01. Daily Hand-Book
FOR
DAYS OF REJOICING AND OF SORROW.
CONTAINING
Exhortations, Prayers and Hymns, for use,
1. IN HEALTH.
2. IN SICKNESS.
3. IN TROUBLE.
4. IN THE DYING HOUR.
WITH VARIOUS FESTIVAL EXERCISES AND MANY BEAUTIFUL
PENANCES, SHRIFTS, COLLECTS,
PRAYERS FOR GOOD WEATHER, MORNING AND EVENING PRAYERS
AND SERVICE FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, AS ALSO
PRAYERS IN TIME OF WAR, OF DEATH, OF PESTI-
LENCE, AND OF PEACE, BEING OF GREAT
USE ON ALL OCCASIONS, AND
Embellished with Prints.
With an Appendix of Morning and Evening Prayers, Exhortations, and
Hymns for times of Pregnancy and Labor.
Translated from the Original German Edition.
PHILADELPHIA:
PUBLISHED BY I. KOHLER,
No. 911 ARCH STREET.
1879.
BV4834
S 712
ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 1855, BY
I. KOHLER,
IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE EASTERN
DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE
SHERMAN & CO., PRINTERS.
OF CONGRESS
WASHINGTON
PREFACE.
DEAR CHRISTIAN READER:—
THE present Hand-book of the learned, pious, and lowly-minded pastor and consistorial counsellor, John Frederick Stark, who was gathered to the bosom of his Lord on the 17th of July, 1756, at Frankfort on the Main, has, ere this, quickened and comforted many thousands of souls, and made of their dying hour an hour of joy. It therefore requires no further recommendation. Having been first published in 1728, it has now been regarded by rich and poor, for more than a hundred years, as an indispensable part of the family library, and read with eagerness and profit wherever the German language is spoken. This eagerness for such nourishment of the soul, has naturally led to numerous editions, published at various times and places. The edition from which this translation was made, is particularly remarkable for a careful revision made by a brother in the faith of J. F. Stark, in the course of which, besides the correcting of numerous errors of the press which had crept into former editions, obsolete words and phrases 1*
PREFACE.
were struck out, and some repetitions expunged. It was also augmented by the addition of some prayers referring to the weather, conceived entirely in the spirit of Stark, the want of which had been sensibly experienced. You have here, therefore, dear Christian reader, a correct English transcript of the same old Stark which has comforted the sorrows of your grandfathers and great-grandfathers, making, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a stark, strong man, of many a tottering, feeble one. May this volume, so visibly blest of God, become your hand-book also, and bring comfort to your drooping spirits, in hours of sorrow!
The publisher flatters himself that the fair, legible type adopted, by adapting the book even to those of feeble vision, as well as the low price at which it is offered, will show that he has spared neither pains nor labor to disseminate the work among all classes of the people, for the welfare of souls. This, Christian reader, is what I desired to tell you before you read the book itself. Let me only add, that I hope for the blessing of God on your reading and your prayers! Amen.
Soul.
Jesus.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."—Ps. xxiii 2.
"Knowest thou not that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?—Ro-mans ii. 4.
If thou hast health and strength, and peace within thy heart,
Praise God, and of thy bliss let others have a part.
PART I.
EXHORTATIONS, PRAYERS AND HYMNS