Anonymous

“ O God, Holy Spirit! create within me the new man, that I may not bring into the new year old sins and impurities, but to-day begin a new life and partake anew of Thy grace. Withhold from me, O Triune God! all long and well deserved punishment, and continue to bless me and mine with all manner of bodily and spiritual, temporal and eternal gifts. Let Thy grace rest upon us anew every morning, and renew Thy good will to all who in this new year seek their refuge with Thee and wait upon Thy goodness. Grant unto us still further Thy precious Word, which is a joy and comfort to our hearts. ”

“ O Thou incomprehensible, eternal God, Thou King of kings, and Lord of lords, Thou, who only hast immortality and dwellest in the light which no man can approach unto, we thank Thee in humility of heart, that Thou didst come forth out of Thy light and reveal Thyself as one God in three persons. But because this exalted mystery of the holy Trinity transcends all our conception and understanding, do Thou Thyself bring our reason, which thinks itself to be wise, into captivity to Thy obedience, and do not permit its foolishness to set itself against Thy wisdom. ”

“ Thanks be unto Thee, that Thou hast been my keeper and protector, comforter and helper, that Thou hast as a Father kept my sick body, together with my distressed soul, by Thy power hast kept me from sudden death and dangerous temptations, and that Thy holy angel has defended me against the devil, the prince of darkness. By Thy grace and mercy I still live. Watch over me Thy poor creature to-day also, and so lead and guide me that I may neither think, speak, nor do evil. ”

“ O Lord, Thou God of riches, all that men harvest is indeed Thine; for we of ourselves can bring forth nothing out of the earth, and be it little or much, it is still more than we have merited. Thanks be also unto Thy holy name for each and every gift, which Thou hast bestowed on our fields during this year. Thou alone art the God, who doest sustain us from the day of our birth, and shower Thy blessings upon us. Wherefore unto Thee alone be all the praise, honor and thanksgiving now and in eternity. ”

“ Thou doest cause grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man. Thus Thou bringest bread out of the earth and doest fill our hearts with joy and gladness. Most loving God, how wisely indeed hast Thou ordered all things! How great is Thy goodness toward us, who are not worthy of Thy bread. And how wonderfully infinite Thy omnipotence, when Thou doest increase the little grain which moulders in the earth, into a hundredfold! It is Thy unsearchable wisdom, this Thine unutterable goodness, mercy and omnipotence, which hath again this year visited our land. ”

“ O heavenly Father, hide Thy face from my sins and behold the face of Thy Son, who in himself never did commit sin, nor ever knew of sin, but through His most holy obedience, blood and death hath made satisfaction for all my sins and the sins of the whole world. Receive me, O Father, for the sake of this Saviour again into grace, and do not permit his bitter sufferings and death and his perfect precious ransom, which he has paid Thee for my sins to be lost by me, poor sinner, but that it may strengthen me. ”

“ Thou hast preserved me in my station, and hast restrained the devil and averted a host of bodily and spiritual dangers in which I should have perished long ago, if Thou hadst not stood by me. O blessed Trinity! There is a time to be born; do Thou graciously help all fruit of the womb and grant, a joyful birthday, forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Grant that I may to-day spend my birthday, as also all future days of my life, without committing mortal sins, and that I may become conscious of my humble birth and wretchedness by nature. ”

“ I beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst for His sake be gracious unto me, and of Thy great mercy, forgive my temporal and eternal punishment. Guide me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may separate myself from the great multitude of the ungodly, that I may strive after the true faith showing itself in good works; but especially that I may be patient under afflictions, fight a good fight, keep the faith and a good conscience, and finally live in Thy tabernacle forever. ”

“ Thou, who in times past didst suffer the gentiles to walk in their own ways, but now commandest all men everywhere to repent and with Thy grace doest visit their hearts.
Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, that Thy salvation may everywhere abound, and the glory of Thy name extend itself unto the ends of the earth. Look down from Thy height upon the misery of so many nations, who yet sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, who are ignorant of their divine origin, and lie under the cruel tyranny of satan. ”

