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istering spirits, to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation. We pray Thee, Thou wouldest charge Thine angels to keep us on all of our ways, that they may bear us up on their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone; that we may tread upon the lion and adder, and trample under foot the young lion and dragon. Drive far from us all evil spirits, who are murderers and liars from the beginning. Preserve us from their wrath and rage, from their lies and blasphemies, from their wiles and deceit, that they may not sow tares among the wheat in our hearts. Restrain the lying spirits in the mouths of all false prophets, the spirit of mur. der in tyrants, the spirit of vanity and of avarice in the family. Let Thy holy angels at all times accompany us as they did Jacob; let them protect us as they did the prophet Elisha, let them bring us bread and water, yea, provide us with the horse and chariot of fire, as they did Elijah, that is to say, let them give us wholesome counsel and com, fort. Let them be with us in our trials, as they were with the three men in the fiery furnace and with Daniel in the lion's den; let them rescue us from our perils, leading us out of them as they led Lot out of fiery Sodom, Peter out of prison and Paul out of the shipwreck. Let our country, home, family, and all we possess be under the protection of Thy holy angels, as was the house of Job, so that

the enemy can make no inroad upon us. Let us live in Thy fear and love, Thy Word and Gospel, into which the angels desire to look. Give us true repentance in our hearts, so that the angels in heaven may rejoice over us. Kindle ardent prayer and the praise of Thy name in our hearts, that we may perform an angel's office in singing with them: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of Sabaoth. And finally do Thou have our souls borne by angels into Abraham's bosom, and on the day of resurrection make us like unto the holy angels, that we may be in their company forever. Amen.

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Prayer on Reformation Festival

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who didst come into this world to call sinners to repentance and to enlighten all men unto life eternal, we praise Thee with our whole heart and thank Thy great goodness and mercy, that Thou didst not only enter at this place and in this church and congregation with Thy divine Word and the holy Sacraments, and didst purge out the leaven of papistic doctrine and idolatry, but, that Thou hast also redeemed us poor sinners from the realm of darkness, called us to

the light of Thy holy Gospel and translated us into the kingdom of grace.

O Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of the least of Thy mercies and Thy truth, but we pray Thee with an humble heart to remain with us also in future with the divine Word and the holy Sacraments, that Thy holy name may be known among us, be alone feared and honored and we all live according to Thy divine pleasure and serve Thee. But whatever we have done amiss against Thee and Thy holy Word, in being disobedient to the Gospel, do Thou graciously forgive, and do Thou not, because of our sins, take from us this soul-saving treasure, but preserve it in its purity with us and our descendants. Yea, Lord Jesus, preserve unto us Thy Word for it is our hearts' comfort and joy.

Protect and keep us and Thy whole Christian Church-particularly Thine Evangelical Lutheran Church-from all error, unbelief and other harmful doctrine. Restrain all enemies, persecutors, and blasphemers, and be Thou our reliance, our strength, our shelter and shield, that the gates of hell may not prevail against us. Especially do we pray Thee, Lord our Redeemer, to enter the house of our heart, to enlighten us by the Holy Ghost, to cleanse our hearts and graciously to grant, that we walk worthy of the Gospel, and continue to the end of our days in the truth once known and con

fessed. O Lord Jesus, let our souls obtain Thy salvation, so that we, being saved through Thee, may forever behold Thee in Thy kingdom and Thy great glory. Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen.

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A Prayer on the Day of Church Dedication

LORD GOD, Heavenly Father, Thou didst at this place gather unto Thy dear Son Christ Jesus, through Thy Word and Holy Spirit, a church and holy congregation among us, and hast preserved us against the devil and all enemies, yea, against the gates of hell: we pray Thee, O good and faithful God, let us and our dear children continue in the possession of this valuable and precious treasure that we, being instructed in the saving truths, may grow and increase in these, until we shall receive our everlasting habitation in the kingdom of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost is blessed forever. Amen.

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Prayer on Harvest Festival

O GIVE Thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy and truth endure forever. Thank the God of heaven, because His goodness endureth forever. Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy endureth forever. Let them now that fear the Lord, say, that His mercy endureth forever.

O what fears we entertained, lest the fruits of the field be destroyed; what cares and misgivings, lest we be deprived, before our very eyes, of the bread God has bestowed upon us in these hard times! But it is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not; they are new every morning. Now thank ye all our God, who wondrous things hath done at all places, who from our mother's arms sustained our lives, and blessed us with countless gifts of love. O God, give peace to Thy land, prosperity and happiness to every estate. O Lord God, heavenly Father, who dost grant a holy courage, good counsel and right works, give that peace to Thy servants that the world cannot give, that our hearts may cling to Thy commandments, and we, by Thy protection,

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