A form of prayer issued by special command of His Majesty George III, London, 1776 : imploring divine assistance against the King's unhappy deluded subjects in America, now in open rebellion against the crown ; in the collection of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for promoting useful knowledge

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FORM OF PRAYER

ISSUED
By Special Command of his Majesty

GEoRr.E 111

LONDON

1776

Imploring Divine assistance against the King's
unhappy deluded Subjects in America now in
open rebellion against the Crown

IN THE COLLECTION OF THE

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge

REPRODUCED IN FAC-SIMILE

JULIUS F. SACHSE

PHILADELPHIA

MDCCCXC\-III

yf-"^

^V

Resolved^ That authority be given to Mr. Sachse to
reproduce the Form of Prayer for fasting and prayer ap-
pointed by George III in December, 1776, on the breaking
out of the Revohition in the American Colonies. — Extract
from Minutes Am. Philo. Soc, February iS, i8gS.

One hundred and fifty copies of this work
liave been printed, of which this is No.

.^J

PREFATORY NOTE.

In the history of the earlj^ period of the American
Revolution allusions are constantlj^ found making
mention of certain pra^^ers read by loyal clergymen
of the Established Church, — prayers which proved
distasteful to the temper of their patriot hearers, and
were iised by the latter as an excuse for debarring
the offending clergyman from his pulpit. Notable
examples in our vicinity are the Rev. Mr. Currie
and Rev. Mr. Barton of Pennsylvania, and Rev. Dr.
Odell of New Jersey.

Current traditions also speak of special prayers for
the pacification of the Colonies, ordered to be read
both in England and America, by roval command,
as soon as the advices from America showed that the
Colonial uprising was organized and widespread.

Diligent search, however, failed to bring anv such
Form of Prayer to light, until recently a printed
copy — found in the collection of the American Philo-
sophical Society by the Librarian, Dr. I. Minis Hays
— was brought to the notice of the writer. This copy
appears to be unique, and has proved to be unknown
to the various Churchmen, scholars and historians
to whom it was shown.

From the text it will be seen that, although not
specially stated on the title, the prayers were ordered
by " His Majesty's special command" for the express
purpose of invoking divine assistance in " subduing
his unhappy deluded vSubjects in America now in
open rebellion against the Crown." The finding of
this tractate is a new and interesting addition to both \
our Revolutionary and religious literature.

April, 1898. J. F. S.

FORM

OF

PRAYER,

TO BE USED

In all Churches and Chapels throughout

that Part of Great Britain called England, Domi-
nion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed,
upon Friday the Thirteenth of December next,
being the Day appointed by Proclamation for a
General Fast and Humiliation before Almighty
God, to be obferved in molt Devout and Solcnn
Manner, by fending up Our Prayers and Suppli-
cations to the Divine Majefty :

For obtaining Pardon of Our Sins, and for averting thofe
heavy Judgemenrs, which Our manifold Provocations have
mod juftly defcrvcd ; and imploring His Bleffing and Af-
fiftance on the Arms of His Majedy by Sea and Land, and
for reftoring and perpetuating Peace, Safety, and irofperity
to Himfclf, and to His Kingdoms.

TBg Ipw £®ajcftg'j5 @)pecial CommantJ.

LONDON.
Printed by Charles Eyre aad William Strah
Printers to the Kings moft Excellent Majefty. 1776.

(3)

The Order for Morning Prayer.

f The Service /hall be the fame -with the ufiial Office
for Holy days J except where it is in this- Office
otberwife appointed.

<f Let him that minijlereth read with a loud Voice tbefe
Sentences of Scripture ; and after them the Exhor^
tation. Dearly beloved Brethren, Sfr.

^LORD, correal me, but with jer.r.24.
judgement, not in thine anger, left
thou bring me to nothing.

1 will arife, and go to my father, s. Luke
' and will'fay unto him, Father, I ""•»*' '9
have finned againft heaven, and be-
fore thee, and am no more worthy
to be called thy fon.

f Infead of the Venite, this Hymnjliall be ufed.

