2. Prayer for the Advent Season.

O Lord of glory and God over all, blessed forever! I heartily thank Thee for all Thy great and inexpressible benefits, also that Thou out of unspeakable love didst leave Thy throne of divine glory and condescend to us poor creatures in this vale of tears, to release us lost and condemned sinners from the prison of affliction. I praise Thee, Jesus! Thou King of glory! with all my strength and powers, that Thou didst not appear upon earth for any other purpose than to deliver us from the power of our enemies, of sin, of death, hell and the devil; to effect by Thy precious blood eternal reconciliation between us and Thy heavenly Father, and to regain for us, through Thy precious merits, the lost righteousness. Hosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity!

I cast myself in deepest humility before Thee and ask Thee with all my heart to gladden at this time also by Thy gracious advent Thy church which is everywhere 123 oppressed; always dwell and abide with and among us in this land and place at all times, and in our hearts, with Thy pure Word and most holy Sacraments, and let goodness and mercy come upon us. Be gracious unto us, most beloved Saviour! and bless us, bestow upon us temporal and eternal peace. Our enemies however cast into the prison which they have prepared for us, change their counsels directed against us into foolishness, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Hosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity!

Dear Jesus! grant unto me and all christians Thy Spirit, that He may cleanse and purify our hearts of all impurity and sin, in order that Thou mayest desire to enter in and dwell among us. Help us to receive Thee with true faith, heartily to rejoice with Thy spiritual Zion for Thy benefits, to follow Thee constantly with christian patience and humility and confidently await Thy second coming with constant repentance and believing hope, also at the same time serve Thee here in the kingdom of grace with a holy 124 walk, and finally in the kingdom of glory we shall with glorified tongues everlastingly sing our Hosannas to Thy honor, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Hosanna! Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity! Amen.