Page images
PDF
EPUB

The Lord preserveth the simple; I was brought low, and he helped me. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. Ps. cxvi. 6, 8.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm lxviii. 19.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. v. 8.

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High. Ps. l. 14.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice. Ps. lv. 17.

Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. Ps. lxv. 1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Ps. lxxiii. 1.

So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever; we will show forth thy praise to all generations. Ps. lxxix. 13.

Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will towards men.

Luke ii. 14.

BLESSING.

Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim. i. 17.

Blessing and honor, and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever. Rev. v. 13.

Now unto him that is able to keep [us] from falling, and to present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24, 25.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church, by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. iii. 20. 21.

PRAYER IN THE LANGUAGE OF SCRIP.. TURE.

Invocation.-"Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray."

Adoration.-"Thou art God, and none else; thy name alone is Jehovah, the Most High.”

Confession. "I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight."

Petition." Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart O God; renew a right spirit within me.

"Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary." Pleading." For thy mercies' sake, O Lord, save me. Our fathers cried unto thee, and were delivered."

Self-dedication."I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. I have

sworn and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments."

Thanksgiving.-"My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips."

“O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name, who forgiveth all thy sins, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies."

Blessing." Now unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE GIFT AND GRACE OF PRAYER.

O thou eternal and ever blessed God, who art the Author and Giver of every good gift, and who hast promised so many and such great blessings to them that call upon thee, hear me now, I beseech thee, through Jesus Christ.

Lord, I confess my utter inability to seek thee aright. I am encompassed with infirmities; I acknowledge my indisposition to prayer; I bewail my backwardness and reluctance to hold converse with God.

Teach me rightly to feel this my weakness and helplessness. Give me a more complete knowledge of my insufficiency. Convince me of the need that I have of thy divine assistance, and grant me earnest desires after thy salvation. Create in me a hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Impart to me a holy liberty of soul in calling upon thee. Heavenly Father, Fountain of light and life, I do not ask for earthly riches,

vain pleasures, human honors; but I do humbly ask for the Spirit of prayer, for the heart ever prepared and ready to call upon God.

It is thy promise that thou wilt give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. I ask, do thou give; I seek, grant that I may find; I knock, let it be opened unto me. Help me to pray in the Holy Ghost. Help me to live daily in constant believing prayer. Lord, teach me to pray.

By nature proud and self-sufficient, I am prone to think and act as if I needed not thy help; but 0. teach me to know how poor and how needy I really am ; and knowing my great and many necessities and my entire dependence on thee, give me the disposition, from day to day, and from hour to hour, to seek thy help and strength.

Enable me entirely to confide in thy almighty power, thy boundless compassion, thy infinite love, and thy amazing mercy. Let the gift of thy Son Jesus Christ, and his intercession for sinners, encourage me to approach thee. Help me to pray, relying on his merits, and through him may I learn to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Let nothing keep me from God. May I renounce all known sin, and all carnal indulgences, and not be conformed to this world. Enable me to resist the temptations of Satan, to watch against self-righteousness and spiritual pride, and never to neglect the study of thy word.

Give me grace, whenever, I seek thee, to look for the aid of thy Holy Spirit, to trust only in the name of thy Son, and to watch unto prayer. Let me not be rash with my mouth; but, meditating before I pray, may I ask in faith, in sim

plicity of mind, with filial freedom of spirit, in sincerity of heart, and fervency of desire, praying always with all prayer, and watching thereunto with all perseverance. And, after having done all, may I ever consider myself an unprofitable servant.

Grant me thy Holy Spirit to help my infirmities, for I know not what to pray for as I ought; grant me thy Holy Spirit to make intercession for me with groanings which cannot he uttered.

Give me, O give me this great gift, the Spirit of grace and supplication, for thy dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRIVATE MORNING PRAYER.

Merciful God, give ear unto me, when I cry to thee, in the name of Jesus Christ. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Lord, help me to pray.

Confession.

Great is the need that I have to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. The things of the world, the lust of the eye, and the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, are continually tempting me, and leading me astray from thee. My affections towards thee, my God are cold and dull. My tempers are often unsanctified. I am prone to depart from thee, and lukewarm and indifferent when I ought to have a holy zeal. I too

« PreviousContinue »