18th Century – A Collection of Prayers

Bless My Life with Growth in Grace

Blessed fountain of life, I praise you for your vital breath of life!
Bless my life with growth in grace,
and increase my knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Lengthen my patience,
strengthen my soul in humility and zeal,
and set my heart and mind on things above.
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
Heavenly Father, teach me to do what pleases you,
lead me by your gracious Spirit,
and renew your holy image within me.
I ask and hope through Jesus Christ our Lord,
in whom we have received all the fullness of your grace. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from a prayer by Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) in Prayers Ancient and Modern, p. 238 (August 25).

Original in traditional English:

O Thou ever blessed fountain of life, I bless Thee that Thou hast infused into me Thine own vital breath, so that I am become a living soul. It is my earnest desire that I may not only live, but grow; grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May I grow in patience and fortitude of soul, in humility and zeal, in spirituality and a heavenly disposition of mind. In a word, as Thou knowest I hunger and thirst after righteousness, make me whatever Thou wouldest delight to see me. Draw on my soul, by the gentle influences of Thy gracious Spirit, every trace and every feature which Thine eye, O heavenly Father, may survey with pleasure, and which Thou mayest acknowledge as Thine own image. I ask and hope it through Him of whose fulness we have all received — Amen.

Christmas Acclamation

Praise and adoration
be to our God,
for he is good.
His grace and mercy
fill the heavens and earth.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
and joyfully praise
our creator.

As a father,
he loves us,
his children.
Sing his praises
with joyful thanks
in love and devotion!
Let us love him
who has loved us
since the world began.
Who would not
love God from the heart?

We can not give him
adequate praise.
Still, in heaven
he receives with goodwill
our joyful songs of praise
and pours much joy into our souls,
whenever we thank him,
whenever we live in him.

Sing to Jesus Christ
praise, thanks and glory,
for he came from heaven
to destroy sin and death for us
and by his precious, willing sacrifice,
restored innocence and peace.

Already here on earth
he renews joy and life to us
by his grace.
Still greater bliss is prepared there
for those who love him
when one day they will be renewed in his image,
made new and holy,
and awakened from death.

Let us rejoice in our holy God!
Let us rejoice in our eternal God!
How blessed it is to praise him
here, and then in heaven.
He is our holiness!
He is our life!
He always loves us, his children.

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Am Feste der Geburt Jesu, p. 62-64, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

festegeburt

Enlightenment and Joy, Wisdom and Comfort, Rest and Peace

The Lord enlighten you
through the teachings of Jesus Christ
and strengthen you as you walk in his light.

The Lord give you joy
as he shows you his Fatherly mercies
new every morning.

The Lord give you wisdom in happiness,
comfort in suffering,
rest in death,
and one day,
the peace of eternal life.

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Segenswünsche, p. 146#5, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Der Herr erleuchte euch alle durch die Lehre Jesu Christi, und gebe euch Kraft, in ihrem Lichte zu wandeln!

Der Herr erfreue euch taglich durch neue Beweise seiner Vatergüte.

Der Herr gebe euch Weisheit in Glucke, Trost im Leiden, Ruhe im Tode und einst den Frieden des ewigen Lebens!

Translation note:

Literally, the first strophe is “The Lord enlighten you through the teachings of Jesus Christ and strengthen you as you walk in their light.” I thought it was less confusing, and more direct, to say “his light.”

The second strophe is translated more freely to state clearly what the original implies, “his mercies are new every morning.”

May the Almighty, All-Wise, All-Good God Bless Us

God, the almighty
guide us in all our doings,
protect us in every danger,
help us in every need!

God, the all-wise
make everything work for our good,
according to his purpose.

God, the all-good
free us from all the afflictions
of Eden’s fall
on that day
when he gives us
the unending bliss
of eternal life.

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Segenswünsche, p. 146#3, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Gott, der Allmächtige, sey unser Beistand in jedem Geschäft, unsre Zuversicht in jeder Gefahr, unsre Hülfe in jeder Noth!
Gott, der Allweise, lasse alle unsere Schicksale uns zum besten dienen!
Gott, der Allgütige, löse einst all’ unser Edenleiden auf in die überschängliche Wonne des ewigen Lebens!

Translation note:

“according to his purpose” was added for clarity, and to make a stronger connection with Romans 8:28.

“from all the afflictions of Eden’s fall…” was translated more freely for the sake of clarity.

Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Peace, Blessing

The Lord bless us with wisdom,
with courage and strength to do his will!

The Lord keep our souls pure,
our consciences at peace,
our hearts content!

The Lord grant us a portion
of his blessing in this life,
and one day,
the higher joys of eternal life!

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Segenswünsche, p. 146#2, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

Original in German:

Der Herr segne uns mit Weisheit, mit Muth und Kraft zu guten Thaten!
Der Herr erhalte unfre Seele rein, unser Gewissen ruhig, unser Herz zufrieden!
Der Herr verleih’ uns unser bescheiden Theil vom Lebensglük und einst die höhere Wonne des ewigen Lebens!

The Lord Bless You with His Goodness, Rest, Power, Wisdom, Patience, Hope

May the Lord show you
the greatness of his goodness,
that you overflow with thanks
every day.

May the Lord bless you abundantly
with rest for the heart,
power for virtue,
wisdom for life,
and patience in suffering.

May the Lord bless you
with joyful hope,
and one day
with the inexpressible joys
of eternal life.

Source: Schleswig-Hosteinsche Kirchen-Agende, 1797, Segenswünsche, p. 146#1, translated for A Collection of Prayers.

The original (as seen below) gives the option of saying this blessing with the pronouns we, us and our as indicated.

Der Herr lasse euch (uns) alle täglich erfahren
und dankbar fühlen, wie freundlich er ist!
Der Herr fegne euch (uns) reichlich mit Ruhe des Herzens,
mit Kraft zur Tugend, mit Weisheit des Lebens, und mit Geduld im Leiden!
Der Herr beselige euch (uns) mit froher Hofnung,
und einst mit unausfprechlichen Genuffe des ewigen Lebens!

Jesus, Help!

We hasten with weak, yet eager footsteps,
O Jesus, O Master, for your help alone!
You tirelessly seek out the sick and those who have gone astray.
Oh, hear us, as we, our voices raised, pray for your help!
May your merciful countenance be gracious unto us!

Source: Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Rist, Cantata BWV 78

Text of the original Rist hymn can be found at Hymnary.org and on www.bach-cantatas.com

Poet who adapted the hymn for the Cantata libretto is unknown.

Musical setting from The Joy of Bach:

Another video with clearer audio can be seen and heard here:

Original in German:

Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir!
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.
Ach, höre, wie wir die Stimme erheben, um Hilfe zu bitten!
Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!

Give Your Blessing to Our Daily Work

thomas_arnold_by_thomas_phillips O Lord,
give your blessing to our daily work,
that we may do it in faith, with all our hearts,
as working for the Lord and not for human masters.
All our powers of body and mind are yours,
and we devote them to your service.
Sanctify us and the work in which we are engaged;
let us not be lazy, but diligent in spirit.
O Lord, bless our efforts
that they may bring forth in us
the fruits of true wisdom.
Teach us to seek truth and lead us to find it,
but grant that we may always speak the truth in love,
that while we know earthly things,
we may know you, and be known by you,
through and in your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us this day your Holy Spirit,
that we may be yours in body and spirit
in all our work and all our refreshments;
through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Thomas Arnold, d. 1842

Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers Ancient and Modern by Mary Wilder Tileston, Boston, Little Brown, 1914, p. 86

“with all our hearts… not for human masters” is a reference to Colossians 3:23

“let us not be lazy” is a reference to Romans 12:11

“the fruits of true wisdom” may be a reference to James 3:17

“always speak the truth in love” is a reference to Ephesians 4:15

“we may know you, and be known by you” is a reference to Galatians 4:9

“that we may be yours in body and spirit” may be a reference to 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Prepare Us for All the Events of This Day

O Lord,
prepare us for all the events of this day,
for we do not know what a day may bring forth.
Give us to stand complete in your whole will;
to deny ourselves,
to take up our cross daily,
and to follow Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Modified from Miscellaneous Writings of Matthew Henry, (Wikipedia: Matthew Henry, d. 1714)

“to deny ourselves, to take up our cross daily…” is a reference to Luke 9:23

Table Graces by Matthew Henry

An address to God before a meal.

O Lord our God, in you we live and move and have our being and from you we receive all the supports and comforts of our being. You spread our table and fill our cup and comfort us with the gifts of your goodness from day to day. We depend on you and owe everything to you. Pardon our sins, sanctify the good things you have created for our use, and give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully, and to eat and drink not to ourselves, but to your glory; through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.

Another.

Gracious God, you are the protector and preserver of the whole creation. You have fed us all our lives to this day with food convenient for us, even though we are evil and unthankful. Forgive all our sins by which we have forfeited all your mercies, and let us see our forfeited right restored in Christ Jesus. Give us a taste of your unfailing love in everyday mercies and to use these and all our creature comforts to the glory of our great Benefactor; through the grace of our great Redeemer. Amen.

An address to God after a meal.

Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with his benefits and gives us all things richly to enjoy, though we serve him but poorly. O Lord, we thank you for present refreshments in the use of the good things you have created, and for your love to our souls in Jesus Christ, which sweetens all things. Pardon our sins, continue to do us good, provide for the poor that are destitute of daily food, fit us for your whole will, and be our God and guide and portion forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Another.

We thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for all the gifts both of your providence and of your grace; for those blessings which relate to the life we now have, and of the life to come, and for the use of the good things you have created at this time. Make complete, O God, all that we need. Nourish our souls with the bread of life to life eternal, and let us be those who will eat bread in the kingdom of our Father; for Christ Jesus’ sake, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Source: Modified from Miscellaneous Writings of Matthew Henry, (Wikipedia: Matthew Henry, d. 1714)