Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/131



LORD our Saviour, we desire to acknowledge that from the moment when we first drew our infant breath Thou hast conducted us through every step of our progress until now.

And while Thy divine love has been our constant support, Thou hast not left us without instruction. "How precious are Thy thoughts unto as, O God, how great is the sum of them! if we should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when we awake, we are still with Thee." We find Thy thoughts made known to us in the Word of Thy truth; the infinite wisdom of the Most High accommodating itself to the finite perception of man; the Great, the Holy One, adapting His instruction, that His creatures may be blessed; and while inhabitants of a sublumary sphere, permitting them to breathe so much of a divine atmosphere as may prove to them the immortality of their existence. O may we attend to Thy gracious voice, which speaks unto us in the Word of Thy truth, for "behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

We commit our way unto Thee, O Lord, this day; we would desire to walk in Thy love and fear. Suffer us not to sin with impunity, but let Thy Providence and Thy preventing grace so interfere with our arrangements, that we may be kept in the straightforward path of duty, and unto Thee, "the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever." Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ORD our Saviour, we assemble before Thee this evening. To Thee must we give account. Assist us, we beseech Thee, to take a retrospect of this day's pursuits. It is not that we might minister to our own good, that we are placed here, but that by the good derived from Thee, we may send it forth so as to accomplish the purpose for which it was given. O Lord, help us to keep this constantly in view: grant us Thy grace, that our neighbour's good may be constantly sought after, and that our chief anxiety may be to "promote the happiness of others;" and may we engage in such acts of: usefulness from the pure desire and unmixed love of goodness, and not from any desire of applause from the world, or to establish a reputation which has for its object the praise of men. Ever may we keep Thy divine counsel before us, and "let not our left hand know what our right hand doeth." O help us to engage in our several duties from the highest of all motives,—love to Thee and love to our neighbour.

We confess. O Lord, that we have not acted upon these elevated views, we have too often sought after the praise of men, and have done our duty from the mere desire of receiving an earthly recompense. O that we may no longer yield to these inducements, but incline our hearts. O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the love and practice of that which is good.

Protect us. O Lord, from the snares of our spiritual enemies through the silent watches of this night, for in Thee alone do we trust. Amen.

Our Father, etc.