A PRAYER AT THE ALTAR BEFORE THE BISHOP LAYS ON HIS HANDS. Oh, do ALMIGHTY GOD, I appear before thee to renew the vow made for me at my baptism. I undertake to live in all things entirely according to thy holy will and pleasure, and without reserve or deceit to obey all thy commandments all the days of my life. But, Lord, I am not sufficient of myself to do these things. thou pour out upon me in great abundance the blessed gift of thy Holy Spirit, so shall I be enabled to love what thou lovest and to hate what thou hatest. Fill me with a holy dread of offending thee. Help me truly to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ. Give me that true faith on which the promise of eternal life depends. Help me to feel that Christ is indeed my Saviour and my God. Oh Lord, for his sake forgive me all my sins, accept my imperfect repentance, compassionate my infirmities, and strengthen my weakness. Guide me, oh my God, through the dangers of this uncertain life; and when I am called to leave my earthly tabernacle, may I be prepared to enter those mansions in the heavens which thou wilt give to them that love thee, for the sake of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. A PRAYER AFTER THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. MERCIFUL FATHER, I thank thee that thou hast given me the will to perform this solemn duty. Oh, let this rite of confirmation so deeply affect my heart as constantly to influence my future life. Lord, incline me to make it my chief business to please thee in all my thoughts, words, and actions. Let no temptations, no allurements, draw me from the performance of those duties I have now solemnly engaged myself to observe. Oh God, thou knowest that of myself I am not able to please thee. Blessed Jesus, grant that I may trust in thee as my only hope, and rejoice in thee as the Lord my righteousness. Holy Spirit, forsake me not in all the trials and difficulties I shall meet with here, but grant me such supplies of grace that I may keep my vows, continue stedfast in the faith, and finally be received into the mansions of eternal blessedness, through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh, may I be of that happy number who shall surround thy throne in glory, and ascribe salvation to God and the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen. A PRAYER ON ENTERING CHURCH ON THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION. ALMIGHTY GOD, I come to this holy place, to enter into solemn covenant with thee. Oh, enable me to banish every vain idea. Help me seriously to remember that thou hast said, Give me thine heart; and cause me to know and feel that thou art a God of mercy and love to those only who worship and obey thee in spirit and in truth. Confirm and strengthen me, oh Lord, in all my good resolutions, and let thy grace be sufficient for me to enable me to perform them unto my life's end. I pray to thee, oh God, in the name of Christ Jesus, and for his sake I beseech thee to hear Amen. me. A PRAYER BEFORE LEAVING CHURCH ON THE DAY OF CONFIRMATION OH LORD, my God, I have now dedicated myself to thy service, and have declared my solemn resolution to renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that I will not follow nor be led by them. I have promised obediently to keep thy holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of my life. But without thy gracious assistance, oh Lord, I cannot but fall. Strengthen and support me, oh God, that the professions I have now made may not turn to my condemnation. Preserve me a living and sound member of Christ, a dutiful child of God, and an heir through Christ of the kingdom of heaven, that through thy mercy, oh God the Father, thy merits and intercession, oh God the Son, and thy guidance and sanctification, oh God the Holy Ghost, I may at last obtain the |