Prayers for Sacramental and other

Special Occasions.

Morning of a Sacramental Fast Day.

L

ORD GOD, merciful and gracious, who art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, but hast promised pardon, through Thy beloved Son, to such as truly repent and believe on Him; we humble ourselves before Thy holy presence under a deep sense of our unworthiness, and earnestly plead for mercy to forgive us, and for grace to help us according to our need.

We confess, O God, that we are fallen and sinful creatures. Our hearts are naturally corrupt and depraved; and to our original sin we have added many actual transgressions. We have broken Thy holy laws. We have been unthankful for Thy benefits. We have slighted alike the calls of Thy Word, and the chastenings and warnings of Thy providence. We have loved the creature more than the Creator, and have preferred our own ease and pleasure to Thy glory.

We acknowledge that we have sinned, not only against Thee, but also against our brethren of mankind, by pride and envy, by malice and uncharitableness, by withhold

ing good from them when it was in our power to do it, instead of loving our neighbours as ourselves.

Nor have we been less guilty against our own souls. We have harboured evil thoughts; cherished impure affections; suffered our hearts to be overcharged with the cares, and vanities, and pleasures of this life, and neglected the things which belong unto our peace.

Behold, we are vile; what shall we answer Thee? Innumerable evils have compassed us about; our iniquities have taken hold upon us, so that we are not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of our head, therefore our heart faileth us. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver O Lord, make haste to help us.

us;

We plead Thy promise, that if we confess our sins, Thou art faithful and just to forgive them, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And earnestly do we beseech Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Intercessor, to turn away from us the terrors of Thy wrath, and to bless us with the light of Thy countenance.

O most merciful God, who of Thy great love hast given Thine only-begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins, and hast declared Thine acceptance of His sacrifice, in that Thou hast raised Him from the dead; increase, we beseech Thee, our faith in Him; and grant that Thy Holy Spirit, while convincing us of sin, may enable us to take unto our own hearts the blessed assurance of Thy forgiveness and fatherly kindness. through Jesus Christ our Lord; so that we may be filled with all joy and peace in believing, and may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Give us grace also, whereby we may be enabled to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Grant that, with godly sorrow for the past, and with sincere purposes of obedience for the future, we may think upon our ways,

and turn our feet unto Thy testimonies, and make haste to keep Thy commandments. Bestow upon us the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may be enlightened in the knowledge of Thy Word, renewed in holiness after Thine image, strengthened with all might for the doing of Thy blessed will, and made to abound more and more in the fruit of the Spirit, which is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

We give Thee thanks for the prospect Thou art affording us of showing forth the death of our Redeemer, and partaking of the symbols of His broken body and shed blood. Aid us in all our preparatory exercises of prayer, and self-examination, and repentance. Search us, O God, and know our hearts; try us, and know our thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.

Meet with us, we beseech Thee, in Thy courts, and help us to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. Enable Thy ministering servants to speak to us a word in season; and grant that their preaching may be accompanied with the demonstration and power of Thy Holy Spirit.

Let Thy Word everywhere have free course and be glorified, and hasten the time when it shall be preached throughout the whole world.

Graciously hear us, O God, and have mercy upon us, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.-Amen.

Evening of a Sacramental Fast Bay.

THOU high and lofty One, who inhabitest eternity, whose name is Holy; look down, in the greatness of Thy compassion, on us Thine unworthy children assembled before Thee. Graciously hear the confessions and prayers which we have this day made to Thee in the name of Thy beloved Son. Work in us by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit that broken and penitent heart which Thou despisest not. And mercifully fulfil to us Thy promise, that Thou wilt not contend for ever, neither wilt Thou be always wroth, lest the Spirit should fail before Thee, and the souls which Thou hast made.

O God, with whom there is forgiveness that Thou mayest be feared, comfort our hearts, we beseech Thee, with a full persuasion of Thy fatherly mercy in Jesus Christ our Saviour; and let a sense of Thine undeserved goodness excite in us a holy dread of offending Thee, and an earnest desire in all things to obey Thee. Dispose us to love much, as becometh those to whom much hath been forgiven. Enable us to show the sincerity of our love by a cheerful and steadfast conformity to Thy commandments. And being redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, may we no longer live as if we were our own, but yield up ourselves entirely to Thy service, and glorify Thee in our body and in our Spirit, which are Thine.

We thank Thee for the prospect we now have of joining in that holy ordinance in which our Redeemer's sufferings are commemorated, and the precious blessings purchased by His death are represented and sealed to His faithful people. We acknowledge our unworthiness of sc

great a privilege. We look back with humiliation and regret on the many past communions we have misimproved. We deeply lament that our holy impressions at the Table of the Lord have so often been effaced, and that our solemn vows have so often been forgotten. O Lord, lay not these sins to our charge. And now that Thou art once more inviting us to sit down at Thy table, enable us to go thither with more simplicity and godly sincerity than hitherto; with a livelier faith, a warmer love, a deeper penitence; with hearts more humbly dependent on Thy grace, and more firmly devoted to Thy service.

To this end let it please Thee to bless unto us the exercises in which we have this day been engaged, and the instructions which have been addressed to us from the Scriptures. Let not Thy Word return unto Thee void. May its precious truths abide in our minds, and its holy fruits be manifest in our conduct.

And now, O God, we cast ourselves on Thy care. Watch over us during the darkness of the coming night. Grant us quiet sleep, and, if it please Thee, preserve us to see the light of another day.

Bestow Thy favour on our friends and fellow-worshippers. Cause them to see the good of Thy chosen, and visit them with Thy salvation.

Bless our Queen and all the Royal Family. Encompass them with the shield of Thy protection, and bestow upon them Thy loving-kindness, which is better than life.

Bless all ranks and conditions of men among us. Enable them faithfully to serve and honour Thee in whatsoever calling or station Thou hast allotted to them.

Impart all needful consolation and support to the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, and the dying. Instruct