{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_35737/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_35737","id":"gutenberg_35737","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35737","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Lutheran Church -- Prayers and devotions","Prayers"],"text":"\n\n\n\nProduced by Stephen Hutcheson, David Edwards, Peter Vachuska\nand the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at\nhttps://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE\n LITTLE TREASURE\n OF PRAYERS,\n\n\n BEING\n A TRANSLATION\n OF THE\n Epitome from the German larger \"Treasure\n of Prayers\" [\"Gebets-Schatz\"] of the Evangelical\n Lutheran Church, published in\n St. Louis, Mo.,\n\n WITH\n A NEW APPENDIX.\n\n _FOURTH EDITION._\n\n COLUMBUS, OHIO:\n THE LUTHERAN BOOK CONCERN.\n J. L. TRAUGER, Agent.\n 1888.\n\n\n\n\n CONTENTS.\n\n\n 1. Sunday Morning Prayer 7\n 2. Prayer before going to church 8\n 3. Sunday Evening Prayer 9\n 4. Another Sunday Evening Prayer 10\n 5. Monday Morning Prayer 12\n 6. Monday Evening Prayer 13\n 7. Tuesday Morning Prayer 14\n 8. Tuesday Evening Prayer 14\n 9. Wednesday Morning Prayer 16\n 10. Wednesday Evening Prayer 17\n 11. Thursday Morning Prayer 18\n 12. Thursday Evening Prayer 19\n 13. Friday Morning Prayer 20\n 14. Friday Evening Prayer 20\n 15. Saturday Morning Prayer 21\n 16. Saturday Evening Prayer 22\n 17. Prayer for daily renewal of the baptismal covenant 23\n 18. Prayer on a birth day 25\n 19. Prayer for children 29\n 20. Prayer for young persons 31\n 21. Prayer of a servant 32\n 22. Prayer of a husband 35\n 23. Prayer of a wife 37\n 24. Prayer of an aged person 39\n 25. Prayer for a proper performance of one's duties 40\n 26. Prayer before labor 41\n 27. Prayer for divine blessing upon the work of one's calling 42\n 28. Luther's prayer based on the scriptural passage: \"Casting all\n your care upon Him, for He careth for you\" 44\n 29. Prayer before beginning any important work 44\n 30. Thanks returned after labor 46\n 31. Prayer during a journey 46\n 32. Prayer while beginning a journey at sea 47\n 33. Prayer of a seafarer during a storm 49\n _A brief instruction in confession and absolution_ 51\n 34. Complaint of a poor sinner concerning the impenitence of his\n heart 56\n 35. Prayer for true conversion 57\n 36. Prayer for the forgiveness of sin 60\n 37. Prayer for reconciliation with our neighbor 64\n _Brief instruction concerning the Holy Supper_ 66\n 38. Morning Prayer of a communicant 72\n 39. Prayer for a worthy partaking of the Holy Supper 74\n 40. Thanksgiving after partaking of the Holy Supper 76\n 41. Prayer that God would hereafter keep us from sin, and if we sin\n that he would not reckon it to our account 77\n 42. Prayer in view of the sufferings of Christ 79\n 43. Prayer in time of drought 81\n 44. Prayer for sunshine in a protracted season of wet and rain 83\n 45. Prayer for the precious fruits of the field 84\n 46. Prayer during a storm 85\n 47. Thanksgiving when the storm is over 87\n 48. Prayer in great weakness of faith 88\n 49. Prayer in great trouble and danger 89\n 50. Thanksgiving after a safe journey 90\n 51. Thanksgiving for deliverance out of tribulation 91\n 52. Morning prayer of a sick person 92\n 53. Another morning prayer in sickness 93\n 54. Evening prayer of a sick person 95\n 55. Another evening prayer of a sick person 95\n 56. Prayer in sickness 96\n 57. Prayer of a penitent in sickness 99\n 58. Short prayers in sickness for every hour of the day:\n 1. At one o'clock 101\n 2. At two o'clock 102\n 3. At three o'clock 102\n 4. At four o'clock 103\n 5. At five o'clock 103\n 6. At six o'clock 104\n 7. At seven o'clock 104\n 8. At eight o'clock 105\n 9. At nine o'clock 106\n 10. At ten o'clock 107\n 11. At eleven o'clock 108\n 12. At twelve o'clock 108\n 59. Thanksgiving after recovery 109\n 60. Three prayers in the hour of death:\n 1. To God the Father 110\n 2. To God the Son 111\n 3. To God the Holy Ghost 112\n 61. Prayer of the attendants upon a dying person 113\n 62. Another prayer 114\n 63. A short litany together with prayers for a dying person 114\n 64. Prayer when the sick person has departed in the Lord 117\n\n\n APPENDIX I.\n FESTIVAL PRAYERS.\n\n 1. Prayer for the beginning of a new church year 118\n 2. Prayer for the Advent season 122\n 3. Christmas prayer 124\n 4. Prayer on New Year's day 127\n 5. Prayer on Epiphany 131\n 6. Prayer on the day of Purification 133\n 7. Prayer on the day of Annunciation 135\n 8. Prayer on Maundy-Thursday 137\n 9. Prayer on Good-Friday 139\n 10. Prayer on the festival of Easter 141\n 11. Prayer on Ascension day 142\n 12. Prayer on Whitsunday 144\n 13. Prayer on the festival of the Holy Trinity 147\n 14. Prayer on the day of John the Baptist 149\n 15. Prayer on the day of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary 151\n 16. Prayer on St. Michael's day 152\n 17. Prayer on the festival of the Reformation 155\n 18. Prayer on Church-Consecration day 157\n 19. Prayer on Harvest festival 158\n 20. Prayer on Mission festival 160\n 21. From Caspar Neuman's substance of all prayers 163\n\n\n APPENDIX II.\n HYMNS.\n\n Morning hymn 172\n Evening hymn 174\n Hymns of cross and consolation 175\n Hymn of christian life 181\n Hymn of hope in death 182\n Hymn of glad eternity 183\n\n\n Prayers before and after meat 185 & 186\n\n\n\n\n 1. Sunday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nEternal, almighty God and Father! I most heartily praise and thank Thee,\nthat Thou hast graciously, by Thy holy angels, preserved me from all harm\nand danger both of body and soul, during the past night and all previous\ntime; and I most heartily pray Thee, forgive me all my sins wherewith I\nhave offended Thee, and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I\nmay daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. Grant me grace also, that I\nmay, during this day, avoid all sin and shame, and be found in Thy divine\nwill, in order that I may so walk as to be preserved from all evil, may\nalways and constantly keep Thee in my heart and thoughts, and when the\ntime of my departure approaches, grant that I may fall asleep in the true\nknowledge of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, unto a blessed and eternal life.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 2. Before going to Church.\n\n\nMerciful God and Father! Thou seest, that by reason of my depraved nature\nI have no delight in Thy word, and that I so easily permit the devil, my\nown flesh and blood, the children of the world, also false teachers and\npreachers and other trivial causes keep me away from it, and that I am\ntoo indolent and careless to hear and preserve Thy word. Therefore I now\npray Thee, O eternal God, forgive me this my inbred indolence, and do\nThou give me a heart willing and apt to hear and meditate upon Thy word.\nAwake in me such an earnest longing that I may have a desire after the\nsincere milk of the divine word, as new-born babes. Help me, that I may\nfind my chief delight in Thy word. May there be nothing in this world\ndearer to me than Thy word; may I love it more than gold and all fine\ngold, and always regard it as my best treasure. And as I, alas! have\nlived to see the time which Thy dear Son Himself foretold, that false\nChrists should arise and do wonders, so that, if it were possible, even\nthe elect should be deceived, I pray Thee that Thou wouldst graciously\ndefend and protect me from error and false doctrine. Keep me in Thy\ntruth, for Thy word is truth, that I may cling to the same as heavenly\ntruth, and remain steadfast in the same unto death. Grant this for the\nsake of the honor of Thy most holy and blessed name. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 3. Sunday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nLord, almighty God and heavenly Father, I most heartily thank Thee for\nall Thy goodness and benefits which Thou hast this day so kindly shown\nunto me, in that Thou hast defended me from evil and preserved my health.\nAnd I, Thy dear child, further pray Thee that Thou wouldst mercifully\nkeep me in Thy alone saving word to my last breath, and enlighten my\nheart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know what is good or evil. And\nwouldst graciously wipe out the remembrance of all the sins which I this\nday have knowingly done, also of my secret sins, and grant me this night\na christian rest, that I may arise again refreshed and in health, to Thy\npraise. Help also, dear Father, that I may begin a new life, well\npleasing in Thy sight, to the salvation of my soul, in Jesus Christ, Thy\ndear Son, our only Helper. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 4. Another Sunday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nWe adore and praise Thee, Lord God, Father of heaven and earth, that Thou\nhast so bountifully supplied us this day not only with our daily bread to\nnourish the body, but also with the heavenly food of Thy word for our\nsouls. Grant, O faithful God, that it may remain in our hearts, and bring\nforth much fruit to Thy honor and our salvation. We also pray Thy\nfatherly goodness not to deprive us of Thy pure word and ministry; and\nthat Thou wouldst not visit upon us the sins wherewith we may have\ndesecrated this day, but forgive them according to Thy great goodness,\nand for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Thy dear Son Jesus\nChrist. And finally, let us this day, and all the remaining time of our\nmortal life in this vale of tears, be commended to Thy fatherly blessing\nand divine protection; and may Thy holy angels keep charge over us, that\nthe wicked one may have no power over us.\n\nBut as the evening of this world is now approaching, and the day is far\nspent, grant us the grace of Thy Spirit, that we may constantly watch,\nand, in living faith, ardent love, firm hope and a holy walk and\ndemeanor, wait for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the\ngreat God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, when He shall come to judge the\nquick and the dead, in order that we may then receive Him in a worthy\nmanner and with joy, enter with Him into eternal life, and celebrate with\nall the elect the Sabbath without end. Have mercy, O Lord! upon Thy whole\nChristian Church, and deliver Thy poor persecuted flock from all\noppression, mockery and tyranny, comfort all anxious and troubled\nconsciences by the true comforter, the Holy Spirit, and send us all Thy\npeace through Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and only Mediator. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 5. Monday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nHoly and faithful God, heavenly Father! I most heartily praise, honor and\nadore Thee, that during the past night Thou hast permitted me to rest and\nsleep in safety, and by Thy fatherly love hast awakened me again\nrefreshed and in the enjoyment of health. I most heartily pray Thee that\nThou wouldst this day also and always graciously preserve me together\nwith (my dear parents, brothers and sisters, and) all true Christians\nfrom all danger and harm both of body and soul, in order that I may\nalways be found in Thy will. For I commend myself, my body and soul,\nheart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my strivings and aspirations, all I\ndo and all I leave undone, my going in and coming out, my life and death,\nand everything that I am and can do, to Thy divine protection. May Thy\nholy angel be and remain with me, that no misfortune may befall me either\nin body or soul. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 6. Monday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nMerciful God, gracious Father! I heartily thank Thee that during the past\nday and up to the present hour Thou hast graciously protected me from all\ndanger and harm of body and soul, and pray Thee, that, for the sake of\nJesus Christ, Thy dear Son, Thou wouldst graciously forgive all the sins\nwhich I have this day again committed against Thee in thoughts, words and\ndeeds, and let them be remembered against me no more. And as I am now\nabout to lie down to rest, I pray, Thou wouldst this night also protect\nand defend me from all harm and danger of body and soul, so that, being\ndefended against the wiles and power of the devil, against evil, harmful\nand wicked dreams, I may safely rest and sleep this night, and awake\nagain refreshed and in health to Thy honor. I now commend myself entirely\ninto Thy divine hand; Thou hast redeemed me, Thou faithful God. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 7. Tuesday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Thou only Saviour of the world! to Thee I lift my\nheart and mind, and thank Thee again, that Thou hast by Thy boundless\nmercy and love kept me safe and secure this night from the wiles and\npower of the wicked one. Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the portion of my\ninheritance, my salvation is in Thy hands, and besides Thee I know of no\nHelper in heaven or on earth. Therefore I pray Thee for the sake of Thy\nunutterable suffering and anguish, of Thy most painful and bitter death,\nwhich in great love Thou didst suffer for me, that Thou wouldst be\ngracious and merciful unto me, and this day and through my whole life\nbless, spare, preserve and keep me from all sin and evil in this world of\nsorrow, until Thou shalt take me to eternal joy and blessedness, for Thy\nmost holy name's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 8. Tuesday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nO eternal and merciful God, God of all riches, who art in heaven, I most\nheartily thank Thee for Thy great mercy and paternal providence by which\nThou hast again permitted me to end this day in the enjoyment of health.\nAnd since I, alas! have not spent this day to Thy praise and honor, and\nthe welfare of my neighbor, inasmuch as my depraved nature is always\ninclined more to evil than to good, help, Thou faithful God, that I who\nam conceived and born in sin, may recognize my infirmity and become a\npartaker of Thy heavenly grace; and teach me to think much and often of\nmy end, that I may prepare myself for it in true repentance, and when it\napproaches may depart from this world of trouble full of consolation and\nblessedness, and with all believing Christians be translated into Thy\nheavenly paradise. In the mean time, as long as I sojourn on earth, take\nme into Thy almighty protection and mercifully keep and preserve me from\nall harm and danger of body and soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy\ndear Son. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 9. Wednesday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nO almighty, merciful God, gracious Father in heaven, since Thou hast\nagain kept me safe this night by Thy ministering spirits, the holy\nangels, and permitted me to see this new day refreshed and in the\nenjoyment of health, I most heartily give Thee praise, honor and eternal\nthanks therefore, and pray Thee again, dear heavenly Father, to whose\nwill I subject all that I do and leave undone, my beginning and end, that\nThou wouldst henceforth graciously have mercy upon me, and govern all my\nthoughts and aspirations, my heart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my\nwords and deeds by Thy Holy Spirit, so that I may understand what is good\nor evil, and that I may this day so walk and live in this evil and\nperverse world, that I above all things, free from my sins, may have a\nheartfelt desire for that eternal home which Christ, my Saviour,\npurchased and secured for me, and may not lose it by reason of my wicked,\nsinful life. To this end wilt Thou graciously help me with Thy divine\nlove and the power of Thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Thy dear Son,\nJesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 10. Wednesday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nI thank Thee, O almighty God and kind Father, that Thou hast this day\nagain graciously kept me safe from harm both in body and soul. I pray\nThee, that Thou wouldst according to Thy great goodness blot out every\nsin that I have this day committed against Thee and Thy holy commandments\nwith my heart, tongue, or in other ways, and not forsake me, Thy\ncreature, whom Thou hast redeemed with the precious blood of Thy dear Son\nJesus Christ, and protect me this night under Thy almighty wings, against\nthe wicked one, who goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour me,\nso that under the shadow of Thy goodness I may rest and sleep securely,\nand the wicked one may not be able to approach me or do me any harm.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 11. Thursday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nGod the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Thou ever blessed\nTrinity! to Thee I resign myself with body and soul both now and forever,\nand heartily thank Thee that Thou didst not permit the wicked one to harm\nme during the past night, but didst, by the protection of Thy holy\nangels, keep me safe to this day. What shall I render unto Thee,\nwherewith shall I worthily praise Thee? I will give Thee a contrite and\nbroken heart, full of sins like scarlet, but sorrowing and penitent;\ngraciously accept of it, and wash it white as snow in the precious blood\nof Thy dear Son, my Redeemer, bury it in His holy innocent wounds, and\nthus do Thou graciously impart to me the forgiveness of all my sins. And\nhelp me to hold myself in Christian readiness every day, inasmuch as I do\nnot know, when Thou wilt come, how and where Thou wilt call me hence, so\nthat I may by Thy blessing be conducted to eternal joy. Grant me this,\ngracious Father, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 12. Thursday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nGracious and most merciful God, eternal Father, what heartfelt love and\nfatherly care Thou hast for me, a poor sinner, in that Thou hast so\ngraciously preserved me all the days and hours of my life, from my\nearliest youth to the present time, against all the wiles of the devil,\nand the danger and harm of the wicked world; and I humbly pray Thee,\nthat, according to Thy paternal love toward me, Thou wouldst to all\neternity not remember against me what I have done against Thee this day,\nbut mercifully forgive it, and be gracious unto me for the sake of Thy\ndear Son, Jesus Christ, who became the Surety for all my sins, and keep\nme and all who are near and dear to me safe this night from sudden death,\nfrom danger by fire and water, pestilence and all harm. I therefore\ncommend myself, my body and soul and everything that I have to Thy\nfatherly protection; may Thy holy angel be with me, that, I may fear no\ndanger. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 13. Friday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nI, a poor sinner, have now arisen in Thy name, Thou crucified Lord Jesus\nChrist, who, as the truly patient Lamb for the slaughter, didst suffer\nfor me the most ignominious death on the cross, and with Thy precious\nblood redeemed me from all my sins, from death, the devil and hell:\ngovern my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, refresh it with the heavenly dew of\nThy grace, preserve me with Thy divine love, and hide me this day, both\nbody and soul, in Thy holy wounds; wash me clean from all my sins, keep\nme in all good works, and lead me from this world of sorrow to eternal\njoy and glory, Thou most faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ, my only Comfort,\nHope and Life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 14. Friday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ, Thou patient Lamb for the slaughter and holy\nsacrificial offering for all my sins, and not for mine alone, but for the\nsins of the whole world! I most heartily thank Thee again that Thou hast\nso graciously kept both my body and soul under Thy protecting care this\nday, and pray Thee that Thou wouldst graciously pardon and forgive all my\nsins which I have committed this day through the weakness of my depraved\nnature and the enticement of the evil spirit, and which sorely trouble\nand oppress my heart and conscience; and as I am now about to lie down to\nrest and sleep, cover me with the wings of Thy grace, and help that I may\nwith my body sleep under them this night in peace and rest, but with my\nsoul may I always watch for Thee, wait for Thy glorious coming to\njudgment, and with heartfelt longing keep myself in readiness to go with\nThee at last to Thy blessed kingdom.\n\nUnto this help me, O faithful God! blessed forevermore with Thy dear Son\nand the Holy Spirit. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 15. Saturday Morning Prayer.\n\n\nO thou faithful Father in heaven! Could I but sufficiently praise and\nthank Thee for all the benefits Thou hast bestowed upon me during all the\ndays of my life! But this is beyond my power and ability. For I am flesh\nand blood, which can do nothing but what is evil. But Thou doest daily\ngrant me blessings without number, and especially in the past night, if\nThou hadst not been my Shield and Defence, the devil would have injured\nme greatly with his power, so that I could not have arisen in health. But\nby Thy gracious protection I have been kept safe. I humbly pray Thee,\nextend to me Thy grace this day, and mercifully keep me, who am Thine\nthrough the blood of Christ, henceforth unto eternal life. Amen, Lord\nJesus, take my soul into Thy hands and let me be commended unto Thee.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 16. Saturday Evening Prayer.\n\n\nMerciful, gracious God and Father! Most heartily do I again give Thee\npraise and thanks, that Thou hast during the whole period of my life\ntaken thought for me in such a fatherly manner, and hast so graciously\nprotected me from all harm and danger of soul and body during this day,\neven during the whole week up to the present hour. And I further pray\nThee, that Thou wouldst through Thy grace, which all penitent sinners\nhave with Thee, blot out all my sins, which I have this day and through\nthe whole week committed knowingly or unknowingly against Thee and my\nneighbor, and let them be remembered against me no more for ever. And\nhelp me graciously that I may pass from the old week into a new Christian\nlife, well-pleasing to Thee, and to all the elect in heaven. May I be\ncommended to Thy gracious arms this night, that I may rest and sleep\nsafely, and arise again refreshed and in health further to praise Thee.\nAnd when my last hour comes, take me to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ; for I am\nThine and Thou art mine, how gladly and willingly would I soon be with\nThee! Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 17. Daily Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant.\n\n\nI hereby renew the covenant of my holy baptism, and renounce, both now\nand forever, the devil and all his works and all his ways, and this\nungodly and wicked world, together with my own sinful flesh and blood.\nInto Thy hands, O Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I commend my body and soul.\nInto Thy care I commend my temporal, spiritual and eternal welfare, and\nthe welfare of those dear and near to me. I commit myself entirely into\nThy care, mercy, love and faithfullness, O Thou my Father! I clothe\nmyself with Thy merits, with Thy precious blood and wounds and Thy\nblessed communion, O Lord Jesus, my Redeemer! I commend myself entirely\nto Thy merciful guidance, to Thy power, light and comfort, O Holy Spirit,\nmost blessed Comforter! O Triune God! Thou art mine, I am Thine; Thou art\nmy Father, I am Thy child; Thou art my shepherd, I am Thy lamb; Thou art\nmy Lord, I am Thine own. O my God! How can I sufficiently thank Thee!