3. Sunday Evening Prayer — 4. Another Sunday Evening Prayer.
Lord, almighty God and heavenly Father, I most heartily thank Thee for all Thy goodness and benefits which Thou hast this day so kindly shown unto me, in that Thou hast defended me from evil and preserved my health. And I, Thy dear child, further pray Thee that Thou wouldst mercifully keep me in Thy alone saving word to my last breath, and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may know what is good or evil. And wouldst graciously wipe out the remembrance of all the sins which I this day have knowingly done, also of my secret sins, and grant me this night a christian rest, that I may arise again refreshed and in health, to Thy praise. Help also, dear Father, that I may begin a new life, well pleasing in Thy sight, to the salvation of my soul, in Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only Helper. Amen.
We adore and praise Thee, Lord God, Father of heaven and earth, that Thou hast so bountifully supplied us this day not only with our daily bread to nourish the body, but also with the heavenly food of Thy word for our souls. Grant, O faithful God, that it may remain in our hearts, and bring forth much fruit to Thy honor and our salvation. We also pray Thy fatherly goodness not to deprive us of Thy pure word and ministry; and that Thou wouldst not visit upon us the sins wherewith we may have desecrated this day, but forgive them according to Thy great goodness, and for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ. And finally, let us this day, and all the remaining time of our mortal life in this vale of tears, be commended to Thy fatherly blessing and divine protection; and may Thy holy angels keep charge over us, that the wicked one may have no power over us.
But as the evening of this world is now approaching, and the day is far spent, grant us the grace of Thy Spirit, that we may constantly watch, and, in living faith, ardent love, firm hope and a holy walk and demeanor, wait for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead, in order that we may then receive Him in a worthy manner and with joy, enter with Him into eternal life, and celebrate with all the elect the Sabbath without end. Have mercy, O Lord! upon Thy whole Christian Church, and deliver Thy poor persecuted flock from all oppression, mockery and tyranny, comfort all anxious and troubled consciences by the true comforter, the Holy Spirit, and send us all Thy peace through Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and only Mediator. Amen.
