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I UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. {
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THE
^IBLE PKAYEH-BOOK.
tUtUl anb Irrangel
BY JOSEPH WELKER,
A Minister of fhe Evangelical Lutheran Church.
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PUBLISHED BY THE |
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DANIELS & SMITH, No. 36 N. I8 60. |
SIXTH ST. |
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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by
JOSEPH WELKER,
in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
to
RECOMMENDATION
>^
Z REV. S. S. SCHMUCKER, D. D.,
PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, GETTYSBURG.
Rev. and Dear Sir : —
I HAVE perused, with no less interest than pleasure, a con- siderable portion of the manuscript, which you put into my hands. The conception of the plan exhibits a mind imbued with the spirit of devotion, whilst the execution, as a whole, evinces no ordinary degree of judgment, industry, and fami- liarity with the lively oracles of our heavenly Father. The method of the celebrated commentator, Henry, in his work on Prayer, to arrange detached passages of Scripture under the general topics or heads appropriate to prayer, is probably better for ministers of the gospel. But the plan which you have adopted, of so connecting the scripture passages as to construct entire prayers in the very words of inspiration, is a decided improvement for popular purposes, and calculated to be more extensively useful among Christians generally of all ages and sexes. Henry has, indeed, annexed several connect- ed prayers ; but they are too few in number for general pur- poses, and not exclusively in the language of Scripture.
The plan of your divisions, being amply carried out, fur- nishes prayers for all the ordinary necessities of Christian experience; and one of the numerous, pleasing impressions, made by its perusal, is, how extremely copious the good
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4 RECOMMENDATION.
word of God is, in petitions adapted to all the various circum- stances of human life. Prayer is one of the richest channels of appointed blessings to man ; and long as they Uve, should Christians cherish the spirit of prayer. Every attempt to faciUtate the faithful and profitable discharge of this duty, therefore deserves encouragement. And though fully persuaded of the inutility of the constant and exclusive use of forms of prayer, especially in public worship ; I have no doubt, that the perusal of prayers in private, and their occasional use in social worship, especially in the devotion of the family, may be attended by a happy influence.
Without supposing that your selections may not in some instances admit of improvement, I regard them excellent as a whole, and cordially commend the work to the favour of the friends of Zion. Trusting that the great Head of the church, will crown with abundant blessings these Prayers, which his own Spirit indited.
I remain, affectionately, Your Brother in Christ
s. s. schmuckeb.
Rev. Mr. Welker,
DEDICATED
TO ALL "WHO im EVERT PLACE CALL UPOJf THE XAME OF
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
OUT OF A SINCERE HEART. FERVENTLY,
BY THE AUTHOR.
1* (5)
TABLE OP CONTENTS.
PART I.
Prayers of the Awakened Sinner, • • • 14 Prayers of the Anxious Sinner, . • • .17
Prayers of the Turnini^ Sinner, ... 20
Praise and Thanksgiving of the Converted Sinner, 21
Praise of the Happy Christian, ... 25
Prayer of the Christian for Preservation from Sin, 26
Prayers of the Doubting- Christian, ... 27
Supplications of the Christian alarmed with fears . 28 Solemn Entreaties of the Christian, with God
under the Hidings of his Face, . . .31 Agonizing Prayers of the Christian who has fallen
into gross Sin, 34
Praise and Thanksgiving for Restoration to God's
favour, 39
Prayers for God's Continued Grace, . . 40
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8 CONTENTS.
Prayers for Spiritual Light in reading God's Word, 43 Prayers and Praise of the Christian before Com- munion, 45
Praise of the Christian going to Communion after
a severe Sickness, 47
Confidence in God, .••••• 49
Adoration, ..••••.. 50
Adoration of Christ, 54
Praise and Thanksgiving at the Remembrance of
God's Mercies, 55
Prayers for Deliverance from Enemies, . . 59 Praise and Thanksgiving for Deliverance from
enemies, ....••• 63
Prayer in great Losses, 68
Prayers in great Bodily afflictions, . . . 69 Prayers of those who by Sickness are deprived of
the Privileges of God's House, . . .76
Praise and Thanksgiving for Restoration to Health, 79
Prayers of the Poor, 82
Prayers of an Orphan, 83
Praise for Divine Protection amid the trials of Do- mestic Life, 89
Morning Prayers, 91
Evening Prayers, 96
Prayers at Meals, 98
Prayers of Church or Civil Officers, . • • 101
Prayers of a Minister, 103
CONTENTS. 9
Prayer when about to take a Journey, . . 106
Prayers on a Journey or in a distant Land, . . 107
Prayers of the Aged, 112
Prayers and Thanksgiving of the dying Christian, 115
PART 11.
RELATIVE PRAYERS.
Prayers for Relatives, 121
Prayers for such as have rendered acts of Kindness, 122 Prayers for Brethren in Christ, • . . 123
Prayers for an Anxious Sinner, • • • • 125
SECOND DIVISION OF
PART II.
SOCIAL PRAYERS.
Prayers and Thanksgiving at the commencement
of Public Worship, 129
Prayers and Thanksgiving at the conclusion of Pub- lic Worship, 132
Prayers of the Church in a low State, . * . 135
Prayers and Praise of the Church in a state of Revival 146
Prayers of the Church in times of Persecution, 150
10 CONTENTS.
THIRD DIVISION OF
PART II.
NATIONAL PRAYERS.
National Prayers and Supplications for Deliverance
from foreign Foes, 159
National Confession of Sin, .... 160 National Prayers in times of War, . . . 163
Praise and Thanksgiving for Deliverance, . 168
Prayers in time of Famine, 171
Prayers in time of Pestilence, .... 175 National Praise and Acknowledgment of God's
goodness. ....•., 177
PAET I.
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OUB Father, who art in heaven,
HALLOWED BE THY NAME: ThY KING- DOM COMB : THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN I GiVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD: AnD FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS : AnD LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL : FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER.
AME:Nr.
13
14 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
PRAYERS OF THE AWAKENED SINNER.
BEHOLD, I am vile; what shall I answer thee ? I w^ill lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer : yea, twice ; but I wall proceed no further :"■ for I do re- member my faults this day.^ My ini- quity is greater than I can bear.^ I have sinned greatly in that I have done ; and now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.^ How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgressions and my sins/ That which I see not, teach thou me : if
* Job 40 : 4, 5. « Qe^. 41 : 9. 3 Gen. 4 : 13. *2 8am. 24: 10. ^ Job 13: 23.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 15
I have done iniquity, I will do so no more.^ Yea, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.^ I will declare mine iniquities ; I will be sorry for my sins.^
FOR if I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, lam perfect, It shall also prove me false.* What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth?^ Lord, what wilt thou have me to do V Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed : save me and I shall be saved : for thou art my praise.'' For, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.® Thou hast re- ceived gifts for men, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.^
* Job 34 : 32. ^ Job 42 : 6. « pg. SS : 18.
