that persevere O grant that we may never presume on Thy mercy, or despise the riches of Thy goodness, but that Thy forbearance and long-suffering may lead us to repentance: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we truly mourning for our sins and forsaking them, condemning ourselves and justifying Thee, crucifying the old man and becoming new creatures, may obtain of Thee mercy and remission, that though we are now worthily punished for our sins, by the comfort of Thy grace we may be mercifully relieved, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The prayer for the church. I. O ETERNAL God, Thou preserver of men, and the great lover of souls, have pity and compassion upon thine afflicted handmaid, the church of England.] Thou hast humbled us for our pride, and chastised us for our want of discipline; O forgive us all our sins, by which Thou hast been provoked to anger and to jealousy, to despise our sorrows, and to arm Thyself against us. II. BLESSED God, smite us not with a final and exterminating judgment; call not the watchmen off from their guards, nor the angels from their charges; let us not die by a famine of Thy word and sacraments: if Thou smitest us with the rod of a man, Thou canst sanctify every stroke unto us, and canst bring good out of the evil, and delightest to do so; but nothing can bring us recompense if Thou hatest us, and sufferest the souls of Thy people to perish. III. UNITE our hearts and tongues, take away the spirit of error and division from amongst us, and so order all the accidents of Thy providence, that religion may increase, and our devotion may be great and popular, and truth may be encouraged and promoted, and Thy name glorified, and Thy servants comforted and instructed; that Thy holy spirit may rule, and all interests may stoop and obey, publish and advance the honour of our Lord Jesus. Amen. For the superior clergy. O MOST blessed Saviour Jesus, King of heaven and earth, the head and prince of the catholic church, who hast appointed Thy servants ministers and stewards in the house of Thy Father, to give bread to the hungry, and drink to them that thirst after the water of life, flowing from the fountains of our Saviour: continue and bless, sanctify and adorn with Thy gifts and graces, all the spiritual guides and governors which Thou hast appointed over us; that they may continue in Thy service to comfort the afflicted, to instruct the igno rant, to confirm the strong, to defend and promote Thy truth, to intercede for Thy servants, to open the kingdom of heaven to all believers, and to shut up the disobedient and rebellious in everlasting prisons, by the keys of the kingdom, by Thy word and sacraments, by Thy power and by Thy spirit. Remove not the candlestick from us, neither do Thou quench the light of Israel; but let Thy servants [our bishops and priests] be like burning and shining lights in the temple of God; by a continual, never failing, never broken succession, offering up the daily sacrifice; rejoicing in the plenty of peace and the employments of Thy house, in holy offices, and a daily ministration; that Thou being for ever pleased, and for ever glorified, we may be Thy peculiar people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, clothed with righteousness, and singing with joyfulness eternal halleluiahs to the honour of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For priests and the inferior clergy. Most blessed and eternal Jesu, who art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, and hast separated Thy servants to minister to Thee in holy offices, and to convey holy things unto the people; give unto all Thy servants, the ministers of Thy word and sacraments, the spirit of prudence and knowledge, of faith and charity, of watchfulness and holy zeal; that they, as good helps in government, may declare Thy will faithfully to their congregations, and administer the sacraments purely and devoutly, and by their holy life become an example to Thy little flock, that so they with cheerfulness and joy may render an account of their charge, and may by Thy mercy obtain the blessing of Thy priesthood, and the glories of Thy kingdom, O most blessed and eternal Saviour, who livest and reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit, eternal God, world without end. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. To this office may be added the confession of sins taken out of S. Ephraim the Syrian (in the Evening prayer for a family') and said immediately before the collect. Or else, Immediately before the blessing (as opportunity shall require or permit) may be said the Litany described at the end of these devotions. Any of these prayers or psalms may upon any occasion, ordinary or extraordinary, be used in any of the other offices. In time of war, to the foregoing offices may be added these following prayers, taken out of a special office published by the authority of queen Elizabeth, 1597. A prayer for an army or navy in time of war. O ALMIGHTY Lord God of hosts, the prince of peace, and the everlasting counsellor, we humbly beseech Thee so to conduct, encou rage and defend our [armies and fleets] with Thy mighty arm, and Thy wise providence, that what they shall attempt or take in hand for defence of this [church and state] may be prosperous and blessed. Direct and lead them all in safety, strengthen their governors and leaders with sound counsel and wise conduct, the