The Altar at home, selections and prayers for domestic worship

Introduction

IT can hardly be necessary, in view of the constant demand for books of this class, to demonstrate their utility and desirableness, or to apologize for adding one more to the number.

The marked favor with which the First Series of the " Altar at Home " has been received has induced the Editor of the present volume to adopt the general plan of that work.

Many, who have regularly used the " Altar " since its publication, have expressed a wish for a new series of Selections and Prayers, those in the former series, necessarily limited in number, having become somewhat trite from frequent repetition.

While in the present volume the general plan and arrangement of the former issue have been preserved, experience has suggested a few alterations, which it is believed will be generally esteemed as improvements.

The introductory Selections, designed to be read in iv INTRODUCTION.

alternation by the members of the family, have been somewhat extended, while the Prayers are generally shorter.

The Selections have been made, not exclusively from the Scriptures, but there have been interwoven some of the wise, devout, and elevating thoughts of a few of the purest and most holy men whose existence has blessed the world.

The aim has been to make these Selections of a practical character ; not simply pious ejaculations, or passages expressive of admitted truths, but those calculated to awaken attention, to produce conviction, to stimulate, to console, to strengthen.

They have been carefully chosen, and so arranged as to follow one another naturally, and be in some sense responsive to each other.

The verse of Sacred Poetry which introduces each service, and is designed to be read by the head of the family, or sung by the members of the family when practicable, has been selected as embodying the spirit of the Selections following; to strike the key-note, as it were, of the entire service.

The Prayers have been written by a number of clergymen, generally well known in this community, whose names, alphabetically arranged, are given on another page, and to whom the Editor desires to acknowledge his

INTRODUCTION. v

great indebtedness for the essential service rendered him in his laborious and delicate task.

The Prayers having been contributed with special reference to the respective services of which they form part, it is believed that a unity of spirit throughout each entire service has been thereby secured, which could not have been attained in any other way.

Another alteration will be noticed in the present series. Instead of dividing the Selections into morning and evening services, it has been thought best to append a morning and evening Prayer to each Selection.

Few families, if any, it is believed, use the book for both morning and evening worship, hence, in the former series, one half the Selections were unavailable. By the present arrangement, every Selection, except the few designated as " Special," may be used by every family, whether they observe domestic worship statedly at the commencement or at the close of the day. And still further, as, in most instances, the omission of a word or two, or some equally slight change, will make it possible to use the morning and evening Prayers interchangeably, the scope of the volume is thereby materially enlarged.

As the First Series of the " Altar at Home " contains ample selections for the use of the closet, together with the ancient Collects of the Church and a number of Litanies, it has been thought best to exclude those feab vi INTRODUCTION.

tures from the present work, in order to afford more space for the regular Morning and Evening and Special Services ; the practical usefulness of the volume depending, it is believed, upon the extent and variety of these Exercises.

With this brief Introduction, the Editor submits the

volume to the acceptance of those for whom it has been

prepared, with an earnest hope that it may prove helpful

to many households.

J. P. W.

Jamaica Plain, May, 1862.

Contents

MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS.

PAGE

I. Domestic Love and Unity 1

II. Against Worldly-mindedness

Without Thy presence, wealth is hags of cares;

Wisdom but folly ; joy, disquiet, sadness ; Friendship is treason, and delights are snares ;

Pleasures but pain, and mirth but pleasing madness.

Francis Quakles.

He that loveth life for the sake of the pleasures and advantages it affords, will soon lose the love of heavenly things; the love of God, of his soul, and of the duty he owes to them. — Wilson.

What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

How many perish by reason of vain learning in this world, who take little care of the serving of God. — A Kempis.

He that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word ; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Let me not be overcome, Lord, let me not be overcome by flesh and blood ; let not the world and the brief glory thereof deceive me. — A Kempis.

Thou sayest, I am rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Shut my heart, O Lord, against the love of worldly riches, lest I betray thee as Judas did. — Wilson.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Let your conversation be without covetousness ; and be content with such things as ye have ; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Morning.

