Tuesday; Series 2
Morning
O LORD GOD, our heavenly Father, who hast permitted us to rest securely under the shadow of Thy wings during the past night, and hast called us forth in safety and peace from our slumbers to the light of day, accept our united thanks for this renewed token of thy goodness and love, and enable us to realize the debt of gratitude we owe to Thee for this and for all other mercies.
Regard us not, O Lord, according to the multitude of our transgressions, but according to the abundance of Thy compassion, and forgive us our innumerable transgressions, through the merits of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
O Lord, from whom every grace and all holy desires proceed, quicken us, we humbly beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, to the end, that we may this day walk in Thy love and fear, and in charity towards all men. Create in us clean hearts, and renew within us right spirits, that Thou mayest take pleasure in us and bless us.
Remember, according to the multitude of Thy mercies, all Thy children in the world, and replenish them with every necessary good in earthly and spiritual things. Especially do Thou bless our brethren who are in affliction, whether of body or mind; all the sick and the bereaved; all that are in peril, whether by land or by sea; all that are oppressed and cruelly treated by their fellow-men; all that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; all widows and orphans; and especially all who are in the pangs of death. Comfort them, O Lord, in their trials and afflictions, and grant them deliverance from their distresses; and do Thou so sanctify them by Thy grace, that they may at last be prepared for an abundant entrance into that rest, which remaineth unto the people of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bless our rulers, and all whom Thou hast placed in authority over us. Counsel them with Thy wisdom, and preserve them from the numerous temptations by which they are surrounded. May we reverence them, as those who bear rule over us in earthly things from Thee; and may we uphold them in all their lawful endeavors to administer justice and righteousness among men.
And now, O Lord, we commit our souls and bodies, with all that concerns us, into Thy hands. Guide us, Thy poor, weak, and erring children; and so order our footsteps, all our thoughts, words, and deeds, that we may love and obey Thee more perfectly from day to day; until we shall be prepared by Thine infinite mercy, for that bright and glorious world, where there is fulness of joy, and where there are pleasures at Thy right hand for evermore. And all the glory shall be to Thee, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Evening
BLESSED be Thy name, O Lord, Thou almighty Ruler of the universe, who givest us the sun for a light by day, and the moon and the stars for light by night, and who hast brought us safely to the close of another period of our earthly pilgrimage. We beseech Thee to regard our prayer, and the prayers of all Thy people, and pardon us all our sins, according to Thy loving kindness and tender mercy.
Accept, O Lord, our evening sacrifice, and pour out upon us, Thy heritage, the fulness of Thy grace. Guard and defend us by Thy holy angels; arm us with the weapons of righteousness; surround us with Thy truth; watch over us with Thy power; preserve us from all harm and danger, both of soul and body; and give us grace, that we may spend this evening and night, and all the nights and days of our sojourn upon earth, to Thy honor and glory.
O Lord Jesus, Thou once crucified but now exalted Saviour we bless Thee for Thy humiliation; for Thine incarnation; for Thy life of patient suffering; for Thine agony in the garden; for Thy groans and prayers on the Cross; and for Thine atoning death. But we bless Thee, also, for Thy triumphant resurrection; for Thy glorious ascension into heaven; and for Thine intercession before the Father, as our Advocate and Mediator.
O blessed Jesus! may we imitate Thee in Thy humility; bear reproach as meekly as Thou didst bear it; forgive our enemies, as Thou forgavest even Thy murderers, and as we hope that Thou wilt forgive us our many sins. May we, at last, die as Thou didst die; commending our souls into the hands of our heavenly Father, with the full assurance of being, with Thee, raised up at the last day to eternal life, in those mansions of everlasting glory, which Thou hast gone to prepare for all Thy faithful followers.
O Lord, our gracious Redeemer! we now commit ourselves into Thy hands. Receive us graciously, and love us freely. Be with us when we lie down, and when we rise up; be with us in sickness and in health; and in the hour of death, forsake us not, O Lord, but grant us a calm and peaceful departure out of this world, and a triumphant entrance into Thy heavenly kingdom. And all the glory shall be given to Thee, the ever-living Redeemer, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, art alone worthy of all praise and glory, forever 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. 320-323. Copyright Public Domain.