35. THANKS FOR DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTIONS.

    I thank Thee, Lord, my God, with my whole heart and honor Thy name continually.  I shall render thanks unto Thee forever, for Thou hast done all things well.  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness, but in love to my soul Thou hast delivered it from the pit of corruption.  In my distress I called unto Thee, and Thou hast heard my voice, and my cry did enter into Thine ears, and Thou hast comforted me.  Thou hast faithfully stood by me, graciously upheld my soul, and finally, as a father, delivered me out of my great tribulations.  O my Lord and my God, how shall I requite Thee for all the benefits Thou daily bestowest upon me?  I will praise Thy name as long as I live; I will extol Thee in the presence of all Thy people, Thy glory shall continually be in my mouth.  O Thou faithful God, help me by Thy Spirit to pay my vows and never to forget what Thou hast done for my soul, so that I may not only publish Thy praise while in this mortal frame, but also sing everlasting hallelujahs to Thy praise with the elect in heaven.  Amen.

34. PRAYER OF THANKS AFTER A SAFE JOURNEY

   O gracious God, heavenly Father, I render thanks to Thee from my inmost heart that Thou hast granted me a safe jouirney and by the protection of Thy dear angels hast brought me back to my family, which has made our hearts glad.  It is due to Thy fatherly care that I have been preserved from all harm, that I have not been killed by robbers or wild animals nor have perished or suffered injury in floods or other dangers.  Protected by Thy holy angels, I have traveled in safety and good health to my journey's end and back again. For all this I owe thanks to Thy fatherly care and almighty protection, and I heartily  pray Thee that Thou wouldst also in future graciously extend to me and my family Thine almighty protection and sustain body and soul by Thy power unto life eternal; for Christ Jesus' sake.  Amen.

33. PRAYER IN GREAT DISTRESS AND DANGER.

     O almighty God and Father, ever ready to help, Thou seest and knowest that we live in great distress and danger, knowing of neither counsel nor help and finding in us no power or ability of escaping this great trouble.  So our eyes are turned to Thee, our only Comfort, Refuge, and Helper, who hast said, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."  Our heart submits to Thy word of promise and now seeks Thy face in childlike humility and confidence.  O Lord, hide not Thy gracious face from us and cast not Thy children from Thee in wrath; do not forsake us nor withdraw Thy hand from us, God, our Salvation, who workest salvation to the ends of the earth.  Therefore let us experience Thy help, and be Thou gracious unto us.  In Thee, O Lord, our soul trusts, and under the shadow of Thy wings we find refuge until these dangers have passed by.  Turn Thou again to us and satisfy us early with Thy mercy; then shall we offer the sacrifice of praise and bless Thy name, for it is good.  Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast aflected us and the years wherein we have seen evil.  Stand Thou by us in trouble; then shall we praise Thee and rejoice over Thy help all the days of our life.  Amen.

32. PRAYER IN GREAT WEAKNESS OF FAITH.

     O Lord, I now realize in very truth that not every man hath faith.  I believe, O Lord, but help mine unbelief!  Do not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax.  O Jesus Christ, Thou who sittest at the right hand of God, make intercession for me that my faith fail not.  Be the Author and Finisher of my faith that I may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Wicked One.  Though I see not, let me yet believe and thus be saved.   Amen.

31. PRAYERS OF THANKS AFTER THE THUNDER-STORM

     Almighty God, heavenly Father, who hast said unto us, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me," we render Thee heartfelt thanks and praise for having graciously heard our prayer and caused the wild storm to pass by without injury to us in person or property.  In this wise Thou hast again like a father shown Thy faithful heart towards us, in that Thou dost not deal with us after our sins nor reward us according to our iniquities.  Grant unto us, O Father of all grace, for the sake of Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, that we may constantly amend our lives because of these earnest abmonitions, henceforth live in Thy fear, and prepare for the coming of Thy dear Son in order that we may meet Him in gladness, enter the new heaven, in which righteousness dwells, with joy and rejoicing, and eternally  possess it with Thee in blissful contemplation of Thyself; through the same Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

30. PRAYER DURING A THUNDER-STORM

     O God, almighty Ruler of heaven and earth, we are reminded by Thy present thundering and lightening that Thou art very wroth with us sinful mortals.  By this resounding noise, at which all creatures tremble and are terrified, Thou dost, as by a veritable mourners' bell, call us to a knowledge of our sins and to true repentance, lest we be condemned with the evil, wicked world.  Thou, O Lord, art so mighty and powerful that Thou couldst instantly destroy the whole world with a single stroke of lightning, if Thou wouldst deal with us sinners according to stern justice.  But we bend our knees and humbly beseech Thee to cease from Thy fierce wrath which is kindled against our sins like a fire. Have compassion on us, spare us, lift up Thy face upon us, and be gracious unto us.  Preserve body and life, house and home, city and country, our property and all our belongings, also, the fruits of the field, from hail, lightning, great floods, and all harm.  Keep us also from a sudden evil death and graciously grant that many sinners, deterred from their ungodly walks and ways by Thy word, Thy thunder and lightning, may turn and be converted unto thee.  Let us at all hours, yea, every moment, be mindful of Thy glorious coming to Judgment and be prepared to receive Thee with joy and to enter eternal bliss with Thee.  Amen.  O Lord, be merciful and gracious unto us poor sinners in body and soul, both in this life and in the life to come.  Amen.

29. PRAYER FOR THE FRUITS OF THE FIELD.

     Dear Lord God, graciously preserve the precious fruits of the field, purify the air, grant quickening rains and good weather, that our crops may mature and we and our stock may not, by eating them, take pestilence, fever, and other ills; for such plagues come when evil spirits poison the air and thereupon the fruits, wine, and grain, so that we by Thy visitation eat and drink sickness and death with the products of our fields.  Therefore, O Lord, bless unto us these Thy gifts that they may advance our health and well-being; and grant us grace not to misuse them to the injury of our soul and the multiplying of sins, such as intemperance and idleness, from which unchastity, adultery, cursing, swearing, murder, war, and all manner of ills come; on the contrary, grant that we may use Thy gifts to our soul's salvation and improvement of our lives and that the fruits of the land may be a means of sustaining and improving the health of body and soul.  Amen.

28. PRAYER FOR SUNSHINE IN SEASON OF CONTINUED RAINS.

    Lord God Almighty, Thou hast clothed the heavens in darkness and covered the earth as with a shroud.  In days of yore Thou didst visit the world in Thy wrath with the waters of the FLood because of man's vice and wickedness, destroying everything that had life and breath on dry land.  At this time we, too, are being visited on account of our manifold transgressions and in accordance with Thy stern justice with unusual rains and with protracted and continued we weather, greatly to the injury of the fruits of the land.  O merciful Father, Thou didst after the Flood close the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens and madest the rains to cease; remove from us all our sins and transgressions, avert the punishment we deserve, and let the damaging rains and great waters subside.  fFor the earth is gloomy, and the heavens above are mounrful.  Look upon that token in the clouds, the rainbow, and remember Thy promise.  Grant good and fruitful weather, so that the fruits of the field and the garden will not be ruined by excessive rains and a famine ensue.  O Lord, Thou faithful God, who canst not lie, Thou hast said:  The waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  Therefore, O Lord, be merciful.  Do not have Thy compassion shut out by Thy wrath; do not take Thy grace and mercy from us.  Graciously preserve us from a dearth of bread; bless our bread, so that we may always have food sufficient and praise Thy name.  Thus we shall see that we are truly Thy children, for whom Thou dost faithfully provide, and we will honor and praise Thee, our heavenly Father, all the days of our lives.  Amen. 