THE earth is thine, O God, and its fulness is thy blessed gift. May we accept all things from thee and love and enjoy thee in all things. Yet, All-Holy One, we do humbly confess that these worldly goods, which are thy creatures, do too often estrange us from thee, the Creator, and that they tempt us too much to self-indulgence and pride and vanity. Forgive us this one too-ready sin, and help us to watch more jealously, and guard more resolutely, against this ever-present temptation.

May we regard every good gift as the reason of a deeper responsibility, instead of a lure to pleasure or a spur to self-conceit. Sacredly may we hold

AGAINST WORLDLY-MINDEDNESS. J

all our talents as under stewardship from God, and may the weight of them bow us down more humbly before thy mercy-seat. May we care more to befriend the lowly than to natter and to feast the rich and powerful, and may we so employ our time and means as to lay up the goods that will remain with us when earthly friends and favors vanish.

All- Wise and All-Holy, graciously animate us with a true purpose, a pervading and unwavering determination to do all our work as within thy kingdom, and hold our business, our home, and our pleasures in subjection to thy laws. Help us to bear reverses so patiently and humbly as to save us alike from envy of our neighbor's prosperity and from repining at thy good Providence. Enable us to consecrate duly our joys, that when we are happy our blessedness may be in thee, our God, and so our joys shall rise and make our children and friends rise in faith and gratitude toward thee.

In thy mercy forgive our overweening love of the world, and establish us in the fellowship that is divine and abiding, through him who for us overcame the world, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

o

EVENING.

GOD, our Heavenly Father, grant, we beseech thee, that a sense of thy nearness and thy holiness may draw us away from every inordinate attachment to the transitory, unsatisfying things of time. Save us from worldliness and sin. Guard us against the insidious and deceitful arts which would blind us to our highest good and bring us into subjection to the world. Teach us to have our conversation in heaven. Let us not wander away from our heavenly home, but, while our hands and thoughts are engaged amid the cares and employments of time, grant that we may bring with us into these employments the spirit of thine heavenly kingdom, and be inspired and guided by it wherever we go. Thou, who embracest all beings and all worlds as if they were one, and who carest for every one of us as if he were the whole universe, enfold us in thy love, breathe into us thy gentle and holy spirit, and so win us to thyself, that neither the world nor the things of the world shall gain dominion over us, or estrange us from Him who alone can satisfy the heart, in whose presence is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD. 9

III. The Goodness Of God

The Lord is never far away.

Nor sundered from his flock; He is their refuge and their stay,

Their peace, their trust, their rock, And with a mother's watchful love He guides them wheresoe'er they rove.

J. J. Schutz.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good ; for his mercy endureth forever.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. "

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive ; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

O give thanks unto the Lord ; call upon his name : make known his deeds among his people.

God is great, therefore will he be sought ; he is good, therefore will he be found. — J. Mason.

Seek the Lord, and his strength ; seek his face evermore.

1*

He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.

Morning.

llTE would render thanks unto thee, O Lord, f T for thou art good, and thy mercy endureth forever. We would praise thee for thy goodness, and for thy wonderful works to the children of men. And may we learn, with devout thankfulness, to connect the thought of thy goodness with every event of life and every gift of thy love, till thou hast become to us, as thou art, the all-embracing influence in which we live, — the fountain of every pure affection, — the author of every dear and holy inspiration, — the atmosphere of love in which we may bathe our souls with an infinite joy, — not afar off, but a present helper in every time of need, ready to hear and answer wherever there is a heart yearning for thee, — thou bestower of all that crowns our happiness on earth, or that

THE GOODNESS OF GOD. H

turns our sorrows into blessings, — who art always waiting to be gracious, to renew our minds with ever-enlarging and uplifting thoughts, to refresh our hearts with affections ever more expansive and devout. "We thank thee for what our eyes are permitted to see, for this world of order and beauty which lies around us ; but more heartily we thank thee for what our eyes cannot see, — for the holy, loving Providence which hems us in by defences too delicate and gentle to be perceived, — for the hidden, but divine benignity which rules the tempest, scatters the hoar-frost like ashes, imprisons the arctic seas in ice, breathes upon us in the morning light and summer breeze, enfolds us in darkness and sleep, guides the sun and stars in their course, and, in all times of prosperity or tribulation, waits with love and tenderness on every defenceless and humble soul.

