thy most unworthy servant, so that he shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The living, the living in the midst of the dying, O may I live to love, and serve, and praise Thee. O may I love Thee more and serve thee better every day. O Lord, who hast heard the voice of my supplication and delivered my soul from death, what shall I render unto thee for all this unmerited mercy shown unto me? May I walk before thee in the land of the living; may I take the cup of salvation, and pay unto thee the vows my soul in anguish made. I will offer unto thee in the presence of thy people the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and call upon thy name; I will present body, soul, and spirit unto thee, whose mercies crown my days, as my most reasonable service; I will live not unto myself, or as if I were mine own, but unto Him who so loved me as to give himself for me; who bought me with the price of his own precious blood, and in whom I now live and have my being. O thou God of grace, give me grace that the life thy goodness has preserved may be thus unreservedly dedicated to thee. May I not live to spend my strength in the pursuit of worldly vanity, or in heaping up riches, or in selfish ease, sinful ungodliness, and unbelief. May I not live to abuse thy long suffering and forbearing mercy. O Lord, have compassion upon me, and grant me thy Holy Spirit to work in me to will and to do according to thy good pleasure; so that the life spared may be spent in holiness and righteousness toward Thee, and in serving my generation in the promotion of the temporal and spiritual welfare of my fellowmen, according to the will of God. O keep me by thy power, merciful Saviour, lest I sin, and some worse things come upon me. Dispose my heart, and help me to give all diligence to make my calling and election sure, and to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Make me always mindful how frail I am; how helpless; how easily prostrated and brought low; how soon I may die, and how certainly I must die; and how surely I must stand after death before the judgment seat of Christ to receive according to the deeds done in my body, whether they have been good or evil; and may I, therefore, be enabled so to live as that every day shall be a step nearer to the fruition of thine everlasting glory. Grant this, O most merciful Father, for Christ's sake, my only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, etc. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. SHORT PRAYERS. For Morning. MERCIFUL God and Father, I have both laid me down and slept in peace and have awakened in health, because thou, O Lord, hast sustained me. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for these mercies, and for every other good and perfect gift that comes down from Him. As thou preserved me from all the dangers of the night, may thy powerful providence sustain and succor me through this day from danger, disease, and death. Pardon my sins, and convert my soul, and grant me thy salvation. May I spend this day in thy fear, as seeing Thee who art not far from any one of us, and be kept by thy grace from all temptation. May I be attentive to every duty, and watchful against anger, evil speaking, and the sins that most easily beset me. May I be contented, cheerful, and happy, whatever may happen, and be alike prepared for peace or war, for life or death. Our Father, who art in heaven, etc. The grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with my soul. Amen. This day I wake me up from sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; For Evening. AT THE close of another day I come unto thee, O Lord, who art the good Shepherd who never slumbers, nor sleeps, and commit into thy hands my body, soul, and spirit. Thou art my creator, preserver, and most gracious Redeemer, who hast bought me with thy most precious blood. O receive me into thy kingdom of grace now, and into thy kingdom of glory hereafter. Speak peace to my soul. Give me power to repent and believe, and hope in thy power and willingness to save my soul. May I rest peacefully under the shadow of thy wings, and enjoy refreshing sleep, undisturbed by any sudden alarm of raging foes. Grant these blessings also to my comrades in arms, and preserve us all from painful disease and unprepared death. May I awake in the morning in health and strength, fitted for the duties and dangers of the day. Bless all my dear friends, and may we be spared to meet again in peace and prosperity, to rejoice before thee all the days of our lives. Grant these requests, O God, for Christ's sake, in whose words I would further call upon thee as Our Father, who art in heaven, etc. The grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, etc. This night I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take; And this I beg for thy Name's sake. On Going into Battle. O LORD, into thine hands I commit my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. With thee are the issues of life and death. Thou hast the keys of death and the grave, so that when thou openest no man shutteth, and when thou shuttest no man can open. All events are at thy command. I leave myself entirely at thy disposal in this battle, not knowing what shall befall me, whether life or death. Prepare me, O gracious Father, to live or to die; so that, whether living or dying, I may be the Lord's. May a sense of pardoned sin and peace with thee through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ cast out all fear, and enable me, as a good and faithful soldier, to fight manfully, and contend earnestly against the enemies of my beloved country, and in defence of life and liberty, of our mothers, wives, and sisters, of our homes and happiness, and of a pure Bible, and a freedom to serve and worship God according to its teachings and the dictates of conscience. Righteous Father, vindicate the oppressed, and avenge us of our adversaries. If I perish, may our cause triumph. Take my family and friends into thy divine keeping, and save my soul, and receive me into thy glory, O Lord, through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen. In Prospect of Battle. O LORD GOD, from whom I have received life, and by whom that life has been preserved until this present moment, I would humbly and confidently commit myself to thy holy keeping in the prospect of coming battle. May thoughts suitable to so solemn an occasion take possession of my mind, and in the fear of the Lord may I go onward. Believing that the cause in which I am engaged is just and righteous, and in defence of the sacred rights, honor, liberty, and independence of our beloved country, and for the truth of thy Word, the honor of thy Name, and the glory of thy holy, wise, and powerful providence, I would desire to feel the courage and determination of a loyal, patriotic, and faithful soldier, and to perform my duty faithfully. Thou art my almighty shield, and canst ward off danger in the midst of the conflict. If it be thy holy will, may my life be preserved while I remain steadfast to my post, and let all cowardly fear be banished from my heart. May I feel safe under thy providence, and may I trust thee for life or for death. Grant that my soul may be redeemed by the blood of Christ, and should it be thy purpose that I should fall, may the sting of death, which is sin, be taken away. May the shield of thy protection be placed before my comrades, and may they all cast themselves on thy mercy. O Lord, grant that victory may rest on our banners, and discomfit