* Job 9 : 20. 5 Job 31 . 14^ e ^^ts 9 : 6.
^ Jer 17 : 14. « Matt. 8:2. 9 Ps. 68 : 18.
16 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
OUT of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice : let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou may est be feared. I wait for the Lord ; my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they who watch for the morning : I say more than they who watch for the morning.^ Remem- ber not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions : according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek w^ill he guide in judgment : and the meek will he teach
^ Ps. 130 : 1—6.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 17
his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep his cove- nant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine ini- quity, for it is great.*
PRAYERS OF THE ANXIOUS SINNER.
LORD, be merciful unto me : heal my soul ; for I have sinned against thee.^ Therefore, O God, be merciful to me a sinner.^ For unto thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock ; be not silent to me : lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like tliem who go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands
* Ps. 25 : 7-11. ^ Ps. 41 : 4. ^ Luke 18 : 13. 2^
18 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity.^ Oh that I might have my request ; and that God would grant me the thing I long for !^ Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.^ We have sinned : do thou unto us what- soever seemeth good unto thee ; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.* I will not let thee go except thou bless me.^ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.^
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night unto thee : let my prayer come before thee : incline thine ear unto my cry. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction : Lord, I have
1 Ps. 28 : 1-3. 2 Job 6 : 8. ^ Mark 10 : 47.
4 Judg. 10: 15. ^ Gen. 32: 26. ^ job 13 : 15.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 19
called daily unto thee, I have stretched out mine hands unto thee. But unto thee have I cried, O Lord ; and in the morn- ing shall my prayer come before thee. Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me ?^ Create in me a clean heart, O God ; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free spirit. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give it : thou de- lightest not in burnt offering. The sacri- fices of God are a broken heart : a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.^
^Ps. 88: 1-2, 9,13-14. 2 Ps. 51 : 10, 12, 15, 16-17.
20 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
PRAYER OF THE TURNING SINNER.
I WILL arise and go to my father, and will say unto hinri, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee/ Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way : send me away that I may go to my Master.^ He knoweth the way that I take : when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips ; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food ; for God maketh my heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me/ I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my trans-
*Luke 15: 18. ^ Gen. 24: 56.
8 Job 23: 10, 12, 16.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 21
gressions unto the Lord ; and thou for- gavest the iniquity of my sin/
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING OF THE CONVERTED SINNER.
BLESSED be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength, and my shield : my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped ; therefore my heart greatly re- joiceth ; and with my song will I praise him.^ Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.^ For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
* Ps. 32 : 5. 2 Ps. 28 : 6-7. ^ pg. 66 : 16.
22 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
one that believeth.* God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.^
I WILL bless the Lord at all times : his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened ; and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 0 taste and
*Rom. 1: 16. ^ Gal. 6: 14.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 23
see that the Lord is good ; blessed is the man that trusteth in him. The Lord is nigh unto them who are of a broken heart ; and saveth such as be of a con- trite spirit.^ But verily God hath heard me ; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.^
I LOVE the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me : I found trouble and sor- row. Then called I upon the name the Lord : O Lord, I beseech the^ "^^^^^
l*/i ft Y\ Cm
ver my soul. Gracious is the ^ ' ' Vs. 34 : 1-8, IS. ^ p. 06 : 19-30.
24 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
righteous ; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple ; I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, there- fore have I spoken : I was greatly afflict- ed. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord, now, in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine hand- maid ; thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanks-
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 25
giving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now, in the presence of all his peo- ple, in the courts of the Lord's house. Praise ye the Lord !'
PRAISE OF THE HAPPY CHRISTIAN.
I WILL sing to the Lord, as long as I live ; I will sing praise unto my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet : I will be glad in the Lord. Bless thou the Lord, O my 3oul. Praise ye the Lord.^
^ Ps. 116 : 1-10, 12-19. 2 ps. 104 : 33-35.
3
26 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
PRAYER OF THE CHRISTIAN FOR PRESERVATION FROM
SIN.
WHO can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me : then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.^
*Ps. 19: 12-14.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 27
PRAYER OF THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN.
WHERE is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?' Examine me, O Lord, anc] prove me ; try my reins and my heart. For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes ; and I have walked in thy truth.* O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand : for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might ?^
1 Job 35: 10. aPs. 26: 2-3.
sDeut. 3: 24.
28 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
SUPPLICATIONS OF THE CHRIS- TIAN ALARMED WITH FEARS.
MY God, my God, why hast thou for saken me ? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day- time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee : they trusted, and thou didst deli- ver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered : they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. Be not far from me ; for trouble is near, for there is none to help. But be not thou far from me, O Lord : O my strength, haste thee to help me.^
iPs. 22: 1-5, 11, 19.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 29
OH that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me ; when his candle shined upon my head, and when, by his light, I walked through darkness; as I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; when the Almighty was yet with me/ If I say, I will forget my complaint, I wdll leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself; I am afraid of my sor- rows ; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.2 But give ear to my prayer, O God ; and hide not thyself from my sup- plication. Attend unto me, and hear me : for my heart is sore pained within me ; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me ; and horror hath overw^helmed me. O that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.'
* Job 29: 2-5. ^ Job 9: 27-28. ^ Ps. 55: 1-2, 4-7,
3*
30 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
AS the hart panleth after the water- brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall I come and ap- pear before God ? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they con- tinually say unto me, where is thy God ? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me : for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that keep holy- day. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me ? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him for the help of his counte- nance. Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God, my Rock, Why hast
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 3]
thou forgotten me?^ Lord, where are thy former loving-kindnesses?^ Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.^
SOLEMN ENTREATIES OF THE CHRISTIAN, WITH GOD UNDER THE HIDINGS OF HIS FACE.
HEAR my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications : in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. I remember the days
* Ps. 42 : 1-5, 8-9. ^ pg. 89 : 49. « Pg. 42 : H.
32 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
of old, I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee : my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord : my spirit faileth : hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God ; thy Spirit is good ; lead me into the hand of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake : for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.!
GIVE ear to my prayer, O Lord ; and ^Ps. 143: 1-2,5-8,10-11.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 33
hide not thyself from my supplications/ Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy ser- vant ? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight ?^ Will the Lord cast off for ever ? and will he be favour- able no more ? Is his mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail for ever- more ? Hath God forgotten to be gra- cious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies ? This is my infirmity : but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.^
HEAR, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee, Thy face. Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help;
1 Ps. 86:6. 2 Num. 11 : 11. ^ Ps. 77 ; 7-10.
34 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of ray salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way,
0 Lord, and lead me in a plain path.
1 had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.^
AGONIZING PRAYERS OF THE CHRISTIAN WHO HAS FALL- EN INTO GROSS SINS.
