Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/146

 134 EIGHTEENTH WEEK.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

0 GOD, the protector of all them that put their trust in. Thee, we

thank Thee that Thou hast given us strength to perform this day's labour, and for the privilege of again kneeling in Thy presence. O let Thy blessing rest upon the Word which we have heard read, may it enlighten our understandings and purify our hearts; and may its precious truths be as the waters that go forth from Eden to bless and regenerate the world.

Fallen and degraded as we who kneel in Thy presence are. Thou hast yet bestowed upon us the gift of Thy holy Word. How many thousands in the world are there who know not of its existence, and how many more who know but never peruse its sacred truths. Awake! awake! put on Thy strength. O arm of the Lord. Send forth Thy righteous dispensations; search out from the dark corners of our own polluted land the thousands that know Thee not. Bring the Gentiles to Thy light, and scatter by Thy glorious rays the thick clouds of spiritual darkness that envelop the world. O hasten the period predicted by the prophet, when the knowledge of the Lord thall'cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

Great God of heaven and earth, we desire to adore Thee for all Thy blessings bestowed upon us: yet another day has been added to our existence, and benefits and blessings have attended its passing hours. Now. O Lord, we commit our souls and bodies to Thy keeping during the night season, and into Thy hands we resign our spirits. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY God, our Saviour and Redeemer, we draw nigh to Thy foot stool this morning; help us to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, neither violating Thy divine command by the worship of other imaginary divine beings, nor making to ourselves images and likenesses of things created by Thee. Preserve us, we beseech Thee, from profaning Thy sacred name, or in any way using it with levity or lightness. May Thy kingdom of truth and righteousness be established within us, so that we may diligently strive to do Thy will on earth as it is by angels done in heaven. And, O Lord our heavenly Father, lead us to a devout acknowledgment of Thy goodness in the exercise of the dispensations of Thy divine providence, so that as Thou hast brought us to the beginning of this day, we may be led to trust Thy goodness and mercy in safely carrying us through its duties.

O prevent us from falling into evil, and teach us to avoid the snares set for us by our spiritual adversaries. Take us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, under the shadow of Thy wings, deliver us from the infestation of our most subtle adversaries, assist us to keep a watch upon our lips, so that we sin not with our tongue, and order all our goings in Thy paths that none of our steps may slide; and O grant that we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Amen.

Our Father, etc.