“ Thou art such a mighty and powerful Lord, that if Thou wouldst deal with us according to Thy strict righteousness, Thou couldst destroy the world with one clap of thunder and lightening. But we bend our knees in prayer before Thee and humbly beseech Thee, remit Thy great wrath enkindled against our sins. Have mercy on us, spare us, lift up Thy gracious countenance upon us, and be Thou merciful unto us. ”

“ But dear Lord God and Father, I comfort myself with Thy great mercy, with Thy unmeasurable, unfathomable, endless and unspeakable grace, which Thou thyself hast vouchsafed unto me and which Thou, with a precious oath and affirmation, hast confirmed and given me ample assurance with Thy Words: “As true as I live, I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but that he might turn from his wickedness and live.” ”

“ Yea, when once the entire world shall be sufficiently ripe for the last harvest, then grant that we all, as pure wheat, may be bound into sheaves and gathered into Thy garners, and be preserved in heaven unto eternal joys. There shall we as those whom Thou hast promised, reap without ceasing what we have sown here, and rejoice as they that rejoice in harvest, with unspeakable joy. Hear us, O God, and grant us all what we ask, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. ”

“ Grant, merciful God, that by the misfortune of others we may realize our own blessedness, and bewail the lamentable state of blindness, with which Thou hast smitten the gentiles, and worthily apply the greater light so graciously presented unto us to so much the greater holiness. O do Thou finally suffer the light of the Gospel to rise unto those, who are yet far from Christ, the true Sun, and who have hitherto altogether groped in thick darkness of idolatry. Through the loving voice of the Gospel, bring back these scattered sheep into Thy spiritual fold. ”

“ Lord Jesus Christ, my only consolation and help! Thou hast borne my griefs and wast wounded for my transgressions. Thou Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world! be Thou my righteousness, my sanctification and my salvation. Heal my pains through Thy wounds. Let not Thy innocent blood be shed in vain for [112] me; take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Forsake me not in my last agony, but help me on to life everlasting. Remember that I am Thy poor sheep, and Thou art my faithful Shepherd. Take me into Thy arms, and carry me into Thy blessed Paradise. ”

“ O Thou God of peace, bind our hearts with the bonds of Thy peace, that we may remain and live with each other in meekness and humility, in peace and unity. O Thou God of patience, give us patience during the time of our life, and firmness unto the end. O Thou Spirit of prayer, awaken our hearts, that we may lift them together with holy hands up to God, and call upon him in every time of need ”

“ In what respects indeed are we worthy that Thou doest manifest such grace unto us? Who are we that Thou doest draw so nigh unto us and unite with us in such a manner as to be and dwell within us, and also we, as members of Thy body, shall remain with Thee forever! How can we compensate Thee that Thou doest so heartily receive our souls unto Thyself and freest them from all transgression and threatening condemnation; on the other hand doest bestow upon them Thy perfect obedience, merit and righteousness, yea, doest give Thy own Self as a pledge for their salvation! ”

“ 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. ”

“ Here we never find rest and peace; the devil watches our very thoughts, stirs them up, and fans the passions into flame, the world watches our words and deeds, walk and life, and gives us much offense and occasion to sin, our own flesh also never rests, besides yet all the occasional sins, vices and weaknesses which daily beset us, and which terribly trouble our conscience, entirely destroy the joy of our heart and turn it into sorrow and sadness. ”

“ Eternal Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, reveal Thyself unto us also; how Thou wast begotten from eternity by Thy heavenly Father as the brightness of His glory and as the image of His essence, Light of Light, very God of very God; how Thou out of love to us didst become our brother and didst redeem us with Thy obedience, suffering and death, that we might in Thee learn to know the Father aright, and through Thee come to Him, and also enjoy the fruits of Thy salvation, here in righteousness and holiness, hereafter in the communion of Thy glory. ”

“ O almighty God and Father, who art ever ready to help, Thou seest the great trouble and danger in which we are living; we know of no counsel or help, and have no strength of ourselves to come out of trouble, therefore our eyes look unto Thee, who alone art our consolation, refuge and helper, and hast said: Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Our heart clings to Thy word of promise and in childlike humility and confidence seeks Thy face. ”