HAVE mercy upon me, O God, ac- cording to thy loving-kindness; accord- ing unto the multitude of thy tender mer
^ Ps. 27: 7-11, 13-14.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 35
cies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknow- ledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother con- ceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones w^hich thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine ini- quities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within
36 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
me. Cast me not away from thy pre- sence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach trans- gressors thy ways ; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation : and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.^
HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged me
^Ps. 51: 1-17.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 37
Avlien I was in distress ; be gracious unto me. and hear my prayer/ / know I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant/ Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me : for I am poor and needy. Nevertheless preserve my soul ; for I am one whom thou favour- est. O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord : for I cry unto thee all the day. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou. Lord, art good, and ready to forgive ; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee : for thou wilt answer me. For thou art
*Ps. 4: 1. 3 Gen. 32: 10.
38 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
great, and doest wondrous things : thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me : and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed : because thou, Lord, hast helped me, and comforted me.*
^Ps. 86: 1-7, 10-13, 15-17.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 39
PRAISE AND THANSGIVING FOR RESTORATION TO GOD^S FAVOUR.
BLESSED be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplica- tions. The Lord is my strength and my shield ; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped : therefore my heart greatly re- joiceth ; and with my song will I praise him/ I have trusted in thy mercy ; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.^
^Ps. 28: 6-7. » Ps. 13: 5-6.
40 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
PRAYERS FOR GOD'S CON^ TINUED GRACE.
O GOD, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shal] praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live : I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness ; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips : when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 4l
wings will I rejoice. My soial followeth hard after thee: thy right hand up- holdeth me/ Now, therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight.*
HEAR the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence ; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Thou hast proved my heart ; thou hast visited me in the night ; thou hast tried me, and shall find nothing : I am purposed that my mouth shall not trans- gress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold
^ Ps. 63 : 1-8. Ex. 33 : 13.
4^
42 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
up my goings in thy paths, that my foot- steps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God : incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee, from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.^ Let my soul wait only upon God ; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation ; he is my defence ; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory : the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.^ O continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the up- right in heart.^
* Ps. 17; 1-8. 2 Ps. 62: 5-7. ^ pg, 35 . jq.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 43
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL LIGHT IN READING GOD'S WORD.
TEACH me, O Lord, thenvay of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give nrie understanding, and I shall keep thy law ; yea, I shall observe it v^ith my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ; and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts : quicken me in thy right- eousness. For thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
44 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. With ray lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the v^ay of thy testi- monies, as much as in all riches. I wnll meditate in thy precepts, and have re- spect unto thy ways. I will delight my- self in thy statutes : I will not forget thy W'ord. Deal bountifully with thy ser- vant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. For thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellor. Therefore make me to un- derstand the way of thy precepts : so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.'
1 Ps. 119: 33-40; 11-18; 24, 27.
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PRAYERS AND PRAISE OF THE CHRISTIAN BEFORE COMMU- NION.
THE Lord is the portion of mine in- heritance and of my cup : thou main- tainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel : my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me : because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore mj heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth ; my flesh also shall rest in hope. Thou wilt show me the path of life : in thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.^
^Ps. 16: 5-9, 11.
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THY VOWS are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.' Therefore offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High : and call -upon me in the day of trouble : I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify me/ Because thou preparest a table be- fore me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life : and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.^ Yea my praise shall be of thee in the orreat congreora- tion : I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied : they shall praise the Lord that seek him : your hearts shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall
* Ps. 56: 12. 2 Ps. 50: 14-15. ^ Ps. 23 : 5-6.
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remember and turn unto the Lord : and all the kindreds of the nations shall wor- ship before thee.*
PRAISE OF THE CHRISTIAN GOING TO COMMUNION, AF- TER A SEVERE SICKNESS.
I LOVE the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Be- cause he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me : I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord ; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gra- cious is the Lord, and righteous; yea,
1 Ps. 22 : 25-27.
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our God is merciful. The Lord pre- serveth the simple : I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul ; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken : I was greatly afflicted. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me ? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his peo- ple. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid : thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will
I
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call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. In the courts of the Lord's house. Praise ye the Lord.^
CONFIDENCE IN GOD.
THE Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul : he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they com- fort me/^ Wherefore thou art great, O
*Ps. 116: 1-10; 12-19. ^Ps. 23: 1-4.
5
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Lord God : for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, ac- cording to all that we have heard with our ears/ Therefore let all the earth fear the Lord : let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.^
ADORATION.
HALLELUJAH ! Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, he unto the Lord our God. Praise our God all ye his servants, and ye that fear him both small and great. Hallelujah ! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him.^ Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name ? for thou
^2 Sam. 7: 22. « Ps. 38: 8.
3 Rev. 19: 1, 5,6,7.
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only art holy : for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judg- ments are made manifest/ And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord; thy faithfulness also in the con- gregations of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee ? or to thy faithfulness round about thee ?
I THOUGHT it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great
*Rev. 15: 4. ^ Ps, 89: 5-8.
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are his signs ! and how mighty are his wonders ! His kingdom is an everlast- ing kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation/ All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.^ For thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reach- eth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judg- ments are a great deep; O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excel- lent is thy loving-kindness, O God ! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light.^
1 Dan. 4 : ^3. ^ Ps. 66 : 4. ^ pg. 36 : 5-9.
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O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine ene- mies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger. When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast or- dained ; what is man, that thou art mind- ful of him ? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands ; thou hast put all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field ; the fowls of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our God, 5*
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how excellent is thy name in all the earth !^
ADORATION OF CHRIST.
WORTHY is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.2 For thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive : thou hast received gifts for men.^ Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever ; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of glad- ness above thy fellows.^
* Ps. 8. ^ Rev. 5: 12.
sPs. 68: 18. *Ps. 45: 6-7.
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PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD'S MERCIES.
IT is a good thing to give thanks Tinto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High : to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work : I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool under- stand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish ; it is that they shall
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be destroyed for ever. But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.^
I WILL praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will show forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee : I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause ; thou satest in the throne judging right. The Lord shall endure for ever : he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou. Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.^
* Ps. 92: 1-8. ^ Ps. 9: 1-2, 4, 7-10.
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I WILL extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearch- able. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glori- ous honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteous- ness. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord: and thy saints shall bless thee. They
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shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satfsfieth the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserv- eth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall
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speak the praise of the Lord : and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.^
PRAYERS FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ENEMIES.
0 LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) let the enemy persecute my soul and take it ; yea, let him tread down my life upon
^ Ps. 145.