27. PRAYER FOR A TIME OF DROUGHT.

     O faithful, true, and righteous God, Thou hast told us in Thy Word in a manner most comforting that an earnest, fervant, faithful, and persevering prayer penetrates the heavens and not only comes before thy face without fail, but is effectual and availeth much.  Therefore, upon Thy comforting direction, we, Thy needy children, have come into the presence of Thine exalted, devine majesty in this period of unusual and exceedingly protracted heat and drought with our confident, hearty, and most earnest petitions, humbly praying Thee that Thou wouldst graciously hear us according to Thy promise, mercifully turn Thy great wrath from us, and give the parched earth again the moisture it needs by having the quickening rain descend in drops and showers, so that the soil may again bring forth and yield the fruits necessary for the substance of our lives, as intended by Thy fatherly care at the time of creation.  And even as in days of old Thou didst, upon the earnest prayer of Thy faithful servant and prophet Elias, open the closed heaven and cause it to rain upon the thirsty earth, so do we now trust that Thou wilt deal mecifully with us in this time of great heat and drought, granting us this our earnest prayer because of Thy fatherly care for us; through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son our only Redeemer and Savior.  Amen. 

26. PRAYER OF MEDITATION ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.

     O my dear Lord Jesus, when I look upon Thee now in the Garden Thou wast exceeding sorrowful and Thy sweat was as it were great drops of blood; when I see Thee taken prisoner, bound, mocked, and treated despitefully during that whole night and time of darkness; then in the early morning behold Thee, the spotless Lamb, falsely accused, beaten with many stripes, condemned to death, hanged on the cross, Thy hands and feet pierced, yea, every member of Thy holy body wounded, -- when I behold all this, I see in it nothing but my sin, guilt, and iniquity, which has driven Thee to this and on account of which Thou didst subject Thyself to all this anguish, suffering, and pain.  Alas!  I, O Lord, have deserved to suffer all Thou didst endure; I am the cause of it all.  How mysterious are God's ways that the innocent must pay what the guilty has incurred, that the godly must atone for the guilt of the ungodly!
     The debts the servant incurred the Master must pay; what sinful man has laden upon himself his God must bear.  O Thou Son of the living God, how great is Thy love and mercy towards us men!  What hast Thou not done and suffered in order to redeem me, a poor, lost sinner, and to save me from death and eternal damnation!  I have transgressed, and Thou art stricken:  I have sinned, and Thou didst make amends.  I have been disobedient, and because of my disobedience Thou must endure this anguish and distress.  O Thou Lord of Glory, what return am I able to render for all the mercies and all the truth which Thou hast shown unto me? How can I poor, needy mortal recompense Thee?  O Lord, this debt remains unpaid and cannot be canceled by anything in heaven or on earth.  It is Thy grace and mercy, Thy love and truth, and this will ever remain unrequited by me, a poor sinner.  But since I have not wherewithal to pay my debt, I render Thee most heartfelt thanks for all Thy mercy towards me and I will praise and magnify Thy name from henceforth and even forevermore.  Amen.

25. PRAYER FOR PRESERVATION FROM SIN, AND FOR THEIR REMISSION WHEN COMMITTED

     O Thou God of grace and mercy, our dear Father in heaven, moved by grace and divine love, Thou hast given us Thy dear Son and with Him full salvation and grace.   We now pray Thee, dear Father, preserve unto us this precious boon and heavenly gift, even the blessed contemplation of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, so that we do not lose Him through ingratitude or otherwise be deprived of Him.  We are indeed poor, wretched, and frail beings, who fall from one sin into another, sinning now in thoughts, now in words, now in deeds, so that we are in great danger of falling from faith.  We have no rest, no peace; the devil lies in wait for our thoughts, ever tempting and instigating; the world is on the watch for our words and deeds, for our walk and ways, giving us many an offense and many occasions for sinning; nor is our flesh by any means idle.  Besides, there are incidental sins, vices, and faults to which we are daily subject, which grievously burden our consciences and turn the joy of our hearts to nothing but sorrow and grief.

     Therefore we pray Thee, Thou God of mercy and grace, be Thou ever our faithful God though we may have been negligent and thankless, not walking so carefully as we should.  Be kind, comforting, gracious, and merciful towards us; reward us not according to our iniquities, but cleanse our hearts and consciences by Thy Word that we may serve Thee in sorrow and in joy and render unto Thee thanks, honor, and praise in time and eternity.  Amen.

24. A PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION

    O Lord Jesus Christ, I render Thee hearty thanks and praise that Thou hast again cleansed me, a poor, sinful being, from mine iniquities and hast also, for a firm assurance of this cleansing and remission of all my sins, nourished me with Thy true body and blood.  And I furthermore thank Thee that upon such cleansing Thou hast again received me, a defiled child, into the loving arms of Thy grace and mercy and hast presented me to Thy Father "holy and unblamable in His sight."

     And I pray Thee with my whole heart and all my strength that in addition to these benefits Thou wouldst through Thy Holy Spirit grant me grace to acknowledge Thy great goodness and mercy, to receive it with thanksgiving, and heartily to laud and praise Thee all the days of my life.

     Do Thou furthermore by Thy Holy Spirit so dispose me that I may heartily forgive my neighbor all that he may have done against me, even as Thou, O Lord, hast fully canceled and forgiven all my great and manifold transgressions, yea, hast entirely blotted them out of Thy remembrance.

     And finally grant, O Lord, that I may love my neighbor and do deeds of kindness unto him with an honest heart, -- for Thou hast done more for me than I can ever thank Thee for, -- so that Thou, my dear and loving Savior, mayest be extolled and praised by us now and forevermore, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

23. PRAYER FOR A WORTHY COMMUNION

      Behold, I come, my Savior, upon Thy most loving invitation.  Let me find grace in Thine eyes, Thou Lover of life; for who am I that Thou callest me so kindly?  Though I were holier than the angels, I would not for that reason be worthy of this repast; for how could I, being of unclean lips, yea, vile and base, be counted worthy unless Thou make me worthy?  Therefore answer before I call and prepare me by Thy grace.  Thou hast said:  "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out"; therefore take my soul into Thy keeping, according to Thy great compassion.  Remember, O Lord Jesus, that I have in my nature much that is evil, and nothing that is good; help me for Thy mercy's sake.  O see how poor and wretched I am; O Thou Savior of the world, keep in remembrance Thy faithfullness and satisfy my heart with grace.  How gladly I would appear before Thee in perfect faith and with due reverence and fervent devotion!  But how am I to do this except by and through Thee, Thou Author and Finisher of my faith?  Do Thou therefore grant what is well-pleasing to Thee.  Graciously remove what displeases Thee or at least cover it, I humbly pray Thee, with the cloak of Thy righteousness.  Blessed is the soul that is acceptable to Thee.  Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of Thy institutions.  Awaken my heart, remove from me all foreign thoughts, increase my hope, kindle my affections, render fervent my devotion, cleanse me of all uncleanness, and santify me wholly that I may aproach Thy Table in cheerful confidence and with a pure mouth, holy heart, and heartfelt desire partake of Thy Holy Supper unto the blessing and salvation of my soul.  Amen.