officers and soldiers with ready obedience and valiant resolution: bless their conflicts with signal victories; give them blessed opportunities of effecting the purposes of peace and justice with the least bloodshed. Preserve them from contagious diseases, from the violence of sword and sickness, from evil accidents or crafty designs, from treachery or surprise, from carelessness of their duty, and from all irreligion, from confusion or fear, from mutiny and disorder. Give them an happy and an honourable return, that we being defended from our enemies, Thy servant [our sovereign or supreme] may rejoice in Thy mercies, and Thy church may give Thee thanks in the days of peace, and all Thy people may worship Thee in a holy religion, giving Thee praise, and honour, and glory, for ever in eternal ages, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Or this. I. O MOST mighty Lord God, who reignest over all the kingdoms of men, Thou hast power in Thy hand to cast down and to raise up, to save Thy servants and to rebuke their enemies, and in all ages hast given victory to Thy people, effecting by small numbers what man cannot do by the multitude of an host: Let Thy ears be now open unto our prayers, and Thy merciful eyes upon our trouble and our danger. O Lord, do Thou judge our cause in righteousness and mercy; prosper our arms, and defend our armies; establish us in the rights Thou hast given us, in our lands and in our goods, in our government and in our laws, in our religion, and in all the holy orders which Thou hast appointed to minister to all who shall be heirs of salvation. II. NEVER let ambition or cruelty, thirst of empire or thirst of blood, the greediness of spoil, or the pleasures of a victory, make us either to love war, or to neglect all the just ways of peace; and grant unto the army such piety and prudence, such happy circumstances and blessed events, that none of them may do any act misbecoming christians, disciples and servants of the Prince of peace. Do Thou, O God, bless them in all their just actions and necessary defences, that they may neither do wrong, nor suffer any. Let not our enemies have their unjust desires, nor their mischievous imaginations prosper, lest we become a scorn and derision to our oppressors. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, and a horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; but our trust is in the name of the Lord our God: He is our strength and our defence: for it is Thou, O Lord, who canst indifferently save with many or with few. III. WHEREFORE from Thy holy sanctuary open Thine eyes and behold, stretch forth Thy hand and help, defend and save our armies and navies, O Thou God of power, from all evil of man, and all evil of chance. Cover their heads in the day of battle and danger; send Thy fear before Thy servants, that our enemies may flee before them: let Thy faith make them valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of [aliens, rebels, &c.] and by this shall Thy servants know Thou favourest us, in that our enemy doth not triumph overa us, and shall always confess, to the praise of Thy name, that it was Thou, Lord, the shield of our hope, and the sword of our glory, who hast done great things for us; and evermore say, Praised be the Lord that hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servants. Hear us, O Lord, for the glory of Thy name, for Thy loving mercy, and for Thy truth's sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. * ['against' A.] AN OFFICE FOR PRISONERS. The foregoing ordinary offices are fitted for all mankind in general, and so may be also used by these in their prisons: to which they may add what is fit for them in the following devotions; and upon solemn occasion, or upon special necessity or devotion, they may entirely and distinctly use the following prayers and psalms, &c. IN the name of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus. Our Father, which art in heaven, &c. Versicle. O God, make speed to save us. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. The psalm. I WILL cry unto God with my voice; even unto God will I cry with my voice, and He shall hearken unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: in the night my sore ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted.-When I am in heaviness I will think upon God, when my heart is vexed I will complain. O remember how short my time is: wherefore hast Thou made all men for nought ?-I go hence like the shadow that departeth, and am driven away as the grasshopper; but the Lord shall endure for ever, He hath also prepared His seat for judgment. For He shall judge the world in righteousness, and minister true judgment unto His people.-The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed, even a refuge in due time of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek Thee.-Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, preserve me from the violent man. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.-Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name, the upright shall dwell in Thy presence. O let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before Thee; according to the greatness of Thy power preserve Thou those that are appointed to die. The humble shall consider this and be glad; seek ye after God, and your soul shall live.-For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not His prisoners. |