Saturday; Series 1
Morning
O GOD, by whom the whole world is governed and preserved, we give Thee humble thanks for Thy fatherly care over us, in preserving us from the dangers of the night which is past, and in bringing us safely to the beginning of another day.
We gratefully acknowledge our dependence on Thee for the necessities, conveniences, and comforts of our daily life; for all the means of our well-being in this world; and for the hope of everlasting happiness in Thy heavenly kingdom.
We give Thee thanks for the gift of Thy Son, our Saviour; for the gift of Thy holy Spirit, our sanctifier and Comforter; for the institution of Thy Church, the mother of us all; for the light of Thy glorious Gospel, and the helps of Thy grace; and for the precious promises of pardon, through Thy Son Christ Jesus, in whose blood we have the atonement.
Give us always, we beseech Thee, such a tender sense of Thy mercies as may make us truly thankful for them. O save us from hardness of heart, and from blindness of mind; that we may honor and enjoy it in our hearts and lives, from day to day.
Grant us grace honestly to improve all the talents which Thou hast committed to our trust; and may no worldly business, and no love of pleasure, draw our minds or hearts from the solemn concerns of the life to come.
May Thy blessing, O Lord, be upon our persons, upon our labors, upon our substance, and upon all that belongs to us. In prosperity may we not forget Thee, and in adversity may we still trust in Thy wisdom, mercy, and love; knowing that whatever seeming evils befall us in this valley of tears, they shall all turn out to our advantage. And, whatever Thou dost deny us, O withhold not that grace which bringeth salvation.
Defend us, O Lord, and all that are near and dear to us, against all the assaults of our enemies. Grant that this day we may fall into no sin, neither run into any danger. May all our doings be ordered by Thee, and meet with Thy favor and blessing; that so we may walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.
Into Thy hands, gracious Father, do we now commend our souls and bodies for this day, and for all coming time. Glorify Thyself in all that we do and suffer; and grant us, we beseech Thee, in this world, knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting; through the mercy and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, be all honor and glory, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Evening
O LORD GOD, our Heavenly Father, by whose gracious protection we have been carried through another day and another week of our lives, unto Thee do we render our humble and hearty thanks.
Give us, we beseech Thee, a due sense of the manifold favors Thou hast bestowed upon us ever since we were born; and more especially teach us to value, as we ought to do, Thy great mercy in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom alone we enjoy the means of grace, and the hope of glory.
We confess, O Lord, that we have not served Thee according to the measure of our knowledge and ability. We have again and again broken Thy laws and commandments; we have too much neglected the warnings Thou hast given; we have resisted the quiet influence of Thy Holy Spirit, and have just cause to fear Thy righteous judgments. We acknowledge and feel our unworthiness. O merciful Father, accept our penitence, and cause it to be more sincere and heartfelt, and give us the comforting assurance of pardon. By Thy manifold and great mercies; by the all-sufficient merits of Thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ; by His agony and bloody sweat; by His bitter cross and passion; by His glorious resurrection and ascension; by His continual intercession for us at Thy right hand; and by the graces and comforts of the Holy Ghost, good Lord, deliver us.
In all the changes and trials of this mortal life; in the day of prosperity and in the day of judgement, good Lord, deliver us.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, to extend Thy mercy to the whole race of mankind. Have pity upon the nations that know Thee not, and have never heard of Thy name; cause the light of Thy glorious gospel to shine among them, and visit them with Thy salvation.
Look with pity and compassion, O Lord, upon all in affliction and temptation; upon the poor, the sick, and the dying; strengthen and support them, and give them in Thine own good time a happy deliverance, for the sake of the sufferings of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Be merciful and gracious, O God, to our relations, friends, and acquaintances, and to all that desire or need our prayers. Forgive our enemies; reward our benefactors; and grant that we, and all Thy people everywhere, may server Thee with full purpose of heart, and be made partakers at last of eternal happiness in Thy presence in heaven.
As Thou hast preserved us while waking, so do Thou, O Lord, defend us while sleeping. Grant us such rest of body that we may have a waking soul, to watch for the time when our Lord shall appear to deliver us from this mortal life. Let no vain or wandering fancy trouble us; let our spiritual enemies have no power over us; but grant that our minds may be set wholly upon Thy presence, and made to rest with holy love and fear in Thee alone: that being refreshed with a moderate and sober sleep, we may rise again with cheerful strength and gladness of heart to serve Thee in all good works, through 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. 311-312. Copyright Public Domain.