22. MORNING PRAYER FOR A COMMUNICANT.

     O Lord Jesus, this morning I rejoice in being privileged, because of Thy great goodness, together with my fellow-Christians, to go to Thy house and to partake of Thy body and blood in, with, and under the consecrated bread and wine.  Oh, how my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord and His alter!  As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, my Redeemer.  For Thou art my Shepard; I shall not want.  O Lord Jesus, even as Thou hast begun the good work in me, a poor wretched sinner, so also mercifully perform it by the gracious aid of Thy Holy Spirit unto Thy honor and the welfare and salvation of my soul.  O dearest Redeemer, I am indeed not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, but may Thy grace, able to do all things, render me worthy and well prepared, so that Thy true body and blood, a priceless nourishment, may refresh my soul in this heavenly feast of love and joy.  Array Thou me, I beseech Thee, in the vestures of true faith that I may not be found among the guests without wedding-garments, but be a worthy guest at Thy Table and partake of all the treasures of grace which Thou hast provided.  May Thy grace, O Lord Jesus, be and remain with me, even as my hope is continually in Thee.  May Thy providence preserve my spirit, my life, and my Being.  And do Thou bestow, O faithful God, what else I may stand in need of in this world and the next.

Thou, who feedest us below!

Source of all we have or know!

Grant that with Thy saints above

We may share Thy feast of love!

Amen.

21. A PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION WITH OUR NEIGHBOR

     O merciful Jesus, moved by Thy grace, I am about to go to Confession and Absolution for the remissions of sins.  But I recall Thine earnest words:  "If thou bring thy gift to the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hast aught against thee, leave there before the alter thy gift and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift."  Now, unfortunately, I have gotten into a strained relation with my neighbor; therefore grant me Thy grace and so rule me that my heart may be inclined to reconciliation.  I recognize the hardness of my heart, and acknowledge the difficulty of keeping my flesh and blood in subjection and of abstaining from all wrath and desire for revenge.  But I desire, yea, I supplicate Thee, O Lord, to take out of my flesh the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart of love and reconciliation.  Make of me a person that loves his enemy, blesses those that curse him, does good to those that hate him, and prays for those that despitefully use him and persecute him.  Oh, let me ever be mindful of Judgment Day and strict account I must render, so that I may abandon the enmity that looks to death and destruction and agree with mine adversary while I am in the way with him and do not let the sun go down upon my wrath.  And even as I in Thy name pardon and forgive all persons by whom I have been offended, so grant that I may also find those whom I have hurt and provoked willing to pardon and forgive me.  O Lord Jesus, forgive us all our sins and so rule our hearts as to live together in a peaceful and Christian spirit, blessing Thy name here in time and hereafter in eternity.  Amen.

20. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

     Eternal and merciful God, I a poor, miserable and distressed sinner, enter the presence of Thy devine majesty with nothing but my sin; therefore I dare not lift up mine eyes, but am abashed before Thee, since I have so often provoked Thee, my God, my Creator, and my Father, with sins great and manifold.  If Thou wouldst deal with me according to deserts, I should be and forever remain a child of wrath and eternal damnation.  But, O my dear God and Father, I take comfort in Thy great mercy, in Thy grace unfathomable, infinite, unspeakable and without measure; a grace Thou Thyself didst promise and confirm with a solemn oath when saying:  "As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live."  I take comfort in Thine only-begotten Son, mine only Redeemer, Justifier, Mediator, and Savior, who by virtue of His obedience, suffering, and death hath gained Thy favor for me and hath given me, who believes in Him, power to be and remain His child and heir.  Therefore I do not despair, but confess unto Thee my sins, sins of thoughts and deeds, sins secret and public, and I plead guilty in Thy sight of being a great malefactor and evil-doer.  So nothing remains for me to do but to approach to Thy throne of grace, relying on Thy word ith a meek heart and yet a fearless spirit and in true faith and firm confidence bising my hope of forgiveness on the grace Thou hast promised, and on the bitter sufferings of Thy dear Son.  And I cry from my inmost heart; Abba, my Father and Lord, have mercy upon me!  O my God, be gracious to me, a poor sinner, and forgive all my sins, original and actual - all thoughts, words and deeds that knowingly or unknowingly I have committed against Thee.  There is in me, that is, in my flesh, no good thing.  In sins have I been conceived and born, in sins have I lived and shall continue to live, as long as I have this sinful flesh.  My transgressions are continually before Thee.  Thou seest in me a thousandfold more and greater sins that I myself can see, know or realize.  O Lord, do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.  Be gracious unto me for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, my Lord and Savior, and blot out my transgressions according to Thy great mercy, which is much greater than the sins of all mankind.  Purge me with yssop and wash me with the pure blood which Thy dear Son shed upon the cross.  Let me be Thy child and heir, a vessel of Thy grace, and an abode of the Holy Spirit.  O Lord, save, comfort, and refresh me with the joy of Thy salvation.  Thy holy, joyous and lifegiving Spirit lend gladness to my distressed soul and contrite heart.  The bruised reed Thou wilt not break, O Lord, and the smoking flax Thou wild not quench.  Thou wilt not cast me away from Thy presence; of this I feel confident.  Thou wilt not suffer me to despair, but wilt renew me with Thy right Spirit, who will kindle and confirm true faith in my heart and mightily comfort my soul.  O Lord, my faithful God and Father, hear my prayer that I may be and remain Thy child and Thy temple now and forever.  Let me not fall into error and vices, which war against my conscience.  Preserve me from blood-guilt and from all ills.  Grant me grace at all times to delight in Thy Word, so that I will gladly hear it, read it, meditate on it, and with it minister unto others.  Grant that I may speak of it day and night and that my mouth may show forth Thy righteousness and praise.  For all this I will ever love, bless, and praise Thee, my God and Lord, together with Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit, thanking and serving Thee with all men and angels now and in all eternity.  Amen.

19. PRAYER FOR TRUE CONVERSION

     O almighty God, merciful Father, Thou dost call me and all sinners to repentance by saying: "Return, thou backsliding Isreal, and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, and I will not keep anger forever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord, thy God."  This voice of repentance and grace daily reaches my ears and my heart; but alas! I am not able of myself to bring about my conversion.  No more that the Ethiopian can change his skin or the leopard his spots, can I by my own natural power abstain from sin and turn to good deeds, inasmuch as the imagination of my heart is evil from my youth and continually.  Even when by Thy grace I resolved to arise to seek reconciliation with Thee and to offer the sacrifices of a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, even then Satan, the accursed, places a thousand obstacles in my path; and also my own flesh and blood endeavors to prevent me from doing "the good that I would," but would have me continue in sin and perish therein.  For this reason I bow my knees to Thee, Abba, dear Father, praying for the sake of Thine infinite mercy:  "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned." Let Thy grace, O my God, not be lost on me, but as Thou didst work in me to will, work also in me to do of Thy good pleasure.  Counteract, I pray Thee, the evil designs of the infernal fiend and arrest the promptings of my perverted heart, so that the holy resolution I have may not be hindered or come to naught.  Open mine eyes, that I may clearly see and bitterly lament my sins.  Give unto me that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of.  But do not let me perish under the load of my sin nor despair, as did Cain and Judas, but turn Thou to me and be gracious unto me; look upon my misery and distress and forgive all my sins.  Show unto me, I pray Thee, Thy fatherly, loving and merciful heart, which hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Speak kindly to my soul, saying Thou wilt show mercy in place of justice and nevermore remember my transgressions.  Have me look upon my crucified Savior, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.  Open to me for a safe refuge His bleeding wounds, in which so many a poor sinner has found comfort and salvation.  Creat also in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with Thy free Spirit in the fixed purpose to amend my sinful life and to serve Thee all the days of my life in holiness and righteousness which is pleasing to Thee.  O Lord, hear me!  O Lord, have mercy up on me!  O, Lord bring it to pass for Jesus Christ's sake.  Amen.

18. A POOR SINNER LAMENTS THE IMPENITENCE OF HIS HEART

     O heavenly Father, I, a miserable and wretched sinner, come before Thee with nothing but my sins, and so I dare not even lift up mine eyes to Thy most holy majesty on high, but feel abased for having so often offended Thee and disobeyed Thy voice.  Alas! there is no good thing, for I have been conceived and born in sin, and by nature I am perverted and corrupted to such a degree that I neither feel nor experience any love or desire for virture and heavenly treasures, but only of temporal honor and pleasures and all manner of baseness.  From my youth I have lived in sin and do so to this day, having within me my sinful flesh, the Old Adam.  But I take comfort, dear Lord, in Thy boundless, unsearchable, infinite, and unspeakable grace and mercy, which Thou hast promised in Thy Word to all penitent sinners and which promise Thou hast confirmed by a sacred oath.  I take comfort in the precious merits of Thine only-begotten Son, who was given into death also for my sins and was raised again for my justification.
     Hide Thy face, O my heavenly Father, from my sins and behold the face of Thy Son, who never Himself committed a sin, yea, who knew no sin, but who by His most holy obedience, by shedding His blood and dying for me upon the cross, hath fully atoned for all my sins and also for those of the whole world.  For the sake of this Savior receive me again into grace, O my Father, and do not let His bitter sufferings and death and the perfect, precious ransom which He has paid Thee for my sins be lost upon me, poor sinner, but let it be effectual in me.  I will then laud and praise Thee here in time and there in eternity.  Amen.

BRIEF INSTRUCTION ON CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.

     When, my dear Christian, you go to confession, you must not content yourself with repeating, by rote, a memorized confessional prayer or with having your pastor repeat it to you, but you must bring along a penitent heart, from which your confession will flow of itself.  To offer confession when the heart is impenitent is mocking God, and without a penitent heart there is no forgiveness of sin.
     The first requisite for a penitent heart is that you recognize your sins and feel sorry and repentant over them.  By nature no man knows his sins, nor can he of himself cause repentance to spring from his heart; on the contrary, this must be obtained from God by prayer.  By nature we are far too blind, too indifferent, too careless, to self-righteous, too much absorbed in self-love and self-conceit, honestly and penitently to plead guilty in the sight of God of all sins.
     Above all things therefore bow your knees before God and call upon Him to open your eyes that you may recognize the multitude and magnitude of your sins.  Pray in the words of the sainted David:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."  Hereupon take the holy Ten Commandments and according to them institute a careful examination of your whole life.  You will then soon find that you are a sinner.  For even as a man does not see a spot on his face without a mirror, so he does not recognize his sins unless he sees himself in the mirror of the holy Ten Commandments.  For every deed, every word, yea, every thought against God's commandments is a sin, whether it consist in doing what God has forbidden or in failing to do what He has commanded.  But you must look not only at the gross, external sins, but also at those internal, secret digressions from God's commandments, the evil thoughts and desires of your heart.  When thus examining yourself, being instant in prayer, you will discover that you did not fear, love, and trust in God as He demands; that you have not called upon God in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving so heartily and cofidently as you should have done; that you have not properly heard and learned His Word and kept it sacred.  You will find that you have not duly honored and loved your parents and superiors, but that you have been disobedient and surly towards them; that you have sinned against your neighbor by being angry, revengeful and unforgiving; by showing envy, covetousness, and a carnal mind or by speaking slanderous words.  To sum up, you will come to know that you did not love your neighbor so uprightly and heartily as yourself; rather, that self-love, the quest for personal gain and honor, was the motive power of all your actions.  Because of these and other sins you indeed have deserved God's wrath, temporal and eternal punishment, if God would deal with you strictly according to justice.  From these sins that you notice in yourself you can infer how unclean and polluted your heart must be from which these sins flow; for the stream is no purer than its fountain, and by its fruits the tree is known.  In this way you will come to a true conception of original sin.
     Now, when you notice these and other sins in yourself, yea, if you consider that the sins you do not know, but still have committed, are far more numerous that those you do know and that the omniscient God places all your sins in the light of His contenance, you certainly will be terrified in your conscience and experience sorrow and contrition for having offended your loving God so grievously and for having repaid His mercies with such base ingratitude.
     The second part of repentance is faith, faith in Jesus Christ, who has rendered full satisfaction for all your sins, procuring forgiveness of them all, also for you.  Faith is, so to speak, the hand that appropriates forgiveness of sin and accepts it as an unmerited gift of divine grace.  Without this faith all knowledge of sin and repenitence over it is nothing but the repentance of a Cain and a Judas and must end in despair.  But by faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of all sinners, the heart is comforted and satisfied.  This faith, however, you cannot bring forth yourself; it is the work and gift of God the Holy Ghost. But if you feel that your faith is weak,-- you desire to believe, but you think you cannot, -- then pray God to strengthen this faith of yours, which is battling against doubt.  He is willing to do so and surely will give you a stronger faith, so that you will overcome all the doubts which are harassing your soul.
     Now, if you come to confession with such a penitent and believing heart, you will rejoice in the absolution spoken by your pastor, by virtue of which your sins are really and truly forgiven by God in heaven.  Forgiveness of sins, Christ has procured for all sinners by the shedding of His bloood and by His death and by His resurrection He sealed it to them.  This He commanded to preach throughout the world by means of the Gospel.  Therefore, when your pastor absolves you, he does nothing else than proclaim to you the Gospel of the foregiveness of sins.  This, however, is not an empty announcement, but one actually offering and coveying the forgiveness of sins to the penitent sinner.  Whenever, therefore, you hear your astor pronounce absolution, do not doubt, but firmly believe, that your sins are forgiven before God in heaven; believe it as firmly as though Christ were calling to you directly from heaven; "My son (my daughter), be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee."  For He says: "Whosoever heareth you heareth Me"; and: "Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them."
     Thereupon the fruits of repentance are to follow.  These consist in no longer knowingly and intentionally committing such sins as were forgiven you, but rather hating them, abstaining from them, and battling against them with the assistance of the Holy Ghost.   

