Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/164

 We desire te bless and praise Thy holy name for the institution of the Sabbath; it places before us in faint outline the joys of Thy heavenly kingdom, and enables us, even in this our day of probation, to enjoy a perception of that rest which remaineth for the people of God. It induces serious and devout frames of mind, and fills us with that tranquillity and peace which enables us te devote our affections and thoughts unto Thy service, and thus prepares us to receive those holy influences by which alone we can be quickened in the divine life. We have indeed great and abundant cause to admire and adore Thee for the institution of the Sabbath, not merely because it gives rest to the body, but because it blesses us with a foretaste of those divine delights which await us in Thy kingdom above. Lord, help us to spend it with true devotion, and in Thy love and fear. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

SABBATH EVENING.

0 LORD Jesus Christ. King of kings and Lord of lords, enable us to

become living members of Thy Church on earth. Make as kings and priests unto Thee. May the kingdom of our own nuinds be governed by Thy love and wisdom. May the truths we acquire a mowledge of from Thy Word, be constantly before ua, exhorting us to a life of holiness, so that we sin not in thought, word, or deed. From this moment, 0 Lord, we beseech Thee, aid us to form our hearts end lives anew, and io sanctify every engagement into which we may enter by a living principle of religiou. May we all become preachers af Thy righteousness, not in word, but in power. May our religion be unio us, like Thyself, aa Omnipresent. May it permeate every thought and affection of our souls. May we teach others by our own obvious example, by shunning all evils ag sins against Thee, and living 2 life according to thy divine precepts. May every femptation to indulge in crime be resisted. May we never overzeach or oppress those who are in situations subordinate to ourselves, but may integrity, moderation, and charity govern our whole conduct, and render us of the happy number of those who, by doing their duty to men, " glorify their Father which is in heaven."

Lord, hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, strengthen our good re80lutions, and perfect us in every good word and work, for Thy name sod mercy sake, Into Thy hands we commend cur spirits. Amen.

Out Father, ats.

MONDAY MORNING.

0 LORD Jesus Christ, our heavenly Lord and Saviour, at the oom_mencement of another week we come before Thee and humble ourselves in Thy divine presence. . Lord, pardon us our iniquities, we beseech Thee; for if Thon be strict to mark our many follies and vanities, we must be left without hope If Thou shouldest mark iniquity, who could stand in Thy presence? Lord, whet have we to hope for? Truly our hope isin Thee. Let Thy Word revive us, we beseech Thee, and pour into our souls the graces &> influences of Thy Holy Spirit, that the old man with his affection?