Thursday; Series 2
Morning
ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we approach to the throne of grace this morning with reverence and holy fear, begging of Thee mercy and peace, pardon and salvation. We are poor sinners, but sorrowful and repenting. Thou art holy, and justly offended with us; but yet Thou art our gracious Lord and merciful Father in Christ Jesus. Be pleased, we beseech Thee, to blot out our sins from Thy remembrance, and heal our souls, that we may sin no more against Thee. Open our eyes, that we may see and amend our own infirmities and follies; and give us perfect understanding in the way of godliness, that we may walk in it all the days of our pilgrimage. Give us a spirit diligent in the works of our calling, cheerful and zealous in religion, fervent and frequent in prayer, charitable and useful in conversation. Give us a healthful and a chaste body, a pure and a holy soul, a sanctified and a humble spirit; and preserve our body, soul, and spirit, blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be Thy name, O God of all mercies, who hast preserved us through the past night from sickness and sorrow, from sad chances and a violent death, from the malice of the Devil, and the evil effects of our own corrupt nature and infirmity. The outgoings of the morning and evening shall praise Thee, and Thy servants shall rejoice in giving Thee glory and thanks for all Thy wonderful dealings with the children of men, and the members of Thy Church.
Let Thy providence and care watch over us this day, and all the days of our life, that we may never sin against Thee by idleness or folly, by evil company or private sins, by word or deed, by thought or desire. Enable us so to spend the day that it may be profitable to us and to others, and leave no sorrows, or the remembrance of an evil conscience, at night; and so conduct us through life by Thy Holy Spirit, that when the days of our short abode on earth are done, and the shadow is departed, we may die in Thy fear and favor, and rest in a holy hope, and at last return to the joys of a blessed resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Evening
ETERNAL GOD, Almighty Father of men and angels, by whose care and providence we are preserved and blessed, comforted and assisted, we heartily thank Thee for the many temporal and spiritual mercies Thou hast bestowed upon us this day, and especially for the light of the Gospel which still shines upon us, and points out to us the path of everlasting life and happiness.
Forgive us, we beseech Thee, all the sins and shortcomings of this day: the imperfections of our services, the strength of our passions, the rashness of our words, and the vanity of our actions. O God, how long shall we confess our sins and pray against them, and yet fall under them? O, let it be so no more; let us never return to the follies of which we are ashamed, which bring sorrow and death. Give us a perfect command over our evil inclinations, an invincible hatred of sin, and a fervent love to Thee, above all the desires of this world.
Be pleased to watch over us this night, and to spread the wings of Thy protection around our resting-place. Preserve us from sin and harm, and from the malice of the spirits of darkness. Whether we sleep or wake, may we be Thy servants and children. Be Thou first and last in all our thoughts, and the guide and strength of all our actions. Let us always lead just and holy lives; and when we die, receive us into Thy hands, O dear Jesus, that we may lie in Thy bosom, behold Thy face, and sing praises with thy saints unto Thee, and the Father, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.
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. 326-328. Copyright Public Domain.