Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/189

 those enjoy who place themselves under Thy divine government; and how manifold are the advantages they experience who approach Thee, and in all their doings implore Thy counsel and assistance. And with Thee we can always hold conversation, for Thy Word is open before us, and they who humbly explore it are instructed in all its duties. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD God Almighty, to whom belongeth mercy, thoigh we have rebelled against Thee. We praise Thee, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord; all the earth is full of the majesty of Thy glory.

Another day calls for our gratitude; another evening brings us before Thee, and adds to the debt we can never pay. Lord! how divine is the tenderness with which Thou regardest us.

Lord! instruct us by Thy good spirit; send forth the influences of Thy light and love, that all our doings may be established in Thee. To whom can we apply with so certain an assurance of the supply that is needful for our wants, as to Thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life. O let Thy Word go forth with power into our souls, and grant that we may exercise ourselves in all that is true and good.

But not for ourselves alone would we pray, for the enlightening influence of Thy good Spirit; we would implore Thee for all sorts and conditions of men. O send forth Thy righteous dispensations, and prepare the hearts and understandings of all men, that the new views of truth which Thou hast unfolded may be perceived and gratefully admitted into the soul. Prepare mankind for beholding Thee in Thy divine and glorified humanity. O let Thy divine condescension be so seen, that men may be led to acknowledge that Thou alone art God; that Thou alone art blessed for evermore. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

REAT Lord of all things, before whom all the creatures of this world, compared with those who inhabit the worlds of immensity, are as the dust of the balance, how shall we venture to approach Thee with a just idea of Thine immensity! We are altogether unworthy to approach Thee. Thou art the High and Holy One inhabiting eternity, and art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. The heaven of heavens, with all their blessed inhabitants, cannot shadow forth Thy greatness, or show forth Thy goodness; nor can the goodness which is extended to all, nor the tender mercy which is over all Thy works, be fully appreciated even by those angelic existences who, once men, but who never having been disobedient, passed from the world without needing repentance, who constitute the inhabitants of Thy celestial heavens,—even these cannot know the extent of Thy love. Thy greatness is indeed as infinite as Thy love is universal. Thy love constitutes the life of angels, and their love rejoices and increases the delight of heaven itself when man is seen to repent and turn unto Thee. Yea, Lord, we glory in the assurance that there is joy in the presence of Thy holy angels over one sinner that re-