A 45.1663. MANUAL OF FAMILY PRAYER. EXPLANATORY NOTICE. THE duty of public and of private prayer is clearly established by the example and direct precept of our Saviour, as well, indeed, as by the natural impulses of the human heart. That of family prayer, partaking of the nature of both public and private prayer, though less explicitly enjoined, seems to follow as a necessary consequence; and becomes the more imperative in a state of society which renders a daily attendance at public worship impossible in the majority of cases. It is believed that the practice of family prayer was never so general as at present, and would, it is hoped, become universal but for the difficulty (particularly in the morning) of abstracting all the members of a household from their ordinary and indispensable businesses. To lessen this impediment, which, slight as it may seem in theory, becomes serious in daily practice, it has been found useful to make a selection from the LITURGY of a few of the most comprehensive and appropriate Prayers, which will not occupy more time than can easily be spared even in the busiest family; and they are selected exclusively from the LITURGY-first, because, being meant for occasions in which the full liturgical services cannot be conveniently used, it is felt that they should adhere to them as nearly as may be; secondly, because no forms more suitable and comfortable have ever been devised; and, thirdly, because in common prayer, where the devotion of one is to follow the voice of another, it is essential that the words employed should be familiar and invariable. The only variations from the Liturgy are the adoption, in the Lord's Prayer for the Evening, of St. Luke's version (kað' ǹμéρav, xi. 3), "day by day," as more suitable to the time,—and the introduction of a few words of a prayer of Bishop Digby's for absent friends, without some pious remembrance of whom any form of Family Prayer would be painfully imperfect. This prayer is also given that, if preferred, it may be used in full, instead of the extract; and a few Collects of general application are added which may be introduced at the discretion of the reader. It may seem at first sight superfluous to make a separate publication of half a dozen extracts from the Common Prayer Book-still more so to write so long a notice about it; but the writer is convinced that there is some practical advantage in saving the trouble of turning the leaves backwards and forwards, and in bringing the selected prayers into one view; and he also hopes that the suggestions on the subject of domestic prayer, which he has ventured to offer, may, though slight and imperfect, be found not wholly unworthy the attention of heads of families. The idea of this Manual was suggested by 'A Book of Family Prayer,' published a few years since by Dr. Hook, in which the selections from the Liturgy were nearly the same as are here made, and apparently on the same principles; but it contains additional devotions from other sources, and is altogether of a larger scope than this compilation. (1845) 1663. Evening. The Family being assembled, and all standing, the reader shall say, IF we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 St. John i. 8, 9. Wherefore I pray you to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice, unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me; [Here all shall kneel, repeating after him,] 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 them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. OUR this night; for the love of thy only Son, A or LMIGHTY God, Father of all mer cies, 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, most Gracious Father, to visit this family with thy protection. Let thy blessing descend and rest on all that belong to it, as well absent as present, and give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we 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 honour and glory, world without end. Amen. ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us make our common supplications unto thee; grace at this time with one accord to and dost promise, that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy serliver us from evil: For thine is the king- granting us in this world knowledge of thy vants, as may be most expedient for them; dom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. L Amen. IGHTEN our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of 3 *St. Luke xi. 3. truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Cor. xiii. |