17. PRAYER FOR A VOYAGER IN A STORM

     

      O God Almighty, Thou God of the righteous, who hast made the sea and the dry land and hast all things in Thy hand, Thou didst give rise to the storm which raises such billows that our vessel is now borne aloft towards the heavens, now down again into the depths, and reels to and fro like a drunken man and is at his wit's end - to use the words of inspiration.  In such danger and distress we now are on this voyage.  But since Thou hast said, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee," we in this great need, from which no creature can deliver us but Thou alone, hold out to Thee Thy word with believing hearts and pray Thee that according to Thy mercy Thou wouldst show forth Thine almighty power, rebuke the wind and the sea, and let there be a great calm.  Graciously preserve us, we beseech Thee, from harm and shipwreck, hold Thy gracious hand over us, and mercifully deliver us from this danger.  We shall then bless Thy name all the days of our lives, ever be mindful of this Thy signal help, and amend our lives to accord with Thy holy Word.  O Lord God, be merciful unto us and forgive our sins for Christ Jesus' sake.  O help us, or we perish!  O Lord, deliver us for Thy mercy's sake!  But if Thou hast decreed that our life is to end here, then grant us Christian patience, keep us in true faith, give us the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.  Lord, be Thou with us, forsake us not.  Thou canst deliver from death; Thou canst also deliver us from danger. O hear us, hear us, hear us, God the Father, for Jesus Christ's sake!  Hear us, O Lord Jesus, for the sake of Thy holy five wounds! Hear us, O God the Holy Ghost, for the sake of Thy mercy and grace!  Help us, God the Father; help us, God the Son; help us, God the Holy Ghost, for Thine own sake, for the sake of Thy glorious name, and for the sake of Thy never-ending grace and mercy.  Amen.

16. PRAYER WHEN PUTTING OUT TO SEA

     Behold, eternal God, I now launch out upon the deep and commit myself to the wild, rough sea.  Here I am floating on the water, between heaven and  earth, as it were, and on so small and fragile a structure as cannot protect itself, much less me. Upon whom, then, am I a poor human being, torely?  Ah, pon Thee alone and Thy fatherly protection and care, my God and Lord; for neither man nor any other of Thy creatures can save me.  The wind bloweth whither it listeth;the sea raiseth its billows; beneath me I see no footing and above me only the bare heavens.  My fellow-beings at my side are in like danger and anxiety; therefore, O God, I lift mine eyes up to Thee, from whom alone my help cometh; my help cometh from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.  To Thee I entrust myself, my body and soul, to be Thine own with all I have and possess.  To Thee alone I look, in Thee I trust, my hope rests with Thee; there is no help with man.  Bear up this ship in Thy hands, guard and keep me in it, yea, be Thou with me in the vessel; for otherwise, O Lord, we perish.  "Whom have I in heaven but Thee?  And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."  When now leaving the land behind me, grant that I may also leave behind me all trust in human or earthly aid and rely entirely upon Thee.  Behold, O Lord, I surrender myself entirely to Thy pleasure; shape my destiny as accords with Thy will and best advances my soul's salvation. Into Thy hands do I commit myself; behold, Thou hast graven me upon the palms of Thy hands; no one shall pluck me out of Thy hand, for "I am of the people of Thy pasture and the sheep of Thy hand."  Being assured of this, I will gladly live and die by the help of the Holy Ghost.  Amen. 

3. EVENING PRAYER FOR SUNDAY

     O Lord, almighty God and heavenly Father, I thank Thee from my inmost heart for all Thy mercy and kindness which, like as a father, Thou hast shown me this day.  Thou has kept me safe from all ills.  I beseech Thee, as Thy dear child, that Thou wouldst graciously preserve me to my last breath in Thy saving Word and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy SPirit, so that I may know what is good or evil.  All sin that I have knowingly committed this day, also my secret faults, I ask Thee to forget for Jesus' sake and to grant me, dear Father, by Thy grace, to begin a new life, well pleasing to Thee, to my soul's salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only Helper.  Amen.

15. PRAYER WHILE ON A JOURNEY

     O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou all-gracious Lord and Savior, who for our sakes didst become a guest and pilgrim upon earth, I come unto Thee in humbleness of heart and pray Thee to take into Thy fostering care my whole life and walk in this world.  Graciously preserve me, through the ministering care of Thy holy angels, on this journey and on all my ways, from all ills and misfortunes, from accidents and dangers of soul or body in order that I may bring my understanding to a successful end and return to my beloved ones in good health and spirits.  To Thee alone, O lord, I entrust my body and soul and all I own during the whole journey.  Guide Thou my walk and my way to my temporal and eternal welfare.  In the mean time take into Thy faithful providence those dear to me at home that we may meet again in happiness and health.  And when at last I have ended the pilgrimage of my life here on earth, take me, O Lord, by a peaceful and happy death into Thy glory, my heavenly home; for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

14. THANKSGIVING UPON COMPLETION OF WORK.

     Almighty, eternal, and beneficent God, I give unto Thee hearty thanks and praise for Thy most holy aid and assistance shown me this day; for without Thee I surely could have done nothing, and therefore all praise properly belongs to Thee.  And I pray Thee, deign to be pleasled with my work and have it tend to the welfare, in body and soul, of myself and my fellow-men; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, true God, who liveth and reigneth to all eternity with Thee and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

13. PRAYER IN VIEW OF AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING

     O Lord, Thou doest great deeds past finding out and wonders without number, and Thy strength is made perfect in weakness.  I beseech Thee, O Most High, to give success to my efforts and graciously to aid me in completing the undertaking that I have begun in full reliance on Thee.  Lord God, strengthen me in this hour and forsake not Thy servant, who places all his hope in Thee and without Thee cando nothing.  Provide me with strength from on high and give me of the wisdom that is perpetually about Thy throne that it may be with me and assist me in my work.  And since all depends on Thy devine blessing, I now pray Thee, O my God, remember me according to the riches of Thy grace and bless all I do or leave undone, that I may begin all my undertakings prudently and bring them to a happy issue.
                          In every enterprise,
                          Lord, counsel me, advise;
                          Speed all my work; in favor
                          And blessing crown my labor.
     To Thee I commit my going-out and my coming-in; to Thee I will thankfully ascribe all praise for the success of my undertaking.  Amen.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

12. A PRAYER OF LUTHER ON CASTING ALL OUR CARE UPON THE LORD

     O heavenly Father, Thou art truly my Lord and my God, who hast created me, bringing forth out of nothing, and Thou hast also redeemed me through Thy Son.  Thou hast appointed and assigned to me this office and these my duties, but matters do not always take the turn I should like them to take and there are so many things troubling and distressing me that in myself I find neither help nor consolation.  For this very reason I commit everything to Thee looking to Thee for counsel and aid.  In all these questions be Thou the beginning and the end.  Amen.