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the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah/ But be merciful unto me, 0 God ; be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee ; yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high ; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.^ The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part i with them that help me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.^ In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed : deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear tome; deliver me speedily ; be
1 Ps. 7: 1-5. aps. 57: 1-3. ^ Ps. 118: 6-8.
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thou my strong rock, for a house of de- fence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress : therefore, for thy name's sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit : thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth. ^ So that / may boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.^
IN thee, O Lord do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousnevSS, and cause me to escape : incline thine ear unto me and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort ; thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress. De
* Ps. 31 : 1-5. a Heb. 13 : 6.
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liver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the un- righteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God : thou art my trust from my youth. O God, be not far from me : O my God make haste for my help.' Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul : they have not set God before them. Selah. Behold, God is mine helper : the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. I will freely sacrifice unto thee : I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good.^
^ Ps. 71 : 1-5, 12. ^ Ps. 54 : 1-4, 6.
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PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ENEMIES.
THE Lord is my rock, and my fort- ress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence. I wall call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised : so shall I be saved from, mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid ; the sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death overcame me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God : and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. With the merci- ful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and
64 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
with the "upright man thou wilt show thyself upright : with the pure thou wilt show thyself pure ; and with the fro ward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save : but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O Lord; and the Lord will lighten my darkness. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried : he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord ? and who is a rock, save our God ? God is my strength and power : and he maketh my way perfect. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.'
' 2 Sam. 22: 2-8, 26-29, 31-83, 47, 50.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 65
THE Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation : he is my God, and I will prepare him an habita- tion; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?^ My heart rejoiceth in the Lord ; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies : because I rejoice in thy salva- tion. There is none holy as the Lord : for there is none besides thee : neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly : let not arro- gancy come out of your mouth : for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that
^Ex. 15: 2, 11. 6*
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Stumbled are girded with strength. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive ; he bring- eth down to the grave, and bringeth np. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich : he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dung- hill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them/
I WILL extol thee, O Lord ; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave ; thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down
* 1 Sam. 2: 1-4, 6-8.
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to the pit. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the re- membrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his fa- vour is life : v^^eeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong : thou didst hide thy face, and I v^^as troubled. I cried to thee, O Lord ; and unto the Lord I made supplications. What profit is there in my blood, vv^hen I go down to the pit? shall the dust praise thee ? shall it declare thy truth ? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing : thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladne^ss; to the end that my tongue may sing praise to
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thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.*
PRAYER IN GREAT LOSSES.
FOR these things I weep : mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, be- cause the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me ; my children are desolate.^ But shall we receive good at the hand of God ? and shall not we re- ceive evil V Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.*
^ Ps. 30. 3 Lam. 1 : 16.
3 Job 2: 10. ^ Job 1:21.
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PRAYERS IN GREAT BODILY AFFLICTIONS.
O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath ; neither chasten me in thy hot displeas-ure. For thine arrows stick fast in me^ and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine ini- quities are gone over mine head ; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. I am troubled ; I am bowed down great- ly ; I am mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome dis- ease ; and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken : I have roared by reason of thedisquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is be-
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fore tliee ; and my groaning is not bid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me : as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. Forsake me not, O Lord : O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, 0 Lord my salvation.!
HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble ; incline thine ear unto me : in the day when I call, answer me speedily. My days are like a shadow that declineth ; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever, and thy remembrance unto all generations. He weakened my strength in the way ; he shortened my days. I said, O my God,
*Ps. 38: 1-4; 6-10, 21,22.
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take me not away in the midst of my days. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; mine eye is con- sumed with grief For my life is spent w^ith grief, and my years with sighing : my strength faileth because of mine ini quity, and my bones are consumed. My times are in thy hand : deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant : save me for thy mercies' sake.^
I CRIED unto the Lord with my voice : with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my com- plaint before him : I showed before him my trouble. I cried unto thee, O Lord ;
*Ps. 102: 1,2, 11, 12, 23,24. 2 Ps. 31 : 9, 10, 15, 16.
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I said thou art my refuge, and my por- tion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry ; for I am brought very low/ I am the man that hath seen afflic- tion by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.* Surely against me is he turned ; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old ; he hath broken my bones.* Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me : for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged : O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction, and my pain ; and forgive all my sins.^
O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot
* Ps. 142 : 1, 2, 5, 6. ^ Lam. 3 : 1-4.
3 Ps. 25. 16-18.
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displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord ; for I am weak : O Lord, heal me ; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed : but thou, O Lord, how^ long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul : oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee : in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groanings, all the night make I my bed to swim : I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of griefs Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground, yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto God, and unto God would I com- mit my cause; which doeth great things and unsearchable ; marvellous things
* Ps. 6 : 1-7.
7
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without number : who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth water upon the fields. To set up on high those that be low ; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth ; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up : he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles : yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.^
MY flesh is clothed with worms and impurity ; my skin is broken, and be- come loathsome. O remember that my life is wind : mine eye shall no more see good. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more : thine eyes are
* Job 5: 6-11, 17-19.
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npon me, and I am not. As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away ; so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. Therefore I will not re- frain my mouth ; I wdll speak in the anguish of my spirit; 1 will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? So that my soul chooseth strang- ling, and death rather than my life. What is man that thou shouldest magnify him ? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle V
Uob 7 : 5, 7-12, 15, 17-19.
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THE arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me/ O that he would show thee the secrets of wis- dom, that they are double to that which is ! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity de- serveth.^
PRAYERS OF THOSE WHO BY
SICKNESS ARE DEPRIVED OF THE PRIVILEGES OF GOD'S HOUSE.
I CRIED by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of the grave cried I, and thou
* Job 6: 4. 2 Job 11: 6.
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heardest my voice. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. When my soul fainted within me, I rememl)ered the Lord : and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.i
HOW amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! My soul longetB, yea, even famteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for her- self, where she may lay her young, even
* Jonah 2: 2,4,7-9.
7^
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thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : they will be still praising thee. Selah. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer : give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.'
^Ps. 84: 1-4,7-12.
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PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR RESTORATION TO HEALTH.
I WILL be glad and rejoice in thy mercy : for thou hast considered my trouble ; thou hast known my soul in adversities;^ I shall not die, but live, and declare the v^orks of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death. ^ But unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction. It is good for me that I have been afflicted ; that I might learn thy statutes. For before I was afflicted I w^ent astray : but now have I kept thy word.^
iPs.31:7. ^Ps. 118: 17, 18. ^Ps. 119: 92,71,67.
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BLESS the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my sonl, and forget not all his benefits : who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases ; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things ; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteous- ness and judgment for all that are op- pressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gra- cious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins ; nor rewarded us according to our iniqui- ties. For as the heaven is high above the
THE BIBLE PRAYEK-BOOK. 81
earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear himi. For he knoweth our frame ; he remembereth that w^e are dust. As for man, his days are as grass ; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children ; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remem- ber his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his command-
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merits, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion : bless the Lord, O my soul.^
PRAYER OF THE POOR.
