Morning and Evening
Prayers
for All Days of the Week

By
DR. JOHN HABERMANN.
Together With

Confessional, Communion, and Other
Prayers and Hymns for Mornings
and Evenings, and
Other Occasions

Done in English
By
EMIL H. RAUSCH.
Editor Lutheran Herald

Chicago, Illinois.
WARTBURG PUBLISHING HOUSE.

March, 1918, 3M.

September, 1918, 5M.

January, 1920, 5M.

Translator’s Preface

This little manual of prayers herewithoffered to English speakingChristians in their own language,has long been one of the treasures of theGerman people. With the exception of afew prayers, as hereinafter noted, it wasoriginally written by one of God’s noblemen,by one who “lived and moved andhad his being” in the things of the Kingdomof God. Dr. John Habermann(known also as Avenarius, Latinized formof Habermann) died 1590 as superintendentat Zeitz, was a famous preacher and adistinguished scholar of his day. He wasnoted for his profound knowledge of orientallanguages especially of the Hebrew.Still it is not this but the fact of his littleprayer book that has endeared him to hisfellow Christians. And this manual ofprayers is the mature product of an inner[4]life rich in the grace of God. On everypage it bears the stamp of one for whomthe communion with the eternal Father inheaven through the faith in Jesus Christ,the Savior, is a blessed reality. Nothingmore natural therefore also than that heshould “live and move and have his being”in the language of the Word of God. Andthis is quite apparent in his prayer language.God’s Word give him the terms toexpress his thoughts. Especially the Psalter,the prayer and hymn book of Israel,proves a veritable thesaurus of prayerterms and of these he makes a copious use.

The present little volume presents theEnglished edition of “Wachet und Betet,”as issued by the Synod of Iowa and otherStates. Owing to the exigencies of thetimes, with the great world war raging inall its fury, a special set of prayers fortimes of war has been added by the translator,in the hope that they will add to theusefulness of the book. These are found onpages 131-138. The hymns as far as possible[5]are given in the form as found inthe new Common Service Book with Hymnal.Many of them however are newtranslations that here appear in print forthe first time. For these we are indebted especiallyto Prof. Alfred Ramsey of theLutheran Theological Seminary, Maywood,Chicago, and the Rev. H. Bruecknerof Iowa City, Iowa, a fact which is heregratefully acknowledged.

The labor of clothing these little gemsof prayer into the language of the land hasbeen done as a labor of love, albeit thestress of other work often precluded thecontinued effort. The work was done abit at a time. This little volume is herewithissued with the fervent hope andprayer, that it may long continue on itscourse of blessing, and lead many lives intothe closer communion with God, throughJesus Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!

E. H. R.

Waverly, Iowa, during the blessed seasonof Epiphany, 1918.