For the Use of Clergy and other Special Servants of the Church.

For a Parish Priest.

No. I.

LORD Jesus Christ, my Master and Lord, I kneel before Thee to beg help for Thy service. Give me zeal to minister, as for Thee, Thy word and sacraments. Give me knowledge to be sound and accurate in doctrine. Give me courage to maintain the truth boldly; and discretion to declare it seasonably, persuasively, and effectively, so as to correct the peculiar errors of my cure. And guide me by Thy almighty Hand to bring in safely those committed to me, that my work may abide when tried by the fire, to Thy honour and glory. Amen.

No. 2.

LORD our heavenly Father, Who hath

weighty an office, print on my remembrance how great a treasure is committed to my charge. Make me, as Thy messenger, energetic and zealous; as Thy watchman, vigilant for the great interests of Thy flock; as Thy steward, faithful in dispensing those treasures of Thy word and sacraments which are committed unto me.

Grant that I may never cease my labour, nor intermit care and diligence, to do all that lieth in me, according to my bounden duty, to bring all such as are committed to my charge unto the knowledge of God in Christ, that there be no place left among us either for error in religion or for viciousness in life.

Enable me so to read and weigh the Scriptures that I may wax riper and stronger in my ministry, and may in Thy strength instruct the people committed to my charge out of them.

I desire, O Lord, as Thy instrument, to minister with faithful diligence the doctrine and sacraments of Thy Church; to banish erroneous doctrine; to use private as well as public exhortations to all, both sick and whole; to be unceasing in prayer and diligent in study; to frame and fashion my own self and my family according to the doctrine of Christ, that we may be wholesome examples and patterns to His flock; to maintain and set forward quietness, peace, and love; reverently, and with a glad mind, to obey my ordinary and chief ministers.

Give me, O Lord, a hearty will to do all these things. Grant to me the strength and power of Thy most Holy Spirit to perform the same, that He may accomplish the work which He hath begun in me.

O Lord, Thou hast promised to be with us always. Thou hast commanded us to cast all our care on Thee. Thou hast declared that, if Thou shalt find Thy servants watching, Thou wilt Thyself most highly honour them.

So be it, O Lord, to me, Thy most unworthy servant. Amen.

Intercession for Flock.

GOD of mercy and truth, I humbly beseech Thee for who, either in the body or out of the body, are linked to me by spiritual ties; for those whom I have been appointed to feed with the Word of Life; for those who have trusted themselves to me either in confession, or in seeking advice; for those whose gifts and alms I have received; and above all, for those who have taken any hurt or hindrance through any fault or negligence of mine. Supply my deficiencies; undo my mistakes; stretch forth Thy merciful hand, and of Thy unutterable goodness give them forgiveness of sins, and bring them to the rest of the blessed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before Praying with the Sick.

LORD, it is a great presumption that one sinner should dare to commend another to Thy Divine Majesty (especially a greater sinner to commend one who has sinned less than himself)! But Thou hast promised that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and that Thou wilt raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

O Lord, forgive me my sins, my great and grievous sins, often and many times committed, long and many years most grievously continued, that so I may make my prayers for others in the Name of Thy dear Son.

In Thee I trust; in Thee I hope; to Thee I fall down and pray; through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Lord, save him. O Lord, raise him up. O Lord, forgive him. Amen.

R

On Preparing a Sermon.

E graciously pleased, O Lord, to help me in the ministry for which I am preparing. Guide and supply my thoughts, that I may feed the flock committed to me with the Word of Life, and glorify Thee by forwarding Thy kingdom in their hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before Celebrating the Holy Eucharist.

No. I.

SOVEREIGN Lord God, look Thou upon

O me, Thy unprofitable servant, in Thy

wonderful compassion. Abhor not my unworthiness. Cleanse my lips and my heart from all pollution of flesh and spirit. Put far away from me every base and foolish thought, and fit me, by the power of Thy Spirit, for this service, that I may come before Thy glory without condemnation. Be pleased, O Lord, to accept the offerings presented by my hands. Supply my defects. Empower me so to minister the Bread of Life to the sheep of Thy flock, that Thy holy mystery may not be dishonoured by my faultiness, and that they and I may receive it in its fulness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

No. 2.

GRANT toimikore, I beseech thee, a simple childlike awe of this great Mystery, a solemn and abiding sense of Thy holy Presence therein, and all possible reverence of heart and voice and gesture in ministering the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I

Commendation of a Former Flock.

ENTREAT Thy blessing, O Lord, upon all those who have at any time been committed to my charge (especially at . . . ). Forgive my mistakes, my cowardice, my neglects. Make up to them even now my deficiencies. Grant that the ties which have been formed between us may not be broken through sin, nor forgotten through multiplicity of worldly cares, but that we may love each other with a careful remembrance, as we hope to be remembered by Thee. And Í pray, O Lord, that whatever good I may have been permitted to communicate to them as Thy servant, may be found after many days matured in fruitfulness by Thy holy power; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for use of Lay-Helpers.

THOU Who hast by Thy Divine Providence appointed divers orders of ministers in Thy Church, and hast committed to each order the separate duties of its peculiar office, but still dost encourage all Thy people to minister to Thee; look mercifully upon me, and on my desire to aid Thy servants, the clergy, in my proper place in the Church. O Lord, I thank Thee for the leisure which Thou hast given me in the midst of my worldly occupation. I desire to dedicate a portion of it directly to Thy service. Enable me, in whatever I undertake for the good of others, to persevere in it steadily as in Thy sight, to sanctify all I do by prayer; and when I would teach the ignorant, to seek humbly to