16th Century – Page 8 – A Collection of Prayers

I Come According to Your Command

Heavenly Father, dearest God,
I am an unworthy, poor sinner,
not worthy to lift my eyes or hands to you
or to pray.
But since you have commanded us all to pray,
and since you have promised to hear,
and since you have taught us by word and example
through your dear Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come to you,
according to your command,
obedient to you,
and relying on your gracious promise,
and in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ,
with all your holy Christians on earth,
I pray as he has taught me:

Our Father…

Source: Martin Luther, in Die Gebete Luthers, #135.

Original in German:

Ach himmlischer Vatter, du lieber GOtt, ich bin eyn unwürdiger, armer Sünder, nicht werth, das ich meine augen oder hende gegen dir auffhebe oder bette. Aber weil du uns allen gebotten hast zu betten und darzu auch erhörung verheyssen und über1 dasselbe uns beyde wort und weise gelehret durch deinen lieben Son, unsern Herren Jesum Christ, so komme ich auff solch dein Gebott, dir gehorsam zu sein, und verlasse mich auff deine gnädige verheyssung, und im Namen meines HErrn Jesu Christi bette ich mit allen deinen heyligen Christen auff Erden, wie er mich gelehret hat:

Litany for Matins

Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you.
Glory to you, who gave me sleep to refresh my weakness
and to repay the toils of this weak flesh.
To this day, and all days,
a peaceful, healthy, sinless course,
Grant, O Lord.

The angel of peace,
a faithful guide, guardian of souls and bodies,
to encamp around me
and to encourage all that is good,
Grant, O Lord.

Pardon and forgiveness of all sins and offences,
Grant, O Lord.

To our souls, whatever is good and convenient,
and peace to the world,
Grant, O Lord.

Whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
such thoughts and such deeds,
Grant, O Lord.

A Christian death,
without sin,
without shame,
and if it pleases you, without pain,
and a good answer before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, O Lord. Amen.

Source: Bishop Andrews, in Service and Prayers for Church and Home, p. 14 (modified)

Give us Faithful Hearts

O Lord, give us
wise, self-controlled,
patient, understanding,
devout, faithful,
and courageous hearts.
Fill our souls with
devotion to your service,
and strength against all temptations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Archbishop Laud, 1573
Source of this version: Service and Prayers for Church and Home edited by Wilbur Patterson Thirkield, 1918

Original in traditional English:

Give unto us, O Lord, we humbly beseech thee, a wise, a sober, a patient, an understanding, a devout, a religious, a courageous heart; a soul full of devotion to do thee service, strength against all temptations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Remembering John the Baptist

John the Baptist has two commemorations. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, June 24, his ‘birthday,’ is six months before Jesus’ ‘birthday,’ December 25. Saints are usually remembered on their ‘birthday to life eternal.’ The Christian Church also observes the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist on August 29.

Dear Lord God,
we thank and praise you for giving us the blessed John the Baptist
and for his joyful preaching and blessed pointing
to Christ the Lamb of God,
that we may know where to find salvation and eternal life
so that we may have comfort
and redemption against sin and death
and that God’s goodness and grace may comfort us forever.
God grant this to us all. Amen.

Martin Luther, Die Gebete Luthers, #677

Rest for Those Who Obey Your Word

Image of The Primer in Latin and Englishe (after the vse of Sarum) : with many godlye and deuoute prayers, as in the contentes doth appere. Whereunto is added a playne and godly treatise concerning the Masse, and the blessed Sacramente of the aulter, ... — Title page of the Sarum Primer of 1555, from http://dcc.newberry.org

Lord,
you alone are God,
the gracious and merciful.
You command those who love your name
to cast away all fear and care,
and to lay their burdens on you.
Keep us under your protection,
and give us now and always
that everlasting rest,
which you have promised
to those who obey your word;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: Primer of 1555, in Daily Prayer.

Original in traditional English:

Lord, who alone art God, the gracious and merciful; who commandest them that love thy Name to cast away all fear and care, and to lay their burden upon thee: Receive us under thy protection, and give us now and evermore that everlasting rest, which thou hast promised to them that obey thy word; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer at the Birth of a Child

Almighty and eternal God,
we thank you for this your blessing
of the birth of a healthy child.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
receive this child into your care forever,
for you have commanded
that the little children be brought to you.
So we pray, moved by your Word
that you would make this child your own
through your precious blood.
Give this child grace, blessing,
strength, power and prosperity
so that we might bring this child to you with joy
to enter your kingdom through holy Baptism,
and give thanks for your grace with all God-fearing hearts.
Amen.

