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creatures. And I beseech Thee, O Lord, give Thy holy angels charge over me, to preserve me in my going out and coming in, and to keep me in all my ways, that no evil happen unto me, nor any plague come nigh my dwelling; but that I and mine may be safe under Thy gracious protection this day and evermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by Whom alone we have access unto Thee, and in Whose blessed Name and words we sum up all our petitions, saying:

Our Father, Which art in heaven &c.

MORNING PRAYER TO BE USED WITH A FAMILY.

Prayer that God would be pleased to assist us in our devotions.

LET Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thine unworthy servants; and that we may obtain our petitions, make us to ask such things as shall please Thee, and to offer up our supplications at the throne of Thy grace with humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient hearts; not trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies, through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

Prayer for pardon and peace.

ALMIGHTY God and most merciful Father, Who for our many and grievous sins, from time to time committed against Thee, mightest most justly have consumed us long ago, but in the multitude of Thy mercies hast hitherto spared us; accept, we most humbly beseech Thee, our unfeigned sorrow for all our former transgressions: and grant that we may never so presume on Thy mercy, as to despise the riches of Thy

goodness; but let Thy forbearance and long-suffering lead us to repentance, and amendment of life; that by the comfort of Thy grace we may mercifully be relieved; and being cleansed from all our sins may obtain of Thee pardon and peace, and serve Thee with a quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

For the Divine grace, protection, and blessing.

O GOD, forasmuch as without Thee, we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, and make us continually to be given to all good works; that we may begin, continue, and end in Thee, and being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which Thou wouldest have done; and so run the way of Thy commandments, that we may obtain Thy gracious promises in Christ Jesus our Lord, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure. And we beseech Thee, Who by Thy Blessed Son hast promised to them that seek first Thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance; grant us such a portion of the necessaries and conveniences of this present life, as Thou seest to be most expedient for us: be with us in our going out and coming in; and give us grace to use all Thy blessings as those who must give account of our stewardship, and know not how soon we may be called to our great reckoning. And we pray Thee, O Lord, Who hast created the light and darkness, and by the continual interchanges of day and night dost put us in mind of the shortness of our abode here; give us grace to set ourselves seriously about the work of salvation, while the day of salvation lasteth; that when the night of death cometh we may receive the reward of good and faithful servants, through the all-sufficient merits of our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Intercessions.

AND we beseech Thee, O Lord, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy church; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in all good works. Bless Thy servant the King, and all who by Thy providence are set in authority under him; direct and prosper all their counsels and endeavours, to the advancement of Thy glory, and the good of Thy church.

Give Thy grace, we humbly pray Thee, to all those who are called to any office in Thy holy Church ; that they may faithfully serve before Thee to the glory of Thy great Name, and the benefit of those who hear them. We make our humble supplications unto Thee, the fountain of all goodness, for all our benefactors, friends, and relations, especially for those most near and dear unto us; keep them, we beseech Thee, under the protection of Thy good providence ; increase and multiply upon them Thy mercy; that Thou being their ruler and guide they may so pass through things temporal, that they finally lose not the things eternal. Have mercy upon all who are in trouble, sickness, or necessity; sanctify thy fatherly correction to their profit, and in Thy good time vouchsafe to them a happy issue out of their affliction. Assist Thy servants who are drawing near their dissolution, and so fit them for the hour of death, that their departure may be in peace and in Thy favour. Amen.

Thanksgivings.

AND we desire, O Father of mercies, and God of all grace, with unfeigned thankfulness to adore and magnify Thy Holy Name for Thine inestimable love, in the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man, Who

humbled Himself even to the death upon the cross, for us miserable sinners who lay in darkness and the shadow of death; that He might make us the children of God, and heirs of everlasting life: and we beseech Thee grant, that having this hope in us we may purify ourselves, even as He is pure; that when He shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto Him in His eternal and glorious kingdom. We render Thee most humble and hearty thanks and praise for our health and strength, for our food and raiment, and for all the good things of this life which by Thy great mercy we enjoy beseeching Thee still to continue the same unto us, and to give us grace always to use them to the advancement of Thy glory, to the good of our fellow-creatures, and the furtherance of our own salvation.

We bless Thee also, O Almighty God, for that Thou hast vouchsafed to deliver us from all the perils and dangers of the night past; beseeching Thee to be with us this day in our going out and coming in, that we through Thy help may both faithfully live, and walk according to Thy will in this life present, and also may be partakers of everlasting glory in the life

to come.

All these we humbly and earnestly beg of Thee, Who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in Thy Son's name, for His all-sufficient merit's sake, in Whose most perfect prayer we conclude all our petitions, saying:

Our Father &c. &c. &c.
The grace &c. &c. &c.

SECTION II.

DEVOTIONS FOR THE EVENING,

Read a chapter in the Bible; or a portion of the preliminary instructions, p. 1. &c.

Questions proper to put to ourselves, in our Evening retirements for devotion.

WHAT account can I give of the day past? Have I made the business of religion, and the care of my soul, my first and principal concern?

Have I faithfully and diligently discharged all the duties of my particular station?

Have I studied to employ my leisure hours to the best advantage?

Have I strictly observed the rules of Christian sobriety and temperance in eating and drinking; and been innocent and moderate in all my recreations?

Have I endeavoured to set God alway before me; and to demean myself as it becomes one that knows he must shortly appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, and be sentenced to everlasting happiness, or everlasting misery, according to his good or ill behaviour in this life?

Have I exercised a due care and watchfulness over my thoughts, words, and actions; so as neither to think, nor speak, nor do any thing unbecoming my Christian profession?

Have I been chaste and inoffensive in my discourse; candid and charitable in my opinions of others? sincere, affable, and obliging, and, as occasion offered, useful in my conversation?

What mercies have I received? and with what sentiments of gratitude have I entertained and acknowledged them?

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