Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/203

 As our judgment is so weak and limited, and as our sufficiency is alone of Thee, O Lord, we beseech Thee, leave us not to execute the desires of our own waywardness; but let Thy righteous will be done, however it may cross our own inclinations; and hold Thou us up, and we shall then be safe. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LMIGHTY God and beneficent Saviour, Thou art the true Light, and without Thee we must ever walk in darkness. Unto Thee, therefore, would we come, and in the spirit of humility we would supplicate Thee to receive us into Thy presence, and to instruct us in the things which pertain to our eternal peace.

Thou hast added another day to our existence, and hast abundantly supplied our every want, and now Thou waitest to bless us with Thy good Spirit, and desirest only that we should be so prepared that there be no obstruction to the entrauce of Thy divive influence. Assist us, O Lord, to cultivate a candid and conscientious disposition; to guard against evil, and to refrain from exercising a rash and hasty judgment. As Thou art the essential truth, help us to love it for its own sake, for the sake of that humility of heart and simplicity of spirit which may bring us under the perfect government of Thy love and wisdom; and lead us in all things to learn of Thee, that we may find rest unto our souls. Thou hast been pleased to appear a second time unto salvation, and in the power and glory of the spiritual sense of Thy Word, to reveal Thyself as the Lord, "the Lord God, plenteous in mercy, and abundant in goodness and truth." O prepare the hearts and understandings of mankind that they may gratefully receive the truths of Thy divine Word, and live by them. We ask this, O Lord Jesus Christ, for Thine own name and mercy sake. Amen,

Our Father, etc.

LORD our heavenly Father, our souls wait upon Thee this morning, and our expectation is from Thee. "Thou only art the rock of our salvation, therefore shall we not be moved."

Thou hast created us that we may be eternally happy in Thy kingdom; and the condition of our happiness is, that we "love the Lord above all things, and our neighbour as ourselves." To the innocent no laws are necessary, for they are a law to themselves. We are therefore constrained to acknowledge that the necessity for this law is grounded in our intense love of the world and of ourselves, to the neglect of the more perfect love of Thee and of our neighbour. O Lord, with shame we acknowledge that this selfishness lies at the root of all our actions, and is the source of all our evils; and so deeply is it interwoven in all ranks of people that all seem to be contending who shall be greatest. Even in our attempts to do good, and in the sacred duties of religion, this selfishness too frequently predominates. Our charities are often bestowed from the desire of the praise of men; we violate the precept