Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/217

 The life which leads to heaven cannot but be beset with innumerable difficulties, since all the powers of darkness are in league against us to prevent our being constant ard stedfast in the path. But Thou, Lord, wilt not forsake us; Thou wilt be with us, even to the end of our course. Though hosts of enemies beset us round about te accomplish our destruction, yet, in the name of the Lord, we will overcome them; for Thy name, O Lord, is a strong tower: the righteous enter into it, and are safe. O suffer us not to relax in our endeavours to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. May we watch over our hearts with unceasing solicitude, remembering that if we give way to the enjoyment of our corrupt inclinations, or descend into a careless or lukewarm state, our enemies then become too powerful for us, and the loss of our souls becomes more and more in jeopardy.

Teach us, therefore, to go on to perfection, never to rest satisfied with the state in which we are, but to remember that he who would be perfect must sacrifice all of sin and self, and surrender himself entirely to Thy divine government, or he cannot be Thy disciple.

Our Father, etc.

O LORD Jesus Christ, Thou hast instructed us in the precepts of Thy Word, and hast declared, If ye kmow these things, happy are ye if ye do them." May we never separate charity from faith; while we believe Thy truth, May we look to Thee for constant aid to it. Inspire us with an abhorrence of the loathsomeness of vice; may we deny all that pertains to self, and crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts.

Keep before us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the solemn truth that "every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh he to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." O grant that we may exercise that constant faithfulness to ourselves which may keep our consciences clear and void of offence before Thee and before man.

Preserve us against temptations which beset our way, and which strive to withdraw us from our duty and our allegiance unto Thee. May we never lose sight of the exhortation contained in the divine words, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Keep us in all our doings, in our going out and in our coming in, and grant that we may this day be preserved from every evil, and be advanced (by doing our duty) on our road to heaven. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

THURSDAY EVENING,


 * AND it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted abovethe hills; and all nations shall fowuntoit." OLord,

hasten this glorions time, we beseech Thee, and grant that all who are engaged in disseminating @ knowledge of its glorious trath, and of its