Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/148

 136 EIGHTEENTH WEEK.

zeal, beneficence, and uninterrupted gentleness, by which Thou wast distinguished while combatting with our spiritual enemies, be our allsufficient models of imitation. Suffer us not to fall into murmuring, fretful, or repining dispositions, but exercising gentleness and forbearance, even to accusing spirits; may we be preserved from spiritual captivity, and steadily pursue the straight and narrow way to life.

O Lord God, our Redeemer, who has watched over and preserved us this day from evil, to Thee alone are we indebted for the continuance of all Thy blessings, and for the preservation of our lives. At home hast Thou multiplied our domestic comforts, and in our out-of-door conflicts with the world. Thou hast enabled us to possess our souls in patience. There is not one of us but has been preserved by the watchfal eye of Thy Providence, and all have been made to feel how great is Thy goodness and how great is Thy mercy. May every member of this family acknowledge in his or her inmost soul. Thy never-failing love, and make a grateful return for it. May the young remember Thee in the days of their youth, and sct Thee ever before them. May those who are placed in servitude remember to be faithful in their duties, showing all fidelity, aud adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. May those who have the government of this family rule their house in the fear of Thee. O Lord, and be as the pattern to whom the servants and the young muny look up with confidence for assistance and protection. And may all consecrate themselves to the service, love, and worship of Thee the one true God and everlasting life. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Almighty, our heavenly Father, Thou hast supplied all our wants with a liberal and bountiful hand. Help us, we beseech Thee, to be liberal and to minister to others of the substance Thou hast given us. May compassion distinguish us in our intercourse with the frail and erring; render us willing to minister to the body as well as to the mind diseased, and may we freely deal out our bread to the hungry, and cover the naked with a garment, wheresoever we possess the opportunity and the means.

Teach us, O Lord, to give due diligence in the conduct of our affairs, and in whatsoever state Thy Providence has placed us, may we learn therewith to be content, not envying others their possessions, and, above all, never striving to injure them in their temporal affairs.

And now, O Lord, we desire to commit ourselves to Thy divine guidance, as we go forth to the various duties devolving upon us in our respective spheres of life. While the concerns of this world occupy our attention, suffer not our thoughts to be so exclusively fixed upon them, as to withdraw us entirely from the consideration of heavenly things. But may the prospect of eternity and its joys make us more faithful and just in the performance of the duties of time; so that as this world and its concerns pass from our view, there may be opened up before us a prospect of those glorious realities which await the just made perfect when their probation here is ended. Amen.

Our Father, etc.