Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/114



LORD God of peace and love, the evening has once more closed upon us, and brought us again before Thee; we kneel at our family altar. Let our prayer come before Thee as incense, and may the lifting up of our hands be as the evening sacrifice.

In Thy Word of truth Thou hast instructed us that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Truly this is a blessed, an encouraging precept, and but for many such, how often would our weak frames faint under the trials which, severe though they be at the time, are so necessary for our purification.

We know not what is best for us. Gloom and doubt too often hang aroung us; the black clouds of adversity hover over our heads, and threaten to discharge themselves, and overwhelm us with desolation. How often has sad despondency whispered, "Thou art born to trouble as the spark flies upward." Then are we almost driven to despair. But in the midst of all our anxiety, we remember that Thou art a refuge from the storm, a covert from the blast, a stronghold in which we may find safety; then we call unto Thee in our trouble and Thou deliverest us out of our distress; Thou makest the storm a calm, and stillest the billows that would otherwise overwhelm us. O Lord, we desire to acknowledge the necessity of such trials. But for these how often would spiritual pride take possession of us, how would our self-love bear rule and triumph; and lifted up with vain conceit of ourselves we should thank God that we were not as other men. Fill us with humility, we beseech Thee. O bring us out of our trouble, for on Thee alone do we trust. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD God of our salvation, we desire to draw nigh to Thy mercy seat, and humbly to plead with Thee as a man pleadeth with his friend. As children can approach their parents with contidence, making known their wants, so do we with the confidence of children humbly approach Thee, our heavenly Father; and this we do because Thy encouraging voice is heard in the words, "Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto thee."

O Lord, we desire to acknowledge that our present well-being, our present peace, our future happiness, depend entirely upon the intercourse we hold with Thee, and upon the sincerity with which we desire to follow Thee and learn of Thee. May we strive to imitate Thee, to dwell in Thee, that Thy love may dwell in us. Teach us in whatever state we are, therewith to be content; aid us to suppress every feeling that has a tendency to excite envy.

Thou art the fountain and source of all knowledge, and in Thy inserutable wisdom, knowest the persons of all men, and those best fitted for particular situations. Thou raisest up. "Thou bringest down the proud, and exaltest men of low degree." "Thou fillest the hungry with good things, but the rich are sent empty away." O help us, then, to subdue the enemies of our own household, that we may avoid every