TH E facrifice of God is a troubled fpiiit : ™m ''•
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou '"
wilt not defpife.
Ifaid, I will confejs my fins unto the Lord : and fo p&Jm
thou forgaveji the wickednefs of my fm ''*"'" ^'

A 2 I will

4 Morning Prayer.

^If^^ I will love thee, O Lord, my ftrengthi the Lord

IS my ftony rock and my defence . my Saviour,
God, the horn aUb of my falvation, and my refuge,

Jf,'™j / ivi// call upon the Lord, which is woftby-to beprmf'

ed: fd Jhall I be fafe from mine enemies.

^xx!^7 ^°^ ^'^'^ ^'^'^ zytx^ one that is godly make hb

piayer-unto thee, in a time when thou mayeft be found.

pfaim xi,v y^^y ^^.^ ^ ^-^^^ Q Q^, j-^^j ^^jp ^^^^ Jacob.

ver 7 For I will not truft in my bow : it is not my

fword that fhall help me.
Ver. 8. But it is thou thatfavejl us from our Enemies : and

putteft taem to confufion that hate us.
rxx'iu I There is no king thai can be faved by the raulti-
"*"'" '■^ tude of an hoft : neither is any mighty man delivered

by much flrength.
xcf'a. I will fay unto the Lord, Thou art my hope and my

flrong hold: my God; in him luill I truft.
Ver. 1 Whofo dwclleth under the defence of the molt

High, fhall abide under the fliadow of the Almighty.
Ver. 4 He fiall defend thee under his wings, and thou Jf:alt

he fafe under his feathers : his faithfulnefs and truth

fhall be thyJJjield and buckler.
piaim Thou art a place to hide me in ) thou fhalt preferve

"""' me fiom trouble : thou fhalt comjxifs me about with

fongs of deliverance.
Sfi!ri7. .-^ ^""^ }^ J" thy hand: deliver me from the hand of

mine Enemies,
^vi!? 10. ^ ^^^'^ thy people, and give thy bleffing to thine

inheritance : feed them, and fet them up for ever.
8 ^

Morning Prayer. .

The Lord jh all gme Jii-e7i^th unto hisptopk: the LordPh\m
Jhall give his people the hkj]ing of peace. *^- '<'•

Glory be-to the Father, and to the Son : and to the
Holy Gh oft;

As it was in the beginnings is ncrw, and e-ver Jhall be :
world 'without end. Am'.n.

% Proper Pfalms, XXVil, XLVI, LXIV.

Firjt Lejfon, Ifaiah LVIII.

% After the firfl Lffon, Jhall follow Te Deum lauda-
mus, in Englifti.

Second Leffon, St. LuJce YIII. ver. 22 to it.

^ Then Benedi(5tus, The Creed, &c. to the End of
the Lord's Prayer.

♦f Then the Prieft Jlanding up, Jhall fay,
PrieJi. O Lord, ihew thy mercy upon us !
AnJhv. And grant us thy falvation.
PrieJi. O Loj-d, fave the King !
AnJw. And mercifully hear us, when we rail

upon thee.
PrieJi. Endue thy minifters with righteou fnefe.
Anjw. And make thy chol'en people joyful.
Prieft. Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Anfw. Becaufe there is none other that fightctli for

us, but only then, O Cod.

PrieJl.

Morning Prayer.

Priejl. O Lord, fave thy fervants i

yin/w. Who put their truft in thee.

Frieji. Send us hdp from thy holy place.

Anfw. And evermore mightily defend us.

Priejl. Let the Enemy have no advantage againft us ;

Anjw. Nor the wicked approach to hurt U8.

Priejl. Lord hear our Prayer !

A^/iv, And let our cry come unto thee.

f Tbefe TwQ CoUi^t to be ujtd injiead of ibe Firft
Collet for Morning Prayer.

O Almighty God, wlio ruleft over all the king-
doms of the earth, and on whofe moft gracious
providence they depend evermore for prefervation
and' profperity; Exteiid thine accultomed goodnefs
to the ijeople of this land, who looking up to thee
as the fupreme author of all bleffings, and then furc
fafeguard and mighty deliverer in all dangers and
difficulties, do now implore thy watchful care and
piote£lion j befeeching thee to guide them continually
with thy counfel, to fti engtiien them with thy powerful
arm, and to crown with fuccefs their neceflary endea-
vours in defeating the unjuft attempts of their rebelli-
ous fellow- fubje^ls againft the rights of our Sovereign,
and the lawful authority of the legiflature of thefe
kingdoms. Grant this, O merciful Father, for Jefus
Chrift's fake, our only Lord and Saviour. AmcTu