MAKE haste, 0 God, to deliver me ; make haste to help me, O Lord, for I am poor and needy : make haste unto me, O God : thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying. 3 Surely the Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. The needy shall not always be forgotten : the expectation of the poor shall not perish
iPs. 103. ^Ps. 70: 1,5.
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for ever/ For I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name : the upright shall dwell in thy presence.^
PRAYERS OF AN ORPHAN.
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble : thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear ; to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the m^n of the earth may no more oppress.^ For a father of the fatherless, and judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.* Surely he will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not de-
*Ps. 9: 9, 18. ^Ps. 140: 12, 13.
sPs. 10: 17, 18. *Ps. 68:5.
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spise their prayers.' For the Lord pre- serveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow : but the way ot the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.^
0 LORD be merciful to me ]^ for I am poor and needy; yet the Lord think- eth upon me ; thou art my help and my deliverer : make no tarrying, O my God.^ Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord : it shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him ; yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoil- eth him ? False witnesses did rise up .
^ Ps. 102: 17. ^ Ps. 146: 9, 10.
8 Ps. 41 : 10. * Ps. 40 : 17.
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they laid to my charge things that I knew not. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soal from their de- structions. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation : I will praise thee among much people. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me ; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. For they speak not peace : but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha ! aha ! our eye hath seen it. This thou hast seen, O Lord : keep not silence : 0 Lord, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let thcQi not rejoice over me. Let them not say in their hearts, Ah ! so would we 8
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have it : let them not say, We have swallowed him up Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause ; yea, let them say continually. Let the Lord be magnified, w^ho hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long/
FRET not thyself because of evil- doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity : for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to
*Ps. 35: 9-11, 17-28.
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pass ; and he shall bring forth thy right- eousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him : fret not thyselt because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wdcked devices to pass. Cease from an- ger, and forsake wrath : fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evil-doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth ; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay
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such as be of upright conversation. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright : and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time : and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down ; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now I am old ; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints ; they are preserved for ever. But the tiansgressors shall be destroyed to-
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 89
gether ; the end of the Mdcked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the right- eous is of the Lord : he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them : he stall deliver them from the v^icked, and save them, because they trust in him.^
PRAISE FOR DIVINE PROTEC- TION AMID THE TRIALS OF DOMESTIC LIFE.
THE angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and de- livereth them. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them
^ Ps. 37 ; 1-12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23-28, 39, 40. 8*
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out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants : and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate/ Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction ^ I will praise thee with my whole heart : before the m ighty will I sing praise unto thee. I will wor- ship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness, and for thy truth: for thy hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly : but the proud he knoweth a far off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt
^ Ps. 34 : 7, 15, 17, 19, 22. ^ Gen. 29 : 32,
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revive me, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord v^ill perfect that which concerneth me : thy mercy, O Lord, en- dureth for ever : forsake not the works of thine own hands/ My soul doth mag- nify the Lord, and my spirit hath re- joiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand- maiden : for he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.2
MORNING PRAYERS.
GIVE ear to my words, O Lord, con- sider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God ; for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt
* Ps. 138 : 1-3, 6-8. ^ Luke 1 : 46-50.
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thou hear in the morning, O Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer un- to thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wicked- ness : neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight; thou hatest all workers of iniquity. But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, be- cause thou defendest them : let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou. Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.* Therefore I will sing of thy power: yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning : for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing : for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. ^
* Ps. 5: 1, 5, 11, 12. 2 Ps. 59 : 16, 17.
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IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High : to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night/ For thou,
0 Lord, art a shield for me ; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
1 laid me dov^n and slept ; I awaked ; for the Lord sustained me. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord : thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.^
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling- place in all generations. Before the mountains w^ere brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlast- ing, thou art God. Thou turnest man to
*Ps. 92: 1,2. aPs. 3: 3-5,8.
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destruction ; and sayest, Return, ye chil- dren of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood, they are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; in the evening it is cut down and wither- eth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy coun- tenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : we spend our years, as a tale that is told The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine
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anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy ; that w^e may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy ser- vants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us : yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.^
* Ps. 90.
96 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
EVENING PRAYERS.
LORD, I cry unto thee ; make haste unto me ; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice/ Show thy marvellous loving- kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee. Keep me as the apple of the eye : hide me under the shadow of thy wings. From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.^ Therefore I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, Lord only makest me dwell in safety. ^
^ Ps. 141 : 1, 2. a ps. 17 . 7^9. s pg. 4 : 8.
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HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fort- ress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that fiieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in the darkness; nor for the destruction that w^asteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only wnth thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the re- ward of the wicked : because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge^ even 9
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the Most High, thy habitation. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways/
PRAYERS AT MEALS.
BEHOLD, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord : he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."^
^Ps. 91: 1-11. aps. 33: i8_22.
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THE Lord is gracious, and full of com- passion ; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all : and his tender mercies are over all his works. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee ; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.*
TWO things have I required of thee ; deny me them not before I die : remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me : lest I be full, and deny thee, and say. Who is the
iPs. 145: 8,9, 14-17.
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Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain/
BLESS the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits : who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judg- ment for all that are oppressed. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.^ He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.^
O GIVE thanks unto the Lord; for he is good. He giveth food to all flesh : for his mercy endureth for ever."* Yea, he
1 Prov. 80: 7-9. ^ pg. 103: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8.
3Ps. 147: 9. ^Ps. 136: 1,25.
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provideth for the raven his food : when his young ones cry unto God, they wan- der for lack of meat/ The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them, they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled.^ 0 let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.^
PRAYER OF CHURCH OR CIVIL OFFICERS.
AND now, O Lord my God, I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people w^iich thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for
Uob38:41. ^pg. 104. 21,27,28. ^Fs. 150: 6.
9*
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multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy peo- ple, that I may discern between good and bad ; for who is able to judge this day so great a people?' See, thou say est unto me, Bring up this people : and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou also hast found grace in my sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.^ For thou Lord, art the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant
* 1 Kings 3 : 7-9. « Ex. 33 : 12, 13, 15, 16.
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in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and trans- gression and sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. If now I have found grace in thy sight, 0 Lord, let ray Lord, I pray thee, go among us, and par- don our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.*
PRAYERS OF A MINISTER.
LORD, thou art God which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; who, by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against
^ Ex. 34 : 6, 7, 9.
