Lancelot Andrewes · 17 of 61

Intercession

O Hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea; O Thou on whom our fathers hoped, and Thou didst deliver them; on whom they waited, and were not confounded; O my Hope from my youth, from my mother’s breasts; on whom I have been cast from the womb, be Thou my hope now and evermore, and my portion in the land of the living: In Thy nature, in Thy names, in Thy types, in word and in deed, My Hope, let me not be disappointed of my hope. O the Hope of all the ends of the earth, remember Thy whole creation for good, visit the world in Thy compassion; O guardian of men, O loving Lord, remember all our race. Thou who hast shut up all in unbelief, on all have pity, O Lord. O Thou who didst die and rise again, to be Lord both of the dead and living, live we or die we, Thou art our Lord; Lord, have pity on living and dead. O helper of the helpless, seasonable aid in affliction, remember all who are in necessity, and need Thy succour. O God of grace and truth, establish all who stand in truth and grace, restore all who are sick with heresies and sins. O wholesome defence of Thine anointed, remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased and redeemed of old. O grant to all believers one heart and one soul. Thou that walkest amid the golden candlesticks, remove not our candlestick out of its place. Amend what are wanting, establish what remain, which Thou art ready to cast away, which are ready to die. O Lord of the harvest send forth labourers, made sufficient by Thee, into Thy harvest. O portion of those who wait in Thy temple, grant to our clergy, rightly to divide the word of truth, rightly to walk in it; grant to Thy Christian people to obey and submit to them. O King of nations, unto the ends of the earth; strengthen all the states of the inhabited world, as being Thy ordinance, though a creation of man. Scatter the nations that delight in war, make wars to cease in all the earth. O expectation of the isles and their hope, Load, save this island, and all the country in which we sojourn, from all affliction, peril, and need. Lord of lords, Ruler of rulers, remember all rulers to whom Thou hast given rule in the earth, and O remember specially our divinely‑guarded king, and work with him more and more, and prosper his way in all things. Speak good things unto his heart, for Thy Church and all Thy people, grant to him profound and perpetual peace, that in his tranquillity we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. O Thou by whom are ordained the powers that be, grant to those who are chief in court, to be chief in virtue and Thy fear; grant to the Parliament Thy holy wisdom; to our great men, to do nothing against but for the truth; to the courts of law, Thy judgments to judge in all things concerning all without preference, without partiality. O God of armies, give a prosperous course and strength to all the Christian army, against the enemies of our most holy faith. Grant to our population to be subject unto the higher powers, not only for wrath, but also for conscience‑sake. Grant to farmers and graziers good seasons; to the fleet and fishers fair weather; to tradesmen, not to overreach one another; to mechanics, to pursue their business lawfully, down to the meanest workman, down to the poor. O God, not of us only but of our seed, bless our children among us, to advance in wisdom as in stature, and in favour with Thee and with men. Thou who wouldest have us provide for our own, and hatest the unnatural, remember, Lord, my relatians according to the flesh, grant me to speak peace concerning them, and to seek their good. Thou who willest us to make return to our benefactors, remember; Lord, for good, all from whom I have received good; keep them alive that they may be blessed upon earth, and deliver them not into the will of their enemies. Thou who hast noted the man who neglects his own, as worse than an infidel, remember in Thy good pleasure all those in my household. Peace be to my house, the Son of peace upon all in it. Thou who wouldest that our righteousness exceed the righteousness of sinners, grant me, Lord, to love those who love me; my own friend, and my father’s friend, and my friend’s children, never to forsake. Thou who wouldest that we overcome evil with good, and pray for those who persecute us, have pity on mine enemies, Lord, as on myself; and lead them together with me to Thy heavenly kingdom. Thou who grantest the prayers of Thy servants one for another, remember, Lord, for good, and pity all those who remember me in their, prayers, or whom I have promised to remember in mine. Thou who acceptest diligence in every good work, remember, Lord, as if they prayed to Thee, those who for any good reason give not time to prayer. Arise, and have mercy on those who are in the last necessity, for it is time that thou hast mercy upon them, yea the time is come. Have mercy on them, O Lord, as on me also, when in extremities. Remember, Lord, infants, children, the grown, the young, the middle‑aged, the old, hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, prisoners, foreigners, friendless, unburied, all in extreme age and weakness, possessed with devils, and tempted to suicide, troubled by unclean spirits, the hopeless, the sick in soul or body, the weak‑hearted, all in prison and chains, all under sentence of death; orphans, widows, foreigners, travellers, voyagers, women with child, women who give suck, all in bitter servitude, or mines, or galleys, or in loneliness. Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast, how excellent is Thy mercy, O God! And the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. The Lord bless us, and keep us, and show the light of His countenance upon us, And be merciful unto us, The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace! I commend to Thee, O Lord, my soul, and my body, my mind, and my thoughts, my prayers, and my vows, my senses, and my limbs, my words, and my works, my life, and my death; my brothers, and my sisters, and their children; my friends, my benefactors, my well-wishers, those who have a claim on me; my kindred, and my neighbours, my country, and all Christendom. I commend to Thee, Lord, my impulses, and my startings, my intentions, and my attempts, my going out, and my coming in, my sitting down, and my rising up.