee, but God be merciful to us sinners. O ! pardon and receive us we humbly beseech thee, for the sake of thy dear Son ; and may our prayers, which we offer before thee, for his sake be heard and answered.

SUNDAY EVENING. 7

We thank thee, O Lord, for the rich privileges, and the many blessings which we have received during this sabbath. We thank theis that we have been permitted to assemble in thy house of prayer, and to call upon thy name. We praise thee for the declarations of thy word, that with thee there is mercy, and plenteous redemption; and ''him who cometh to thee thou wilt in no wise caat out." We are unthankful and unholy ; but thus encouraged, we would trust in that " full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, which Christ has made for the sins of the whole world." '' May our sinful bodies be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood ; " and may we ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy name.

We have cause to be ashamed and confounded before thee, O Lord, on account of the defects of our best services ; how much more when we reflect, that our sabbaths have been too often unimproved, and may justly rise up in judgment against us. How often have we appeared in thy house, and have acknowledged the sins which we have not fully felt, and confessed the guilt, which we have not deeply deplored. We have heard thy word, but have done it not; nor has the good seed brought forth in us the abundant fruits of righteousness. May the review of our sabbaths deeply humble us for the past, and excite us to diligence, watchfulness, and prayer. Cleanse us from all our sins, and quicken and sanctify us by the influence of thy Holy Spirit, that we may glorify thee, in our souls and bodies which are thine. Let that mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; and may all unholy and unchristian tempers be subdued in us. Grant that the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, may appear and abound in us; that we may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Gracious Father, let thy word, which has been preached this day, answer the purposes of

SUNDAY EVENING. 9

thy grace and mercy. May all who have heard it, receive it in truth and love. Sanctify our memories^ that they may retain the truths of thy holy word, " and may we in very deed fulfil the same." May thy word alarm careless and impenitent sinners ; and may it bring them to thee with humble, broken, and contrite hearts. May it comfort those who mourn, enlighten the ignorant, support the weak, and lead all to "the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. O Lord hasten the time, when the light of the glorious gospel shall shine in all the dark places of the earth, that the heathen may become thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth thy possession.

O blessed Lord, hear the prayers which have bien offered up this day in the name of Christ; and do thou send an answer of peace to all who have waited upon thee, and relieve them according to their several necessities.

We beseech thee, O Lord, to prosper the labours of thy servants, who have this day been preaching the word of reconciliation, especially

10 PRAYEBS.

of him who labours among us. May all thy ministers ** be examples to the flock, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity ; " and let none of thy words delivered by them fall to the ground.

Accept our humble thanks, O Lord, for all the mercies of the day, and of our whole lives. Continue thy watchful care over us through the night, and keep us from all sin and danger. Grant that we may rise in the morning with renewed strength, both of body and of mind ; and may we render our thanksgiving to thee, and devote ourselves afresh to thy service. Grant us grace and strength to follow thee wholly. We ask these blessings, with every needful mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Our Father y %c.

The grace of (mr Lord, ^c.

O LoRD^ our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, thou art the Creator and preserver of all things, from whom every good and perfect gift proceedeth. Thou art good unto all, and thy tender mercies are over all thy works. Look upon us, and grant us the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, that we may worship thee in spirit and in truth.

Grant, O Loid, that we may come before thee this morning with grateful hearts, truly sensible of our renewed mercies, and of our utter unworthiness. While we are praising thee for thy goodness, may we be humble and contrite for our sins, pleading the merits of the Lord Jesus, as our only hope of salvation.

In the deepest humility we would again acknowledge our sins imto thee, O our God; they are all known unto thee, for thou searchest the heart, and triest the reins ; and *' there is not a thought in our hearts, but thou O Lord, knowest it altogether." Thou hast declared that thou wilt bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. We confess that our iniquities are aggravated against thee. O Lord, pardon them for they are great, and blot out all our sins. We wait upon thee, for thy mercy is higher than the heavens. We trust in the blood of Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. We plead his merits, which are sufficient for the chief of sinners. O grant that we may believe in him to the saving of our souls.

O God of our salvation, we pray thee also that we may discharge with faithfulness every duty of the stations in which thy Providence hath placed us, whether as masters or servants, parents or children ; and may our lives and conversation prove to all that we are thy disciples. Turn us from the love of sin; turn away our eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken us in thy way. May we love thee above all things, and glorify thee by a holy life and conversation.

O Lord ! we entreat thee in mercy to remember all mankind ; and as thou makest thy Sim to rise on the evil and on the good^ do thou have mercy on the unthankful and the unholy. Show unto all who are living in sin the greatness of their guilt, and the danger of their situation ; may they turn to thee in true repentance and in faith, and cry, "Save Lord or we perish."

We commend unto thee, O Lord ! all who are in trouble and affliction. Sanctify their afflictions, and make them instrumental in drawing their minds from the love of the world, and in fixing them upon thee. May they be brought to say, " It is good for me that I have been afflicted."