10. A PRAYER FOR BEGINNING ONE'S WORK

         Eternal and merciful God, I am about to resume my work and the duties of the calling into which Thou hast placed me, Thy servant.  May I apply myself according to the ability Thou dost grant, so that I may serve my neighbor and make an honest living.  Relying on Thy gracious promise, I therefore heartily pray Thee to bestow upon me, for the duties about to be resumed, prudence, wisdom, understanding, success, and blessing, together with health, so that I may not only make a good beginning, but in Thy name and by Thine aid arrive at a profitable close, thus at all times faithfully attending to my duties with a clear conscience and in Thy fear.  To Thee I commend my work.  Graciously let me succeed in all that I undertake and let me accomplish what I undertake in Thy name, so that Thy light may cast a bright beam on my path to Thy praise and glory and to the welfare of my neighbor; through Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.  O Lord Jesus, in Thy name and upon Thy word I will cast out my net.  O Lord, help; O Lord, grant success! Amen.

PREPARATORY PRAYERS - 1. FOR TRUE DEVOTION

     O Lord, in obedience to Thy will and command I am bringing all my petitions, even those things that hinder and would prevent my coming to Thee, my sins, which trouble me greatly, and I ask Thee to remove and forgive them for Jesus' sake. Amen

9. A PRAYER FOR THE PROPER PERFORMACE OF ONE'S DUTIES

     O merciful and faithful God, Thou hast ordained that each person should have a certain calling and faithfully attend to it.  Thou seest and knowest my responsibilities, O Lord, and that without Thy grace, strength, and blessing I am not able to do anything whatever; Thou also knowest my manifold short comings.  Therefore I earnestly pray Thee, do Thou bestow upon me wisdom and strength, together with a courageous and fearless spirit, so that I may act prudently, overcome all obstacles that arise, and attain to a blessed and desired end by Thy fatherly guidance.  My hope rests in Thee, O my God.  Let me not be confounded, and do not let mine enemies rejoice over me.  No one, I know, will be forsaken that waiteth on the Lord.  O show me Thy ways and teach me Thy paths, for Thou art God of my help; daily do I wait on Thee.  Preserve my soul, save me, and lend Thine aid to all that concerns my welfare.  Let me not be confounded, for I trust in Thee.  O Lord, my God and my Deliverer, be not far from me; hasten, O Lord, to succor me! Amen.

8. PRAYER FOR THE AGED

     O Lord God, our Dwelling-place in all generations, our Life and our Increase of years, in whose hands is our time, the years have drawn nigh of which I say, "I have no pleasure in them," for my strength is fast declinging in my advanced age, while manifold ailings and frailties are increasing.  I humbly pray Thee, who hast so graciously led me from my earliest infancy and hast been my constant Hope from the days of my youth, do not forsake me now in my old age, when I am weak and my hair has turned gray, but bear me up and sustain me to the day of my happy death.  But above all I would pray Thee, O Father of all grace, to rule and guide me with Thy Holy Spirit that I may wholly consecrate myself to Thee for the remaining days of my life by a Christian walk, by prayer and supplication.  And grant to me, the longer, the more, a state of Christian readiness, that whether the time of my departure be to-day or to-morrow, it may be as peaceful as Simeon's of old and that I may enter life eternal.  Amen.

7. PRAYER OF A WIFE

     O benignant God and faithful Father, since Thou hast graciously called me to domestic duties in holy wedlock, a state in which I can also serve and please Thee, O my God, give grace unto me, Thy servant, that I may constantly keep Thy fear before mine eyes and love Thee and trust in Thee, my Creator and Redeemer, above all things; but also love and honor my husband and not covet any other. Grant that I may subject my will to that of my husband, as Thou commandest me to do in Thy holy Word, yielding to him will all readiness, that my heart be ever graced with that mild, peaceful spirit and those manifold virtures shown by the holy women of ancient days, who put their hope in God and were subject to their husbands. Grant me grace, too, to lead a chaste life, in godly fear and true humility, so that with kind and modest words and in a spirit of piety I may prevent or allay any wrath or ill humor of my husband, ever treating him with gentleness and forebearance.  May I rear my children in a mild spirit, to the praise and glory of Thy holy name, unto the salvation of their souls, and incline their hearts willingly to obey me.  Grant furthermore that I may be a true helpment to my husband, being careful and not wasteful with the substance Thou has graciously given us and diligently doing the work that is incumbent on me, so that I may "have to give to him that needeth," extending my hand in charity to the poor. Preserve us from dishonest laborers and evil-minded domestics, who would diminish or waste our property.  Also grant me grace, I pray Thee, to bear my cross patiently, so that I do not grow timid and dismayed when Thou sendest some affliction, inasmuch as by trials and adversities our faith is proved.  O Lord God, into Thine almightly hand I commit myself, my dear husband, all my children, and my domestics; preserve us, I pray Thee, from sin, shame and all ills, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.  Amen.

6. PRAYER OF A HUSBAND

     Almighty, beneficient God, Thou hast Thyself instituted holy wedlock and hast by means of the first miracle of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ honored and distinguished it as a state pleasing to Thee, in which also many sainted fathers and prophets lived a godly life, well pleasing to Thee.  And since, by Thy guidence I have entered holy matrimony and Thou hast ordained me to be the head of a household and dost take especial delight in the following of three things:  That brethren dwell together in unity, that neighbors love one another, and that husband and wife serve each other in love, I now pray Thee from my inmost heart, grant that I in Christian love, harmony, and consideration live with my wife as the weaker vessel, that I accord to her the honor due her as coheir to the grace of life eternal, that I incline her, together with our children and domestics, to a knowledge of Thee and Thine honor, doing all this in chastity and propriety.  To this end do Thou bestow grace that the members of my household follow my guidance when I direct them to what is good and godly.  Prevent the Evil One from introduing discord and contention, and if through weakness of flesh the spirit of discord get the upper hand, grant that harmony be speedily restored.  Graciously grant that I may never covet a strange spouse or woman, nor look upon her to lust after her.  If it is Thy divine will, keep sickness from me and my family.  And grant to me, Thy humble servant, that I be diligent in my calling, eat my bread in the sweat of my brow, and do not grow disheartened over stress of work; for Thou hast so ordained it.  Also bestow Thy blessing upon my substance that it may increase without damage or loss to others.  Favor me with pious servants and faithful laborers.  Preserve from harm my house and my home and all Thou hast given me.  Also help me patiently to bear my cross and after this life gather us and all Christians into Thy kingdom above.  Amen.

