Imatges de pàgina
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For Church-Helpers.

THOU good Shepherd of the sheep, Who willest not that any should perish, but that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; be with those who are helping to seek Thy lost sheep in the wilderness of this sinful world. Let Thy love and patience be shown forth in their lives and conversations; Thy tenderness and compassion in their words and actions; may they win many souls for Thee, and kindle in other hearts a desire to devote themselves to works of love. And grant, O Lord, that we may be all knit together as living stones in the unity of Thy Church, and be brought at last to Thee, in everlasting glory, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For a Synod or Council.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, Who by ALTI Holy Spirit didst preside in the councils of the blessed Apostles, and Who hast promised, through Thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with Thy Church unto the end of the world; I pray Thy blessing on the synod . . . assembled in Thy Name. Keep far from the members thereof all pride, ignorance, prejudice, and error; and of Thy great mercy vouchsafe to direct and sanctify their deliberations and measures, that thereby Thy kingdom may be set forward, Thy truth promoted, and the order and discipline of Thy Church maintained; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

For Missions.

No. I.

WE E praise Thee, most gracious God, for causing the light of the Sun of Righteousness to shine upon us. Give us grace always to acknowledge this inestimable benefit, by walking as children of light, and by compassionating those who are still in darkness. Fill us with a hearty desire to make Thy way known upon earth. Prosper, we beseech Thee, the undertakings of all Missionary Societies, and especially of The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, or .. Make the members and supporters thereof zealous and diligent. Bless those who direct its operations. Give them a single eye to Thy glory, and a most charitable spirit to all fellow-workers. Give them discretion to do Thy work rightly, courage to persevere in it undauntedly, and influence to spread the interest thereof throughout the Church. And then, O Lord, bless the great Cause, even the extension and consolidation of Thy kingdom. Let not the souls redeemed by the Blood of Christ perish in ignorance and sin. But strengthen Thy servants to gather in the heathen to Thy fold; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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No. 2.

MOST blessed Saviour, Who of Thy great goodness hast given to us the light of Thy Gospel, and hast appointed a succession of men to preach Thy Word and administer Thy Sacraments; make our hearts truly grateful for these Thy gifts, and earnestly desirous that others may alike enjoy the same.

Increase the number of faithful labourers, and fill them with zeal for Thy glory, and for the salvation of the unbelieving and ignorant. Vouchsafe Thine aid to those who labour afar off among the unconverted. Grant to all Thy people, and especially to Missionary Societies, liberality, wisdom, and love, that we may aid in this holy work, and that our prayers and alms may come up for a memorial before the Father, and be accepted in His sight. Who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God, now and for evermore. Amen.

No. 3.

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OROSPER, O Lord, all missions, both at home and abroad, especially at with such increase of holiness that they may win many to the acknowledgment of Thy truth. Make them centres of spiritual life to the quickening of many souls; for the glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.

For the Heathen.

LORD Jesus Christ, Who art the King of

of the heathen, who, though created in Thine image, are perishing in their ignorance, and losing that which Thou hast purchased for them by Thy Atonement. Grant that, by the prayers and labours of Thy holy Church, they may be delivered from superstition and unbelief, and brought to know and love Thee; to Thy honour and glory, Who, with the Father and Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth for ever. Amen.

For our Fellow-Countrymen Abroad.

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LORD Jesu Christ, Who hast commanded us by Thy Apostles to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and as we have each received Thy gift, so to minister the same one to another; grant to our fellowcountrymen who sojourn in distant lands, that being baptized into Thy holy Name, they may show forth Thy praises, Who hast called them out of darkness into marvellous light. Preserve them, we beseech Thee, from the sin of offending Thy little ones who believe in Thee, and from causing Thy Word to be blasphemed among the Gentiles. Make them as the salt of the earth, as the leaven in the lump, and as light in the world; so that many, beholding their good works, and won by their holy life, may be turned to glorify Thee in Thy truth, O Lord, our Saviour and our God, blessed for ever. Amen.

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For the Colonies.

BLESSED Lord, Who wouldst have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; look in mercy on those parts of the earth that lie still in ignorance and error, and let the glorious Gospel of Thy Son shine upon them; particularly on the colonies and dependencies of Great Britain, and all such places as are now, or were formerly, under our government, and intrusted to our care. Plant and foster in each of them a branch of Thy Church. Prepare fit men to be sent as the ambassadors of Christ to those who dwell there, and raise up sufficient help to support and encourage them that are sent. Give an abun

dant blessing to their labours, and make them successful to the saving of souls; through His mediation Who hath commanded us thus to pray; to Whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, now and for evermore. Amen.

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For Missionaries.

No. I.

MOST merciful Saviour and Redeemer, fulfil Thy gracious promise to be present with those who are gone forth in Thy Name to preach the Gospel of salvation in distant lands. Be with them in all perils by land or by water, in sickness and distress, in weariness and painfulness, in disappointment and in persecution. Bless them with Thy continual favour, and send Thy Holy Spirit to guide and comfort them. O Lord, let Thy ministers be clothed with righteousness, and grant that Thy Word spoken by their mouths may never be spoken in vain. And so prosper Thy work that the fulness of the Gentiles may be gathered in, and all Israel be saved. Grant this, O Lord, for Thine own sake. Amen.

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No. 2.

THOU Who art Thyself the Builder and the Husbandman of Thy Church, and Who hast chosen the weak and base things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; grant unto all those who labour together with Thee, that they, accounting their own planting and watering to be nothing, may confidently look unto Thee to give the increase; and also that they may have grace so to preach

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