\nThou hast regarded me very highly and hast bestowed upon me, a poor\nsinful being, salvation in Jesus Christ, through the blessed regeneration\nin the sacrament of Holy Baptism. O do Thou preserve me in this Thy Grace\nunto death. Grant, my God, that this my salvation may be my comfort at\nall times against satan, sin and death, and that I may value it more\nhighly than all worldly honor and earthly fame, and diligently endeavor\nto lead a holy and godly life in accordance with it until a happy death\nin Christ Jesus. Do Thou, in mercy, grant this my prayer, O my Father,\nfor the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy\nSpirit. For all which, all honor, praise and thanksgiving be unto Thee,\nthe Triune God, forevermore. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 18. Prayer on a Birthday.\n\n\nMy Lord and my God, in Thee I live, and move, and have my being, Thou art\nmy stay in life and in death. I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and\nwonderfully made, marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right\nwell. Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb; my substance was not hid\nfrom Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest\nparts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect,\nand in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were\nfashioned, when as yet there was none of them. To-day I will call to my\nmind the day of my birth which is the beginning both of my temporal and\nspiritual life, when I was brought unto Holy Baptism, and became\nreconciled unto my God, and was cleansed by the Water in connection with\nthe Word, when my sins were taken away and the Holy Ghost bestowed upon\nme; for all which I thank and praise Thee. I praise Thee, O God, my\nCreator! that on this day Thou hast brought me forth from my mother's\nwomb, although in pain and sorrow. I thank Thee, that Thou hast brought\nme to a place where Thy name is rightfully known, Thy holy Word taught in\nall purity, and that I am thus enabled, under Thy guidance, to come unto\nthe true and living faith. I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ! for all the\nblessings, with which Thou in loving-kindness often hast remembered my\nbody and soul, from the hour of my birth until the present time, inasmuch\nas Thou didst not only nourish and preserve my body, and in various ways\nprotect my temporal life through Thy holy angels, who always behold the\nface of the Father in heaven, and daily provide me with abundant food and\nraiment, but, above all things, Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy\nWord, spiritual and imperishable gifts, and hast assured me in Holy\nBaptism, the bath of Regeneration, that I have been made a new creature\nand have become the first-fruit of Christ Jesus; Thou hast pardoned all\nmy sins, and hast blessed me with the gift of the Holy Ghost and made me\nheir of eternal Life; and though I have often, through the weakness of my\nflesh, or wantonly, forsaken my God and forgotten His commandments, and\nhave even more than seventy times seven committed fearful sins against\nGod in Heaven and my fellow-men on earth, yet didst Thou not, O Lord\nJesus! enter into judgment with Thy servant, and visit him with immediate\nand well-deserved punishment. O God, Holy Spirit! what a shameful life\nhave I thus far led! How often, and on how many occasions have I stumbled\nin my Christian walk, and have become guilty of great and atrocious sins!\nBut Thou, O God, Holy Ghost! hast just as often sought the lost sheep,\nand hast brought me again upon the path of rectitude, and hast\nsanctified, comforted and guided me. Thou hast preserved me in my\nstation, and hast restrained the devil and averted a host of bodily and\nspiritual dangers in which I should have perished long ago, if Thou hadst\nnot stood by me. O blessed Trinity! There is a time to be born; do Thou\ngraciously help all fruit of the womb and grant, a joyful birthday,\nforgiveness of sins and life eternal. Grant that I may to-day spend my\nbirthday, as also all future days of my life, without committing mortal\nsins, and that I may become conscious of my humble birth and wretchedness\nby nature. Do Thou bestow upon me the blessings of health and life until\nthe goal is reached. Grant me patience to endure all afflictions and\nsufferings. Comfort me in all misfortunes and distress. Forgive me daily\nmy sins and grant that I may thus continue firm unto my soul's salvation,\nand that I may, in the true and saving faith and with a good conscience,\nserve Thee even unto the end, through Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 19. A Prayer for Children.\n\n\nAlmighty God, Heavenly Father! since Thou hast so earnestly enjoined upon\nme, in the fourth commandment, to honor my father and my mother, and hast\nalso promised, graciously to reward such service with long life and\nprosperity: I would pray Thee from the depth of my heart, that Thou\nwouldst bestow upon me an obedient heart, which, with due submission,\nobeys my dear parents in all things, and also those who are my superiors\nin the place of my parents; that I may honor them in deed, word and with\npatience, and that I may not grieve, disregard or despise them as long as\nI live, in order that Thy blessing may rest upon me. Grant that I may\nwell remember and firmly keep to heart their words, rules and precepts,\nyea, that I may at all times be mindful of them, and that I may not\nforget their instructions, in order that my days may be long upon earth.\nDo Thou govern me through Thy good Spirit, that I may hear the\ninstruction of my father and not forsake the law of my mother, in order\nthat I may be a cause of joy and comfort unto them. Grant that I may, in\nall my actions, diligently follow the example of my Lord and Saviour,\nwho, being a true model for all pious children, was subject unto the\nvirgin Mary, His blessed mother, and unto Joseph, His foster-father.\nBestow also upon me a grateful and humble heart, that I may recompense my\ndear parents and again serve them, especially that I may administer unto\nthem in old age and bear with them when they have become childish and\nsimple, and that I may never forget that they are my parents. Do Thou\nalso graciously forgive me whenever I have offended them through childish\nweakness and rashness. Do Thou preserve me from evil society and\nfrivolous people, and when sinners entice me, that I may not consent nor\nwalk in their way with them, but that I may refrain my foot from their\npath and not bring disgrace and crime upon myself. O Lord! Thou hast thus\nfar chastened me as a man chasteneth his son; grant that I may bow down\nmine ear and hear the words of the wise, and learn while I am young, that\nI may acquire knowledge and discretion. Grant that I may increase in\nwisdom and stature, and in favour before Thee and my fellow-men, for the\nsake of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!\n\n\n\n\n 20. Prayer for Young Persons.\n\n\nO father of all Grace and Mercy, who art a God of Holiness, it is Thy\nholy will that we also should be holy and lead a life without lust and\nevil desires of our sinful flesh. I confess unto Thee my weakness and the\nsinful infirmities of my nature; for, to will is present with me, but how\nto perform that which, is good, I find not. The lust of the flesh, and\nthe lust of the eye, and the pride of life surround me like three\npowerful enemies and threaten to entice me away from Thy Grace.\nTherefore, O my Father, I pray Thee to create and preserve within me a\npure heart. Grant, that I may avoid, with all my heart, all places and\noccasions where opportunity is given for impurities, and that I may be\nafraid, lest I should take the members of Christ, and make them the\nmembers of a harlot. Grant, that I may rather abide in fervent devotion\nand at all times have a sincere desire and longing after true holiness,\nthat my body may, in truth, be the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I\nmay not cease to love Jesus Christ, who was crucified and has given\nHimself into death for my sake. Grant that I may love heavenly wisdom, in\norder that I may never more enter upon the paths of deceivers. O Thou\njust and holy God! who triest the hearts and reins, grant, that I may so\ncling unto Thee in this world, as to remain unseparated from Thee in all\neternity. Amen!\n\n\n\n\n 21. Prayer of a Servant.\n\n\nMerciful God! Thou who hast redeemed and liberated me, through the\nprecious suffering and death of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, from\neverlasting servitude, from the power of sin, from the power of darkness,\nand from the cruel tyranny of the devil, and hast made me lord over death\nand hell,--I pray Thou wouldst in mercy grant, that I may not conceive a\ndislike to my calling of bodily service, into which Thou hast placed me\naccording to Thy will and good pleasure, and that I may not impatiently\nrebel against Thy order, nor begrudge other people their higher station,\nbut that I may obey Thy will with a cheerful heart, and that I do not\nregard it otherwise than that I were serving Thee, O God in Heaven, and\nnot men on earth. To this end, dear Father, do Thou assist me, that I\nmay, in true knowledge and fear, serve Thee, the highest Lord in Heaven\nand on Earth; that I may love Thee above all things, placing in Thee all\nmy hope and salvation and walking unblamably according to Thy\ncommandments; and that I may also, in addition to this, be obedient in\nall things which are not displeasing unto Thee, to my master and\nmistress, according to the flesh, not only to them that are kind and\nlenient, but also to them who are rude and froward, serving them with\npatience, in all fear and simplicity of heart, just as I should serve\nChrist, my Lord, not with mere visible works, as if to gain favor before\nmen, but with a sincere heart for the sake of Thy command and precept.\nGrant in mercy, that I may be found faithful in every thing that is\nenjoined upon and intrusted unto me, that I may neither neglect nor\ndestroy anything, nor cause any mishap or loss through my carelessness,\nand that I may not defraud others, nor covet their property which is\nentrusted to me and placed into my hands. Preserve unto me good health,\nstrengthen the members of my body and increase my powers; bestow upon me\nknowledge and wisdom, that I may be able to perform the labor of my\nmaster and mistress, to improve their property by Thy divine help, that\nthey may be blessed through my industry and increase abundantly, and\ngrant that all that I do may redound to Thy glory and be profitable unto\nme to the blessed exercise unto godliness for the sake of Jesus Christ,\nThy dear Son who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit,\nworld-without-end. Amen!\n\n\n\n\n 22. Prayer of a Husband.\n\n\nAlmighty and Gracious God! Thou who Thyself hast instituted the holy\nstate of matrimony, and by the first miracle of Thy dear Son, Jesus\nChrist, hast honored and adorned it as a state pleasing in Thy sight, in\nwhich state also many sainted patriarchs and prophets have led a godly\nlife unto Thy good pleasure; and since Thou hast also helped me to enter\nholy matrimony and hast placed me at the head of my household, and as\nThou art pleased with these three things, namely, when brethren dwell\ntogether in unity, when neighbors love each other, and when husband and\nwife dwell together in love and purity; I would therefore pray Thee with\nall my heart, to grant unto me, that I may, in Christian love and harmony\nand with reasonableness, live with my wife, giving honor unto her, as\nunto the weaker vessel and as also being heir of the grace of life, and\nthat I may advise her, with the children and servants, into Thy knowledge\nand Divine honor in all chastity and decency. Unto this end, do Thou\nbestow Thy grace, that they may observe my instructions in that which is\ngood and which leads to all godliness, and that they may cheerfully abide\nin them. Do Thou restrain satan, that he may not cause discord and strife\nbetween us, and if we should, out of weakness, be at variance at any\ntime, do Thou help, that we may soon become reconciled again. Do Thou\ngive me grace, that I may not lust after another spouse or woman, or look\nupon her with an evil eye to desire her. Protect me, my wife, my children\nand servants against sickness, according to Thy divine will. Grant unto\nme, Thy servant, that I may diligently attend to my calling, eating my\ndaily bread in the sweat of my brow, and that I may not grow impatient,\nwhenever my task becomes bitter, for thus Thou hast instituted it. Do\nThou prosper and bless my substance, that it may increase without injury\nor disadvantage to others. Give me pious and faithful servants. Preserve\nunto me my house and home, and all that Thou hast bestowed upon me. Help\nus to bear the cross in our calling with patience, and after this life\ngather us together with all Thy saints in Thy kingdom above. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 23. Prayer of a Wife.\n\n\nGracious God, faithful Father! Since Thou hast, through Thy mercy, called\nme into the holy state of matrimony to be the mistress of a house, in\nwhich state I can also serve and please Thee, my God, do Thou bestow\ngrace upon me, Thy servant, that I may at all times sincerely fear Thee,\nand trust in Thee above all things, O my Creator and Redeemer; and that I\nmay, next to Thee, fear, love and honor my husband, and desire none other\nbesides him. Help, that according to Thy command, my will be in\nsubjection to my husband, to obey him with all readiness, and that I, in\nthe innermost of my heart, may ever be adorned with a meek and quiet\nspirit and many virtues, like unto the holy women of olden times who\ntrusted in God, being in subjection to their own husbands. Grant that I\nmay lead a chaste and pure life in fear and humility, that I may in all\ngodliness and with kind and modest words restrain and subdue the anger\nand ill-humor of my husband, and be enabled to meet him with indulgence;\nthat I may, in meekness, train my children and servants unto the praise\nand honor of Thy holy name, and that they may, with willing hearts, obey\nme in those things which are good and righteous before Thee. Help that I\nmay be a faithful helpmeet unto my husband, that I may with care guard\nover the blessings which Thou hast graciously bestowed upon us and not\nsquander them, but that I may work and assist, as is becoming me in this\nmy calling, that I may be able to give unto the needy and extend a\nhelping hand unto the poor. Protect us against unfaithful and wicked\nservants, who neglect and waste our property. Give me grace that I may\npatiently bear the cross in married life, and not so soon become\ndiscouraged or intimidated whenever afflictions come upon us; for our\nfaith must be tested through trials and adversities. O Lord God! Into Thy\nalmighty power I commend myself, my dear husband, all my children and\nservants, do Thou preserve us from sin, disgrace and all afflictions,\nthrough Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 24. Prayer of an aged Person.\n\n\nLord God, Thou our refuge forevermore, our life and length of years by\nwhose hands our days are numbered, behold, I have reached the years, of\nwhich I can say that they are not pleasing to me. Since my strength has\nperceptibly decreased in this my old age, and many troubles and\nweaknesses come upon me, I humbly beseech Thee who hast so graciously and\nfatherly guided me from the beginning of my life, and hast been my hope\nfrom the days of youth until now, Thou wouldst not forsake me in old age,\nwhen I am gray-headed and weak, but continue to bear and deliver me unto\na happy end of my life. But especially do I pray Thee, O merciful Father,\nto guide and direct me by Thy holy and good Spirit, that I may spend the\nrest of my life in a Christian walk with praying and sighing in true\ndevotion to Thee, and that I may more and more prepare myself like a true\nChristian for a happy death, so that, if to-day or to-morrow my time\nshould come, I may depart in peace like the aged Simeon, and leaving this\nworld, may enter upon the joys of eternal life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 25. Prayer for a proper Performance of One's Duties.\n\n\nMerciful and faithful God! Thou hast commanded, that every man should\npursue a certain calling and be faithful in the same. Thou seest and\nknowest, therefore, omniscient Lord, what my duties are, and that I can\ndo nothing without Thy grace, power and blessing, but that I can err in\nvarious ways; therefore I sincerely pray Thee, to strengthen my reasoning\nfaculties, to bestow upon me bold and undaunted courage, that I may act\nreasonably and overcome all rising difficulties, and thus accomplish\nthrough Thy paternal guidance a desirable and blessed object. O my God, I\ntrust in Thee, let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over\nme, yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed. Show me Thy ways, O Lord,\nteach me Thy paths; for Thou art the God of my salvation, on Thee do I\nwait all the day. Preserve my soul, deliver me and sustain me in my\ntroubles. Let me not be ashamed, for I trust in Thee. O my God, be not\nfar from me, make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Amen. Amen.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 26. Prayer before Labor.\n\n\nEternal and Merciful God! I would now take up my work anew, and\ncheerfully lay hold upon the task of my proper calling, into which Thou\nhast placed me Thy servant, and thus labor according to my talents\nreceived from Thee, that I might through them serve my neighbor and earn\nmy daily bread. I would therefore pray Thee with all my heart, to bestow\nupon me knowledge, prudence, understanding and health for the performance\nof my labor and work, according to Thy grace-abounding promise, and to\nfurther and bless the same, that not only its beginning be well done, but\nthat I may also, through Thy paternal assistance and in Thy name,\nprofitably finish it, and at all times perform the duties of my calling\nin Thy fear with a good conscience. Into Thy hands I commend my work;\ngrant that my undertakings be successful, and that I may accomplish the\nwork begun in Thy name, that the light may ever be shining upon my path,\nunto Thy honor and praise and the welfare of myself and friends and\nneighbors, through Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. O Lord\nJesus, in Thy name and upon Thy Word I will let down my net. O Lord,\nhelp, O Lord, let my work prosper. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 27. Prayer for Divine Blessing upon the Work of One's Calling.\n\n\nLord God! Thou hast assigned work to every man according to his\nabilities, and it is Thy will, that we should eat our daily bread in the\nsweat of our face, until we return again unto dust, and that we should\nlive by the work of our hands and prosper; behold, upon Thy word I will\nbegin anew the work of my calling, grant that my efforts and labors be\nnot in vain, but help that I may work with my hands the thing which is\ngood, that I may have to give to him that needeth. Bestow upon me Thy\nfavor and blessing at all times, for upon it depend all things, that I\nmay accomplish my work and do wrong to no one, so that I may honor the\nLord with my substance and provide for those near to me, especially for\nmy own household. Bless us more and more, bless our substance and all\nthat we have, for Thy blessing enriches us without the anxieties of the\nbusy hand. Lord, gladden my heart and make cheerful my countenance, give\nme health, life and Thy blessing. All this, however, I ask of Thee in\nsubmission to Thy holy will, Lord, hear my prayer. Into Thy hands I\ncommend my ways, in Thee I hope, Thou wilt do all things well. The Lord\nbe praised daily. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 28. Luther's Prayer based on the Scriptural Passage: Casting all\n your care upon Him, for He careth for you.\n\n\nHeavenly Father! Thou art indeed my Lord and God, who hast made me out of\nnothing and redeemed me through Thy Son. Thou hast commanded and\nappointed me to perform these my duties and labors, which I, however,\ncannot accomplish as I desire, and many troubles there be that frighten\nand oppress me, so that I am, as to my own power, without help and\nconsolation; therefore I commend all things into Thy hands, do Thou help\nand console me, and be Thou all in all. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 29. Prayer before beginning any Important Work.\n\n\nLord, Thou doest great things, which are unconceivable, and wonders\ninnumerable, Thou whose strength is mighty in weakness; I call upon Thee,\nthe Most High, to prosper the work of my hands and graciously help me to\naccomplish this work, which I have undertaken with entire confidence in\nThee. Lord God, strengthen me in this hour, and depart not from Thy\nservant, whose hope is in Thee, and without Thee can do nothing. Prepare\nme with strength from on high, and give me the wisdom which is\ncontinually about Thy throne, that it may be with me and direct my\nlabors. All depends upon Thy divine blessing; wherefore remember me, O\nLord, and bless all I do and all I leave undone, in order that I may\nbegin and accomplish my work prudently and successfully. May my actions\nbe pleasing unto Thee, assist me by Thy advice, in order that I may be\nable most profitably to begin, continue and finish my work. For unto Thee\ndo I commit the beginning and the accomplishment of my labors, and unto\nThee will I thankfully ascribe all praise for prospering the work of my\nhands. Amen. In Jesus name, Amen, Amen!\n\n\n\n\n 30. Thanks returned after Labor.\n\n\nAlmighty, eternal and gracious God! I praise and thank Thee for Thy most\nholy presence and assistance, which Thou hast shown unto me this day, for\nwithout Thee I certainly could have done nothing, hence Thou alone art\nworthy to receive the praise. I beseech Thee, to permit these labors to\nbe pleasing unto Thee, and to redound to the well-being of myself and\nneighbors, both bodily and spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord,\nwho with Thee and the Holy Ghost, true God, lives and reigns to all\neternity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 31. Prayer during a Journey.\n\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ, Thou ever-gracious Lord and Saviour! Thou who hast\nbecome a guest and stranger for us upon earth, I come unto Thee humbled\nin heart, and beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst permit my whole life and\nwalk to be acceptable unto Thee. Preserve me also upon this my journey by\nthe protection of Thy beloved angels upon all my ways graciously from all\nevil and accident, misfortune and danger of soul and body, so that I may\nsuccessfully accomplish my work and return again to my beloved ones, in\nhealth and in vigor. Unto Thee alone, O Lord, do I commit my body and\nsoul, all that I have and possess, during my journey. Do Thou direct my\ncourse and way to my welfare and blessedness. In the mean time do Thou\nfaithfully protect my loved ones at home, that we may meet each other\nagain in health and happiness. And when I have finally accomplished my\njourney of life here in this world, receive me unto Thyself, into Thy\nglory, by a peaceful and a blessed death. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 32. Prayer while beginning a Journey at Sea.