iniquity, may through Thy goodness be mercifully turned into cheapness and plenty; for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. R. Amen. OR THIS. GOD, merciful Father, who, in the time of Elisha the prophet, didst suddenly in Samaria turn great scarcity and dearth into plenty and cheapness; Have mercy upon us; that we, who are now for our sins punished with like adversity, may likewise find a seasonable relief: Increase the fruits of the earth by Thy heavenly benediction; and grant that we, receiving Thy bountiful liberality, may use the same to Thy glory, the relief of those that are needy, and our own comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. IN TIME OF WAR AND TUMULTS. ALMIGHTY GOD, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech Thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with Thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify Thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of Thy only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. PRAYERS BEFORE SERMON OR EXPOSITION. The Preacher shall commence with the INVOCATION, the people rising. The Prayer may be offered after he has stated the subject on which he means to give instruction; it should be followed by the LORD'S PRAYER. LORD JESU CHRIST, who at Thy first coming didst send Thy messenger to prepare Thy way before Thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of Thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready Thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that, at Thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in Thy sight; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, world without end. R. Amen. LORD, who lovest all men, Cause the light of Thy unchangeable wisdom to shine into our hearts, and open the eyes of our minds to the understanding of Thy preached Gospel. Put into us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that, by subduing all fleshly lusts, we may make progress in spiritual life, both thinking and acting in all things according to Thy good pleasure. For Thou art the enlightener of our soul and body, O Christ our Lord; and to Thee we ascribe glory with the Eternal Father, and with Thy most blessed quickening Spirit, now and for evermore. R. Amen. [This last Prayer may also be used after Sermon.] BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of Thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. R. Amen. PREVENT us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious favour, and further us with Thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify Thy Name, and finally by Thy mercy attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. GOD, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit; Grant unto us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the same Spirit, One God, world without end. R. Amen. ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast instructed Thy Church with heavenly doctrine, and hast caused the light of Thy glorious Gospel to shine into the world; Give unto us Thy grace, that we may be no longer like children, tossed about with every blast of vain doctrine, but may be established in Thy most holy truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. [This last Prayer may also be used after Sermon.¦ ΜΕ ERCIFUL Lord, we beseech Thee to cast Thy bright beams of light upon Thy Church; that, being enlightened by Thy most holy Word, we may so walk in the light of Thy truth, that we may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen. A BENEDICTION, which may be pronounced upon the THE blessing of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, be with thee and rest upon thee. The Lord be in thy heart, and with thy lips, that thou mayest worthily declare His holy Gospel. R. Amen. THE ASCRIPTION OF GLORY. At the close of the Sermon, the Congregation rising. UNTO the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, One God, be ascribed in the Church all honour and glory, might, majesty, dominion, and blessing, now, henceforth, and for ever. R. Amen. |