the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. II. EVENING. Almighty and most merciful Father, let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Forgive, O Lord, my sins of this day; the sins of my soul and the sins of my body; my presumptuous sins: those which no eye saw but Thine, O Lord; those sins which I have done to please either myself or others. Forgive me those sins which I have knowingly committed, and also forgive my negligences, my want of fellow-feeling with others, my selfishness and self-indulgence, my eagerness or indifference, my irritability and fretfulness, my coldness and want of love. But, O Lord God, when I have confessed the sins that I know of, they are only a very small part of what Thou knowest of me. Reveal to me those sins which I did ignorantly, and forgive all my sin; pardon mine iniquity, for it is great; let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse me from ALL sin. O Lord, I praise and bless Thee for all Thy wonderful mercies to me this day, for Thy care over me, Thy love to me, for all the gifts that Thou hast given me, for all the comforts which I have enjoyed, for the strength which Thou hast given me to bear pain, for Thine own presence in loneliness, and for all other mercies so far above all that I could ask or think. Give me a thankful, humble heart, that I may prize each blessing. Thou hast held me and kept me this day, and now, O Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. If Thou hast appointed a wearisome night for me, teach me to be contented with it. If Thou wilt give unto me the blessing of sleep, help me to be thankful; let me not be afraid for any terror by night, defend me under Thy wings, let me feel that I am safe under Thy feathers, and that Thy faithfulness and truth are my shield and buckler. If I lie awake, keep me, O Lord, from sinful thoughts, drive far from me the enemy, and grant me peace with Thee; thus I shall be kept from the wiles of the devil. Do Thou fill my mind with holy and heavenly desires, so that there shall be no room for evil thoughts. Let my heart be occupied with Thy statutes, keep me from restlessness, or from saying, Would God it were morning! Grant that I may not be scared with night visions, nor let Thy terrors make me afraid. And, O Lord, if this night I should sleep the sleep of death, let not death have dominion over me. Let me hear Thy voice saying, Fear not, for I am with thee, I have redeemed thee. In sleep and in death, O Lord, may I be Thine. Help me to bear patiently whatever pain and weakness and suffering Thou hast appointed for me. O God of love, teach me to say, Thy will be done. O Holy Ghost, be with me, and make intercession for me, according to the will of God. O Saviour of the world, help me to remember Thy Cross and Passion and Thy night of agony. Bless all the sick and dying, and grant unto them the peace of God and all other blessings this night and evermore. Amen. III. MIDNIGHT. O Lord God Almighty, the earth is keeping silence before Thee now, darkness covers the earth, but the darkness hideth not from Thee, the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. My Father, look upon me, for Thou neither slumberest nor sleepest. Thou holdest mine eyes waking, I am so feeble that I cannot sleep. Let me feel that I am not alone, that Thou art with me, let Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me. Lord, fill me with Thy fulness, so that all evil thoughts may be kept out. Let not vain thoughts lodge within me. Let not the darkness be a messenger of Satan to buffet me. Speak to my soul, and say unto me, I am Thy salvation. Let not my heart be troubled, and let it not be afraid. Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest how often the thoughts of yesterday trouble me, and the blackness of the night seems to have settled upon them. I am troubled above measure, yet help Thou me. I have said words that I wish unsaid, but I cannot alter them now. O Lord, prevent them from harming others. I am tempted to magnify words that were said to me; Lord, Thou knowest all, whatsoever it is, that hath so sorely troubled me. Be pleased to deliver me from these snares of the devil: do not let me think unkindly of any who have grieved me. Keep me from dwelling on any thing that is past, or any circumstances connected with it. If any have made me sorrowful, help me to pray for them, and grant, O Lord, that whensoever I am made sorrowful, I may be sorrowful after a godly sort. Purify all my thoughts, cleanse Thou me from secret faults, let the Blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son cleanse me from all sin. Defend me from all the temptations of this night, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. Let my meditation of Thee be sweet. Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, and that shall put joy and gladness into my heart. Then shall the night be light unto me, if Thou, O Lord God, givest me light. Help me to rest in Thy love; and give unto me that peace which the world cannot give, that whether sleeping or waking I may be with Thee. Help me to lie still and not to grow weary. Give me songs in the night. O blessed Jesus, when Thou wast on earth Thou hadst not where to lay Thy head. Make me very thankful for all the comforts and blessings which Thou hast given me; and though I cannot spend my sleepless nights in prayer, yet Thou wilt accept the desires of my heart, and wilt make intercession for me. Be gracious unto all the sick and dying, and in the midst of their suffering, let them feel that Thou lovest them. Holy Trinity, abide with me this night and evermore. our Lord. Amen. |