\n\n\nEternal God, behold, I now journey upon the deep, and commit myself to\nthe wild, rough sea; here on the waters I am tossed to and fro between\nheaven and earth, how shall this little ship, small and weak in\nstructure, which cannot protect itself, protect me? On whom then shall I,\nwretched man, put my trust? Alas, O God and Lord, alone upon Thee and Thy\nfatherly power and care, for neither man nor any of Thy creatures can\nsave me. The wind bloweth whithersoever it will, the sea lifts up its\nwaves, beneath me I see neither ground nor foundation, and above the lone\nheavens. The men who assist me are in like danger and care; wherefore, O\nGod, I lift my eyes alone unto Thee, from whom cometh my help, my help\ncometh from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. To Thee do I commit\nmyself both body and soul, life and property. Unto Thee alone do I look,\nin Thee alone do I put my trust, my hope is in Thee, there is no help in\nman. Bear Thou this little ship on Thy wings, and preserve me within and\nbe with me in the ship, else, O Lord, we perish; but if I only have Thee,\nI will ask nothing of heaven or earth! Yea, while I now depart from land\nand leave the same behind me, help me, to forsake and deny all confidence\nin worldly and human assistance, and to commit myself unto Thee alone.\nLord, behold, I have entirely submitted to Thy will, do unto me as may\nseem good in Thy sight, that it may redound to the welfare and salvation\nof my soul. I commit myself into Thy hands, for Thou hast drawn me into\nThy embrace, and no one shall pluck me out of Thy hand, because I am a\nmember of Christ's fold, and a sheep of his pastures, wherein I will\ngladly live and die by the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 33. Prayer of a Seafarer during a Storm.\n\n\nAlmighty God, Thou God of the righteous! Thou who hast made the sea and\nthe dry land, and upholdest all things by Thy hand, and raisest the\nstormy wind, which lifteth up the waves, so that the ship is tossed now\nto the heavens, and now down again to the depths, that a person is reeled\nto and fro like a drunken man at his wit's end, as the Holy Spirit says.\nWe are now in great danger and distress in this our journey on the sea.\nAs Thou hast said: \"Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver\nthee,\" we therefore in this our great need, from which no creature can\nsave us but Thou alone, hold out to Thee thy word with believing hearts,\nand humbly ask Thee to manifest Thy power according to Thy great mercy,\nand say unto the wind and the sea: Peace, be still! and graciously\nprotect us from shipwreck and danger, hold and preserve us by Thy\ngracious hand, and redeem us graciously from this danger, and we will\npraise Thy name as long as we live, never forget Thy deeds of mercy and\namend our lives so that henceforth they may conform to Thy holy Word.\nAlas! Lord, be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins for Jesus\nChrist's sake. Alas! help us, lest we perish! Alas! Lord, redeem us for\nThy mercy's sake! But if it be Thy will here to end our lives, then give\nunto us Christian patience, preserve us in the true faith and give us the\nend of our faith, the salvation of our souls! Thou canst redeem from\ndeath, Thou canst also redeem us out of this danger. Hear us, hear us,\nhear us, Lord God Father, for Jesus Christ's sake! Lord Jesus, for the\nsake of Thy five blessed wounds! Lord God, Holy Spirit for the sake of\nThy mercy and grace! Help us, Lord God, the Father! Help us, Lord God,\nthe Son! Help us, Lord God, the Holy Ghost, for Thy own sake, and for the\nhonor of Thy name, and for Thy infinite mercy's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n A brief Instruction concerning Confession and Absolution.\n\n\nMy dear Christian, when you come to confession, you must not be satisfied\nin repeating with the mouth a prayer which you have committed to memory,\nor to permit a prayer of confession to be repeated to you by your\nconfessor, but you must yourself bring with you a penitent heart, out of\nwhich your confession will then freely flow, for to confess without a\npenitent heart is mocking God, and without it no forgiveness of sins can\ntake place.\n\nTo a penitent heart in the first place belongs, that you confess your\nsins and experience sorrow and penitence on account of them. By nature no\nman can know his sins, nor can he produce penitence in his heart\nconcerning them; this must above all be sought of God. We men are by\nnature much too blind, too indifferent, too inconsiderate, too\nselfrighteous, too much possessed with self-love and self-interest, than\nto be inclined and capable penitently and uprightly to confess ourselves\nguilty of all sins. Wherefore above all things bend your knees before God\nand call upon him, that He might open your eyes that you may thoroughly\nknow the multitude and greatness of your sins. Pray with the blessed\nDavid: \"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my\nthoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the\nway everlasting.\" Hereupon take the holy ten commandments and make a\ncareful examination of your whole life in accordance with them. Then you\nwill know that you are a sinner. For as a man cannot see a spot on his\nface without a glass, neither can he know his sins without beholding\nhimself in the glass of the holy ten commandments. For sin is every work,\nevery word, yea, every thought, which is against God's commandments; for\nsin consists in the performance of that which God has forbidden, or in\nthe omission of that which He has commanded to be done. But you must not\nonly regard the gross external sins, but also the internal secret sins,\ndepartures from God's commandments, which have taken place in the heart\nthrough evil thoughts and desires. If you will examine yourself thus in\nconstant prayer, you will discover that you have not feared, loved and\ntrusted God as He requires, that you have not so heartily and confidently\ncalled upon God, prayed, praised and given thanks, that you have not kept\nHis Word so holy, heard and learned it, as you should have done. You will\nfind that you have not honored and loved your parents and superiors, but\nhave been disobedient and murmured against them; you will find that you\nhave sinned against your neighbor in anger, hatred, revenge and\nirreconcilableness, with unchaste thoughts and desires, envy, illwill,\navarice, an earthly mind or with slanderous words, in short, you will\nfind that you have not so uprightly and heartily loved your neighbor as\nyourself, that much more selfishness, the seeking of your own interests\nor your own honor has been the motive to all your actions. With these and\nother sins you have surely deserved the wrath of God, temporal and\neternal punishment, if God would deal with you according to His stern\nrighteousness. From these sins which you perceive in yourself you can\ndraw the conclusion how impure and depraved your heart is, from which\nthese sins flow, for as the water, so the spring, and by the fruits we\nknow the tree. Hence you will come to the knowledge of original sin.\n\nIf you now will perceive these and other sins in thyself, yea, if you\nconsider, that the sins you have committed in ignorance, are many more\nthan those you know and feel in your heart, which nevertheless the all\nknowing God places in the light of His countenance, then you will tremble\nin your conscience and experience sorrow and penitence on account of\nthem, that you have so grievously offended your God and have been so\nunthankful for His blessings.\n\nThe second part of confession is faith, and indeed faith in Jesus Christ,\nwho hath made satisfaction for all thy sins and has also obtained\nforgiveness of the same. Faith is as a hand which appropriates the\nforgiveness of sins and receives it as an unmerited gift of divine grace.\nWithout this faith all knowledge and sorrow for sin is only the\nconfession of a Cain or a Judas, which ends in despair. But by faith in\nJesus Christ, the Saviour of all sinners, the heart is comforted and made\nquiet. But this faith you cannot produce in your own heart, but it is the\nwork and gift of God the Holy Spirit. And if you experience that you are\nwanting in this faith, and that you cannot believe but desire to believe,\nthen call upon God for this faith, and he will give it thee.\n\nThereupon the fruits of penitence must follow. These consist in this,\nthat you no more knowingly and intentionally will commit the sins which\nhave been forgiven you, but you much more will hate and forsake them, and\nby the assistance of the Holy Spirit contend against them.\n\nIf now you bring such a penitent heart with you to confession, then you\nare able to receive the absolution which your confessor gives you, by\nvirtue of which your sins are really and certainly forgiven thee by God\nin heaven. Forgiveness of sins Christ has obtained for all sinners by his\ndeath and the shedding of His blood and sealed it by His resurrection and\ncommanded it to be preached and delivered to all the world through the\nGospel. Now when the confessor absolves thee, he does nothing else than\ndeclare unto you the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins; and yet this is\nnot merely an empty declaration, but such a one through which forgiveness\nof sins is really presented and offered to penitent sinners. As often as\nyou hear the words of absolution from his mouth, do not doubt, but firmly\nbelieve that your sins are forgiven thee before God in heaven, as\ncertainly as if Christ would immediately speak from heaven: \"Be of good\ncheer, my son (my daughter), thy sins be forgiven thee,\" for He says:\n\"Whosoever heareth you, heareth me, and whosesoever sins ye remit, they\nare remitted unto them.\"\n\n\n\n\n34. Complaint of a poor Sinner concerning the Impenitence of his Heart.\n\n\nI, miserable afflicted sinner, come unto Thee, my heavenly Father, and\nbring nothing with me but sin only. I can therefore not lift up my eyes\nto Thy exalted and most holy majesty, but I am ashamed, that I have so\noft offended Thee and not hearkened unto Thy voice. Alas! there is\nnothing good in me, I am conceived and born in sins, my nature is so\nperverted and depraved, that I cannot feel and experience in me either a\ndesire or love for virtue and the heavenly gifts, but only for transitory\nhonor and joys and the inclination to all evil. I have lived in sin from\nmy youth up, and yet I live in sin, as long as I have this sinful flesh\nof Adam on me. But, dear Lord, I comfort myself by Thy unbounded,\nunfathomable, infinite and unspeakable grace and mercy, which Thou hast\npromised to all penitent sinners in Thy word and confirmed by a sacred\noath. I comfort myself by the precious merit of Thy only begotten Son,\nwho was delivered for the sake of my sins and raised for my\njustification. O heavenly Father, hide Thy face from my sins and behold\nthe face of Thy Son, who in himself never did commit sin, nor ever knew\nof sin, but through His most holy obedience, blood and death hath made\nsatisfaction for all my sins and the sins of the whole world. Receive me,\nO Father, for the sake of this Saviour again into grace, and do not\npermit his bitter sufferings and death and his perfect precious ransom,\nwhich he has paid Thee for my sins to be lost by me, poor sinner, but\nthat it may strengthen me. And I will then praise and bless Thee, here in\ntime and there in eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 35. Prayer for true Conversion.\n\n\nAlmighty God, merciful Father! Every day Thy voice calling me to\nrepentance and grace resounds in my ears, encouraging me and all sinful\nsouls unto conversion: Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord,\nand I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful,\nsaith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine\niniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord, thy God. But\nalas! I am not sufficient of myself, as of myself to convert myself unto\nThee. As little as the Ethiopian can change his skin and as little as the\nleopard can change its spots, so little can I cease to do evil and do\ngood by my natural powers, inasmuch as the thoughts and intents of my\nheart are inclined to evil from my youth up continually. Has Thy grace\nwrought so much in me that I have determined that I will arise and\nreconcile myself with Thee on account of my sins, and offer unto Thee a\nbroken and contrite heart, yet, alas! satan, the accursed one, will cast\na thousandfold hinderances in the way. My own sinful flesh and blood\nprevent me, that the good that I will I cannot accomplish, but remain in\nsin and finally be destroyed therein. Wherefore, Abba, dear Father, I\nbend and bow my knees in deep humility before Thee, and ask for the sake\nof Thy infinite mercy: convert me, O Lord, and I shall be converted, help\nme, and I shall be helped, let Thy grace, my God, not be in vain in me,\nbut as Thou hast given to will, so do Thou also give to accomplish it.\nDestroy the wantonness of the infernal villain, prevent the suggestions\nof my perverted heart, that my holy resolution may not be hindered or\nentirely destroyed. Open my eyes that I may heartily know, painfully\nlament, and bitterly bewail my sins. Give me a divine sorrow over my\ntransgressions, which will bring repentance unto salvation, which may\nnever be repented of. Do Thou not, O Lord, permit me to be destroyed\nunder the burden of sin, nor to despair with Cain and Judas, but do Thou\nturn to me, and be merciful unto me, behold my misery and affliction, and\nforgive all my sins. Show me Thy dear and merciful heart, Father, which\ndesireth not the death of a sinner, but that he may be converted and\nlive; speak gently to my soul, and say that mercy shall go for justice,\nand that Thou wilt no more remember my transgressions. Show me with the\nfinger of Thy divine grace unto Jesus, the crucified one, how he died for\nmy sins and rose again for my justification. Open to me for a refuge his\nbloody wounds, in which so many poor sinners have found comfort and\nsalvation. Create also a clean heart within me and renew a right spirit\nwithin me; cast me not away from Thy countenance and take not Thy Holy\nSpirit from me; comfort me again with Thy help, and the joyful Spirit\npreserve me in a firm resolution to amend my sinful life, and as long as\nI live to serve Thee in righteousness and holiness, as is pleasing in Thy\nsight. O Lord, hear me, alas! Lord! be merciful, O Lord! hearken to\nremember and do what I ask, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen!\n\n\n\n\n 36. Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sin.\n\n\nEternal, merciful God, I, a poor miserable afflicted sinner, come before\nThy divine Majesty bringing unto Thee nothing but sin, and on account of\nthis sin I dare not raise my eyes unto Thee, but am cast down with shame,\nthat I have so often and with great and manifold sins offended Thee, my\nGod, my Creator and Father, so that if Thou wouldst deal with me\naccording to my just dues, I would forever remain a child of wrath and\neternal damnation. But dear Lord God and Father, I comfort myself with\nThy great mercy, with Thy unmeasurable, unfathomable, endless and\nunspeakable grace, which Thou thyself hast vouchsafed unto me and which\nThou, with a precious oath and affirmation, hast confirmed and given me\nample assurance with Thy Words: \"As true as I live, I have no pleasure in\nthe death of a sinner, but that he might turn from his wickedness and\nlive.\" I comfort myself with Thine only begotten Son, my dear Redeemer,\nJustifier, Mediator and Saviour, that He has, by His perfect obedience,\nsufferings and death, obtained for me again Thy favor, and has given unto\nme, one that believes in Him, power to become Thy child and to remain an\nheir of Thy boundless mercy now and in eternity. Therefore, I will not\ndespair, but will confess my sins, both internal and external, secret and\nmanifest, unto Thee, and I will present myself before Thee guilty as an\nevil-doer and malefactor, and I know nothing more to do than to come upon\nthe promise of Thy Word with an humble heart and dauntless spirit in true\nfaith and sincere confidence in Thy promised mercy and the bitter\nsufferings of Thy dear Son, to the throne of grace, and from the depths\nof my heart exclaim: Abba, dear Father, Lord! have mercy upon me! O God,\nbe gracious unto me, a poor, miserable sinner; forgive all my original\nand actual sins, and all that I have at any time thought, spoken or done\nagainst Thee, consciously or unconsciously. Lord, there is nothing good\nin me. In sin was I conceived and born, in sin have I lived, in sin do I\nyet live, so long as I carry with me this sinful flesh and blood, and my\nsins are continually before Thee. Thou seest in me a thousand times more,\nyea, and a thousand times greater sin than I myself am able to see, know\nand feel. O Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy\nsight shall no man living be justified. Have mercy upon me for the sake\nof Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, my Lord and Saviour, and through Thy great\nmercy, which is greater than the sins of all men, blot out my\ntransgressions. Wash me clean with hysop and sprinkle me with the pure\nblood of Thy Son, which was shed upon the cross. May I be and remain Thy\nchild and heir, a vessel of Thy mercy, a fountain and dwelling of the\nHoly Spirit. O, Lord, redeem, comfort and quicken me! Grant unto me Thy\ngrace anew! Gladden my distressed spirit and my troubled and broken heart\nwith Thy holy, joyful and life-giving Spirit. The broken reed and smoking\nflax Thou wilt not, O Lord, bruise and quench. Thou wilt not cast me away\nfrom Thy countenance forever, this I know full well. Thou wilt not permit\nme to despair, but wilt favor me with Thy true Spirit, who will enkindle\nand confirm in me true faith and comfort. O, Lord! my God and Father,\nThou faithful God, hear my prayer, that I may continue to be and remain\nThy child and temple, now and eternally. Permit me not to fall into error\nand vice against my conscience. Save me from blood guiltiness and from\nall evil. May I ever rejoice in Thy Word, that I may willingly hear the\nsame, read and ponder over it and that I may therewith serve and benefit\nothers, that I may speak of it day and night, and proclaim Thy\nrighteousness and glory continually; and I will love, adore, praise,\nthank and serve Thee, my God and Lord, and Thy dear Son, my Saviour Jesus\nChrist, together with the Holy Ghost, now and in all eternity with all\nangels and men. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 37. Prayer for Reconciliation with our Neighbor.\n\n\nGracious Jesus, through Thy grace I have prepared myself and am about to\nseek the forgiveness of my sins in private confession; but I remember,\nthat Thou hast said and earnestly commanded: if thou bring thy gift\nbefore the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught\nagainst thee: leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way, first\nbe reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift. Now I have\nunfortunately fallen into misunderstanding and variance with my neighbor,\nhence do Thou so bestow upon me Thy grace and so overrule my heart, that\nI may be willing to be reconciled with him. I acknowledge the hardness of\nmy heart and confess that it is hard for me to subdue my flesh and blood\nand to banish all anger and revenge. But it is my hope, yea, my prayer,\nthat Thou, Lord, wilt take away my stony heart and grant unto me a heart\nof flesh, that is: a loving, reconciled heart, and cause me to love my\nenemy, to bless him that curses me, to do good unto those, that hate me,\nand to pray for those who despitefully abuse and persecute me. O! may I\nmeditate upon that judgment and that terrible account which I must give\nunto Thee, that I may renounce that enmity which designs death and\ndestruction, and according to Thy commandment become reconciled with my\nadversary whilst I am in the way with him, and never more permit the sun\nto go down upon my wrath. And as I, in Thy name, pardon and forgive all\nthose, who have offended me, so let me find all those, whom I have\ngrieved and irritated, ready with a willing heart, to pardon and forgive\nmy offences against them. O, Jesus! forgive all our sins, and govern our\nhearts, that we may live with each other in a christian and peaceful\nmanner and that we may praise Thy name here in time, until in heaven we\nshall glorify Thee forever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Brief Instruction concerning the Holy Supper.\n\n\nWhy do you desire to go to the Holy Supper? This question each one should\nlay before his conscience before he approaches the Lord's table. For\nthere are not a few who are either altogether obtuse and thoughtless, or\nthey come to the Holy Supper with an entirely wrong intention. Some will\ngo from mere custom, others because they are admonished to do so by their\nparents, others because they consider the partaking of the Lord's Supper\na work of merit, and still others because they wish to acquire and\npreserve the appearance and name of pious Christians before men. It is no\nwonder that such partakers of the Holy Supper receive no blessings from\nit, and that they become the more wicked, the longer they so continue.\n\nA communicant who desires to receive the Holy Supper unto his salvation,\nmust, in the first place, clearly understand what the Holy Supper is and\nfor what Christ has instituted it, and, in the second place, he must have\na penitent heart.\n\nSuch have an altogether false conception of the Holy Supper, who regard\nit as a mere feast at which a person does but commemorate Christ's\nsufferings and death. No, the Holy Supper is the exalted and holy\nmystery, in which Christ with the consecrated bread gives us his body to\neat, and with the consecrated wine gives us his blood to drink, even the\nsame body which he took on himself from the virgin Mary and gave in death\nfor our sins, and the same blood which he shed upon the cross for the\nremission of our sins. True, we cannot see this with our eyes, we cannot\ntaste it with our mouth, nor can we understand it with our reason, but\nmust believe it, for our Lord and Saviour says: \"Take, eat, this _is_ my\nbody; take, drink, this _is_ my blood.\" Our Lord and Saviour is true, and\ncertainly he will fulfill what he says in the words of his testament; he\nis of infinite wisdom, and knows of ways and means for the fulfillment of\nhis promises, even though it be beyond our comprehension; he is almighty,\nwith whom nothing is impossible, who can do infinitely more than we are\nable to ask or think. If we believe with all earnestness, that it is not\nmere bread and wine, but also the true body and blood of our Saviour, who\nis God and man in one person, which we receive in the Holy Supper, then\nwe will not be thoughtless and indifferent, but we will approach the\ntable of the Lord with devotional and humble hearts and with the\ncenturion exclaim: Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my\nroof!\n\nThe benefits derived from the Holy Supper are threefold: first, by a\nworthy partaking of the Holy Supper we receive the forgiveness of sin and\nare assured of the same. Our gracious God has given many and manifold\nmeans to assure the poor sinner of the forgiveness of his sins; such\nmeans are, the preaching of the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Absolution and the\nHoly Supper. We should not ask the impertinent question, why God has\ngiven us _four_ means of grace, instead of _one_, but rather thank him,\nthat he has so richly blessed us in making us partakers of the\nforgiveness of our sins, and that he, through these means, gives unto us\na joyful heart and a certain assurance that we are acceptable unto him.