Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/117

 O Lord of life and glory, Thou hast poured forth from the orb of day a flood of light into our dwellings. Thou hast awakened us from refreshing sleep, and made us strong for labour. May we be grateful for Thy merciful and protecting care. May we say continually, The Lord be magnified. May the light of the Sun of righteousness shine with equal brightness upon our souls, and give to us the necessary strength to pursue our path to heaven. As the glorious luminary above continues his course with unabated ardour and regularity, so may we pursue our course in the way of the regeneration: neither murmuring at its length or difficulty, but pressing onward with undiminished fervour to the mark of the prize of our high calling. And, O Lord, grant us Thy grace, that impatience and fretfulness be not companions of our journey. Our trials are permitted but to lead us more certainly to Him from whence cometh our help. O aid us to acquire so much settledness and stedfastness of purpose, that we may ultimately reach in safety Thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Our Father, etc:

THURSDAY EVENING.

0 LORD whose goodness and mercy has followed us all the days of our

life, we approach Thy mercy-seat this evening; we desire humbly to adore Thee for Thy fatherly care and protection. O that man would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! May the thoughts of Thy goodness towards us this day stimulate us to serve Thee with greater fervency of spirit and purity of heart, and as Thy professing disciples may we so let our light shine, that Thou our Lord, our Saviour, may be glorified.

O Lord, we humbly implore Thy divine blessing upon all those who kneel before Thee this night. O hasten the period when a church shall exist in every house, when every family shall surround its household altar, when every father shall become a priest in the service of the Lord, until the knowledge of the Lord shall go forth as brightness, and the salvation of our God as a lamp that burneth; when all shall know Thee from the least even unto the greatest; when there shall be One Lord and His name ONE.

But while we pray that every family may build an altar unto the Lord, we pray also for the universal diffusion of truth, for the building up of that true Church, the members of which shall acknowledge and worship Thee. O Lord Jesus Christ, as the Creator. Redeemer, and Sanctifier. God over all, blessed for evermore. Amen.

Our Father, ete.

FRIDAY MORNING.

Hour and righteous Lord our Saviour, unto Thee do we lift up our eyes, and unto Thee do we direct our prayers; not that Thou art unacquainted with our wants; but Thou requirest that we confess our sins, and make known our wants, because Thou wilt deal with us accord ing to the sincerity of our petitions. O Lord, we desire to thank Thee for the'privileges we enjoy in permit-