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his Christ: for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anoint- ed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together, for to do what- soever thy hand and thy counsel deter- mined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant un- to thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, put- ting me into the ministry.^
I DELIGHT to do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : lo, I have not refrain- ed my lips, 0 Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within
* Acts 4 : 24-29. « 1 Tim. 1 : 12.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 105
my heart; I have declared thy faithful- ness and thy salvation : I have not con- cealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For in- numerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up ; they are more than the hairs of mine head : therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee : let such as love thy salvation say contin- ually. The Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy ; yet the Lord think- eth upon me : thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.^
^ Ps. 40 : 8-18, 16, 17.
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PRAYER WHEN ABOUT TO TAKE A JOURNEY.
IF God will be with me, and wall keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, {surely I am with thee, and will keep thee, in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land : for I will tiot leave thee,) so that I come again to my father's house in peace ; then shall the Lord be my God/ Therefore trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understand- ing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.^ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace
1 Gen. 28 : 20, 15, 21. ^ Pro v. 3 : 5, 6.
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shall be with you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.^
PRAYERS WHEN ON A JOURNEY OR IN A DISTANT LAND.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down- sitting and mine up-rising, thou under- standest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altoge- ther. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
*2Cor. 13: 11, 14.
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Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me ; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day : the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins : thon hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee ; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works; and that my sonl know^eth right well. How precious
*HE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 109
also are thy thoughts unto me, O God ! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them they are more in number than the sand : when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou will slay the wicked, 0 God ; depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts : and see if there be any wicked w^ay in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.*
HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my for- tress : my God ; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his
* Ps. 139 : 1-14, 17-19, 23, 24. 10 '
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feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousands at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the re- ward of the wdcked. Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation ; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder : the
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. Ill
young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I de- liver him : I will set him on high, be- cause he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him : I will be with him in trouble ; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.^
HEAR my cry, O God ; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed : lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy taber- nacle for ever ; I will trust in the covert
^ Ps 91.
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of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows : thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Therefore will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.^
PRAYER OF THE AGED.
IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. De- liver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape : incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habi- tation, whereunto I may continually re- sort : thou hast given commandment to save me ; for thou art my rock and my fortress. For thou art my hope, 0 Lord
^ Ps. 61 : 1-5, 8.
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God : thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb : thou art he that took me out ot my mother's bowels : my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many ; but thou art my strong re- fuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age ; forsake me not when my strength faileth. O God, be not far from me : 0 my God, make haste for my help. For I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the number thereof I will go in the strength of the Lord God ; I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth : and hitherto have I declared thy 10*
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wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, 0 God, forsake me not ; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Thy right- eousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things : O God, who is like unto thee ? Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee, even thy truth, O my God : unto thee will I sing with the harp, 0 thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly re- joice when I sing unto thee ; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteous- ness all the day long.^
iPs. 71: 1-3,5-9, 12, 14-24.
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PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVING OF THE DYING CHRISTIAN.
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreath ; and mine age is as nothing before thee : verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain show : surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for ? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions : make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth ; be- cause thou didst it. Remove thy stroke away from me ; I am consumed by the
116 THE BIBLE PRAYER BOOK.
blow of thine hand. When thou Vv^th rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth ; surely every man is vanity. Selah. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears : for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers w^ere. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.^
MY days are passed, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.^ I shall go the way whence I shall not return.^ Yet all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.* Yet I am continually with thee : thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou
iPs. 39: 4-13. ^job 17: 11.
8 Job 16: 22. * Job 14: 14.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 117.
shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my por- tion for ever.^ For I will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness.^ For in thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever- more.^
LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word : for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.* For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth : and though after my
^ Ps. 73: 23-26. ^ Ps. 17: 15.
3Ps. 16: 11. *Luke 2: 29,30.
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skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God/
O DEATH, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.^ God will redeem my soul from the power of \ the grave : for he shall receive me. Selah.' Yea the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^ Now let me die the death of the right- eous, and let my last end be like his \^ Lord Jesus receive my spirit.^
* Job 19 : 25, 26. ^ i Cor. 15 : 55, 57.
3 Ps. 49 : 15. * 2 Tim. 4 : 18.
5 Num. 23: 10. ^ Acts 7 : 59.
PART 11. RELATIVE PRAYERS.
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PRAYERS FOR RELATIVES.
THE blessing of the Lord be upon you : we bless you in the name of the Lord/ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : he that keepeth thee wall not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is tliy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil : he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.^
THE Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
*Ps. 129: 8. ^Ps. 121: 3-8.
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the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee : the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace/
PRAYER FOR SUCH AS HAVE RENDERED ACTS OF KIND- NESS.
WHY have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living.^
^ Num. 6 : 24-26. « Ruth 2 : 10, 12, 19, 20.
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PRAYERS FOR BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
HOW excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God ! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satis- fied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy loving-kindness unto tliem that know thee : and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.^ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting conso- lation and good hope through grace, com-
1 Ps. 36 : 7-10.
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fort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.^ Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.^
FINALLY, brethren, farewell: be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.^
1 2 Thess. 2 : 15-17. ^ gph. 6 : 23, 24.
3 2 Cor. 13: 11, 14.
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PRAYER FOR AN ANXIOUS SINNER.
OH that one would hear me ! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me/ O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!^ Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.^ Yea, without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.^ Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.^
* Job 81: 35. ^ Job 16: 21.
8 1 Sam. 12 : 23. * 2 Tim. 1 : 3.
5 1 Sam. 1 : 17.
11*
i
SECOND DIVISION OF
PAUT 11.
SOCIAL PRAYERS.
(127)
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 129
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVING AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
THIS is the day which the Lord hath made ; we w^ill rejoice and be glad in it.* Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness : come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God : it is he that hath made us, and not we our- selves ; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good ; his mercy is everlasting ; and his truth endureth to all generations."^
* Ps. 118: 24. aPs. 100.
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AND he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar oif ; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks : nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more/ I was glad w^hen they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.^ I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy ; and in thy fear will I w^orship toward thy holy temple.^ Hear the voice of my sup- plications, w^hen I cry unto thee, w^hen I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.* Then I will declare thy name unto my brethren : in the midst of the congrega- tion will I praise thee.*^ For Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.^ One
1 Micah4: 3. ^ pg, ]22: ].
3 Ps. 5:7. ^ Ps. 2S : 2.
* Ps. 22 : 22. « Ps. 26 : 8.
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thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion : in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up up- on a rock. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee, Thy face. Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger : thou hast been my help ; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord
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will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path/
PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVING AT THE CONCLUSION OF PUB- LIC WORSHIP.
PRESERVE me, O God : for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord : my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. The Lord is the portion of mine inherit- ance and of my cup : thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who
* Ps. 27 : 4-11.