\nWhoever knows from own experience, how important it is for one whose\nheart is terrified on account of his sins, to believe in the forgiveness\nof such sins, will readily conceive the greatness of divine mercy and\ncare, in not providing only one, but many means, through which we have\nthe assurance of the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, just as certain\nas with your mouth you eat the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ\nwhich was given for you in death for the forgiveness of your sins, and\ndrink that blood which was shed for the remission of your sins, just so\ncertain also should you be that such forgiveness is your portion and\ninheritance. Second, the Holy Supper also confers life. This is not a\ntemporal, natural life, which we have received through birth and which is\nnourished through the ordinary food and drink, but it is that new,\nspiritual life, which has been regenerated through the new birth in Holy\nBaptism, and which subsists by virtue of faith in the Lord Jesus and in\nlove to God and our neighbor. But inasmuch as this life is yet weak and\nimperfect and constant growth is necessary, the Lord has instituted the\nHoly Supper as a spiritual means of nourishment, in order to strengthen\nthe new spiritual life. Luther says concerning this: The Holy Supper is\nrightly regarded as food for the soul which nourishes and strengthens the\nnew man; for through Baptism we are first born again, but there still\nremains the old Adam in our flesh and blood; there are so many\ntemptations and impediments thrown in the way by the world and the devil,\nthat we often grow weary and languid and sometimes fall. Hence the Holy\nSupper is given us as a daily nourishment and food that our faith may\ngrow and be strengthened, and that in such contest it may not fall back,\nbut ever grow stronger and stronger; for the new life must be such as\nalways to increase and progress; it has on the other hand, to suffer\nmuch; for the devil is such a wrathful enemy, when he sees that one\nopposes him and assails the old man, and he is unable to prevail with his\npower, then he will sneak and creep around on all sides, making use of\nall kinds of artifice and keeps on until he finally has made us weary,\nthat a person either falls from the faith altogether, or gives way to\ndisgust and impatience. Thereto then this comfort is given, that the\nheart, when it feels the temptations too great to bear, receives new\nstrength and solace from the Holy Supper. But, thirdly, the Holy Supper\nalso confers eternal salvation. Just as sin, as long as it is not\nforgiven, deprives us of salvation, so sin which is forgiven opens unto\nus the door of eternal salvation. Where there is forgiveness of sin,\nthere is also life and salvation.\n\nBut if we would obtain this threefold blessed benefit from the Holy\nSupper, we must receive it worthily and well prepared. This is however\nnot a worthiness brought about by the law, but by the Gospel, and does\nnot consist in a perfect life and entire purity of the soul from sin; but\nmuch more in this, that we are conscious of our unworthiness and\nsinfulness; that we have a heart poor in spirit and mournful, and long\nheartily after the forgiveness of sin, that we also comfort ourselves\nwith it or wish to comfort; that we regard our sins to be very great, but\nthat we rejoice in the help which is found in none other than the Lord\nJesus Christ. On the other hand, all those communicants are unworthy and\nunfit, who in their self-righteous conceit think it unnecessary to have\nthe forgiveness of sin, as was the case with the Pharisee, who stood and\nprayed thus with himself: God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men\nare,--or who entirely doubt the forgiveness of sin, as did Cain, who said\nunto the Lord: My punishment is greater than I can bear, and who will not\npermit himself to be delivered from his despondent thoughts, or those who\ncontinue in evil purpose and who knowingly go on and serve sin, or who\nlive in malicious hatred against their neighbor. When such unworthy\ncommunicants receive the Holy Supper, it is true, they also receive the\nbody and blood of Christ, but they receive it unto judgment and unto the\nincrease of their own damnation. Hence, too, St. Paul gives the earnest\nadmonition: Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread\nand drink of that cup, for whoso eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth\nand drinketh damnation to himself. Now, whoever recognizes in himself the\nabove named characteristics of an unworthy communicant, should not dare\nto approach the table of the Lord in this condition; not that he should\nremain away, but in the meanwhile he should examine himself, and instead\nof being an impenitent, become a penitent sinner.\n\nBut are not also weak believers to be numbered among the unworthy\ncommunicants? By no means. But much more those who are both weak in faith\nand defective in godly life, and who are overtaken in this or that sin,\nand who painfully feel their weakness and long to become stronger, are\nChrist's right welcome guests at his table; such the Lord does not cast\naway, but much more invites to come; for he instituted the Holy Supper\nespecially for the weak and infirm, that through this spiritual\nnourishment they might become stronger. He extends unto all such the\ngracious call: Come unto me all ye that are weary and are heavy laden,\nand I will give you rest, and whosoever comes, I will in no wise cast\nout.\n\n\n\n\n 38. Morning Prayer of a Communicant.\n\n\nLord Jesus, I this morning rejoice that I, with other pious Christians,\nam permitted to receive Thy body and blood in, with and under the\nconsecrated bread and wine. O! how my soul longs for the courts of the\nLord and for the holy altar. As the hart panteth after the water brooks,\nso panteth my soul after Thee, O my God. For Thou art my Shepherd, I\nshall not want. O, Lord Jesus, as Thou hast begun the good work in me a\npoor miserable man, so also accomplish the same in mercy, through the\ngracious power of the Holy Spirit unto Thy name's glory and unto my own\nwelfare and eternal salvation. Dear Redeemer, I am, it is true, not\nworthy that I should come under Thy roof, but Thy grace, which is\nall-sufficient, make me worthy and amply qualify me, that the precious\nfood and drink of Thy true body and blood may quicken my soul in this\nheavenly feast of joy and love. Clothe me with the garment of salvation\nand with the robe of Thy righteousness by a true faith, that I may not be\nfound among the pretending guests and would-be-Christians, but may be a\nworthy partaker at Thy table and receive all Thy gracious treasures which\nThou hast acquired for me. O Lord Jesus, may Thy grace be and remain with\nme, as I ever put my trust in Thee. May Thy visitation preserve my\nspirit, my life and walk. And whatever else is needful, grant Thou, O\nLord, unto me in this life and in the life hereafter. Give me true\nrepentance, renew my heart, deliver my body and soul. O Lord! hear this\nmy desire, and do not permit my prayer to remain unanswered, that I may\nbe acceptable unto Thee in time and in eternity. Amen, in Jesus' name,\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 39. Prayer for a worthy Partaking of the Holy Supper.\n\n\nBehold me, Dear Saviour, As I Come Relying on Thy Gracious Invitation.\nMay I find favor in Thine eyes, Thou Lover of Life. For who am I that\nThou shouldst so friendly call me? Were I even holier than the angels,\nyet would I not be worthy of this repast; how then should I be worthy,\nseeing that I am of impure lips, yea, an abomination and offensive, if\nThou doest not make me worthy? Therefore come Thou to my succor with Thy\ngrace, and prepare me. Thou hast said: Whosoever cometh to me, Thou wilt\nin no wise cast out. Then take my soul into Thy favor, according to Thy\ngreat mercies. Dear Jesus, remember that of myself I have indeed much\nevil, but nothing good; so help me for Thy great goodness' sake. O see\nhow poor and miserable I am! Remember Thy faithfulness, O Saviour of the\nworld, and fill my heart with grace. O! how I long to appear at Thy table\nwith glowing devotion and becoming reverence in full faith, but where is\nthe power to do, if I do not receive it of Thee, thou Author and Finisher\nof my faith? Therefore give Thou unto me whatsoever is pleasing to Thee.\nGraciously take from me whatsoever displeases Thee, or cover it, at\nleast, I most humbly pray Thee, with the cloak of Thy righteousness. O!\nblessed is the soul that finds favor with Thee! Open Thou mine eyes that\nI may behold the wonders in Thy ordinances. Rouse my heart, and free me\nof all strange thoughts, increase my hope, inflame my desire, make ardent\nmy devotion, purge me of all uncleanness, and sanctify me wholly, that I\nmay approach with joyful confidence, that I may receive with pure mouth\nand holy heart, and with heartfelt desire eat and drink unto the life,\nwelfare and blessing of my soul. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 40. Thanksgiving after Partaking of the Holy Supper.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, I give Thee most hearty thanks and praise, that Thou\nhast again washed me, a poor sinful being, of all my transgressions, and,\nfor the most certain assurance of such washing and forgiveness of all my\nsins, hast permitted me to eat of Thy true body, and to drink of Thy true\nblood, and, taking me as an impure child after such cleansing, hast again\nreceived me into the fatherly arms of Thy grace and mercy, and doest thus\nshow and present me blameless, pure and without fault unto Thy heavenly\nFather.\n\nI pray Thee most heartily and from my whole soul, that, after Thy great\nbenefit, Thou wouldst yet add this in abundance, and graciously grant me\nThy grace through the working of the Holy Ghost, that I may be truly\nsensible of Thy great goodness, thankfully receive it, and from my heart\nmagnify and praise Thee during my whole life. And do Thou further work in\nme through Thy Holy Ghost, and effect that I also may heartily forgive my\nneighbor anything he may have done against me, as Thou, O Lord, hast\npardoned and forgiven all my great and numerous transgressions, yea, and\nhast entirely wiped them out of Thy remembrance; that I may also love my\nneighbor, and from my heart show him all manner of good, even as Thou, O\nLord, hast shown unto me more than I am able to thank for; in order that\nThou, O good and faithful God, in us mayest be magnified and praised\ntogether with the Father and Holy Ghost throughout all ages. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 41. Prayer that God would hereafter keep us from sin, and if we sin,\n that He would not reckon it to our account.\n\n\nO thou kind and merciful God, Thou dear Father in heaven, Thou hast out\nof grace and divine love, bestowed upon us Thy dear Son, and with Him all\ngrace, life and salvation. We pray Thee, dear Father, preserve unto us\nthis blessed treasure and heavenly gift, the gracious countenance of Thy\ndear Son, Jesus Christ, that we may never lose Him through\nunthankfulness, or otherwise be deprived of Him. We are indeed poor,\nmiserable and frail beings, who fall from one sin into another; we now\nsin in thought, now in word and deed, and it is with difficulty that we\nstand. Here we never find rest and peace; the devil watches our very\nthoughts, stirs them up, and fans the passions into flame, the world\nwatches our words and deeds, walk and life, and gives us much offense and\noccasion to sin, our own flesh also never rests, besides yet all the\noccasional sins, vices and weaknesses which daily beset us, and which\nterribly trouble our conscience, entirely destroy the joy of our heart\nand turn it into sorrow and sadness. Therefore we pray Thee, Thou kind\nand merciful God, that when, as it may happen, we have become negligent\nand unthankful, and do not so walk as we should--O do Thou still remain\nour gracious God; be Thou friendly towards us, comfort us in goodness and\nmercy, do not hold us accountable or make us suffer for our manifold\nsins, but purge our hearts and consciences by Thy word, in order that we\nmay serve Thee in sorrow and joy, magnify, honor and praise Thee in time\nand in eternity. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 42. Prayer in view of the Sufferings of Christ.\n\n\nAlas! my Lord Jesus Christ, when I behold Thee, as Thou wast in the\ngarden bowed down with heartfelt sorrow, and in great anguish didst sweat\ndrops of blood, as Thou wast afterwards taken prisoner, bound, and during\nthe whole night and hour of darkness mocked and insulted, in the morning\nearly as the innocent Lamb accused, whipped with scourges, and finally\nsentenced to death, suspended on the cross, pierced in your hands and\nfeet with ruthless nails, and not a member of Thy most holy body\nremaining without a wound:--Alas! when I see all this, I see nothing but\nmy sins, guilt and iniquities which brought Thee into this plight, and\nfor the sake of which Thou didst freely enter into such anguish and\ndistress, into such sadness, pain and suffering. Alas! my Lord, it is all\nmy guilt for which Thou didst suffer--I am the cause of it all. How\nwonderful are the ways and purposes of God! The Innocent One must pay for\nthe guilt of the guilty, the Good One must suffer the punishments of the\nwicked. The Lord must atone the guilt of the servant, and that which\nsinful man has brought upon himself God must bear. O Thou Son of the\nliving God, how great is Thy love and favor towards us mortals! What hast\nThou not done and suffered to redeem me, a poor lost sinner, and to\ndeliver me from death and eternal damnation. I have done evil, and Thou\nart punished; I have sinned, and Thou must atone. I have been\ndisobedient, and Thou must for my disobedience be overwhelmed with such\nanguish and distress. Alas! Thou Lord of Glory, what can I give Thee in\nreturn for this Thy great goodness and faithfulness which Thou hast shown\ntowards me! Wherewith shall I, poor needy mortal, requite such\nunspeakable benefit? Alas! my Lord, it shall forever remain unrequited.\nThere is no service in heaven or on earth whereby to pay Thee\nsufficiently for it. It is Thy pure grace and favor towards me, a poor\nsinner, and that remains by me forever unrequited, forever unmerited. And\nsince I have nothing wherewithall to pay my debt, therefore my heart\nshall evermore thank Thee for what Thou hast done to me, and I shall\nmagnify, glorify and praise Thy name now and forever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 43. Prayer in time of Drought.\n\n\nO Faithful God, Thou God of truth and righteousness, who unto the most\ncomforting assurance hast shown us in Thy word of truth, how that an\nearnest, zealous, faithful and persevering prayer, powerfully penetrates\nthe clouds of heaven, and not only most certainly comes into Thy\npresence, but also that it avails and effects a great deal, we, Thy poor\nchildren, now come, upon Thy comforting promise, in this extraordinarily\nprotracted season of heat and drought, with our faithful, hearty and\nearnest prayer before the face of Thy lofty and divine majesty, and\nhumbly beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst graciously hear us according to\nThy promise, turn Thy great wrath in mercy from us, give unto the parched\nearth again its needed moisture, and cause a propitious shower to fall in\nquickening drops upon the earth, in order that it may again bring forth\nthe ordained fruits so necessary for the support of our temporal life,\nwhich Thou in Thy paternal providence hast already ordained in the first\ncreation. As of old Thou didst unlock the windows of heaven in answer to\nthe faithful prayer of Thy servant and prophet Elias, and didst cause it\nto rain upon the thirsty earth, so we also confide the same to Thee now,\nthat Thou wilt let Thy grace reign over us in this season of heat and\ndrought, and out of Thy fatherly care for us, grant us our earnest\npetition and prayer, unto Thy honor and our salvation, through Jesus\nChrist, Thy dear Son, our only Redeemer and Saviour. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 44. Prayer for Sunshine in a protracted Season of Wet and Rain.\n\n\nLord God almighty, Thou who doest clothe the heaven with darkness, and\nmakest their covering as a sack; Thou didst in thy wrath punish the\nimpenitent old world for their wickedness and vice, with the overflowing\nwaters of the flood, and didst destroy all the creatures of the earth,\nthat live and have their being on dry land. We also at this time,\naccording to Thy strict righteousness, on account of our manifold sins\nwhich we have committed against Thee, are visited with unusual rain,\ncontinued and protracted wet weather by which the land and the fruits\nthereof are greatly injured. Merciful Father, Thou who didst close the\nfountains of the deep as well as the windows of heaven at the time of the\ndeluge, and didst command the rain from heaven to cease, take away from\nus all our sins and transgressions, and turn away from us the just\npunishment of our iniquities, the destructive rain and great waters. For\nthe earth is sad, and the heavens are mourning. Behold the pledge in the\nclouds--the rainbow--and remember Thy promise, give good and fruitful\nweather, that the fruits in field and garden may prosper, and not be\ndestroyed by the abundant and superfluous rain, and thus bring upon us\nfamine and scarcity. Lord God of truth, Thou who canst not lie, Thou hast\nsaid: There shall henceforth be no more deluge to destroy the earth.\nTherefore be merciful, O Lord! and do not out of wrath close up the\nbowels of Thy compassion, O do not take Thy favor and mercy from us! Do\nThou not give unto us idle teeth, and lack of bread, bless our bread,\nthat we may always have something to eat, and praise Thy holy name; thus\nshall we know that we are Thy children indeed, for whom Thou dost most\nfaithfully care, and praise Thee as our heavenly Father all the days of\nour lives. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 45. Prayer for the precious Fruits of the Field.\n\n\nDear Lord, do Thou graciously keep the blessed fruits of the field,\npurify the air, give fruitful rain and good weather, that the fruits of\nthe land may prosper; let them not be poisoned, so that by eating them we\ntogether with the cattle be not taken with pestilence, fever or other\nplagues; for such plagues come when evil spirits poison the air, and\nafterwards the fruits, wine and corn, so that we by Thy infliction eat\nand drink sickness and death with our own daily bread. Therefore, dear\nLord, bless Thy gifts that they may redound to our health and prosperity,\nand that we also may not abuse them to the injury of our souls or to\ngreater sinfulness, intemperance and idleness, out of which unchastity,\nadultery, profanity, swearing, murder, wars and all manner of evils flow;\nbut give us grace to use Thy gifts to our souls' salvation, and the\namendment of our lives, and that the fruits of the Land be the means of\nfurthering and keeping the health of our bodies and souls. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 46. Prayer during a Storm.\n\n\nGreat God of might and power in heaven and in earth, by Thy thunder and\nlightening we are now reminded of Thy great wrath over us sinful mortals.\nBy such sound of Thy voice which makes all creatures to tremble and to\nfear, Thou doest call us, as if it were with a bell of repentance, to the\nknowledge of our sins and to true repentance, in order that we may not be\ncondemned with the wicked world. Thou art such a mighty and powerful\nLord, that if Thou wouldst deal with us according to Thy strict\nrighteousness, Thou couldst destroy the world with one clap of thunder\nand lightening. But we bend our knees in prayer before Thee and humbly\nbeseech Thee, remit Thy great wrath enkindled against our sins. Have\nmercy on us, spare us, lift up Thy gracious countenance upon us, and be\nThou merciful unto us. Preserve our bodies and lives, our homes and\nproperty, our town and land, our goods and possessions, and all that we\nhave, also the fruits of the field from hail and sleet, from\nconflagrations and floods, and from all danger. Guard us also against an\nevil and sudden death, and mercifully grant that many sinners may by Thy\nword, thunder and lightning, be roused out of their wicked walk and life,\nand be truly and heartily converted to Thee. Let us every hour of our\nlives think of Thy glorious appearing to judge the quick and the dead,\nand be prepared to receive Thee with joy, and with Thee to enter into the\neverlasting joys of Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen. O Lord, have mercy on us\npoor sinners, our bodies and souls, here in this present life and in the\nlife to come. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 47. Thanksgiving when the Storm is over.\n\n\nAlmighty God, heavenly Father, Thou hast said: Call upon me in the day of\ntrouble, I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me: we praise and\nthank Thee with our whole heart, that Thou hast, in mercy, heard our\nprayer and caused the threatening storm to cease, without injury to body\nor property. In this, Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins, nor\nrewarded us according to our iniquities; but hast dealt with us as a\nfather with his children. Father of mercies, for the sake of Thine only\nbegotten Son, Jesus Christ, cause these Thy fearful warnings to move us\nto constant amendment, that we may henceforth live in Thy fear and\nprepare ourselves for the coming of Thy dear Son, that we may with joy go\nforth to meet Him, and with shouts of joy enter heaven, in which dwelleth\nrighteousness, and possess it forever, even for ever and ever, through\nThy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 48. Prayer in great Weakness of Faith.\n\n\nO Lord, I know it now of a truth that all men have not faith. I believe,\ndear Lord, help my unbelief! Do not break the bruised reed, nor quench\nthe smoking flax; O Jesus, Thou who sittest at the right hand of God,\nmake intercession for me, that my faith may not cease. Be the author and\nfinisher of my faith, wherewith I shall be able to quench all the fiery\ndarts of the wicked one. Grant me that I believe, although I do not see,\nand thus be saved. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 49. Prayer in great Trouble and Danger.\n\n\nO almighty God and Father, who art ever ready to help, Thou seest the\ngreat trouble and danger in which we are living; we know of no counsel or\nhelp, and have no strength of ourselves to come out of trouble, therefore\nour eyes look unto Thee, who alone art our consolation, refuge and\nhelper, and hast said: Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver\nthee, and thou shalt glorify me. Our heart clings to Thy word of promise\nand in childlike humility and confidence seeks Thy face. O Lord, hide not\nThy face, full of compassion, from us, and put not Thy children away in\nanger. Leave us not, neither forsake us, O God of our salvation, who\nworkest salvation in the midst of the earth. Let Thy help also come unto\nus and be merciful unto us. O Lord, our God, in Thee do we put our trust\nand under the shadow of Thy wings do we make our refuge until these\ncalamities be overpast. Turn again unto us and satisfy us early with Thy\nmercy and we will freely sacrifice unto Thee, we will praise Thy name, O\nLord, for it is good. Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou\nhast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Give us help\nfrom trouble and we will praise Thee, and rejoice in Thy salvation all\nthe days of our life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 50. Thanksgiving after a safe Journey.\n\n\nGracious God, heavenly Father, I thank Thee with my whole heart, that\nThou hast in safety brought me to my journey's end, and that to my joy,\nThy holy angels have led me back to my family. As a Father Thou hast also\nkept me from all evil, prevented robbers and murderers from killing me,\nwild beasts from tearing me to pieces, floods of water and other perils\nfrom destroying or injuring me. Thou hast led me in safety as the angel\nRaphael led the young Tobias. All this I owe to Thy paternal care and\nalmighty protection. In mercy keep me and mine, take us under Thy mighty\nprotection, and by Thy power preserve body and soul unto eternal life for\nJesus Christ's sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 51. Thanksgiving for Deliverance out of Tribulation.\n\n\nI will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify\nThy name forevermore. I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou canst do\nall things well. Behold, instead of peace I had great bitterness, but\nThou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption. In\nmy distress I called unto Thee, and Thou hast heard my voice, and my cry\ndid enter into Thy ears, and Thou hast comforted me. Thou hast faithfully\nhelped me, in mercy upheld my soul, and finally delivered me out of my\ngreat tribulation. My Lord and my God, what shall I render unto Thee for\nall the benefits which Thou daily bestowest? I will praise Thy name all\nthe days of my life, I will magnify Thee among all Thy people, and Thy\nglory shall continually be in my mouth. Thy Spirit, O faithful God,\nenable me to pay my vows and never to forget the benefits Thou hast\nbestowed upon my soul. Let me spread Thy praise in time, and also in\nEternity, together with the elect, sing everlasting Hallelujahs to the\nhonor of Thy name. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 52. Morning Prayer of a sick Person.\n\n\nO Thou faithful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! I will thank and\npraise Thee that Thou hast so mercifully kept, protected and strengthened\nme in my weakness. In Jesus' name, turn unto me to-day and the remaining\ndays of my life, cleanse me from my sin, comfort me by Thy grace,\nstrengthen me by Thy power, lead me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may live\nand suffer in accordance with Thy will. I commit my sick body and my soul\ninto Thy holy hands, let Thy holy angel have charge concerning me that\nthe wicked one may have no power or influence over me, through Jesus\nChrist, our only comfort and Redeemer, in the power of the Holy Ghost.\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 53. Another Morning Prayer in Sickness.\n\n\nI commit myself this morning and all the days of my life into Thy hands,\nO God, the eternal Father who hast created me, O God, the eternal Son who\nhast redeemed me, O God, the Holy Ghost who hast sanctified me in holy\nbaptism. O eternal Godhead, O perfect humanity, O holy Trinity, ever keep\nme ready to enter into everlasting salvation. Amen.\n\nGood and merciful God, affectionate Father, by Thy grace I have passed\nanother night and again behold the cheering light. Thanks be unto Thee,\nthat Thou hast been my keeper and protector, comforter and helper, that\nThou hast as a Father kept my sick body, together with my distressed\nsoul, by Thy power hast kept me from sudden death and dangerous\ntemptations, and that Thy holy angel has defended me against the devil,\nthe prince of darkness. By Thy grace and mercy I still live. Watch over\nme Thy poor creature to-day also, and so lead and guide me that I may\nneither think, speak, nor do evil. Lead me, the poor one of Thy flock, to\nThy holy Word, and cause me to lie down in its green pastures, for this\nis my comfort in my distress. Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my\ntrust, Thou, and Thou alone, art my strength, my God and my noblest\ntreasure. Fill my heart and mind with fear and love to Thee. Separate me\nfrom all things not purely Thine. Hide me in Thyself, that in my trouble\nand affliction I may submit to Thy will, and trust in Thee alone, for\nbesides Thee there is no other help in all the world. Thou art the true\nphysician of the sick, the true comforter in every distress, the true\nhelper in the hour of death. Beloved Father, heal me, comfort me, help\nme. Keep me this day from sin and all evil, from the wiles of the devil,\nfrom the temptations of the world and from the evil lusts of my own\nsinful flesh. Give patience, hope and constancy. And when my life is at\nan end give me an easy and blessed death through Jesus Christ, Thy dear\nSon, my Redeemer. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 54. Evening Prayer of a sick Person.\n\n\nThanks be unto Thee, my God and Father, that Thou hast this day so\nmercifully succored me. Thy grace, Thy power, Thy comfort and Thy Spirit\nbe with me in my sickness and help me through this night also. I commit\nmy body and soul into Thy hands, Thy holy angels have charge concerning\nme, that the wicked one may have no power over me, through Jesus Christ,\nThy dear Son, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 55. Another Evening Prayer of a sick Person.\n\n\nAlmighty and merciful God, affectionate Father, Thou hast said: Call upon\nme in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee; therefore I pray Thee,\nhave mercy on me and forgive all my sins with which I have offended Thee\nthis day. I commit myself this coming night into Thy keeping, and let my\nsoul be at rest, even if my body should be full of trouble. Let me not be\ncarried away by sudden death without knowing Thy dear Son. If it be Thy\ngracious will, let me live till morning and pass this night without pain\nof body or distress of soul. Should this be my last night on earth, and\nThou, in Thy unsearchable counsel, shouldst call me into Eternity, let me\nawake in Heaven and make me the humblest servant in Thy kingdom. In Thy\nname I fall asleep. Whether I shall awake on earth or in Heaven, I shall\nlove and praise Thee with my whole heart, my faithful God. Amen. In\nJesus' name. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 56. Prayer in Sickness.\n\n\nGracious God and Father, I acknowledge and confess unto Thee that I have\ndone evil all the days of my life and have not lived to Thy honor. I have\nfulfilled the lusts of the flesh and have served myself and the world\nmore than Thee. O Lord, I am very sorry that I have passed the few days\nof my life in doing evil. I acknowledge that Thou art only visiting my\niniquities upon me in sending this sickness. By this Thou wouldst call me\nto repentance. O Lord, Thou judgest me righteously and chastenest me that\nI may not perish with the ungodly world. By this sickness Thou puttest me\nin mind of my mortality and teachest me to know mine end and the measure\nof my days, what it is. Verily, every man at his best state is altogether\nvanity, surely every man walketh in a vain show, he heapeth up riches and\nknoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for?\nDeliver me from my transgressions. I know, Lord, that my times are in Thy\nhand, Thou hast written all my members in Thy book, which in continuance\nwere fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. My substance was not\nhid from Thee when I was curiously wrought in my mother's womb. Since it\nis Thy will that I should be sick, may I cheerfully do this Thy will. O\nLord, Thine arrows stick fast in me, and Thy hand presseth me sore, there\nis no soundness in my flesh because of Thine anger, neither is there any\nrest in my bones because of my sins, as a heavy burden, they are too\nheavy for me. O my God, preserve my soul in every temptation, let this\nbodily sickness be a medicine for the healing of my soul. Keep Thou my\nheart and mind, and through the peace of my Lord Jesus Christ protect me\nwith Thy shield and buckler against all the fiery darts of the devil.\nLord, Thou knowest it that I am the work of Thy hands, Thou hast formed\nme out of the clay; we are the clay and Thou our potter. Alas! how I am\nbroken in pieces! Spare me, O Lord; Thou wilt surely not, in Thy wrath,\ncast away nor break in pieces the work of Thy hands, Thou hast separated\nme from my mother's womb, Thou didst make me hope, when I was upon my\nmother's breasts. Thou art the Lord and giver of my life, and hast power\nto take it again at Thine own appointed time. Should it be Thy will, deal\nkindly with me, as Thou didst with king Hezekiah, to whose days Thou\ndidst add fifteen years. Behold, for peace I have great bitterness, in\nlove to my soul, deliver it from the pit of corruption and cast all my\nsins behind Thy back. Should this sickness not be unto death, then, O\nLord, lift me up again and heal me, for I am very weak. O Lord Jesus,\nThou heavenly physician, take me under Thy treatment, alleviate my pains\nand heal me by Thy wounds, and make Thy bitter sufferings and death my\nmedicine. Lord, let me touch the hem of Thy garment, that is, Thy Word\nand sacraments, in which Thou art wrapped up, and make me whole by the\nvirtue which cometh out of Thee. Should it be Thy will however, that in\nthis sickness I shall go the way of all the earth, be it so, for I am no\nbetter than my fathers, only let Thy servant depart in peace, according\nto Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation which Thou hast\nprepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles,\nand the glory of Thy people Israel. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 57. Prayer of a penitent in Sickness.\n\n\nAlmighty God and Father, because of sin Thou appointest over men all\nmanner of diseases, but in particular bodily sickness, that they may not\nperish with the world. I come unto Thee with my load of sins and confess\nthat on account of these I have deserved not only this sickness, but also\neternal damnation, being a child of wrath by nature and sold under sin,\nbesides having, all the days of my life, transgressed all Thy\ncommandments a countless number of times. I take my refuge in Thy\nboundless mercy. Enter not into judgment with me, for in Thy sight shall\nno man living be justified. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my\ntransgressions, but for Thy name's sake pardon mine iniquity, for it is\ngreat. Remove Thy stroke away from me and hearken unto the voice of my\ncry, hold not Thy peace at my tears. Spare me that I may recover\nstrength, before I go hence, and be no more. Affectionate Father, behold,\nfor peace I have great bitterness, in love deliver my soul from the pit\nof corruption and cast all my sins behind Thy back. Consider also my\nbodily affliction and take it away or alleviate it by Thy comfort. Give\nme patience, help me to bear my cross, or save me under it. Thy will be\ndone. Do with me, O God, as it seemeth good unto Thee. I am Thine, in\nThee I would remain. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 58. Short Prayers in Sickness, for every Hour of the Day.\n\n\n 1. At One O'clock.\n\nMy Creator and Father, Thou true and only God, from whom cometh health\nand sickness, prosperity and adversity, it being Thy will that I should\nbe afflicted so many days with this bodily sickness, give me Christian\npatience and the full assurance of hope. In times of adversity as well as\nin times of prosperity, Thou alone art my beloved Father. In this life,\nit is but the common lot of every faithful member of the church to bear\nthe cross. Why should I make myself an exception? When even my Saviour,\nJesus Christ, the head of the church, had to suffer for me. Beloved God\nand Father, who art upright in all Thy ways, keep me in Thy Word and let\nit be my surest remedy and greatest delight. Amen.\n\n\n 2. At Two O'clock.\n\nBeloved Lord Jesus, my faithful Advocate and Saviour, I well know that by\nmy sins I have deserved nothing less than this bodily infirmity, together\nwith every affliction. I am comforted, however, by Thine inexhaustable\ngrace and most precious atonement, through which Thou hast redeemed my\nbody and soul. Whatever may befall my body in this life, I am assured\nthat my body and soul are delivered from hell, and will eventually enter\ninto eternal life and be crowned with health and heavenly glory. To this\nend help me, Lord Jesus. Amen.\n\n\n 3. At Three O'clock.\n\nO Holy Ghost, most worthy and affectionate companion of my soul, and most\nfaithful witness of my heavenly birthright and happiness, continue to\nabide in my heart during this protracted, bodily affliction, and quicken\nme by Thy divine comfort and keep me steadfast in Thy pure Word and most\nholy sacraments. Preserve in me faith, hope and charity, these three\npillars of my Christianity. Enable me rightly to understand God's\npaternal will that I may in silence submit to it, live and die in\naccordance with it. Amen.\n\n\n 4. At Four O'clock.\n\nBeloved and faithful God, teach me to remember mine end, that I may not\nsin. Give me a happy death; on the Judgment Day absolve me; keep me out\nof hell; take me into Heaven. In the hour of death I will lay me down in\npeace and sleep. On the Judgment Day let me escape hell and dwell safely\nin Heaven. Let the seed of Thy word take root in my heart, abide in me\nand quicken me, until Thou wilt come to take me to Thyself. Amen.\n\n\n 5. At Five O'clock.\n\nIn my affliction and pain, where, O dear Jesus, could I make my refuge,\nbut in Thy _five_ sacred wounds? In these I will be secure when I shall\nhave lost my mind and my senses. I will abide in Thee, abide Thou also in\nme. Trim the lamp of my heart with the pure oil of faith, prepare me\nthro' Christian penitence to go forth with joy to meet Thee at Thy second\ncoming, and in company with all the elect, forever to enjoy the wedding\nfeast. Amen.\n\n\n 6. At Six O'clock.\n\nI thank Thee, dear Lord and Father, that Thou hast created me in Thine\nimage, with a human body and reasonable soul; and beseech Thee, that Thou\nwouldst not forsake me, Thy creature, in my distress, but wouldst\nexercise Thy paternal care over me, and powerfully deliver me. Many are\nmy afflictions, and every day hath its own evils; but I know that Thou\nwilt finally deliver me from all afflictions and troubles; in Thee do I\nput my trust; let me never be put to shame. Amen.\n\n\n 7. At Seven O'clock.\n\nO God, heavenly Father, who didst rest on the seventh day of the\ncreation, do Thou also rest and keep Thy sabbath in my heart, Thou, who\nart my soul's only rest and comfort. O Lord Jesus, let the seventh and\nlast word, that Thou didst utter upon the cross, also be my last word in\nthe hour of death, that I may commend my spirit into Thy hands. O God,\nHoly Ghost, Thou heavenly teacher, Thou spirit of prayer, do Thou kindle\nin me constant devotion to prayer, that in the Lord's prayer, in the\nseven penitential Psalms, and other prayers and sighs, I may bring my\nwants to God, and be graciously heard by Him. Amen.\n\n\n 8. At Eight O'clock.\n\nDearest Lord Jesus, who didst upon the eighth day begin to suffer pain\nand to shed Thy blood: O, give me a willing spirit, patiently to bear my\nbodily infirmities to Thy glory, and the hope, that Thou wouldst\ngraciously preserve me and my soul in the waters of tribulation, as Thou\ndidst preserve the eight souls in Noah's ark. Let me be among the eight\nmultitudes whom Thou callest blessed, that I may be poor in spirit,\npatient in tribulation, meek toward my enemies, hunger and thirst after\nrighteousness, merciful toward suffering Christians, pure in heart,\npeaceful toward my neighbor, steadfast in persecution. O, let me advance\nin the school of patience through all its grades, until through\nperseverance, I will be promoted to the joyful school of everlasting\nlife, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit, I will praise and love\nThee evermore. Amen.\n\n\n 9. At Nine O'clock.\n\nO my dearest Lord Jesus, Thy great sufferings reached a desired end, in\nthat Thou wast delivered from them through a blessed death. O grant unto\nme a blessed departure, and make an end to my wearisome afflictions.. For\nthis I will thank, praise, and glorify Thee with my whole heart. I know,\nThou wilt not forget me, and my hope will not be lost forever. Here upon\nearth I am a member of Thy church militant, O let me be a member of Thy\nchurch triumphant. Amen.\n\n\n 10. At Ten O'clock.\n\nO righteous and gracious God, I heartily acknowledge, that I am not only\nconceived and born in sin, but have on account of human weakness in\nvarious ways transgressed Thy holy ten commandments in thoughts, words\nand actions, so that I have not only deserved this my sickness and other\ntemporal affliction, but have also deserved everlasting punishment. But\nsince Thy dear Son, my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, has made\nsatisfaction for all my sins, original and actual, with His precious\nmerits and holy blood; I beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst for His sake be\ngracious unto me, and of Thy great mercy, forgive my temporal and eternal\npunishment. Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may separate myself from\nthe great multitude of the ungodly, that I may strive after the true\nfaith showing itself in good works; but especially that I may be patient\nunder afflictions, fight a good fight, keep the faith and a good\nconscience, and finally live in Thy tabernacle forever. Do Thou alleviate\nmy bodily pains according to Thy good will, and help me that I may bear\nmy afflictions, for Jesus' sake. Amen.\n\n\n 11. At Eleven O'clock.\n\nO faithful Lord Jesus, who didst often and powerfully comfort Thy\ndisciples after Thy resurrection, and doest invite the weary and\nheavy-laden to Thee, and doest promise to comfort them: O do Thou visit\nme in my sickness, comfort and refresh me; Thou alone art my refuge, my\ncounsel and my help. I yearn for the evening time of a blessed death, and\nlong for the joyful resurrection of my body. O let me early experience\nthese my requests, then will I forever praise Thee with the Father and\nthe Holy Ghost. Amen.\n\n\n 12. At Twelve O'clock.\n\nDearest Lord Jesus, I heartily thank Thee, that Thou hast revealed\nThyself to me in the writings of the holy Prophets and Apostles, so that\nI can believe in Thee, and through faith obtain everlasting life. I\nbeseech Thee, that Thou wouldst preserve me steadfast in true faith, that\nI may attain the end thereof, everlasting salvation. Make me cheerful and\nready, so that when Thou, my dear bridegroom, doest come, that I may meet\nThee with joy; lead me to Thy heavenly wedding-feast, where I will love\nand praise Thee. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 59. Thanksgiving after Recovery.\n\n\nI thank Thee, Lord, almighty God, that Thou hast so paternally visited\nand chastised me on account of my sins. Yea, Lord, I am glad that Thou\nhast humiliated me, that I might learn Thy ways. O my God, how often have\nI, like Hezekiah, thought: Mine age is departed, and is removed from me\nas a shepherd's tent; I have cut off like a weaver my life; he will cut\nme off with pining sickness; from day even to night wilt Thou make an end\nof me. But, my God, I see that my sickness was not unto death, but unto\nthe glory of God, that Thou, my Lord Jesus Christ, mightest thereby be\nglorified. For Thou hast had mercy upon me, and hast cast all my sins\nbehind Thee, and hast prolonged my life. I heartily thank Thee, my God,\nthat Thou hast revived and strengthened me, that I can behold Thy holy\ntemple, and attend to my duties. Thy goodness it is, Lord, else I should\nlong since have perished. O, how often will I think of Thy chastening\nrod, and will fear Thee all my life and guard against Thy wrath. Help\nnow, O Lord my God, that with renewed health I may also begin a new life.\nGrant, that I may always glorify Thy name, and Thy praise be continually\nfound in my mouth. Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may live to Thy\nhonor, and not yield my members as instruments of unrighteousness to\nserve sin, but as instruments of righteousness to serve Thee my God, that\nI may sing Thy hymns, and praise and glorify Thee in Thy church. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 60. Three Prayers in the Hour of Death.\n\n\n The First to God the Father.\n\nAlmighty God! Thou Father of mercies and God of all consolation! Have\nmercy upon me, as a father hath mercy upon his children. Remember that\nThy dear Son, Jesus Christ, became man for my sake. Remember that Thou\ndidst so love the world, that Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son, that\nwhosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\nIn this faith my soul comes to Thee and brings with it Thy dear Son,\nJesus Christ, whom Thou hast given me; for His sake do Thou remember me\nand receive me into Thy grace. To Thee I commend my soul. Let me, Thy\ndear child, remain in Thy grace, and have mercy upon me while I live, and\nwhen I die, for the sake of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus. Amen.\n\n\n The Second to God the Son.\n\nLord Jesus Christ, my only consolation and help! Thou hast borne my\ngriefs and wast wounded for my transgressions. Thou Lamb of God that\ntakest away the sins of the world! be Thou my righteousness, my\nsanctification and my salvation. Heal my pains through Thy wounds. Let\nnot Thy innocent blood be shed in vain for me; take not Thy Holy Spirit\nfrom me. Forsake me not in my last agony, but help me on to life\neverlasting. Remember that I am Thy poor sheep, and Thou art my faithful\nShepherd. Take me into Thy arms, and carry me into Thy blessed Paradise.\nLet me behold Thy gracious countenance and Thy glory. Amen.\n\n\n The Third to God the Holy Ghost.\n\nO God Holy Spirit, Thou only consolation for the distressed! Strengthen\nand comfort my faint and sorrowful heart. Preserve my faith, which Thou\nhast wrought in me, and quench not the smoking flax. Protect me from the\ntemptations of the wicked enemy. Let not my heart be terrified at death\nnor despair; restrain all impatience, make me willing to obey the Lord my\nGod. Help me to close my life joyfully and happily. Keep my heart and\nmind in the peace of my Lord Jesus Christ. When I can no more speak, keep\nand seal the memory of the holy name of Jesus Christ in my heart, and\nwith the same let me peacefully fall asleep. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 61. Prayer of the Attendants upon a Dying Person.\n\n\nAlmighty, gracious God, who doest preserve our life in death, we beseech\nThee, that Thou wouldst turn the eyes of Thy mercy to this sick person;\ncomfort him in body and in soul, and in mercy forgive him all sins.\nReceive the offering of the innocent death of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son,\nfor the payment of his transgressions, for he is baptized in His name,\nand washed and purified by His blood. Deliver him from his bodily griefs,\npreserve him against the accusations of conscience, and against all the\ntemptations of the wicked enemy, so that he may fight the good fight of\nfaith and obtain the victory. Grant him a blessed journey to everlasting\nlife, send Thy holy angels, that they may escort him to the assembly of\nthe elect, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 62. Another.\n\n\nLord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy\nword: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared\nbefore the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the\nglory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and\nto the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,\nworld without end. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 63. A short Litany together with Prayers for a Dying Person.\n\n\n Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy!\n Lord have mercy upon this sick person!\n\n Lord God, the Father in heaven, }\n Lord God Son, Redeemer of the world, } Have mercy\n Lord God Holy Ghost, } upon him!\n Holy Trinity, eternal God, }\n\n Lord, be merciful and save this dying person!\n\n Against the wicked spirit, }\n Against the cunning and deception of the devil, } Protect him,\n Against all evil, } dear Lord God!\n Against the torments of hell, }\n\n Through Thy holy incarnation and birth, }\n Through Thy death-struggle and bloody sweat, }\n Through Thy cross and bitter death, }\n Through Thy holy resurrection and ascension, } Help him, dear\n Through the grace of the Holy Ghost, } Lord God!\n At his last end, }\n At the last day, }\n At the final judgment, }\n\n We poor sinners pray, that Thou wouldst hear us, dear Lord God!\n\n And comfort this sick person, } Hear us, dear\n Pardon all his sins, } Lord God!\n And after this misery give him eternal life. }\n\n O Christ, hear us!\n\n O Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy\n upon this dying person, and give him eternal peace!\n\n Lord, have mercy!\n Christ, have mercy!\n Lord, have mercy upon him!\n\nOur 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, forever and ever.\nAmen!\n\n\n Prayer.\n\nAlmighty, eternal God, heavenly, faithful, dear Father! comfort and\nstrengthen this Thy poor creature, and spare it through Thy goodness;\nhelp it out of all agony and distress, release it in Thy grace, and take\nit to Thee, in Thy kingdom, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only\nLord, Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.\n\n\n Another.\n\nAlmighty, eternal God, have mercy upon the anxious sighings and\nlamentations of this dying person; receive him into Thy kingdom, which\nThou hast in mercy prepared for him and all believers since the beginning\nof the world. Release him graciously, O Lord, comfort him with the elect\neternally through Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 64. Prayer, when the sick Person has departed in the Lord.\n\n\nTo Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, and Prince of life, be praise and\nthanks now and evermore, that He has so graciously helped and received\nthis blessed person into His holy hands. May He at the last day\ngraciously unite soul and body in heavenly brightness, and grant us all\ntogether in His own appointed time a happy following and in the mean time\na godly walk; comfort all distressed persons with His sweet consolation,\nand preserve us all in His eternal grace, according to His eternal\ngoodness and mercy. Amen, O thou holiest and most glorious Trinity. Amen!\nAmen!\n\n\n\n\n APPENDIX I.\n FESTIVAL PRAYERS.\n\n\n\n\n 1. Prayer for the Beginning of a new Church-Year.\n\n\nO Eternal God! faithful Father, at the beginning of our Church-year, we,\nin deepest humility, thank Thee, first of all, for all Thy special\nspiritual benefits shown us during the past Church-year. Thou hast thus\nfar granted unto us Thy holy Word and its public preaching, also the use\nof the holy sacraments, although on account of our unthankfulness we have\nindeed deserved that Thou shouldst have withheld such goodness. We are\nindeed no better and have not sinned against Thee less than so many of\nour brethren in the faith elsewhere, from whom Thou, through Thy just\njudgment, hast either entirely or measurably withheld the word of Thy\ngospel and its public preaching; and it appears that Thou, through Thy\njudgment, wouldst yet at many more places take away the light of Thy\nWord. O Lord! we are indeed too insignificant for all Thy mercies, which\nThou hast hitherto shown us unworthy servants, and that Thou doest still\ndeal with us so sparingly. Forgive us in mercy all our sins by which we,\nwhether by the neglect and incomplete performance of good or the\ncommitting of evil, have offended Thee during the past Church-year. Grant\nthis to be our first blessing in this Church-year, that Thou wilt with\nthe blood of Thy dear Son blot out all our sins of the past year, and in\norder that we may be worthy of such grace, do Thou work true repentance\nin all our hearts, so that we may not bear into the new Church-year any\nof our old sins unforgiven and which we do not by Thy power mean entirely\nto abandon. Preserve unto us still further Thy holy word and sacraments\nand thus the kingdom of Thy Son among us, and do not bestow such power\nupon the enemy, that will enable him to rob us of such gifts and that the\nkingdom of darkness be extended among us. In this however, dear Father,\nlook not upon that what we are deserving, but that the honor of Thy Son\nbe not blasphemed by the enemies who may imagine to have destroyed His\nkingdom among us. Preserve all our faithful teachers and ministers, whom\nThou hast given us, and bestow upon them, at this beginning of the\nChurch-year, new light and strength in Thy Holy Spirit, that they may\npresent unto us, by Thy power and presence, Thy Word in its purity and\nsimplicity without the admixture of human wisdom; also may they at all\ntimes have the wisdom and light rightly to conceive the most needful\nthings to be treated of before their christian congregations. Permit them\ntherefore not to speak what they desire, but do Thou alone rule their\ntongues and hearts, that they may always speak what is pleasing unto\nThee. Give such efficacy to Thy Word and Thy holy Sacraments, that we may\nalso in this Church-year experience that they are still the blessed means\nof our salvation, that they will save our souls. Seal anew the good Thou\nhast already wrought in the hearts of Thy children during the past year,\nand the Word Thou hast made effectual among them; and let it still\nfurther manifest its power in teaching the ignorant, in converting the\nunregenerate, in convicting the malicious, in strengthening the souls\nthat already know Thee, whose number Thou wilt also in the ways known to\nThee largely increase during this year. Grant also unto all hearers, that\nthey not only receive the Word out of the mouth of their pastors with\nattention and meekness, but also at all times, whilst hearing, present\ntheir hearts unto Thee in such stillness and resignation, that Thy Holy\nSpirit may complete the work of faith in them, and by whose influence\nthey may during this Church-year lead a more holy life before Thee than\nheretofore. Especially grant Thy grace that we make Thy Word the firm\nfoundation of our knowledge of the truth among us, in order that it may\nbecome a living knowledge, which in its fruits will praise Thee, and we\nindeed experience that, to know, here by faith and there by sight, that\nThou Father art the only true God and whom Thou hast sent is Jesus\nChrist, is everlasting life. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 2. Prayer for the Advent Season.\n\n\nO Lord of glory and God over all, blessed forever! I heartily thank Thee\nfor all Thy great and inexpressible benefits, also that Thou out of\nunspeakable love didst leave Thy throne of divine glory and condescend to\nus poor creatures in this vale of tears, to release us lost and condemned\nsinners from the prison of affliction. I praise Thee, Jesus! Thou King of\nglory! with all my strength and powers, that Thou didst not appear upon\nearth for any other purpose than to deliver us from the power of our\nenemies, of sin, of death, hell and the devil; to effect by Thy precious\nblood eternal reconciliation between us and Thy heavenly Father, and to\nregain for us, through Thy precious merits, the lost righteousness.\nHosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, Lord, I beseech Thee, send now\nprosperity!\n\nI cast myself in deepest humility before Thee and ask Thee with all my\nheart to gladden at this time also by Thy gracious advent Thy church\nwhich is everywhere oppressed; always dwell and abide with and among us\nin this land and place at all times, and in our hearts, with Thy pure\nWord and most holy Sacraments, and let goodness and mercy come upon us.\nBe gracious unto us, most beloved Saviour! and bless us, bestow upon us\ntemporal and eternal peace. Our enemies however cast into the prison\nwhich they have prepared for us, change their counsels directed against\nus into foolishness, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory\nforever. Hosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, Lord, I beseech Thee,\nsend now prosperity!\n\nDear Jesus! grant unto me and all christians Thy Spirit, that He may\ncleanse and purify our hearts of all impurity and sin, in order that Thou\nmayest desire to enter in and dwell among us. Help us to receive Thee\nwith true faith, heartily to rejoice with Thy spiritual Zion for Thy\nbenefits, to follow Thee constantly with christian patience and humility\nand confidently await Thy second coming with constant repentance and\nbelieving hope, also at the same time serve Thee here in the kingdom of\ngrace with a holy walk, and finally in the kingdom of glory we shall with\nglorified tongues everlastingly sing our Hosannas to Thy honor, together\nwith the Father and the Holy Ghost. Hosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O\nLord, Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity! Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 3. Christmas Prayer.\n\n\nMerciful and eternal God, heavenly Father! we Thy children thank Thee\nfrom the depth of our hearts that Thou didst so faithfully keep Thy\npromise and turn to us Thy kind and paternal heart, didst send unto us\nThine only-begotten Son, the highest Good, to be our Saviour, and to\nassume our human nature, and thus didst render us acceptable through Thy\nBeloved. O Lord Jesus! Thou eternal Son of God, we honor, praise and\nglorify Thee, that Thou to-day didst become our brother and Emmanuel,\nthat is: God with us, didst out of unspeakable love befriend us and\nclothe Thyself with our poor flesh and blood. Thou didst in nowise assume\nthe nature of angels, but didst honor the seed of Abraham, our human\nnature, this poor earth, wretched ashes and worthless dust even so much\nas to connect Thyself personally and inseparably with the same to all\neternity. Thou wast conceived holy and without sin, and born into this\nworld of a pure and chaste virgin; whereby Thou didst sanctify and\nconsecrate our Adamic, sinful and impure conception and birth, so that it\nmay not be harmful to us who by nature are children of wrath, conceived\nin sin, and flesh born of flesh. Thou wast born in a stable, poor and\nlowly; Thou in a manger didst lie, in poverty great, and of Thy crib,\nthough hard, no offence didst take, in order that Thou couldst enrich our\nsouls and make us lords in Thy heavenly mansion. Thou didst humble\nThyself, in order to exalt us; Thou didst appear upon earth, in order\nthat we in turn might come unto Thee in heaven. O God, Holy Spirit! our\nmost exalted teacher and comforter, we to-day offer unto Thee the\nsacrifices of our lips and thank Thee with our hearts that Thou didst\nreveal this exalted mystery of godliness; and as the angels proclaimed it\nto the shepherds and chanted it on the plain, so let it still be preached\nunto us through Thy Word and its servants. Glory be to Thee, O God the\nFather, Son and Holy Ghost! in the highest, peace on earth and good will\ntowards men. Help, O faithful God and father! that we may be partakers of\nthe new birth of Thy dear Son, be relieved of our old sinful nature, and\nbe and remain new born children of Thy grace and heirs of Thy kingdom. My\nJesus, whom I count most dear, a clean soft bed prepare Thou here, to\ntake within my heart Thy rest, so shall I hold Thy memory best. Grant, O\nGod, Holy Spirit! that thus our Saviour be now and forevermore\nspiritually born and developed within us. Help also, that by virtue of\nthis birth we may rejoice and be comforted amidst all temptations,\npatiently endure and overcome all things, and with all the angels of God\npraise, honor and glorify Thee, here in time and in heaven forever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 4. Prayer on New-Year's Day.\n\n\nO triune God, Thus have we again by Thy grace brought a year of our\nwretched life and weary pilgrimage upon earth to a close, and to-day in\nThy name begin another. Lord! how unspeakably great is Thy goodness, how\ninnumerable are Thy benefits which Thou hast shown unto me and mine in\nthe past, though on account of our sins we have deserved nothing at Thy\nhands but wrath and punishment! Thou hast graciously preserved Thy\nprecious Word and holy sacraments in Thy holy congregation, peace and\nunity in the government, prosperity and blessing in material comforts,\nand didst richly bestow for our enjoyment all manner of blessings for\nbody and soul. Thou with paternal care didst protect Thy church from\nfalse doctrine and persecution on account of the true faith, our land\nfrom hostile invasion and evil contagion, our houses and property from\nfire and water, and didst by Thy care faithfully avert from us all dire\ncalamities. How shall I find words to express the inestimable value of\nthese blessings? How can I according to my obligations be sufficiently\nthankful? Behold, Lord, I offer to Thee, at the close of the old year,\nthe fruits of my lips, and glorify Thy grace and mercy with all my\nstrength and powers. My soul must honor Thee, my spirit must praise Thee,\nmy mouth shall thank Thee, and all that is within me must proclaim Thy\nglory. I prostrate myself in heartfelt sorrow before Thy feet and confess\nunto Thee with a penitent heart all my sins in which I was conceived and\nborn, and with which I have offended Thee during the past year, as well\nas during the whole of my past life.\n\nMost beloved Father! do not now reckon such past sins to my condemnation,\nand do not remember in Thy wrath my past transgressions, but graciously\nforgive and forget the same for the sake of the sufferings of Thy dearly\nbeloved Son. Jesus, my beloved Saviour, be merciful to me, a poor sinner,\nblot out like a cloud and mist all my transgressions by Thy merit, cast\nthem into the sea of Thy innocent blood, that they may never more come to\nlight or before the judgment of God. O God, Holy Spirit! create within me\nthe new man, that I may not bring into the new year old sins and\nimpurities, but to-day begin a new life and partake anew of Thy grace.\nWithhold from me, O Triune God! all long and well deserved punishment,\nand continue to bless me and mine with all manner of bodily and\nspiritual, temporal and eternal gifts. Let Thy grace rest upon us anew\nevery morning, and renew Thy good will to all who in this new year seek\ntheir refuge with Thee and wait upon Thy goodness. Grant unto us still\nfurther Thy precious Word, which is a joy and comfort to our hearts.\nEnlighten our teachers and pastors, and grant unto their holy work the\nblessing of heaven; strengthen our faithful rulers and prosper all their\ngood undertakings, which are pleasing to Thee. Bless our parents, and\nprosper Thou the work of their hands. Fill our souls with true fear of\nGod, and our hearts with joy in the Holy Ghost. Bestow unto our bodies\nhealth, and grant peace within our borders. Crown this year with Thy\ngoodness and grant unto us that which is necessary to the support of\nlife. Protect Thy church from error in the faith and from scandalous\nliving, our land from war, famine and pestilence, our homes from\nconsuming flames and all damage and danger, the products of the field\nfrom hail and tempest. Curb the wrath and fury of satan, and send Thy\nheavenly hosts that they may guard and protect us in all our ways.\nConvert our enemies and check all our persecutors, help the oppressed,\nprovide for the poor, feed the hungry, give drink unto the thirsty,\nclothe the naked, free the innocent captives, comfort the distressed,\ngladden the sorrowing, strengthen the weak, care for the sick, be\nmerciful to the widows and orphans, deliver the oppressed, guide the\ntraveler and accompany the dying through death unto life.\n\nLord! teach us to act according to Thy good pleasure, and Thy good Spirit\ndirect our footsteps, that we may walk before Thee in faith, patience and\nhope, in godliness and honesty, in meekness, humility and chastity, and\nall Christian virtues. But when we sin, then chastise us gently; when our\nsins trouble us, comfort us with Thy grace, and Thy joyful Spirit uphold\nus. When satan assails us, do Thou support us, when the world persecutes\nus, then protect us; when our flesh and blood would overpower us, then\nstrengthen our spirit; when we err, set us aright again. When we fall,\nlift us up by Thy hand. When we become weak and weary in our calling,\nrefresh us. When we are in necessity and danger, relieve us. When we are\nsick and weak, then be our physician. Should we according to Thy will\nduring this year depart from hence, grant that our spirits be commended\ninto Thy hands. O Lord! hear; Lord! be merciful; Lord! take heed and\ngrant it for Jesus' sake. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 5. Prayer on Epiphany.\n\n\nMost merciful Saviour! Thou didst indeed show Thyself to be the God of\nthe Jews and the Gentiles, and as the true light that desires to\nenlighten all men who come into this world unto everlasting life, as Thou\ndidst not only by a bright and wonderful star lead unto Thyself the wise\nmen of the east, who were induced to honor and worship Thee as their\nking, but didst also lead us poor heathen by the enlightening power of\nThy holy Word into Thy gracious kingdom and unto the saving knowledge of\nThee. O my Saviour! Thy faithfulness and mercy shown unto us are so\ngreat, that we can never sufficiently praise Thee. We were without God\nstrangers and excluded from the commonwealth of Israel. But Thou hast\nmade us Thy people, fellow-citizens with the saints and a household of\nGod. On account of our blindness we were not enabled to know Thee and to\nfind the way to everlasting life; but Thou, Lord Jesus! didst enlighten\nour minds and enrich us in all knowledge. We sat in darkness and in the\nshadow of death; but Thou didst let Thy glory shine upon us, so that now\nwe walk in Thy light, and finally enter eternal blessedness in heaven.\nFor this we justly worship and praise Thee with thankful hearts and\ntongues on this holy day, and will sing of Thy grace and goodness all the\ndays of our life. But we pray Thee, O most faithful Saviour! with our\nwhole soul, that Thou wouldst so multiply Thy grace unto us, as to\npreserve us and our posterity to the end of time in a saving knowledge of\nThee, and by Thy Holy Spirit wouldst so lead and direct us as no more to\nwalk like the heathen in the vanity of our minds and our own fleshly\nlusts, but rather live godly as children of light, and with humble\nobedience serve Thee all our days as our King. As Thou, most beloved\nSaviour, didst so gloriously deliver us from the kingdom of darkness and\nmercifully received us into the kingdom of grace--into Thy Christian\nchurch, grant us also to be blessed saints of heaven, and heirs of Thine\neternal glory, for the sake and honor of Thy great name. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 6. Prayer on the Day of Purification.\n\n\nLord Jesus! Thou highly exalted and beloved Son of God! I thank Thee with\nall my heart, that for my good Thou didst not only become true man, but\nalso for my sake didst become subject to the law, and at Thy presentation\ndidst participate in the offering of purification, in order that Thou\nmightest redeem me from the curse of the law, and cleanse my soul from\nits abominable impurities. I acknowledge myself therefore under\nobligations also to present myself unto Thee, and offer myself a living\nand acceptable sacrifice to God. But whilst I cannot do so of my own\nself, I ask Thee, beloved Saviour, to sanctify me by Thy innocent blood\nand holy Spirit, in order that I may henceforth earnestly guard myself\nagainst all sins, keep my body and soul unpolluted and serve Thee during\nmy life in holiness and righteousness. Most beloved Saviour! Grant, that,\nfollowing the example of the devout Simeon, I may amidst all distress and\nmisery of this life, in all fear and anguish of conscience, with the arms\nof true faith, embrace and press Thee to my heart, yea, enclose Thee in\nmy heart and never permit Thee to depart therefrom. May my eyes ever be\ndirected toward Thee, O desirable Light of the world! and behold in Thee\ntheir only delight. Infuse into my heart a knowledge of Thy holy will and\na heartfelt confidence in Thy precious merit, and grant, that I may\nmanifest the same through good works before men. Banish from my heart, O\nThou Brightness of glory! all innate darkness and evil propensities, and\nmay I with Simeon believe aright, live holy and die happy. When the end\nof my life draws nigh, then, O beloved Redeemer, bear me up in Thy strong\narm and merciful hands, that satan may nevermore separate me from Thee.\nGrant unto me with Simeon a joyous departure from this world and bestow\nunto me, Thy servant, such grace that I may depart in peace, and with all\nthe elect behold Thee, face to face, in eternal bliss. Amen, dear Jesus!\nAmen.\n\n\n\n\n 7. Prayer on the Day of the Annunciation.\n\n\nAwake, my soul, and rejoice in the Lord, thy Saviour, thank the Most\nHigh, who so faithfully fulfilled his prophecy and sent his Son into the\nworld. Rejoice and be glad that God himself out of love to thee became\nman and related to thee through blood. Who can sufficiently praise His\nmercy and loving-kindness? O Lord! what is man that Thou art mindful of\nhim; and the son of man that Thou doest thus receive him unto Thyself? O\ndear Jesus! I thank Thee with all my heart, that Thou in the blessed womb\nof Thy mother Mary didst so intimately unite Thyself with our human\nnature, and in the assumed humanity didst reconcile me with Thy heavenly\nFather. Thou, my Saviour! didst humble Thyself so deeply in order that I\nshould be exalted; Thou didst become the son of man in order that I might\nbecome a child of God, Thy brother (sister) and a beloved spouse. Thou\ndidst descend from Thy throne unto us, that Thou mightest render it\npossible for me to partake of Thy great glory in heaven. How couldst Thou\nindeed have shown greater love to me? Therefore, most beloved Saviour! do\nI rejoice in my heart and know truly that I stand in Thy grace, for Thou\ncanst not despise nor be angry with Thy own flesh and blood. Though I am\nsinful and unholy, yet do I comfort myself by Thy holiness and innocence.\nThough I offended God with sins, yet I know that Thou art the Mediator\nbetween God and me, and that Thou wilt appease His wrath and deliver me\nfrom all evil, which I have to fear on account of my misdeeds. Jesus, my\nbrother, although I have deserved death and hell, Thou canst make me holy\nand receive me unto eternal life. Where my flesh and blood reigns, there\nI hope also to be and remain eternally. To this help me, most beloved\nSaviour! for the sake of Thy blessed incarnation. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 8. Prayer on Maundy-Thursday.