We would intercede vrith thee, O Father of mercies, for all our relations and friends. May they all be turned from sin, and become the objects of thy care and love ; and do thou bring them at last to thy kingdom and glory.

Pour out, we beseech thee, thy spirit upon all men ; and bless the means that are used for the spread of the gospel. Make thy ways known upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations.

. Thou who keepest Israel hast mercifully preserved us through the night. Be thou our protector and guide through the day; and grant that we may fall into no sin/ neither run into any kind of danger ; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that which is righteous in thy sight.

We present unto thee our thanks, O Lord, for all thy mercies. We praise thee for the health of our bodies, and for the use of our reason. We thank thee for food and clothing, and for all our friends; but above all, we piaise thee for the rich provision thou hast made for the salvation of the world, and for the spiritual blessings which we enjoy. Grant us grace so to improve our privileges, that we may daily be prepared for thy kingdom and glory.

Hear these our prayers and supplications, and accept our thanksgivings for thy mercies ; and do thou for us more than we can ask or think, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Our Father^ 8fc.

The grace of our Lord, 8fc.

MotCa^Vi IBbening.

Most holy, and blessed Lord God, thou hast set thy glory above the heavens, and thy name is most excellent in all the earth. Thy compassions fail not, therefore we are not consumed. Enable us draw near to thee in adoring gratitude, that thou hast added another day to our lives. It is because thou wiliest not the death of a sinner, that we are the living to praise thee this evening. O may we fall down before thee, sensible of our guilt, and of thine infinite mercies in Christ Jesus.

We confess that we were by nature bom in sin, and the children of wrath, even as others. We have revolted from thy commandments, and gone astray from thee, even from our youth. We desire now to humble ourselves at thy footstool, and to confess our transgressions before thee. Make us, we beseech thee, deeply contrite for all the sins that we have

MONDAY EVENING. 17

committed, for "A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Lord have mercy upon us, and grant us repentance unto life. Heal our backslidings, and pardon our unbelief and contempt of thy word.

There is mercy with thee, O Lprd, and plenteous redemption. Thou hast given thine only son to die for Sinners, and hast exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour. We plead his merits before thee, and make mention of his righteousness only. He is the Lord our righteousness, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree. Grant us redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins, that we may walk in the light of his countenance.

Deliver us, gracious Lord, ifrom the love of this present evil world, and from a confonmty to its sinful practices. Save us from the fear of reproach, on account of our obedience to thee ; and grant that our lives may never disgrace our profession, nor cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. Preserve us. it

c every trial and trouble to which we may be exposed^ and may we look to thee for grace and support. By prayer and supplication with thanksgivings may we make our requests known unto thee. In all our ways enable us to acknowledge thee, and do thou direct our paths. Suffer us not to distrust thy goodness, nor to yield to unnecessary anxiety respecting the issue of any event ; but in every thing may we commit ourselves to thy guidance, and implicitly follow the leadings of thy providence. Grant that we may be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. May we conduct ourselves with meekness and wisdom towards all men, and grow daily in grace, and in the knowledge and love of thee.

Bless the labours in which we have been lawfully engaged this day ; and prosper all our temporal concerns, as far as shall be for our good, and for thy glory. In whatsoever state we may be, may we learn therewith to be content. May we ever remember that it is the Lord that maketh poor, and maketh rich. He bringeth low, and lifteth up.

MONDAY EVENING. 19

O Lord ! we entreat thee to bless thy church and people, and grant thy Holy Spirit to all who call upon thy name. Let all the ministers and members of thy church be actuated by a lively zeal for thy glory, and live in unity, and godly love. "May they hold the faith in unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteous of life."

Bless the circulation of thy holy word, and grant that it may en%hten the dark places of the earth, and lead every sinner to true repentance.

We finally praise thee, O Lord, for all thy blessings, and pray thee to continue thy mercies to us. Pardon the sins of the day past, and let thy blessing rest upon us. Do thou raise us up in health in the ensuing day, and enable us to live to thy glory ; and after we lie down in death, may we rise to a blissful immortality, through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father^ %c.

The grace of our Lardy ^c.

O Lord God Almighty, we thine unworthy creatures desire again to draw near to thee in humble supplication. Let our prayers come up acceptably before thee, being offered in the all prevailing name, and through the merits of our Lord and Saviour. Thou, O God, art a Spirit ; may our morning worship be a spiritual service.

Grant us, O Lord, thy Holy Spirit, to convince us more and more of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. May we see more clearly, the dangerous consequences of neglecting the great salvation provided for us. Ghrant that we may come to thee, weary and heavy laden vriith the burden of our sins, that we may find rest.

We acknowledge, O Lord, that we are guilty creatures. " We have erred and strayed from thy ways like unto lost sheep. We have left

TUESDAY MORNING. " 21

undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done ; and there is no health in us.'* Our souls cleave unto the dust, and our deceitful hearts lead us from thee. O Lord pardon our sins, and turn away the fierceness of thine anger, that we perish not. We plead before thee the great atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. He " was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, that with his stripes we might be healed."

