{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_34994/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_34994","id":"gutenberg_34994","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34994","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Hymns, English","Lutheran Church -- Prayers and devotions"],"text":"\n\n\n\nProduced by Stephen Hutcheson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n _Morning and Evening\n Prayers\n for All Days of the Week_\n\n\n By\n DR. JOHN HABERMANN.\n Together With\n\n _Confessional, Communion, and Other\n Prayers and Hymns for Mornings\n and Evenings, and\n Other Occasions_\n\n Done in English\n By\n EMIL H. RAUSCH.\n _Editor Lutheran Herald_\n\n Chicago, Illinois.\n WARTBURG PUBLISHING HOUSE.\n\n\n March, 1918, 3M.\n September, 1918, 5M.\n January, 1920, 5M.\n\n\n\n\n Translator's Preface\n\n\nThis little manual of prayers herewith offered to English speaking\nChristians in their own language, has long been one of the treasures of\nthe German people. With the exception of a few prayers, as hereinafter\nnoted, it was originally written by one of God's noblemen, by one who\n\"lived and moved and had his being\" in the things of the Kingdom of God.\nDr. John Habermann (known also as Avenarius, Latinized form of Habermann)\ndied 1590 as superintendent at Zeitz, was a famous preacher and a\ndistinguished scholar of his day. He was noted for his profound knowledge\nof oriental languages especially of the Hebrew. Still it is not this but\nthe fact of his little prayer book that has endeared him to his fellow\nChristians. And this manual of prayers is the mature product of an inner\nlife rich in the grace of God. On every page it bears the stamp of one\nfor whom the communion with the eternal Father in heaven through the\nfaith in Jesus Christ, the Savior, is a blessed reality. Nothing more\nnatural therefore also than that he should \"live and move and have his\nbeing\" in the language of the Word of God. And this is quite apparent in\nhis prayer language. God's Word give him the terms to express his\nthoughts. Especially the Psalter, the prayer and hymn book of Israel,\nproves a veritable thesaurus of prayer terms and of these he makes a\ncopious use.\n\nThe present little volume presents the Englished edition of \"Wachet und\nBetet,\" as issued by the Synod of Iowa and other States. Owing to the\nexigencies of the times, with the great world war raging in all its fury,\na special set of prayers for times of war has been added by the\ntranslator, in the hope that they will add to the usefulness of the book.\nThese are found on pages 131-138. The hymns as far as possible are given\nin the form as found in the new Common Service Book with Hymnal. Many of\nthem however are new translations that here appear in print for the first\ntime. For these we are indebted especially to Prof. Alfred Ramsey of the\nLutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Chicago, and the Rev. H.\nBrueckner of Iowa City, Iowa, a fact which is here gratefully\nacknowledged.\n\nThe labor of clothing these little gems of prayer into the language of\nthe land has been done as a labor of love, albeit the stress of other\nwork often precluded the continued effort. The work was done a bit at a\ntime. This little volume is herewith issued with the fervent hope and\nprayer, that it may long continue on its course of blessing, and lead\nmany lives into the closer communion with God, through Jesus Christ. Soli\nDeo Gloria!\n\n E. H. R.\n\nWaverly, Iowa, during the blessed season of Epiphany, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n EXHORTATION TO PRAYER\n\n\nArise, dear soul, and carefully reflect who He is with whom thou speakest\nand before whom thou standest when thou prayest. Behold, thou speakest\nwith God, thy Maker, and standest in the presence of Him, the eternal\nMajesty, whom thousand times thousand holy angels and arch-angels attend.\nTherefore, O Christian, enter thou into the closet of thy soul, and\nbeware, lest thou failest to put from thee all sluggishness of heart, and\nliftest up to thy God a countenance free from blame. Then wilt thou\ndelight in the Lord and have power with Him, and prevail. Yea, thou wilt\nconquer the unconquerable God and bear away the blessing through Jesus\nChrist. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n The Lord's Prayer\n\n\n_Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come;\nThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily\nbread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil;\nFor Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and\never. Amen._\n\n\n\n\n The Benediction\n\n\n _The Lord bless thee, and keep thee._\n _The Lord make His face to shine upon thee,_\n _and be gracious unto thee._\n _The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee,_\n _and give thee peace. Amen._\n\n\n\n\n Morning and Evening Prayers\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Sunday Morning.\n\n\nLord, our Heavenly Father, Eternal God! Blessed be Thy divine power and\nmight; magnified Thy fathomless goodness and mercy; praised Thine eternal\nwisdom and truth. For Thou hast shielded me with Thy hand against the\nperils of this night, and hast suffered me to rest and slumber in peace\nunder the shadow of Thy wings. Thou hast kept and safeguarded me with a\nfather's care against the Evil One and all his wicked designs and\npurposes. Therefore, I magnify Thy goodness and the wonders which Thou\ndoest for the children of men. I will exalt Thee in the congregation. Thy\npraise shall evermore be in my mouth. My soul shall bless Thee, O my\nLord, all that is within me shall bless Thy holy name, and nevermore will\nI forget Thy benefits. May the praises of my lips, which in singleness of\nheart I bring before Thee at this early hour, be acceptable in Thy sight.\nI call upon Thee with all my heart to preserve me this day against all\ndanger of body and soul. May Thy holy angels have charge over me and keep\nme in all my ways. Encompass me with Thy shield and lead me on the paths\nof Thy commandments that, like the children of light, I may be blameless\nin Thy service, to Thy good pleasure. Stay the Evil One and all\nwickedness of this world. Restrain mine own flesh and blood that I be not\novercome by them. Lead me with Thy Holy Spirit that I attempt, do, speak,\nor think nothing except what is well-pleasing in Thy sight and conducive\nto the glory of Thy divine Majesty. Behold, O God, I consecrate and\ndedicate myself entirely to Thy holy will, with body and soul, all my\npowers and abilities, inwardly and outwardly. Make me a living sacrifice,\nholy and acceptable unto Thee, so that I may render Thee a reasonable and\npleasing service. Therefore, Most Holy Father, Almighty God, let me be\nwholly Thine. Govern Thou my heart and soul, and all my emotions that I\nknow and understand none but Thee. O Lord, in the morning wilt Thou hear\nmy voice. Early will I seek Thee and look up to Thee. Early will I praise\nThee, and will not cease when evening comes. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Gott des Himmels und der Erden.\n\n\n God, Who madest earth and heaven,--\n Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,\n Who the day and night hast given,\n Sun and moon, and starry host,\n Thou Whose mighty hand sustains\n Earth and all that it contains;\n\n Praise to Thee my soul shall render,\n Who this night has guarded me,\n My omnipotent Defender,\n Who from ill doth set me free;\n Free from danger, anguish, woe,\n Free from the infernal foe.\n\n Let the night of my transgression\n With night's darkness pass away;\n Jesus, into Thy possession\n I resign myself to-day.\n In Thy wounds I find relief\n From my greatest sin and grief.\n\n Let my life and conversation\n Be directed by Thy Word;\n Lord, Thy constant preservation\n To Thy erring child afford.\n Nowhere but alone in Thee\n From all harm can I be free.\n\n Wholly to Thy blest protection\n I commit my heart and mind;\n Mighty God! to Thy direction\n Wholly may I be resigned.\n Lord, my Shield, my Light divine,\n O accept, and own me Thine.\n\n Heinrich Albert, 1643.\n Tr. John Christian Jacobi, 1720.\n Arthur Tozer Russell, 1848.\n Catherine Winkworth, 1855.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Sunday Evening.\n\n\nEternal God, Merciful Father, I lift up my hands unto Thee as an evening\nsacrifice, and render Thee most hearty thanks, praise, and glory, that\nThou hast protected me this day and all the days of my life from all evil\nand calamity, and through the ministrations of Thy holy angels hast\ngraciously guarded me against the Evil One. I pray Thee to forgive me all\nmy sins, wherever I have done wrong. Surround me this night with Thy holy\nangels. May thou compass me round and cast a trench about me, that I may\nescape the snares and evil cunning of the enemy. I commend myself to Thy\ngoodness and mercy. Protect me with Thine outstretched arm; for from my\nheart do I pant after Thee in the nightwatches, and with my spirit within\nme do I watch for Thee at all times. I wait upon Thy goodness, and my\nsoul trusts in Thee, the living God, for Thou art my refuge and my\nSavior. Behold, O Lord, whether we sleep or wake, we are Thine: whether\nwe live or die, Thou art our God who hast called us into being.\nTherefore, I cry unto Thee: let Thy grace be not far from me. Shelter me\nwith Thy shield. Keep me, that I lie in quiet, sleep in peace, and awake\nagain in health. Hide me in Thy pavilion in the time of trouble, in the\nsecret of Thy tabernacle hide me, set me upon the rock, and I will fear\nno evil. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I\nwill fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they\ncomfort me. Grant me grace, that though my body sleep, my soul may ever\nwake for Thee, that I may ever have Thee in my heart and before my mind,\nand be not overcome by the night of sin. Keep me from all wicked and evil\ndreams, from restless wakings and useless anxieties, from depraved and\nhurtful thoughts, from all grief. My Lord and God, into Thy gracious care\ndo I commend my body and soul, my brothers and sisters, and all my kin\nand loved ones. May it please Thee, O Lord, to save us, and turn not Thy\nmercy from us. May Thy grace and fidelity protect us alway. Cover us this\nnight with Thy goodness, and encompass us with Thy mercy, that we be\nsafe-guarded in body and soul. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Christe, du bist der helle Tag.\n\n\n O Christ, who art the sun-lit day,\n Before Thee night must flee away,\n Thou dost reflect the Father's light\n And teachest us His will aright.\n\n Dear Lord, as night is drawing near,\n Fill Thou our hearts with light and cheer,\n Let us securely rest in Thee\n And from the foe's attacks stay free.\n\n And while our eyes in slumber close,\n Grant that our hearts may find repose;\n But let them be to Thee awake\n And of Thy saving grace partake.\n\n Protect us from the wily foe\n Who seeks to harm our souls, we know.\n Be Thou our shield, our staff, and stay,\n Lord Jesus Christ, for this we pray.\n\n For Thou hast made us, Lord, Thine own,\n We as Thy heritage are known.\n Thy blood was shed, that we might be\n The Father's precious gift to Thee.\n\n So let Thy holy angel stay\n Around us both by night and day.\n Place Thou a watch beside our bed,\n And guardian angels overhead.\n\n Thus in Thy name we fall asleep,\n While angels o'er us watch must keep.\n To Thee, O Holy One in Three,\n Be praise to all eternity.\n\n Latin, 7 Century.\n Erasmus Alber, 1555.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Monday Morning.\n\n\nO Thou Eternal and Merciful God! Thou hast commanded Thy people in Thy\nlaw each morning to offer Thee a burnt offering, thereby to praise and\nthank Thee for Thy merciful protection: thus I too would bring unto Thee\nmy offering of praise, that is the fruit of my lips, and magnify Thy holy\nname. For by Thy grace and mercy Thou hast kept me this night from all\nevil and harm in body and soul, and hast graciously protected me. If Thou\nhadst not been my shield and my help, manifold calamities would have\nengulfed me, and I could not have risen in health and safety. Therefore,\nI thank Thee for Thy protection. But I continue to call to Thee from the\ndepths of my heart, and my supplication ascends to Thee in the early\nhour. Early do I seek Thy countenance and pray Thee to safeguard me and\nmine from the wiles and power of the devil, from sin and disgrace and all\nwickedness. Visit Thou me in this early hour with Thy grace, as without\nThee I can do nothing, and grant that I may this day begin all my work in\nThy name and end it joyously, to the glory of Thy divine majesty and the\nbetterment of my neighbor. Preserve my soul, mind, reason, senses, and\nthoughts, all that I do and leave undone, that the prince of darkness do\nme no injury. Safeguard me against the destruction that wasteth at\nnoonday. Defend me against mine enemies that neither secretly nor openly\nthey harm or injure me with their craft and cunning, violence or malice.\nO God, Father and Lord of my life, shield me from all impurity and\ndisorderly conduct. Keep me from all intemperance and unchastity, and\nturn from me shameless thoughts. Help me by Thy grace to pluck out the\neye that offends me and cast it away, and renounce all wicked and impure\ndesires of the heart. Grant whatever is pleasing to Thee and useful to\nme, that I may serve Thee in the true faith. Look upon me with the eyes\nof Thy mercy, Thou Savior of the world, and enlighten my heart and eyes,\nthat I may walk in the light of Thy grace, which rises above me, and\nnever lose Thee, the Eternal Light. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade.\n\n\n Abide with grace unbounded,\n Lord Jesus, with us still,\n That Satan's craft confounded\n May no more work us ill.\n\n Abide with us, dear Savior,\n Both with and in Thy Word:\n To us both now and ever\n Thy saving health afford.\n\n Abide with all Thy brightness,\n Thou brightest Light of all;\n And lest we stray from rightness,\n Make Thou Thy truth our wall.\n\n Abide with us and bless us,\n Thou Lord whose riches 'bide;\n With growing grace possess us\n And all things best provide.\n\n Abide with Thy protection,\n Great Captain, clothed with might;\n O'ercome our world affection\n And vanquish Satan's spite.\n\n Abide with care untiring,\n Our God and Lord indeed;\n All steadfastness inspiring,\n Help, Lord, our every need.\n\n Josua Stegmann, 1630.\n Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Monday Evening.\n\n\nO Thou Mighty and Everlasting God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I\nthank Thee that by Thy divine power Thou hast this day preserved me from\nall injury and danger of body and life. I owe it to Thy mercy alone that\nThou didst protect me on all my paths. I pray Thee to forgive me all my\nsins which I have committed against Thee, and this night and during our\nentire lives mercifully to defend me and my loved ones against all sorrow\nand anxiety, and against the craft and power of the devil, wherewith day\nand night he seeks to ensnare us. Preserve us from the deadly pestilence\nthat walketh in the darkness, and deliver us from the snare of the enemy.\nProtect us from the temptation and terror of Satan, from all evils of\nbody and soul. For Thou art our strong fortress, our sword and buckler.\nAll our hope and trust rests in Thee. Therefore, O faithful God, may\nThine eyes be upon us and we be safeguarded this night against all\nviolence and assault of the enemy. Be Thou our keeper and protector.\nEncompass us with Thy shelter, for in Thee is our salvation. Unto Thee\nonly, from whom cometh my help, do I lift up mine eyes. My help cometh\nfrom the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Behold, as the eyes of servants\nlook unto the hands of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto\nthe hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until\nthat He have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, for\nwe are poor and needy. Lift upon me the light of Thy countenance lest I\nsleep the sleep of death. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Nun ruhen alle Waelder.\n\n\n Now under night's dark shadow\n Rest woodland, field, and meadow,\n The world in slumber lies.\n But thou, my soul, awake thee,\n To song and prayer betake thee,\n Give praise to Him who rules the skies.\n\n The sun's fair light hath vanished,\n The night its rays hath banished,\n The night, the foe of day.\n 'Tis well: my heart containeth\n A sun whose light ne'er waneth,\n Since Jesus there holds constant sway.\n\n The reign of day is over,\n And golden stars now cover\n The canopy so blue.\n Thus I shall shine in heaven,\n Where golden crowns are given\n To all who faithful stay and true.\n\n My body is divested\n Of garments that have rested\n Upon its form of clay.\n Thus I at heaven's portal\n Shall lose all that is mortal\n And with the Lord forever stay.\n\n Head, feet, and hands are taking\n Sweet rest from toil and waking,\n Released from ev'ry pain.\n O heart of mine, why borrow\n The troubles of tomorrow?\n Thou rest from sin and woe shalt gain.\n\n Ye members weak and tired,\n By joy no more inspired,\n Betake yourselves to bed.\n The time and hour for sleeping\n In God's own faithful keeping\n Will come when you are cold and dead.\n\n My tired eyes are closing,\n And while I am reposing,\n Where doth my soul remain?\n To Thee be it commended\n Until the night is ended,\n Let me Thy gracious favor gain.\n\n Lord Jesus, who dost love me,\n Spread both Thy wings above me,\n Thus shielding me from harm.\n If Satan should draw near me,\n Let angels come to cheer me\n And so the wily foe disarm.