\n\n\nMost beloved Jesus! I thank Thee with all my heart, in the council of the\npious and congregation of the Lord, that Thou, before Thy entrance into\ndeath, hast been so mindful of us, Thy christian people, and didst\nprepare such a glorious feast for our souls. I praise Thee, O most\nmerciful Saviour! with all my powers and abilities, that Thou didst not\nonly present Thyself as an offering, that Thou wast sacrificed upon the\ncross for my sins and those of the whole world, but also doest feed us\npoor creatures in Thy Holy Supper with Thy body and blood, through which\nThou doest appropriate unto us all Thy purchased gifts of grace and\nbenefits. Lord! the bread we break is indeed the communion of Thy body\nthat died for us upon the cross, and the cup we drink at the holy altar,\nis the communion of the most precious blood, which Thou in all Thy\npainful sufferings hast shed for us. In what respects indeed are we\nworthy that Thou doest manifest such grace unto us? Who are we that Thou\ndoest draw so nigh unto us and unite with us in such a manner as to be\nand dwell within us, and also we, as members of Thy body, shall remain\nwith Thee forever! How can we compensate Thee that Thou doest so heartily\nreceive our souls unto Thyself and freest them from all transgression and\nthreatening condemnation; on the other hand doest bestow upon them Thy\nperfect obedience, merit and righteousness, yea, doest give Thy own Self\nas a pledge for their salvation! Most beloved Jesus! as Thou hast\ninstituted by Thy Holy Supper a memorial of Thy wonderful gifts of grace,\nso it shall be a lasting memorial in my heart of Thy love and mercy. As\noft as I shall eat of this bread and drink of this cup, will I proclaim\nThy death and with a thankful heart praise what Thou hast done for us. O\nhelp! my Saviour and Redeemer, that I may be confirmed more and more in\nmy faith by this blessed food and glorious cup, that I be forever united\nwith Thee and strengthened to lead a holy life upon earth and be\npositively assured of the eternal life of joy in heaven, for the sake of\nThy holy merit. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 9. Prayer on Good-Friday.\n\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ, Thou innocent and spotless Lamb of God, who didst\nsuffer for us the ignominious death of the cross, which it is Thy will\nthat it never be forgotten by us. From the depth of our hearts we again\ngive Thee praise, honor and thanks for this Thy love and mercy, that Thou\ndidst so dearly purchase us poor sinners by Thy innocent sufferings and\ndeath, and didst become obedient to Thy heavenly Father, unto death on\nthe cross. Thou didst also shed Thy precious blood to wash away and blot\nout our sins, and didst lay down Thy life in order to rescue us from\neternal death. O faithful Saviour! how much didst Thou suffer in our\nbehalf; what unspeakable torture and pain didst Thou endure in body and\nsoul in order that we might be free from it forever. O Lord Jesus! Thou\npatient Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, we confess,\nthat with our manifold and gross sins we have caused Thee such pains and\nlabors and brought about this Thy death. Be gracious and merciful unto us\nand let this Thy bitter and painful suffering not be in vain for us.\nGrant unto us Thy grace that daily we may think of Thy death, heartily\npraise and thank Thee for the same, and by the contemplation of these Thy\nsufferings and crucifixion we may crucify and mortify in us all lusts of\nthe flesh and evil passions of our corrupt nature, and since Thou didst\nsuffer for us, help therefore also, that we may obediently follow Thee\nwith the cross, which we daily deserve on account of our sins, and for\nThy sake, bear all things patiently, that, finally, we may, with all the\nelect, be and forever remain with Thee in heavenly joy and bliss. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 10. Prayer on the Festival of Easter.\n\n\nWe thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, Thou blessed Prince of life, that Thou\nout of divine love, didst give Thyself into death for us, and didst offer\nThyself as a propitiation for our sins unto Thy heavenly Father; whereby\nThou didst deliver us from the power of death, of the devil and of\neverlasting damnation, and in proof whereof Thou, as the Prince of life\nand as the Conqueror of death, didst lift up Thy head on the third day,\ndidst rise again, and didst bring forth righteousness, innocence and\neternal life. We beseech Thee, give us grace, and so operate in us\nthrough Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily rejoice and find comfort in\nThy death and resurrection, and thereby quiet our consciences and\novercome all fear of death. Do Thou also permit Thy resurrection to be a\ncause and an incitement to us to do good works and to bring forth fruits\nof righteousness, so that we, as Thy people, may be willing to worship\nThee in the beauty of holiness. Help that we may daily die unto sin,\ncrucify and slay the old Adam with his evil lusts and desires, and, on\nthe other hand, spiritually arise, begin to live in righteousness, to\nwalk in newness of life, to purge out the old leaven, and to become a new\nunleavened bread. Help also that we may await with comfort and joyful\nhope the resurrection of our deceased bodies, which shall come forth in\nvirtue of Thy resurrection, on the last day, and that we may enter into\nThy presence with body and soul in the kingdom of Thy everlasting\nheavenly glory and excellence. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 11. Prayer on Ascension Day.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Thou eternal High Priest and King of all thrones,\nafter Thou hadst finished all things upon earth, which had been written\nconcerning Thee, Thou didst enter into the heaven of glory in and\naccording to Thy exalted humanity, and didst sit down at the right hand\nof God upon the throne of majesty; yet Thou art everywhere and Thy\nkingdom is over all. We, however, are still pilgrims here below, in the\nvalley of misery, in a world which lies in wickedness, and of which Thou\ndidst say, that Thou hast overcome it. Where now is the way which will\nlead us safely through to Thee? O Lord, how shall we find the way, unless\nThou teachest us through Thy Spirit, and through Him leadest and\npreservest us upon it?\n\nLord, the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, and all its best\nglory is as perishable as the day that was yesterday. Our stay in it,\nmoreover, is of few days that pass away swiftly indeed, more swiftly than\nwater. O, lead us on the way to heaven, into Thy glory, where we can\nremain with Thee forever. Behold, we die, one after the other, and pass\naway as a shadow. But we ourselves with difficulty take it to heart: each\none travels the road that seems to him to be right. Do Thou therefore\nmake our heart certain, that we may not walk upon any other road than the\none that leads us to Thee and to Thy imperishable glory.\n\nLord, Thou sittest as our Redeemer and Mediator at the right hand of\nMajesty in heaven, in order to save us eternally and to make us happy in\nThy kingdom. Be Thou therefore mindful of us even when we forget\nourselves, and save us mightily, and make us happy, not for our sake, but\nfor Thy sake. For the kingdom which we shall inherit, is Thine; Thine is\nthe power to lead us into it; and Thine shall be all the honor and glory\nforever, when we, as Thy rescued children, shall be happy in Thy kingdom.\nAmen. Hear us for the sake of Thy eternal love and mercy. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 12. Prayer on Whitsunday.\n\n\nO God, who didst visit and endow the hearts of Thy saints so graciously\nand richly with Thy Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, O pour out this\nThy Spirit and merciful shower also upon our barren and drooping hearts,\nrefresh Thy inheritance and comfort the miserable. Come, O Holy Spirit,\nand adorn us with Thy manifold gifts, that we may truly perceive and\npraise the great deeds of God, which were accomplished through Jesus\nChrist, and that we may speak, glorify and spread Thy Word with new\ntongues; enkindle us with the fire of Thy wholesome fervor, burn out all\ninternal malice, together with all other fleshly lusts and desires; light\nthe lamp of Thy truth, so that we may serve our God fervently in spirit\nand in faith, and with true earnestness and zeal.\n\nO Thou God of peace, bind our hearts with the bonds of Thy peace, that we\nmay remain and live with each other in meekness and humility, in peace\nand unity. O Thou God of patience, give us patience during the time of\nour life, and firmness unto the end. O Thou Spirit of prayer, awaken our\nhearts, that we may lift them together with holy hands up to God, and\ncall upon him in every time of need; and as we do not know what we should\npray for as we ought, O do Thou, as our faithful Interceder, make\nintercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. O Thou\ngentle wind, cool and refresh our hearts in every fiery trial and\nanguish, be our protection and shelter in time of need, our help in\naffliction, our comfort in adversity.\n\nCome, Thou mighty God, and comfort the weak, teach the miserable Thy way,\nhelp those also who have fallen, put those aright who err, hold them with\nThy right hand. Come, O Thou eternal Light, Salvation and Comfort, be our\nLight in darkness, be our Salvation in life, be our Comfort in death, and\nlead us upon the straight path unto life everlasting, in order that we\nmay praise, extol and glorify Thee, O Holy Ghost, together with our\nheavenly Father and His beloved Son, our only Saviour, with truly new\ntongues on the true day of Pentecost in heaven for ever and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 13. Prayer on the Festival of the Holy Trinity.\n\n\nO Thou incomprehensible, eternal God, Thou King of kings, and Lord of\nlords, Thou, who only hast immortality and dwellest in the light which no\nman can approach unto, we thank Thee in humility of heart, that Thou\ndidst come forth out of Thy light and reveal Thyself as one God in three\npersons. But because this exalted mystery of the holy Trinity transcends\nall our conception and understanding, do Thou Thyself bring our reason,\nwhich thinks itself to be wise, into captivity to Thy obedience, and do\nnot permit its foolishness to set itself against Thy wisdom. But do Thou\nimpress upon our hearts the living and believing knowledge, that Thou art\nThree and One, in order that we may steadfastly preserve this truth as a\nprecious treasure against all error, and with the deepest humility may\nworship Thee, O Triune God, with equal honor, according to Thy\nrevelation.\n\nGive us, O holy Father, a knowledge of Thee, that Thou comest from no\none, but didst beget Thy Son from eternity and together with Him lettest\nthe Holy Spirit proceed from Thee; but also how Thou didst give Thyself\nto us as our Father, in order that we might, in childlike obedience and\nconfidence, consecrate unto Thee every thing in us that is Thy work.\nEternal Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, reveal Thyself unto us also; how\nThou wast begotten from eternity by Thy heavenly Father as the brightness\nof His glory and as the image of His essence, Light of Light, very God of\nvery God; how Thou out of love to us didst become our brother and didst\nredeem us with Thy obedience, suffering and death, that we might in Thee\nlearn to know the Father aright, and through Thee come to Him, and also\nenjoy the fruits of Thy salvation, here in righteousness and holiness,\nhereafter in the communion of Thy glory. Lord God Holy Ghost, put Thy\nlight into our souls, in order that we may know how Thou proceedest as\nthe essential Breath from the Father and the Son from eternity, as the\ntrue God and as a true person, also how Thou laborest faithfully at the\nwork of our sanctification. O continue the same in power, to enlighten,\npurify, comfort and keep us, and to urge us to do all that is good, in\norder that we may through Thy operation at last appear altogether holy\nand pure before the throne of Thy glory.\n\nTo Thee, O Thou holy Trinity, be ascribed, by us and all creatures,\npraise, honor, glory and thanks to all eternity, for Thy eternal majesty\nand glory which Thou hast revealed unto us in Thy Word, and for all the\ngrace and benefits with which Thou hast blessed us. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 14. Prayer on the Day of John the Baptist.\n\n\nMerciful God and Father in heaven, to Thee I give the humblest thanks\nwith heart and lips, that Thou didst so mercifully visit us poor human\nbeings through the giving of Thy dearest Son, and didst raise up our Lord\nJesus as a horn of salvation in Thy church, in order that we should lay\nhold of the same in true faith, receive comfort, joy and salvation from\nthe same, and sustain ourselves by it in danger and in death. Equal\nthanks do I owe Thee, Lord Jesus, Thou day-spring from on high, that Thou\ndidst so gloriously enlighten, through Thy appearing, us poor, blind\npeople who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, and didst direct\nour feet upon the way of divine peace. No less do I thank Thee, O God\nHoly Ghost, that Thou didst raise up John as a prophet of the Highest,\nand didst give through him the knowledge of salvation which consists in\nthe forgiveness of sins. O holy Trinity, give me Thy grace, that I may\nworthily acknowledge such great benefits, and be thankful to Thee always\nfor the same, not only in words, but also in a Christian life, and serve\nThee all the days of my life in holiness and righteousness, which are\npleasing to Thee, until in the land of eternity I shall behold Thee face\nto face, and sing, with the assembly of the chosen, the never-ending\nhymns of praise and thanks. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 15. Prayer on the Day of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary.\n\n\nGracious God, heavenly Father, how great is Thy grace, how unsearchable\nThy mercy toward me, a poor sinner! Thou didst send Thy only Son and\npermit Him to become a true man, in order that I might, through the\nblessed fruit of the womb of a virgin, receive the divine blessing, and\nbe and remain one of the blessed of the Lord. For such Thy great kindness\nI give Thee hearty thanks, and humbly beseech Thee at the same time, that\nThou wouldst be pleased to enkindle my heart with the fire of the Holy\nSpirit, in order that my soul may also magnify Thee, and my spirit\nrejoice at all times in my Saviour. O why should I not magnify Thee with\ndue praise, how could my spirit refrain from rejoicing? Thou, kind God,\nhast done great things for me, not only in my creation and preservation,\nbut also in the salvation of my soul, which Thy dearest Son Jesus Christ\nsnatched from death, with which He united Himself, and which He has\npromised to love eternally. O Lord, continue to look upon me with the\neyes of Thy mercy, as Thou didst look upon the Virgin Mary, and permit\nThy grace to be ever with me, and I shall glorify and praise Thee forever\nand ever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 16. Prayer on St. Michael's Day.\n\n\nO thou faithful God! Lover, Protector and Preserver of the human race,\nThou Lord of Hosts, unto whom thousand thousands minister, and before\nwhom ten thousand times ten thousand stand, by whom all things were\ncreated, both the visible and the invisible, the thrones and dominions;\nhow great is Thy love to men, that from their infancy Thou hast ordered\nto be with them Thy holy angels, these constant, humble, friendly,\nGod-loving, obedient, true, good spirits, these beautifully resplendent,\nheavenly flaming fires, these strong heroes, these holy watchmen, who\nencamp round about us that fear Thy name, who always behold the face of\nour Father in heaven, and stand before Thy throne; by means of whom Thou\ndost protect the three estates which Thou Thyself hast ordained on earth.\nO God, what is man, that Thou art thus mindful of him! We render unto\nThee everlasting praise and thanks for Thy goodness, that Thou hast sent\nforth the ministering spirits, to minister for them who shall be heirs of\nsalvation. We pray Thee, give Thy angels charge over us, to keep us in\nall our ways, to bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against\na stone; that we may tread upon the lion and adder, and trample under our\nfeet the young lion and the dragon. Drive away from us all evil spirits,\nwhich are murderers and liars from the beginning. Protect us against\ntheir anger and rage, their lies and blasphemies, their cunning and\ndeceit, that they may not sow their tares among the wheat in our hearts.\nRestrain the lying spirits in the mouth of all false prophets, the\nmurderous spirit in all tyrants, the spirit of pride and avarice in the\nfamily. Let Thy holy angels always accompany us like Jacob, protect us\nlike the prophet Elisha, bring us bread and water and furnish us with\nfiery horse and chariot like Elias, let them give unto us wholesome\ncounsel and comfort. Let them be with us in our tribulation, as they were\nwith the three men in the fiery furnace and with Daniel in the lion's\nden; let them deliver us, and lead us out, from all our troubles, as they\nled out Lot from burning Sodom, Peter from the prison, Paul from the\nshipwreck. Let our house and land, our children and all that we possess,\nbe protected by Thy holy angels, as was the house of Job, that the enemy\nmay not molest us. Let us live in Thy fear, love Thy Word and Gospel,\ninto which the angels desire to look. Work true repentance in our hearts,\nthat the angels in heaven may rejoice over us. Kindle in us fervent\nprayer and praise of Thy name, that we may perform an angel's office and\nsing with them: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. And finally let\nalso our souls be carried by angels into Abraham's bosom, and in the\nresurrection on that day make us like unto the holy angels, that we may\nbe in their society. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 17. Prayer on the Festival of the Reformation.\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, who didst come into the world to call sinners to\nrepentance and to enlighten all men unto life eternal, we praise Thee\nwith our whole heart, and extol Thy great goodness and mercy, that Thou\ndidst not only enter into this place and into this church and\ncongregation with Thy divine Word and holy Sacraments, and didst purge\nout the leaven of papistic doctrine and idolatry, but that Thou hast also\nredeemed us poor sinners from the kingdom of darkness, hast called us\ninto the light of Thy holy Gospel, and hast transplanted us into Thy\nkingdom of grace.\n\nO Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of all Thy goodness and faithfulness, yet\nwe pray Thee with humble hearts, that Thou wouldst continue among us Thy\ngrace, with Thy divine Word and holy Sacraments, that Thy holy name may\nbe known by us, that it alone may be feared and honored by us, and we all\nmay live, and serve Thee, according to Thy divine pleasure. And what we\nhave done amiss against Thee and Thy holy Word, by not having been\nobedient to the Gospel, do Thou, Lord Jesus Christ, graciously pardon,\nand do not on account of our sin take from us this saving treasure, but\npreserve it unadulterated unto us and unto our posterity. Yea, Lord\nJesus, preserve unto us Thy Word, for it is the joy and comfort of our\nhearts.\n\nGuard and defend us and Thy whole Christian, especially Thy Evangelical\nLutheran, Church against all error, unbelief, and the pernicious doctrine\nof others. Restrain all enemies, persecutors and blasphemers, and be Thou\nour refuge, our strength, our shield and buckler, that the gates of hell\nmay not prevail against us. Especially do we beseech Thee, O Lord our\nSaviour, that Thou wouldst enter into the house of our heart, that Thou\nwouldst enlighten us by Thy Holy Spirit, purify our hearts and graciously\ngrant, that we may walk worthy of the Gospel, and remain steadfast in the\ntruth once known and confessed, unto our end. O Lord Jesus, let our souls\nobtain Thy salvation, that we may be saved through Thee and in Thy\nkingdom behold Thee and Thy great glory forever and ever. Amen, Lord\nJesus, Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 18. Prayer on Church-Consecration Day.\n\n\nLord God, our heavenly Father, who dost through Thy Word and Thy Holy\nSpirit gather for Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, a church and holy\ncongregation in our midst, and hast hitherto preserved pure doctrine and\nthe true worship of God against the devil and all enemies, yea, against\nthe gates of hell: do Thou, O good and faithful God, continue to preserve\nunto us this dear and precious treasure, do Thou also make our\ndescendants partakers of the same, so that we, instructed in saving\nknowledge, may grow and increase, until we shall receive an everlasting\nhabitation in the kingdom of Thy Son, and be saved through Thy dear Son,\nJesus Christ, our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be praise\nand glory forever and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 19. Prayer on Harvest Festival.\n\n\nO give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: because His mercy and truth\nendure forever. Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth forever. Let\nthe house of Aaron now say, that His mercy endureth forever. Let them now\nthat fear the Lord say, that His mercy endureth forever. O, how we feared\nthe destruction of the precious grain in the fields! O, how we took\nthought and troubled ourselves, lest the bread which God has yet given us\nin these hard times might be snatched away before our eyes and out of our\nhands! But it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because\nHis compassions fail not; they are new every morning. Now all, to God\ngive thanks, who has everywhere done marvelous things, who has preserved\nus alive from our birth, and has done countless favors. May He grant us a\njoyful heart, and in these times continual peace in Israel, and that His\ngrace remain always with us, and uphold us, as long as we live. O God,\ngive peace to Thy land, prosperity and salvation to every estate. Lord\nGod, heavenly Father, who dost create holy courage, good counsel and good\nworks, give to Thy servants peace, which the world cannot give, so that\nour hearts may cling to Thy commandment, and that we may, by Thy\nprotection, live through our days quietly and securely against our\nenemies, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen.\n\nAnd now, O God, we know and confess with grateful hearts, that Thou hast\ngiven us the early and the latter rain in due season, and hast faithfully\nand annually protected our harvests. Thou hast watered our ridges\nabundantly: Thou hast settled our furrows: Thou makest it soft with\nshowers: Thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou hast prospered our\ngrain, and tilled our land. Thanks, praise, glory and honor be unto God\nthe Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and\never shall be, world without end. Amen.\n\nWe also pray Thee, O our God and Father, from the depth of our hearts,\nthat Thou wouldst give unto us all Thy Holy Spirit, so that we may\nreceive with thanksgiving what Thou bestowest upon us, and may sanctify\nit with Thy Word and prayer, that it may be employed and used to Thy\nglory and for our temporal support, for the benefit of churches and\nschools, and of our needy neighbor, and that thereby the shameful and\nhurtful worship of mammon may be most diligently avoided. Protect this\nplace and also the entire country against war and danger, against\ndangerous and hostile invasion and destruction. Give to our government\nthe spirit of wisdom, of counsel, of power and strength. Confirm and\npreserve peace among us. Let us pass the days of our earthly life in true\nknowledge of Thy holy name and in Thy fear, also in health, peace and\nunion, and finally grant to us all everlasting salvation, for the sake of\nJesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 20. Prayer on Mission Festival.