Heavenly Father, eternal and merciful God; we acknowledge
and confess before your divine Majesty that we are poor miserable
sinners, conceived and born in sin and corruption, prone to all
evil, and unfit for any good. By our sinful life, we have continually
transgressed your holy commandments, provoked your wrath against
us and incurred your just judgment to eternal death.
Sorrow for sin. But, 0 Lord, we repent in sorrow that
we have thus offended you, we condemn our iniquities, and ourselves
and implore you mercifully to help us in our wretchedness and
misery.
Prayer for pardon. Have mercy upon us, therefore, 0
most gracious God and Father, and pardon all our sins, for the
sake of the holy suffering of your dear Son; Jesus Christ our
Lord.
For sanctification. And condescend to grant to us,
henceforth, the grace of your Holy Spirit, that He may teach:
us heartily to know our unrighteousness, and make us so to abhor
ourselves, that sin may be slain in us, and we may arise to newness
of life. Thus shall we produce the perfect fruits of holiness
and righteousness with which, for Christ's sake, You are well
pleased.
Thanksgiving, for bodily mercies. Almighty God, Creator
of heaven and earth, we give you most hearty thanks, that you
have created us, and have preserved, fed and sustained us and
our children thus far, and are still willing to keep and govern
us. But especially we thank you, that you have given us to know
your Son Jesus Christ, and pardon our sins for the sake of His
bitter passion and death.
For spiritual mercies promised through the ministry of
the Word. We plead with you to renew us in the image of your
Son Jesus Christ, by the preaching of your Word, and the power
of the Holy Ghost, that so we may, both in soul and body live
with you, to praise you, for which we were originally created.
Defend us against the malice of Satan, lest he pluck your Holy
Word out of our hearts, as he did to our first parent Adam and
Eve.
For the civil Authority. And whereas you have ordained
civil authorities, by which You govern us, we pray, who have
the hearts of rulers in your hands, for ….
Grant to our governors grace and peace, that they may direct
their authority to that end, that our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom
all power in heaven and earth is given, may reign over them and
their subjects, so that the people, who are the creatures of
your hands, and the sheep of your pasture, and for whom the Lord
Jesus shed His blood, may be governed in holiness and righteousness;
and that we may for your sake, show to them all becoming honor
and faithfulness, and thus, under their protection, lead an honest,
peaceable and Christian life.
For the fruits of the earth. Grant your blessing and
favor also upon the fruits of the earth, that we may thus know
you as our Father, and the fountain of all mercy and blessing.
Preserve us also from war, famine and the swift-spreading pestilence.
For all men. Neither pray we for ourselves alone, but
for all men in the whole world, that You would graciously have
compassion upon them.
Especially for our persecuted Brothers. And especially
for those who have fellowship with us in the Body of Jesus Christ,
and who suffer for the truth’s sake. Be pleased, O Father
of all Grace, to restrain the wrath of your enemies, who persecute
your Son Jesus Christ, in His members, and strengthen the persecuted
with victorious steadfastness, and the power of your Holy Spirit,
that they may joyfully receive these sufferings from your hand,
and in the midst of tribulations experience that peace which
passes all understanding.
For all afflicted persons. Comfort and sustain the
poor, the sick, widows and orphans, all prisoners, and such as
are with child, with all troubled and tempted souls, and grant
to them your peace, through our Lord Jesus Christ, according
to His insured promise: Truly, truly I say to you, all things
that you shall ask the Father in my name, will He give to you
and who has farther instructed us to pray:
Hallowed be your name. Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who have promised certainly to grant to us those things which
we ask for in the name of your beloved Son Jesus Christ: we beseech
you to work in our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may rightly
know you, to sanctify, adore and praise you in all your works,
in which your Omnipotence; Wisdom, Goodness, Mercy, Justice;
and Truth shine forth. Grant also that we may so order our whole
life, all our thoughts, Words and works, that your name may not
be profaned, but adored and praised through us.
Thy kingdom come. And so govern us, by the scepter
of your Word, and the power of your Holy Spirit, that we and
all men, may daily more subject and yield ourselves to your Divine
Majesty.
Preserve and extend your Church, and confound all the works
of the Devil, and all evil and malicious designs devised against
your holy Word. Put your enemies to shame by the might of your
truth and righteousness, that every power which exalts itself
against your glory may from day to day be more completely rooted
up and destroyed, until the perfection of your kingdom shall
be consummated, when You shall manifest your glory in your people
at the last day, and be forever all in all.
Your will be done. Grant also, that we and all men
may renounce our own will, and all the lusts of the flesh, and
obey, without contradiction, your good and perfect will, that
each one may as faithfully and cheerfully fulfil his duty and
calling, as it is done by the angels in heaven.
Our daily bread. Provide for us also, all things needful
for our bodies; grant as peace and a wholesome government, that
so we may learn to know you as the only fountain of all good,
and our faithful Father, who cares for your children, without
whose blessing neither anxiety nor labor, nor your mercies will
avail, so that withdrawing all confidence from the creature,
we may put our trust in you alone.
Forgive our debts. And we pray, for the sake of the
shedding of Christ's blood, reckon not against us poor sinners
our iniquities and sins, neither the corruption that still clings
to us, inasmuch as we have this evidence of your grace in our
hearts, that we forgive those that trespass against us, and desire
to promote their welfare.
Lead as not into temptation. In ourselves, O Lord,
we are so weak that we cannot maintain our integrity for ' a
moment, but are continually exposed to the temptations of our
enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh. We entreat
you therefore to preserve and strengthen us, by the power of
your Holy Spirit, that we may steadfastly withstand these foes,
and not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, but remain firm,
until we at length obtain the victory, and reign forever in your
kingdom, with your Son, our Lord and Defender Jesus Christ.
For your is the kingdom. These things we humbly ask,
that thereby not we, but you may receive eternal praise. Land
all this we know You can do for us, since You are Almighty God,
and are willing to do, for you are a faithful Father, as certainly
as we sincerely desire them, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
