Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/165

 TWENTY-FIRST WEEK. 153

lusts may be put away, and the new man formed after Thee. O blessed Jesus, in righteousness and true holiness, may be put on; that old things may pass away and all become new within us.,

Thou who hast commanded us to hate the thing that is evil, excite within us, we beseech Thee, a perfect hatred against whatever is contrary to Thy holy will as revealed in Thy divine Word, and O assist us that we may delight ourselves in Thy commandments, walking before Thee righteously, soberly, and cireumspectly, setting Thee. O Lord, constantly before us, and adorning the doctrine of Thee, our God and Saviour, in all things.

Lord, we pray Thee that the duties of this day may be sanctified to Thy glory and to the good of our fellow-creatures. Enable us to be humble, thankful, and contented in the sphere of life allotted to us, and unto Thee will we render all honour and glory for ever and ever. |

en. .

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, give unto us a portion of that corn, the bread of life, which giveth life to the world, and that wine which elevates the thoughts to Thee and fills them with the living principles of wisdom, and may each thought of our souls be kept living by its own pure principle of truth, and each affection be constantly vivified by that love which is as the bread of life, and which, if continually exercised, shall impart unto us the blessing of "life for evermore."

O Thou who hast instructed us, when we pray, to enter into our closet, and when we have shut the door, to pray to Thee, our Father, which is in secret: help us, we beseech Thee, at this time to withdraw all our thoughts and affections from the world and to elevate them to a contemplation of Thee, of Thy divine perfections, and of the glory of Thy heavenly kingdom. May we be dead unto the world, and alive only unto Thee. From all anxiety for the future. O Lord, deliver us, and give us experience of the truth of the words, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." May our intercourse with Thee, the Father of our spirits, be sweet and refreshing, and may we rise from our knees with the sweet assurance that Thou hast blessed us with Thy presence and filled us with Thy Spirit.

Lord, we humbly resign our spirits into Thy gracious keeping. Beneath the shadow of Thy wings may we repose in safety, at peace with ourselves, with Thee, O Lord, and with all our fellow-creatures; may we lay ourselves down and feel the devout assurance that Thou wilt give us sleep, and permit us again to enter upon our various duties until, made perfect by suffering, we may enter into eternal rest and peace. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jesus Christ, we confess that Thou art omniscient. Thine eye, in our most wayward wanderings, is bent upon us, and while we madly pursue our evil courses, Thou art in pity looking upon us, and in