Morning prayer for grace
One of the other things I put on my birthday “list” was a copy of The Book of Common Prayer. I have wanted a copy of this for a long time, and never really known how to go about getting the right one (silly I know, when the world is at my fingertips online). I received a copy that contains the texts of 1549, 1559 and 1662 in the mail this week and sat down to look at it last night. However, I have now realised that this is not altogether what I was actually after, as that would be An Australian Prayer Book.
But, here is an prayer from the 1549 version, from Morning Prayer, the Third Collect for Grace. The prayer book is said to have had a major influence on the development of the English language, and as you can see, from the original spelling here, things have changed.
The thyrde Collecte: for grace
O LORDE oure heavenly father, almightye and everlivyng God, whiche haste safelye brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with thy mighty power, and graunt that this daye wee fall into no synne, neyther runne into any kinde of daunger, but that al our doinges may be ordred by thy governaunce, to do alwaies that is righteous in thy sight: through Jesus Christe our lorde. Amen.