who drivest sleep from mine eyes, and slumber from mine eyelids; who makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to praise Thee; because I laid me down and slept and rose up again, because I waked and beheld, and my sleep was sweet unto me. grant me to be a child of light, a child of the day, from the snare of the hunter from the arrow that flieth by day, against the evil of this day defend Thou me. nor my years in sorrow. One day telleth another, and one night certifieth another. O let me hear Thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, for in Thee is my trust; show Thou me the way that I should walk in, Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies, Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee, let Thy loving SPIRIT lead me forth into the land of righteousness. Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy Name's sake, bring my soul out of trouble; let mine eyes look right on, and let mine eyelids look straight before me. lest they incline to undisciplined words. and open mine ears to the instruction of Thy oracles. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. Let my word be seasoned with salt, that it may minister grace to the hearers. nor offence of heart. Let me do some work for which Thou wilt remember me, LORD, for good, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy. Into Thine hands I commend my spirit, soul, and body, which Thou hast created, redeemed, regenerated, O LORD, Thou GOD of truth; and together with me all mine and all that belongs to me. Thou hast vouchsafed them to me, LORD, in Thy goodness. Guard us from all evil, guard our souls, I beseech Thee, O LORD. Guard us without falling, and place us immaculate in the presence of Thy glory in that day. Guard my going out and my coming in Prosper, I pray Thee, Thy servant this day, in the sight of those who meet him. and have mercy upon me; that they who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because Thou, LORD, hast holpen me and comforted me. Meditation. ORDER OF EVENING PRAYER'. The day is gone, and I give Thee thanks, O LORD. furnish it with brightness. As day has its evening so also has life; the even of life is age, age has overtaken me, furnish it with brightness. Cast me not away in the time of age; forsake me not when my strength faileth me. Even to my old age be Thou HE, and even to hoar hairs carry me ; do Thou make, do Thou bear, do Thou carry and deliver me. Abide with me, LORD, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent of this fretful life. Let Thy strength be made perfect Day is fled and gone, this lifeless life. Night cometh, and cometh death, the deathless death. Near as is the end of day, We then, also remembering it, beseech of Thee for the close of our life, Page 196, edit. 1675. that Thou wouldest direct it in peace, sinless, shameless, and, if it please Thee, painless, LORD, O LORD, gathering us together under the feet of Thine Elect, lest we be cast into outer darkness. Near is judgment; a good and acceptable answer of JESUS CHRIST vouchsafe to us, O LORD. By night I lift up my hands in the sanctuary, The LORD hath granted His loving-kindness and in the night season did I sing of Him, and made my prayer unto the GOD of my life. As long as I live will I magnify Thee on this manner, and lift up my hands in Thy Name. Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Blessed art Thou, O LORD, our God, the GOD of our fathers, who hast created the changes of days and nights, who givest songs in the night, who hast delivered us from the evil of this day, |