Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/110

 98 THIRTEENTH WEEK.

that truth itself ean only be valuable as it is rendered vital by charity, the good of heavenly love. It is then that owr science becomes the knowledge of heavenly things; it ip then that our science becomes a mirror in which we can see the truth and beauty of divine things; it is then that " the invisible things from the ereation of the world, are clearly seen, being understoad by the things that are made, even Thy eternal power and Godhead." Amen. Our Father, ete,

LMIGHTY and eternal Lord God Almighty, in arising from refreshing sleep and again surrounding our family altar, we desire to acknowledge Thy love towards us as infinite and unchangeable, and we approach Thee as a tender and beneficent Father, as One from whom we can receive advice and safe counsel, and who will be our Guide even unto death. We have indeed need of Thy divine aid, for we are weak and sinful, and prone to fall into the gratification of our sensual appetites. Lord, enable us to resist our evil propensities, let Thy divine Word check us in all sinful inclinations, and render us submissive to Thy will, and to Thy divine dispensations.

Blessed be Thy name, O Lord, for the inestimable gift of Thy holy Word. By this we have constant access to Thy divine majesty; by this can we effect a holy conjunction of life with Thee; by this eternity is brought to our view, and all our hopes of happiness are confirmed by its sacred truths. But not only is it unto us a guide to the mansions of eternity; it is a friend, a counscilor, an instructor in this our low estate. Here are we instructed to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us. O blessed precept which inculcates the suppression of self-love! May we ever guide our lives by its purity, remembering that, as Thou hast loved us, we ought also to love one another. Lord, accept our humble and hearty thanks for Thy protection of us during the past night, and help us faithfully to perform the duties of this day. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

FRIDAY EVENING. LORD God Almighty, the Creator. Redeemer, and Regenerator of all mankind, the universal Father and Friend of Thy people, we desire to bless and praise Thy holy name for all the wonderful display of Thy providence in our behalf.

Another day has been added to our existence, and has been croyned with Thy mercy, and we have been abundantly fed by Thy bounty. We desire, therefore, unitedly to offer our thenksgivings in Thy presence. The return of the evening, which brings us to Thy footstool, brings with it the necessity of self-examination, and the portion of Thy Word which we have read shows how necessary such examination is; lest we deceive ourselves in the helief that we are doing our duty, when we merely profess a formal knowledge of it. Thy Word instructs us that our own minds are as the field, necessary to be cultivated. O how long this field bas remained fallow; how negligent have we been of Thy divine exclama-