OLord God of our falvation, in whofe hands are
the iffues of life and death, of good and evil,
and without whofe aid the wiieft counfels of frail
4 men,

Morning Prayer.

men, and the multitude of an hofl, and all the in-
ftruments of war are but weak and vain ; incline
thine ear, we pray thee, to the carneft and devout
fupplications of thy fervants, who, not confiding in
the fplendour of any thing that is gfeat, or the fta-
bility of any thing that is ftrong here below, do moft
humbly flee, O Lord, unto thee for fuccour, and put
their truft under the fhadow of thy wings. Be thou
to us a tower of defence againft the alfaults of our
enemies, our fhield and buckler in the day of battle,
and fo blefs the arms of our gracious Sovereign, in
the maintenance of His juft and lawful rights, and
profper His endeavours to reftore tranquillity among
His unhappy deluded fubjefts in America, now in
open rebellion againfl His Crown, in defiance of all
fubordination and legal government, that we being
preferved by thy help and goodnefs from all penis and
difafters, and made happily triumphant over all the
difturbers of our peace, may joyfully laud and mag-
nify thy glorious Name -, and ferve thee from gene-
ration to generation in all godlinels and quietnefs,
through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

f Then Jkall folhw the fecond and third Collects at
Morning Prayer : And the. Litany.

^ After the Prayer in the End of the Litany [We
humbly befeech thee, ^c] Jkali thefe foilowing be
added:

O Lord,

The Litany.

/^ Lord, we befeech thee, mercifully hear otrt
V,_^ prayers, and fpare all thofe who confefs theip
fins unto thee : that thw, whofe confciences by fin
are accufed, by thy merciful pardon may be abfolved,
through Chrift our Lord. Amtn

^ Then the People JhaUfay this that follcrwetfo, after
the Minijier.

TURN thou us, O good Lord, and 'fo fhall
we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be
favourable to thy people. Who turn to thee in
weeping, failing, and praying. For thou art a mer-
ciful God, Full of companion, Long-fuffering, and
of great pity. Thou fpareft when we deferve
puniihment. And in thy wrath thinkeft upon mercy.
Spare thy people, good Lord, fpare them, and let
not thine heritage be brought to confufion. Hear
us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great. And after the
multitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the
merits and mediation of thy blefled Son Jefus Chrift;
our Lord. ./bnen.

OLord mofl good and powerful, we thy fin-
ful people, here aflembled before thee, do
acknowledge it thine unlpeakable mercy, that for our
manifold and heinous provocations we are not utterly
confumed, and given over for a prey to the Enemy
and Avenger. We confefs, with forrow and con-
fufion, our long unfruitfulnefs under the means of

grace,

The Litany.

grace, the light of thy gofpel, and the many won-
derful deliverances of this Church and State, which
thou in thy great goodnefs haft vouch faftd unto us.
O Lord, fhouldeft thou enter into judgement with us
for the crying fuis of this nation, our profanenefs
and infidelity, herefies and fchifms, our inordinate
love of plealiires, and other manifold offences, thou
mighteft juftly inflicl upon us the feverity of thy
wrath, and deliver us up to the reproaches and infults
of our Enemies : but there is mercy with thee, there-
fore'fiialt thou be feared : thou art the Lord God, ten-
der and full of compaffion, not willing that any fliould
perilh, but that all fhould repent and live. Look down
therefore, we befeech thee, with an eye of pity and
loving-kindnefs upon thy fervants, who, with broken
and contrite hearts, do here bewail our tranlgreffions
and wretchednefs. Let our land in this time of trouble
ftill enjoy the light of thy countenance, and the
bleflings of thy bountiful hand ; and fo work upon
our hearts and minds by the gracious influences of
thy Holy Spirit, that being turned from the error
of our ways, and created to newnefs of life, we may
walk before thee in all righteoufnefs and holinefs in
this world, and inherit thineeverlaftingkingdom in that
which is to come, through the merits of Jefus Chrift
our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

% then read to the End of Morning Prayw as tifual.

[ lo]

The Communion Service

^f After the Prayer for the King^ [Almighty God,
whofe Kingdonj is cverlafhng] JhcUl be read the
Two ColleBs of the Day^ as in the Morning Prayer
[O Almighty God, Gfc* O Lord God, ^c^ and

theji Jball follow^

Tbe Epljile. i Peter ChafK II. Ver. ii, to Ver. i8.

