PRAYERS FOR SCHOOLMASTERS

AND SCHOOLMISTRESSES.

MORNING.

1.

MOST merciful Father, I come to Thee for help in my most serious work; without Thee I can do nothing. Help me, holy Father, to be holy; enable me to keep strict watch over my own soul; grant that I may have power to conquer my own passions, evil tempers, worldly inclinations. Make me teachable, and humble me in my own eyes, that I may rule others in the spirit of humility and holy love; and by a holy life and conversation be an example to my little ones. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our Lord.

2.

0 ALMIGHTY God, give me this day and al

ways a true desire to serve Thee in this place, to which I have been called. Give me a true desire to train up these children in Thy holy ways; put it into my heart to seek only Thy glory and

the salvation of souls; make me to look earnestly on my office, that I may enter on it and fulfil it in a serious spirit. Grant that I may not err in my guidance of the young, but that I may have grace to rule them, under my pastor's authority, according to the holy law of Christ. If I err, make up, O Lord, by Thy mercy for my defects, that the children suffer no loss. Grant that throughout the day I may remember Thy presence, and so labour as one that must give account. Fill me with a holy love of Thee, O God; fill me with a true love of Christ our Saviour; and enable me to have a tender love for the lambs of the flock placed under my charge. Pour upon me especial gifts of the Holy Ghost, and preserve me always among Thy faithful servants, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord.

3.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, I pray Thee

to pour Thy blessing upon the children entrusted to me, to bless them with good gifts of the Holy Ghost, to increase in them that first gift bestowed in Holy Baptism, that they may grow in grace and continue lively members of Christ's Church, from their youth up to their life's end. Make them meek, teachable, gentle; give

them power to restrain and quench all evil passions, all unruly tempers and affections; draw their souls up to Thee; let not the devil come near to hurt them; send Thy holy angels to guard and watch over them. As Thou hast called them to become Thy children by adoption and grace, preserve them in Thy fold; let them not fall away; take them always into Thy holy keeping, that they may live as children of God, and walk religiously all their days. Bless such instruction as they may receive in this place to the good of their souls. Bless them this day and keep them from all harm whether to body or soul. O Lord, as for my own children, I pray for them. Incline Thine ear to my prayer which I offer unto Thee in Thy dear Son's Name, Jesus Christ our Lord.

EVENING.

1.

LORD God, I beseech Thee to pardon me for all my sins this day. way I have erred in the ones under my charge. I have lacked zeal or patience and gentleness. Forgive me if I have

Pardon me, if in any guidance of the little Forgive me, O Lord, if seriousness of spirit, or

PRAYERS FOR SCHOOLMASTERS AND SCHOOLMISTRESSES.

been hasty or unkind, careless and indifferent, partial or severe. Whatsoever my faults have been towards these children, do Thou be merciful, and grant that in time to come I may more faithfully perform my office. Hear me, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord.

2.

LORD God, I beseech Thee to pardon whatsoever sins or infirmities may have been committed this day by the children of my school. Look upon them, O Lord, with great mercy; put it into their hearts to confess their faults unto Thee; give them godly sorrow for their sins, that their consciences may be kept tender and that their errors may be forgiven. Be not extreme to mark what has been done amiss. As they are but children, so do Thou, O God, deal gently with them. Accept all the good they have been enabled to do, and forgive the evil. Preserve them this night from all harm; give them sweet sleep; and watch over them. Bless them, both now and ever, for Jesus Christ's sake.

A FEW WORDS BEFORE CONFIRMATION.

ONE fine evening last August, you might have seen several youths threading their way across the fields to the rectory of Fairhurst. One by one they passed through the porch and were ushered into the rector's study, where he was waiting to receive them. When they were all fairly ranged down the room, the rector, after a few kind words of welcome addressed to each of them, spoke to them very earnestly in this

manner.

My young friends, you know that in a few weeks the Bishop, our chief pastor, purposes to hold a Confirmation in the Church; you have now come here to profess your willingness to be confirmed and to be prepared for that solemn ordinance of Christ's Church. Now I pray you first of all, to enter on the task of preparation in a serious spirit; do not come here simply as a form; do not come carelessly or lightly; come to get good for your souls; come with