Friday; Series 1
Morning
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, we render thanks unto Thee, for Thy kind care over us during the night that is past.
Since it is of thy great mercy that another day has opened upon us, we once more dedicate unto Thee our souls and bodies, that they may be made to serve Thy glory and our own salvation, in a sober, righteous, and godly life. We renounce all the works of darkness: O cause us to walk in the light of Thy countenance. We renounce the vanities of this world: O help us to seek after the enduring substance that is laid up with Thee in Heaven. We renounce all the sinful lusts of the flesh: O enable us to walk in the Spirit. In these desires and purposes, do Thou, most merciful God, confirm and strengthen us by Thine ever-present grace.
We humbly confess our sins before Thee, Thou holy God. O Saviour, to whom shall we poor sinners go, but unto Thee; for with Thee there is plenteous mercy: and we know, and believe, that Thou hast power on earth to forgive sins. Grant us a joyful sense of Thy pardoning love.
Do Thou, O Lord, mortify in us our old nature, by giving us a sincere sorrow of heart for our sins against Thee; and increase in us a desire more and more to hate and flee from them.
Quicken in us the new man by Thy Holy Spirit; that we may have a sincere joy of heart in God, and find true delight in living according to Thy will in all good works, through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Give us, O Lord, an abiding sense of the vanity and shortness of this mortal life. Seeing that the Son of man cometh at an hour when we think not, may we be always ready; that so the dread summons may not come upon us unawares; but that, having our loins girt about, and our lamps burning, we may be like those that wait for their Lord.
Accept, O Lord, our earnest intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of Thy glorious Gospel shine upon all nations; and cause it to bring forth in Christian lands the fruits of righteousness to the praise of thy heavenly grace.
Bless Thy Church, O thou who hast purchased it with Thine own blood. Make it the joy of the whole earth: clothe its ministers with power; extend its borders into all lands; and may earth’s millions of sinning, sorrowing, and suffering souls, find their home and their rest in its bosom.
Bless all our friends, relations, and acquaintances: those that are in sin, O Lord convert; those that are in grace, confirm and strengthen. Unite us all to one another by mutual love, and to Thyself, by the constant practice of piety and holiness, through the merits of Thy blessed Son, our Saviour.
Be merciful to all who are in any trouble or affliction in mind, body, or outward estate. Raise up helpers to such as are in want; and administer grace and comfort to all, according to their several necessities, for the sake of the sufferings and sorrow of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Evening
ETERNAL and infinitely glorious God, the great Creator, gracious Preserver, and wise Governor of the world, we, Thy sinful and unworthy servants, fall before Thee at this time, to present our prayers and supplications at the throne of Thy heavenly grace.
Thou, Lord, art never weary in doing us good. O that we had made returns of gratitude to Thee in any measure suitable to the benefits we have received at Thy hands. O that we had employed all our giftsto Thy honor and glory, and never abused the talents entrusted to us. But, alas! we acknowledge with shame that we have been unprofitable servants; we have neglected much of our duty; we have followed too often the inclinations of our corrupt nature; and instead of loving Thee, and delighting in Thee, we have been too eagerly and fondly pursuing the things of this world.
Let Thy goodness and forbearance, O Lord, lead us to repentance; and though we have rendered ourselves unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, yet, for the sake of Thy beloved Son, our Saviour, in whom Thou art well pleased, spare us, good Lord, spare us, and be not angry with us forever. Wash away all our sins in that fountain which Thou hast opened for sin and uncleanness, and restore us to Thy favor and love.
O Lord, enlighten our understandings, that we may know Thee; sanctify our affections, that we may love Thee; and out Thy fear into our hearts, that we may dread to offend Thee. Convince us thoroughly, O Lord, of the great evil of sin, that we may hate it, and endeavor in all things to obey Thy blessed will, and to walk before Thee in holiness and righteousness all our days.
Make us always mindful that Thou art everywhere present, and knowest our most secret thoughts and ways; that so we may console ourselves with Thy gracious nearness, and at the same time fear to offend Thee, and bring every thought and desire to the obedience of Thy blessed will.
Impress us, O Lord, with a lively and abiding sense of the frailty of our lives, the certainty of judgment to come, the unspeakable glories of heaven, and the most dreadful torments of hell; that we may be moved in good earnest to lay hold of salvation, and never be so foolish as to prefer the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, to that everlasting fulness of joy, which is in Thy presence for evermore.
Establish, O Lord, and greatly enlarge, the borders of Thy Church; and may the knowledge of Thy name, and the consolations of Thy grace, soon fill all lands and all hearts. O, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, and do Thou establish and increase the just.
Extend Thy compassion to all that labor under affliction; send relief to those that are in want; ease those that are in pain; give deliverance to the oppressed and persecuted, especially to those who suffer for righteousness sake.
We humbly commend ourselves and all our affairs this night to Thy blessing and protection. Give us, O Lord, the comfortable refreshment of a quiet and undisturbed sleep. Defend us from all evil, and from all fear and dread. Keep us more especially from the evil of sin, and the assaults of our spiritual enemies; and let Thy goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
A Liturgy, or Order of Christian Worship Prepared and Published by the German Reformed Church in the United States of America (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857) pp. 305-310. Copyright Public Domain.