Herewith a set of prayers for New Year’s Day from the old Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (1906) (the BCW is a model of reverent, dignified, eloquent, and beautiful forms, and includes numerous prayers for various times and seasons; may its use increase!).
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father, who hast continued our life from year to year ; Grant that by longer life we may become less desirous of temporal pleasures and more careful of eternal happiness. So teach us to number our days that our minds may be more withdrawn from vanity and folly, more enlightened with the knowledge of Thy will, and more invigorated with power to obey it. O Lord, calm our thoughts, direct our desires, and fortify our purposes, that we may walk with cheerful confidence in the path which Thou hast appointed for us, growing wiser and stronger in spirit as we advance in years ; and so sup- port us by Thy grace that we may live in Thy favour and die in Thy peace ; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THOU who art from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end of days; Replenish us with heavenly grace, at the beginning of this year, that we may be enabled to accept all its duties, to perform all its labours, to welcome all its mercies, to meet all its trials, and to advance through all it holds in store for us, with cheerful courage and a constant mind. O Lord, suffer us not to be separated from Thee, either by joy or sorrow, or any sin or weakness of our own ; but have compassion upon us, and forgive us, and keep us in the strong confidence of Thine eternal love in Jesus Christ: that as Thou hast called us to immortality through Him, so we may pass the residue of our years in the power of an endless life : and to Thy Name shall be all the praise. Amen. EVER-LIVING God, by whose mercy we have come to the gateway of another year ; Grant that we may enter it with humble and grateful hearts ; and confirm our reso- lution, we beseech Thee, to walk more closely in Thy way, and labour more faithfully in Thy service, according to the teaching and example of Thy Son our Lord. Let not the errors and offenses of the past cling to us, but pardon us and set us free, that with a purer purpose and a better hope, we may renew our vows in Thy Presence, and set forth under the guidance of Thy Spirit, to travel in that path which shineth more and more unto the perfect day of Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