11. PRAYER FOR BLESSING IN ONE'S CALLING

     O Lord, Thou does assign to each man his duties according to his abilities and dost want us to eat our bread in the sweat of our brow until we return again unto dust; and Thou hast promised that, if we fear Thee and walk in Thy ways, we shall eat the labor of our hands, and it shall be well with us. Behold, upon Thy word I have cast out the net of my calling.  May may toil and labor not be lost, but grant that, working with my hands the thing which is good, I may have to give to him that needeth.  May Thy blessing - on which all depends - ever attend my efforts, so that I may bring them to a successful issue without impairing the interests of others, in order that my substance be devoted to the honor of God and the members of my family may be provided for. Cause Thy blessing, I pray Thee, to increase as time goes on; bless our "basket and our store"; for Thy blessing maketh rich, and Thou addest no sorrow with it.  O Lord, make my heart glad and my face joyful; give me health, life, and success.  I ask all this subject to Thy will; Lord, hear my prayer.  To Thee I commit my way and trust in Thee; Thou wilt bring it to pass.  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Amen. 

4. ANOTHER EVENING PRAYER FOR SUNDAY

     We praise and bless Thee, Lord God, Father of heaven and earth, for having, out of pure mercy and kindness, so bountifully provided our body with daily bread and our soul with that heavenly food, Thy holy Word.  Grant, O faithful God, that it may remain in our hearts and work great good to Thine honor and our salvations.  We also pray Thee of Thy fatherly grace not to widthdraw from us Thy pure Word and faithful teachers of Thy Word nor remember against us our guilt and sin with which we have desecrated this day.  Blot them out, we beseech Thee, according to Thy great mercy through the bitter suffering  and death of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ.  And we commend ourselves to Thy divine protection and fatherly blessing for this day and all our remaining days in this vale of tears. May Thy holy angels keep guard over us that the enemy may have no power over us!
     But since the evening of this world is now drawing nigh and the day is far spent, we would entreat Thee to grant us the grace of Thy Spirit that we may ever be watchful and in living faith, fervent love, firm hope, and a holy walk wait for the blessed appearance of the glory of the great God, our Savior Christ Jesus, when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead, that we may then receive Him fittingly and joyfully, enter eternal life with Him, and thus attain to the eternal day of joy and rest with all the elect.  Have mercy, O Lord, upon all Christendom and remove all oppression, derision, and tyranny from Thy poor persecuted Church, comfort all troubled and distressed consciences by the true Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and send upon all of us Thy peace; through Jesus Christ, our Advocate and only Mediator.  Amen.

5. A PRAYER FOR SERVANTS

     O merciful God, Thou hast by the precious suffering and death of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ delivered and freed me from eternal bondage, from the power of sin, from the realms of darkness, and from the cruel tyranny of the devil, and hast made me lord over death and hell.  I now pray Thee graciously to grant that I may take no dislike to my position of dependence wherein, according to Thy will and pleasure, Thou hast placed me in this world.  May I never impatiently murmur against this Thy order or envy other people their superior station; but may I ever gladly and with my whole heart conform to this Thy will and walk as serving Thee, my God in heaven, and not man on earth.  Do thou grant, therefore, O Lord God, that I may serve Thee, the highest Lord in heaven and on earth, in true knowledge and fear unfeigned, love Thee above all things, place all the hope of my salvation in Thee,and walk in Thy commandments without blame.   Grant furthermore that I may in due patience be obedient to my master and mistress, not only if they be kind and lenient, but also if they are froward and whimsical, serving them in all things that are not against Thy commandments, with all fear, in simpleness of heart, as serving Christ, my Lord, --not to favor man, but from sincerity of heart and in agreement with Thy will and command.  Bestow Thy grace that I may be found faithful in all things entrusted to me, not neglecting or wasting aught or causing damage by any negligence of mine.  And may I never covet what is not mine or be dishonest in administering what has been placed in my charge.  Preserve my health, strengthen my body, and endow me with wisdom and understanding that I may properly perform the work assigned me by master or mistress; increase their substance by Thy devine aid, and may they be blessed and grow apace through my industry.  Finally may all I do and perform tend to Thy devine honor and to a blessed exercise of my faith, for Christ Jesus', Thy dear Son's, sake, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost to all eternity.  Amen.

4. A PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

     O Father of all grace and mercy, Thou art a holy God and wilt have also us lead a life holy and free from the lusts and desires of our sinful flesh.  I deplore my weakness and the shortcomings of my sinful nature.  Thou will is indeed present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not.  Three mighty enemies I find assailing me; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; these endeavor to draw me from Thy grace.  Therefore I pray Thee, O my Father, to create and to preserve in me a clean heart.  Grant that I carefully shun all places which lend occasion for uncleaness, and that, restrained by Thy fear, I may not make members of fornication out of the members of my body, which are members of Christ Jesus, my Savior.  On the contrary, let me ever, in ardent devotion and a fervent longing for heaven, be most intent on living that my body may be a temple of the Holy Ghost and that I may never cease to love Jesus, who was crucified and given into death for me.  Let me love the heavenly wisdom in order that I may never turn aside to the slippery paths of sin.  O God, just and holy, who triest both heart and reins, grant that I may so adhere to Thee in this world that in the world to come I may not be separated from Thee. Amen.    

3. A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

     Almighty God, heavenly Father, in the fourth Commandment Thou hast so earnestly enjoined upon me to honor my father and my mother and hast also graciously promised to reward such service with long life and well-being.  I now pray Thee from my inmost heart, give unto me an obedient heart, a heart that with due reverence obeys in all things my dear parents and all those placed over me in their stead, giving them honor in word and deed with patience.  May I never hurt their feelings or despise and mock them as long as I live in order that Thy blessing may come upon me.  Grant, O lord God, that I may carefully keep their words, commands, and directions, storing them in my heart and binding them about my neck, also accepting their corrections, and not forgetting their instructions, so that I may live the longer upon the earth.  Rule me, I pray Thee, by Thy good Spirit that I may yield to the corrections of my father and not abandon the directions of my mother, so that I may be their joy and comfort.  In all I do or leave undone, grant that I may ever keep before me the example of my Lord and Savior, who, as a model for all pious children, was subject to his dear mother, the Virgin Mary, and to His foster-father Joseph.  Bestow upon me a heart thankful and modest that I may requite my parents by serving them in return, particularly by ministering unto them in their old age, bearing with them if they grow childish and peevish and never forgetting that they gave me life.  And graciously forgive me all that on account of childish weakness and waywardness I have done against them.  Preserve me from bad company and people of loose habits, so that, when the wicked entice, I do not consent nor follow in their ways, but guard my foot from their paths, lest shame and vice be my portion. O Lord, who hast hitherto reared me as a father does his son, grant that I incline mine ears and listen to the words of the wise, storing up wisdom in the days of my youth for the purpose of becoming prudent and cautious.  Grant Thine aid that I may increase in wisdom, stature, and grace with Thee and my fellow-men, for Christ Jesus' sake. Amen.

