Page images
PDF
EPUB

rantly deprived themselves of public worship may have their eyes opened to see, and their hearts awakened to feel, their guilt and their danger, and learn to flee from the wrath to come. O hasten the time when thy house shall be a house of prayer for all nations, and the whole world shall worship in thy courts.

Thanksgiving.

Thanks be unto God for all the privileges of the past sabbath. Blessed be thy name that we were permitted to hear thy word, to join thy people in prayer and praise, and to enjoy so plentifully the means of grace. Blessed be our God for any thing of communion with him, or desires after him. Blessed be God, if the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, or his holy word, be more understood or valued by us. Our cup runneth over with mercies. Lord, if, notwithstanding our infirmities, thy sabbaths here below be so pleasant, if to rest from earthly labours, and enjoy the privileges of thy house in this world be so delightful, how should we thank thee for the prospect of an eternal sabbath, where thy servants shall serve thee without one wandering thought, without weariness, and without distraction. O grant, in mercy grant, that none of those who have this day met together in thy house, may be wanting in the number of those who shall dwell in thy house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

BRIEF PRAYER FOR A SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Gracious Saviour, who hast said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, regard with thy favour, every effort to bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Give holy Lord, we beseech thee, wisdom and discretion, patience, kindness, and perseverance to all who conduct schools. Bless those who endeavour to instruct the young. Do thou teach them, that they may teach others.

Heavenly Father, grant that the children of this school may receive with a humble, teachable, and ready mind all the instructions given to them according to thy word. Give them thy grace while young, that early seeking Jesus their Saviour, they may find him. Let them remember their Creator in the days of their youth. Teach them to honour their parents and superiors, and to be kind and full of love towards each other. God grant that they may all be trained up in the way in which they should go, and when they are old never depart from it. May the knowledge of the Lord be universally diffused, till at length all shall know thee from the least to the greatest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BRIEF PRAYER FOR A BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

O thou who art the Father of the fatherless, and the Judge of the widow, who hast declared it to be pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, to visit the fatherless and the widow in their afflictions, bless all thy servants in any way engaged in supporting and carrying on this work of mercy and love. May those that have pity on the poor, find, by happy experience, that they have lent unto the Lord, and that he pays them again what they have given.

Help us to remember what a responsible duty is committed to our charge, rightly to divide and apportion those alms which have been entrusted to us, among those in real necessity; and give us grace to act wisely and faithfully.

[ocr errors]

In all our visits to the poor and afflicted, do thou go with us. Enable us to speak with them, and act towards them, both in fidelity and in tenderness. With whatever difficulties, disappointments, or reproaches we may meet, let us never be weary of well-doing. Enable us, in all things patiently to follow his example who went about doing good.

Bless us and all men, in every endeavour to reclaim the wicked, instruct the ignorant, comfort the mourner, and confirm the believer; and may true religion every where spread, till the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A SOCIAL PRAYER.

Adoration.

[O LORD God Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Lord of glory, who art greatly to be feared in the assembly of thy saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about thee; who dwellest in heaven, surrounded with Angels and Archangels, with Cherubim, and Seraphim, who veil their faces while they praise and worship; we bow down before thee in the name of Jesus Christ. None other name, but the name of Jesus; none other merits, but the merits of Jesus, would we plead in thy sight: but by Him, through one Spirit, may we now have access with confidence to the throne of grace.]

Confession.

O thou whose name is Holy, who hast required that we confess our faults one to another; we would now confess our many and our great sins. We have often

sinned against thee, and against each other, in thought, word, or deed. O forgive our hardness of heart, and our earthly-mindedness: all our want of charity, all our hastiness of spirit, all our bad tempers, and every sinful action. For thine own name's sake, blot out our transgressions, and remember not our sins. [We put thee in remembrance, and plead together, thy gracious promises. We declare them before thee, that we may be justified. May the blood of Jesus purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.]

Petition.

Lord of all grace, help us ever hereafter to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. May we, with all lowliness, and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Give us grace so to live, that we may find more and more how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. [Teach us to remember that to us there is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all; and thus may we love each other as brethren. Help us to love one another even as Christ has loved us. Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.]

Give unto each of us grace to fulfil our duties toward each other. As parents, may we bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and as children, obey our parents in all things; as masters, may we give unto our servants that which is just and equal, remembering that we also have a Master in heaven; and as servants, be obedient in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; as husbands, loving our wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and dwelling with them.

according to knowledge; as wives, being in subjection to the husband, and having on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

Intercession.

We ask for blessings on our native land. Lord, we would sigh before thee for all the abominations of our country: O how does the swearer, the sabbath-breaker, the covetous, the licentious, and the blasphemer abound on every side! Because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Spare us, good Lord, spare us, for thy name's sake. Grant, we beseech thee, that as we have been peculiarly distinguished by thy mercies, so it may have to be said of us, "surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people, for what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for." Pour out of thy Spirit upon all that have the direction of public affairs; on all that minister in holy things; on the magistrates, and on the people; that a general revival of religion may appear Cause thy Church every where to flourish and increase. We pray especially for an increase of the zeal, purity, and love, humility and devotion of thy people. Let Zion break forth on the right hand and on the left. Add daily to thy church, in our own country, and in heathen lands, such as shall be saved. Bless every Missionary gone forth to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and may more and more grace be given unto them all, that they may labour zealously, wisely, and abundantly in thy cause.

among us.

Thanksgiving

And now, Lord, accept our unfeigned thanksgivings for all those blessings which we daily so richly enjoy.— We thank thee more especially for those many dear

« PreviousContinue »