PRAYERS

TO BE SAID BY

CHILDREN,

NOT ONLY WITH THE LIP, BUT WITH THE HEART;

And only by such Children as humbly desire to be the better for the Prayers they say.

A MORNING PRAYER.

MOST merciful Lord, by thy gracious pro

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tection I have been defended from all the perils and dangers of the last night. O, let me begin the day by blessing thee for the good rest and protection I have enjoyed at thy hand in my sleeping hours.

Save me, thou God of love, from all those inward feelings that are wicked and abominable in thy sight. May my heart be kept by thee from pride and anger, from stubbornness before others, and hardness before the

Thou knowest, Lord, the wickedness of all hearts. O, grant that a sinful child, by the grace of thy Holy Spirit, may feel that blessed change, as that sin may be no more beloved and practised by me, but that I may live to love thee, and love to serve thee.

O, permit me not to run out of the path of duty this day, lest I should run into the way of danger. Lead my mind into the thoughts that are profitable and good. May I never spend a day upon earth without thinking of, and talking about the love of our most gracious Saviour, who died for my sins, and now ever lives to make intercession in heaven for me. In his name I further pray unto thee, and say-Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven: give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

AN EVENING PRAYER.

O LORD, by thy merciful protection I have been defended throughout this day by the bounty of thy providence, all my wants have been supplied, while many have been in misery and distress, who were more worthy of thy bounty than the poor unworthy child that now prays before thee.

Blessed be thy name for all the good instruction I have received. Sanctify my heart and memory, that I may retain the same, so that I may daily increase in knowledge and in grace, to the comfort of my instructors, to the glory of thy great name.

and

Pardon, O most merciful God, for Jesus Christ's sake, all the sins I have committed this day. O, give me repentance as well as pardon, that I may hate those evils that render me hateful to thee, and that I may be made lovely in thy sight, following the example of our blessed Saviour, through the grace of thy good Spirit upon my heart. And this, the

prayer of a poor sinful child, is offered before thee, through the merits of our holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER BEFORE AND AFTER READING THE SCRIPTURES.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A PRAYER

FOR THE LORD'S-DAY MORNING.

COMPASSIONATE Saviour, thou hast ordained, for the good of poor sinful man, that thy day should be a day of rest. O, that it

may not be a day of rest from labour only, but also a day of rest from the disgraceful work of sin.

I bless thee that this day I am to go to thine house; and I beseech thee that thou wouldest bless the minister and all the people who shall attend to worship with me.

Though I am a poor little child, and may not be able to remember much, yet give me grace that I may remember some of the good things that I may hear in thy sacred service.

And, O dear Saviour, make me the better for what I shall hear, that I may love thee for dying for me, that my sins may be pardoned through thy precious atoning blood.

And may I thus be kept in thy service on earth, until I come to praise thee in thy kingdom above, there to spend an eternal Sabbath with the Father, Son, and Holy Amen.

Spirit, for evermore.