Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/151

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LORD Jesus Christ, who art high and inhabit st eternity; with hearts filled with gratitude for Thy love towards us we approach Thee this evening, and after another day's experience of Thy mercy and protection, we would renew our thankful acknowledgments, that "hitherto the Lord hath helped us."

We look unto Thee as a God ever present; by Thy divine humanity have we access to Thy inmost love; we have a new and living way of approach to Thee, even Thy glorified body; by this Thou art our Mediator, our medium of approach, and we behold Thee as "God manifest in the flesh, the only wise God, our Saviour, to whom be dominion and power, for ever and ever."

Lord, we beseech Thee, impress us with reverence and holy awe in all our approaches unto Thee. May we remember in whose divine presence we are, and that we kneel, when before Thee, on holy ground. May the fear of Thee be ever before us. May we behold Thee with holy awe, delivering Thy commandments; and be obedient unto Thee as we see Thee exercising the righteous dispensations of Thy providence. Let Thy holy name be so sanctified by us, and by all the families of mankind, that we may never dare to take it lightly in our mouths, or profane it by irreverence or levity. Lord. Thou knowest what is best for us; and Thou alone, by Thy divine omniscience, canst so exercise the dispensations of Thy providence, that we may be everlasting gainers. Into Thy hands we resign our spirits. Amen.,

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY Lord God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who dwellest in light inaccessible, permit us who have enjoyed refreshing and invigorating sleep during the past night, to present ourselves before Thee this morning, and in gratitude to acknowledge Thy mercies, which are ever new towards us.

Unworthy as we are to worship at Thy footstool, Thy divine encouragement still leads us into Thy presence. Day unto day we need Thy help, morning, noon, and evening; we will therefore call upon Thee and praise Thy holy name. O Thou who, when we knew Thee not, cared for us and provided for all our wants, still let Thy goodness and mercy follow us; and help us that we may evince a becoming sense of Thy goodness, and with gratitude serve Thee with increased faithfulness. If we were to acknowledge all Thou hast done for us, the time would fail in the recital. Thou hast warred with and overcome our spiritual adversaries; Thou hast saved our lives from destruction; Thou hast crowned us with loving-kindness and tender mercy. Thou hast endowed us with all our faculties and talents, and the influence of Thy good Spirit still flows into us, and gives us the power to exercise them. O may we never pervert Thy glorious gifts, but seek how we may best employ them in Thy service and to the good of our fellow-creatures. Amen.

Our Father, etc.