DEARLY beloved, li befeech you, as ftran^ers
and pilgrims, abftaiii from fldhly luft-s, v/hich
war againft the foul;, having your converfation
hpneft among the Gentiles : that whereas they fpeak
againft you as evil-doers, they, may, by your good
works wluch they fhalL behold, glorify God in the
day of vifitation. Submit yourfelves to overy ordi-
nance of man for the Lord's fake : whether it be to
tjie King as fupreme ; or unto Governors, as unto
them that are fent by him .for the puniihment of
evil doers, and for the praife of them that do well.
For fo i§ the will of God, that with well deing ye
may put to lilence the ignorance of foolifli men : As
9 free.

The Communion Service.

free, and not ufing your liberty for a cloke of niali-
cioufnefs, but as the fervants of God. Honour all
men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour
the King.

rbe GoJpeL St. Luke XIIL Ver. i, to 6.

THERE were prefent at that feafon fome
that told him or the Galileans, whofe blood
Pilate had mingled with their facrifices. And Jefus
anfwering, faid unto them, Suppofe ye that thefe
Galileans were finners above all the Galileans, be-
caufe they fuffcred thefe things ? I tell you, Nay : but,
except ye repent, ye (hall all likewifeperifh. Or thofe
eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and
flew them, think ye that they were finners above
all men that dwelt in Jerufelem ? I tell you, Nay :
but, except ye repent, ye fliali all likewife perifh.

% Then JJmll foUo'w the Nicene Creed : and after that
the Sermon.

After the Prayer [for the whole ftate of Chrift's
Church] the following Jhall be ufed.

% A Prayer for this Church and Kingdom.

OBlefled Lord, who haft manifefted thme abun-
dant favour tt> thefe realms, in thy marvellous
proteflion of our religion, laws, and liberties, from
B 2 the

The Communion Service.

the fecret conlpiracies, and open attempts of our
enemies j We befeech thee to preferve evermore in
our minds, fuch a grateful fenfe of thefe thine inva-
luable mercies, that by our exemplary and religious
ul'e of them, and happy improvements under them,
to thy honour and iervice, we may be accounted
worthy of the continuance of thy blelfings to us and
our pofterity. Take away from us, O Lord, all
hardnefs of heart, all negleft of thine ordinances,
and contempt of thy word ; and endue us with a fpirit
of piety and devotion, a fpirit of juftice and tempe-
rance, of humility and charity, and of all other graces,
which adorn the Chriftian profeflion ; that fo thy
dreadful difpleafure and judgements may be ever avert-
ed from us, and iniquity not become our ruin. Be
thou pleafed alfo with thine efpecial favour to guard
and profper our gracious Sovereign King GEORGE,
with all the Royal Family. Be thou to Him, O
Lord, an helmet of Salvation againft His enemies that
delight in war. Do thou, we pray thee, fruftrate
their wicked defigns, defeat their ftratagems, and fo
put them to flight and confufion before His face,
that the terror of His arms may add dignity and luftrc
to His Crown, and bring fafety, joy, and happinefs
to Himfelf and His kingdoms. Grant this, O mer-
ciful Father, for Jefus Chrift's fake, to whom, with
thee and the Holy Ghoft, be all honour and glory,
world without end. Amen.

^ A Prayer

The Communion Service. 13

^ A Prayer for Unity.

OG O D, who haft taught us hi thy holy Word,
to incrcafe and abound in love one towards
another, put away from us, we befeech thee, all bit-
ternefs and wrath, and evil-fpeaking and tnvy, that
our hearts may be firmly knit together in mutual
afFcdion, in zeal for our religion and laws, in dutiful
obedience to the King, and all who are in authority
under him ; that as there is but one body and one
Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one faith, one
God and Father of us all, fo we may henceforth be
all of one heait and of one foul, united in one holy
bond of truth and peace, and may with one mind
and one mouth glorify thee, O God, through Jefus
Chrift our Lord. Amen.

^ A Prayer for our Enemies.