\n\n My loved ones, rest securely,\n Since God will guard you surely\n From pain and perils sore.\n May you in safety slumber,\n While angels without number\n Attend you now and evermore.\n\n Paul Gerhardt, 1648.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Tuesday Morning.\n\n\nBlessed be God, the maker of heaven and earth, blessed be the Lord, who\nonly doeth wondrous things, and blessed be His glorious name for ever who\nhath made both day and night through His glorious wisdom, and so ruled,\nthat while the earth remaineth, they shall not cease, that man may rest\nby night, and proceed again to his labors by day. O Lord, how manifold\nare Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of\nThy riches. For such Thy gifts we should thank Thee ere the sun rises,\nand come into Thy presence when the light breaks forth. Therefore I bless\nThee now also, for Thou hast suffered me securely to rest and sleep this\nnight, and again awakened me to the joy of living. Thou hast mercifully\nsheltered me from the assaults and malice of enemies. I supplicate Thy\ngrace: grant that my soul may repose in Thy hands, my body continue in\nhealth according to Thy good pleasure, and be kept from all injury and\nperil. Be Thou my mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat,\nand my cover from the sun at noon, my preservation from stumbling, and my\nhelp from falling, that no harm may come unto me. O Merciful God, knowing\nthe hour is come to awaken out of the sleep of sin and iniquity, for now\nis our salvation so near, the night is far spent, the day is at hand: so\nhelp us to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of\nlight, that we may walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and\ndrunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying,\nbut putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in the true faith and a Christian\nconduct. Thus awaken us each morning. Open Thou my ears that I may hear\nThy holy Word with a believing heart and keep the same in my memory. Let\nmy ears incline to the entreaties and prayers of the needy, not to\nforsake them in their distress. And when in my distress I cry unto Thee,\nhear Thou the voice of my supplications, and despise not my sighings in\nthe hour of death. Let my prayers come before Thee early. Incline Thine\nears to my entreaties. Satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may\nrejoice and be glad all our days. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe.\n\n\n Awake, my heart, rejoicing,\n Thy Maker's praises voicing,--\n The Giver, good gifts sending;\n Their Shield, His folk defending.\n\n All night while darkness 'bound me\n In deepest gloom around me,\n By Satan craved while sleeping\n God had me in His keeping.\n\n Thou spak'st me words endearing;\n Sleep now, my child, unfearing;\n Sleep well, night's terrors spurning;\n Thou'lt see the sun returning.\n\n Thy word performed, now waking,\n I see the bright dawn breaking,\n Safe kept from ills unnumbered\n While 'neath Thy care I slumbered.\n\n An off'ring Thou desirest.\n Behold what Thou requirest.\n Nor lamb nor incense bringing,\n I come with prayer and singing.\n\n Nor wilt Thou now despise them,\n But in Thy heart wilt prize them,\n Well knowing, yea, and surely\n My best I offer purely.\n\n Approve my works when shown Thee.\n Help Thou good councils only;\n Beginning, middle, closing,\n Lord, for the best disposing.\n\n With blessings guard me waking,\n My heart Thy dwelling making,\n And with Thy Word, Lord, feed me\n Whilst heavenward Thou dost lead me.\n\n Paul Gerhardt, 1648.\n Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Tuesday Evening.\n\n\nLord, Merciful God, Holy Father, in the daytime do I cry unto Thee with\nmy voice, in my distress I call upon Thee, and at eventime I remember Thy\ngoodness and mercy, which Thou hast wrought for me. And especially do I\nmagnify Thee now, that purely out of fatherly grace and mercy, without\nany merit or worthiness on my part, Thou hast this day preserved me from\nall harm and danger and kept me from sudden death. Therefore do I now and\nat all times render unto Thee praise and thanksgiving, and pray Thee, for\nthe sake of the bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ, to forgive me wherever\nI have sinned against Thee this day. Mercifully protect me during the\nnight against my adversary, the devil, and against the fears and terrors\nof the night. Suffer me to rest without anxieties and worries, and may\nthe eyes of my faith ever behold the lustre of Thy countenance even\nduring the shades of night. For Thou art that shining and true light,\nwhich dispels all darkness that surrounds us. Thou, O Lord, art ever with\nme. Thou art my rock, and my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, in whom\nI will trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.\nLord, my God, at eventime do I lift up my hands unto Thee. Come unto me\nas the latter rains that make the earth fruitful. Abide with us, for the\nday is far spent and in the darkness there is none to defend us save Thou\nalone, our God. Hasten to uphold us. Defend us this night, lest our souls\nfall into the sleep of sin and our bodies be overcome with evil. Awake us\nagain in due time, and make us to hear joy and peace, for we love Thy\nword and Thy testimonies, which are the delight of our souls. May our\nears be saved from all messages of sorrow, and all anguish be turned from\nour souls; for Thou canst prosper all that liveth, and fill my life with\nThy blessing; in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Die Nacht ist kommen, drin wir ruhen sollen.\n\n\n Now God be with us, for the night is closing;\n The light and darkness are of His disposing;\n And 'neath His shadow here to rest we yield us,\n For He will shield us.\n\n Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us;\n Till morning cometh, watch, O Master, o'er us;\n In soul and body Thou from harm defend us,\n Thine angels send us.\n\n Let holy thoughts be ours when sleep o'ertakes us;\n Our earliest thoughts be Thine when morning wakes us;\n All day serve Thee, in all that we are doing\n Thy praise pursuing.\n\n As Thy beloved, soothe the sick and weeping,\n And bid the prisoner lose his griefs in sleeping;\n Widows and orphans, we to Thee commend them;\n Do Thou befriend them.\n\n We have no refuge, none on earth to aid us,\n Save Thee, O Father, Who Thine own hast made us;\n But Thy dear presence will not leave them lonely,\n Who seek Thee only.\n\n Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom given;\n Thy will be done on earth as 'tis in heaven;\n Keep us in life, forgive our sins, deliver\n Us now and ever.\n\n Petrus Herbert, 1566.\n St. 5, Anon., 1627.\n Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Wednesday Morning.\n\n\nAlmighty, All-gracious God! All Thy creatures should praise and glorify\nThee. The birds under the heavens magnify Thee with lovely songs early in\nthe morning as their Lord and Maker. So will I too heartily thank Thee,\nthat Thou hast preserved me under Thy shelter and protection during the\nnight now past, and all my life even to the present hour, and awakening\nme from the sleep of the darkness of this night, hast suffered me to\narise again in health and joy. I pray Thee for the sake of the saving\nresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that Thou wouldst ever keep\nme together with all my loved ones from all danger and evil. O Lord, save\nThy people, and bless Thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up\nfor ever. Fill me also at this early hour with Thy grace, that I may pass\nthis day rejoicing in Thy commandments, and free from mortal sin. Let me\nexperience Thy grace as a dew from the womb of the morning, and as the\nrefreshing moisture that diffuses at the break of day, making the land\nfruitful. Thou wouldest spread Thy goodness over me, that I may gladly\nand zealously do Thy will. Govern me with Thy Holy Spirit that I may\nserve Thee in righteousness and holiness of truth, well pleasing in Thy\nsight. Guard me that I sin not against Thee, nor defile my conscience\nwith carnal lusts that militate against the soul. Keep my tongue from\nevil, and my lips from speaking guile. Foolish talking or jesting,\nunbecoming of Christians, be ever far removed from me. Grant, that I\noffend none with my lips, nor backbite, judge nor condemn, defame nor\nvilify. O that I might put a lock to my lips and seal them with a strong\nseal, that they bring me not to naught, nor my tongue destroy me. Give me\ngrace that I may know my shortcomings and correct them, and not fall into\nThy righteous judgment and condemnation. Grant my prayer, O Eternal God,\nfor the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit.\n\n\n Dayspring of Eternity,\n Light from endless Light proceeding,\n Let Thy beams upon us shine\n As the shadows are receding;\n And dispel by Thy great might\n Our dark night.\n\n As the soft refreshing dew\n Falls upon the drooping flower,\n So our fainting hearts renew\n By Thy Spirit's quickening power;\n Ne'er Thy bounteous grace withhold\n From Thy fold.\n\n Let the glow of Thy pure love\n All our icy coldness banish;\n In the radiance from above\n May our doubts and fears all vanish,\n That ere dying we may be\n Found in Thee.\n\n O Thou glorious Sun of grace,\n May Thy light be ne'er denied us!\n Till we reach the heavenly place\n Shine upon our way to guide us,\n That at last among the blest\n We may rest.\n\n Christian Knorr v. Rosenroth, 1684.\n Tr. J. F. Ohl, 1915.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Wednesday Evening.\n\n\nMost Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person, who art my life,\nsalvation, and eternal joy, I praise and thank Thee with mouth and heart\nthat Thou hast so graciously protected me throughout this day. I pray Thy\ndivine goodness to cover up all my shortcomings, and especially where\nthis day, with my tongue, with vain and unprofitable words, slander or\notherwise, I have sinned against Thee and Thy holy commandments.\nAccording to Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the\nearth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness. Therefore I commend my\nbody and my soul into Thy hands. Thy divine Majesty bless me; Thy holy\nTrinity shelter me; Thy eternal Unity preserve me. May Thy unbounded\nmercy protect me; Thy inexpressible benevolence defend me, the sublime\ntruth of God cover me; profound knowledge of Christ strengthen me; the\nunfathomable goodness of the Lord keep me. The grace of the Father govern\nme; the wisdom of the Son refresh me; the power of the Holy Spirit\nenlighten me. My Creator aid me, my Redeemer quicken me, my Comforter\nabide with me. The Lord bless me and keep me. The Lord make His face\nshine upon me and be gracious unto me. The Lord lift up His countenance\nupon me and give me peace. The protection and blessing of the one and\neternal Godhead be between me and all mine enemies, visible and\ninvisible, today and always, that they may not approach nor injure me. As\nthe pillar of the cloud went between the army of the Egyptians and the\narmy of Israel, so that they could not come together, and no harm befall\nthe children of Israel, so mayest Thou be a pillar of fire and a wall of\nseparation between me and mine enemies, that no harm come over me. Keep\nme also in my last hour. When mine eyes no longer see, mine ears no\nlonger hear, my tongue no longer speak, be Thou with me, O blessed\nTrinity, that the Evil One have no power over me. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Hirte deiner Schafe.\n\n\n Shepherd never sleeping,\n In Thy gracious keeping\n I have been today.\n Thou art my Defender,\n So in mercy tender\n Come and with me stay;\n All this night\n Keep me in sight,\n Send Thine angels to attend me\n And protection lend me.\n\n While I lie and slumber,\n Let Thine hosts outnumber\n All my raging foes.\n Be of grace the Giver,\n And Thy child deliver\n From guilt's painful throes.\n For Thy Son\n My soul hath won;\n By His wounds, so sorely stricken,\n He my heart doth quicken.\n\n Shield Thou from all danger\n Ev'ry lonely stranger\n And my dear ones, too.\n Tenderly embrace us\n And with mercy grace us,\n Be our Father true.\n Thou with me\n And I with Thee,\n Thus shall I, mine eyelids closing,\n Be in peace reposing.\n\n Close the door behind us,\n Let no evil find us,\n Keep all ills away.\n Be our shield and cover,\n Let Thine angels hover\n O'er us now, we pray.\n By sweet rest\n Let us be blest,\n Ev'ry fear of Satan's raging\n In our hearts assuaging.\n\n What if death should take me\n And no light awake me\n From my sleep and rest?\n If Thou hast intended\n That my life be ended,\n Let Thy name be blest;\n As for me,\n I yield to Thee.\n In the wounds of Jesus lying,\n I am daily dying.\n\n By no cares encumbered,\n Though my hours be numbered,\n I now fall asleep.\n All to Thee commending\n Who Thine hosts are sending\n Watch o'er me to keep.\n Through the night\n Be my delight,\n And if I should see the morrow,\n Thou wilt cure all sorrow.\n\n Benjamin Schmolcke, 1715.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Thursday Morning.\n\n\nJesus Christ, Thou art the eternal light, which dispelleth the darkness\nof night and the shadow of death: I magnify Thy name, I glorify and thank\nThee. For Thou hast so graciously kept me during this night, and hast\nbrought me out of the darkness to the light of day. Thou hast shielded me\nagainst the terrors of the night, the snares of the devil, the noisome\npestilence, that walketh in the darkness, manifold illness and disease.\nThou hast guarded and watched over my soul, even as the shepherd watches\nover his flock. And all that I possess is kept from harm through Thy\ngreat mercy. Praise and thanks be said unto Thee for Thy gracious\nprotection and all Thy gifts. I will speak of Thy power and magnify Thy\ngoodness, when the day breaks. For Thou art my refuge, my strong tower,\nmy present help, my faithful God, in whom I trust. Thou makest glad my\nheart and my countenance rejoiceth. I pray Thee, for the sake of Thy holy\nbirth and incarnation, suffer Thy grace to rise in my heart and break\nforth even as the beauty of the morning, and come over me as the early\nrain. Illumine me with Thy radiance, and be Thou the light of my heart,\nfor Thou art the right day star and the true light, that lighteth men to\nthe eternal life. Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for in Thee do I put my\ntrust. My soul waiteth for Thee, more than they that watch for the\nmorning, yea more than they that watch for the morning. Be Thou mine arm\nin the morning, my salvation also in the time of trouble. Protect me in\nbody and soul, that no evil befall me and no plague come nigh unto my\ndwelling. Keep from me all wicked spirits. Defend me from evildoers.\nStand up for me against the workers of iniquity and shield me, that the\nhands of mine adversaries may not touch me. O Lord, our God, establish\nThou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish\nThou it, and strengthen our hands, and teach us that we may keep Thy\ncommandments and sin not against Thee this day. Grant us this for the\nsake of Thy mercy, which endureth for ever and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Wach auf, mein Herz, die Nacht ist hin.\n\n\n Awake, my soul; the rising sun\n Dispels the night of mourning;\n Awake, with songs of praises run\n To greet the Lord returning.\n He burst the gates of death today\n And left the gloomy grave for aye\n While all the world rejoices.\n\n Arise, my soul, from sin and death,\n To thee new life is given;\n Arise and run the race of faith;\n Fix thy desires on heaven\n Where Jesus, thy Redeemer reigns,\n And seek the things that it contains,\n If thou with Him be risen.\n\n Art thou distressed by weight of care?\n Thy Savior will remove it.\n Believing, thou with joy canst bear\n Thy cross and learn to love it.\n Cast all thy burden on the Lord;\n Fear not; for He will help afford,\n For now He hath arisen.\n\n Now Judah's Lion, true and tried,\n The victory obtaineth;\n The Lamb of God, the Crucified,\n For us salvation gaineth,\n And giveth righteousness and life;\n For after all the dreadful strife,\n O'er every foe He triumphs.\n\n Then up, my soul, begin the fight,\n For Christ, the Victor, leadeth.\n He arms thee with a victor's might;\n With Him thy cause succeedeth.\n Now thou can'st rise and live anew\n And righteousness and peace pursue\n And be a faithful servant.\n\n Fear not the angry jaws of hell,\n Nor world, nor death, nor devil.\n Thy Savior lives and all is well,\n Though sore has been His travail.\n A Victor crowned, He as a Friend\n The mean and feeble doth attend,\n And therefore thou shalt conquer.\n\n Ah, Lord, whom death could not defile,\n Who from the dead hast risen,\n Free us from Satan's might and guile\n And save us from his prison.\n O grant, that, as one body, we\n May enter that new life in Thee\n Which Thou for us hast gotten.\n\n Laurentius Laurenti, 1700.\n Tr. A. Ramsey.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Thursday Evening.\n\n\nPraise be to Thee, O God, our Father, through Jesus Christ in the Holy\nGhost, one, eternal God, who through Thy manifold compassion hast kept me\nthis day, a poor sinner and miserable creature, from the fiery darts of\nSatan that fly by day, from the destruction that wasteth at noonday, and\nhast graciously protected me from a sudden and evil death. Thy mercy, O\nLord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.