Part 2 (2/2)

30. Thanks returned after Labor.

Almighty, eternal and gracious G.o.d! I praise and thank Thee for Thy most holy presence and a.s.sistance, which Thou hast shown unto me this day, for without Thee I certainly could have done nothing, hence Thou alone art worthy to receive the praise. I beseech Thee, to permit these labors to be pleasing unto Thee, and to redound to the well-being of myself and neighbors, both bodily and spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost, true G.o.d, lives and reigns to all eternity. Amen.

31. Prayer during a Journey.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou ever-gracious Lord and Saviour! Thou who hast become a guest and stranger for us upon earth, I come unto Thee humbled in heart, and beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst permit my whole life and walk to be acceptable unto Thee. Preserve me also upon this my journey by the protection of Thy beloved angels upon all my ways graciously from all evil and accident, misfortune and danger of soul and body, so that I may successfully accomplish my work and return again to my beloved ones, in health and in vigor. Unto Thee alone, O Lord, do I commit my body and soul, all that I have and possess, during my journey. Do Thou direct my course and way to my welfare and blessedness. In the mean time do Thou faithfully protect my loved ones at home, that we may meet each other again in health and happiness. And when I have finally accomplished my journey of life here in this world, receive me unto Thyself, into Thy glory, by a peaceful and a blessed death. Amen.

32. Prayer while beginning a Journey at Sea.

Eternal G.o.d, behold, I now journey upon the deep, and commit myself to the wild, rough sea; here on the waters I am tossed to and fro between heaven and earth, how shall this little s.h.i.+p, small and weak in structure, which cannot protect itself, protect me? On whom then shall I, wretched man, put my trust? Alas, O G.o.d and Lord, alone upon Thee and Thy fatherly power and care, for neither man nor any of Thy creatures can save me. The wind bloweth whithersoever it will, the sea lifts up its waves, beneath me I see neither ground nor foundation, and above the lone heavens. The men who a.s.sist me are in like danger and care; wherefore, O G.o.d, I lift my eyes alone unto Thee, from whom cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. To Thee do I commit myself both body and soul, life and property. Unto Thee alone do I look, in Thee alone do I put my trust, my hope is in Thee, there is no help in man. Bear Thou this little s.h.i.+p on Thy wings, and preserve me within and be with me in the s.h.i.+p, else, O Lord, we perish; but if I only have Thee, I will ask nothing of heaven or earth! Yea, while I now depart from land and leave the same behind me, help me, to forsake and deny all confidence in worldly and human a.s.sistance, and to commit myself unto Thee alone.

Lord, behold, I have entirely submitted to Thy will, do unto me as may seem good in Thy sight, that it may redound to the welfare and salvation of my soul. I commit myself into Thy hands, for Thou hast drawn me into Thy embrace, and no one shall pluck me out of Thy hand, because I am a member of Christ's fold, and a sheep of his pastures, wherein I will gladly live and die by the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

33. Prayer of a Seafarer during a Storm.

Almighty G.o.d, Thou G.o.d of the righteous! Thou who hast made the sea and the dry land, and upholdest all things by Thy hand, and raisest the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves, so that the s.h.i.+p is tossed now to the heavens, and now down again to the depths, that a person is reeled to and fro like a drunken man at his wit's end, as the Holy Spirit says.

We are now in great danger and distress in this our journey on the sea.

As Thou hast said: ”Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee,” we therefore in this our great need, from which no creature can save us but Thou alone, hold out to Thee thy word with believing hearts, and humbly ask Thee to manifest Thy power according to Thy great mercy, and say unto the wind and the sea: Peace, be still! and graciously protect us from s.h.i.+pwreck and danger, hold and preserve us by Thy gracious hand, and redeem us graciously from this danger, and we will praise Thy name as long as we live, never forget Thy deeds of mercy and amend our lives so that henceforth they may conform to Thy holy Word.

Alas! Lord, be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins for Jesus Christ's sake. Alas! help us, lest we peris.h.!.+ Alas! Lord, redeem us for Thy mercy's sake! But if it be Thy will here to end our lives, then give unto us Christian patience, preserve us in the true faith and give us the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls! Thou canst redeem from death, Thou canst also redeem us out of this danger. Hear us, hear us, hear us, Lord G.o.d Father, for Jesus Christ's sake! Lord Jesus, for the sake of Thy five blessed wounds! Lord G.o.d, Holy Spirit for the sake of Thy mercy and grace! Help us, Lord G.o.d, the Father! Help us, Lord G.o.d, the Son! Help us, Lord G.o.d, the Holy Ghost, for Thy own sake, and for the honor of Thy name, and for Thy infinite mercy's sake. Amen.

A brief Instruction concerning Confession and Absolution.

My dear Christian, when you come to confession, you must not be satisfied in repeating with the mouth a prayer which you have committed to memory, or to permit a prayer of confession to be repeated to you by your confessor, but you must yourself bring with you a penitent heart, out of which your confession will then freely flow, for to confess without a penitent heart is mocking G.o.d, and without it no forgiveness of sins can take place.

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