Hear my prayers, O Blessed LORD, for Thine own mercy's sake. Amen.

A Prayer against Anger.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who hast left us an example of meekness, and when Thou wast reviled, reviled not again; grant me Thy strong grace to subdue the storms of anger and passion as they sweep over me: be Thou with me in the day of temptation, and in the hour of weakness; keep me from sullenness of mind, and from brooding over grievances, and help me to gain the victory over my temper, so that I may serve Thee with a quiet mind, and love my neighbour as Thou hast commanded us; for Thine own mercy's sake. Amen.

A Prayer against Evil Thoughts.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Guardian of Purity, send down Thy grace upon us, and deliver us from the temptation of evil thoughts, that we may be a fitting temple for Thy HOLY GHOST. Amen.

A Prayer against Slander and Gossip. LORD; preserve me from the sin of slander

and the folly of gossip. Assist me always to remember that whoever repeats a slander

helps on a lie, and under no pretence to do so; never to spread ill-natured stories about others, to be quite sure that whatever I say about them is true before I tell it, to guard against meddling in other people's business, and against all idle gossip about their affairs, but to occupy my thoughts with better things, to try to improve my mind, to take an interest in reading, in the wonderful works of Creation, and to notice, and rejoice in, any beauty that surrounds me. Through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Amen.

Hymn.

AFE home, safe home in port,
Rent cordage, shattered deck,

Torn sails, provisions short,

And only not a wreck.

But O, the joy upon the shore

To tell our voyage perils o'er !

The prize, the prize secure,
The athlete nearly fell,
Bare all he could endure,

And bare not always well;

But he may smile at troubles gone
Who puts the victor-garland on.

No more the foe can harm,
No more of leaguered camp,
And cry of night alarm,

And need of ready lamp;
And yet how nearly had he failed,
How nearly had that foe prevailed!

The lamb is in the fold,

In perfect safety penned;
The lion once had hold,

And thought to make an end; But One came by with wounded side, And for the sheep the Shepherd died.

The exile is at home!

O nights and days of tears,
O longings not to roam,

O sins and doubts and fears! What matter now, when (so men say) The King has wiped those tears away?

O happy, happy Bride!

Thy widowed hours are past,
The Bridegroom at thy side,
Thou all His own at last!

The sorrows of thy former cup
In full fruition swallowed up. Amen.

Prayers for Various Dccasions.

A Prayer when Out of Work.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who hast taught us, by Thine own example as a Working Man, the blessing of labour, look down mercifully on me in this my difficulty of obtaining employment. Make a way for me to get work, direct me how to seek it, and where to find it; for Thine own Name's sake.

Amen.

A Prayer for One Engaged to be Married.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who didst sanctify holy Marriage by Thy presence at the marriage of Cana, bless the engagement into which we have entered. Give us grace to be a support and comfort to each other in our mutual relation. Grant that all our intercourse may be pure and self-restrained, and preserve us from all lightness and folly, and from all changeableness and uncertainty. Help us to respect each other, and to be faithful to each other. Be with us, as an unseen Guide, whenever we are together, and enable us so to pass

the time of our engagement that we may enter into the marriage state in peace, purity, and joy; for Thine own Name's sake. Amen.

A Prayer before any Occasion of Temptation or before going out in the Evening.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Lover of Purity, be with me when I am exposed to temptation. Preserve me from thinking that "I can take care of myself,” but do Thou take care of me. Be Thou my Guard and my Guide; warn me by the gentle whisper of Thy HOLY SPIRIT when I am in danger, and give me grace to listen to Thy voice. Help me to walk soberly, honestly, and holily, as in the day, remembering that Thine eye is ever on me, and that the darkness and the light to Thee are both alike. Let my thoughts, words, and deeds be of the day and not of the night; defend me this evening against sin and vanity; deliver me from all snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil; let me do nothing this night that I shall regret in the morning. Preserve my going out and my coming in, for into Thy keeping, O LORD, I commend myself, body, soul, and spirit. Amen.

If you go out in the evening use this Prayer before you go, and try to go out and to come back in the spirit of it, and never go out at night without committing yourself to God's protection, either in these or some other words, if it is but to say, "O GOD, guard and guide me!"