PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE PRECEDING FORMS OF PRAYER, AS OCCASION REQUIRES. FOR SUNDAY MORNING. BE graciously present with all who this day meet to serve thee; bless the labours of all those who watch for souls; and give us all grace to hear with attention, to receive the word with meekness, and to serve the Lord with gladness. Teach us all things necessary to salvation; enable us to understand and remember the sacred truths delivered to us, with full purpose of living accordingly, that our conversation may be holy, and our end everlasting life. ANOTHER. E thank thee for the morning light of this day of rest, and for all the spiritual privileges which it brings with it. May we have rest and refreshment to our souls. May we read, and hear, and meditate with profit, and lift up our hearts to thee in prayer and praise with sincere devotion. And grant, most merciful God, that we may so improve all our sacred opportunities, that we fail not of a part in thine eternal rest, and in the hymns of angels and blessed spirits in the world to come. FOR SUNDAY EVENING. GLORY be to thy name for the especial blessings which this sacred day has brought to us. Pardon us, if in any manner we have abused its privileges. Cause the truths which we have heard to sink deep into our hearts, and bring forth in us the fruits of a holy and religious life, a peaceful and blessed death, and a glorious resurrection. ANOTHER. them up again. Wherever they are, or may go, there be thou with them. Guide them; teach them; defend, pardon, and save them. ANOTHER. WE humbly and earn estly look to thee, O God, for a blessing, a plenteous blessing on our dear BLESSED be God, the children. Grant them thy God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath vouchsafed to us the rest and the instruction of this Christian Sabbath. Blessed be God for the means of happiness and improvement, which have been offered this day to us and our fellow Christians. Make us mindful, we pray thee, of our duty; that as we often hear how we ought to walk and to please God, we may continue to do so unto our lives' end. INTERCESSION FOR CHILDREN. OUR best gifts. Grant them health, and strength, and understanding. Grant them, above all, virtue, holiness, good dispositions, the knowledge and love of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Help us to do all our duty to them, and help them to do their duty to us. Lead them and guard them through life; be with them in death; and grant that we may all meet together at last in the House of our Heavenly Father. INTERCESSION FOR FRIENDS. UR Heavenly Father, ALMIGHTY we beseech thee to be a Father to our children. Take them into the arms of thy love. Strengthen Strengthen them in the path of duty, and when they fall, raise God, fountain of all goodness and all excellency; extend thine abundant favour and loving kindness to our friends. Reward them for all the good which from thy merciful providence they have conveyed unto us. Let the light of thy countenance shine upon them, and never let them come into any affliction or sadness, but such as may be an instrument of thy glory, and their eternal comfort. Forgive them all their sins. PrePreserve them from spiritual dangers. Give supply to all their needs; guarding their persons; sanctifying their hearts; and leading them in the way of righteousness, by the waters of comfort, to the land of eternal rest and glory. together, in the felicity of Heaven. ON A JOURNEY. THOU who art every where present, and every where and always the same merciful and protecting God, protect us, we beseech thee, in the house and by the way. Save us from danger, from violence, and from sickness. May our way be pleasant to our feet, and improving to our minds and souls. Grant to us a safe arrival at home. Bless and protect those whom we have left behind whatever foes or perils we may encounter, let us know and feel that thou art near us, and that no real evil can befall us while we are with thee. Bring us to our desired haven, if it be thy will, and to our friends, in safety and peace. When the sea of life is past, and its storms are spent, O then, merciful God, land us on the calm and happy shore of thy heavenly kingdom. AFTER RETURNING FROM A JOURNEY OR VOYAGE. WE E thank thee, O God, merciful Father, that through thy great goodness we are permitted to meet again around our own domestic altar. For thy protecting care of us, while we were away, and for this our safe return, we praise and bless thee. For all the comforts, pleasures, and duties of this our earthly home, we devoutly thank thee. But we know that we are strangers with thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were; that our days on the earth are as a shadow, and here there is no abiding. O be thou with us, to lead and uphold us through the remainder of our pilgrimage, and at last receive us to our home in thine eternal heavens. the FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. GOD, our Father, through whose mercy dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to those who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace; we bless thee that unto us was born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and we pray that he may be also born in us spiritually, in faith, love, and obedience, and live and dwell in us continually, that we may in all things do thy will as he did, and at last become heirs with him in thy heavenly and everlasting glory. FOR A NEW YEAR. BLESSED be God, who has brought us safe to the beginning of another year. Make us sensible, O thou eternal and holy One, how short and uncertain is our mortal life. Pardon our mis |