\n\n\nAlmighty God, Thou who created the world and all that is therein, and\nhast made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the\nearth: Thou who art not far from every one of us; for in Thee we live and\nmove and have our being: Thou, who in times past didst suffer the\ngentiles to walk in their own ways, but now commandest all men everywhere\nto repent and with Thy grace doest visit their hearts.\n\nLift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, that Thy salvation may\neverywhere abound, and the glory of Thy name extend itself unto the ends\nof the earth. Look down from Thy height upon the misery of so many\nnations, who yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, who are\nignorant of their divine origin, and lie under the cruel tyranny of\nsatan. The Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,\nhath not yet risen upon them. They walk in the vanity of their minds.\nTheir reason is clouded because of great darkness. They are estranged\nfrom the life that is of God, through the ignorance that is in them and\nthrough the blindness of their heart. The god of this world hath blinded\ntheir understanding, and the common enemy of souls has taken them captive\naccording to his will.\n\nGrant, merciful God, that by the misfortune of others we may realize our\nown blessedness, and bewail the lamentable state of blindness, with which\nThou hast smitten the gentiles, and worthily apply the greater light so\ngraciously presented unto us to so much the greater holiness. O do Thou\nfinally suffer the light of the Gospel to rise unto those, who are yet\nfar from Christ, the true Sun, and who have hitherto altogether groped in\nthick darkness of idolatry. Through the loving voice of the Gospel, bring\nback these scattered sheep into Thy spiritual fold. Grant such shepherds,\nwho will not rule vigorously and harshly over the sheep, nor devour their\nsubstance and clothe themselves with their wool; but who, in the spirit\nof love and gentliness will wait upon the weak, heal the sick, bind up\nthe wounded, bring back the erring, seek the lost, and in walk and life\npresent themselves a living example to the gentiles. And inasmuch as the\nword of the Gospel, concerning the love of God as revealed in Christ, is\nthe only means to reconcile man with God, and to gather the erring sheep\ninto the fold of Christ, do Thou grant, that all who go forth to proclaim\nthe Gospel unto the heathen, may, with divine wisdom, make known the word\nof reconciliation, with boldness overcome all hinderances, and\ndisregarding all selfish motives in the discharge of so holy an office,\nmay seek nought but the glory of Thy name, and the extension of the\nkingdom of heaven. Grant, that they themselves may plainly know and\nacknowledge the mystery of the cross, as the central point of Evangelical\ndoctrine, may not pretend to know anything among the gentiles, save\nChrist Jesus and Him crucified, and worthily extol Him to others as the\nonly hope of glory and fountain of salvation, through our Lord Jesus\nChrist, the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n 21. From Caspar Neuman's Substance of all Prayers.\n\n\n (Thanksgiving.)\n\nLord God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Thou art the almighty God of heaven\nand earth, and in Thee we live, move, and have our being. Thou, however,\ndoest desire that man should live by bread, and therefore didst, in the\nbeginning of the world, make the earth fruitful through Thy almighty\nWord, and after the days of the flood, didst declare that while the earth\nremaineth seed-time and harvest shall not cease. Behold, Lord, this Thy\norder, once established, continueth yet, and Thou still doest ever crown\nthe year with Thy goodness. Thou doest cause grass to grow for the cattle\nand herb for the service of man. Thus Thou bringest bread out of the\nearth and doest fill our hearts with joy and gladness. Most loving God,\nhow wisely indeed hast Thou ordered all things! How great is Thy goodness\ntoward us, who are not worthy of Thy bread. And how wonderfully infinite\nThy omnipotence, when Thou doest increase the little grain which moulders\nin the earth, into a hundredfold! It is Thy unsearchable wisdom, this\nThine unutterable goodness, mercy and omnipotence, which hath again this\nyear visited our land. Men had sowed their seed in hope, but Thou hast\nhitherto blessed the seed in the fields, and hast moreover permitted us\nto live to the time, when men everywhere reap and gather into barns what\nThou hast given. O Lord, Thou God of riches, all that men harvest is\nindeed Thine; for we of ourselves can bring forth nothing out of the\nearth, and be it little or much, it is still more than we have merited.\nThanks be also unto Thy holy name for each and every gift, which Thou\nhast bestowed on our fields during this year. Thou alone art the God, who\ndoest sustain us from the day of our birth, and shower Thy blessings upon\nus. Wherefore unto Thee alone be all the praise, honor and thanksgiving\nnow and in eternity.\n\n\n (Petition.)\n\nWe beseech Thee, O kind Father, that Thou wouldst not again take from us\nin Thy wrath, what Thou in Thy grace hast given. Thou Thyself hast said\nin Thy Word, that rain is not seemly in harvest. So do Thou not permit\nthat the blessings of the fields, which Thou hast hitherto spread out\nbefore our eyes, may perish by unfavorable weather. Do Thou also\nhenceforth guard that which has been gathered into barns and garners,\nagainst danger by fire and water, against thieves and unfaithful\nstewards, against usurers and unscrupulous grain-speculators, and against\nall else that might rob us, or destroy Thy gifts. Moreover let us not\nforget that all we receive comes from Thee and is Thine. Do Thou likewise\nhelp that because of this we may never be discontented with what Thou\ngivest, never uselessly squander aught of it through luxury and\nwantonness, never lock up any of Thy gifts unmercifully against our needy\nneighbor through avarice or envy; nor in mistrust against Thee brood over\nit with cares, as though that which Thou hast given be not sufficient for\nour wants. Inasmuch as we in future will have need of Thy providing care,\ndo Thou not in Thy wrath let our land remain uncultivated, lest it lie\nwaste and become unfruitful when forsaken. Prevent every thing which\nmight hinder the tilling of the fields after harvest. And, that no years\nmay come, in which man sows but does not reap, do Thou provide that\nneither frost nor heat, neither floods nor drought, nor destructive\ninsects destroy the seed in the earth by which we in future are to live.\n\n\n (Prayer.)\n\nBe Thou with us, O gracious loving Father, and preserve unto us our daily\nbread, which Thou during the present harvest doest everywhere distribute.\nAbove all grant favorable weather and constant sunshine, that the\nripening grain may all fully mature, so that which yet remains in the\nfields may be stored away in good condition. Bless that which has been\ngathered into barns, that it may be prepared for our daily use, increase\nit while passing through our hands in preparing it, may it be blessed to\nour nourishment; grant us life and health, peace and quietude, to enjoy\nall that Thou hast given in such a manner, that it may not only give\nstrength to the body, but also be good and wholesome to the soul, so that\nThy temporal blessing may thus in manifold ways redound to our welfare.\nWhen Thou hast heard these our petitions and prayers, then remind us also\nof our obligations, and grant that we acknowledge all our substance to be\nthe gift of Thy goodness, that we heartily thank Thee for it, savingly\nuse it, serve our bodies with it, as is meet, willingly impart of it to\nothers, and finally devote and use all we have received of Thee alone\nunto Thy honor. Do Thou continue in future to bless our land with Thy\ngracious visitation, improve and enrich it with great fertility. Give\nwarmth to the dust of the earth. Refresh the fields with fruitful\nshowers, water their furrows, moisten the plowed ground, and do Thou\nprosper the grain to be sown therein, that the land may continue to yield\nforth its increase, the valleys be covered with corn, so that we may\nshout for joy and sing Thy praise forevermore.\n\n\n (Intercession.)\n\nYea, Thou art God, Who Daily Openest Thy liberal hand and satisfiest the\ndesire of every living thing. Therefore do Thou during this season of\nharvest provide for all people, and let every one receive his proportion\nof food. Remind each one of his duties, that the indolent may not sleep\nin time of harvest and neglect the necessary interests of himself and his\nhousehold. But do Thou likewise grant strength to those, who in the sweat\nof their face gather their daily bread; refresh them when they are weary,\nand permit each one with his household to enjoy in good health what his\nfields have produced, that we all may be truly glad because of Thy\nbenefits. But do Thou also help that the rich may not depend upon their\nbarn bursting with plenty, and thereby forget that their souls may be\ntaken from them unawares, and another obtain possession of that which\nthey have gathered. Remember the poor, who have nothing to harvest. Grant\nthat others may help gather also for them, and do Thou thyself recompense\nthose who permit them to glean ears in their fields, or who impart unto\nthem of their abundance. In short, where there is but little, do Thou\nbless the small supply, that it may be sufficient for the wants to whom\nit is given, and where Thou hast given a large supply, do Thou so control\nit, that it may not be abused unto evil. Preserve tranquility and peace\nin all lands, that strangers come not unto us and devour our harvests. Do\nThou everywhere guard against failures, hard times and famine. And do\nThou also ward off from us everything which might render it difficult for\nus to obtain the necessary things for the support of temporal life. On\nthe other hand, do Thou permit every one to enjoy what Thou hast allotted\nto him, that rich and poor alike may acknowledge and praise Thee for\nevermore. Finally, O Thou Saviour of all men, we ourselves are the\nspiritual stewards in Thy church, and Thou art the Lord of the harvest;\nwe therefore pray Thee to send laborers into Thy harvest, and let Thy\nharvest among men likewise become great in all places. Grant that good\nseed may everywhere be sown, and pure doctrine be preached among all\nchristians. Protect the world against the tares, which the devil is busy\nin scattering forth. Convert those who sow in unrighteousness and reap in\nsorrow, or sow unto the flesh and of the flesh reap destruction. Sanctify\nus all together, that we may be of one mind in Christ, and may sow unto\nthe spirit, and of the spirit once reap eternal life. Yea, when once the\nentire world shall be sufficiently ripe for the last harvest, then grant\nthat we all, as pure wheat, may be bound into sheaves and gathered into\nThy garners, and be preserved in heaven unto eternal joys. There shall we\nas those whom Thou hast promised, reap without ceasing what we have sown\nhere, and rejoice as they that rejoice in harvest, with unspeakable joy.\nHear us, O God, and grant us all what we ask, for the sake of Thy dear\nSon, Jesus Christ. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n APPENDIX II.\n HYMNS.\n\n\n Morning Hymn.\n\n\n Gott des Himmels und der Erden\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 All things wake at thy command,\n Held in being by thy hand.\n\n 2. God, I thank thee! In thy keeping\n Safely have I slumbered here;\n Thou hast guarded me while sleeping\n From all danger, pain, and fear:\n And the cunning of my foe\n Hath not wrought my overthrow.\n\n 3. Let the night of sin that shrouded\n All my life, with this depart;\n Shine on me with beams unclouded,\n Jesus! In thy loving heart\n Is my help and hope alone,\n For the evil I have done.\n\n 4. Help me as the morn is breaking,\n In the spirit to arise,\n So from careless sloth awaking,\n That when o'er the aged skies\n Shall the morn of Doom appear,\n I may see it free from fear.\n\n 5. Lead me, and forsake me never,\n Guide my wandrings by thy Word;\n As thou hast been, be thou ever\n My defence, my refuge, Lord.\n Never safe except with thee,\n Thou my faithful Guardian be.\n\n 6. O my God, I now commend me\n Wholly to thy mighty hand;\n All the powers that thou dost lend me\n Let me use at thy command;\n Thou my boast, my strength divine,\n Keep me with thee, I am thine.\n\n 7. Thus afresh, with each new morning\n Save me from the power of sin,\n Hourly let me feel thy warning\n Ruling, prompting me within,\n Till my final rest be come,\n And thine Angel bear me home.\n\n\n Evening Hymn.\n\n\n Nun sich der Tag geendet hat.\n\n Since now the day hath reached its close,\n And sun-light shines no more,\n In sleep the toil-worn find repose,\n And all who wept before.\n\n 2. But thou, my God, no rest doth know,\n No slumber locks thy sight,\n Thou hatest darkness as thy foe,\n Since thou, thyself, art Light.\n\n 3. O Lord, I pray, remember me\n In this beclouded night,\n And grant to me most graciously\n The shield of thy great might.\n\n 4. And foil thou satan's purpose fell\n Through thy swift angel-arm;\n Then free from care I'll rest me well\n And safe from every harm.\n\n 5. I feel indeed through guilt undone,\n It cries aloud to thee;\n But, yet, the mercy of thy Son\n Hath full atoned for me.\n\n 6. Him I present thee as my Bail,\n As suppliant at thy feet;\n With such Assurance I'll not fail\n Before thy Judgment-seat.\n\n 7. And hereupon my eyes I close,\n And fall asleep heart-glad,\n My God doth watch o'er my repose,\n Why should my heart be sad?\n\n 8. Depart vain thoughts and fancies, flee!\n Draw not my mind abroad,\n My heart, as temple, shall now be\n Devoted to my God.\n\n 9. And thus I live and die to thee,\n Thou Sabaoth strong, indeed!\n In life and death thou helpest me\n From every fear and need!\n\n 10. Should this night prove the last for me\n In this sad vale of tears,\n Then lead me, Lord, in heaven to thee\n And thy elect compeers.\n\n\n Hymns of Cross and Consolation.\n\n\n Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten.\n\n If thou but suffer God to guide thee,\n And hope in Him through all thy ways,\n He'll give thee strength whate'er betide thee,\n And bear thee through the evil days.\n Who trusts in God's unchanging love\n Builds on the Rock that naught can move.\n\n 2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,\n These never-ceasing moans and sighs?\n What can it help, if thou bewail thee\n O'er each dark moment as it flies?\n Our cross and trials do but press\n The heavier for our bitterness.\n\n 3. Only be still and wait His leisure\n In cheerful hope, with heart content\n To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure\n And all-deserving love hath sent,\n Nor doubt our inmost wants are known\n To Him who chose us for His own.\n\n 4. He knows the time for joy, and truly\n Will send it when He sees it meet,\n When He has tried and purged thee throughly\n And finds thee free from all deceit,\n He comes to thee all unaware\n And makes thee own His loving care.\n\n 5. Nor think amid the heat of trial\n That God hath cast thee off unheard,\n That he whose hopes meet no denial\n Must surely be of God preferred;\n Time passes and much change doth bring,\n And sets a bound to everything.\n\n 6. All are alike before the Highest.\n 'Tis easy to our God, we know,\n To raise thee up though low thou liest,\n To make the rich man poor and low;\n True wonders still by Him are wrought\n Who setteth up and brings to naught.\n\n 7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,\n So do thine own part faithfully,\n And trust His Word, though undeserving,\n Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;\n God never yet forsook at need\n The soul that trusted Him indeed.\n\n\n Warum sollt ich mich denn graemen?\n\n Why should sorrow ever grieve me?\n Christ is near,\n What can here\n E'er of Him deprive me?\n Who can rob me of my heaven\n That God's Son,\n As mine own,\n To my faith hath given?\n\n 2. Naked was I and unswathed\n When on earth\n At my birth\n My first breath I breathed.\n Naked hence shall I betake me,\n When I go\n From earth's woe,\n And my breath forsake me.\n\n 3. Nought, not e'en the live I'm living,\n Is mine own,\n God alone\n All to me is giving.\n Must I then His own restore Him?\n Though bereft\n Of each gift,\n Still shall I adore Him.\n\n 4. Though a heavy cross I'm bearing,\n And my heart\n Feels the smart,\n Shall I be despairing?\n God can help me, who doth send it,\n He doth know\n All my woe\n And how best to end it.\n\n 5. God oft gives me days of gladness,\n Shall I grieve\n If He give\n Seasons too of sadness?\n God is good and tempers ever\n Every hurt,\n Me desert\n Wholly can He never.\n\n 6. Though united world and devil\n All their power\n Can no more\n Do than mock and cavil.\n Let derision now employ them,\n Christ e'en here\n Will appear\n And 'fore all destroy them.\n\n 7. True believers shrinking never,\n Where they dwell\n Should reveal\n Their true colors ever.\n When approaching death would scare them,\n Still should they\n Patient stay\n And with courage bear them.\n\n 8. Death can never kill us even,\n But relief\n From all grief\n To us then is given.\n It doth close life's mournful story,\n Make a way\n That we may\n Pass to heavenly glory.\n\n 9. There I'll reap enduring pleasure,\n After woe\n Here below\n Suffer'd in large measure.\n Lasting good we find here never,\n All the earth\n Deameth worth\n Vanisheth forever.\n\n 10. What is all that life possesseth?\n But a hand\n Full of sand\n That the heart distresseth.\n Noble gifts that tire me never,\n Christ so free\n There gives me\n To enjoy forever.\n\n 11. Shepherd! Lord! joy's fountain ever,\n Thou art mine,\n I am thine,\n No one can us sever.\n I am thine, because thou gavest\n Life and blood\n For my good,\n By thy death me savest.\n\n 12. Thou'rt mine, for I love and own thee,\n Ne'er shall I,\n Light of joy,\n From my heart dethrone thee.\n Let me, let me soon behold thee\n Face to face,\n Thy embrace\n May it soon enfold me.\n\n\n Hilf, Helfer, hilf in Angst und Noth.\n\n Help, helper, help in fear and need,\n Have mercy, faithful God, give heed!\n I know thou lov'st me still as thine,\n Though 'gainst me world and hell combine.\n\n 2. I trust in thee--whom I adore;\n If I have thee, what need I more?\n And, my Lord Jesus, this I laud:\n That thou art mine, my Saviour-God.\n\n 3. This blest assurance cheers my heart,\n To bide thy time--till clouds depart;\n I'll rest the while me on thee, then,\n Cry: Helper, help! and say: Amen!\n\n\n Christian Life.\n\n\n Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir.\n\n Lord, as thou wilt, be it with me,\n No other wish I cherish,\n I, living, dying, seek but thee,\n O Lord, let me not perish;\n Let but thy grace ne'er from me part,\n Else as thou wilt, grant patient heart,\n Thy will the best is ever.\n\n 2. Grant honor, truth, and self-control,\n And love thy Word to ponder,\n From errors false preserve my soul;\n And grant, both here and yonder,\n What will but tend to blessed days,\n Keep far all wrong and crooked ways\n From all my life and doings.\n\n 3. When once, according to thy will,\n I pass the bourne of sadness,\n Then let thy grace my bosom fill,\n That I may go with gladness;\n My body, soul, commend I thee,\n O Lord, a blessed end grant me\n Through Jesus Christ, yea, Amen.\n\n\n Hope in Death.\n\n\n Wenn mein Stuendlein vorhanden ist.\n\n When once in turn my hour is here,\n And I shall hence betake me,\n Then, O Lord Jesus, keep thou near,\n With help do not forsake me;\n My soul then at my final end\n Into thy hand I do commend:\n Thou wilt, Lord, safely guard it.\n\n 2. My sins will press my heart with care,\n My conscience will accuse me,\n For they are many, yet despair\n With doubts shall not confuse me;\n I will remember, Lord, thy death,\n And wounds, and words of thy last breath:\n Yea, these will then sustain me.\n\n 8. Lord, of thy body I am part:\n This membership doth cheer me,\n 'Mid woe and throes of death, my heart\n Inseparate is near thee.\n And though I die, I die to thee,\n Eternal life hast thou for me,\n Lord, by thy dying purchased.\n\n 4. Since thou art risen from the tomb,\n I shall not therein languish;\n Thy Ascent cheers me in the gloom,\n Doth even death-fear vanquish;\n For where thou art, there shall I be,\n That I may ever live with thee:\n Hence I depart rejoicing.\n\n 5. 'Tis well! I part, by Jesus blest;\n To Him will I betake me:\n Thus fall asleep and gently rest,\n No mortal can awake me.\n And Christ, the Lord, to whom I flee,\n Will open heaven's door to me,\n Lead me to life eternal.\n\n\n Glad Eternity.\n\n\n Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme.\n\n Wake, awake, for night is flying,\n The watchmen on the heights are crying;\n Awake, Jerusalem, at last!\n Midnight hears the welcome voices,\n And at the thrilling cry rejoices:\n Come forth, ye virgins, night is past!\n The bridegroom comes, awake,\n Your lamps with gladness take;\n Hallelujah!\n And for His marriage feast prepare,\n For you must go to meet Him there.\n\n 2. Zion hears the watchmen singing,\n All her heart with joy is springing,\n She wakes, she rises from her gloom;\n For her Lord comes down all-glorious,\n The strong in grace, in truth victorious,\n Her star is risen, her light is come!\n Ah come, thou blessed Lord,\n O Jesus, Son of God,\n Hallelujah!\n We follow till the halls we see\n Where thou hast bid us sup with thee.\n\n 3. Now let all the heavens adore thee,\n And men and angels sing before thee,\n With harp and cymbal's clearest tone;\n Of one pearl each shining portal,\n Where we are with the choir immortal\n Of angels round thy dazzling throne;\n Nor eye hath seen, nor ear\n Hath yet attained to hear\n What there is ours,\n But we rejoice and sing to thee\n Our hymn of joy eternally.\n\n\n\n\n Prayers before Meat.\n\n\nThe eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord: Thou givest them their meat in\ndue season, Thou openest Thy liberal hand, and satisfiest the desire of\nevery living thing. Amen.\n\n\n Come, Lord Jesus, be Thou our guest,\n And let all Thou giv'st us be blest. Amen.\n\n\nWe thank Thee, dear Son, that Thou hast again opened Thy bountiful hand\nto supply our wants; grant that we may receive this food with\nthanksgiving and gratitude and in Thy fear, and grant, O Lord! that\nwhatsoever we do, whether we eat or drink, all may be done to Thy name's\nhonor and glory, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.\n\n\nO Lord God, heavenly Father, bless unto us these Thy gifts, which of Thy\ntender kindness Thou hast bestowed upon us, through Jesus Christ, our\nLord. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n Prayers 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. His mercies are new unto us every\nmorning, for his faithfulness eudureth unto all generations. Amen.\n\n\nWe give thanks to Thee, O God our Father, for all Thy benefits, through\nJesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee liveth and reigneth forever and\never. Amen.\n\n\nWe return thanks unto Thee, O Lord! that Thou hast again vouchsafed to\nfeed these perishable bodies, and we beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst also\nfeed our souls with the bread of eternal life. Amen.","title":"The Little Treasure of Prayers: Being a Translation of the Epitome from the German Larger \"Treasure of Prayers\" [\"Gebets-Schatz\"] of the Evangelical Lutheran Church","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":33545}