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GREAT Lord of all things, who hast brought life and immortality to light by the gospel, we hail the return of this day of rest, commemorative alike of the glorification of Thy humanity, and of the assurance by Thy resurrection, that because Thou livest we shall live also; that where Thou art, there also shall Thy servant be; and that with Thee, every one that doeth Thy will, to him the acceptable year has come.

We approach Thee this morning to offer our humble but grateful duty, and to begin this day by a complete and affectionate surrender of all our powers to Thy service. O sanctify our humble offering, and grant that our various talents and faculties may be so occupied this day, that it may be a redeeming point from which to date our progress in the walk of the regeneration. As our duties have been commenced by the reading of Thy word. O give us understanding that we may keep Thy law, yea, that we may observe it with our whole heart. May the wonders of Thy redeeming love be this day set before us in new and attractive colours; and grant while our understandings are improved by the truths of wisdom drawn from Thy imperishable fountain of life, the Word, our affections may be warmed, expanded, and elevated to a more devoted and purified love of Thee, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

LMIGHTY God, the father and friend of Thy people, we have been privileged this day by Thy unspeakable goodness, which in Thy Word has been made manifest, and in Thy temple has been declared. We have been admonished to take heed to our ways, and not to place our trust and confidence in the mere performance of external duties, for while these may be faithfully performed, the heart may still be far from Thee. We have been exhorted to hold communion with ourselves, to inquire what are our hopes, and upon what they are based, to be mindful of the duties which belong to the spiritual Christian, and of the fidelity with which they must be performed. We have had placed before us the two gates, through one or other of which we are now entering,—the strait and narrow, or the wide and broad; the one leading to eternal blessedness, the other to eternal misery.

O God, assist us in entering upon this important journey: no longer may we halt in our progress. Suffer us not to be misled by the sophistries of our own minds. Too frequenily do we inwardly ejaculate, "Why this straitness; in what are we worse than others?" Lord, assist us to expel these insinuations; they are the false prophets who clothe themselves in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. O help us to keep in the straight and narrow way, which terminates in everlasting life. Amen.

Our Father, &c.

MONDAY MORNING.

RACIOUS and mersiful Saviour. Thou hast redeemed our souls from death, and this morning we rise with renewed strength to enter