Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_Prayers to be used in Storms at Sea_.
O most powerful and glorious Lord G.o.d, at whose command the winds blow, and lift up the waves of the sea, and who stillest the rage thereof: We thy creatures, but miserable sinners, do in this our great distress cry unto thee for help: Save, Lord, or else we perish. We confess, when we have been safe, and seen all things quiet about us, we have forgot thee our G.o.d, and refused to hearken to the still voice of thy word, and to obey thy commandments: But now we see how terrible thou art in all thy works of wonder; the great G.o.d to be feared above all: And therefore we adore thy Divine Majesty, acknowledging thy power, and imploring thy goodness. Help, Lord, and save us for thy mercy"s sake in Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. _Amen_.
_Or this:_
O most glorious and gracious Lord G.o.d, who dwellest in heaven, but beholdest all things below: Look down, we beseech thee, and hear us, calling out of the depth of misery, and out of the jaws of this death, which is ready now to swallow us up: Save, Lord, or else we perish. The living, the living shall praise thee. O send thy word of command to rebuke the raging winds, and the roaring sea; that we, being delivered from this distress, may live to serve thee, and to glorify thy Name all the days of our life. Hear, Lord, and save us, for the infinite merits of our blessed Saviour, thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. _Amen_.
_The Prayer to be said before a Fight at Sea against any Enemy_.
O most powerful and glorious Lord G.o.d, the Lord of hosts, that rulest and commandest all things: Thou sittest in the throne judging right, and therefore we make our address to thy Divine Majesty in this our necessity, that thou wouldest take the cause into thine own hand, and judge between us and our enemies. Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us; for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few.
O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance; but hear us thy poor servants begging mercy, and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldest be a defence unto us against the face of the enemy.
Make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_General Prayers_.
_Short Prayers for single persons that cannot meet to join in Prayer with others, by reason of the Fight, or Storm_.
Lord, be merciful to us sinners, and save us for thy mercy"s sake.
Thou art the great G.o.d, that hast made and rulest all things: O deliver us for thy Name"s sake.
Thou art the great G.o.d to be feared above all: O save us, that we may praise thee.
_Special Prayers with respect to the Enemy_.
Thou, O Lord, art just and powerful: O defend our cause against the face of the enemy.
O G.o.d, thou art a strong tower of defence to all that flee unto thee: O save us from the violence of the enemy.
O Lord of hosts, fight for us, that we may glorify thee.
O suffer us not to sink under the weight of our sins, or the violence of the enemy.
O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Name"s sake.
_Short Prayers in respect of a Storm_.
Thou, O Lord, that stillest the raging of the sea: hear, hear us, and save us, that we perish not.
O blessed Saviour, that didst save thy disciples ready to perish in a storm: hear us, and save us, we beseech thee.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
G.o.d the Father, G.o.d the Son, G.o.d the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespa.s.ses, As we forgive them that trespa.s.s against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
_When there shall be imminent danger, as many as can be spared from necessary service in the Ship shall be called together, and make an humble Confession of their sin to G.o.d: In which every one ought seriously to reflect upon those particular sins of which his conscience shall accuse him: saying as followeth_.
_The Confession_.
Almighty G.o.d, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we from time to time most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ"s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
_Then shall the Priest, if there be any in the Ship, p.r.o.nounce this Absolution_.
Almighty G.o.d, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
_Thanksgiving after a Storm_.
_Jubilate Deo_. Psalm lxvi.
O be joyful in G.o.d, all ye lands: sing praises unto the honour of his Name, make his praise to be glorious.
Say unto G.o.d, O how wonderful art thou in thy works: through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies be found liars unto thee.
For all the world shall worship thee: sing of thee, and praise thy Name.
O come hither, and behold the works of G.o.d: how wonderful he is in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land: so that they went through the water on foot; there did we rejoice thereof.
He ruleth with his power for ever; his eyes behold the people: and such as will not believe shall not be able to exalt themselves.
O praise our G.o.d, ye people: and make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holdeth our soul in life: and suffereth not our feet to slip.
For thou, O G.o.d, hast proved us: thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the snare: and laidest trouble upon our loins.
Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads: we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
I will go into thine house with burnt-offerings: and will pay thee my vows, which I promised with my lips, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto thee fat burnt-sacrifices, with the incense of rams: I will offer bullocks and goats.
O come hither, and hearken, all ye that fear G.o.d: and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul.