Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/155



TERNAL and blessed Lord God, our Saviour, heaven and earth are full of the mejesty of Thy glory, and all Thy works speak of the marvellous loving-kindness which Thou art ever showing to Thy unworthy creatures.

When we reflect upon the many crimes we have committed, and upon our frequent wanderings from Thee, we are lost in wonder that Thou still visitest us with Thy favour; but Thou hast ever delighted in mercy; Thou willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live.

We acknowledge with gratitude the providential mercies which have been continued unto us during the past day, and the wisdom and beneficence wherewith all our affairs have been regulated, so that our temporal condition has been cared for; and while disease, casualty, and death have visited numbers of our fellow-creatures, Thou hast preserved our souls from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling. But, O Lord, while acknowledging this Thy goodness, and making mention of the afflictions which have visited others, suffer us not to be lifted up by self-righteousness, or to imagine that the casualties of this life have not visited us because we have been holier than others; but may we ever remember "that we have nothing of our own wherein to trust, and that our only hope is in the unwearied compassion with which Thou regardest the miseries, disorders, and dangers of Thy creatures."

As Thou hast safely led us hitherto, may we be stirred up to a more devout obedience to Thy precepts, and may the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire still be with us to guide and direct us in our journey through the wilderness, until we reach the promised land. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

TERNAL omnipotent, and omniscient Lord God our Saviour, Thou art the giver of every good and perfect gift, Thou art the author of eternal life, and Thou only canst enable us to become partakers of its blessedness. We approach Thee this morning, deeply impressed with Thy divine goodness towards us, and feeling assured that no good thing wilt Thou withhold from them that put their trust in Thee.

We yield thee most humble and hearty thanks that Thy providence hath protected us from many dangers that we knew not of, and those that have been perceived by us have been averted by the most signal deliverance. Another day has dawned upon us, and the comforts and conveniences of bodily existence are added unto us; O Lord, we desire to glorify Thee, that Thy mercies fail not, that they are ever new, that they have followed us all the days of our lives.

May Thy divine presence be now felt among us, and grant that Thy love and fear may rule in our minds, so that we may be preserved from evil. May we be temperate in the use of all Thy blessings; may unholy thoughts and unchaste ideas be checked as they successively arise; when provoked by others may we strive to overcome evil with meekness of wisdom; and grant us Thy continual aid that we may be just and