\nThou art gracious and merciful, and all Thine acts are glorious. I pray\nThee, O merciful God, graciously to forgive me all that I have done\nagainst Thee this day, in thought, word, or deed. Turn Thy mercy toward\nme, that I may slumber and rest during this coming night, and that I may\nnever turn from Thee, who art the eternal rest. Suffer me ever to abide\nin Thee in the true faith, and safely to sojourn under Thy protection, so\nthat the enemy may never come nigh unto me, nor do me injury. Lord, Thou\nart my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Thou art the strength\nof my life; of whom shall I be afraid? My heart trusteth in Thee, and I\nam helped. Thou art my strength and my great shield. Thy right hand\nstrengtheneth me. Thy right hand gladdeneth my heart, and in the shadow\nof Thy wings will I make my refuge. Behold, my God, in the daytime do I\ncry unto Thee, and Thou hearest me, and in the night season I am not\nsilent, and Thou answereth my prayer. I remember Thee on my bed, and\nmeditate on Thee in the night watches, because Thou hast been my help.\nTherefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul cleaves unto\nThee, for Thy right hand defends me. When darkness comes over me, then\nThou, O Lord, art my light and my salvation. O gracious God, vouchsafe\nunto me Thy grace, so that when that last hour cometh, and I lay me down\non my deathbed for the eternal rest, through Thy help, in the true faith,\nin all confidence and trust, I may happily fall asleep for the eternal\nlife. Meanwhile keep me in Thee, that I may ever watch and pass my days\nin all sobriety and moderation, and be found in Christian readiness,\nsince I can not know the hour when Thou comest, O God, to call me hence,\nso that I may be worthy to stand before the Son of Man, and be not put to\nshame; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, world\nwithout end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Nur in Jesu Blut und Wunden.\n\n\n Now in Jesus' wounds reposing,\n I my tired eyes am closing.\n For His love and pardoning grace\n Are my only resting place.\n\n Through the day His mercy holds me,\n And by night His arm enfolds me.\n Of Thy strong protection sure,\n Jesus, I shall rest secure.\n\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Friday Morning.\n\n\nBlessed be God, my Maker! Blessed be God, my Savior! Blessed be God, my\nComforter! Who giveth unto me my health, my life, and every blessing; my\nvery present help and my protection. Thou hast kept me according to Thy\ngreat and most blessed compassion during this night now past against the\nonslaughts of Satan, and preserved me in health. I beseech Thee, Heavenly\nFather, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, take me this day also into\nThy divine protection, and shield me that no evil may assail my life. For\ninto Thy hands do I this day and all days commend my body and soul, my\nthoughts, words, and deeds, all that I do or leave undone, my going out\nand my coming in, my walks and ways, my rising up and my lying down, my\nwill and counsel, my thoughts and desires, my faith and profession, the\nend of my life, the day and hour of my death, my passing away and my\nresurrection. O Lord God, do Thou with me as Thou wilt: for Thou knowest\nwhat serves best Thy glory and my salvation. Keep me in Thy fear and in\nthe true knowledge of Thee. Protect me from the deeds of unrighteousness.\nAnd if perchance and by reason of my frailty I sin against Thee, I pray\nThee take not from me Thy mercy; turn not from me Thy grace; withdraw not\nThy help. For there is none other God nor Helper but Thee, and as there\nis none before Thee, there is none after Thee. Thou art the first and the\nlast, Alpha and Omega, and there is none other God beside Thee. Therefore\ndo I call only upon Thee: may Thy goodness rule over me. Cause me to hear\nThy loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust. Lead me on\nthe paths of righteousness, that I may not walk in the counsel of the\nungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor yet sit in the seat of the\nscornful, but that my heart may ever delight in Thy word and\ncommandments, and meditate upon them day and night; through Jesus Christ,\nour Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Die helle Sonn leucht jetzt herfuer.\n\n\n The morning sun shines in the skies,\n And we from peaceful slumbers rise.\n All praise to God who hath this night\n Protected us from Satan's might.\n\n Lord Jesus, shield us now by day\n From sin and error on our way.\n To us Thy holy angels send,\n And let them to our wants attend.\n\n Make Thou our hearts obedient,\n To use Thy word and sacrament,\n To do Thy will whate'er betide,\n Thus pleasing Thee, our trusty guide.\n\n Bless Thou the labor of our hands\n And help us keep Thy law's demands,\n That all our work, begun in Thee,\n May to Thy praise and glory be.\n\n Nicolaus Hermann, 1560.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Friday Evening.\n\n\nBlessed be the Lord God, who only doeth wondrous things! And blessed be\nHis glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His\nglory! Daily will I praise the Lord, and at eventime my mouth shall thank\nHim while I have any being. For when I cry with my voice, He hears me,\nand gives ear to my supplication. When I pray, He attends to my voice.\nThe Lord is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.\nTherefore do I laud and magnify Thee, Eternal God, that Thou hast this\nday so mercifully kept me from every harm and evil. My heart is glad and\nmy soul glorifies Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. Ever shall my tongue\nspeak of Thee and say, Blessed be the Lord, and blessed be Thy holy name!\nI pray Thee, graciously pardon, wherever I have this day sinned against\nThee, and grant me and mine Thy protection during the coming night. Be\nThou my shield, and my shade upon my right hand. O Lord, preserve me from\nall evil, preserve my soul. Be gracious unto me, for in Thee do I put my\ntrust. I trust in the Lord, and cry to God, the Highest, to God Who\nendeth all mine affliction. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither\nslumber nor sleep. He will guide my steps on the paths of righteousness,\nthat I slip not and my feet do not falter. He will not suffer my feet to\nbe moved, and His word is a light unto my path. Therefore as I lay me\ndown, I will not be afraid of sudden terror, neither of the desolation of\nwicked people, when it cometh. For Thou keepest my foot from being taken,\nand deliverest me from the snares of death. O Lord God, lift upon me the\nlight of Thy countenance, that I may lie down and sleep in peace, and\ndwell in safety under Thy protection. For Thou alone, O Lord, can help\nme. In Thy name will I lie down to rest and let my eyelids slumber. Thou,\nO Lord, wilt again awaken me with rejoicing, to the glory and praise of\nThine eternal majesty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Hinunter ist der Sonnen Schein.\n\n\n Sunk is the sun's last beam of light,\n And now the world is wrapt in night.\n Christ, light us with Thy heavenly ray,\n Nor let our feet in darkness stray.\n\n Thanks, Lord, that Thou throughout the day\n Hast kept all grief and harm away;\n That angels tarried round about\n Our coming in and going out.\n\n Whate'er of wrong we've done or said,\n Let not the charge on us be laid;\n That, through Thy free forgiveness blest,\n In peaceful slumber we may rest.\n\n Thy guardian angels round us place\n All evil from our couch to chase;\n Our soul and body, while we sleep,\n In safety, gracious Father, keep.\n\n Nicolaus Hermann, 1560.\n Tr. Frances Elizabeth Cox, 1841.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Saturday Morning.\n\n\nO Thou Very and Eternal God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Thee\ndo I lift up my heart in dutiful gratitude. I will not hide Thy\nrighteousness within my heart. I will declare Thy salvation. I will not\nconceal Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation,\nand all the good that Thou hast shown me will I not keep silent. For it\nis a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto\nThy name, O Most High: to shew forth Thy loving kindness in the morning,\nand Thy faithfulness every night. Therefore my soul doth magnify Thee,\nthat Thou in Thy immeasurable grace hast kept me during the night now\npast. Blessed be Thou, Lord God Sabaoth, who art merciful unto all, that\nseek Thee and love Thy salvation. Blessed is Thy holy name in all the\nearth, who art our refuge and our help! Blessed are all Thy works which\nThou doest for the children of men! I beseech Thee, protect me this day,\nthat the Evil One may not harm me, and the hands of the wicked touch me\nnot. Lord God, my Savior, early will I seek Thee, early do I cry unto\nThee. Grant, that I may fulfill the duties of my calling and all that is\ncommitted unto me with diligence and trust to the glory of Thy name and\nthe betterment of my fellowman, so that I may not misuse the light of\nthis day, neither any of Thy creatures in the service of sin and vanity,\nneither grieve Thee, nor transgress the covenant of my Baptism with\nanything I do or leave undone. Vouchsafe unto me Thy grace, that I may\nguard myself against the six things which Thou dost hate, yea, seven\nwhich are an abomination unto Thee: a proud look, a lying tongue, and\nhands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked\nimaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness\nthat speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. From such\nand the like vices preserve me, O God, that I may nevermore be led nor\nconsent to them, but teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy\nSpirit is good. Lead me into the land of uprightness, that I may serve\nThee in a life that is without blame, and my deeds and all my conduct be\npleasing in Thy sight; for Christ's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Die gueldne Sonne.\n\n\n The sun, ascending,\n To us is lending\n Bliss, joy, and gladness,\n Cure for all sadness,\n Filling the world with its rich, golden light.\n I was reclining\n When no light was shining;\n But the sun's beauty\n Now calls me to duty,\n As I behold it so fair and so bright.\n\n Mine eye beholdeth\n What God unfoldeth:\n Heaven's bright glory\n Tells me the story\n Of His unlimited power and love,\n And how the sainted\n In beauty untainted,\n Free from things mortal,\n Beyond death's dark portal,\n Dwell in the heavenly mansions above.\n\n To God in heaven\n Be praises given;\n Come, let us offer\n And gladly proffer\n To the Creator the gifts that we prize.\n He well receiveth\n A heart that believeth,\n Hymns that adore Him\n Are precious before Him\n And to His throne like sweet incense arise.\n\n At the day's ending\n Sweet slumbers sending,\n And in the morning\n All things adorning,\n These are His works and His blessings so true.\n When night descendeth\n Protection He lendeth\n When morn appeareth\n Our spirits He cheereth,\n Causing His mercy to crown us anew.\n\n Father above me,\n Thou who dost love me,\n Bless my beginning,\n Keep me from sinning,\n Move ev'ry hindrance well out of my way.\n Strength ever lend me,\n From Satan defend me,\n Spare me temptation,\n So that in my station\n I may Thy holy commandments obey.\n\n Let me with pleasure\n See the full measure\n Which upon others,\n Who are my brothers,\n Thou of Thy blessings dost richly bestow.\n Bid envy vanish!\n All greediness banish!\n Make me Thy dwelling,\n Sin's darkness dispelling.\n Grant that in virtue I daily may grow.\n\n What is man's being?\n It is like seeing\n Autumn's bleak shadows\n Sweep o'er the meadows\n When the cold winds drive the clouds on their way.\n All that we cherish\n Must crumble and perish.\n Plants must stop growing,\n And stars must cease glowing;\n Heaven and earth are not destined to stay.\n\n All else decayeth,\n God only stayeth,\n He of creation\n Is the foundation.\n His will and word must forever abide.\n His grace endureth\n And for us secureth\n Comfort in sorrow\n And help for the morrow,\n Keeping us cheerful, whate'er may betide.\n\n God of creation,\n Be my salvation!\n Calm all my terrors,\n Blot out my errors,\n Grant that Thy pardon I fully may share;\n Withal attend me,\n Rule, guide, and defend me\n In mercy tender,\n Because I surrender\n Soul, will, and all to Thy fatherly care.\n\n Whilst Thou art giving\n What for a living\n Seems very needful,\n Oh, make Thou me heedful\n Of this great truth and commendable thought:\n God, like a tower,\n Transcends all in power;\n Good beyond telling,\n In beauty excelling,\n He doth suffice me, all else counts for naught.\n\n If grief and sadness\n Temper my gladness\n If for the morrow\n Thou send me sorrow\n Do as Thou wilt, for my trust is in Thee.\n Thou surely knowest\n That what Thou bestowest,\n E'en though distressing,\n Must bring me a blessing;\n Thou wilt not deal too severely with me.\n\n Ills that still grieve me\n Soon are to leave me;\n Though waves may tower\n And winds gain power,\n After the storm the fair sun shows its face.\n Joys e'er increasing,\n And peace never ceasing,\n These I shall treasure\n And share in full measure\n When in His mansions God grants me a place.\n\n Paul Gerhardt, 1666.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Saturday Evening.\n\n\nPraise be unto Thee, Thou great and unchangeable God! Praise be unto Thy\ngoodness and mercy! Praise be unto Thy eternal wisdom and truth, that\nThou hast preserved me during the day now past from all danger and harm.\nI pray Thee, graciously perfect Thy goodness which Thou hast begun in me,\nand suffer me to rest this night under Thy protecting shield, and cover\nme with Thy wings. Suffer me to put my trust under the shadow of Thy\nhands, that I fear no evil. Keep me, O God, as the apple of the eye. Hide\nme under the shadow of Thy wings. Lord, Thou art the portion of mine\ninheritance; my salvation is in Thy hands. Grant unto me, according to\nThy goodness, that neither fear nor trembling come over me, and no\nterrors of the night overwhelm me. Be merciful unto me, for in Thee do I\nput my trust, and under the shadow of Thy wings do I find my refuge. I\nseek the Lord in the time of need; my hand is outstretched in the night\nwithout ceasing; for my soul has none other comfort; and I know of none\nother helper in heaven or earth but Thee alone. At midnight when I\nawaken, I meditate upon Thy name, so altogether lovely, upon Thy goodness\nand fidelity, vouchsafed unto me, and I praise Thee because of Thy\nrighteous judgments. When I am troubled I remember God, when my spirit is\noverwhelmed I speak of my Savior. For He redeemeth my life from\ndestruction and saveth me from the snares of death. Lord God, my Savior,\nby day and by night do I cry unto Thee, pardon all my transgressions,\nwhich during this day and the week now past I have committed against\nThee. O Lord, deliver my soul for Thy mercy's sake. Thou art gracious and\njust, and our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple. I was\nbrought low, and He helped me. Therefore will I rejoice and praise Thee,\nand sing aloud upon my bed. For the days of my life will appear as\nnoonday, and darkness as the morning's light, and I will rejoice that\nThou, O God, art my hope and my rest in life and death. I lay me down,\nand none will terrify me. Thus do I commend my body and soul into Thy\nhands, Thou Faithful God. Thou hast redeemed me through Jesus Christ, our\nLord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Werde munter, mein Gemuete.\n\n\n Soul of mine, to God awaking,\n And ye senses, ev'ry one,\n Come, your quiet haunts forsaking,\n Tell what God to me has done.\n How He this entire day\n Has been with me on my way,\n To my many wants attending\n And from ills protection lending.\n\n Praise and thanks to Thee I render,\n Father Thou of mercies great.\n Thou hast been my strong Defender,\n And Thy love does not abate.\n Thou hast shielded me from woe,\n Lent me strength and quenched the foe,\n So that I, such help beholding,\n Rest secure in Thine enfolding.\n\n If from Thee I have departed,\n I return again to Thee,\n Knowing Thou art tender-hearted,\n Since Thy Son has died for me.\n I can not deny the guilt,\n But for me His blood was spilt,\n And Thy grace, all sin exceeding,\n Lends forgiveness at His pleading.\n\n O Thou Light, with brightness filling\n Ev'ry true and pious soul,\n Into me Thy grace instilling,\n Make my troubled spirit whole.\n Deign this night to stay with me,\n And let me abide in Thee,\n That, while darkness may enthrall me,\n Yet no evil may befall me.\n\n Grant that I in peace may slumber,\n Finding sweet and quiet rest.\n Let no cares my soul encumber,\n Keep it by Thy presence blest.\n Mind and body, child and wife,\n All my goods and all my life,\n Friends and foes (again befriended)\n Be this night to Thee commended.\n\n Let no terrors overtake me,\n Shield me well from base attack.\n Let no grievous pain awake me,\n War and pestilence keep back.\n Ward off fire, water, death,\n All that threatens life and breath.\n Spare me violence, extortion\n And, withal, a sinner's portion.\n\n O immortal God, endue me\n With the gifts for which I ask.\n Jesus, lest some ill pursue me,\n Prosper me in ev'ry task.\n Holy Spirit, comfort, friend,\n On whose counsel I depend,\n Listen to my earnest pleading,\n Amen. Thou my prayer art heeding.\n\n Johann Rist, 1642.\n H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n A Daily Prayer.\n To be spoken mornings or evenings.\n\n\nDear God and Lord! I live, yet know not how long. I die, yet know not\nwhen. Thou, O Heavenly Father, knowest. Lo, dear Lord, is this hour, this\nday (this night) the last of my life: Thy will be done! Thou alone\nknowest best. As Thou wilt I am willing through the true faith in Jesus\nChrist, my Redeemer, to live or die. But, O God, do Thou grant me this\npetition, that I may not suddenly pass away in my sins, and be lost.