The Bible prayer-book

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THE

^IBLE PKAYEH-BOOK.

tUtUl anb Irrangel

BY JOSEPH WELKER,

A Minister of fhe Evangelical Lutheran Church.

COPYRiGHT''

No.Zirz/ .^

''V ;

SHIPPENVILLE,

PA.:

PUBLISHED BY THE

AUTHOR.

PHILADELPHIA:

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

(3)

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

(7)

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.

(11)

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 45

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.

46 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 47

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.

48 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

THE BIBLE PHAYER-BOOK. 49

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

50 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 51

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.

52 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 53

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*

64 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 55

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

66 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 57

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

58 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 59

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.

60 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 61

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.

62 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 63

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*

66 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 67

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

68 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 69

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-

70 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 71

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.

72 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 73

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

74 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 75

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.

76 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 77

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^

78 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 79

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.

80 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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-

82 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 83

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.

84 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 85

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

86 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 87

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

88 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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*

90 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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,

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 91

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.

92 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 93

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.

94 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 95

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 97

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

98 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 99

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.

100 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 101

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*

102 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 103

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.

104 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

106 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 107

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.

108 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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 '

110 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

] 12 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 113

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*

114 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 115

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.

118 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

(119)

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 121

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.

122 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 123

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.

124 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 125

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.

130 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 131

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

182 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 133

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

134 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYEE-BOOK. 135

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.

136 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 137

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^

138 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

140 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 143

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.

144 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

146 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

148 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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*

160 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

152 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 153

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.

154 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 155

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.

160 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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*

162 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

164 THE BIBLE PRAYEH-BOOK.

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.

166 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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

168 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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.

THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK. 169

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*

174 THE BIBLE PRAYER-BOOK.

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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