O BLESSED Lord, who haft commanded us
by thy beloved Son to love our Enemies, and
to extend our charity in praying even for thofe, who
defpitefuHy ufe us, give grace, we befeech thee, to
our unhappy fellow- fubjec'.ls in America, that feeing
and confeffmg the error of their ways, and having a
due fenfe of their ingratitude for the many blelFings
of thy Providence, preferved to them by the indulgent
care and proteftion of thefe kingdoms, they may
again return to their duty, and make themfelvcs
7 worthy

The Communion Service.

worthy of thy pardon and forgivenefs : Grant us iti
the mean time not only fbrength and courage to
withftand them, hut charity to forgive and pity them,
to fliew a willingnefs to receive them again as friends
and brethren, upon juft and reafonable terms, and to
treat them with mercy and kindnefs, for the fake of
thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen*

ALmighty God, who haft promifed to hear the
petitions of them that aflc in thy Son's
Name j We befeech thee mercifully to incline thine
ears to us that have made now our prayers and
ibpplications unto thee ; and grant, that thofe things
which we have faithfully allced according to thy
will, may effeftually be obtained, io the relief of
our neceflity, and to the fetting forth of thy glory,
through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Amen.

f Then the Prieji for Bijhof, if he bt frefent) Jhall let
them depart with this Blejjing :

' ■ ^HE peace of God, which pafleth all under-
J[ ftanding, keep your hearts and minds in the
knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jefus
Chrift our Lord : and the blefling of God Almighty,
the Father* the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, be amongft
you, and remain with you always. Amn.

[ '5 ]

The ORDER for

EVENING PRAYER.

^ Let him 4 hat minifleretb read with a loud Voice tbefe
Sentences of Scripture -, arid after them the Exbor-
tatien. Dearly beloved Brethren, &c.

LORD, correct me, but with J«
judgement, not in thine anger,
left" thou bring me to nothing.

I will arife, and go to my father, si
and will lav unto him. Father, I "
have finned againft heaven, and be-
fore thee, and am no more worthy
to be called thy ion.

1 6 Evening Prayer.

^ Tihe Hymn appointed to be ufed at Morning Prayer,
injlead of the Venite, bcc. Jhall here aljo be ufed before
the proper Pfalms.

% Proper Pfalms, CXX, CXXI, CXLIV.

f Firji Lejfon, 2 Chron. XX. to Ver. 31.

Magnificat. St. Luke I. 46.

My foul doth magnify the Lord, cs?r.

f Second Lejon, Jatms IV. to Ver. 11.

Deus tnifereatur. Pfalm LXVII.

God be merciful unto us, ^c.

^ T^hen the Creeds &cc. to the End of the Lor Is Prayer,

f iChen the Prieji, Jlanding up, pall fay,

Prieft. O Lord, fhew thy mercy upon us I
Anf-w. And grant us thy falvation.
Prieji O Lord, fave the King !
Anfw. And mercifully hear us when we call upon
thee.

Priefl.

Evening Prayer.

Prieji. Endue thy miniftcrs with righteoufnefs.
Anfw. And make thy chofen people joyful.
Prieji. Give peace in our time, O Lord I
jinjw. Becaufe there is none other that fighteth for

us, but only thou, O God.
PrieJl. O Lord, fave thy fcrvants !
Jlnfw. Who put their trufl in tUee.
Prieji. Send us help from thv holy place.
AnJ'w. And evermore mightily defend us.
Priefi. Let the enemy have no advantage again ft

USi

Anfw. Nor tlie wicked approach to hurt us.

Prieji. Lord, hear our prayer!

Anjhi). And let ©Ur cry come unto thee.

^ Thefe Two Colie£is to he ufed inftcad of the Firfi
ColleB for the Evening Prayer.

O Almighty God, who rulefl over all the king-
doms or the earth, and on whofe moft gra-
cious providence they depend evermore for preferva-
tion and profperity; Extend thine accuftomed good-
nefs to the people of this land ; who looking up to
thee as the fupreme author of all bleffings, and their
fure fafeguard and mighty deliverer in all dangers and
difficulties, do now implore thy watchful care and
orotedlion ; befeeching thee to guide them continu-
ally with thy counfel, to ftrengthen them with tny
C powerful

i8 Evening Prayer.

poweiful arm, and to crown with fuccefs their necef-
lary endeavours in defeating the unjuft attempts of
their rebellious fellow-fubjefts againft the rights of our
Sovereign, and the lawful authority of the legiflature
of thefe kingdoms. Grant this, O merciful Father, for
Jefus Chrift's fake, our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.

