FAMILY PRAYERS

FOR

Church Seasons and Particular Occasions.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT.

THE FIRST WEEK.

WE thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, for preserving us unto this season, when the Sun of Righteousness returns, as it were, to renew his course, and to shine with healing on his wings unto all them that fear thy holy name. Grant us grace, we beseech Thee, to keep our hearts and minds steadfastly fixed on Him while we contemplate that glorious series of events, which thy Church now begins to set before us.

Give us grace also to cast away the

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works of darkness, and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy SON JESUS CHRIST came to visit us in great humility. While it is called to-day, may we hear the voice of the Son of GOD and live. Sanctify us, O Lord, in body, soul, and spirit, that we may be ready to meet Him when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge the quick and the dead. He himself has forewarned us that that day shall come as a thief in the night, and as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. But we are not in darkness that that day should overtake us as a thief. We have been baptized in his name. We have put on CHRIST. We have become members of His family and His household. O may thy Spirit dwell in our hearts, and lead us to live consistently with our holy calling, as children of the light and of the day, that, however suddenly our Lord may come upon us, we may be enabled to say, Lo, this is our GOD; we have waited for

Him, and He will save; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

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SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT.

BLESSED be thy name, O gracious GoD, for causing the Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, and for appointing our lot in a land where thy word has free course, and is glorified. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deeply prize this inestimable blessing, and earnestly endeavour to make a right use of it. Make us to be doers of thy word, and not hearers or readers of it only, lest we fall into greater condemnafor unto whom much is given of them will much be required. May we, therefore, never forget that He who brought life and immortality to light by His Gospel will soon come to judge us according to the things which are written therein, and will then banish for ever from His presence them that know not GOD, and that

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obey not the Gospel of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Give us grace to try and judge ourselves, that we be not everlastingly condemned at the judgment seat of JESUS CHRIST.

We beseech Thee to grant that thy holy word, which has been our blessed heritage from infancy, may be carried into all lands, and overspread all nations, that they who now sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, may be brought to know and to rejoice in Him who was born to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of His people Israel.

THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting GOD, by whose Spirit the whole body of the church is governed and sanctified, vouchsafe now to look upon the same with thy gracious favour; and as Thou didst send thy messenger, John the Baptist, to prepare the way for the coming of thy blessed Son our Lord, when he ap

peared in great humility; so be pleased now to pour out thy Spirit upon all bishops and pastors, upon all missionaries and teachers, that they may likewise so prepare and make ready the way for His second coming in power and great glory. Grant unto them thy grace that they may order their conversation aright; make them examples of all meekness, integrity, and holiness; replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine; and endue them with innocency of life; make them wise as serpents and harmless as doves; enable them to watch for souls, to win them to CHRIST, to draw back those who have wandered from thy fold, and to feed faithfully the flock of which Thou hast given them the oversight. Fill them with thy power and might, that they may successfully contend against the wickedness of the world, the abominations of heathenism, and the corruptions of thy church, and effectually pull down the strongholds of sin and of the devil. May they carry the knowledge of thy salvation among all peo