\nVouchsafe unto me true knowledge, repentance and sorrow over my passed\ntransgressions. Set them before my sight in this life, that they may not\nat the last day be set before me, and I be put to shame before angels and\nmen. Grant me sufficient time and opportunity for repentance, so that\nfrom all my heart I may know and acknowledge my transgressions, and from\nThy saving word obtain forgiveness and comfort for the same. O Merciful\nFather, forsake me not, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. My heart\nand my heart's trust, O Thou Searcher of hearts, is ever known to Thee.\nKeep me in such trust to the life eternal. May I die, when Thou wilt,\nonly grant me a peaceful and blessed End. Amen.\n\n Lord Jesus Christ, Thou highest good,\n I pray Thee, through Thy precious blood,\n Grant, that my final end be good. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n At the Beginning of the Week's Work.\n\n\nRule Thou, O God the Father, who hast made us, and like all other\ncreatures ordained us not to indolence but to work, and bless each one in\nhis calling. Thou who rulest the universe also rule our own dear\ngovernment and graciously vouchsafe to it Thy wisdom and strength.\n\nRule Thou, O God the Son, who hast redeemed and ransomed us from sin.\nTake from us the burden of sin committed during the week now past, and\ngraciously grant us Thy peace. Thou the Supreme Bishop and Archshepherd\nof our souls, help all servants of Thy word in this and all Thy\ncongregations on earth to labor and bring forth much fruit unto eternal\nlife.\n\nRule Thou, O God the Holy Ghost, who hast sanctified us and born us again\nin Holy Baptism. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit\nwithin us, that we carry no evils of the past into the new week, but put\naway all purpose and inclination of the old Adam still in us. Govern Thou\nour hearts with power; and if this week mark for any of us the end of\nlife, help Thou in the last bitter hour. Fill the heart with that grace\nwhich is better than life. Teach the hands to battle and vanquish the\nlast enemy, and grant for Christ's sake, the rest and triumph of the\nsabbath everlasting.\n\nThou, the Triune and Immortal God, be and abide with us and Thy Church\nforever. Unto Thee be glory, laud, and honor, world without end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n At the Table\n\n\n\n\n Grace Before Meat.\n\n\nThe eyes of all wait upon Thee, O God, and Thou givest them their meat in\ndue season. Thou openest Thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every\nliving thing. Amen.\n\nO Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we\nreceive from Thy loving kindness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,\n And let Thy gifts to us be blest.\n Amen.\n\n\nGracious Father, who feedest and nourishest every living creature, feed\nand nourish our souls and bodies that we may not abuse Thy gifts, but\nthat we be rather quickened by the same unto the glory of Thy Name, unto\nall honest toil and every good work, to live and move before Thee in\nrighteousness and innocence. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 1562.\n\n\n Be present at our table Lord;\n Be here and everywhere adored.\n Thy people bless, and grant that we,\n May dwell in paradise with Thee.\n Amen.\n\n Heavenly Father, bless this food,\n To Thy glory and our good.\n Amen.\n\n Jesus, bless what Thou hast given,\n Feed our souls with bread from Heaven;\n Guide and lead us all the way,\n In all that we may do and say.\n Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Grace After Meat.\n\n\nO give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth\nforever. He giveth food to all flesh; He giveth to the beast his food;\nand to the young ravens which cry. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that\nfear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. Amen.\n\nWe thank Thee, Lord God, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,\nfor all Thy benefits; who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.\n\n Dearest God, for meat and drink\n Accept our praise. Thy Name be blessed.\n Amen.\n\nBless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy\nName. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,\n We thank Thee more for Jesus' blood,\n Let manna to our souls be given,\n The bread of life sent down from heaven.\n Amen.\n\n Praise God from whom all blessings flow,\n Praise Him all creatures here below;\n Praise Him above ye heavenly host;\n Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.\n Amen.\n\n\n\n\n For Hearth and Home\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Housefather.\n\n\nGracious and Eternal God! Who Thyself in Paradise hast ordained holy\nmatrimony, vouchsafe unto me Thy grace and help in my married life, that\nI may ever maintain the true Christian love and fidelity toward my\nspouse. Grant, that I may dwell with her, as with the weaker vessel, in\nkindness and harmony according to knowledge, giving honor unto her, as\nbeing heirs together of the grace of life, and guide her together with my\nchildren and servants to the true knowledge of Thy divine glory, and to\nmodesty and honesty. Grant to them also, O Lord, that they follow Thee,\nand suffer themselves to be guided. Preserve us, O Thou God of Peace,\nfrom strife and dissensions, and the calumnies of the enemy, from undue\nsuspicion, which the devil sows as a seed of perdition, and for the\ndestruction of conjugal love and faith. Grant, that as Thy children we\nmay suffer and forgive each other in love and charity. Give us faithful\nservants and keep them in good health. Bless our labor and all that\ncontributes to the wants of the body. Enable us to bear our cross with\npatience, and grant that we be together again in the after-life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Housemother.\n\n\nO God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou giver of all blessing and\nconsolation, behold me, whom Thou hast placed in the estate of holy\nwedlock and made me the mother of this family, with the eyes of Thy\nmercy. Vouchsafe unto Thy handmaiden Thy grace, that I may love Thee\nabove all things, seek Thee, and ever be diligent in Thy service. And\ngrant that next to Thee I may honor, fear, and love my husband, and obey\nhim with patience and kindness, in pure and modest conduct, in piety and\nhumility well pleasing to Thee, and that the hidden life of my heart be\nconstantly adorned with a meek and gentle disposition and every virtue,\neven as in former times the consecrated women, who trusted in God and\ncontinued in subjection to their husbands. Enable me to train my children\nand servants with meekness, to the honor and glory of Thy holy name. Give\ngrace, that they follow me with gentleness, and grant, that I with my\nhusband and family may satisfy the wants of this life in good health and\naccording to Thy divine will. Protect us from harm and from enemies.\nEnable us so to use this world that we be not hindered in our salvation,\nbut in all things seek Thee, O Lord, and endeavor to be well-favored in\nThy sight. May we not despise the cross neither murmur against it, but\nbear it in patience, and thus remain in Thy keeping unto the end. May we\nas servants of God bring forth abundant fruitage, live holy lives in this\nworld, and attain to the everlasting inheritance in the world to come.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Child.\n\n\nAlmighty and Eternal God! Thou hast commanded me to honor my parents, and\nin all things, which are not contrary to Thy word, to obey them. I\nbeseech Thee, for the sake of the obedience of Thy dear Son, Jesus\nChrist, my Lord, grant unto me, that I may duly honor my father and\nmother, serve them, obey, love, and esteem them, so that their blessing\nmay dwell with me to the end of my days. Keep me from sin and evil\ncommunications, that I may not anger or grieve my dear parents with\nhatred, sadness, scornfulness, disobedience, or obstinacy, and thus bring\nupon myself on this earth already their and Thy curse, and in the\nafter-life Thy eternal wrath. And since I have sinned many times through\nweakness, I beseech Thee, work in me sorrow and true repentance, through\nJesus Christ, my Savior, who gave to me the example of true obedience.\nGrant, that according to His example I may ever grow, and increase in\nwisdom, stature, and grace before Thee, O God, and all men. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Youth or a Maiden.\n\n\nLord, Almighty and Holy God, who lovest a pure heart, a chaste mind, and\na holy life: I pray Thee, create in me also a clean heart, and renew a\nright spirit within me, so that I may serve Thee with sincere faith and\ntrue fear, and love Thee with all my strength. And keep me from all\nimpure communications. Subdue the evil lusts in my heart, and extinguish\nthe fires of fleshly desire. Preserve me from unchaste and dissolute\nassociations, from rioting and drunkenness, which lead to excess. May all\nfilthiness, and foolish talking, unbecoming a Christian, be ever foreign\nto my life. Keep me from arrogant pomp, or idleness and lounging, from\nthe snares and nets of the devil. Grant, that I may serve Thee with a\npure soul and an undefiled body in true faith, as did pious and chaste\nJoseph in Egypt, and graciously take me into Thy safekeeping against all\ntemptations and seductions of life, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy\ndear Son. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Servant.\n\n\nMerciful God, Who through the precious suffering and death of Thy dear\nSon, Jesus Christ, hast redeemed and made me free from eternal servitude,\nfrom the power of sin, from the dominion of darkness, from the cruel\ntyranny of the devil, and the mastery of death and hell: I beseech Thee,\ngrant me grace, so that in my present station and calling, in which Thou\nhast placed me on earth according to Thy good pleasure, I may not be\ndissatisfied, nor murmur impatiently against Thy ordinance, nor yet envy\nothers in their more exalted stations, but help me to do such Thy will\nfrom the heart, with good will, ever thinking that I serve Thee, O God in\nHeaven, and not men. Help Thou, dear Father, that I serve Thee, the\nsupreme Lord of heaven and earth, in true knowledge and upright fear,\nlove Thee above all things, put all my hope and salvation in Thee, and\ncontinue in Thy commandments without blame. May I also be subject to my\nmasters and mistresses according to the flesh, not only to the good and\ngentle, but also to the froward, and patiently obey them in everything\nthat is not contrary to Thy pleasure, with fear and singleness of heart,\nas unto Christ my Lord, not with eye-service, as man pleaser, but from\nthe depths of my heart and for the sake of Thy will and commandment.\nGrant me grace that I may be found faithful in all things committed and\nentrusted to my care, not neglect nor bring them to naught, suffer no\nharm to come through carelessness on my part; also that I may not covet\nnor fraudulently appropriate to my own use the possessions of another\nentrusted to my care. Preserve my health, strengthen my limbs and all the\npowers of my body. Endow me with wisdom and understanding, that I may\nperform the labor of my masters and mistresses, with Thy help improve\ntheir living. May they be blessed through my industry; and all that I do\nand perform, may it redound to Thy divine glory and a blessed exercise of\nmy faith. For Christ, Thy dear Son's sake, who liveth and reigneth with\nThee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a School Child for the Holy Spirit.\n\n\nO my dear Lord, Jesus Christ, I thank Thee, that to the present day, Thou\nordainest church and school ordinances and regulations, and hast given\nunto my parents and me grace, that I too may be thus trained. I beseech\nThee, fill me with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may ever obey my dear parents\nand teachers, who only seek my welfare. Give unto me a docile heart, that\nI may learn my catechism, noble arts and language, and thus increase in\ngodliness, wisdom, understanding, and every virtue. O my dear Lord Jesus\nChrist, create in me a pure, chaste, and modest heart. May I ever serve\nThee in upright faith and true fear, and love Thee from all my heart.\nSubdue in me all evil lusts. Endow me with Thy Holy Spirit. Help me to\ncontinue in true humility. Grant me an obedient heart, to honor my\nparents according to Thy commandment, and neither anger nor grieve them.\nMay they live long on this earth, and protect Thou and preserve them from\ndisease, evil, and harm. Be gracious unto us and merciful. Bless us in\nbody and soul, now and forevermore. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer During a Thunder Storm.\n\n\nMost Mighty God! All the powers of the earth shall honor Thy holy name,\nand worship Thee, Eternal Father, in the beauty of holiness. For Thou art\nthe Lord, who reigneth over all. Thou showest Thy might and power\nthroughout the universe. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The\nLord of glory thundereth. The Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the\nLord is powerful and full of majesty. The earth shook and trembled. The\nfoundations also of the hills moved and were shaken. There went up smoke\nout of Thy nostrils, and fire out of Thy mouth devoured: coals are\nkindled by it. Thy pavilion round about Thee are dark waters and thick\nclouds of the skies. The Lord thundereth in the heavens, and the Highest\ngave His voice. All things are subject to Thee. All things acknowledge\nThee as their maker, and tremble before Thy divine majesty. The mountains\nand the depths of the abyss are sore vexed when Thou art wroth, the earth\ntrembleth, and the sea and the waters flee because of Thy wrath. The\nvoice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord\nshaketh the wilderness. The Lord is king forever. The Lord will give\nstrength unto His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace. O\nmerciful God, preserve us from Thy wrath, which is beyond endurance!\nForgive us our sins! Make Thy face shine upon us! Cause this grievous\ntempest to pass by without harm to us! Protect us in body and soul, our\nhouse and home. Keep the fruits of the fields from hail and storm, from\ngreat inundation by water and all harm. O Holy God, preserve us from an\nevil death, and protect us, that no disaster befall us. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Thanksgiving After a Thunderstorm.\n\n\nAlmighty God, our Heavenly Father, who has said, Call upon Me in the day\nof trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me; we praise and\nthank Thee most heartily. For Thou hast graciously heard our prayer and\nhast made this storm to pass that no harm befell us in life and property.\nThus hast Thou again revealed to us Thy fatherly compassion, and that\nThou wouldest not deal with us after our sins, neither reward us\naccording to our iniquities. Grant us, O Merciful Father, for the sake of\nThy only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that we may take heed of Thy earnest\nand fatherly admonitions, improve our lives, and live in the fear of\nThee. May we constantly prepare and make ready ourselves for the coming\nof Thy dear Son, when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the\nearth also, and the works thereof, shall be burned up, and may we meet\nHim with rejoicing and enter the new heaven, wherein dwelleth\nrighteousness, and forever be with Thee; through the same, Thy dear Son,\nour Master and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer on the Eve of a Journey.\n\n\nAlmighty and Gracious God and Father, Thou protector of all that trust in\nThee from their hearts! In Thy name will I proceed and undertake this\njourney. For Thou art my God and preservest my going out and my coming\nin. Thou leadest my feet in right paths and wilt not suffer them to be\nmoved. I heartily beseech Thee to be my gracious guide and companion on\nthis present journey. Send Thy holy angels, and command them, in all my\nwanderings, to keep me from all evil in body and soul. Lead me on the\npaths of the righteous and bring me safely to my destination, that I may\nlaud and magnify Thee, here in time and in eternity forever. And now, O\nLord God and Father, into Thy hands do I commit my body and soul and all\nthat I possess. Thy holy angel be my safe guard. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer During a Journey.\n\n\nAlmighty and Most Merciful God! We are always in Thy sight wherever we\nbe. Thou preservest our coming in and our going out, and leadest us on\nthe right paths that we slip not. I pray Thee, that as Thou didst lead\nThy servant Abraham from the land of the Chaldees and kept him unharmed\nin his pilgrimage, and didst say to his grandson Jacob when he journeyed\nto Mesopotamia, I am with thee, and will bring thee again into this land;\nand as Thou also didst lead the Children of Israel through the Red Sea\nand through the desert, and didst go before them, by day in a pillar of a\ncloud and night in a pillar of fire: thus wouldst Thou also be with me on\nmy wandering, protect me on land and sea, by day and by night, and keep\nme from all harm and danger. And when my business is completed bring me\nhome again in full health of body and soul. And as Thou didst accompany\nyouthful Tobias through Thy angel Raphael, likewise do Thou accompany me\nin all my ways, so that when I, too, have happily returned to my home, I\nwith all mine own may have the greater reason to laud and praise Thee as\nmy true and faithful guide. Meanwhile I commend to Thy care all that I\nleave at home, and beseech Thee to have charge concerning them, and\nsuffer me to find them unharmed when I return. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of Children for Their Father Engaged on a Journey.\n\n\nO Eternal Son of God, Thou Savior of all who call upon Thee in faith! We\nThy children, baptized into Thy blood, consecrated by Thy Spirit a royal\npriesthood, and ordained Thy brethren and co-heirs with Thee in grace,\ncall upon Thee with innocent tongues, and earnestly pray Thee, graciously\nto safeguard our dear father now journeying over land for the sake of his\ncalling and to gain the means of livelihood. Help him to discharge his\nduties with favor and despatch, and return him to us in health and joy,\nas Thou through Thy angels didst preserve and guide Thy servant Jacob on\nhis journeys, for Thou art the faithful guide and companion of all who\nfear Thee and trust in Thy mercy. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Thanksgiving After a Completed Journey.\n\n\nGracious God and Father! Most heartily do I thank Thee that Thou hast\nenabled me to bring my journey to a happy end. Through the ministrations\nof Thy dear angels Thou hast again brought me to my home, guarded and\nkept me from all evil, preserved me from the murderous and robbing hands\nof evildoers, and the teeth of wild beasts, and kept me from all other\ndangers of body and soul. In short, that I have been led to and fro in\nhealth and happiness: I owe it altogether to Thy fatherly goodness and\nalmighty care. And I beseech Thee from all my heart, continue to keep me\nand mine under Thy protection, and preserve us, body and soul, to the\neternal life, for Jesus' sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A Birthday Prayer.\n\n\nDear Father in heaven, I thank Thee from all my heart, that Thou hast put\nme into this world and made me a rational being. I am born of Christian\nparents and made a member of Thy holy Church. Today the anniversary of my\nbirth hath come, and since I have been permitted to reach this day and\nthus complete another year of my pilgrimage, I thank Thee from all my\nheart and joyfully reiterate the thanksgiving of Thy servant David,\n\"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy\nname. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who\nforgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who\nredeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving\nkindness and tender mercies.\"\n\nSince every day of my life, however, is one step nearer to death, which\ncan strike me this hour, yes, this very minute, I beseech Thee so to\nshape and rule every day of my life, that I may walk according to Thy\npleasure as in the day, that is circumspectly in Thy sight, honestly, and\nconscious of my responsibility, in short as a true Christian and in\nconformity with the promise made by me to Thee, my dear God, in my\nbaptism. And if this prove my last year and my last birthday, I place all\nthings into Thy gracious keeping. If it is Thy will that I should cease\nto live, then I have lived enough. For if it is sufficient for Thee, it\nis sufficient for me. Am I old enough for Thee, I am old enough for me.\nHere I again put myself under Thy shield and protection, into Thy sublime\nand eternal power. If I live this year, may I live in Thee; if I die, may\nI die in Thee, so that I may live, and move, and have my being in Thee,\nand whether living or dying I may be Thine to all eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Temporal Peace.\n\n\nEternal God, Everlasting Father! Thou art a God and lover of peace. From\nThee all true unity cometh. We pray Thee graciously to protect Thy\nChristendom on earth against all its enemies, so that we may be kept in\npeace, and ever serve Thee gladly in faithful doctrine and a pure\nconduct. Grant us grace, so that all estates and rulers of Christendom\nmay live peacefully and harmoniously in perfect piety and godliness, so\nthat discipline and order prevail, churches and schools be not destroyed,\nand the country be not devastated nor grievously oppressed. Grant us\ngrace, so that men will content themselves with what they have, and will\nnot for the sake of avarice or lusting after foreign lands and peoples,\nnor yet because of pride, vain ambitions, and arrogance, enmity, hatred,\nenvy, nor any other cause, incite war, sedition, or revolution in this\nour country. Hinder all evil counsel and purpose of unstable men, who\nthink only of that which is not good. Put them to naught in their\npurposes, so that they must retreat and are utterly consumed with\nterrors. Stretch forth Thine arm to protect us who are named after Thee,\nso that Thy heritage be not destroyed. Support Thy faithful who rely upon\nThee and call upon Thy name. Hear us in our distress, and Thy holy name\nprotect us. Send us help from Thy sanctuary, and strengthen us from on\nhigh. Bless the country and the cities in which Thy holy word dwelleth.\nProsperity must dwell within their palaces! O merciful God, incline the\nhearts of all men to a Christian peace and concord, to the which Thou\nhast called us through Thy word and gospel. And if bitterness prevail\namong some, help that it be done away with, to the glory of Thy holy\nname, the spreading of Thy word, and the betterment of Christendom, and\nthat the poor and distressed in the land may rejoice in Thee and praise\nThy holy name, for Thou only performest wonders and provest Thy powers\namong the nations. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A Prayer for School.\n\n\nWe pray Thee, everlasting God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Thou eternal\nand inseparable Trinity and inexpressible Unity, that Thou wouldest\nfaithfully take under Thy protecting wing the flock of Thy Christendom,\nand ever abide in our midst with Thy grace and truth. Be Thou with us, O\nLord, our God. Be Thou a wall of fire round about us, and destroy them\nwho hate Thee and are hostile to Thy name. So rule us, O God, that we may\never be guided by Thy clear and pure word and are not seduced by the\nexternal appearance of things. Keep us, Lord Jesus, from error and false\ndoctrine, and send us faithful teachers who take heed unto Thy\ncongregation, purchased with Thy blood, and are anxious to perform Thy\nwill. Grant us obedient hearts, so that we, as lambs of Thy flock, may\nobey Thy voice, and be filled with fruits of righteousness. Teach us ever\nto do Thy will, for Thou art our God: Thy spirit is good. Lead us into\nthe land of uprightness, to the end that we, too, through a blessed\ndeparture from this life may attain to Thee and the everlasting joy and\nblessedness, and behold Thy glory to all eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Church Prayers\n\n\n\n\n Prayer When Going to Church.\n\n\nAlmighty God, Heavenly Father, because of Thy great mercy I will go to\nThy house and worship Thee in Thy temple in Thy fear. Lord, lead me in\nthe paths of righteousness, and make Thy way straight before my face.\nGuide me on the paths of Thy commandments, for Thou art my God, and the\nLord of my salvation. I delight in Thy sanctuary and rejoice in the\ncongregation of Thy saints, who confess and glorify Thee. How amiable are\nThy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for\nthe courts of the Lord. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel\nbefore the Lord our maker. For He is our God; and we are the people of\nHis pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Magnify the Lord our God, adore\nat His footstool; for He is holy. I worship Thee, O God, in the accepted\ntime through Thy great mercy. Hear me according to Thy grace. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Sincere Repentance.\n\n\nMerciful and Gracious God, Thou art slow to anger and plenteous in mercy!\nThou callest us daily through the gracious preaching of Thy word to\ndevout conversion, and in Thy name causest repentance and remission of\nsins to be preached. And Thou showest Thy forbearance with us through Thy\nlong suffering and inexpressible mercy, and dost not suddenly come upon\nsinners in the midst of their evil deeds with Thy righteous wrath and\njudgment to punish them, but giveth place and time for repentance, so\nthat no one can justly charge or accuse Thee. For Thou art not willing\nthat any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have\neverlasting life. O dear God, Thou knowest the sluggishness of our flesh\nand the hardness of our hearts, that we through inherited sin are thus\nfar deranged and so deeply sunk in sin, that of our own accord we can not\nrise or return. Therefore, for the sake of the wounds of Jesus Christ, my\nLord, I beseech Thee, convert Thou me, and I am converted. For Thou art\nmy God, and where I am converted I will truly repent. Save Thou me, O\nLord, and I am saved. Help me, and I am helped. Behold, I am like an\nerring and lost sheep. Seek Thou Thy servant, that I forget not Thy\ncommandments. Circumcise the foreskin of my heart. Purge me, and I shall\nbe clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean\nheart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from\nThy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. O dear God, look upon\nme, as Thou didst look upon Mary Magdalene, the repentant sinner, as she\nlay at Thy feet and wept over her transgressions; and the publican in the\ntemple, as he smote his breast and besought Thy grace. Vouchsafe unto me\nsincere sorrow and contrition over my sin, and a true faith with firm\nconfidence in Thy grace, and also worthy fruits of repentance. Let me\ndiscern the day of Thy visitation, and not despise the riches of Thy\nmercy, so that I may not neglect the accepted time, and the day of Thy\nsalvation, and not fail to turn to Thee, my Lord and God. May I not\npostpone my repentance from one day to another, nor yet to the last hour,\nbut rather turn to Thee this day and repent. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sins.\n\n\nMerciful Father, Eternal God, my sins are grievous, many and great my\ntransgressions, and mine iniquities are innumerable, for the imaginations\nof my heart are evil from my youth. O Lord, who can understand his\nerrors? Behold, I acknowledge my transgressions: my sin is ever before\nme. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil in Thy sight: that\nThou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou\njudgest. I beseech Thine infinite mercy, enter not into judgment with Thy\nservant: for in Thy sight shall no living man be justified. If Thou,\nLord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Behold, if Thou\ncontendest with man, he can not answer Thee one of a thousand, for all\nour righteousness before Thee is as the filthy rag. Have mercy upon me, O\nGod, according to Thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of Thy\ntender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine\niniquity, and cleanse me from my sin for Thy name's sake. Lord, have\nmercy upon me, save my soul, for, alas! I have sinned against Thee.\nRemember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindnesses; for they\nhave been ever as of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my\ntransgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness'\nsake, O Lord. Remember that we are flesh, as the wind which bloweth and\ndoth not return, and cease in Thy anger and wrath against us. O merciful\nGod, I acknowledge that my virtues and my deeds can never blot out my\nsins, nor yet merit Thy grace. Only the innocent suffering and death of\nJesus Christ, the Lamb without spot or blemish, is the true offering for\nour iniquities, and His blood, shed for the remission of our sins, is the\ncleansing and purification of our souls. In such confidence and hope I\nsupplicate Thee: forgive Thou the transgressions of Thy people. Cover our\nsins. Impute not our iniquities, for Thou art merciful. Cleanse Thou me\nfrom secret fault. Let my sorrowing soul and my vexed bones again\nrejoice, for with Thee there is mercy and plenteous redemption. O Lord,\nhear the voice of my supplication, and despise not the groanings of my\nheart, for Christ's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for True Faith.\n\n\nLord, Almighty God, Thou Father of lights, with whom there is no\nvariableness, neither shadow of turning, from whom every good and perfect\ngift cometh, I pray Thee, since all men have not faith: implant and\nmaintain in my heart through the workings of Thy Holy Spirit the true\nknowledge of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and increase it from day to day,\nso that I, too, may be filled with the knowledge of Thy will in all\nwisdom and spiritual understanding, that I may walk worthy of Thee unto\nall pleasing, being faithful in every good work, and increase in such\nknowledge according to Thy glorious power in all patience and long\nsuffering with joy. Grant unto me, according to the riches of Thy glory,\nthat I may be strengthened with might by Thy Spirit in the inner man,\nthat Christ may dwell in my heart by faith. O dear God, since no man\nknoweth the Son but Thou, O Father, and no man knoweth Thee, the Father,\nbut only the same Thy Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Thee, I\npray Thee, draw Thou me unto Thee. Grant me the knowledge of salvation,\nwhich is the forgiveness of sins. Strengthen my weak faith, which is\nsmall as the mustard seed, so that it may increase, and I be rooted and\ngrounded in Thee, and may stand steadfast and unmoveable. Gracious God,\nThou hast kindled the spark of faith in my heart and has begun this good\nwork in me, I cry to Thee, perfect it until the end, that we may ever\nincrease in knowledge and understanding, and be sincere and without\noffense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of\nrighteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of\nGod. Preserve what Thou hast begun, that we might war a good warfare,\nholding faith and a good conscience, and not waver or succumb in trial\nand temptation and make shipwreck concerning faith. Therefore protect me,\nmy God, that I am not led astray among the errors, schisms, and heresies\nof the world. Preserve me from superstitions and all false doctrine, that\nI may neither err nor doubt in any article of faith. And vouchsafe unto\nme Thy grace, that my faith be not lifeless, inactive, or without good\nfruits, but active and energetic, serving in love, so that I, too, may\ncarry off the end of faith, which is the soul's salvation. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer Before Confession.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Thou my Redeemer, Thou hast given unto Thy dear Church\non earth and its faithful servants the sacred office of the keys, and\ninvested it with the promise, that whatsoever by virtue of the same they\nshall loose or bind on earth shall also be loosed or bound in heaven: I\nthank Thee, and eternally praise and glorify Thee, for such Thy gracious\ngift. And, since I a poor and bound sinner need this blessed key which\nlooseth, so that I may not be kept under the bonds of the infernal\njailer, I beseech Thine infinite mercy, that I may receive its comfort\nthrough my spiritual father, my pastor, and for the sake of Thy holy,\nprecious blood and Thy innocent offering and death be loosed from all my\nsins. Grant me Thy Holy Spirit, so that I may grasp this holy absolution\nin heartfelt contrition and undoubting trust, firm resolve, brotherly\nlove and gratitude, and inherit the eternal life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Thanksgiving After Absolution.\n\n\nO Blessed, Merciful, and Gracious God! I thank and praise Thee from all\nmy heart, that through Thy servant Thou hast again forgiven me, a poor\nsinner, all my sins, again received me in grace, and promised me eternal\nlife. I earnestly pray Thee, vouchsafe unto me Thy Holy Spirit, and\ncreate in me a pure heart, so that I may joyously trust that all my sins\nare forgiven me through Jesus Christ. As an earnest and surety of this\nblessed fact, I will now eat and drink the true body and blood of Thy\ndear Son Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, to my soul's salvation.\nGrant me also, O faithful God, that henceforth I may earnestly avoid all\nsin and better my life. This Thou wouldest graciously grant me for Thy\nname's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A Morning Prayer for Communion Day.\n\n\nArise, my soul, this is the day which the Lord hath made. We will rejoice\nand be glad in it. Give thanks unto the gracious and merciful God for His\nblessings and say:\n\nAlmighty and Merciful God and Father, I thank Thee from all my heart for\nthe protection of this night, for the refreshing rest, and for the joyous\nmorning, which Thou hast granted unto me. I praise Thee with all my soul\nfor Thy wonderful mercy which blesses me with the forgiveness of my sins.\nPraised be Thy grace, which is new each morn, and which on this day also\nbids me to Thy house, and calls and invites me to Thy altar.\n\nO Lord, since I, too, would come to Thy Supper with the throngs which\ncelebrate, do Thou Thyself make me ready. As Thou wouldest find a pure\nresidence in me, do Thou cleanse and consecrate my body and soul. Guide\nme with Thine eye, and lead me with Thy hand to the riches of Thy mercy.\nComfort me with Thy countenance, and do not forsake me. As the hart\npanteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.