Thy service; and let the examples of Thy holy martyrs stir me up to patience and fortitude, that I may be a follower of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Amen. LORD our Maker, true fountain of light, and only source of knowledge, who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom hast with wonderful harmony disposed and ordered all the parts of the world: O Lord our Redeemer, Sun of Righteousness, evermore arising and never going down, who, by the hands of Thy servant Ananias, didst open the eyes of Saul, Thy chosen messenger, whom his own sins had blinded, and after that didst ordain him by countless labours to minister to Thy glory : O Lord, the Spirit of truth, who didst endue with most wonderful powers of persuasion Thy holy Apostles who first preached Thy Gospel to the world: O sacred Trinity, who by Thy powerful word didst at the first call the whole world out of darkness and confusion vouchsafe at this time to open : the eyes of Thy servant, that I may see the wondrous things of Thy law, and cast Thy blessed beams upon the darkness of my understanding, and the black mists of my sins and errors: guide me with Thine eye; direct and bless all the labours of my mind: and grant me with all wisdom and understanding, yet with all humility, to read Thy divine word and meditate therein, to the enlightening and purifying of my soul; through Jesus Christ. Amen. LORD God of truth, I humbly beseech Thee to enlighten my mind by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may discern the true way to eternal salvation, and be free from all prejudice and passion, from every corrupt affection and interest that may either blind me or seduce me in my search after it. Make me impartial in my enquiry after truth, and ready, whenever it is discovered to me, to receive it in the love of it, to obey it from the heart, and to practise it in my life, and to continue stedfast in the possession of it to the end of my days. I perfectly resign myself, O Lord, to Thy conduct and direction: in confidence that Thy mercy and goodness will not suffer those who sin cerely desire to know the truth, and rely upon Thy guidance, finally to miscarry. And if in anything which concerns the true worship and service of Thee, my God, and the everlasting happiness of my soul, I am in any error or mistake, I earnestly beg of Thee to convince me of it, and to lead me into the way of truth, and to confirm and establish me in it daily more and more. And I beseech Thee, O Lord, always to preserve in me a great compassion and sincere charity, towards those that are in error and ignorance of Thy truth: beseeching Thee to take pity on them and to bring them to the knowledge of it, that they may be saved. And because our blessed Saviour hath promised that all that do His will shall know His doctrine, grant, O Lord, that I may never knowingly offend Thee in anything, or neglect to do what I know to be Thy will and my duty. Grant, O heavenly Father, these my humble and hearty requests, for His sake, who is the way, the truth, and the life, my blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. 0 : GOD, in whom to believe is life eternal, grant that not being like a child carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, I may be fully established in the truth. Make me to know that not in new and fanciful doctrines, but in the old paths, is the right faith and let me be so grounded and settled therein, that the weakness and frailty of my own mind may be strengthened against the false reasonings of sceptics and infidels, and against the pride and wilfulness of libertines; and what I believe, may I so warmly feel, that I may warmly communicate it to the edifying of the body of Thy dear Son, in faith and love. Amen. RANT, O Lord, that all those who at this GR time shall be ordained to minister in holy things, may have a great sense of the dignity of their office and, as Thy ambassadors, may in all things have a due regard to the excellency of their character, and faithfully, diligently and prudently transact those great affairs which Thou hast entrusted to them: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |