fil my ministry, and in the dreadful day of Thy judgement, being freed from all sin, may stand before Thee blameless and obtain the reward of Thy never-failing promise. For Thou art our God, to Thee I ascribe glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now, for ever, and throughout all ages. Amen. (197)

Or this.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, the source

and perfection of all virtues; Grant me, I beseech Thee, to do what is right and to preach what is true, that both by acts and words I may give to Thy faithful people the instruction which is of Thy grace, and that prudently fulfilling the office committed unto me I may not incur the guilt of neglecting to increase the Lord's gifts, but may receive profit from having multiplied His talents, whereof I have been made a steward. Amen. (198)

The Prayer of a Priest.

GOD, great in power, unsearchable in understanding, wondrous in counsels towards the children of men, do Thou fill with the gift of the Holy Spirit Thy servant whom Thou hast called to the Priesthood, that I may be worthy to stand in Thy presence unblameably, to announce the Gospel of Thy kingdom, to administer the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, to set forth the Word of Thy Truth, and to offer gifts and Spiritual Sacrifices unto Thee, that at the second coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Thine only begotten Son, I may go forth to meet Him, and by the multitude of Thy mercies receive the reward for good stewardship in His service, for blessed and glorified is Thine all-honoured and glorious Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. (199)

Or this.

GOD, Who, passing over the sins of human frailty, dost vouchsafe to unworthy men the high office of the Priesthood, and not only pardonest sins but art also pleased to justify the sinners themselves, of Whose gift it cometh that things which are not should receive a beginning, having begun should receive nourishment, being nourished should bear fruit, and being fruitful should be helped to continue. O Thou Who hast created me when I was not, having created me hast endued me with steadfast faith, and given me, one of the faithful, although defiled by sin, the dignity of the Priesthood,-I humbly beseech Thine Almighty Goodness, to cleanse me from my past sins, to strengthen me in good works during my passage through this world, and to confirm me in perseverance unwavering. And make me so to serve Thine altar, that I may attain to the fellowship of those Priests who have been pleasing unto Thee, through Him Who offered up Himself to Thee as a sacrifice, Who is the Maker of all things and the only High Priest without spot of sin, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (200)

Or this.

LORD, as the rain cometh down from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bud and bring forth, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to him that eateth, so let Thy word be that goeth out of my mouth, let it not return to Thee void, but accomplish that which Thou wilt, and prosper in the thing whereto Thou hast sent it, that the people committed to my charge may go out with joy, and be led forth in peace to Thy freshest waters of comfort, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (201)

The Prayer of a Bishop.

O faith, mercy upon me Thy

GOD, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the

servant, whom Thou hast set over the Church of . .... Make me remember how much more than other men I have need to call upon Thee: My charge is great and my strength little. O give me grace to come often before Thee: and to ask that help which Thou art readier to give than I to ask. Grant, I most humbly beseech Thee, that both by word and by example I may be profitable to them to whom I minister: that, together with the flock entrusted to me, I may attain to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (202)

The Prayer of a Son or Daughter. LMIGHTY God, Who hast strictly commanded us to honour our father and our mother: Grant me of Thy goodness and grace, so to honour my parents, to fear and to obey them, to help and to pray for them, as Thou in Thy holy word hast directed and charged me to do: that both in their life and in their death their souls may bless me, and by Thy fatherly mercy I may obtain that blessing which Thou hast promised to those that honour their father and mother; and that Thou, seeing my unfeigned heart and reverence towards them, mayest become my loving heavenly Father, and number me among those Thy children who are heirs of Thy glorious kingdom, through Thy wellbeloved and dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (203)

Or this.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and in earth is named; I give Thee most

humble thanks for that Thou didst of Thy divine providence vouchsafe to let me be born of Christian parents, by whose care I was first brought to Thy holy Baptism, and afterwards brought up in Thy holy religion. I beseech Thee, O blessed God, Who art the rewarder of every good work, to recompense them their full reward, even out of the riches of Thy bounty and goodness; give them peace and plenty; defend them from all dangers both of body and soul; keep them in the stedfastness of Thy faith, and in the obedience of Thy holy commandments: that so, having Thee their merciful and gentle Father, after many happy days here, they may at last be brought unto the land of everlasting life: through Jesus Christ. Amen. (204)

The Prayer of a Husband or Wife.

ETERNAL and gracious Father, Who hast consecrated the holy estate of marriage to become a mystery, to represent the union of Christ and His church, give Thy blessing to Thy servant my dear wife; give her a long life and a confirmed health; encircle her with blessing, adorn her with Thy grace, nourish her with content, refresh her with a perpetual succession of comforts, let the light of Thy countenance be upon her in all her actions and the accidents of her life, and grant that she may still more and more increase in the love and fear of Thy holy Name. And the blessings of the eternal God, blessings of the right hand and of the left, be upon the body and soul of Thy servant my wife, and abide upon her till the end of a holy and happy life; and grant that both of us may live together for ever in the presence of the holy and eternal Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. (205)

The Prayer of a Parent.

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, Who hast promised children as a reward to the righteous, and hast given them unto me as a testimony of Thy mercy; Be pleased to be a Father unto them, and give them healthful bodies, understanding souls, and sanctified spirits, that they may be Thy servants and Thy children all their days. Let Thy mercy and providence lead them through the dangers and temptations and ignorances of their youth, that they may never run into folly and the evils of an unbridled appetite. So order the accidents of their lives, that by good education, holy example, innocent company, prudent counsel, and Thy restraining grace, their duty to Thee may be secured in the midst of a crooked and untoward generation; if it seem good to Thee, enable me to provide for their support, that they may not be destitute by my death; or if Thou shalt sooner call me from this world, let their portion be Thy care, mercy, and providence over their bodies and souls: let them glorify Thee here with a free obedience and the duties of a whole life; that when they have served Thee in their generation, and have profited the Christian Commonwealth, they may be co-heirs with Jesus in the glories of Thy eternal kingdom, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (206)

The Prayer of a Master.

RACIOUS Father, bless my servants and U make them Thine; give them grace to serve Thee first, then me, with faithfulness, soberness, and diligence. Make me ever willing, and in some measure able, to repay unto them the time and the strength which they either have spent or shall spend to do me service, even for Jesus Christ His sake. Amen. (207)