Imatges de pàgina
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the bitter feeling and soreness of the natural man, which keeps me from being like Thee in this great feature of saintliness. And then, O Lord, give me this most precious gift, this signal mark of Thy fellowship, that I may be ready and forward to forgive even as I am forgiven, even until seventy times seven.

Enable me so to love my enemies, to pray for those who have despitefully used me, that I may become a true child of God, and glorify Thee by being perfect even as our Father Which is in heaven is perfect; to Whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and praise now and ever. Amen.

Prayers for Special Occasions.

On Entering upon a new Sphere of Life.

LORD, the and Director, the Helper and the Comforter of all who seek Thee with their whole heart, and depend upon Thee; I humbly present myself before Thy Divine Majesty, beseeching Thy favour and blessing upon this new sphere of life.

I acknowledge that nothing will prosper in my hands without Thy help. I implore Thee to guide, and instruct, and furnish, and assist me in this condition of life into which, by Thy permission and calling, I am about to enter.

I sorrowfully confess that I have missed and abused many an opportunity of serving Thee in my past life. I desire to be more dutiful henceforward, and to pass the remaining part of my sojourning here in diligently doing Thy will. Pardon me, therefore, most merciful Father, according to Thy promises to penitent sinners; and vouchsafe to give me the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that I may clearly and fully perceive the duties and responsibilities which I am now about to undertake. Give me a sincere and hearty intention to discharge them; give me a willing mind, and a cheerful, unwearied spirit in all my work. Bless me with the great talent of an observant and charitable discretion, to discern the qualities and dispositions of those with whom I shall be associated henceforth, that I may delight to study their content and satis

faction, to bear with their infirmities, to cooperate with them in serving Thee, to choose the fittest opportunities of doing them good, and to please them always to their edification.

O Lord, I entreat Thy blessing upon this step. I trust that I take it by Thy leave, and under Thy guidance. I commit my future life into Thy hands, looking to Thee as the Beginning and the Ending, the Author and the Finisher of my faith. O Lord, in Thee have I trusted, let me never be confounded. Amen.

Before Confirmation.

LORD of all power and might, Who alone

can give strength to my spirit, grant to me, I beseech Thee, a true and deep sense of my weakness, in renouncing what I ought to renounce, in believing what I ought to believe, in doing what I ought to do.

Make me to know and feel my faults, and give me a godly repentance, and an earnest hope in Thy promises. Help me to profit by the instruction now given me, and to prepare for this holy ordinance, that I may obtain all the strength which Thou art ready to give me in it, and then go forward boldly and faithfully to serve Thee; through Him Who died for us all, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On the Anniversary of Birthday.

BLESSED be God, Who created me in His

image, for causing me to be born of Christian parents in a Christian country; for giving me my members and my senses perfect;

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for bringing me to Holy Baptism, and granting to me the inestimable Gift of regeneration; for accepting me and strengthening me in Confirmation; for imparting to me so often the most precious food of the Body and Blood of Christ; for my preservation during my past life, and especially during the year now elapsed.

The good Lord forgive me the great waste of the time allotted me for working out my salvation of the many days of health and strength spent in vanity! of the manifold opportunities of doing good which I have lost! O Lord, I owe Thee doubly all that is left to me by Thy long-suffering. Grant that I may henceforward be a diligent steward of my time, and of all Thy other gifts. Make me so thankful for all Thy mercies, that I may continually desire to make proof of my gratitude. Make me full of godly indignation against myself, on account of my oft-repeated sins, and earnestly desirous to listen to Thy Holy Spirit. O Lord God of the living, whether living or dying, I am Thine! May the day of my death be better than the day of my birth. And before the night cometh, when no man can work, [may my sins be forgiven, and my pardon sealed in heaven! So that I may have a place of rest among Thy faithful servants in the Paradise of God, until the good Lord make me perfect in body and soul in His eternal and everlasting glory; through the merits of my blessed Saviour. Amen.'

On the Anniversary of a Death.

LORD, Who hast taught us not only to pray, but to give thanks for all men, I I Use hymn No. 12.

return my humblest thanks and praise for the grace Thou hast wrought in Thy Saints throughout the world. For all Thy servants, and especially for . . ., who have departed this life in Thy faith and fear, I praise and magnify Thy glorious Name, most humbly desiring of Thy mercy and goodness that I may continue in their communion, and may follow with all diligence their good example; so that finally we may attain together to the resurrection of the just; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On the Anniversary of Confirmation.

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LORD, Who as on this day didst admit me to be strengthened by Thy Holy Spirit in the ordinance of Confirmation, I beseech Thee to bless the remembrance thereof to me. I glorify Thee that Thou didst then allow me to make solemn profession of my various duties to Thee, and to declare myself Thine for ever. Forgive the many failures and rebellions of which I have since been guilty, and enable me still to listen for and obey the suggestions of Thy good Spirit, and to persevere in His strength unto my life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before Reading or Hearing Holy
Scripture.

No. I.

LORD and Master Jesus Christ, Word co-eternal with the Father, without begin

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