15. In the fifth year, an evening prayer ought to be added to the exercises of piety; for example: “I thank Thee, my Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me all this day by Thy free mercies. I pray Thee to pardon all my sins, which I have naughtily done; kindly keep me by Thy grace all through this night; for into Thy hands I give up myself, my body and soul, and my all. May Thy holy angels be with me, so that Satan may not be able to say I am his. Amen.” This prayer to be followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
16. When children have learned this prayer, the following morning prayer may be learned: “I give Thee thanks, my heavenly Father, through Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, that Thou hast kept me all through the past night from all evil. I pray Thee, preserve me all through this day from every sin and wickedness; so that all I do and all my life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I give myself up, body and soul, and my all. May Thy holy angels attend me, so that the devil may not geb any right in me. Amen.” To this also the Lord’s Prayer is to be added.
17. Children will now readily learn, from daily recitation, to ask a blessing at table and to return thanks.[1]
18. That the piety now taking root in the heart may not be subject to hindrances, it will be useful—indeed highly necessary at this age—to guard against occasions of evil, by using every possible effort, that nothing vile or impious, tending to contaminate the mind, may be presented to the eyes or reach the ears of children. For as, according to the testimony of Solomon, He who is first in his own cause seems just; and according to the saying of just counsels: What
- ↑ This practice of children instead of parents saying grace at the table is quite common in Germany at the present time.
