Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week Part 1

Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week.

by John Habermann.

Preface

This little manual of prayers herewith offered to English speaking Christians in their own language, has long been one of the treasures of the German people. With the exception of a few prayers, as hereinafter noted, it was originally written by one of G.o.d's n.o.blemen, by one who "lived and moved and had his being" in the things of the Kingdom of G.o.d.

Dr. John Habermann (known also as Avenarius, Latinized form of Habermann) died 1590 as superintendent at Zeitz, was a famous preacher and a distinguished scholar of his day. He was noted for his profound knowledge of oriental languages especially of the Hebrew. Still it is not this but the fact of his little prayer book that has endeared him to his fellow Christians. And this manual of prayers is the mature product of an inner life rich in the grace of G.o.d. On every page it bears the stamp of one for whom the communion with the eternal Father in heaven through the faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior, is a blessed reality. Nothing more natural therefore also than that he should "live and move and have his being" in the language of the Word of G.o.d. And this is quite apparent in his prayer language. G.o.d's Word give him the terms to express his thoughts. Especially the Psalter, the prayer and hymn book of Israel, proves a veritable thesaurus of prayer terms and of these he makes a copious use.

The present little volume presents the Englished edition of "Wachet und Betet," as issued by the Synod of Iowa and other States. Owing to the exigencies of the times, with the great world war raging in all its fury, a special set of prayers for times of war has been added by the translator, in the hope that they will add to the usefulness of the book.

These are found on pages 131-138. The hymns as far as possible are given in the form as found in the new Common Service Book with Hymnal. Many of them however are new translations that here appear in print for the first time. For these we are indebted especially to Prof. Alfred Ramsey of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood, Chicago, and the Rev. H.

Brueckner of Iowa City, Iowa, a fact which is here gratefully acknowledged.

The labor of clothing these little gems of prayer into the language of the land has been done as a labor of love, albeit the stress of other work often precluded the continued effort. The work was done a bit at a time. This little volume is herewith issued with the fervent hope and prayer, that it may long continue on its course of blessing, and lead many lives into the closer communion with G.o.d, through Jesus Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!

E. H. R.

Waverly, Iowa, during the blessed season of Epiphany, 1918.

EXHORTATION TO PRAYER

Arise, dear soul, and carefully reflect who He is with whom thou speakest and before whom thou standest when thou prayest. Behold, thou speakest with G.o.d, thy Maker, and standest in the presence of Him, the eternal Majesty, whom thousand times thousand holy angels and arch-angels attend.

Therefore, O Christian, enter thou into the closet of thy soul, and beware, lest thou failest to put from thee all sluggishness of heart, and liftest up to thy G.o.d a countenance free from blame. Then wilt thou delight in the Lord and have power with Him, and prevail. Yea, thou wilt conquer the unconquerable G.o.d and bear away the blessing through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

_Our Father, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespa.s.ses, as we forgive those who trespa.s.s against us; And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen._

The Benediction

_The Lord bless thee, and keep thee._ _The Lord make His face to shine upon thee,_ _and be gracious unto thee._ _The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee,_ _and give thee peace. Amen._

Morning and Evening Prayers

Prayer for Sunday Morning.

Lord, our Heavenly Father, Eternal G.o.d! Blessed be Thy divine power and might; magnified Thy fathomless goodness and mercy; praised Thine eternal wisdom and truth. For Thou hast shielded me with Thy hand against the perils of this night, and hast suffered me to rest and slumber in peace under the shadow of Thy wings. Thou hast kept and safeguarded me with a father's care against the Evil One and all his wicked designs and purposes. Therefore, I magnify Thy goodness and the wonders which Thou doest for the children of men. I will exalt Thee in the congregation. Thy praise shall evermore be in my mouth. My soul shall bless Thee, O my Lord, all that is within me shall bless Thy holy name, and nevermore will I forget Thy benefits. May the praises of my lips, which in singleness of heart I bring before Thee at this early hour, be acceptable in Thy sight.