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hath given me counsel : my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me : because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth : my flesh also shall rest in hope. Thou wilt show me the path of life : in thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.^
BLESSED be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my suppHcation. The Lord is my strength, and my shield, my heart trusted in him, and I am helped : therefore my heart greatly re- joiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anoint- ed. Save thy people, and bless thine
^Ps. 16: 1-3, 5-9, 11. 12
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inheritance : feed them also, and lift them np for ever/ The Lord will give strength unto his people ; the Lord v^ill bless his people with peace. ^ For this God is our God for ever and ever : he will be our guide even unto death. ^ Trust in him at all times ; ye people, pour out your heart before him : God is a refuge for us. Selah. Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy : for thou renderest to every man according to his work.^ O Lord our liord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth/
THE Lord bless thee, and keep thee : the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee : the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give
1 Ps. 28, 6-9. ^ Ps. 29 : 11. ^pg. 48 : 14.
*Ps. 62: 8, 12. ^ Ps. 8 : 9.
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thee peace/ Amen. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.''
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH IN A LOW STATE.
LET us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts.^ Let us draw near wath a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let US hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised : and let us consider one an- other, to provoke unto love, and to good
* Numb. 6 : 24-26. « Rev. 7 : 12. ^ Zech. 8: 21.
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works : not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another ; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the know- ledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fear- ful looking for of judgment and fiery in- dignation, which shall devour the adver- saries/ Yea, let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."^
O MY God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God : for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers
* Heb. 10 : 22-27. ^ Heb. 4 : 16.
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have we been in a great trespass unto this day. Our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy servants, the rophets. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, (seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserved, and hast given us such deliver- ance as this,) should we again break thy commandments? O Lord God, thou art righteous : for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day : behold, we are before thee in our trespasses : for we cannot stand before thee because of this.^
LORD God of Israel, there is no God
^ Ezra 9: 6, 7,9-11, 13-15.
12^
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like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. Yet have thou re- spect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers : let him not leaA^e us, nor forsake us : that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his command- ments, and his statutes, and his judg- ments, w^hich he commanded our fathers. And let these mv words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people at all times, as the matter shall require:
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 139
that all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else/
OH that thou wouldest rend the hea- vens, that thou wouldest come down. For there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee : for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.^ Take aw^ay all ini- quity, and receive us graciously.^ O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.* Turn us, O God our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever ? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all genera-
1 1 Kings 8: 28, 28, 57-60. ^ Is. 64 : 1, 7. ^Hos. 14: 2. 4Hab. 8: 2.
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tions? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak : for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him ; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met toge- ther : righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth ; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him ; and shall set us in the way of his steps. ^
COME, and let us return unto the
^ Ps. 85 : 4-13.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 141
Lord : for he hath torn, and he will heal us ; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord : his going forth is pre- pared as the morning ; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. ^ Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us : for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is ex- ceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. ^ Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.^
* Hos. 6 : 1, 3. 2 Ps. 123 : 2-4. ^ pg. 80 : 19.
142 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
HOW long, Lord ? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? O remember not against us former iniquities : let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us : for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name ; and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever : we will show forth thy praise to all generations.^ And if we have forgot- ten the name of our God, and stretched out our hands to a strange god : shall not God search this out ? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore
^ Ps. 79 : 5, 8, 9, 13.
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hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression ? For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.'
HELP, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour : with flat- tering lips and with a double heart do they speak. ^ Therefore I beseech thee, 0 Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy ser-
*Ps. 44: 20-26. ^ Ps. 12: 1,2.
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vant, which I pray before thee now, day and night. We have dealt very cor- ruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name.^ And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying : The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visit- ing the iniquity of the fathers upon the
' Neh. 1 : 5-7, 10, 11.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 145
children unto the third and fourth gene- ration. Pardon, I beseech thee, the ini quity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people hitherto.^
IF now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us, (for it is a stiif-necked people,) and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.^ Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people V O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation ?* Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you?" Our Lord
1 Numb. 14 : 17-19. ^ Ex. 84: 9.
8 Ex. 82: 11. *Numb. 16: 22.
« 1 Sam. 12 : 23.
13
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Jesus Christ himself, and God, even onr Father, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good v^ord and work/
PRAYERS AND PRAISE OF THE CHURCH IN A STATE OF RE- VIVAL.
NOT unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Where- fore should the heathen say, Where is now their God ? But our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have
^2Thes. 2: 16, 17.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 147
mouths, but they speak not : eyes have they, but they see not : they have ears, but they hear not : noses have they, but they smell not : they have hands, but they handle not : feet have they, but they walk not : neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them ; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. The Lord hath been mindful of us : he will bless us. He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord who made heaven and earth. But we will bless the Lord from this
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time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord/
THE Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord. They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringino: his sheaves with him.^
THOU hast a mighty arm : strong is thy right hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne ; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound : they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and in thy
* Ps. 115: 1-15, 18. 3 Ps. 126 : 3-6.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 149
righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength ; and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our King.^ Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods ? who is like thee, glorious in holi- ness, fearful in praises, doing wonders ? For thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed : thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.^
* Ps. 89: 13-18. ^ Ex 15 : 11, 13, 18.
19*
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PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION.
THEY that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be re- moved, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity : but peace shall be upon Israel.^
* Ps. 125.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 151
O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy ?' Surely thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion ; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord : and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come : and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth. To hear the groaning of the prisoner ; to loose those that are appointed to death ; to declare the name
^ Zech. 1 : 12.
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of the Lord in Zion; when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord/
HOW long, O Lord, holy and trne, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ?^ Yet it is a faithful saying : for if we be dead with thee, we shall also live with thee : if we suffer, we shall also reign with thee.^ Though we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not for- saken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
1 Ps. 102: 13-22. « Rev. 6: 10.
3 2 Tim. 2: 11, 12.
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that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh/
BLESSED be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort : who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer : or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation.^ For blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and
^ 2 Cor. 4:8-11. ^ 2 Cor. 1 : 3-6.
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shall reproach jou, and cast out your ^name as evil, for the son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in hea- ven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets/ For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and external weight of glory ; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen are eter- nal.^ Let us be glad and rejoice, and
* Luke 6 : 22., 23. ^ 2 Cor. 4 : 15-18.
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give honour to him. Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. HALLELUJAH ! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.^
^ Rev. 19 : 7, 5, 6.
THIRD DIVISION
OF
PAET II. NATIONAL PRAYERS.
14 (157)
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 169
NATIONAL PRAYER AND SUP- PLICATION FOR DELIVER- ANCE FROM FOREIGN FOES.
O LORD God, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear; open, Lord, thine eyes and see. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.^ For, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to v^ithstand thee? Art not thou our God,
^ 2 Kings 19 : 15, 16, 19.
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who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people? Behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that Cometh against us; neither know we what to do : but our eyes are upon thee/
NATIONAL CONFESSION OF
SIN.
