Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/93

 sires may be suffered to interrupt our spiritual prayers and thanksgivings. Thy Word, O Lord, informs us that when Nadab and Abihu, the erring sons of Aaron, offered strange fire upon thine altar, they died for their iniquity: so teach us, Heavenly Father, that if self-love—this strange unhallowed fire of the soul—be suffered to blaze forth and to mingle with our devotions, the life of heaven will then decay and die under this withering fire of profanation. O keep us from offering to thee this strange and impure fire, and open Thou our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

O God our Saviour, who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, grant us thy peace and love. The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and fillest every living thing with thy goodness.

May this night's repose impart to us fresh vigour to run our onward way to thy kingdom. Give to us for earthly things, the blessings of heaven; for corruptible, those that fade not; for temporal, those that endure for ever. Grant, O Lord, that the wanderer from thy fold may have a safe return; that the prodigal, weary of iniquity and folly, may say in his heart, "I will arise and go to my Father!" Vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, in thy mercy, thy saving health to the spiritually sick, and freedom to the slave. Dismiss us, gracious Father, with thy blessing; and may thy peace, which passeth all understanding, be with us from this time forth and for ever.

Our Father, &c.