I call upon Thee with all my heart to preserve me this day against all danger of body and soul. May Thy holy angels have charge over me and keep me in all my ways. Encompa.s.s me with Thy shield and lead me on the paths of Thy commandments that, like the children of light, I may be blameless in Thy service, to Thy good pleasure. Stay the Evil One and all wickedness of this world. Restrain mine own flesh and blood that I be not overcome by them. Lead me with Thy Holy Spirit that I attempt, do, speak, or think nothing except what is well-pleasing in Thy sight and conducive to the glory of Thy divine Majesty. Behold, O G.o.d, I consecrate and dedicate myself entirely to Thy holy will, with body and soul, all my powers and abilities, inwardly and outwardly. Make me a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Thee, so that I may render Thee a reasonable and pleasing service. Therefore, Most Holy Father, Almighty G.o.d, let me be wholly Thine. Govern Thou my heart and soul, and all my emotions that I know and understand none but Thee. O Lord, in the morning wilt Thou hear my voice. Early will I seek Thee and look up to Thee. Early will I praise Thee, and will not cease when evening comes. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gott des Himmels und der Erden.

G.o.d, Who madest earth and heaven,-- Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Who the day and night hast given, Sun and moon, and starry host, Thou Whose mighty hand sustains Earth and all that it contains;

Praise to Thee my soul shall render, Who this night has guarded me, My omnipotent Defender, Who from ill doth set me free; Free from danger, anguish, woe, Free from the infernal foe.

Let the night of my transgression With night's darkness pa.s.s away; Jesus, into Thy possession I resign myself to-day.

In Thy wounds I find relief From my greatest sin and grief.

Let my life and conversation Be directed by Thy Word; Lord, Thy constant preservation To Thy erring child afford.

Nowhere but alone in Thee From all harm can I be free.

Wholly to Thy blest protection I commit my heart and mind; Mighty G.o.d! to Thy direction Wholly may I be resigned.

Lord, my Shield, my Light divine, O accept, and own me Thine.

Heinrich Albert, 1643.

Tr. John Christian Jacobi, 1720.

Arthur Tozer Russell, 1848.

Catherine Winkworth, 1855.

Prayer for Sunday Evening.

Eternal G.o.d, Merciful Father, I lift up my hands unto Thee as an evening sacrifice, and render Thee most hearty thanks, praise, and glory, that Thou hast protected me this day and all the days of my life from all evil and calamity, and through the ministrations of Thy holy angels hast graciously guarded me against the Evil One. I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, wherever I have done wrong. Surround me this night with Thy holy angels. May thou compa.s.s me round and cast a trench about me, that I may escape the snares and evil cunning of the enemy. I commend myself to Thy goodness and mercy. Protect me with Thine outstretched arm; for from my heart do I pant after Thee in the night.w.a.tches, and with my spirit within me do I watch for Thee at all times. I wait upon Thy goodness, and my soul trusts in Thee, the living G.o.d, for Thou art my refuge and my Savior. Behold, O Lord, whether we sleep or wake, we are Thine: whether we live or die, Thou art our G.o.d who hast called us into being.

Therefore, I cry unto Thee: let Thy grace be not far from me. Shelter me with Thy shield. Keep me, that I lie in quiet, sleep in peace, and awake again in health. Hide me in Thy pavilion in the time of trouble, in the secret of Thy tabernacle hide me, set me upon the rock, and I will fear no evil. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Grant me grace, that though my body sleep, my soul may ever wake for Thee, that I may ever have Thee in my heart and before my mind, and be not overcome by the night of sin. Keep me from all wicked and evil dreams, from restless wakings and useless anxieties, from depraved and hurtful thoughts, from all grief. My Lord and G.o.d, into Thy gracious care do I commend my body and soul, my brothers and sisters, and all my kin and loved ones. May it please Thee, O Lord, to save us, and turn not Thy mercy from us. May Thy grace and fidelity protect us alway. Cover us this night with Thy goodness, and encompa.s.s us with Thy mercy, that we be safe-guarded in body and soul. Amen.

Christe, du bist der h.e.l.le Tag.