BLESSED be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
*2Chron. 20: 6, 7, 11, 12.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 161
the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all ; and the host ot heaven worshippeth thee. Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and mer- ciful, slow to anger, and of great kind- ness, and forsookest them not. Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us ; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.^
LORD, thou hast been our dwelling- place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlast- ing, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction ; and say est. Return, ye chil- dren of men. For a thousand years in
^ Neh. 9 : 5, 6, 17, 33. 14*
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thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they are as a sleep : in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up ; in the evening it is cut down; and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wTath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : w^e spend our years as a tale that is told. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Re- turn, O Lord, how long? and let it re- pent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy ; that we
I
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 163
may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us : and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.'
NATIONAL PRAYERS IN TIME OF WAR.
REMEMBER, O Lord, what is come upon us? consider, and behold our re- proach. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are
^Ps. 90: 1-9, 11-17.
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as widows. We have drunken our water for money ; our wood is sold unto us. Our necks are under persecution ; we labour, and have no rest. O ur fath ers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. We get our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. Thou, O Lord, re- mainest for ever ; thy throne from gene- ration to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time ? Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned ; renew our days as of old.^ jFor it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power : help us, O Lord our God ; for we rest on thee; and in thy name we go against this mul-
^Lam. 5: 1-5,7-9-19, 21.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 165
titude. O Lord, thou art our God ; let not man prevail against thee/
O THAT my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.^ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven.^
O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have re- belled, even by departing from thy pre- cepts and from thy judgments : neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the
» 2 Chron. 14 : 11.^ Jer. 9 : 1. « Lam. 3 : 40, 50.
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prophets, who spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day ; (to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.) O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgive- nesses, though we have rebelled against him. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us by his servants the prophets. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judge us, by
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 167
bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem : yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us : for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth ; for we obeyed not his voice. We have sinued, we have done wickedly. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is deso- late, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear : open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name : for we do not present our supplications before thee for oar righteousness but for thy
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great mercies. O Lord, bear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake.^
PRAISE AND THANSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE.
O CLAP your hands, all ye people, shont unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord Most High is terrible ; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises : sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with under-
^ Dan. 9: 4-10, 12-15, 17-19.
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standing. God reigneth over the heathen : God sitteth upon the throne of his holi- ness. The princes of the people are gathered together, for the shields of the earth belong unto God : he is greatly exalted.^
THE Lord hath done great things for us ; whereof we are glad.^ Jor if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us : then they had swallowed us up quickly, when their wrath was kindled against us : then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul : then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers : the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
3 Ps. 47: 1-3, 5-9. « Ps. 126 : 3.
15
170 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ^
GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore v^ill ijot we fear, though the earth be re- moved, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof Selah. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that right early The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved : he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of
iPs. 124: 2-8.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 171
hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.^
PRAYERS IN TIME OF FAMINE.
AFFLICTION cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble,
^ Ps. 46.
172 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
as the sparks fly upward. I would seek "uuto God, and unto God would I com- mit my cause; who doeth great things and unsearchable ; marvellous things without number : who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields : to set up on high those that be low : that those who mourn may be ex- alted to safety. Behold, happy is the man w^hom God correcteth ; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty : for he maketh sore and bind- eth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death. ^ Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to
1 Job5: 6-11, 17-20.
THE BIBLE PRAYEB-BOOK. 173
keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall re- joice in him ; for we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.*
WHY hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, and there is no good ; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble. We acknowledge, O Lord our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers ; for we have sinned against thee. Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake ; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory : remember, break not thy covenant with us. Are there any among the vanities of the heathen that can cause ruin ? or can the heavens give showers ? Art not thou
^ Ps. 33 : 18-22. 15*
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He, O Lord our God ? therefore we will wait upon thee ; for thou hast made all these things/ Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to w^alk upon my high places.
1 Jer 14: 19-22. ^ Hab. 3 : 17-19.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 175
PRAYER IN TIME OF PESTI- LENCE.
HE who dwelletli in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my for- tress : my God ; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust ; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruc- tion that wasteth at noon-day.^ And
^Ps. 91: 1-6.
176 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying. The Lord is long-suffer- ing, and of great mercy, forgiving iniqui- ty and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people, according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiv^en this people even until now.* What prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands ; then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and ren- der unto every man according unto his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for
1 Numb. 14 : 17-19.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 177
thou only knowest the hearts of the chil- dren of men.)^ Let us now fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are manj.^
NATIONAL PRAISE AND AC- KNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD'S GOODNESS.
SING unto the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen ; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised : he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
1 2 Chron. 6 : 29, 80. « 2 Lam. 24 : 14.
178 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord, the glory due unto his name : bring an offering, and come before him : worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth : the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth re- joice : and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good ; for his mercy endureth for ever. O God of our salva- tion, gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 179
thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God for ever and ever.^
BLESSED be the Lord God for ever and ever. For thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over a]l; and in thine hand is power and might ; and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.^ For thou visitest the earth, and waterest it : thou greatly en- richest it with the river of God, which
^ 1 Chron. 16 : 23-36. « 1 Chron. 29: 10-13.
180 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
is fall of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest thereof abundantly : thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof Thou crownest the year with thy goodness ; and thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pas- tures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn ; they shout for joy, they also sing.^
MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands : sing forth the honour of his name : make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy
iPs. 65: 9-13.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 181
power shall thine enemies submit them- selves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee ; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Come and see the works of God : he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard : which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. For thou, O God, hast proved us : thou hast tried us, as silver is tried/ God be merciful unto us, and bless us ; and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God ; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy : for
^Ps. 66: 1-5,8-10. 16
182 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise thee, O God ; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.^
PRAISE ye the Lord : for it is good to sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their griefs. He telleth the number of the stars, he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power : his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek : he cast- eth the wicked down to the ground.
^ Ps. 67.
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 183
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving ; sing praise upon the harp unto our God : who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the moun- tains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse : he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth : his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool : he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels : who can stand before his cold ?
184 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them : he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He hath not dealt so with any nation : and as for his judg- ments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.' Happy is that peo- ple, that is in such a case : yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.""
PRAISE ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens : praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels : praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heaven of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also esta-
' Ps. 147: 1, 3-11, 13-18, 20. ' Ps. 144: 15
THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 185
blished them for ever and ever : he hath made a decree vrhich they shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dra- gons and all deeps: fire, and hail; snow and vapour: stormy wind fulfilling his word: mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; beasts, and all cattle ; creeping things, and flying fowl : kings of the earth and all people : princes, and all judges of the earth: both young men, and maidens: old men and child- ren: let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above the earth and heaven.^ Therefore let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."^
iPs. 148: 1-13 ^Ps. 150: 6.
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