Book of Common Prayer Excerpts

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 us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD, our Heavenly Father, Almighty, and Everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power and grant that this day we fall Into no sin, neither run Into any kind of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous In thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O LORD, our Heavenly Father, the high and mighty ruler of the universe who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth, most heartily we beseech thee with thy favor to behold and bless thy servant THE PRESIDENT and all others in authority and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts, grant them in health and prosperity long to live, and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, from whom cometh every good and perfect gift, send down upon our Bishops and other Clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge the healthful Spirit of thy grace, and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially, we pray for thy holy Church universal that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit in the bond of peace and in righteousness of Ilfe. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate;* that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities giving them patience under their sufferings and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. [*especially those for whom our prayers are desired] Amen.

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 Ilfe, 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 show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves 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. [*particularly sald when any desire to return thanks...to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them]. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests, fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, and In Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into Hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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. 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 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.

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ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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O GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us the sons of God and heirs of eternal life, grant us, we beseech thee, that having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure, that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth forever, one God, world without end. Amen.

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O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth, send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity; the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee.  Grant this for thine only son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen

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ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou has made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

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O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

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O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, and nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us thy mercy that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our Lord. Amen.

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ALMIGHTY, and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray,  and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things wereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

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