May we feel that, while we live in thee, no evil can approach to do us harm, and that amid the fiercest violence of the tempest, or of disease, the little child, wrapt in its own sweet and trusting innocence, is surrounded and protected by a power mightier than all the outward storm and strife. We thank thee, O God, for the assurance of thy love in Jesus Christ, for the grace, mercy, and truth which have flowed into the world through him, and in which we may rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. May we be made partakers of these, the richest of thy gifts, and through him, in thy holy spirit, ascribe unto thee honor and praise, for ever and ever. Amen,

EVENING.

OUR Heavenly Father, thou whose goodness is beyond the power of human language to express, we thank thee for thy daily care and providence. May our minds be filled with the recollection of thy mercies. Every day is rich with the tokens of thy love. Thou openest thy hand, and we are filled with good. Grant that, while the recipients of thy constant kindness, we may accept thy gifts with grateful affection and faithful obedience. As we recall thy manifold bounties, we would especially thank thee for the revelation of thyself which thou hast made through thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice that he has taught us to call thee Our Father. With grateful trust may we feel that, in this hour of our evening devotions, while we are kneeling at the family altar, thou art nearer to us than our dearest earthly friend ; that the tie which binds our hearts to thee is more enduring than those which bind us as a family by the sweet and tender relations of domestic life. Thou lovest each of thy children with a deeper and more constant love than that which a mother has for her child. Though we are weak and sin-

THE GOODNESS OF GOD. 13

fill, though we receive thy free gifts with murmurs and dissatisfaction, though we complain at our lot, and sometimes even question thy moral government, still thou dost bear with our ingratitude, and art ever desirous to bless and sanctify each of thy children. Thy love never fails. Thou makest the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendest rain on the just and the unjust. Grant, as thus we remember thy universal and impartial goodness, we may learn to trust thine unfailing compassion. If burdened with the conviction of sin, may we learn to rely on thy pity. In grief thou art our comforter, in trial our refuge, in trouble our peace, in sorrow our stay and joy. With penitent hearts we would seek thy forgiveness. Grant us the smile of thy countenance and the peace of reconciliation. May we rely upon thy Providence, and learn to bear our trials in patience, bravely striving against temptation ; accepting the afflictions of our lot with cheerful submission, and the undoubting faith that thou wilt lead us through darkness, struggle, and anguish to purity, peace, and joy, and that thus we may reap the fruits of a Christian experience, and grow daily in the knowledge of the wisdom and love of thee, and a more unfailing obedience to the precepts of thy Son, Jesus Christ. And unto thee, the King immortal, eternal, the only true God, be glory forever. Amen.

IV. Personal Piety

Still to the lowly soul He doth Himself impart, And for His cradle and His throne Chooseth the pure in heart.

Keble.

In the morning fix thy good purpose ; and at night examine thyself what thou hast done, how thou hast behaved thyself in word, deed, and thought. — A Kempis.

Add to your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; and to temperance, patience ; and to patience, godliness ;

And to godliness, brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness, charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Piety, which is a true devotion to God, consists in doing all his will precisely at the time, in the situation, and under the circumstances, in which he has placed us. — Fehelon.

Piety supplieth us with business of a most worthy nature, and lofty importance ; it engageth us to free our minds from all fond conceits and cleanse our hearts from all corrupt affections ;

To curb our brutish appetites, to tame our wild passions, to correct our perverse inclinations, to conform the disposi-

PERSONAL PIETY. 15

tions of our soul, and the actions of our life, to the eternal laws of righteousness and goodness. — Dr. Barrow.

Thou wilt never be thus inwardly religious, unless thou pass over other men's matters with silence, and look especially to thyself — A Kempis.

No man can hinder our private addresses to God, every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice, and the earth he treads on the altar. — Taylor.

Morning.