We are again entering upon the active business of another day ; be with us we pray thee, and " defend us through the same by thy mighty power ; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger."

We acknowledge that we are weak and ignorant, and if left to ourselves we shall turn aside from thy conunandments. Do thou guide us by thy counsel, protect us by thine arm, and at length bring u« to everlasting glory.

Preserve us that we may not disgrace cause by our conduct, nor grieve thy I: Spirit by our sins. Enable us to watch pray, that we enter not into temptation. 1 we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

We pray thee, O Lord, to look in m< upon the whole world. Soften the heart! those who are hardened through the deceit ness of sin. Open the eyes of those wl Satan hath blinded, and who are living in ^ ful violation of thy commands. O thou 1 and most merciful Saviour, sufier none tc on in sin and perish. Let none reject mercy, and plunge themselves into everlas despair ; but grant to all unfeigned repenta: that they may find mercy.

We pray thee, O Lord, to preserve and I all who are looking to thee for help strength. Those who are weak in the fa do thou strengthen and establish. Those ' axe tempted, do thou in mercy deliver, grant that they may never make shipwrecl

TUESDAY MORNING. 23

the faith and of a good conscience, but do thou keep them to the end. Comfort the afflicted^ whether in body or mind, and grant that their afflictions may be sanctified to their present and everlasting good. May they prove the means of leading them to fix their hearts on Christ.

Bless all our relations and friends* Protect them from every evil, and lead them in the good and the right way. Bless all who desire to be remembered in our prayers, and supply all their wants out of thy fulness by Christ Jesus.

We pray thee to regard in mercy the rising generation, and incline them to seek thee early. May all schools be nurseries of piety and virtue, and may every efibrt to lead the young to the knowledge of thee, be crowned with success.

Prosper every exertion for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Let darkness, ignorance, and superstition be banished from the world. May the knowledge and love of God take full possession of every heart, till all shall know thee, from the least even to the greatest.

Hear and aaswer these our supplications and prayers, O Father Almighty, for Jesus Christ's sake, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Our Father, S^c.

The Lord bless us, ^c.

O Lord our God, thou art ^orious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, As thou art great in Majesty, so art thou also great in mercy towards the children of men. Though thou dwellest in heaven, yet thou condescendest to regard the wants of thy needy creatures. Help us to approach thee in deep humiliation on account of our sins, and to close this day with acts of praise and thanksgiving.

We would confess before thee O Lord, our great sinfulness, with shame and contrition of heart. We have slighted thy mercy, and frequently been inattentive to the calls of thy grace. Our desires have been fixed upon tilings of this life, and we have not sought thee diligently, with all our hearts. O help each of us to fell low before thy footstool, and in the language of the publican to cry; "God be merciful to me a sinner." We are encouraged by thy word to look to thee for thy pardoning grace. We know that thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wouldest rather that he should turn from his way and live. Enable us to come unto thee in true repentance, and a lively faith.

" Remember not Lord, our offences, neither take thou vengeance of our sins ; spare us good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever." Renew us in the spirit of our minds, and implant thy fear in our hearts. Enable us to live as in thy presence, and '* to show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives."

Subdue in us O Lord, every wrong temper, and unholy disposition ; and enable us to " put away from us all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking with all malice." May we be kind and tender-hearted, forgiving one another. May we be clothed with humility, and filled with all the fruits of the Spirit*

Be graciously pleased O Lord, to quicken all those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Discover to them their danger, and their duty, and enable them fiilly to attend to the declarations of thy word.

Send down thy Holy Spirit upon all ranks and orders of men, in the church and in the world ; upon the Jews and Gentiles. May all be brought to know thee, and to love and obey thy righteous will. Support the weak, and establish the wavering in the way of life. Strengthen every good resolution, and confirm every holy determination, and keep them, by thy grace, from sinning against thee.

Look in mercy upon the aged and the sick. May they seek to thee for the forgiveness of their sins, through the atonement of Christ, and do thou prepare them for thy heavenly kingdom.

We beseech thee to have mercy upon our relations and friends, and to forgive our enemies. Do thou confer upon them every blessing, both spiritual and temporal, and at length bring them to everlasting life.

O merciful Father, we entreat thy blessing upon all who desire an interest in our prayers. Visit them with thy mercy, supply all their wants, and make them partakers of thy salvation.

We return thee our unfeigned thanks for all the mercies we have received through the day ; and we pray thee, to take us under thy care this night. Suffer no evil to befall us, nor any plague to come nigh our dwelling. May we lie down in peace, and rest in safety, knowing that thou who keepest Israel neither slumberest nor sleepest. May we awake in the morning refreshed, and prepared to discharge the duties of another day. But shouldest thou call us into eternity before the dawn of another day, do thou of thy mercy receive us to thy kingdom and glory.

" Now to him that is able to keep us from &lling, and to preserve us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ; to the only wise God our Saviour," with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, " be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever." Amen.