FORMS OF PRAYER TO BE USED AT SEA. ¶ The Morning and Evening Service to be used daily at sea, shall be the same which is appointed in the Book of Common Prayer. These two following Prayers may be also used in ships of war. ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds, until day and night come to an end; be pleased to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection, the persons of us thy servants, and the fleet [or ship] in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto the United States of America, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our land may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labour; and, with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies, to praise and glorify thy holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DIRECT The Collect. IRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name; and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayers to be used in storms at sea. MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, at whose command the winds blow, and lift up the waves of the sea, and who stillest the rage thereof; we, thy creatures, but miserable sinners, do in this our great distress cry unto thee for help: Save, Lord, or else we perish. We confess, when we have been safe, and seen all things quiet about us, we have forgotten thee our God, and refused to hearken to the still voice of thy word, and to obey thy commandments: but now we see how terrible thou art in all thy works of wonder; the great God to be feared above all; and therefore we adore thy divine Majesty, acknowledging thy power, and imploring thy goodness. Help, Lord, and save us for thy mercies' sake, in Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord. Amen. Or this. MOST glorious and gracious Lord God, who dwellest in heaven, but beholdest all things below; look down, we beseech thee, and hear us, calling out of the depths of misery, and out of the jaws of this death, which is now ready to swallow us up: Save, Lord, or else we perish. The living, the living shall praise thee. O send thy word of command to rebuke the raging winds and the roaring sea; that we, being delivered from this distress, may live to serve thee, and to glorify thy name all the days of our life. Hear, Lord, and save us, for the infinite merits of our blessed Saviour, thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The Prayer to be said before a fight at sea against any enemy. MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, the Lord of hosts, that rulest and commandest all things; thou sittest in the throne judging right, and therefore we make our address to thy divine Majesty, in this our necessity, that thou wouldest take the cause into thine own hand, and judge between us and our enemies. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us; for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few. O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance; but hear us thy poor servants begging mercy, and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldest be a defence unto us against the face of the enemy: Make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Short Prayers for single persons, who cannot meet to join in prayer with others, by reason of the fight, or storm. L General Prayers. ORD be merciful to us sinners, and save us for thy mercies' sake. Thou art the great God, who hast made and rulest all things: 0 deliver us for thy name's sake. Thou art the great God to be feared above all: O save us, that we may praise thee. THOU Special Prayers with respect to the enemy. HOU, O Lord, are just and powerful: O defend our cause against the face of the enemy. O God, thou art a strong tower of defence to all who fly unto thee: 0 save us from the violence of the enemy. O Lord of hosts, fight for us that we may glorify thee. O suffer us not to sink under the weight of our sins, or the violence of the enemy. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy name's sake. Short Prayers in respect of a storm. NHOU, O Lord, who stillest the raging of the sea, hear, hear us, and TH save us, that we perish not. O blessed Saviour, who didst save thy disciples ready to perish in a storm; hear us, and save us, we beseech thee. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. O Christ, hear us. |