\n\nAnd, that my sacred resolve may not be hampered, I commend to Thee my\nbody and soul, reason, senses, and thoughts, whatever I do or leave\nundone, my coming in and going out, my walking, standing, sitting, and\nresting, my imaginations and aspirations, my faith and confession, and\nwhatever internally or externally I may be or do. O God, preserve in me a\ndevout spirit, and hinder whatever might disturb or hamper me. Receive me\ninto the especial care of Thy grace, and increase in me the work that is\nnow begun. Perfect and complete it according to Thy power and grace to\nThy glory and my salvation. Keep me from evil thoughts, from idle\nimaginations, from all uncleanliness, so that in Thy fear I may begin a\nconsecrated life and continue therein. May the light of my faith shine\nbefore men. May I give offense to none, but rather in Christian conduct\nedify the brethren and direct them to all virtue.\n\nHoly Jesus, do Thou unite with my body and soul on this day. Nourish me\nwith Thy flesh and refresh me with Thy blood, so that my weak faith be\nstrengthened, and receive the assurance of Thy grace, the remission of my\nsin, and eternal salvation. Invest me with the pure silk of Thy\nrighteousness. Clothe me in the true wedding garment, that I may appear\nat Thy heavenly board a worthy guest.\n\nNow, Lord God and Father, be my help and my protection! Lord Jesus Christ\nbe my bread, my light, and life! And Thou, O Holy Ghost, illumine and\npreserve me in the true sanctification, so that in that estate, into\nwhich I again am permitted to enter, I may remain for the course of my\nlife. Let me be enveloped in Thee. Without Thee there is only grief. O\ndear Savior, let me ever be with Thee. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer Before Holy Communion.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Eternal Son of God, I am not worthy to open my lips\nand receive the most precious sacrament of Thy body and blood. For I am a\nsin-stained man, but Thou art the Lord whom the heavens can not\nencompass. How then can a human being who is but dust and ashes be worthy\nto receive Thy most holy body and precious blood! I well know and\nacknowledge that my sins are many and that for that reason I am an\nunworthy guest at Thy table. But I also sincerely believe and confess it\nwith my lips that by Thy grace Thou canst render me worthy. For Thou art\nomnipotent and gracious. Thou only canst cleanse and make holy whatever\ntook rise in unclean seed. Thou canst transform sinners into true and\nholy men, when by Thy grace Thou forgivest sin and renewest us with Thy\nHoly Spirit. Therefore I pray Thee, by Thy power and love grant me grace,\nthat I may worthily approach Thy altar, and not become guilty of Thy body\nand blood by unworthy eating and drinking, so that I may not receive\ndeath in place of life. Grant me grace, that I may know and test myself\nas a poor sinner, my heart filled with sorrow over mine iniquity, and may\nproperly discern Thy tender and noble body, and Thy holy, precious blood.\nMay my reason, senses, and intellect be ever submissive to Thy word, and\nmay I be earnestly resolved to better and improve my life with Thy help,\nso that in this precious sacrament, I may not only with my mouth receive\nThy body and blood, but also in true faith accept Thee, my Savior and\nRedeemer, enthrone Thee in my heart, and find in Thee my life and\nblessedness. For Thou art the living bread which cometh down from heaven\nand bringeth life to men. Whoever cometh to Thee shall nevermore hunger,\nand he that believeth on Thee shall nevermore thirst. Whoever eateth Thy\nflesh and drinketh Thy blood dwelleth in Thee and Thou in him, and shall\nnever die. O beloved Lord, my spirit and my mind yearn for Thee. As the\nhart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O\nGod. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and\nappear before God? Fill me with Thy grace. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A Sigh When About to Receive the Sacred Body of Christ.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Thy holy body strengthen and preserve me in the true\nfaith unto eternal life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A Sigh When About to Receive the Sacred Blood of Christ.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Thy holy blood strengthen and preserve me in the true\nfaith unto eternal life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer After the Holy Supper.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, with all my heart I thank and glorify Thee, that Thou\nhast again cleansed me, a poor sinner, from all my sin, and as an earnest\nof such cleansing and forgiveness of my sin, hast nourished me with Thy\nbody and blood, and like an unclean child, after such purification, hast\nreceived me into the fatherly arms of Thy grace and mercy, and put me\npure, reproachless, and without blemish before Thy Father.\n\nI earnestly pray Thee with all my power, in addition to such blessing,\ngrant me Thy grace through the workings of Thy Holy Ghost, so that I may\nsufficiently understand such blessing and grace, gratefully accept it,\nand glorify and praise Thee with all my heart. Grant me strength from\nabove by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may heartily forgive my neighbor\nwherever he hath sinned against me, even as Thou hast fully and richly\nforgiven me my great and manifold transgressions, yes, entirely blotted\nthem out and wilt never remember them. Help me to love my neighbor and\ngladly show him every good, as Thou hast done unto me, and hast shown me\nmore than I can ever sufficiently thank Thee for. Praise and glory be to\nThee, O faithful God, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world\nwithout end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for a Pious Life.\n\n\nO my dear Lord Jesus, illumine me today and evermore, that I may shape\nthe course of my Christian life and direct it toward the eternal\nJerusalem, my eternal home. And as Thou yearnest for me, may I also have\nall my delight and thirst in Thee, seek Thee early, yearn for Thee, and\nmake of Thee, the bread of life, the companion of all my ways. Keep me, O\nunchangeable, everlasting God, from the inconstancy of the children of\nthis world, that I may not fall into hypocrisy as they do, but today and\nalways, in all my calling, prove myself constant in godliness, so that my\nlife may decrease in vice and increase in virtue. May I always faithfully\nserve Thee, my Lord, disdain the worldly, be exalted in Thee, experience\nThy grace and protection, and eternally thank Thee, for Christ's sake.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Faithful Teachers and Preachers.\n\n\nThe harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye,\ntherefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into\nHis harvest.\n\nMerciful God, who hast commanded us through Thy only begotten Son to pray\nThee for laborers in Thy harvest: I earnestly beseech Thee, grant us, Thy\nsheep, pastors according to Thy heart, to feed us with doctrine and\nwisdom. Put learned bishops, Christian pastors, pious teachers over Thy\ncongregation, faithfully to show the true way to eternal life. Fill them\nplenteously with Thy Holy Spirit, so that they may fruitfully proclaim\nthe holy and precious word of the gospel, and sincerely perfect Thy work.\nGrant them a courageous heart, that without fear or favor they may lift\nup their voices and put the adversaries to silence. Open the door for\ntheir word, that they may be blessed and go from strength to strength.\nMay they also be shining examples for the flocks entrusted to their care.\nGrant me and all listeners a grateful heart, that we may communicate in\nall good things unto them that teach us the word, rejoice in them,\nforsake them not, so that we may be blessed of Thee according to Thy\npromise in all the works of our hands. Preserve us from hirelings,\ntime-servers, unfaithful laborers, and hypocrites, who falsely deceive\nthe hearts of the righteous, whom Thou hast never grieved, and fortify\nthe hands of the wicked, that they will not turn from their evil ways.\nLet us never be robbed of our faithful preachers for the sake of our\ningratitude, but rather look upon the glory of Thy holy name, yea, behold\nthe Kingdom of Thine Anointed, that it may prevail among us to the end of\nthe world. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for the Kingdom of God.\n (Meeting of the Congregation)\n\n\nGracious and Blessed God, who hast taught, and commanded us above all\nthings and first to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness: I pray\nThee, grant us grace, that Thy holy word may be preached in all the world\nin all its truth and purity, and we submit our reason to the obedience of\nfaith, and live holy lives according to it as behooves the children of\nGod to Thy pleasing, so that Thy kingdom may come to us, and increase,\nand many of them, who do not yet believe in the word, be won through a\nChristian conduct. Help us, dear God, who are delivered from the power of\ndarkness and are translated into the kingdom of Thy dear Son Jesus\nChrist, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the\nforgiveness of sin, that we may remain in His kingdom, faithfully\ncontinue in the wholesome doctrine, and live worthily as children of\nlight in all piety and godliness. And since the kingdom of God cometh not\nwith outward shew, neither consists of mere words, but is power and\nspirit: grant us grace, that we may be born again from above through Thy\nsaving word and Thy Holy Spirit, co-heirs of life, so that with our\nhearts we may dwell above where Christ sitteth, and constantly seek the\ninheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away. Enable us\nto be poor in the spirit and humble, and such who sorrow over their sins.\nLet us be anhungered and athirst, and heartily yearn after righteousness.\nMay we ever be meek, and suffer and overcome whatsoever of persecution\nand tribulation may assail us, and revilings and undeserved malignings\nwith patience and longsuffering. Keep us from all offenses, whereby Thy\nholy name is blasphemed and outraged, Thy kingdom hindered and weakened.\nGrant us grace to practice our faith in works of love and mercy, feeding,\nclothing, harboring, visiting, comforting the poor and distressed of this\nworld, so that when that great day dawns we may hear the blessed and\njoyous voice of Thy dear Son: Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the\nkingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for Missions.\n\n\nI pray Thee, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our\nLord, have mercy upon the unbelievers, whoever and wherever they are, who\nstill walk in darkness, and do not yet possess the light of Thy gospel.\nThey are stricken with blindness by the evil one. Their foolish heart is\ndarkened. They are alienated from the life that is of Thee, through their\nnative ignorance, carried away to the dumb idols, even as they are led,\nand in their blindness curse and blaspheme Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ,\nthe mercy seat. For that reason, O faithful God, take away the veil,\nwhich is upon the heart of the Jews, who stumble at the stone of\nstumbling and the rock of offense. Illumine their eyes that they may know\nthe true Messiah, the Savior of the world. Gather the heathen and all\nunbelievers, who look upon Thy word as foolishness, into the true fold\nand the true assembly of Christians, the congregation of saints, so that\nwith us and all the faithful they may honor, glorify, and worship Thee,\nthe Father in the Son, and the Son with the Father and the Holy Ghost,\never one God and Lord. Open the understanding of all men, who do not put\ntheir salvation and their confidence solely and alone on the true\nfundament and cornerstone, even Jesus Christ, so that they know Him, whom\nThou hast sent, and in the true faith and a sincere trust of their hearts\nmay acknowledge and accept Him as their Savior and Redeemer, who through\nHis obedience and fulfillment of the law, and through His bitter death,\nhath merited an eternal salvation. We pray Thee also, to return to the\ntruth of Thy word all of them who have defected from the Christian faith,\nor err in sundry other things and are cumbered with false doctrines. Thou\nGod of grace, have mercy upon those, who are not of the true faith, who\ndwell in the shadow of death, and in the darkness of their minds walk on\nuneven paths. Seek the lost, lead aright the erring, illumine the blinded\nand infatuated, open the ears of the deaf, unloose the tongues of the\ndumb, who do not confess Thee, raise the fallen, bring back the corrupt,\nassemble the dispersed, lead aright the erring and seduced, for Thy\nmercy's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer Against False Doctrines and Sects.\n\n\nGracious God! Thou hast warned us, that we should beware of false\nprophets who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.\nAnd since in these latter days, in which we now live, evil times will\ncome, in which Satan clothes himself in the livery of heaven, and false\nteachers and fraudulent laborers dissemble as though they were the\napostles of Christ, who have the form of godliness but deny the power\nthereof; and since the defection from the pure doctrine, and the man of\nsin, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all\nthat is called God shall be made manifest, help us, eternal God, that we\nmay be filled with the love for truth, and avoid the spirit of lies and\nall falsehoods and errors, abstain and flee from all appearance of evil,\nso that we may not be moved from the true faith, nor yet beguiled from\nour reward, but may continue steadfast by Thy word unto the end. May we\nnever be led astray, neither through deceiving powers, signs, and\nmiracles, nor through any temptation to unrighteousness, so that we be\nnot tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by\nthe slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to\ndeceive. Preserve Thy elect in this evil world, O God, that they may not\nbe led into error. Shorten the days in these evil times. Destroy the\nAntichrist, the wicked child of perdition and temptation, through the\nspirit of Thy mouth. Put an end to his days through the appearance of Thy\ndear Son. Preserve us also from unruly spirits and schisms, from the\nravenous wolves who have no mercy for the flocks, from men who speak\nperverse doctrines and draw the disciples to themselves, from men of\ncorrupt minds who sow offense and bring about separation, from the tares\nwhich the enemy scatters, from thieves and murderers of the soul. Let us\nonly hear Thy voice, and follow it from our hearts in true faith and\nupright obedience, so that your word may be our only rule and norm,\naccording to which we measure all doctrine, flee the evil teaching, and\nall unrighteousness. Then will we, too, have boldness and be not brought\nto naught on that day when Jesus Christ, our Savior, shall appear. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer Against the Enemies of Christendom.\n\n\nO Lord God, why do the wicked rage without cause? and the mighty set\nthemselves and take counsel against Thee and Thy Son, Thine Anointed? O\nLord, how numerous are Thine enemies, and great the number of those who\nconspire against Thy word to destroy it, and put their own evil idolatry\nin its place and introduce false doctrines into Thy Church. They invent\nsecret artifices and practices, to destroy the confessors of Thy word.\nThey counsel what is evil, pregnant with calamity. They lie in wait for\nus like the lion seeking his prey. Thus they waylay our souls. They open\nwide their jaws, like a gaping sepulchre, to devour us. O Lord God,\ncommit us not to their will, for behold, the wicked mob speaks in its\nheart, Thou, O Lord, hast forgotten us. Thou hast concealed Thy\ncountenance. Arise, therefore, O Lord. Lift up Thy hand, forget not the\ndistressed. Awaken, O Lord, why sleepest Thou! Awake, and do not quite\nreject us. Why dost Thou hide Thy face, and forget our misery and\ndistress? Arise, and help us, and deliver us for Thy mercy sake, that the\nenemy may not injure us, nor the children of Belial harm us. Save us from\nthe hands of aliens, whose teaching is useless, and their works evil. For\nthey will not be guided to do good. They will not regard Thee, the Lord\nof hosts, nor yet the works of Thy hands. Thou wilt destroy and not build\nthem. O Lord God Sabaoth, militate Thou against our assailants. Give\nvictory to our Christian government, and conquer the enemies of Thy name.\nFor victory cometh from heaven, and is not brought about by the great\nmultitude. Thou canst as readily help through the few as through the\nmany. Therefore destroy the arm of the wicked. Make their counsels of no\naccount, that they can not accomplish them, but must be brought to naught\nwith shame. They must return, who hate Thee, and seek to annihilate Thy\nholy word. They must be as chaff before the wind. Thy holy angel brush\nthem aside, that they may not boast against Thee and say our hand hath\ndone this. Therefore safeguard Thy honor among men, and help us for Thy\nname's sake, that it may not be desecrated and blasphemed. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayers During Times of War\n\n\n\n\n Prayer During War.\n\n\nO Lord God, who art righteous in Thy judgment, and plenteous in mercy,\nwhose faithfulness endureth from generation to generation, who rulest\neven above the din of war: may all nations learn to know that Thou alone\nart God, that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that all who truly confess Thy\nname are the people of Thy pasture and the sheep of Thy hand. Thou hast\npermitted the nations to rise up in war against each other and our own\nbeloved country to become engulfed in its throes. O Lord God, our Father,\nwe know that war is a punishment for sin and that we, too, have justly\nmerited Thy punishment through our sins. Therefore we humbly confess our\nsins, and supplicate Thy pity and compassion, lay not our iniquities\nagainst us, but graciously forgive us our sins and shortcomings for the\nsake of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Thy fatherly goodness and care we\ncommend our people, and especially our soldiers and sailors now in the\nservice of their country. They are absent from their loved ones, beset by\ndangers on all sides. Be Thou ever near. Keep them from all evil. O Thou,\nwithout whose consent not even a sparrow falleth to the ground and who\nhast numbered the very hairs of our heads, take them under the shadow of\nThy wings. Give them courage and obedience, fortitude and valor in the\nhour of danger, and compassion and mercy in the flush of victory. Prosper\ntheir arms to the establishment of justice, peace, and truth among all\npeoples. Lead them safely back to their homes and their loved ones,\nbetter citizens, better Christians than before. And to Thy holy name be\nglory, laud, and honor, world without end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for the Army and Navy.\n\n\nAlmighty and Eternal God, Thou King of kings and Lord of lords, who\nrulest and governest all things in heaven and earth: we beseech Thine\ninfinite mercy to bless the officers and men of our army and navy.\nPreserve them against all dangers and temptations which may assail their\nlives. Help them manfully to battle against and overcome the powers of\nevil, the world, the devil, and the flesh. May they ever be filled with\nThy Holy Spirit from on high, and in courage, manliness, and truthfulness\nprevail in the hour of danger and when the battle rages. May they ever\nlook to Thee, who art the succorer of those in peril, as to their only\nhelper, and in Thy name fight a holy fight to maintain the country's\nhonor and keep the flag unsullied, that truth and righteousness may\nprevail. Put to naught all evil designs and devices of their enemies,\nboth spiritual and temporal. Guide Thou and direct them that they may\never fight the good fight of faith and in the end overcome and attain to\ntheir soul's salvation, to the glory of Thy holy Name; through Jesus\nChrist, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer on the Eve of Battle.\n\n\nO Lord God of hosts, Thou the Highest of the high and the Holiest of the\nholy, who rulest and shapest all things to the glory of Thy name and the\nbetterment of Thy people: we humbly beseech Thine infinite mercy in this\nhour of our peril, judge Thou between us and our enemies. Be Thou our\nsure defense. Stir up Thy might and hasten to our help. Lay not our sins\nto our charge, but for the sake of Thy dear Son, our only Lord and\nSavior, Jesus Christ, manifest Thy mercy toward us and blot out our\niniquities, and sanctify and guide us by Thy truth. We Thy poor servants\ncall upon Thy holy name, and implore Thy grace. Have mercy upon us. Lead\nus safely through the blood and carnage. Make it appear that Thou art our\ndeliverer. Make us strong with the assurance that it is Thy cause, that\nwe are Thy children, that Thou holdest our destiny in Thy hand. And if it\nis Thy will that we should lay down our lives--Thy will be done! Help us\nthen that our last day on this earth may be the first in Thy paradise.\nBless our loved ones at home, and comfort them with the hopeful\nassurances of Thy word. May they and all of us rightfully know and\nappreciate, whether we live, we live unto the Lord. And whether we die,\nwe die unto the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die we are the Lord's.\nThrough Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for the Wounded.\n\n\nLord God, our Heavenly Father! We implore Thy eternal compassion for all\nwho are this day wounded, suffering, or dying. Be Thou nigh unto them in\ntheir affliction. Comfort them with Thy grace and with the hopeful\nassurance, that, though kindred and friends be far away, Thou art ever\npresent and hearest even the faintest sight of all who seek Thy succor.\nIf it be Thy pleasure, restore to them their former health and vigor.\nHelp them to bear their pains without murmuring against Thy grace. Give\nthem patience and strength and faith in Thee. May they rest assured, that\nThou wilt never leave nor forsake them. Deliver them from the assaults of\nthe enemies of their souls. O God and Father in heaven, bless them and\nall of us, and may we ever seek those things that are acceptable to Thy\nsight. Forgive us our sins, not because of any merit or worthiness in us,\nbut solely because Thou art merciful for Christ's sake. And to Thee, the\nFather, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory and honor forever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayers for the Dying.\n (St. Paul's Prayer)\n\n\n\"The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have\nfinished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up\nfor me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,\nshall give me at that day: not to me only, but to all of them also that\nlove His appearing.\" 2 Tim. 4:6-8.\n\n * * *\n\nO Lord, on Thy cross Thou didst cry, \"Father, into Thy hands I commend My\nSpirit!\" I, too, commend my spirit into Thy hands now when my end is\nnear. Thou hast redeemed me, O faithful God. Amen.\n\n * * *\n\nLord Almighty God, Heavenly Father! My time has come to an end, my life\nis slowly ebbing away. Be Thou with me. O Lord, I suffer much and Thou\nonly canst help me. Be Thou my succor, and shorten and soften my pain.\nDarkness comes over me and I cry for comfort and strength. Have mercy\nupon me. Take my soul under Thy protecting wing, that I perish not. Take\nmy sins from me, and blot all my guilt; for Christ's sake, my Savior and\nmy Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Abide with me! fast falls the eventide.\n The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide!\n When other helpers fail and comforts flee,\n Help of the helpless, O abide with me!\n\n Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,\n Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:\n Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee:\n In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!\n\n\n\n\n Prayers for the Sick and Dying\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of a Patient.\n\n\nLord God, Heavenly Father! Thou art a faithful God, and wilt not suffer\nany one to be tempted beyond what he is able, but rather with the\ntemptation wilt also make a way to escape, that he may be able to bear\nit. I supplicate Thee in my great suffering and pain, so shape the cross,\nthat it may not lay too heavily upon me, and strengthen me that I may\nbear it with patience, and nevermore despair of Thy mercy. O Christ, Thou\nSon of the living God! Thou hast endured the agony of the cross for me,\nand hast died for my sins, I beseech Thee with my whole heart, have mercy\nupon me a poor sinner, and forgive me my transgressions, wherever I have\nsinned against Thee. Let my faith in no wise diminish. O God Holy Ghost!\nThou true comforter in all times of need. Keep me ever in the spirit of\npatience and supplication. Sanctify me in my reliance upon Thee. Turn not\nfrom me in the hour of my death, and lead me from this vale of sorrow to\nThyself in heaven. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer for a Blessed End.\n\n\nO Merciful God, Thou hast put a limit to man's life, which no man can set\naside. For he has his definite time, the number of his months rests with\nThee. Thou hast numbered all our days, which pass away like a stream, as\nthough we flew away. Man is like grass, which soon withereth, like the\nflower of the field, which passeth away. Teach me, O merciful God, to\nknow and take to heart, that I, too, must pass away and that my life has\na limit, and I must go hence. Behold, my days are as a handbreadth before\nThee, and my life as nothing in Thy sight. Every man at his best is\naltogether vanity. Lord, so teach us to number our days, what it is, that\nwe may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Lord, teach me to remember that I\nmust die, and have no continuing city in this pilgrimage. Make known unto\nme my short and transient being, that I may often think of my end, so\nthat in this world I may not live unto myself, but live and die unto\nThee, so that I may bravely and joyously await the day of my translation\nand the appearance of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, and with a consecrated\nlife and a pious conduct hasten to Him. Bless me, O God, with a blessed\ndeparture, and when my hour cometh, that I may joyously die, find a\nrational end in true knowledge, and that my reason and intellect be not\nderanged, and I speak no arrogant words or blasphemies against Thee, my\nLord, or against my salvation. Preserve me from an evil sudden death and\nfrom eternal damnation. Let me not be suddenly overcome by my last hour\nwithout warning, but that I may prepare myself with true repentance and\nsincere faith. And when it comes make me joyous and brave for my temporal\ndeath, which only opens the door to the eternal life. May I then, as Thy\nservant, depart in peace. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which\nThou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the\nGentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. Grant that my last word may\nbe that which Thy dear Son spoke on the cross, \"Father, into Thy hands do\nI commend My spirit!\" And when I can no longer speak, hear Thou my last\nsigh through Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer in the Hour of Death.\n\n\nAlmighty, Everlasting, and Most Merciful Lord and God! Thou art the\nFather of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I know that Thou art willing and\nable to fulfill whatsoever Thou hast said. Thou canst not lie. Thy word\nis truth. Thou hast from the beginning promised me Thy dear Son Jesus\nChrist. And He is come, and has redeemed me from the devil, death, hell,\nand sin. And in Thy gracious providence Thou hast for a greater surety\nestablished the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion in which\nHis true natural body and blood are given me in, with, and under the\nbread and wine, thus offering and assuring me of the forgiveness of sins,\neternal life, and every heavenly gift. And because of this Thy assurance\nI have made use of these means of grace, and firmly relying upon Thy word\nhave received them. And now I do not doubt but that I am secure from the\npower of the devil, death, hell, and sin. And if now my hour hath come,\nand this is Thy divine will, I will gladly and willingly depart hence and\nbe with Thee in peace. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer of the Bystanders for the Sick One.\n\n\nAlmighty, Merciful God, who keepest our life in death, we pray Thee, turn\nthe eyes of Thy mercy to this sick person, strengthen him in body and\nsoul, and forgive him all his sins through Thy grace. Take the sacrifice\nof the innocent death of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, as a propitiation\nfor his transgressions, since he, too, is baptized in His name, washed\nand cleansed with His blood. Save him from the pains and agonies of his\nbody. Shorten his sufferings. Keep him from the accusations of his\nconscience and all temptations of the enemy, so that in faith he may\ntruly battle and conquer. Grant him a blessed translation to the eternal\nlife. Send Thy holy angels, that they accompany him to the blessed\ncompany of all the elect in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayer When the Patient Has Died in the Lord.\n\n\nJesus Christ, Thou Lord of glory and Prince of life, we glorify and thank\nThee now and always, that Thou hast so mercifully helped this now blessed\none, and hast taken his soul into Thy holy keeping. And when the last day\ncometh Thou wouldest reunite his soul with his body in heavenly radiance,\nand grant us altogether, when the divinely appointed hour cometh, to\nfollow him in blessedness. Meanwhile grant us a Christian conduct,\nrefresh all sorrowing hearts with heavenly solace. Keep us in Thy eternal\ngrace, for the sake of Thy inexhaustible mercy and goodness. Amen. O Thou\nmost holy, most glorious Trinity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Hymns\n\n\n\n\n Du Volk, das du getaufet bist.\n\n\n Ye baptized people, one and all,\n Who know your God in heaven,\n Who have received a holy call,\n To whom Christ's name is given,\n Do not forget, but ponder well,\n The gifts that now within you dwell,\n The blessings of baptism.\n\n This washing cleanseth us from sin\n And lends a sacred beauty,\n It makes us white and pure within,\n Incites to love and duty,\n From Satan's prison sets us free,\n Enables us the sons to be\n And heirs of God, our Father.\n\n Our sinful nature is renewed,\n The curse of God is lifted;\n By choicest blessings thus endued\n And with the Spirit gifted,\n We unto sin are pledged to die\n And by the pow'r of God on high\n The gates of hell can conquer.\n\n Here we with Jesus Christ are clad,\n His righteousness receiving,\n Which covers what in us is bad,\n Our rescue thus achieving;\n His holy blood, for sinners spilt,\n Releases us from sin and guilt,\n And we with God find favor.\n\n O wondrous work, O sacred bath,\n O water thou of blessing,\n The world nowhere thy equal hath,\n Such healing grace possessing.\n Thou hast indeed a pow'r divine,\n According to God's own design,\n And with His word connected.\n\n Thou art no water such as we\n Can draw from well or river.\n In thee the life of God we see,\n Who is of grace the Giver.\n His Holy Spirit in thee dwells,\n Who ev'ry evil lust dispels\n That in our hearts would linger.\n\n O Christians, bear this well in mind,\n And thank the Lord sincerely\n For all the gifts that here you find,\n And that you prize so dearly.\n When nothing else can soothe the soul,\n These gifts lend comfort till the goal\n Of life on earth appeareth.\n\n Use well the things you have in store,\n That are for you intended,\n And, cleansed by Jesus, sin no more\n Until life's course is ended,\n When you, in yonder happy land,\n Before God's radiant throne shall stand,\n In heaven's festal garments.\n\n Paul Gerhardt, 1667.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Ich bin getauft auf deinen Namen.\n\n\n Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,\n I am baptized in Thy name;\n In the seed Thou dost inherit,\n With the people Thou dost claim,\n I am reckoned:\n And for me the Savior came.\n\n Thou receivest me, O Father,\n As a child and heir of Thine;\n Jesus, Thou who diedst, yea, rather\n Ever livest, Thou art mine\n Thou, O Spirit,\n Art my Guide, my Light divine.\n\n I have pledged, and would not falter,\n Truth, obedience, love to Thee;\n I have vows upon Thine alter\n Ever Thine alone to be,\n And for ever\n Sin and all its lusts to flee.\n\n Gracious God, all Thou hast spoken\n In this covenant shall take place;\n But if I, alas! have broken\n These my vows, hide not Thy face;\n And from falling\n O restore me by Thy grace.\n\n Lord, to Thee I now surrender\n All I have, and all I am;\n Make my heart more true and tender,\n Glorify in me Thy Name,\n Let obedience\n To Thy will be all my aim.\n\n Help me in this high endeavor,\n Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!\n Bind my heart to Thee for ever,\n Till I join the heavenly host.\n Living, dying,\n Let me make in Thee my boast.\n\n Johann Jacob Rambach, 1734.\n Tr. Chas. William Schaeffer, 1860.\n\n\n\n\n Wir danken dir, o Jesu Christ.\n\n\n We thank Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord,\n For all the help Thou dost afford.\n Thou art the Lamb for sinners slain,\n And this is our eternal gain.\n\n Thy holy supper doth prepare\n For us a precious fountain where\n Salvation flows for ev'ry soul,\n To make the wounded spirit whole.\n\n This covenant Thou, Lord, didst make:\n \"Receive my body and partake\n Of mine own blood which flowed for thee,\n That thou a ransomed soul mightst be.\"\n\n I eat Thy body, which for me\n Was made to die upon the tree,\n I drink Thy blood and thus receive\n Life for my soul, as I believe.\n\n And though I die, yet shall I live;\n Thy body and Thy blood will give\n To me eternal life above,\n The fruit of Thy redeeming love.\n\n Let me be numbered with the blest,\n Who on Thy loving bosom rest,\n Thy worthy guest, to sup with Thee\n And praise Thy name eternally.\n\n Nicolaus Selnecker, 1572.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir.\n\n\n Out of the depths I cry to Thee,\n Lord, hear me, I implore Thee!\n Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,\n Let my prayer come before Thee!\n If Thou remember each misdeed,\n If each should have its rightful meed,\n Who may abide Thy presence.\n\n Our pardon is Thy gift; Thy love\n And grace alone avail us.\n Our works could ne'er our guilt remove,\n The strictest life must fail us.\n That none may boast himself of aught,\n But own in fear Thy grace hath wrought\n What in him seemeth righteous.\n\n And thus my hope is in the Lord,\n And not in mine own merit;\n I rest upon His faithful word\n To them of contrite spirit.\n That He is merciful and just,--\n Here is my comfort and my trust,\n His help I wait with patience.\n\n And though it tarry till the night,\n And round till morning waken,\n My heart shall ne'er mistrust Thy might,\n Nor count itself forsaken.\n Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,\n Ye of the Spirit born indeed,\n Wait for your God's appearing.