Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/187

 is one God and one Mediator (or medium) between God and man, and this medium of approach is Thy divine humanity. In Thee alone have we redemption, even the remission of sins.

Lord, teach us to keep Thee ever before us, and in the midst of a wicked and profligate generation may we pray constantly unto Thee that we may escape being drawn aside of evil. A thousand snares are spread around us, and thousands follow with avidity the things of time and sense, and amidst the pleadings of sensual pleasure, the pursuit of virtue and the pleadings of religion are stifled. O Lord, have mercy upon us, we beseech Thee. Lift up the light of Thy countenauce upon us, and we shall be saved. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

ORD God of our salvation, Thou hast conducted us through the toils and perils of another day, and we humbly desire to approach Thee, and to offer up our evening thanksgivings for past mercies, and to pray for the continuance of Thy love towards us.

We have heard Thy voice in Thy Word; we have seen Thee in the wonderful interpositions of Thy providence exercised in our behalf (all undeserving as we are), and while we contemplate Thy purity "we abhor ourselves" for our evils, "and repent in dust and ashes." O Father of mercies, help us to bring ourselves under a devout obedience to Thy will, for "in Thy favour is life," and there is nothing that can be compared with it. Thy mercy is ever new towards us. We praise Thee, O Lord, for Thine estimable love in the work of our redemption. O how infinite must be that love which condescended to take the frailty and imperfeetion of humanity as a garment, whereby to clothe Thy divinity, and thereby be enabled to meet with and overcome man's spiritual enemies: "Thine own arm brought salvation unto Thee; Thy righteousness it sustained Thee." Thou hast reconciled us unto Thyself, we now "joy in God, through [Thee] our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD of light and life, again hast Thou revived our bodies by the refreshing influence of sleep. Again hast Thou permitted the morning to dawn upon us, and the cheerful light of day to fall upon our eyes.

We adore Thee, O heavenly Father, for all Thy goodness towards us. O grant that the light of Thy truth may dawn upon and visit the eyes of our spirits, that in Thy light we may see light, and by that light be guided to everlasting blessedness. There is indeed nothing comparable to the light of Thy truth; for this is true light, which, if admitted into our understandings, and suffered to exercise its influence upon us, will guide us through every trial, and bring us ultimately to Thy heavenly kingdom. We thank Thee, O Lord, that by the light of Thy truth our hidden and secret evils are discovered, their deformity made plain before