PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS FOR SPECIAL

OCCASIONS AT SEA.

On commencing a Voyage.

O MOST powerful Lord God, who didst carry the hosts of Israel through the sea, singing the praise of Thy name; let Thy grace, going before and attending on our voyage, find for us a pathway upon the waters, and be to us our solace in setting sail; our guiding star on the way; our wand of peace among tempests; the shield of our defence against enemies; our harbor in shipwreck, and the anchor of our hope; that so we may come at length to the desired haven, both in this life and in the life immortal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

During Storms at Sea.

O MOST glorious and gracious Lord God, who dwell est 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 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 glorify Thy name all the days of our life; through the infinite merits of our blessed Saviour, Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Time of War.

O ALMIGHTY God, Supreme Ruler and Governor of all things, who art a strong tower of defence to them that fear Thee, and whose power no creature is able to resist: unto Thee do we make our humble cry in this the hour of our country's need. To Thee it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who repent. Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech Thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with Thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify Thee, who art the only Giver of all victory; through the merits of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Before a Fight at Sea.

O MOST powerful and glorious Lord God, the Lord of hosts, that rulest and commandest all things: Thou sittest on 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.

A Thanksgiving for a Safe Voyage.

MOST gracious Lord, whose mercy is over all Thy works; we praise Thy holy name, that Thou hast been pleased to conduct us in safety through the perils of the great deep, and to bring us to the end of our journey in peace. May we be duly sensible of Thy merciful providence toward us, and ever express our thankfulness by a holy trust in Thee, and obedience to Thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Storms.

O MOST merciful and mighty God, who at Thy pleasure raisest the winds and waves of the sea, or commandest them back to peace: we, Thy poor creatures, spared by Thy mercy to praise Thee, do give Thee unfeigned thanks, for that Thou heardest our cry when we were at the brink of death, and had given up all for lost, and didst not suffer us to sink in the devouring waters. And we here offer ourselves, our bodies and our souls, which Thou hast redeemed, to be a living sacrifice unto Thee of praise and thanksgiving, all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Thanksgiving for Victory.

O ALMIGHTY God, the Sovereign Commander of all the world, in whose hands is power and might which none is able to withstand: we bless and magnify Thy great and glorious name for the happy victory wherewith Thou hast crowned our arms, and the whole glory whereof we do ascribe unto Thee, the only Giver of victory. And, we beseech Thee, give us grace to improve this great mercy to Thy glory, the honor of our country, and, as much as in us lieth, to the good of all mankind: through Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit, as for all Thy mercies, so in particular for this, be all glory and honor, world without end. Amen.

BURIAL OF THE DEAD AT SEA.

The Office for the Burial of the Dead may be used, except that the following words shall be said on committing the body to the sea.

FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God, in His wise providence, to take out of this world the soul of His deceased servant, we therefore commit his body to the deep; looking for the general resurrection through our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose second coming in glorious majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead, according to the mighty working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself.

A Prayer after Burial at Sea.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who in Thy perfect wisdom and mercy hast ended for Thy servant departed the voyage of this troublous life; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who are still to continue our course, amidst earthly dangers, temptations and troubles, may evermore be protected by Thy mercy, and finally come to the haven of eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.