The Little Treasure of Prayers Part 1

The Little Treasure of Prayers.

by Anonymous.

1. Sunday Morning Prayer.

Eternal, almighty G.o.d and Father! I most heartily praise and thank Thee, that Thou hast graciously, by Thy holy angels, preserved me from all harm and danger both of body and soul, during the past night and all previous time; and I most heartily pray Thee, forgive me all my sins wherewith I have offended Thee, and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may daily grow and increase in Thy knowledge. Grant me grace also, that I may, during this day, avoid all sin and shame, and be found in Thy divine will, in order that I may so walk as to be preserved from all evil, may always and constantly keep Thee in my heart and thoughts, and when the time of my departure approaches, grant that I may fall asleep in the true knowledge of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, unto a blessed and eternal life.

Amen.

2. Before going to Church.

Merciful G.o.d and Father! Thou seest, that by reason of my depraved nature I have no delight in Thy word, and that I so easily permit the devil, my own flesh and blood, the children of the world, also false teachers and preachers and other trivial causes keep me away from it, and that I am too indolent and careless to hear and preserve Thy word. Therefore I now pray Thee, O eternal G.o.d, forgive me this my inbred indolence, and do Thou give me a heart willing and apt to hear and meditate upon Thy word.

Awake in me such an earnest longing that I may have a desire after the sincere milk of the divine word, as new-born babes. Help me, that I may find my chief delight in Thy word. May there be nothing in this world dearer to me than Thy word; may I love it more than gold and all fine gold, and always regard it as my best treasure. And as I, alas! have lived to see the time which Thy dear Son Himself foretold, that false Christs should arise and do wonders, so that, if it were possible, even the elect should be deceived, I pray Thee that Thou wouldst graciously defend and protect me from error and false doctrine. Keep me in Thy truth, for Thy word is truth, that I may cling to the same as heavenly truth, and remain steadfast in the same unto death. Grant this for the sake of the honor of Thy most holy and blessed name. Amen.

3. Sunday Evening Prayer.

Lord, almighty G.o.d and heavenly Father, I most heartily thank Thee for all Thy goodness and benefits which Thou hast this day so kindly shown unto me, in that Thou hast defended me from evil and preserved my health.

And I, Thy dear child, further pray Thee that Thou wouldst mercifully keep me in Thy alone saving word to my last breath, and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know what is good or evil. And wouldst graciously wipe out the remembrance of all the sins which I this day have knowingly done, also of my secret sins, and grant me this night a christian rest, that I may arise again refreshed and in health, to Thy praise. Help also, dear Father, that I may begin a new life, well pleasing in Thy sight, to the salvation of my soul, in Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only Helper. Amen.

4. Another Sunday Evening Prayer.

We adore and praise Thee, Lord G.o.d, Father of heaven and earth, that Thou hast so bountifully supplied us this day not only with our daily bread to nourish the body, but also with the heavenly food of Thy word for our souls. Grant, O faithful G.o.d, that it may remain in our hearts, and bring forth much fruit to Thy honor and our salvation. We also pray Thy fatherly goodness not to deprive us of Thy pure word and ministry; and that Thou wouldst not visit upon us the sins wherewith we may have desecrated this day, but forgive them according to Thy great goodness, and for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ. And finally, let us this day, and all the remaining time of our mortal life in this vale of tears, be commended to Thy fatherly blessing and divine protection; and may Thy holy angels keep charge over us, that the wicked one may have no power over us.

But as the evening of this world is now approaching, and the day is far spent, grant us the grace of Thy Spirit, that we may constantly watch, and, in living faith, ardent love, firm hope and a holy walk and demeanor, wait for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great G.o.d and our Saviour Jesus Christ, when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead, in order that we may then receive Him in a worthy manner and with joy, enter with Him into eternal life, and celebrate with all the elect the Sabbath without end. Have mercy, O Lord! upon Thy whole Christian Church, and deliver Thy poor persecuted flock from all oppression, mockery and tyranny, comfort all anxious and troubled consciences by the true comforter, the Holy Spirit, and send us all Thy peace through Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and only Mediator. Amen.

5. Monday Morning Prayer.

Holy and faithful G.o.d, heavenly Father! I most heartily praise, honor and adore Thee, that during the past night Thou hast permitted me to rest and sleep in safety, and by Thy fatherly love hast awakened me again refreshed and in the enjoyment of health. I most heartily pray Thee that Thou wouldst this day also and always graciously preserve me together with (my dear parents, brothers and sisters, and) all true Christians from all danger and harm both of body and soul, in order that I may always be found in Thy will. For I commend myself, my body and soul, heart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my strivings and aspirations, all I do and all I leave undone, my going in and coming out, my life and death, and everything that I am and can do, to Thy divine protection. May Thy holy angel be and remain with me, that no misfortune may befall me either in body or soul. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son.

Amen.

6. Monday Evening Prayer.

Merciful G.o.d, gracious Father! I heartily thank Thee that during the past day and up to the present hour Thou hast graciously protected me from all danger and harm of body and soul, and pray Thee, that, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, Thou wouldst graciously forgive all the sins which I have this day again committed against Thee in thoughts, words and deeds, and let them be remembered against me no more. And as I am now about to lie down to rest, I pray, Thou wouldst this night also protect and defend me from all harm and danger of body and soul, so that, being defended against the wiles and power of the devil, against evil, harmful and wicked dreams, I may safely rest and sleep this night, and awake again refreshed and in health to Thy honor. I now commend myself entirely into Thy divine hand; Thou hast redeemed me, Thou faithful G.o.d. Amen.

7. Tuesday Morning Prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou only Saviour of the world! to Thee I lift my heart and mind, and thank Thee again, that Thou hast by Thy boundless mercy and love kept me safe and secure this night from the wiles and power of the wicked one. Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the portion of my inheritance, my salvation is in Thy hands, and besides Thee I know of no Helper in heaven or on earth. Therefore I pray Thee for the sake of Thy unutterable suffering and anguish, of Thy most painful and bitter death, which in great love Thou didst suffer for me, that Thou wouldst be gracious and merciful unto me, and this day and through my whole life bless, spare, preserve and keep me from all sin and evil in this world of sorrow, until Thou shalt take me to eternal joy and blessedness, for Thy most holy name's sake. Amen.

8. Tuesday Evening Prayer.

O eternal and merciful G.o.d, G.o.d of all riches, who art in heaven, I most heartily thank Thee for Thy great mercy and paternal providence by which Thou hast again permitted me to end this day in the enjoyment of health.

And since I, alas! have not spent this day to Thy praise and honor, and the welfare of my neighbor, inasmuch as my depraved nature is always inclined more to evil than to good, help, Thou faithful G.o.d, that I who am conceived and born in sin, may recognize my infirmity and become a partaker of Thy heavenly grace; and teach me to think much and often of my end, that I may prepare myself for it in true repentance, and when it approaches may depart from this world of trouble full of consolation and blessedness, and with all believing Christians be translated into Thy heavenly paradise. In the mean time, as long as I sojourn on earth, take me into Thy almighty protection and mercifully keep and preserve me from all harm and danger of body and soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son. Amen.

9. Wednesday Morning Prayer.

O almighty, merciful G.o.d, gracious Father in heaven, since Thou hast again kept me safe this night by Thy ministering spirits, the holy angels, and permitted me to see this new day refreshed and in the enjoyment of health, I most heartily give Thee praise, honor and eternal thanks therefore, and pray Thee again, dear heavenly Father, to whose will I subject all that I do and leave undone, my beginning and end, that Thou wouldst henceforth graciously have mercy upon me, and govern all my thoughts and aspirations, my heart, sense, mind and thoughts, all my words and deeds by Thy Holy Spirit, so that I may understand what is good or evil, and that I may this day so walk and live in this evil and perverse world, that I above all things, free from my sins, may have a heartfelt desire for that eternal home which Christ, my Saviour, purchased and secured for me, and may not lose it by reason of my wicked, sinful life. To this end wilt Thou graciously help me with Thy divine love and the power of Thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

10. Wednesday Evening Prayer.

I thank Thee, O almighty G.o.d and kind Father, that Thou hast this day again graciously kept me safe from harm both in body and soul. I pray Thee, that Thou wouldst according to Thy great goodness blot out every sin that I have this day committed against Thee and Thy holy commandments with my heart, tongue, or in other ways, and not forsake me, Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with the precious blood of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and protect me this night under Thy almighty wings, against the wicked one, who goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour me, so that under the shadow of Thy goodness I may rest and sleep securely, and the wicked one may not be able to approach me or do me any harm.

Amen.

11. Thursday Morning Prayer.

G.o.d the Father, G.o.d the Son, and G.o.d the Holy Spirit, Thou ever blessed Trinity! to Thee I resign myself with body and soul both now and forever, and heartily thank Thee that Thou didst not permit the wicked one to harm me during the past night, but didst, by the protection of Thy holy angels, keep me safe to this day. What shall I render unto Thee, wherewith shall I worthily praise Thee? I will give Thee a contrite and broken heart, full of sins like scarlet, but sorrowing and penitent; graciously accept of it, and wash it white as snow in the precious blood of Thy dear Son, my Redeemer, bury it in His holy innocent wounds, and thus do Thou graciously impart to me the forgiveness of all my sins. And help me to hold myself in Christian readiness every day, inasmuch as I do not know, when Thou wilt come, how and where Thou wilt call me hence, so that I may by Thy blessing be conducted to eternal joy. Grant me this, gracious Father, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.