“ As Thou, most beloved Saviour, didst so gloriously deliver us from the kingdom of darkness and mercifully received us into the kingdom of grace—into Thy Christian church, grant us also to be blessed saints of heaven, and heirs of Thine eternal glory, for the sake and honor of Thy great name. ”

“ I am not sufficient of myself, as of myself to convert myself unto Thee. As little as the Ethiopian can change his skin and as little as the leopard can change its spots, so little can I cease to do evil and do good by my natural powers, inasmuch as the thoughts and intents of my heart are inclined to evil from my youth up continually. Has Thy grace wrought so much in me that I have determined that I will arise and reconcile myself with Thee on account of my sins, and offer unto Thee a broken and contrite heart, yet, alas! ”

“ O, Lord Jesus, as Thou hast begun the good work in me a poor miserable man, so also accomplish the same in mercy, through the gracious power of the Holy Spirit unto Thy name’s glory and unto my own welfare and eternal salvation. ”

“ Do Thou give me grace, that I may not lust after another spouse or woman, or look upon her with an evil eye to desire her. Protect me, my wife, my children and servants against sickness, according to Thy divine will. Grant unto me, Thy servant, that I may diligently attend to my calling, eating my daily bread in the sweat of my brow, and that I may not grow impatient, whenever my task becomes bitter, for thus Thou hast instituted it. Do Thou prosper and bless my substance, that it may increase without injury or disadvantage to others. ”

“ Lord! the bread we break is indeed the communion of Thy body that died for us upon the cross, and the cup we drink at the holy altar, is the communion of the most precious blood, which Thou in all Thy painful sufferings hast shed for us. ”

“ Glory be to Thee, O God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost! in the highest, peace on earth and good will towards men. Help, O faithful God and father! that we may be partakers of the new birth of Thy dear Son, be relieved of our old sinful nature, and be and remain new born children of Thy grace and heirs of Thy kingdom. ”

“ Merciful and eternal God, heavenly Father! we Thy children thank Thee from the depth of our hearts that Thou didst so faithfully keep Thy promise and turn to us Thy kind and paternal heart, didst send unto us Thine only-begotten Son, the highest Good, to be our Saviour, and to assume our human nature, and thus didst render us acceptable through Thy Beloved. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Lord, Thou sittest as our Redeemer and Mediator at the right hand of Majesty in heaven, in order to save us eternally and to make us happy in Thy kingdom. Be Thou therefore mindful of us even when we forget ourselves, and save us mightily, and make us happy, not for our sake, but for Thy sake. For the kingdom which we shall inherit, is Thine; Thine is the power to lead us into it; and Thine shall be all the honor and glory forever, when we, as Thy rescued children, shall be happy in Thy kingdom. ”

“ My Creator and Father, Thou true and only God, from whom cometh health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, it being Thy will that I should be afflicted so many days with this bodily sickness, give me Christian patience and the full assurance of hope. In times of adversity as well as in times of prosperity, Thou alone art my beloved Father. In this life, it is but the common lot of every faithful member of the church to bear the cross. Why should I make myself an exception? When even my Saviour, Jesus Christ, the head of the church, had to suffer for me. ”

“ To Thee, O Thou holy Trinity, be ascribed, by us and all creatures, praise, honor, glory and thanks to all eternity, for Thy eternal majesty and glory which Thou hast revealed unto us in Thy Word, and for all the grace and benefits with which Thou hast blessed us. ”

“ Rouse my heart, and free me of all strange thoughts, increase my hope, inflame my desire, make ardent my devotion, purge me of all uncleanness, and sanctify me wholly, that I may approach with joyful confidence, that I may receive with pure mouth and holy heart, and with heartfelt desire eat and drink unto the life, welfare and blessing of my soul. ”

“ O Lord Jesus, we are not worthy of all Thy goodness and faithfulness, yet we pray Thee with humble hearts, that Thou wouldst continue among us Thy grace, with Thy divine Word and holy Sacraments, that Thy holy name may be known by us, that it alone may be feared and honored by us, and we all may live, and serve Thee, according to Thy divine pleasure. ”