OLord God of our falvation, in whofe hands are
the ilFues of life and death, of good and evil,
and without whofe aid the wifert counfels of frail
men, and the multitude of an hoft, and all the
inftruments of war are but weak and vain ; incline
thine ear, we pray thee, to the earneft and devout
fupplications of thy fervants, who, not confiding in
the fplendour of any thing that is great, o'" the {la-
bility of any thing that is ftrong here below, do moft
humbly flee, O Lord, unto thee for fuccour, and put
their truft under the (hadow of thy wings. Be thou
to us a tower of defence againft the aliaults of our
enemies, our fhield and buckler in the day of battle,
and fo blefs the arms of our gracious Sovereign, in
th-i maintenance of His juil and lawful rights, and
profper His endeavours to reftore tranquillity among
His unhappy deluded fubjefts in America, now in open
rebellion againft His Crown, in defiance of all fub-
ordination and legal government, that we being pre-
fer ved by thy help and goodnefs from all perils and
difafters, and made happily triumphant over all the
difturbers of our peace, may joyfully laud and mag-
5 «■»<>

Evening Prayer.

nify thy glorious Name ; and (erve thee from gene-
ration to generation in all godlineis and 4uietners,
through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Aificn.

^ the Second Collet at Evening Prayer.

OG O D, from whom all holy defires, all good
counfels, and all juft works do proceed; Give
unto thy fervants that peace which the world cannot
give; that both our hearts may be let to obey thy
commandments, and alfo that by thee we bein^ de-
fended from the fear of our Enemies, may pals our
time in reft and quietnefs, through the merits of Jefus
Chrift our Saviour. Amen.

«f T: he. Third CoUeSl, for Aid againji all Perils.

Lighten our darknefs, we befeech thee, O Lord j
and by thy great mercy defend us from all
perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy
only Son our Saviour Jefus Chrifl:. Amen.

/^LORD, we befeech thee mercifully hear our
V_^ pra:yer$ ; and fpare all thofe who confefs their
fms unto thee ; tlut they whofe confciences by fm are
accufcd, by thy merciful pardon may be abfolved,
through Chriil: our Lord. Amen.

C ^ % then

Evening Prayer.

f Then the People Jball fay this that followeiby after

the Minifar :

rr^ URN thou us, O good Lord, and fo Ihall
X we be turned. Be favourable, O Lord, Be
favourable to thy people. Who turn to thee in
weeping, farting, and praying. For thou art a
merciful God, Full of compaflion, Long fuffcring,
and of great pity. Thou fpareft w^hen vve deierve
punifhment, And in thy wrath thinkeft upon mercy.
Spare thy people, good Lord, fpare thera. And let
not thine heritage be brought to confulion. Hear
us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, And after tlic
multitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the
merits and mediation of thy bleiled Son Jefus Chrift
our Lord. Amsji,

OL O R D, moft good and powerful, we thy
fmful people, here aflembled before thee, do
acknowledge it thine unfpeakable mercy, that for
our manifold and heinous provocations we are not
utterly confumed, aiid given over for a prey to the
Enemy and Avenger. We confefs, with forrow and
confufion, our long xinfruitfulnefs under the means
of grace, the light of thy Gofpel, and the many
wonderful deliverances of this Church and State,
which thou, in thy great goodnefs, haft vouchfafed
unto us. O Lord, fhouldeft thou enter into judge-
4 mcnt

Evening Prayer,
mcnt with us for the crying fins of this nation,
our profanenefs and infidelity, herelies and fchifms',
our inordinate love of plea(ures, and other manifold
offences, thou mighteft juflly inflia: upon us the
fevcrity of thy wrath, and deliver us up to the re-
pi-oaches and infults of our enemies : but there is
ntcfcy with thee, therefore flialtthou be feared: thou
art the Lord God, tender and full of compallion, not
willing that any fhould peiifh, but that all fhould
repent and live. Look down therefore, we befeech
thee, with an eye of pity and loving-kindjiefs upon
thy fervants, who with broken and contrite hearts
do here bewail our" tranfgreirions and wretchedncfs.
Let our land in this time of trouble ftill enjoy the
light of thy countenance, and the blelfings of thy
bountiful hand ; and fo work upon our hearts anil
minds by the gracious influences of thy holy Spirit,
that being turned from the error of our ways, and
created to newnefs of life^ we may walk before thee
in all righteoufnefs and holinefs in this worU, and
inherit thine everlafting kingdom in that which is.
to come, through the merits of Jefus Chiift our only
Mediator and Advocate. Amen^

ir 4/>"-

Evening Prayer.

f After the general Thank/giving, let the following
Prayers be ifed.