OTHOU who hast scattered the shades of night by the bright beams of the dawn, and in thy tender mercy hast safely brought us to the beginning of this new day ; shine into our hearts, we beseech thee, with the light of thy truth; dispel all dark thoughts from our minds, and blot out our sins as the morning cloud.

Precious, O Lord, are thy gifts, which are new to us every morning and every night: dear to us are the earthly comforts which thou hast kindly provided, — our home, our friends, our daily bread, and our nightly rest ; — and for them all and each we offer our humble thanksgivings. But more precious than all to us, O our Heavenly Father, is that faith in thy infinite goodness, and that hope in thy never-failing mercy, with which thou hast inspired our souls through thy beloved Son. For him, thine unspeakable gift, the brightness of thy paternal glory, the true and unfading light of life, we would bless thee when we lie down and when we rise up, when morning rises in brightness, or night gathers in gloom. Let the sweet and sacred thought of him dwell in our minds, and his pure influence abide with us all the day long; to save us from the power of sin, to win us from the allurements of evil, and to draw us nearer to thee. May the Good Shepherd lead us forth to the duties of this day, as he doth his own flock, going before us to guide and to guard ; and may we meekly and obediently follow him, listening to his voice as it calls, and teaches, and warns, and comforts us ; and not hearkening to the voice- of strangers, who have no love nor pity for our souls. In every condition and circumstance of life may we look unto him, to know what is our duty and to obtain strength to perform it. May we learn of him how to maintain a lowly mind, and yet an aspiring spirit ; how to suffer, and yet rejoice ; not to resist evil, and still to overcome it ; to live in the world, and yet to live above the world.

O gracious Lord, what treasures of wisdom and love and blessedness hast thou hid for us, thy frail and erring, and yet most favored children, in thy Son ! Let them be the chosen object of our study and pursuit, before all riches, and learning, and earthly honors and rewards.

May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope of his

PERSONAL PIETY. 17

calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to bless and to save all those who believe in him. May we be able to comprehend, with all his true disciples, what is the breadth and length and depth and height ; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto Him who is able to do for us exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or think, be glory and honor, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

Evening.

OGOD, thou who art the source of every blessing, the giver of every good and perfect gift, grant us the aid of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be sanctified, and made the recipients of rich love and indwelling peace. We need thy forgiveness, and would seek thy favor. Trusting in thy free and boundless grace, we most earnestly desire that thou wouldst take up thy abode in our hearts. Make us wholly thine. Without thee we are nothing, and can do nothing. But in our weakness and poverty of soul thou hast promised to hear our cry. Keep us from sin. We need thee. We seek thee. Come now, O God, in thine infinite mercy, and bless us, thine offending children. Spare us, good

Lord. Stir our souls to greater diligence, and quicken within us more devout aspiration. May our consciences be pierced with the arrow of contrition, so that, through the conviction of past sins and the spiritual renewal of faith, we may be born anew in Christ Jesus. By the constant renewing of our minds, may we walk with him in the regeneration, and grow daily into the knowledge and love of thee, and obedience to thy commandments. We pray for the members of this household, and and may each give to thee the heart's sincere and lowly service. Grant that there may be in each of our souls a true Bethel, from which shall arise the lowly incense of pure devotion, and may the offering thus holy and acceptable in thy sight bring to thy children the angel ministries of purity and peace.

We plead with thee for a more sanctified life. Lift us up out of sin and folly. May we feel thy presence, and see thy smile, and through a personal experience taste of the richness and know the joys of true piety. Thou wilt dwell near thy lowly children : may we welcome thee to our hearts, so that we may know the height and depth, the length and breadth, of the love of thee. May we daily grow into a knowledge of thy goodness, live more devoted to thy service, and more singly to thy glory. And thine shall be the praise, through Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

ACTIVE VIRTUE. 19

V. Active Virtue

Action still must wait on thought ;

Life 's a voyage, rough though short ;

We must dare the sorrow-wave,

Many a sin-storm we must brave,

Ere we reach our destined port.

Anox.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A contemplative life, which does not cast any beam of heat or light upon human society, is not known to divinity. — Bacon.