2. PRAYER FOR A BIRTHDAY

     My Lord and my God, in Thee I live, move, and have my being in life and death.  I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. Thou wast my Stay when I was in my mother's womb; my substance was not hid from Thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, being yet imperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.

     To-day I recall the day of my birth, which is the beginning not only of temporal, but also of spiritual life, inasmuch as I was brought to Holy Baptism, where I was reconciled to God, cleansed of my sin by the washing of regeneration, and received the Holy Ghost.  For this, I earnestly thank and praise Thee.  This day reminds me, to Thy praise, God, my Creator, that I was not only born into this world, but that Thou hast brought me to a place where Thy name is truly known and Thy holy Word is taught in all purity, by means of which Thou didst kindle true faith in my heart.  I also thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits Thou hast showered upon me, by body and soul, from the day of my birth up to this present hour.  Thou hast nourished and kept me; Thou hast protected my life in manifold ways by Thy holy angels, who always see the face of the Father in heaven, and hast daily provided me in rich measure with food and clothing. Moreover, through Thy Word Thou hast conveyed to me spiritual and imperishable gifts.  In Holy Baptism, the washing of regeneration, Thou hast given me the assurance that I am a new creature and a first-fruit of Jesus Christ, granting me foregiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life for an inheritance.  And though, ofttimes, from weakness of the flesh or perversity of mind, I have forsaken my God, ignored His commandments, and by many gross sins have transgressed more than seventy times seven against God in heaven, and my neighbor on earth, Thou didst not enter into judgement with me, nor didst Thou visit me with sudden, well-deserved punishment, O God the Holy Spirit, how shamefully I have spent my life, how seriously I have faltered, yea, committed grievous sins many a time.  But Thou, O God the Holy Ghost, hast sought me, the lost sheep, so often and hast led me back into the right path; Thou hast sactified, comforted, governed, and kept me in my calling; Thou hast stayed the devil and warded off innumerable dangers of body and soul, dangers that long ago would have caused my ruin if Thou hadst not stood by me.  O Holy Trintiy, I pray Thee to grant a happy birth, foregiveness of sins, and eternal life to all that are to see the light of day.  Let not this anniversary of my birth, I pray Thee, or any of my future days be marred by mortal sin, and let me ever be mindful of my sinful extraction and depravity.  Preserve me in health and life until  I shall reach the appointed goal.  Grant patience in sufferings and trials.  Comfort me in every misfortune and distress.  Daily grant me, I beseech Thee, forgiveness of sins as well as steadfastness in saving faith unto my end that I may serve Thee in true faith and with a good conscience.  Amen.

PRAYERS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS - 1. DAILY RENEWAL OF THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT

     Hereby, God Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I renew the covenant of my baptism, this day and for all time renounce the devil, all his works and all his pomp, also the ways of the wicked world and of my sinful flesh. I consecreate anew to Thee, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, my body and soul and commit to Thee the temporal, spiritual, and eternal welfare of myself and my kin. O God, my Father, I entrust myself fully to Thy care, grace, love and truth. O Jesus, my Redeemer, I clothe myself with Thy merits, with Thy blood, wounds, and blessed communion. O Holy Spirit, my Comforter, I consign myself wholly to Thy guidance, power, light, and comfort. O Triune God, Thou art mine, I am Thine; Thou art my Father, I am Thy child; Thou art my Shepherd, I am Thy sheep; Thou art my Lord, I am Thine own. O my God, how can I sufficiently thank Thee that Thou hast designed to raise me, a wretched sinner, to the blessed relation of a Christian by means of Holy Baptism, that gracious washing of regeneration! Oh, keep and preserve me in this state of grace even unto death! Grant, O Lord, that this consciousness of being Thy child may ever be my comfort against Satan, sin, and death, and may I value it more highly than all worldly honor or temporal dignity; may I conform my life thereto and finally die a Christian death. Grant this, O Lord God, by the power of the Holy Ghost and for the sake of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Honor, glory, and thanks be to the Triune God forever and ever. Amen.

1. MORNNG PRAYER FOR SUNDAY.

     Eternal, almighty God and Father, I return unto Thee most heartfelt thanks for having during this past night and times gone by graciously kept me by Thy holy angels from all harm and danger of body and soul; and I pray Thee from the inmost depths of my heart to forgive me all my sins wherewith I have ever offended Thee and to quicken my heart with Thy Holy Spirit tht I may daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. Also gran me grace sincerely to guard against sin and shame on this day and be found in accord with Thy divine will, in order that I may walk so that, guarded against all ill, I shall always keep Thee in my heart and thoughts. And when the hour of my death draws nigh, I am to depart, grant, I beseech Thee, that I may fall asleep unto eternal life in the true knowledge of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

2. SUNDAY BEFORE GOING TO CHURCH

     O gracious God and Father, Thou seest that because of my depraved nature I have no desire for Thy Word. I am, alas! so easily enticed from it or am indolent and slow to hear and keep it because of the devil, my flesh and blood, the children of this world, and also because of false teachers and preachers.  Therefore, I pray Thee, O eternal God, forgive me my natural indolence and slothfulness and give me a willing and alsert heart to hear and ponder Thy Word.  Awaken in me such a heartfelt desire for the sincere milk of Thy Word as a newborn babe shows for its mother's milk.  Grant that my highest pleasure and delight may ever center in Thy Word.  May nothing be dearer to me in this world than Thy Word; may I love it more than gold and much fine gold, ever considering it my best treasure!  And since, alas! I have lived to see the time foretold by Thine own Son in which false Christs shall rise and "show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect," I pray Thee that Thou wouldst graciously guard and keep me from error and false doctrine.  Preserve me in Thy truth - Thy Word is the Truth - that I may adhere to it and remain steadfast in it to my last hour. Grant all this I beseech Thee, for the sake of Thy glory and Thy most holy exalted name.  Amen.

16. EVENING PRAYER FOR SATURDAY

     Merciful and gracious God and Father, I again render Thee heartfelt thanks and praise for having, during all the days of my life, taken so paternal a care of me and having during the day, yea during the whole week, up to this very hour, graciously guarded me against all harm of body and soul.  I pray Thee furthermore, by that grace in Christ Jesus in which all penitent sinners trust, Thou wouldst cover, and nevermore remember, the sins that to-day and all this week I have committed against Thee and my neighbor knowingly and unknowingly. And graciously grant, I pray Thee, that in leaving the old week I may enter upon a new Christian life, pleasing to Thee and to all the elect in heaven.  For the coming night I commit myself to Thy gracious protection, so that I may rest and sleep in safety and rise to Thy further honor refreshed and in good health.  And if the hour of my death be at hand, take me unto Thyself, Lord Jesus, for I am Thine and Thou are mine; my soul yearneth to be with Thee.  Amen.