\n\n Though great our sins and sore our woes,\n His grace much more aboundeth;\n His helping love no limit knows,\n Our utmost need it soundeth.\n Our kind and faithful Shepherd, He,\n Who shall at last set Israel free\n From all their sin and sorrow.\n\n Martin Luther, 1524.\n Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1862.\n\n\n\n\n Eines wuensch ich mir vor allem andern.\n\n\n One thing I above all others cherish,\n For one thing I long and pray.\n Though in sorrow's vale fond hopes may perish,\n This will prove my staff and stay:\n To behold the Man who, deeply sighing\n And upon earth's bosom prostrate lying,\n Drank the bitter cup of woe\n Since the Father willed it so.\n\n Ever shall my soul retain the vision\n Of that Lamb, for sinners slain,\n Pale and wounded, held in deep derision,\n Hanging on the wood of pain,\n Wrestling there in thirst and mortal anguish,\n Lest my soul eternally should languish,\n Being mindful, too, of me\n When He died the world to free.\n\n O Lord Jesus, keep me mindful ever\n Of my guilt and of Thy grace.\n Be it Thou all bonds of sin dost sever\n And all blots of guilt efface.\n Thou of night the brightest daylight makest,\n And Thy lamb into Thy bosom takest,\n As the Shepherd good and fair,\n Nursing it with tender care.\n\n I am Thine! Wilt Thou reply by saying,\n \"Thou forever shalt be mine!\"\n Cause Thy precious name, all fears allaying,\n Brightly in my heart to shine!\n Be with Thee all things begun and ended,\n Who from earth to heaven hast ascended.\n Yea, this shall, till life is spent,\n Be our law and testament.\n\n Albert Knapp, 1829 (1823).\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Meine Seel, ermuntre dich.\n\n\n Come, my soul, again inquire\n If the love of Christ constrain thee.\n To His cross again retire;\n See Him give Himself to gain thee.\n Search His faithfulness and try Him,\n Glad in Him and gladdened by Him.\n\n See Him there, God's only Son\n On the tree for thee suspended,\n Crowned with thorns, by grief undone,\n Crimson stains with crimson blended,\n Pierced for thee, transfixed, forsaken:\n Deathless love by death o'ertaken.\n\n Thou, yea thou hadst known the rod,\n Endless pain thy sole possession;\n Thou hadst been cast off by God\n For thy multiplied transgression;\n But the Lord thy cause defended;\n By His grace thou art befriended.\n\n When in mighty woe He died\n Vengeance ceased and wrath abated;\n Sinai was satisfied;\n All things old were new-created;\n Sin and death and hell were thwarted;\n Life and health and heaven imparted.\n\n Jesus, grace sufficient give\n That this mind be ever in me:--\n Thine I am; to Thee would live;\n Naught from Thee shall ever win me.\n Thou wilt not forsake nor leave me;\n Let me, Lord, in love receive Thee.\n\n Johann Caspar Schade, 1692.\n Tr. A. Ramsey.\n\n\n\n\n So nimm denn meine Haende.\n\n\n Take, then, my hands, O Father,\n And lead Thou me\n Until my journey endeth,\n Eternally.\n Alone I will not wander\n One single day.\n Be Thou my true Companion\n And with me stay.\n\n O cover with Thy mercy\n My poor, weak heart!\n Let ev'ry thought rebellious\n From me depart.\n Permit Thy child to linger\n Here at Thy feet\n And blindly trust Thy goodness\n With faith complete.\n\n Though naught of Thy great power\n May move my soul,\n With Thee through night and darkness\n I reach the goal.\n Take, then, my hands, O Father,\n And lead Thou me\n Until my journey endeth,\n Eternally.\n\n Julie von Haussmann.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Jesu, geh voran.\n\n\n Jesus, still lead on,\n Till our rest be won;\n And although the way be cheerless,\n We will follow, calm and fearless,\n Guide us by Thy hand\n To our fatherland.\n\n If the way be drear,\n If the foe be near,\n Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,\n Let not faith and hope forsake us;\n For through many a foe\n To our home we go.\n\n When we seek relief\n From a long-felt grief,\n When temptations come alluring,\n Make us patient and enduring;\n Show us that bright shore\n Where we weep no more.\n\n Jesus, still lead on,\n Till our rest be won;\n Heavenly Leader, still direct us,\n Still support, console, protect us,\n Till we safely stand\n In our fatherland.\n\n Nicolaus Ludwig v. Zinzendorf, 1721.\n Tr. Jane Borthwick, 1846. a.\n\n\n\n\n Befiehl du deine Wege.\n\n\n Commit thy ways and faring\n With all that grieves thy soul,\n To His e'er faithful caring\n Who doth the heavens control;\n Who giving course and highway\n To clouds and winds and breeze,\n Will find for thee a byway\n Where thou canst fare at ease.\n\n But thou must trust Him wholly\n To make thy welfare sure;\n And look to His work solely\n To have thy works endure.\n God lets none snatch a blessing\n By fretful grief and care\n Nor one's own self-distressing;\n It must be got by prayer.\n\n Thy faithfulness unfailing,\n O Father, and Thy grace\n Mark good or ill prevailing\n Amongst this mortal race;\n Then what Thou wilt decreeing\n And pressing on with ease,\n Thou bring'st to pass and being\n Whate'er Thy counsels please.\n\n All ways do Thine possessing,\n Thou lack'st not means nor might.\n Thy deed is purest blessing,\n Thy path serenest light.\n And none Thy work can hinder,\n Nor can Thy labors rest\n Whenever Thou wouldst render\n Thy children what is best.\n\n Though devils all endeavor,\n And fain would work defeat,\n Beyond all doubt soever\n The Lord will not retreat.\n Whatever He proposes,\n Whate'er He takes in hand,\n Whene'er His set time closes\n Will come to pass as planned.\n\n Hope on, poor soul, and bravely;\n Hope on, no more perplexed.\n God from those deeps will save thee\n Where thou by griefs art vexed.\n With grace will He secure thee;\n But wait His time as thine,\n And thou wilt see most surely\n The sun of gladness shine.\n\n Up! Up! Away with grieving.\n Bid anxious fret begone,\n Thy heart its sadness leaving,\n Its woes ne'er dwelt upon.\n Though thou, who dost not govern,\n Canst naught at all compel,\n God sits enthroned and sov'reign\n And doeth all things well.\n\n Let Him, a Ruler knowing,\n Arrange for thee, and do.\n Thou'lt see with wonder growing\n How He will bring thee through;\n And how, by means most seemly,\n By counsels wondrous deep,\n He bears Himself supremely\n In works which thou dost weep.\n\n True, He awhile will tarry,\n His comforting delayed,\n And seem Himself to carry\n As minded not to aid;\n May seem to turn Him from thee,\n Nor e'en, though o'er and o'er\n Thy cares and griefs o'ercome thee\n To ask about thee more.\n\n But though thou seem neglected,\n And yet believing be,\n When least by thee expected\n Will He deliver thee.\n Thy heart will He deliver\n From all its burd'ning woe\n Which thou, unharmed however,\n Hast carried hitherto.\n\n And well with thee thereafter,\n Child of the Faithful, found\n Midst praise and thanks and laughter,\n A conqueror, and crowned.\n The palms in hand before him,\n Which God Himself bestows,\n With glad songs thou'lt adore Him\n Who turned aside thy woes.\n\n Make end, O Lord, good ending\n To all our woes ere long.\n With strength on us attending,\n Our hands and feet make strong.\n Thy faithful care bestowing,\n Till death, our ways attend;\n Then surely, heavenward going\n Our ways in heaven will end.\n\n Paul Gerhardt, 1656.\n Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Alle Menschen muessen sterben.\n\n\n Man is but a transient being\n And a pilgrim here below,\n Like a shadow, swiftly fleeing,\n Like the days that come and go.\n He must pass through death's dark portal,\n To obtain that life immortal\n Which on yonder blissful shore\n Blooms in glory evermore.\n\n So I willingly surrender\n To the Lord my fleeting breath,\n Knowing that His love so tender\n Will allay all fear of death.\n In His wounds there is redemption\n And His death assures exemption\n From the punishment of sin\n And the sense of guilt within.\n\n Jesus died upon the mountain,\n There His precious blood was spilt.\n Now an ever flowing fountain\n Cleanseth me from all my guilt.\n Hence my soul, endowed with pinions,\n Leaves for heaven's fair dominions,\n There in blissful joy to see\n God, the holy Trinity.\n\n In those fair celestial regions\n All is life and peace and joy.\n Souls are there in countless legions,\n Happy in the Lord's employ.\n There bright Seraphim are dwelling,\n Who, in majesty excelling,\n Praise with heaven's mighty host\n Father, Son and Holy Ghost\n\n There the patriarchs are living,\n There the prophets all abide.\n There, to Jesus homage giving,\n His apostles, too, reside.\n There the Lord's whole congregation\n Has a place of habitation.\n There, to honor God, their King,\n All their hallelujahs sing.\n\n O thou city of the sainted,\n Heavenly Jerusalem!\n How thy beauty is untainted,\n Sparkling like a precious gem!\n What soft music there is sounding,\n What sweet joys are there abounding!\n Night shall never follow day,\n But the sun shall reign for aye.\n\n Ah, mine eyes have seen the glory\n Of that city fair and high,\n And mine ears have heard the story\n Of those mansions in the sky.\n Now the pure white robe of heaven\n And a crown to me are given,\n Now that light of joy is mine\n Which shall never cease to shine.\n\n John G. Albinus, 1652.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.\n\n\n\n\n Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt.\n\n\n Jerusalem, thou city built on high,\n Would God I were in thee!\n My eager spirit hath so yearned to fly\n And bides no more with me.\n O'er hill and valley mounting\n High, high o'er fields and wastes,\n O'er all, all worthless counting,\n Afar from earth it hastes.\n\n O lovely day, O hour more lovely still,\n When wilt thou be revealed,\n When blissfully, my voice with joy athrill,\n My soul to God I yield,\n His pledge ordained, unfailing\n In His all-faithful hand,\n That haven waits my hailing\n In yonder Fatherland?\n\n 'Twill mount in e'en the twinkling of an eye\n Beyond the firmament,\n So wondrously, so gently laying by\n Its outworn earthly tent;\n Midst chariots ascending\n While bright angelic bands,\n Around it safe attending,\n Will bear it in their hands.\n\n All hail to thee, O glorious city, now!\n Lift up thy gates of grace\n How long the time I yearned for thee, and how,\n Before I reached this place\n From yonder life of grieving,\n Of vanity and strife,\n From God at length receiving\n The heritage of life.\n\n What folk is this now drawing near to me,\n This throng of worthies blest?\n These, one time of th'elect on earth, I see;\n The noblest crown and best\n Which Christ, with grace compelling,\n Sent me in other years\n When still far distant dwelling\n In mine own land of tears.\n\n Lo, patriarchs renowned and prophets great\n And gathered saintly folk,\n Who while on earth endured the tyrant's hate\n And wore the Savior's yoke!\n But soaring now in freedom,\n With honor clothed upon,\n Midst radiant light I see them,\n And shining like the sun.\n\n Then when at length I enter in a thrill\n That Paradise of God,\n My every sense with rapturous joy will fill,\n My mouth with praise and laud.\n Hosannas there ascending\n Make holy minstrelsy,\n With Alleluiahs blending\n For all eternity.\n\n With instruments and with a joyful noise\n Are choirs unnumbered singing,\n Till by the sound and shoutings set apoise\n The courts of joy are ringing.\n With ten ten-thousand voices\n And tens of thousands more,\n The heavenly host rejoices\n As ever from of yore.\n\n Johann Matthaeus Meyfart, 1626.\n Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Unter Lilien jener Freuden.\n\n\n Midst the lilies blooming yonder\n Thou shalt wander,\n Oh my soul, and be at home.\n Rise, then, as on eagle-pinions--\n Thy dominions\n Are above where angels roam.\n\n Guide my ship, Thou First-born Brother,\n To no other\n Than that peaceful haven where,\n Sheltered from all storms forever,\n I shall never\n Know of sorrow, sin or care.\n\n Thou canst fill our mouths with laughter,\n And hereafter\n Make our tongues to sing Thy praise.\n Thou canst softly lead us mortals\n Through death's portals\n And above all evils raise.\n\n For our sins and grievous errors\n All the terrors\n Of the cross Thou didst endure.\n Death, thy sting for aye has vanished,\n Thou art banished,\n And I rest from thee secure.\n\n J. L. K. Allendorf, 1731.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1917.\n\n\n\n\n Die wir uns allhier beisammen finden.\n\n\n Gathered here, we join our hands, O Savior,\n And upon Thy death unite,\n Ever to be true in our behavior\n Unto Thee, eternal Light.\n And as here Thy praises, Lord, are spoken,\n Enter Thou into our midst in token\n Of Thy love so pure and true,\n Saying, \"Peace I give to you!\"\n\n C. R. Zinzendorf, 1754.\n Tr. H. Brueckner, 1916.\n\n\n\n\n Index\n\n\n\n\n Translator's Preface 3\n Exhortation to Prayer 6\n The Lord's Prayer and Benediction 7\n Morning and Evening Prayers 9\n Prayer for Sunday Morning 11\n Prayer for Sunday Evening 14\n Prayer for Monday Morning 18\n Prayer for Monday Evening 21\n Prayer for Tuesday Morning 25\n Prayer for Tuesday Evening 29\n Prayer for Wednesday Morning 32\n Prayer for Wednesday Evening 35\n Prayer for Thursday Morning 40\n Prayer for Thursday Evening 44\n Prayer for Friday Morning 47\n Prayer for Friday Evening 50\n Prayer for Saturday Morning 52\n Prayer for Saturday Evening 59\n A Daily Prayer 64\n At the Beginning of the Week's Work 65\n At the Table 67\n Grace before Meat 69\n Grace after Meat 70\n For Hearth and Home 73\n Prayer of a Housefather 75\n Prayer of a Housemother 76\n Prayer of a Child 78\n Prayer of a Youth or Maiden 79\n Prayer of a Servant 80\n Prayer of a School Child for the Holy Spirit 82\n Prayer during a Thunder Storm 83\n Thanksgiving after a Thunder Storm 85\n Prayer on the Eve of a Journey 86\n Prayer During a Journey 87\n Prayer of Children for Their Father Engaged on a Journey 89\n Thanksgiving after a Completed Journey 90\n A Birthday Prayer 90\n Prayer for Temporal Peace 92\n A Prayer for School 94\n Church Prayers 97\n Prayer When Going to Church 99\n Prayer for Sincere Repentance 100\n Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins 102\n Prayer for True Faith 104\n Prayer before Confession 107\n Thanksgiving after Absolution 108\n A Morning Prayer for Communion Day 109\n Prayer before Holy Communion 112\n A Sigh when about to Receive the Sacred Body of Christ 114\n A Sigh when about to Receive the Sacred Blood of Christ 115\n Prayer after the Holy Supper 115\n Prayer for a Pious Life 116\n Prayer for Faithful Teachers and Preachers 117\n Prayer for the Kingdom of God 119\n Prayer for Missions 122\n Prayer against False Doctrines and Sects 124\n Prayer against the Enemies of Christendom 126\n Prayers During Times of War 129\n Prayer during War 131\n Prayer for the Army and Navy 132\n Prayer on the Eve of Battle 134\n Prayer for the Wounded 135\n Prayers for the Dying 136\n Prayers for the Sick and Dying 139\n Prayer of a Patient 141\n Prayer for a Blessed End 142\n Prayer in the Hour of Death 144\n Prayer of the Bystanders for the Sick One 145\n Prayer when the Patient has Died in the Lord 146\n Hymns 149\n Abide with grace unbounded 20\n Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide 138\n Awake, my heart, rejoicing 27\n Awake, my soul, the rising sun 42\n Be present at our table Lord 70\n Come, my soul, again inquire 158\n Commit thy ways and faring 161\n Dayspring of Eternity 34\n Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 153\n Gathered here, we join our hands, O Savior 171\n God, who madest earth and heaven 13\n Heavenly Father, bless this food 70\n Jerusalem, thou city built on high 167\n Jesus, bless what Thou hast given 70\n Jesus, still lead on 160\n Man is but a transient being 165\n Midst the lilies blooming yonder 170\n Now God be with us, for the night is closing 31\n Now in Jesus' wounds reposing 46\n Now under night's dark shadow 23\n O Christ, who art the sun-lit day 16\n One thing I above all others cherish 157\n Out of the depths I cry to Thee 155\n Praise God from whom all blessings flow 71\n Shepherd never sleeping 37\n Soul of mine to God awaking 62\n Sunk is the sun's last beam of light 52\n Take, then, my hands, O Father 159\n The morning sun shines in the skies 49\n The sun ascending 55\n We thank Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord 154\n We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food 71\n Ye baptized people one and all 151\n Index of Translated Hymns\n Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade 20\n Alle Menschen mueszen sterben 165\n Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir 155\n Befiehl du deine Wege 161\n Christe, du bist der helle Tag 16\n Die gueldne Sonne 55\n Die helle Sonn leucht jetzt herfuer 49\n Die Nacht ist kommen, drin wir ruhen sollen 31\n Die wir uns allhier beisammen finden 171\n Du Volk, das du getaufet bist 151\n Eines wuensch ich mir vor allem andern 157\n Gott des Himmels und der Erden 13\n Hinunter ist der Sonnenschein 52\n Hirte deiner Schafe 37\n Ich bin getauft auf deinen Namen 153\n Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt 167\n Jesu, geh voran 160\n Meine Seel, ermuntre dich 158\n Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit 34\n Nun ruhen alle Waelder 23\n Nur in Jesu Blut und Wunden 46\n So nimm denn meine Haende 159\n Unter Lilien jener Freuden 170\n Wach auf mein Herz, die Nacht ist hin 42\n Wach auf mein Herz, und singe 27\n Werde munter, mein Gemuete 62\n Wir danken dir, Jesu Christ 154\n\n\n\n\n\n
","title":"Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week: Together With Confessional, Communion, and Other Prayers and Hymns for Mornings and Evenings, and Other Occasions","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":24672}