Let us do good unto all men.

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Men should know that, in this theatre of man's life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on. — Bacon.

Seeing that the love of God is never standing idle, so be ye constantly abounding in good works, enduring all that befalls you cheerfully, for God's sake. — Tauler.

The works of mercy are so many as the affections of mercy have objects, or as the world hath kinds of misery. — - Taylor.

God is the fountain of honor ; and the conduit by which he conveys it to the sons of men are virtues and generous practices. — South.

The grand deciding question at the last day will be, not,

What have you said ? or, What have you believed ? but, What have you done more than others ? — South.

Be ye doers of the word, not hearers only.

Then shall the king say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visited me ; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Morning.

MERCIFUL God, whose loving-kindness never slumbers nor sleeps, we thank thee for the secure repose of the night, and for the returning blessings of the day. To thee and thy service would we surrender all the powers with which thou hast endowed us. In gladness and gratitude would we offer our whole being, as a living sacrifice, on the altar of love and duty. We seek the wisdom which cometh from above to guide us in the employment of our time and in the direction of our labors. May we be inspired with love for thee and for all thou hast made ; and permit us to be thy ministers of peace and good-will to men. May it be our meat and drink to do thy will. May we be ready to every good word and work, regardless of our selfish interests, and unmoved by the smiles or frowns of the world.

ACTIVE VIRTUE. 21

Father, deliver us from evil ! Save us from ourselves. May we be victorious over pride and passion, over self-will and sensuality. Purify our hearts and enlighten our eyes, that we may know the meaning and the uses of life, and that we may see thee in all events and in all thy works. May our existence be sacred to us, because we are thy children, continually having our being in thee. In all our daily duties, may we rejoice that we are workers together with God. So help us to follow Christ by patient continuance in well-doing, till thy grace shall exalt us to share his glory at thy right hand forevermore. Amen.

Evening.

WE bless thee, all-perfect Father, for thy presence, thy strength, and thy comforts granted us during the hours of this day. Without thee, we should have nothing and be nothing. But thou hast been pleased to appoint that thy purposes should be carried forward by the efforts which thy children make according to thy Holy Word. With our human weakness and frailty thine infinite power and providence come into union ; and thou hast taught us that we should work for the same great ends for which thou, by thy Spirit, art working. In every effort to do thy will may we feel that we have a true oneness with all who love thy commands, whether on earth or in heaven ; and a oneness with our blessed Master and Saviour, and through him with thyself. May we not shun the occasions which offer for doing good by the sacrifice of our inclinations or convenience. May we go forward through every conflict where duty calls, in the strength of the Lord our God. May it seem to us a small thing to be judged of man's judgment, but may our own hearts condemn us not. Fill us with that love and trust which cast out fear. May our souls be in sympathy with them who are in adversity, and with all who are under any manner of wrong or oppression from evil men. May our words ever be faithful, and our action earnest and effectual, to relieve sorrow, and to build up thy kingdom in the world, according to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

CONFESSION OF SIN. 23

VI. Confession Of Sin

Foolish fears and fond desires,

Vain regrets for things as vain; Lips too seldom taught to praise,

Oft to murmur and complain : These and every secret fault,

Filled with grief and shame, we own ; Humbled at thy feet we lie,

Seeking pardon at thy throne.

John Taylor.

I will confess against myself mine own unrighteousness ; I will confess my weakness unto thee, O Lord. — A Kempis.

Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy.

He that confesses with his tongue, and wants confession in his heart, is either a vain man or a hypocrite :

He that hath confession in his heart, and wants it on his tongue, is either a proud man, or a timorous. — Bp. Hall.

I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight.

Lord God, behold, we are before thee in our trespasses ; we cannot stand before thee for this.

1 acknowledge my sin unto thee, O God, and mine iniquities will I not hide.

I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Examine diligently thy conscience, and to the utmost of thy power purify and make it clear, with true contrition and humble confession ; so as there may be nothing in thee that may weigh heavy upon thee, or may breed in thee remorse of conscience. — A Kempis.