% A "Prayer for this Church and Kingdom.

OBlefTed Lord, who halt manifefVed thine abun-
dant favour to thefe realms, in thy marvellous
protedion of our religion, laws, and liberties, from
the fecret confpiracles, and 0|)en attempts of ou-
enemies i we beleech thee to prefcrve evermore in
our minds, fuch a grateful fenfe of thefe thine inva-
luable mercies, that by our exemplary and religlou'
life of them, and happy improvements under them
to thy honour and fervice, we may ue accounted
worthy of the continuance of thy bleilings to us and
our pofterity. Take away from us, O Lord, all
hardnefs of heart, all neglecl of thine ordinances,
and contempt of th) word ; and endue us with a
fpiritof piety and devotion, a fpirit of juftice and
temperance^ of hnmility and charity, and of all other
graces^ which adorn the Chriftian profelhon j that
lb thy dreadful difpleafure and judgements may be ever
averted from us, and iniquity not become our ruin.
Be thou pleafed alfo with tliine cfpccial favour to
guard and profper our gracious Sovereign King
GEORGE, with all the Royal Family. Be thou
to Him, O Lord, an helmet of falvation againft His
enemies that delight in war. Do thoUj we pray tuee,

frullrate

Evening Prayer. 23

frtiftrate their wicked defigns, defeat their ftratagems,
and {o put theni to flight and confufion before His
face, that the terror of His arms may add dignity and
luftre to His crown, and bring fafety, joy, and hap-
pinefs to Hirafelf and His kingdoms. Grant this,
O tnerciful Father, for Jefus Chrift's fake, to whom,
whh thee and the Holy GhofV, be all honour and glory,
world without end. Ametu

Q

% A Prayer for Unity.

God, who haft taught us in thy holy Word.

to increafe and abound in Love one towards

ano^hei , put away from us, we befeech thee, all Bitter-
nefs and Wrath, and Evil-fpeaking and Envyj that
our hearts may be firmly knit together in mutual Af-
feAion, in Zeal for our Religion and Laws, in dutiful
Obedience to the King, and all who are in Authority
under him -, tliat as there is but one body and one
Spirit,- and one hope of our calling, one faith, one
God and father of us all, io we may henceforth be
all of one heart and of one foul, united in one holy
bond of truth and peace, and may with one mind
and one mouth glorify thee, O God, through Jefus
Chrift our Lord. Amen.

«f A Prayer for cur Enemies.

O BLESSED Lord, who haft commanded us
by ihy beloved Son to love our Enemies, and
to extend our charity in praying even for thofe, who

defpitefuUy

24 Evening Prayer.

defpkefully ufe us, give grace we bcfcecK thee, to
our unhappy fellow fubjefts in America, that feeing
and confening the error of their ways, and having a
due fenfe of their ingratitude for the many blefllngs
of thy Providence, preferved to them by the indulgent
care and protection of thefe kingdoms, they may
agaui return to their duty, and make themfelves
worthy of thy pajdon and forgivenefs : Grant us in
the mean time not only ftrength and courage to
withftand them, but charity to forgive and pity them,
to fhew a vwllingnefs to receive them again as friends
and brethren, upon juft and reafonable terms, and to
treat them with mercy and kindnefs for the fake
of thy Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

f A Trayer of St. Chryfoftom.

ALmighty God, -who halt given us grace, at this
time, with one accord to make our common
fupplications unto thee j and doft promife, that when
two or three are gathered together in thy Name, thou
wilt grant their requefts : Fulfil now, O Lord, the
defires and petitions of thy fervants, as may be moft
expedient for them j granting tfs in this World know-
ledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life
everlafting. Amen.

1 Cor. Xin. 14.

TH E grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and the
love of God, and the feUowlhip of the Holy
Ghoft, be with us all evermore. Amen.

F I N J S.