our enemies, who wage wicked and cruel war against us. May God pardon their sins and save their souls, but destroy their lives, and deliver us from them, and give us victory over them. To thee, O Lord, I now commit my soul and body, and may I not forget thee amid the roar of battle. This I earnestly ask for Christ's sake; and to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost shall be all the praise. Amen. On Sentinel and Picket Duty. OH GOD, who hast brought this war upon us, and made it the duty and privilege of every citizen who is able to come up to the help of our invaded and oppressed country against her wicked and tyrannical enemies, I come to thee for wisdom, power, and protection. I am commanded to occupy the outpost of danger, and to protect our army from sudden surprise. Go with me, and may thy gracious presence cheer and support me. Help me to be sober, vigilant, faithful, and fearless, and use well my eyes and ears in detecting danger and announcing its approach. Preserve me from being overcome by sleep, or betrayed by carelessness, or destroyed by presumption. Deliver me from the deceitful foe, and from the unseen danger. Teach me how to improve the time by calling upon thee in prayer, meditating on thy glorious gospel, and holding communion with a reconciled God, Father, and Friend, a gracious Redeemer, and a most gracious Comforter. And do thou, O God, search me, and try my heart, and discover to me every evil way that is in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Grant, O God, these mercies for the sake and merits of thy Son, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. When Sick and Wounded. O MOST righteous God, thou hast seen fit to lay me aside from active duty, and to appoint for me pain and suffering; may I patiently submit to thy holy will, and be kept from murmuring and repining. Thou canst heal the maladies of my body, and make the remedies employed efficacious. If it be for thy glory, may I be restored to health, and may I yet live to serve my God and my country. Grant, too, that I may be prepared for all that may happen, so that whether I live I may live to the Lord, or whether I die I may die to the Lord, and living or dying still be his. This I ask for the Saviour's sake. Amen. For Divine Guidance. O LORD, thou who art the hearer of prayer, be pleased in thy infinite mercy to fill my heart with thy grace, that I may be safely kept amid all the temptations of camp-life. Surrounded as I am, by many who have not the fear of God before their eyes, and whose conversation and conduct are ungodly, let me not be led away by their example. As thou, Lord, seest me, may I fear to commit any known sin. May I never be led to take thy name in vain, and suffer me not in thoughtlessness or passion to use profane language, for thou wilt not hold him guiltless that taketh thy name in vain. Guard me also from intemperance, by which reason is blinded and the soul unfitted for the presence of God. From every other sin, good Lord, deliver me. When called to the performance of difficult and dangerous duties be thou my great protector. Fill my soul with Thy love and fear; cleanse me from every sin of my life in the blood of Christ; and reconcile me to Thee through his atoning sacrifice, so that I may be ever ready to say, The Lord is my refuge, and my present help in trouble. All which I ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. A General Thanksgiving. ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving kindness to us. and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but, above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen. Thanksgiving. O ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, we poor sinners lift up our hearts to thee, to bless and praise thy holy name for all thy manifold and great mercies to these Confederate States, from the first day even until now. O most mighty and gracious good God, thy mercy is over all thy works, but in special manner hath been extended toward us, thy people, whom thou hast so powerfully defended. Thou hast showed us wonderful and terrible things; but thou hast continued to protect and bless us, that we might see how powerful and gracious a God thou art; how able and ready to help those who trust in thee. O God, with deep thankfulness of spirit we worship and adore thee for thy protecting power and grace. Be thou still our God, our guide, and mighty defender. And make us, we beseech thee, truly sensible of thy mercies. And give us hearts always ready to express our thankfulness, not only by words, but also by our lives, in being more obedient to thy holy commandments; that we, whom thou hast saved, may serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.-Bishop Davis. General Prayer. O MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, the Lord of Hosts, that rulest and commandest all things, thou sittest on the throne judging right, and, therefore, we make our address to thy divine majesty, that thou wouldst take our cause into thine own hands, and judge between us and our enemies. Our trust is in thy mighty power. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us, for thou givest not always the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few. O let not our sins cry against us for vengeance, but hear us, thy servants, begging mercy and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldst be a defence unto us against the face of our enemies. We implore thy protection and power against those who have invaded our soil and our homes. We humbly look up unto thee, O Lord, and say that we have done them no wrong. Raise up thy power and come among us, and with great might help us. Be thou our stronghold in the day of our calamity. We flee unto thee for succor, and our hope is in thy great and glorious name. Defend, O Lord, and establish our cause. Endue us with power and strength; give us victory over all our enemies, and make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.-Bishop Davis. Collect. WE BESEECH thee, O God, favorably to behold this government and people, now bending before thee in deep humility of heart; confessing their own sins, acknowledging thy divine sovereignty, and earnestly imploring thy heavenly benediction and grace. We are sinful, but thou, O Lord, art holy and merciful. We are weak, but thou art mighty. Draw near and help us; pardon our sins and receive and answer our prayers. Bless our rulers, direct their counsels, unite their hearts, strengthen their hands, and prosper all their undertakings. And may it please thee, O Lord God, to visit and bless this whole people in this time of danger and trial. Be thou our present helper and defender, and a strong tower against the face of our enemies. Give courage and strength to our army and navy. Fight with us, O God, against those who are threatening our homes, our firesides, and our families. Confound their counsels, bring to naught their wicked devices, subdue their pride, break their power, and deliver us from all their oppressions and wrongs; that we, thy people, being hurt by no persecutions, may be preserved evermore 'to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory. Grant this, O Father Almighty, for the sake of thy blessed Son, our Redeemer and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.-Bishop Davis. Confession. ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind, in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy name. Amen. For Defence. O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend |