Page:The Book of Family Worship.pdf/219



HEY that wait upon the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, that cannot be moved, but abideth for ever." Lord, may this encouraging precept be always near us; and amidst the darkness and despondency which our spiritual adversaries are constnntly striving to infuse into our souls, may there be a brightness and a glory which shall penetrate through every gloom, and dissipate overy darkness,—a light which shall continue to increase and shine more and more unto the perfect day, till, being filled with Thy light and love, whatever afflictions may visit our bodies, our minds may still be joyous and buoyant, and we may thus become like unto Thy true and faithful diciples, who loved not their own lives, but endured unto the end.

And as Thou, O Lord, hast loved us, so teach us to love one another. In this family may brotherly love continue, and throughout our intercourse with the world, may love, guided by truth, be our distinguishing quality. Assist us to put away selfishness, pride, strife, and envy; assist us to be upright, benevolent, and sincere; renouncing the world and its vain delights, may we live in it as strangers and pilgrims; and having our conversation in heaven, may we stand as beacons in the midst of a wicked and deceitful generation; and while we do our duty may we atill ascribe unto Thee all the honour and all the glory, remembering we are still unprofitable servants. Amen.

Our Father, etc.

LORD Jehovah, who hast declared that on Thine altar the holy fire shall burn continually, it shall never go out; Kindle within our hearts, we beseech Thee, the flame of heavenly love; may it burn with a steady and fervent heat, diminish not in potency, but burn in perpetuity—never be quenched, never die!

Lord, we are again about to enter upon the duties and concerns of natural existence, and we feel more and more the necessity of Thy love, to enable us to discharge them with fidelity; for if we possess not the fire of Thy love, our own unhallowed fire will burn and consume us. We profess to have devoted ourselves to Thee, and to desire above all things to live in Thy love and fear; if, then, we forsake Thy love, and turn to owr own evil gratifications, and indulge our evil lusts, like Nadab and Abihu of old, we offer strange fire upon Thy altar, and we shall be consumed by our own lusts. O help us, then, that Thy fear may be ever before our eyes that we sin not. Aid us so to discharge our every duty with faithfulness as though Thou wert personally present before us. With our affections set upon things above, with a remembrance that here we have no abiding city, may we live in this world as though we lived not, and pursue our secular avocations from a sense of duty to our fellow-creatures, free from the tormenting cares and anxieties of the sensual mind.

Look down, we beseech Thee, upon this family, and upon every family, with the eye of Thy protecting providence; and while we know that Thou Lord seest us, may we be so guarded from the subtle devices of our spiritual enemies, and preserved against indulging in our own besetting sins, that we may pursue our way in stedfastness and holiness. Amen.

Our Father, etc.