Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/15

Rh should our inclinations turn to evil, and whisper peace to our souls when we do good. May it purify every thought and affection, and hallow every desire, and lead us constantly to lift up our souls to Thee.

O Lord, Thou only canst keep us in the way of holiness. Thou only canst baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. We humbly pray Thee that Thou wilt be near to us at all times, and baptize us with this baptism.

Let the reign of sin and the kingdom of Satan be destroyed within us. Purge us with hyssop that we may be clean, wash us that we may be whiter than snow. And do Thou, O Lord, set up a kingdom within our souls, which shall never be destroyed, so that we may realize the truth by a happy and blessed experience, that the kingdom of heaven is established within us. So let Thy kingdom come, O Lord Jesus Christ, we beseech Thee. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD be merciful unto us this morning, be merciful unto us we beseech Thee: lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us; and cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.

We come before Thee, deeply impressed by Thy goodness, we kneel in Thy presence under the conviction that Thou art the hearer and answerer of prayer.

O that men could be brought to behold the perfect love with which Thou hast regarded them! O may the minds of men be prepared to behold Thee in all Thy divine perfections; to know Thee, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; to feel that life eternal is to know Thee, the only true God, even Jesus Christ our Saviour.

O heavenly Father, we pray that we may be led to a devout contemplation of Thy divine perfections. Thou art the only true—the Divine man! and we feel that it is by a knowledge of Thee and of Thy divine perfections, that we can be brought to a true knowledge of ourselves, of our duty to Thee, and of our duty towards our neighbour. Thou revealest Thyself unto us through the medium of Thy Holy Word. By a knowledge of Thy Word are we able to increase in wisdom, and by loving Thee we can become conformed to Thy likeness. Of ourselves we can do nothing—can know nothing. All our sufficiency is of Thee. To Thee, therefore, do we come, O most blessed Saviour; fill us with a knowledge of Thyself. This knowledge we pray for in Thy own name, O Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD God Almighty, at the close of another day we desire to draw near to Thee, and to offer our humble and grateful thanks for Thy Divine protection and providential care. This day has added to our obligations, and should lead to the devout acknowledgment that Thy mercies are ever new towards us.