20. Prayer for Young Persons — 21. Prayer of a Servant.

O father of all Grace and Mercy, who art a God of Holiness, it is Thy holy will that we also should be holy and lead a life without lust and evil desires of our sinful flesh. I confess unto Thee my weakness and the sinful infirmities of my nature; for, to will is present with me, but how to perform that which, is good, I find not. The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life surround me like three powerful enemies and threaten to entice me away from Thy Grace. Therefore, O my Father, I pray Thee to create and preserve within me a pure heart. Grant, that I may avoid, with all my heart, all places and occasions where opportunity is given for impurities, and that I may be afraid, lest I should take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot. Grant, that I may rather abide in fervent devotion and at all times have a sincere desire and longing after true holiness, that my body may, in truth, be the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I may not cease to love Jesus Christ, who was crucified and has given Himself into death for my sake. Grant that I may love heavenly wisdom, in order that I may never more enter upon the paths of deceivers. O Thou just and holy God! who triest the hearts and reins, grant, that I may so cling unto Thee in this world, as to remain unseparated from Thee in all eternity. Amen!

Merciful God! Thou who hast redeemed and liberated me, through the precious suffering and death of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, from everlasting servitude, from the power of sin, from the power of darkness, and from the cruel tyranny of the devil, and hast made me lord over death and hell,--I pray Thou wouldst in mercy grant, that I may not conceive a dislike to my calling of bodily service, into which Thou hast placed me according to Thy will and good pleasure, and that I may not impatiently rebel against Thy order, nor begrudge other people their higher station, but that I may obey Thy will with a cheerful heart, and that I do not regard it otherwise than that I were serving Thee, O God in Heaven, and not men on earth. To this end, dear Father, do Thou assist me, that I may, in true knowledge and fear, serve Thee, the highest Lord in Heaven and on Earth; that I may love Thee above all things, placing in Thee all my hope and salvation and walking unblamably according to Thy commandments; and that I may also, in addition to this, be obedient in all things which are not displeasing unto Thee, to my master and mistress, according to the flesh, not only to them that are kind and lenient, but also to them who are rude and froward, serving them with patience, in all fear and simplicity of heart, just as I should serve Christ, my Lord, not with mere visible works, as if to gain favor before men, but with a sincere heart for the sake of Thy command and precept. Grant in mercy, that I may be found faithful in every thing that is enjoined upon and intrusted unto me, that I may neither neglect nor destroy anything, nor cause any mishap or loss through my carelessness, and that I may not defraud others, nor covet their property which is entrusted to me and placed into my hands. Preserve unto me good health, strengthen the members of my body and increase my powers; bestow upon me knowledge and wisdom, that I may be able to perform the labor of my master and mistress, to improve their property by Thy divine help, that they may be blessed through my industry and increase abundantly, and grant that all that I do may redound to Thy glory and be profitable unto me to the blessed exercise unto godliness for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, world-without-end. Amen!