FOR MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. Whenever a Domestic anniversary occurs on a Fast day or any solemn Festival, it may be desirable to postpone its observance to the first day which is not a Fast, or if that is a Sunday, then to the Monday following. For the Children, (Bp. Cosin.) ALMIGHTY God, the Father and Maker of us all, who of thy goodness hast blessed this thy family with [that heritage that cometh of thee]; grant us thy heavenly grace and assistance so to train up our children in thy godly nurture and virtue, religion and discipline, that they may continually serve, honour, and obey thee, their heavenly Father; and thou, acknowledging and blessing them as thy children here, mayest bring them to the blessings prepared for thy children hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OR THIS. (Jer. Taylor, Bp.) ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, bless the children of this family, we humbly beseech thee, with healthful bodies, and good understandings, with the graces and gifts of thy Holy Spirit, and with sweet dispositions and holy habits. [Especially watch over those To be added when now far from us, and committed to any of the children are at school, &c. (See the care and instruction of others.] also p. 233.) To be added when wayward disposition [Forgive each one of them all their sins, negligences, and igno- any continue in a rances, and endue them with the or in evil habits. grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend their lives according to thy Holy word.] May thy mercy and providence lead them through all the dangers and temptations of this evil world, and sanctify them wholly in their bodies and souls and spirits, and keep them unblameable to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. For a form of "Parental Benediction," see page 209. The Collect, "Lord of all power and might," (7th S. after Trinity) is also appropriate. For the Household. (Jer. Taylor, Bp.) ALMIGHTY God, merciful and gracious, have mercy upon this whole household. Sanctify them with thy grace, preserve them with thy providence, guard them from all evil, [make them faithful and diligent in the discharge of their several duties, living, not as unto us, but unto thee,] direct them in the ways of peace and holy religion by the conduct of thy most Holy Spirit, and consign them all, with a full participation of thy blessings and graces in this world, with healthful bodies, with good understandings, and sanctified spirits, to a full fruition of thy glories hereafter, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For a form of Family Benediction, see page 240. The Collect, "Almighty and merciful God," (13th S. after Trinity) is also appropriate. For Absent Members or Friends. GOD, merciful and gracious, who art everywhere present, let thy loving mercy and compassion descend upon the heads of thy servants, [the master, mistress*, children, &c.] now absent from amongst us or desiring our prayers: [especially remember those in distant lands, dwelling (or whom in the colonies or other To be added for any thou hast called to labour) among foreign parts, and see the heathen and unconverted :] de- p. 108. ...... pute thine Angels to guard their persons, may thy Holy Spirit guide their souls, thy Providence minister to their necessities; let the hand of thy blessing be upon them night and day, sanctify them throughout in their bodies, souls, and spirits, keep them unblameable to the coming of the Lord Jesus, and make them and us to dwell with thee for ever in thy favour, in the light of thy countenance, and in thy glory, for Jesus' sake. Amen. Here or in the daily Prayers it would be very proper to mention the parents or other aged relations still living. Before the Birth of a Child. For the Mistress, during the hours of her travail. (Bp. Cosin.) MERCIFUL Lord, who, when thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, didst not abhor the Virgin's womb, but when the fulness of time came, wast thyself made of a woman; we humbly beseech thee, for thy tender pity and goodness, to protect and strengthen (thy dear servant, the mistress of this family,) against all the dangers and pains of her labour and travail, that through thy most mighty aid, she may be safely delivered of the fruit which thou hast created in her womb. [Forsake her not when her strength faileth, when her spirits faint, but moderate her pain, if it be thy blessed will.] And when it is born and brought forth into the world, vouchsafe also that it may be born again by Baptism, and brought up in thy holy religion, till it be finally brought to thine everlasting kingdom, where, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, thou livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Amen. On the Birth of a Child. To be used until the day of its Baptism. HOW can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a wo?Job xxv. man Behold I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. Ps. li. Lo, children, and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord. Ps. cxxvii. APPROPRIATE PSALMS. (From two Prayers of Jeremy Taylor, Bp.) adapted. If it please God to call the mother to himself this prayer must be omitted. LORD God, Father of mercies, the Fountain of comfort and blessing, of life and peace, of plenty and pardon, who fillest heaven with thy glory and earth with thy goodness; We give thee most earnest, most humble, and enlarged returns of glad and thankful hearts, for that thou hast refreshed us with thy comforts, and enlarged us with thy blessing. Praised be the Lord daily, even the Lord that helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us. [We pray thee, O Lord, full of mercy and consolation, thyself born of a woman, graciously support, strengthen, and preserve thy servant, the mistress [and mother] of this family, in her present weakness, and if it seem good to thee restore her in health to us again with strength to discharge all the duties thou hast allotted to her.] |