Enlighten Us

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you prepared your Son
to be our Savior,
a light for the gentiles
and the glory of Israel.
We pray,
enlighten our hearts
that we may know
your grace
and fatherly will
toward us
in Christ,
and through him
be saved forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Coburg Agenda, found in Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #584.

Herr Gott, himmlischer Vater, der du deinen Sohn uns zum Heiland bereitet hast, daß er der Heiden Licht und der Juden Preis sein soll: wir bitten dich, erleuchte unsre Herzen, daß wir deine Gnade und väterlichen Willen gegen uns in ihm erkennen, und durch ihn ewig selig werden, durch denselben deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.

Keep Us Safe, Lead Us Home

Dear God,
lead us with the Wise Men
by the star of your holy Word
to your Son, Christ Jesus,
and always protect us
from every attack.

Then we will return
to our home country
by another route,
that is, to God
by whom we are created,
and finally come to the source again,
as in a great golden ring.

God help us,
through Christ,
our King and Priest,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, translated for A Collection of Prayers from Gebetbuch, enthaltend die sämtlichen Gebete und Seufzer Martin Luther’s, ….Evangelischer Bücher-Verein, 1866, #575.

Original in German:

Lieber Gott, führe uns mit den Weisen durch den Stern deines heiligen Worts zu deinem Sohn Christo Jesu, und bewahre uns vor allem Anstoß in Ewigkeit, so kommen wir recht in unser Vaterland, da wir herkommen sind, das ist zu Gott, von dem wir geschaffen sind, und kommt das Ende mit dem Ursprung wieder zusammen, wie ein goldener Ring; das helf uns Gott durch Christum, unsern König und Priester in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Our Immanuel

We thank you,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
that you are the Word
and living image of the eternal Father,
our Immanuel.
You took on yourself our human nature,
and you support and protect
your Christendom
against your enemy, the devil.
Give us us the light of your holy Word.
Forgive us our sins and give us eternal life.
Be our mediator and intercessor,
and plead for us.
Hear and help us as you have promised:
“Come to me, all who labor
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.”
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us before your everlasting Father,
sanctify and rule in us with your Holy Spirit.
Protect us against all treachery and terror,
and the lies and murder of the devil
so that with pure and joyful hearts
we may serve you;
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you live and reign
forever and ever.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 284. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

“Word” is a reference to John 1:1

“living image of the eternal Father” may be a reference to Colossians 1:15 or Hebrews 1:3

“Immanuel” is a reference to Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.

“Mediator” and “Pray for us before your everlasting Father” is a reference to Hebrews 9:15.

“Intercessor” is a reference to Hebrews 9:24.

“Come to me,…” is a reference to Matthew 11:28.

“lies and murder of the devil” is based on John 8:44.

Original in German

Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christe, du Sohn des lebendigen Gottes, der du bist das Wort und Ebenbild des ewigen Vaters und unser Immanuel, daß du menschliche Natur hast angenomme, und erhältst und beschirmst deine Christenheit, wider die Teufel, deine Feinde, gibst uns und erhältst das Licht deines heiligen Worts, vergibst uns unsere Sünde und gibst uns das ewige Leben und bist unser Mittler, Fürbitter, und Fürsprecher und willt uns erhören und helfen wie du gesprochen hast; Kommet her zu mir Alle die ihr mühselig und be laden seid ich will euch erquicken; wir bitten dich, erbarme dich unser, bitte für uns deinen ewigen Vater, heilige und regiere uns mit deinem heiligen Geiste, beschirme uns wider alle List und Gewalt, Lügen und Mord des bösen Geistes, auf daß wir mit einem reinen und fröhlichen Herzen dir allezeit dienen mögen, der du mit dem Vater und dem heiligen Geiste lebest und regierest von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, Amen.

Awaken Us

Advent 1

Dear Lord God,
awaken us,
that we may be ready
when your dear Son comes,
that we may receive him with joy
and serve you with pure hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, p. 282. Translated for A Collection of Prayers.

This prayer has also been attributed to Martin Luther. [Die Gebete Luthers, #10]

Original in German:

Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf, daß wir bereit sind, wenn dein lieber Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen Sohn Jesum Christum, unsern Herrn. Amen.