comfort Thy servants who have lost the powers of reason and self-control. Suffer not the Evil One to vex them. Impute not unto them the unseemliness of word or action into which they fall. Look upon them graciously, as redeemed by the Blood of Thy dear Son; and grant that they, finding Him their only wisdom, may be delivered from the darkness of the world, and attain to the glory of Thy Presence; through the same JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. After leading Some One into Sın. O GOD, the giver of pardon, I call on Thee on behalf of [here mention names], whom I have turned from Thy commandments and led into sin. Require not his blood at my hands, but forgive him and me all our sins; give me grace to make what amends I can for my fault, that, sinning no more, we may together escape Thy condemnation; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. Upon the Birthday of a Friend. Almighty and Everlasting GOD, the Maker of all creation, mercifully hear my prayers, and grant many and happy years to Thy servant [here mention by name], whom Thou didst bring into this life to-day, that he may spend all his life so as to please Thee; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. For Unity in the Church. O Blessed JESU, who saidst unto Thine Apostle," Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you," regard not my sins but the faith of Thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which is agreeable to Thy Holy Will, who livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, now and ever. Amen. For the Parish at Home. O GOD, bless all those in the [village or] parish where I was brought up, from whom I am now divided by the sea. Bless the clergy, the teachers, and the Sunday-school. Bless those especially who remember me in their prayers. Grant that we may meet again on earth, if it be Thy will. But if not here, grant that we may meet in that heavenly country where there shall be no more parting and no more sea; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. For Foreign Missions. Almighty GOD, who by Thy SON JESUS CHRIST, didst give commandment to Thy Apostles that they should go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature ; look with compassion upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and on the multitudes that are scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Give wisdom, courage, and love to all who labour amongst them in Thy name, and grant us grace so to walk that they may have us for an example of a sober, good, and Christ-like life; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. For a Private Enemy. Good LORD, deliver me from the sin of malice and all uncharitableness, and give me grace always to behave another. towards [here mention him] as one Christian should towards Shield me from all temptations to provoke him, and give me a heart to embrace every opportunity to be reconciled to him, that he and I may both have our sins forgiven; through the merits of JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. For Shipmates. Almighty GOD, by whose providence we are gathered together and preserved in this ship, give us grace to acknowledge the daily blessings which we receive at Thy hands. Grant to us the spirit of devotion to Thee and of loyalty to our Queen and country. Fill our hearts with such love towards Thee and towards each other that, whether on deck or in the mess, aloft or below, on board or ashore, we may ever set before us the object of our honourable profession, which is to serve, and (if it please Thee) to die for Thee and our country; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. SHORT PRAYERS TO BE USED WHEN On Seeing Any One Fall into Sin. Have mercy on us, LORD, for we are weak. Or, Teach him, O GOD, that the wages of sin is death. On Hearing Blasphemy and Bad Talk. O LORD, open Thou our lips, that our mouth may shew forth Thy praise. Or, LORD, open his eyes that he may see the wondrous things of Thy law. On Hearing Any One Tell a Lie. From lying lips and from a deceitful tongue, good LORD, deliver us. Or, LORD, speak Thou the truth to his heart, that he may confess it with his mouth. |