Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the Week, Prayer 14
Saturday Evening.
MOſt gracious and ever bleſſed Lord God, and our moſt merciful Father in Chriſt Jeſus, we that are leſs than the leaſt of thy mercies, deſire in all humility to come into thy preſence, and beſeech thee for Chriſt's ſake, to have a regard unto us.
We do acknowledge before thee, our loſt and undone condition without thy great mercy towards us: we have grievouſly offended thee in thought, word and deed: been unthankful for thy Mercies, incorrigible under thy Judgments, and very unprofitable under the means of Grace. We humble our ſelves before thee for the Sins of our whole Life; and particularly for the Sins of this day, with all the circumſtances of aggravation, with which they have been attended.
Pardon us, O Lord, we humbly pray thee, for the ſake of Jeſus Chriſt who came into the World, to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. Give us a true faith in him, and work in us a ſincere and hearty repentance never to be repented of. And, we pray thee, aſſiſt us by thy Grace, that we may for the time to come, walk before thee in newneſs of Life.
Enlighten our Minds, rectifie our Wills, ſanctifie our Affections and purifie all the thoughts & intentions of our Hearts. Make us fit Temples for thy holy Spiritto dwell in, and grant that he who is in us may be greater than he who is in the World.
Be with us under all our Tryals and Temptations, and prepare us for all events of things. Sanctifie all thy diſpenſations to us, and give us Wiſdom and a ſaving Knowledge of thee and of thy Son. Make us humble and lowly, heavenly minded and pure in heart, patient under every trouble, contented in every condition, and reſigned to thy holy and heavenly Will.
And becauſe the way of Man is not in himſelf, we humbly pray thee to direct and guide us in the way that we ſhould go. Take care of our Affairs, proſperall our Undertakings which are agreeable to thy heavenly Will; help us that we may live Righteouſly, So berly and Godly in this preſent World.
Caſt out of our mind every thing that is diſpleaſing to thee: diſcharge our Hearts of all Pride, Ambition, Covetouſneſs, Malice, Vain Conceit of our Selves. And grant that we may not be overcome by the Temptations of the Devil, the World and the Fleſh: And that we may not go out of this World with falſe hopes and expectations about us.
Prepare us, we pray thee, for our latter end. When our Heart and Fleſh ſhall fail us, be thou the ſtrength of our Heart and our Portion for ever: And ſuffer us not at our laſt hour for any Pains or Agonies of Death to fall away from thee: make us willing and ready to leave this World, whenſoever it ſhall pleaſe thee to call us hence.
Be merciful to the whole race of Mankind: Advance the Kingdom of Chriſt in the World; Let the People praiſe thee, O God, let all the People praiſe thee. Eſpecially be merciful to thy whole Church; Bleſs theſe Kingdoms, and ſettle us upon the Foundations of Righteouſneſs, of Truth and Peace.
Bleſs with the choiceſt of thy Bleſſings, our Sovereign Lord the King. Protect His Royal Perſon, bleſs His Government, let His days be many and His Reign proſperous. And bleſs His Royal Relations, and ſucceed His Counſellors, and all in Authority under Him, and grant that under Him we may live quiet and peaceable Lives, in all godlineſs and honeſty.
Bleſs all that miniſter in holy things, and grant they may gain many unto Righteouſneſs.
Have compaſſion upon the Afflicted, upon the Oppreſſed and the Poor, upon Widows and Fatherleſs, upon all that are perſecuted for Righteouſneſs ſake, upon the Sick and the Weak, upon all that are troubled in mind, and at the point of Death: Be merciful to them all according to their ſeveral neceſſities.
We beſeech thee to be merciful to our Friends and to forgive all our Enemies.
We bleſs thy holy Name for all thy mercies to us and to all the World; for thy preſervation of us this day, for the means of Grace and the hope of Glory. We bleſs thee above all for Jeſus Chriſt, we praiſe thee for the clear revelation of thy Will the Promiſe of thy Spirit, the time and ſpace of Repentance which thou art pleaſed to continue to us; for any meaſure of Health and Strength, the many Mercies which we injoy, and which others want, and which we have been unthankful for. Write a Law of thankfulneſs upon ourHearts, we humbly pray thee, and grant that we may be bettered by all thy Mercies. Take us, we pray thee, into thy protection this night, ſanctifie and prepare our Hearts for all the ſolemn Duties and Services of the next Day, and grant all our Requeſts for Chriſt's ſake, in whoſe words we further call upon thee.
OƲr Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread. And forgive us our Treſpaſſes, As we forgive them that Treſpaſs againſt us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from Evil: For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, And the Glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Meriton, Forms of Prayer for Every Day in the Week (1682)